Disclaimer: I do not own Law & Order: CI. It belongs to Mr. Wolf and I am in no way making any money off this work.

PROLOGUE

May 27, 2005

9:53 PM

Lauren Grant stepped out of the taxi. Turning back to the teen inside, she said, "Thanks for the movie invite, Carrie, I had a great time."

The blonde smiled, "Any time, Laurie. I know how much you love Star Wars, and I can't pass off the chance to see cute boys."

Lauren laughed, "I should've guessed that was the real motive behind it. Are you going to school to clean out your locker on Monday?"

Carrie groaned, "Yeah, I have to."

"Well, meet me at the deli at the corner and we can walk together."

"Sure thing! Bye, Laurie".

Lauren shut the cab door, "See you, Carrie."

Walking into the lobby of her apartment building, Lauren grinned to herself. While she was a true fan and grasped the depth and story within Star Wars, Carrie only saw the quote "totally, amazingly, gorgeous Hayden Christensen". Once inside the elevator, she pressed the button for the fourth floor.

As the elevator clattered upwards, Lauren began to make mental lists. Ok, tomorrow, I need to go to the grocery store. We need some food and mom will be, she grimaced, busy. Then, I need to find some drain fluid 'cause the shower drain is clogged. The elevator stopped and the doors opened.

Exiting, she made a left turn and made her way through the darkened hallway that was only lit buy sconces placed at intervals, and stopped at number 45. Lauren tried the handle and it opened to a dark room.

Immediately, she noticed something wrong. It was only ten o'clock – her mother should be sitting on the couch watching TV. Lauren also saw the curtains fluttering in the breeze of the opened window, the window that led to the fire escape. The apartment was eerily silent.

Reaching to her right to where she knew the umbrellas were kept, Lauren flipped on the light switch and brandished an umbrella in front of her like a sword.

"Mom?" she called out hesitantly.

There was no answer.

Looking around, Lauren observed a small chink of light coming from her mother's bedroom. Walking cautiously towards it, she again called out, "Mom, are you ok?"

Again, there was no answer.

Lauren pushed open the door and dropped the umbrella in shock.

Her mother was lying on the floor, dead and surrounded in blood.

Fighting off waves of nausea, Lauren carefully walked around the blood and squatted down. She lifted up her mother's wrist and checked for a pulse. There was none. Lauren let go and stood up. I need to call the police. Starting to cry, she walked in a daze over to the phone.

Picking the phone up with a shaking hand, Lauren dialed the number, "Hello? Yes, my name is Lauren Grant. Please, my mother was stabbed," she choked, "I tried to find a pulse, but there was none".

On the other end she heard, "Alright, we are sending a squad over. Can you give me your address?"

Lauren proceeded to give the information. Once she did, she hung up. Making her way shakily to the couch, she sat down slowly and waited for the sirens that announced the arrival of the police.

A/N: Well? How was it? Constructive criticism is appreciated. If you find a mistake, I will be more than happy to fix it.