"AMY FISHER ROSE FROM THE DEAD"
Paul read and reread the headline in utter disbelief. This was the hot new headline from Idaho making nationwide headlines. "MURDERED GIRL AWAKENS IN MORGUE", "WAS SHE REALLY DEAD? EXPERTS TRY TO EXPLAIN." He knew of the girl making the news. She was the victim that came with a note summoning Rose to Idaho to meet with the killer. He hadn't from her in many days which normally wouldn't have bothered him had it not been for the resurrection of Amy Fisher. His phone had been ringing off the hook with calls from Idaho's police departments. They naturally had questions regarding the whole incident since it was a person from his department that Amy was killed for.
He had explained over and over again that he knew nothing of Rose's whereabouts; insisting that he had not heard from her since she left for Idaho.
"Have you looked at the CCTV footage I sent you?" The investigator asked. "Can you explain what happened? How were those people able to do that?"
"I've seen it." He admitted. The footage showed Rose and an unidentified black female enter through the main door of the morgue without appearing the hallways, elevators or any other passages within the building. Paul watched the film again as he was on the phone. It clearly showed Rose touching the body of Amy Fisher just before a flash blurred the camera. Once the camera came back into focus, the dead girl was sitting up and talking with the two women briefly before they left through the same door they entered. "I wish I had the answers you're looking for. I, too am beyond curious. Have you run facial recognition on her companion?"
"I have. Nothing came up. Is she a friend of hers? You have worked with this woman before, have you not?"
"Indeed. I've not met the woman she was with and as for Rose; I knew she could read the truth in people by touching them, but I didn't know she could raise them from the dead. I mean, she's learned the truth behind every murder victim she's touched but not one of those victims came back to life like Miss Fisher. I honestly don't know what to say."
"And I don't know what to ask anymore." The man let out a frustrated sigh that Paul could easily sympathize with. "Please call me if you hear from her. This needs to be explained!"
"Yes sir," he agreed. "Will do."
Hanging up the phone, he tried dial the last number he had for her. It was disconnected. Same with Agent Christopher's phone. He wasn't even sure if she had found the young agent yet. And just who was the black female she with on the camera? As far as he knew, she had no friends. No one had ever gone to visit her at the house, and she never left unless she was called in for a case. She had her groceries delivered so she wouldn't have to go shopping. She was, to the best of his knowledge, extremely reclusive.
"Sir?" Carma called, pulling him from his thoughts. "There's a man here to see you. Says he's a friend of Rose."
Friend? "Yes, send him in. Thank you." He straightened his clothes before running his fingers through his thinning hair. This job would be the death of him if he didn't retire soon.
"Here you go, sir." Carma said as she ushered the stranger in.
Paul stared in the ebony eyes of the stranger seemingly mesmerized by dangerous aura. "Paul Solace? Captain Paul Solace?"
Paul gathered in wits and stretched out his hand in greeting. "That's me. You're a friend of Rose?"
"In a manner of speaking." He nodded towards the chair behind the desk as to invite Paul to have a seat. "I'm here more as a messenger than a friend. Truthfully, Rose as you know her, doesn't have any friends other than her husband. At least on Earth, she doesn't. But then, you knew that already."
"On Earth?" Paul caught the stranger's verbiage.
"Surely, you've figured out that she is not of this… How shall I say? Mortal realm? World? I don't know how to put it."
"She's not human?"
"Not entirely."
"Alien?"
"I'm sure by your understanding, that is as good as word as any."
"What brings you to me then? You should know she is longer here."
"I know. I've recently rescued her husband from her enemy and took him to her."
"Agent Christopher? He's been found? Is he okay?"
"Please sir. That is not why I am here. I came to pass on a message only."
"And what is the message?"
"You have a person working for you by the name of Carma?"
"Yes. Why?"
"That person has been working with those who killed Amy Fisher and abducted her husband. I hear to let you know that her crimes will not go unpunished."
"Do you have the evidence I need to arrest her?"
"You will not need it. His crimes involve the celestial and it will be by the celestial that his judgment will come."
"His? Carma is a woman. You must have the wrong person."
"I have the right person. Surgical manipulation of the body does not change the gender to the One who created it."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I have done what I came to do. I have made you aware. I will now take my leave."
"Made me aware of what? What are you saying?"
"I've said all I came to say. I have no say in what you choose to understand." The man exited Paul's office, dipping his head in greeting to Carma who stood near the door. "Until we meet again, Mr. Fitzgerald." He smirked at the shocked expression on her face as he said those words. He left without saying another word.
He entered the elevator and pushed the button for the basement. Once the lift reached its destination, the doors opened to the kitchen of a café where he was greeted by the one sent him. "I have delivered your message, Joey. May I go home to my girls now?"
"Of course, Jinka! Thank you for everything." She beamed. "Proceed to the top floor. I will call you if I need anything."
He dipped his head as he pressed the top button. A smile spread across his face as the doors closed. It only took second for the lift to reach the top floor. The doors opened to the precinct he used to work in. He found his three girls in their grandfather's office waiting for him. The two older girls ran up to him and tackled him with hugs and kisses while the baby was being held by his father-in-law.
"I misjudged you." The old man said. "I'm sorry."