Chapter One – Shock
Summary: Warrick and Catherine arrive at a crime scene and something horrible is discovered...I've been going over this idea for a while, so finally, I just started writing it.
Catherine handed Warrick a card with a street name on it. "This is where we're going," she told him. "Unidentified victim on the sidewalk. Neighbors say she's only lived there a little while, so they don't really know her."
Warrick looked a little upset. "That's where Tina and I live, right on that street. It's everywhere…crime." He walked toward the doors with Catherine right behind him.
They arrived at the crime scene and people were standing all around the yellow tape to try to get a look, mumbling to one another excitedly. Warrick stepped out of the car, walked up to the tape, and took a step back the moment he glimpsed the body. "Catherine…" he said, his voice rising at the end of her name.
"Warrick?" She looked at him questioningly.
"I can't do this, Catherine." Warrick looked physically ill.
"Warrick –" Catherine started.
"No, Catherine. That's my wife," Warrick said, starting to tear up.
"Are you…?" Catherine began to look horrified.
"I'm positive Catherine. I can't do this and I know it's her." Warrick looked at the ground and started rubbing his forehead as though he had a horrendous headache.
"Warrick, I'm so sorry…" Catherine said. "Do you want to…stay here or…go somewhere else? Unfortunately, we'll eventually have to ask you a few questions. I feel horrible, Warrick."
"I'm going to go sit in the car with the doors open. Ask anything you want…I can't believe this. Tell me this is a nightmare, Catherine."
"I wish it were, Warrick."
"Hey, what are you guys doing? Somebody's dead!" shouted one of the many people standing around the crime tape.
"What's your name, sir?" Catherine asked.
"Tom," the man replied aggressively.
"Tom, at the moment, we're discussing the matter. It's important that you – everyone lets us work on this, even if it doesn't seem right to you. Something has come up and it may take more time than we expected," Catherine told him. A few people walked into their houses or met in their yards to discuss this event.
Catherine called Nick in and went over to talk to Warrick, who had his face buried in his hands and his elbows resting on his knees. "Warrick?" She lightly touched his arm.
He lifted his face from his hands and looked at Catherine. "She once told me…we had the rest of our lives to get to know each other better…I can't believe it, I just can't."
Nick arrived at the scene and stepped out of his car. Catherine stood up to prepare to meet Nick and work the scene with him. "I'm sorry Warrick. I…I don't even know what to say. I'm sorry."
Warrick looked at her sadly. "I can't blame you, Catherine. Neither do I."