Epilogue

The science did tell them a lot but it was Anna herself who told them the most. Lindsay spent hours painstakingly going through the diary, preserving it's fragile pages, enhancing the faded text, and selecting the passages that told her story.

They met on a damp grey Friday morning, the mid-winter sun trying it's hardest to push through the heavy clouds. Mac was already sitting at the conference table when they arrived, a pen and a notepad in front of him, a cup of coffee that had gone cold untouched near his hand. He didn't look quite so haunted though he was still pale and withdrawn. He gave them a weak smile as they entered, each of them selecting a place at the table unconsciously avoiding the chair next to his. Stella was the last to arrive. She slid automatically into the chair next to Mac and their eyes met for a brief second. She smiled her reassurance knowing his level of apprehension and automatically took the lead. "Okay so let's go over what we've got." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Sheldon.

Sheldon nodded at Sid to open proceedings. Sid took a look at Mac and took a deep breath. He knew that this case had hit Mac hard and he wanted nothing more than to get this over and done with. "Sheldon and I have completed our findings. Anna Gray died from blunt force trauma. A single blow to the head. I removed several fragments of wood and moss from the wound tract which had an irregular shape indicating a weapon with a rough uneven edge, possibly a branch or a small log." Sid paused to look at Mac but he didn't react so he continued. "Er … there were some other wounds ... one of her fingers was broken and there was a hairline fracture to a rib and damage to the surrounding tissue suggesting she had been hit hard. As far as I can tell there were no signs of … er … sexual assault but after all this time ..." Sid looked apologetically at Mac who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Sheldon looked at Mac and he could see a muscle twitching in his jaw. "She was fully dressed. We went over the clothes she was wearing. There were several tears but there are no viable prints or epithelials or usable trace. Sorry Mac."

Danny picked up where Sheldon left off the words coming out of his mouth like a speeding train. He wanted nothing more than to close this case, if only for Mac's sake "I looked over the bag and her other clothes. There were no prints but there were significant amounts of sodium hydroxide and lard, the typical ingredients of lye soap. I analysed the patterns and from the way the clothes were pushed into the bag ... they were not folded neatly but rammed in ... the person must have been using soap at the time which left marks on the material. The spread of the product shows someone with big hands, much bigger than Anna's. She clearly didn't pack the bag."

There was a pause and Stella looked at Adam, the newest member of the team. This being the first time he had been asked to join a meeting he gulped and began stuttering slightly: "Er … Anna Gray was reported missing on the 13th October 1962. The diary starts three days later. At that time the building where we found her was a boarding house called the Carlisle. It was owned by a Norman Smayle and his wife Georgia. Georgia died in January 1963 under suspicious circumstances but there was no proof of foul play."

"What circumstances?" prompted Stella.

"Er … she was found at the bottom of the flight of stairs that leads to the basement. Her neck was broken. It was finally ruled an accident." Stella nodded as she glanced at Mac. He hadn't moved a muscle. She wondered if he was actually listening. She told Adam to continue.

"Er … Norman Smayle continued to run the place by himself and he sold the Carlisle to a building development company in 1971 who converted it into apartments. He stayed on as caretaker. According to the development company's records, the works carried out included the conversion of rooms on each floor into four apartments, the conversion of the dining room and kitchen into a two bedroom apartment and the conversion of the lounge into a one bedroom apartment. Their records also indicate that the heating ducts were modified and that a new furnace was installed but on the base of the other and I quote 'the existing stone floor being like new'. Norman Smayle continued to work there until 1981 when he died from cancer and Ronald Lester took over." Stella nodded and smiled encouragement. She was gratified to see a half smile and a sigh of relief. It was clear that Adam was nervous yet at the same time thrilled at being included in the meeting.

Finally Stella looked at Lindsay. Lindsay looked nervously at Mac but he didn't seem to be paying attention. She took a deep breath. "Anna began her diary three days after she left home. I've selected the most relevant sections." Again she looked at Mac but he didn't move or acknowledge her. Stella nodded for her to continue and she began to read slowly.

"16th October 1962. I cannot believe that I have made it. I'm in New York. I went to Times Square tonight and just stood there looking at the lights and the buildings and the people. It was amazing. I have never felt so free. I have found a place to stay. It's warm and comfortable and not too expensive. With all the money I have saved I should be all right for over a month. I shall start looking for a job on Monday and when I have that I shall write home and tell them."

"26th October 1962 I've done it. I have found a job and I start next Monday. It is only a part-time job in a typing pool but it is a start. At last I shall be able to begin my own life and do what I want. I should write home and tell them but I will wait until I have started work then they will understand that I can do things for myself and that I do not need to be told what to eat or what to wear or where to go or who to see. I can make those decisions for myself. I should also write to Paul but right now that seems even harder. He's a good man and he deserves better. I know he must hate me for running out on him. I didn't want to hurt him but he must have known that I didn't really love him, that I 'd only agreed to marry him because that was what our parents wanted. I should have told him what I was planning to do but I couldn't. I am a coward."

For the first time Mac moved. He sat back in his chair, his hand over his mouth. Lindsay looked at Stella concerned by Mac's reaction but Stella nodded for her to continue though Lindsay noticed that Stella's eyes reverted straight back to Mac.

"4th November 1962. Mr Lyle came up today to bring me wood for the stove as the weather has turned cold and the furnace isn't working properly. He scares me. I don't like the way he looks at me. He always stands so close and the smell of his cigarettes makes me sick. I thought he was never going to go but a woman arrived in the room opposite accompanied by Mrs Lyle who ordered him downstairs. My neighbour's name is Millie. She has come to stay for a few weeks while her Mom is in hospital ..." Lindsay couldn't help a small smile. "She has an adorable little boy called Mac. He is so sweet and so serious. I almost laughed when he called me Ma'am. He's only six and already he knows he's going to be a Marine when he grows up."

