So..this is my first shot at a CSI:NY fanfic. This chapter basically provides some background information on the case and such. I will post chapter 2 (already written!) if you'd like. The story become much better in that chapter! Happy Reading!

Chapter 1

The cool breeze swept through the narrow New York City streets tossing leaves and unwanted pieces of garbage throughout the streets and alleys. Taxis and other vehicles crawled in the typical morning rush hour traffic of the city as passers by shoved through the masses of tourists who insisted on walking at a snails pace to take in the city experience. Person after person moved past, not thinking about anything except themselves and where they were headed. No one really looked around themselves at each other. Just up at the tall buildings and straight in front of them. No one stared down the adjacent alley and the unmoving occupant who lay twisted on the ground. No noticed her at all. She was forgotten- just another unnoticed casualty of the city. A creak echoed through the dirty alley as the back door of a convenience stored opened. The owner stepped out with hands grasping bulging smelly garbage bags. He walked the short distance to the dumpster, threw the leaking bags in, turned around, and gasped.

"Oh my god!"

Mac Taylor reached into his pocket and pulled out his ringing cell phone.

"Taylor." He didn't want to hear what was coming next. He had grabbed his coat and was reaching for his CSI kit before the words even hit him.

"It's Flack. We have a crime scene."

Mac sighed as he walked out of his office. He loved his job, but days like today he wished that he had chosen something a little more normal. A little more routine.

"Taylor? You hearing me?" Flack's voice echoed from the tiny black electronic device and cut into Mac's thoughts.

"Yeah- I'm on my way. Call Stella and Lindsay and have them meet us there." Mac walked into the elevator and punched the button for the ground floor. It was going to be a long day. He could feel it.

"What've we got?" Mac questioned Flack as he authoritatively lifted the bright yellow police tape and stepped under it. The sun shone brightly and illuminated the entrance of the alley. The slender body of a young woman lay partially hidden in the shadow of a large brown dumpster. Buzzing flies attracted to the garbage were now beginning to shift their focus to the lifeless body lying on the dusty ground. Mac swatted them away.

"Caucasian Female DOA. 27. Her id says her name is Jennifer Long. COD looks to be blunt force trauma to the head, but you'll have to check with Sid to be sure." Flack responded as Mac knelt down with a camera to take a preliminary look at the girl, whose body lay twisted, one arm reaching above her head and the other across her midsection.

"She wasn't killed here. She was dragged to this spot. Look at the blood trail and the dirt smears across her sides. It's like the killer wanted us to find her..." Mac sensed her usual hurricane intensity before he even turned around.

"Isn't that my job?" Stella stood behind him with her own camera in hand, "You call me to a scene, and then take over my tasks? I may as well go back to the lab."

"Stella." Mac looked up into her vibrant green eyes and motioned toward the body, "Have at it. Where's Lindsay? I need her collecting evidence."

"She...and Danny...are on their way. They had... to finish up...at...the lab." She relayed in between camera shots.

"Never mind, boss, we're here," Danny stood with his processing kit in hand, ready to accomplish whatever task was delegated to him. Lindsay stood beside him already wearing gloves and carrying evidence bags.

"Good," Mac stated, "Danny, I want you and Lindsay to process the scene. Look for any trace evidence you can find. I'm going to find out if there were any possible witnesses. Let me know if you find anything." He joined Flack who was interrogating the convenience store owner who had found the body. The man looked pale and fear radiated from his large blue eyes.

...yes, thank you. Here's my card if you can think of any more information," Flack turned away from the owner and sighed. Mac raised his eyebrows curiously.

"Our store owner is here from Vietnam on a visa. He didn't give me much- too afraid that the is going to be sent back to his country. This is his only way of making money for his family," Flack sighed.

"Well what he doesn't know the evidence will tell us," Mac pointedly told him.

An hour later a pile of evidence bags stood knee high beside Lindsay as she removed her gloves. If she had to pick up one more fiber... She straightened up and stretched. Her back cracked as she twisted from side to side.

Stella snapped her last picture of the crime scene. Something wasn't right. She could feel it. This case seemed strikingly similar to one that was currently being investigated by Hawkes and Danny.

"Hey Mac. You got a minute?" She called across the alley.

"Yeah?" Mac asked as he walked through the shadows to join her in the sunlight. Her loose brown curls were illuminated by the sun's rays and the breeze tousled them gently. A stray curl fell across her forehead, but she didn't seem to notice. Typical Stella. Mac lifted his hand and brushed the curl away from her face. He smiled, "There." He wished that he could wipe the troubled look off of her face as well.

Stella smiled gently. "Thanks," she whispered.

"What's wrong?"

Stella pulled the camera strap off of her neck and handed it to Mac. "Look at the bruises one her wrists and ankles. She was bound, but tried to twist out of it. This girl put up one hell of a fight."

"Yeah..." Mac didn't see where Stella was taking the conversation.

"Mac, there's something about this case...it seems to familiar. Almost...almost like the case that Hawkes and Danny are investigating." Stella advanced the digital pictures to the second crime scene that she was describing, "Look."

Mac's eyes widened. Why hadn't he noticed before? The cause of death on the victim Stella was referring to had been trauma to the head. The vic had been bound just like the one lying in front of them and dragged out into an open area in another alley across the city.

"Taylor!" Flack's voice cut through Mac's thoughts, "I've gotta go. Another body was just found on the Upper West Side."

Mac nodded and Flack quickly disappeared in his NYPD car, red and blue flashes bouncing off of the reflecting windows in the area.

"Stella...if you don't mind, I'm going to go back to the lab to compare these cases. If this is a serial killing, we need to stop it. Now."

"Take Danny with you. He's on the case and might be helpful. Hawkes is still at the lab, too. Try to figure out if these killings really are related." Stella followed Mac out to the street full of curious onlookers who apparently needed a cheap thrill for their day. Too bad the thrill had come at the expense of an innocent woman's life. Mac shook his head. "You and Lindsay don't mind finishing up?"

"We're almost finished. Give us another half an hour or so. Here- take this evidence back with you. It may help," Stella handed him five clear evidence bags containing various fibers and hairs. "Lindsay has the rest- we'll bring it with us."

"Messer- let's go!" Mac's voice carried down the street to Danny as he got into his car.

"Boss, you want me to leave the women alone? Is that a good idea?"

Stella's fiercely independent streak flared, "Hey! I'm a cop, too, you know. I am perfectly capable of handling myself. I went through the SAME training as you and worked just as hard to get here. So, what makes you think that I am any less capable of defending myself. Nothing is going to happen any-"

"Alright, alright!" Danny held his hands up in fake surrender as Stella rambled on, "I'm sorry- it's just that a male cop is typically always on the scene. I can't help it if I'm a little protective of you and Lindsay. You both-"

"Yeah, well, we'll be fine!" Lindsay snapped as she joined Stella's side, her arms crossed in defiance.

"Sheesh! See you back at the lab!" Danny gave up his argument and stepped into Mac's waiting car.

Stella and Lindsay turned around.

"Men." Lindsay spat out. Stella rolled her eyes in agreement...

If you liked it, feel free to review! It will help me stay motivated! :-)