CSI: NY

"February, Bikinis, and Babies"

Chapter 1- Winter in a Parking Deck

Up one the thirty-fifth floor of the CSI department of the NYPD Stella Bonasera-Taylor was sitting at her desk looking over the file of the case they had just been assigned the day before…

Walking down the wide aisle of parked cars in the cold parking deck Stella could see the crime scene area up ahead tapped off with the bright yellow tape. Walking next to her carrying both of their crime scene kits was Dr. Sheldon Hawkes. One thing they both already agreed upon was that concrete parking decks and February weather did not go together- both she and Hawkes were dressed in heavy winter jackets to protect themselves from the cold winds. Well Stella had bundled herself up the best that she could with her nine month size swollen belly. Reaching the tape Stella caught the attention of their close friend and co-worker Detective Don Flack. Seeing Stella waddling over to him Flack immediately lifted the tape and let both Stella and Hawkes into the crime scene area. Being inside the scene Stella was able to see who their victim was. On the ground in a sprawled position, and blood pouring from the neck was a beautiful woman. The only unusual thing about her was that she was wearing a string bikini in February. Glancing down at the victim then to Flack Stella asked, "Do we know who she is?" With a shrug and a small grin Flack said, "Well unless she has hidden her ID somewhere in her tiny bikini we haven't found anything, so for now she is a Jane Doe." Kneeling next to the body with his kit by his side Hawkes said, "She may be a Jane Doe but I can tell you how she died- cut to the throat, she bled out." Coming up quietly from behind came, "So I guess we can all go home now. The Doc has figured out how she died. Good, I wanted to spend more time with little Lucy anyway."Laughing quietly Stella said, "You know that would never happen, Danny. We still have to process the scene." Looking at Stella in the face with his little grin Danny said, "I know that Stell. I was just trying to liven up the mood."As Stella laughed at Danny for the second time Danny looked Stella up and down, and asked, "Should you really be processing the scene Stella in your condition?"Placing both hands on her belly Stella said, "Well I could try to process the scene as long as one of you helps me get back on my feet when I fall over from the extra weight I have in front…No, I promised Mac that I wouldn't do any manual work this close to my due date…So Hawkes, you can collect evidence and fibers from the victim while Danny takes pictures of the crime scene." Nodding at what she said Danny and Hawkes immediately got to work. To let them get started Stella moved over to the side to give Hawkes and Danny room to complete their jobs. Right then Flack came over to her side and asked, "You alright Stell? Do you need to sit down?" Before she could reply Don turned to the other uniformed officer on scene and said, "Bring that stool that I brought to the scene over here for Mrs. Bonasera-Taylor to on."The uniformed cop immediately complied with Flack's command. When the stool was brought over Stella slowly lowered herself down on top of it and felt immediate relief in her feet. Looking up at Flack with a curious expression on her face Stella said, "You just happened to bring a stool with you?" Sighing and giving her the most innocent expression he could make Flack replied, "Well I wasn't sure if it would be you coming with the team to answer the call or Mac. I figured I'd come prepared in case you did come seeing that in your condition you're not supposed to stand for long periods of time." Seeing the surprised expression on Stella's face from his explanation Flack stated, "I remember certain things that my mom experienced while she was pregnant with my sister, and the need to sit more often was one of them." Nodding and rubbing her belly Stella replied, "Thanks Flack," and then turned back to see how Danny and Hawkes were doing. Watching them she heard Hawkes say, "There is a stain on the bikini top that's probably blood. We'll have to send it to Trace to make sure, and we can send the bottoms as well." Taking the tweezers Hawkes then leaned in closer to look at the wound on the vic's neck. Holding the small mysterious object up in the air for a better look Hawkes said, "Found a semi transparent pebble or bead of some sort in the neck wound, and there is also a fiber of some type of rope in the wound as well." Attempting to lift the victim's arm Hawkes found it somewhat difficult, seeing this response he noted, "Rigor is beginning to wear off so she has been dead over six hours but we will have to wait for Sid's report since she's been exposed to this February weather. My estimation may be off." Busy watching Danny and Hawkes work and then listening to Hawkes' findings Stella didn't hear the approaching footsteps behind her. Feeling an unsuspected arm glide across her shoulder Stella jumped in surprise. Turning to see who it was she smiled when she saw that it was Mac. After leaning in and giving Stella a quick peck on the lips Mac revealed calm, questioning expression on his face as he asked, "What are you doing here Stella? I thought that we had agreed that you would lay off the field work being so close to your due date?" Taking hold of Mac's hand that was on her shoulder Stella replied, "I'm fine Mac. You weren't in the office when the call came in so I decided that I would help out and do what I could, which is basically nothing. Danny, Hawkes, and Flack have been taking great care of me. Hawkes even carried my kit for me, and wouldn't take no for an answer." Staring at Danny and Hawkes as they worked Mac heard Hawkes say to the uniformed cop, "We are pretty much finished here so you can bring in the stretcher and body bag now."Camera still hanging around his neck Danny walked over to Stella and Mac and said, "We've gotten everything that we need from here. Hawkes is going to get Sid to send the bikini to Lindsay in Trace. I got the Victim's fingerprints since she didn't have any ID that we could find."Nodding Stella said, "You can have Adam look at the pebble or bead that Hawkes found in the victim's wound, and he can also test the string that he found and tell us what it is exactly." That said Stella began to slowly stand up from the stool. Not skipping a beat Mac and Flack each took an arm and helped her to her feet. Making their way away from the crime scene with the victim in a body bag Mac positioned himself next to Flack and said, "Ok, Don fill me in on what we've got."…

Blinking her eyes and giving her head a quick shake Stella began to wonder what had brought her out of her train of thought of what had happened the day before. The sound of her phone upon the desk singing its loud tone answered her question. Bringing the phone to her ear Stella answered,

"Bonasera-Taylor"

"Stella, its Lindsay, can you come to the trace lab? I have something that I think you'll want to see."

"Sure thing Lindsay, I'll be there as fast as I can waddle."

Hearing Lindsay laugh at her response Stella hung up the phone and began her weird act of getting herself to her feet. Just as she made it to her feet Stella felt a sharp pain in her upper abdomen near her ribs. Rubbing the spot where the pain was Stella didn't think much of it and started her slow walk to the trace lab.