Mac raised his camera and took another picture from where he was crouched beside the victim. Footsteps sounded from the front of the warehouse, but Mac didn't have to turn and look to know it was Flack coming to join him.

"Male, in his mid-twenties," Mac informed the detective. "Dead for at least three hours. What did the witness say?"

"Says he doesn't know him, never seen him before in his life," Flack said. "Heard something that might have been a gunshot, then he noticed the body through one of those windows."

Mac stood and moved to the windows Flack had nodded at. "What do you think of the witness?"

"I'd put him down as suspect number one," a new voice said. The woman had a badge at her waist and a camera bag thrown over one shoulder. Her clothing was plain, jeans and a worn navy trench coat.

"Charlotte," Mac said. "I'd like you to meet Detective Don Flack."

"Call me Charlie." She smiled at Flack and shook his hand when he offered it. Flack watched her crouch next to the body where Mac had been a moment before. She pulled a pair of gloves out of the camera bag and began putting them on.

"What makes you think he's a suspect?" Flack asked.

"I heard you questioning him. He said he was jogging, but he isn't dressed for it. He has on sweats, but isn't wearing tennis shoes or have a Walkman or Ipod. Who jogs without music? And more importantly, who the hell hears what they think is a gunshot and doesn't run away from it?" Charlie plucked at the fabric of the shirt around the wound in the victim's chest. "I mean, besides us."

Flack shot Mac a look over Charlie's head, his eyebrows raised. "Not bad," the detective said. "I take it this isn't your first rodeo?"

"Two years on the job down in Florida," Charlie said. She was examining the victim's hands, lifting them and turning them over carefully. "What about you guys?"

"I've been a detective for six years," Flack said. "Mac's been doing this so long he's pretty much part of the crime lab's furniture."

Charlie chuckled. "That's good to know. I'll try not to bang my shin on him."

"I'd appreciate that." Mac, who was still staring at the window panes, turned back to Flack and Charlie. "I think you might be on to something about the witness. These windows are so caked with dust you can hardly see out, there's no way he looked in and saw the body. See what you can find out about the witness, Flack, and tell him not to leave town."

"Already did," Flack said. "I also told him we need a DNA sample and the clothes he's wearing."

Charlie glanced up from what she was doing in time to see Mac shoot Flack a look of surprise.

Flack only shrugged and smiled. "It's not my first rodeo either."

This story is set during season 2, just after Lindsay joins the team.

Please drop me a review and let me know how you like it so far. I welcome all questions, comments, and true stories of adventure!