Catherine Willows arrived at the crime scene just as the police had turned their sirens off. Nick and Warrick had already arrived and headed in to the small apartment building. As she parked, she noticed a teenage girl sitting on the curb, nearly hidden behind a pair of police officers. They didn't seem to notice her, but Catherine could tell she was distressed. As she approached the curb, another girl sat next to the first, most likely her older sister. Catherine knelt before the pair and waited for a moment. The older girl looked down on her sister who was staring back up with a grave expression painted across her face.
"It's not over, is it?" The younger girl looked down and shook her head in reply. "You might want to talk to her then." Catherine locked eyes with the older of the two. "I'm Chrissy. Christine. This is Samantha." She nodded he head in the direction of her younger sister. Just then Nick appeared.
"Christine? Can I talk to you over here for a sec?" She nodded and stood.
"Tell the truth, Sam, they're here to help." Chrissy regarded her sister. Catherine took the chance to sit next to her.
"My name is Catherine Willows; I'm with the Crime Lab. I'm here to help solve your mother's murder." Samantha sighed.
"What do you need to know right now, Miss Willows?" She was staring straight ahead blankly.
"What can you tell me about what happened tonight?" Catherine was trying to be gentle; Samantha couldn't be any older than Lindsay.
"My father came home, like he always did. And I went to my room. The next thing I know, Chrissy and Emily are banging my door down and screaming. Then I hear a gunshot and sirens. Stephanie was dead and Terrance was nowhere to be found." She looked up at Catherine as though she were looking through a fog. "Two and two, if you know what I mean." She pulled the sleeves of her jacket over her wrists as the sun began to rise.
"You want to tell me why you're wearing a jacket in the middle of summer?" Samantha rolled her shoulders back and rested her elbows against the cement.
"We'll burn that bridge when we get there. I think you should be more worried about how a seemingly happy marriage could crumble to murder in an hour and a half." Catherine pursed her lips. It was a perfectly good question. "If you ask me," Samantha looked up, "I figure she found out something he didn't want her to know." The older woman turned to look at her.
"Like what?"
"I've got a few guesses. But, then again, solving mysteries is your job, isn't it?" She leaned forward, suddenly very serious. "I'm not trying to be mean, I honestly don't want to do your job. Not that your job isn't satisfying, it's just-" She was cut off by the shrill beeping of her watch. Catherine could swear she heard Sam curse under her breath as she looked up at the apartment. "I need to take my meds, when can I go back inside, Miss Willows?" Catherine thought for a moment and stood up.
"I don't think they're done, but I can go in and get them for you. Where are they?" Samantha's eyes widened like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"I strongly advise against that. I really think that's just a bad idea. But that's just me." She ran her fingers through her short hair.
"I don't like liars." Catherine stated.
"I'm not lying. I'm keeping a secret." The older blonde pursed her lips.
"What's the difference between someone who keeps a secret and a liar?" Catherine knew the girl was begging to be challenged, and she was happy to oblige.
"What's the difference between sex and rape, Miss Willows?" She opened her mouth to speak, but was stunned at how mature Samantha was. "Here's a hint: you have it before, and it's gone after."
"Trust." She said softly as Sam stood.
"Welcome to Wonderland, Alice. Hope you brought your Valium."