I decide to add the sequel a little sooner since I got good reviews on the last chapter. Well anyways, the timeline of this sequel is set a few months after Small Town Comfort, meaning that Veronica has been in prison for a few months. If any of you had not read it I suggest you read it otherwise you might be a little lost.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the characters that I create.

Finding Your Saving Grace

It was not too long ago that I came to New York. The plan was to check on Lindsay and get away from home in the process. I thought it would be a fun trip, an exciting trip. More fun than out there. Don't get me wrong I love my hometown in all its country glory but its nice to get out and experience new things. Mom always says that how you should live your life. Although she also says to tread carefully because you never know what's ahead. I guess that's what I failed to do, tread carefully. Because I got into trouble and this time I don't know how to get myself out of it. I mean how foolish could I be to think that I could ever pull it off. I'm tired. Tired of making myself believe that its no big deal. I'm tired of pretending that I am what I'm not. I was never fearless. I know that I made Lindsay believe that. I had to I wanted her to believe that I could handle it. But I can't. I don't even know if I could ever. Why did I think that it would be a good idea to play with fire? I got burned. Boy, did I ever. I keep looking back at what went wrong. In what moment did it all go down the toilet? I have a lot of time to think about that now. About a decade or two to think about it. You know what's funny? I dedicated my life to helping people in need, people much like my new 'roommates' and now I am the one in need. I would laugh if I weren't on the verge of tears. To quote that Rascal Flatts' song, 'what hurts the most' is that Lindsay refused to believe in my innocence. I guess I shouldn't blame her I wasn't exactly telling the truth to her earlier. I know that everything points to me. But I didn't do it. I can't really say who did because I don't know. I know that I'm not giving you much to go on but you have to believe me that I didn't do it. It is stated that 'the truth shall set you free'. I'm hoping for the truth to get me out of this place. I hope that you believe me. I have to go now they're getting ready to send out the mail and I want to make sure this gets to you in time. Tell everyone I miss them. Bye!

"Don't worry sis, I believe you and I'll do everything in my power to get you out of there." The woman says clutching the letter in her hands.

"This is the last stop, Miss."

"Oh thank you." She gets her things and exists the bus.

New York – Crime Lab

"Since Lindsay is off for a few weeks I decided to bring someone in to fill in for her." Mac says to the group.

"When he getting here?" Danny says voicing everyone's thoughts.

"She …and I'm right here." In walks a young woman about 5'7 with shoulder-length reddish brown hair although it would be hard to tell since her hair was held back in an elegant tie.

"I hope I'm not too late."

"No you're right on time. Guys this is Vanessa Villanueva. She will be with us for a few weeks."

"Nice to me you Vanessa." Stella says shaking her hand, which lead the rest of the group to walk up and shake her hand as well. After all the pleasantries Mac handed out the assignments.

"Vanessa, your with me and Danny. We got a 419 at the botanical gardens."

"Would that be the New York Botanical Gardens?"

"Yes why?" Mac asks

"No reason in particular. Just always wanted to go there." Vanessa says as they head to their crime scene.

Botanical Gardens

The body of a thirty year old, Rita Rotelli, was found face down in some plants with her purse a few feet away.

"So can you tell us again what happened?" Mac asks the garden attendant.

"Yeah I was out here on my mornin' route when I came across Ms. Rotelli head first in the rhododendrons. I thought she was 'sick' so I tried to wake her when I turned her I saw the bullet in her forehead and some plants in her mouth. So I thought best to call you guys."

"Does she get 'sick' often?"

"You mean…" the man says making a drinking motion with his hands, "Yeah quite a bit, but since she signs most of our checks we don't call her on it."

"Well thanks for all your help. If you can go to that officer over there he can your information incase we need to contact you again."

"Sure." He heads towards Flack.

"Flack said that this woman, Rita Rotelli, manages the gardens. Could be a reason to kill her." Says Danny examining the body and taking a couple headshots.

"Skin under her nails proves she fought against her attacker." Vanessa says picking up one of her hands and looking at her fingers. She takes the samples and places the woman's hand down gently.

"Footprints in the dirt suggest a struggle or body drag," comments Mac, pointing to the marks in the dirt. Danny takes a shot of the marks in the dirt and tries to make an impression of them in plaster. Vanessa takes the opportunity to look around the grounds.

"This places is beautiful …aside from the body."

"No time for sightseeing, Newbie. We got a murder to solve." Vanessa looks down to him.

"I'm no newbie." Vanessa says with a look of determination.

"Then prove it." Danny challenges. Vanessa kneels down next to Danny and takes out the plants that were in the victim's mouth.

"These don't belong here. There from a Tropical Soda Apple plant. Either the killer got these from somewhere else on the grounds and put them in her mouth or she wasn't killed here." Danny looked somewhat surprised that he had not notice the difference before.

"I'm going to check with the front desk and see if they have any soda apples in the gardens." Vanessa heads to the main building.

"I think she just proved it, Danny." Mac comments. Danny just smiles. 'These few weeks are going to be interesting' he thought. They finish processing the crime scene and head back to the lab after Vanessa tells them that she would stay a little longer.