Everyone tried hard not to laugh but even Mac himself allowed the corners of his mouth to twitch and his cheeks took on a little colour as he shifted position in his chair. He looked up at Stella and for the first time in many months she could see the smile reach his eyes. At last.

"24th November 1962. Lyle came up again tonight with yet another excuse. This time it was to check the faucet on the wash-stand. I don't like the way he finds excuses to touch me. I think that I should start looking for somewhere else to stay. I was so glad when Millie knocked on the door and asked if I could look after Mac for an hour while she went to see her mother. I think that she has taken a turn for the worse. Mac adores Suki. I love seeing them play together by the hearth. Mac is really clever. I read him a story and I was surprised to discover that he can already read quite well. He says he's very good at sums and hide and seek which is important to be a good Marine." There were several sniggers and Mac shook his head slightly and buried his face in his hand but Stella was heartened to see a small smile playing around the edges of his mouth. Lindsay's smile faded a little as she continued. "I think I should like to be a teacher. Perhaps I could go to school at night and continue to work part time? It is getting late. Millie should be back by now. I think that I should put Mac to bed. I shall leave the doors open so I can keep an eye on him until Millie gets back. I wonder if Millie knows what I need to do to be a teacher. I shall ask her."

"28th November 1962. It was Millie's Mom's funeral today. It is bitterly cold and they were frozen when they came back. We all had tea to warm up. I am almost out of wood for the stove but it is so cold that I shall have to pluck up courage and ask Lyle for more. Millie and Mac are leaving early tomorrow morning. I know that they are glad to be going back home. Mac misses his Dad very much but I am sorry to see them go. Saying goodbye was so hard but I have promised Millie I that I would write her to let her know how I get on. I have decided I'm going to be a teacher. I'm going to enrol in school and do a correspondence course. It will be hard work but it will be worth it when I can show my family that I make a life for myself. I shall write to Paul tomorrow and ask for his forgiveness."

"That was the last entry."

Silence reigned for a few minutes. Finally Mac cleared his throat. They could all see how he was struggling to keep his composure. "Thank you all. I appreciate all the work you've put in on this. Leave me all your reports and I'll make sure that the case file is written up." They all looked at him in surprise.

"But …. but we still don't know what really happened ..." stammered Adam despite, like the others, being able to put two and two together and working out from her diary and Sid's findings what had almost certainly happened.

"No we don't." Mac gave him a half-smile. "Sometimes Adam we have to accept that there are things we will never completely understand."

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Stella shivered in the cold wind as she watched Mac lay the flowers by the gravestone, the new carved lettering stark against the faded weather-beaten stone. Mac turned to the older man beside him whose silver-grey hair moved softly in the wind. They shook hands and the man looked approvingly around the peaceful cemetery, the bare trees glistening with a heavy frost, and the Manhattan skyline in the distance. "Thank you for doing this Detective Taylor. I think that it's better for her to be here where she wanted to be." Mac smiled and nodded in understanding. "She was right. I was angry when she left. I did love her you know but deep down, I knew she didn't love me. She was just doing what her parents wanted. I was a lot older than her and she wanted more from life than I could give her. I'm just sorry that she didn't find it, that she ended up …" His voice broke and tears came to his eyes. "It doesn't seem fair."

Mac looked at the man beside him. "No you're right it doesn't."

They said their goodbyes and Mac waited as Paul Michael Rushton walked down the slope and got into the waiting cab and drove away. There was no one else there. Somehow that didn't seem right either. They had tried to trace Anna's family but without success. Mac felt Stella join him and place her hand on his arm, her way of asking if he was all right. He smiled at her and she looked into his eyes to reassure herself that he was okay. His voice was deep and quiet when he spoke. "Thank you Stella."

She looked at him, slightly puzzled as his eyes bore into hers. "For what?" She felt she could lose herself in those eyes.

"For coming with me. For helping me with the arrangements. For believing in me. For not thinking that I was crazy." Stella's cheeks coloured a little at this but Mac didn't notice or at least he pretended not to. "Thank you … for everything." He turned to look at the gravestone. "I'm sure Granny and Grandpa will be happy to look after her."

Stella smiled. "I'm sure they will but you know there is one thing that still puzzles me?" Stella said causing Mac to turn to look at her. "I still don't understand how that photograph of Anna came to be lying under Mark Browning's body."

Mac turned back to look at her intently for a minute. "Perhaps she wanted me to find it." Stella stared at him searching his face for an explanation but there wasn't one. He smiled and they both began the walk down to their car. As they reached the bottom of the grassy slope Mac paused and turned to look back at the gravestone. He smiled and nodded as though recognizing someone. Stella followed his gaze but the cemetery was empty, the grey and white gravestones marking it's only occupants. She turned back to look at Mac and as she did so she caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of her eye. A flash of blue. Suddenly she could smell roses and jasmine. She turned back and blinked but there was nothing. She felt Mac take her hand. "Come on. Let's go home."

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She watched them make their way to the large black car hand in hand just as the winter sun broke through the clouds promising a hint of the spring to come. For a fleeting second she could feel the warm rays on her face, the wind in her hair, the cold wet grass under her feet. She could smell the scent of grass and fresh flowers. She could hear the rustling of the leaves, the cry of a seagull high above her and the soothing hum of the city in the distance. As the images faded from sight she felt light and weightless as though she were floating on the breeze. She felt free and she smiled as she closed her eyes, her last conscious thought being that of a small boy sitting on a green rug, his laughter ringing in her ears as he played with a small black cat.

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The End.

Thank you for reading.