Hello wonderful readers. I hope this story finds you in good health and not to worn by the world. Before continuing I must confess to being a new Silent Witness recruit. I happened upon this series and I'm very glad I did! If any of the back-story references are inaccurate I do apologize, I rely on snippets from you tube. Constructive feedback is welcome a plenty! Much love flawsinscience x

Between Finger and Thumb

March 14th 1988, Cambridge UK

Whilst the outside world passed by, a vacuum had occurred in academia. Final year students, postgraduates and doctorates alike were having meltdowns over missed results and panics about inability to perform. One such student was Nikki Alexander, hoping that within the next month she would earn a prefix, highly commended in society; her medical degree.

Everyone had their own preference of study location, some worked tirelessly in the library, cursing noisy neighbours and longing for the comfort of pyjamas and more than four hours sleep. Others, such as Nikki Alexander chose to study at home, rarely getting dressed and frequently loosing track of time and day. Moments punctuated by hearing news on the radio, or by way of a 3-day old paper lying disused on the table. The overture of a giggling baby calmed her, a cacophony of babbling words dancing across the corridor like a reassuring lullaby.

Most would fend off responsibility a child brings particularly in the midst of a university career. Nikki wouldn't, she couldn't ignore the fact her flatmate was disowned, outlawed and promised no abode during the upcoming holiday.

'You know that humans take breaks when studying' Freya Riley explained, her soft Irish accent hushed and playful.

'Most humans aren't as under prepared as me' Nikki retorted, not lifting her gaze.

'Rubbish, you've pulled 12 hour days since January. You're sporting a very fetching pallor too.'

'You work just as long as me, if not longer.'

'I didn't ask for it. Sprogging a child whilst studying for biotechnology with immunology is surely some kind of criminal punishment. We'll take the bub for a walk, no more than an hour?'

'Really, I can't. Work at the lab this week was slow; I've got stuff to write up and things to graph. I'm still on for babysitting on Friday night though. Aubrey and I are going to study the neurotoxic effects of PDX-1.' Nikki looked up, hopefully smiling at her flatmate.

'My child's first word is going to be toxin and you'll be to blame.'

'Perks of being Godmother, my aim is to ruin,' Nikki shot her flatmate a wicked grin, grabbing an empty coffee mug she went to fix another drink. 'Give me another hour to finish some more reading and we'll walk to the shops, I need chocolate.'

'Hallelujah'

February 14th 2010, Cambridge, UK

'Good evening one and all,' Patrick wandered into the kitchen, ignoring the odour of student.

'Good evening,' the voice belonged to a petite figure consuming the kitchen table, books piled on papers, a banana skin browning with oxidation. Study accoutrements including vitamin tablets, energy drink, disused coffee mugs and eye drops piled uncomfortably atop journal articles dressed with shocking green highlighter.

'Aren't you going to ask why I'm so chipper?' Patrick paused, gathering the abandoned dishes for washing, depositing the rubbish with disgust. 'No?' he turned round, pausing for a moment. Every so often he would catch her, looking dishevelled an content, her unruly hair tousled in waves soft enough to wrap his heart in old fashioned love.

'Sorry, I'm knee deep in an essay. You know how it is.' Aburey turned around, forcing her Irish curls into a submissive bun 'earth to Paddy! I take it something good went down at the lab.' she stood up, folding herself into his empty embrace.

'I only proved Arran wrong; she was pissed as hell.' He drank in the stale smell of her hair, the immiscible scent of her, a hint of lemon and Chanel juxtaposing much like her life did.

'Well done you,' Aubrey grinned, consumed by the Irish blue of his eyes. 'But don't rub it in her face, it's bad enough she sees you here pretty much every day of the week. And it's valentines, she was probably already pissed'

'Way to reign on my parade and bruise my ego,' Patrick returned, pouting slightly, pulling awkwardly at the shirt creased from a day of hard labour.

'Don't give me the lip, you know I can't resist the lip' caught up in the moment, Patrick lifted his girlfriend into the air, holding her hips close to his as he carried her to the bedroom.

'I know.' His breath was turning raspy and pirimative.

February 15th 2010 Forensic Pathology Unit, London

'New case for you' Leo appeared at Nikki's desk, interrupting her work on a new case study, investigating the hidden effects of chronic toxicity.

'I'm busy, Harry's playing solitaire…'

'It's a case in Cambridge, your alma mater' Leo's kind smile followed. 'I thought it would be an advantage if you looked at it…if it sweetens the deal, take Harry too. We've got one victim and three hospitalized.'

'Are we dealing with a serial killer?' Nikki closed up her research, taking the file in hand.

'Unsure, it could be accidental poisoning. Students aren't known for their sanitary living conditions' Harry interrupted.

'Either way the local police want our opinion, now-' gesturing for them to leave, Leo turned to his office, overhearing his colleagues bickering over who was driving.

15th Feburary 2010 Cambridge, UK

'What kind of student were you?' Harry had won the coin toss, much preferring his new Audi to the outdated Saab Nikki drove.

'You were obviously a rugby player.'

'That wasn't the question.'

'You were obviously leading into a boast on how you played second row for the team which won the national university league in 19-outcake' Nikki beamed triumphantly.

'University of Oxford, two years as second row.' Harry confirmed, catching the satisfaction on his colleagues face. 'So go on, what kind of student were you.'

'The studious type' leaving her colourful history of Cambridge at the three-word statement Nikki drew the conversation to an end. Not an hour later they arrived on a leafy suburban street in Cambridge, populated by students wealthy enough to live on campus, sensible enough to avoid the fine cuisine of halls. Nikki wasn't ready to volunteer her intimate knowledge of the area, noting her favourite watering hole still existed, instead diverting conversation to the events of the previous evening.

'Maybe next year Valentines will be more meaningful' Harry stopped the car a few feet short of the crime scene tape cornering off a Victorian block of flats.

'Dr Alexander and Dr Cunningham from the Forensic Pathology unit'

'I'm the lead detective, DC Chapman. I've got four victims I'd like you to look at. One dead, three on their way to the hospital; one critical and two precautionary.' As they climbed three flights of stairs, a worn red door stood open revealing a young woman lying prone on the floor, a pool of vomit emanating from her mouth.

Lifting a tape recorder out of her pocket Nikki stepped forward, 'victim is laying face down, vomit present in mouth.' Harry helped roll the body over, noting the fragility of bones creaking on one another.

'She was beautiful,' he pulled her eyelid, 'Petichiae evident in the eyes. Shall I take a look around?' The central hallway had several doors wedged open against HMO laws. Choosing the one toward the front of the flat Harry stepped over a pile of washing working towards the laundry room. The occupant had left in a hurry, the bed was un-made, a condom wrapper at the foot of the bed.

'Students!' he called back to Nikki, 'the occupant made a hasty exit,' moving toward the photo board above the desk he noted the couple, filling most of the pictures.

'Nikki, in here now!' in a deadpan voice he waited for his colleague, staring at the photo of her on the wall.

'What…' looking round the room Nikki felt her stomach lurch, she recognised these belongings. The textbooks on the table, the characteristic detritus collecting dust on the table, 'Harry cover for me, I need to go.'

Without waiting for a response Nikki was gone, her overall discarded before she reached the tape on the street below.

Harry studied the picture; obviously taken during the previous summer, judging by the wispy brown braids Nikki was sporting. 'Leo, this case just got a whole lot more interesting. How soon can you get here?'