This chapter is rather short

I hope you enjoy it!!

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Chapter Two: Just You Wait and See

After processing for about another hour or so, Mac announced to me that it was time to pack it in and head back to the lab. Flack had left about a half an hour earlier, leaving us with a couple of unis to keep an eye on the crime scene.

Danny had yet to make a re-appearance.

Once Mac and I got to the lab, he told me that before I started anything with the evidence, I should get a tour of the facility first. I followed Mac as he walked up to pretty, curly-haired woman.

"Stel?" he asked, "This is Lindsay," he gestured at me, "Do you think you could give her a short tour of the lab? I would, but I need to complete some paper work."

Stella nodded.

"Great," he said. As he was walking away, he added, "Lindsay, as soon as Stella is done with you, you can begin where ever you want with the evidence. Just make sure you inform me of anything you might find out."

"Okay." I said.

"Come on, kiddo, there's a lot to see." said Stella.

Smiling, I followed her.

Stella first took me to the morgue, where I met Dr. Sheldon Hawkes and Dr. Sid Hammerback. Both seemed like very nice men, though Sid was kind of creepy. Next we went to DNA. I had been prepared to be amazed at how technologically savvy this lab would be compared to the one in Bozeman, but I couldn't help but stare, slack-jawed for several moments at how advanced just that single lab was. Next was trace, which was also quite impressive in terms of technology. That is where I met Adam Ross. Stella had nearly made him fall out of his chair when she said his name. Apparently, he is quite jumpy. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I encounter him. After saying goodbye to Adam, we went to the ballistics lab. This lab was much like the ballistics lab in Bozeman. Though I don't recall there being AK47s present in any of our cases. Lastly, Stella pointed out the layout rooms, as well as the evidence storage room.

"Well," Stella said, "I guess you probably want to get back to work now." She pointed into one of the layout rooms, "The evidence for the zoo case should already be in there. Have fun." With that, Stella turned around and started walking away, but she stopped and turned back, "Lindsay, if you need anything, just ask, okay?"

I smiled, "I will. Thanks Stella."

I walked into the layout room and got to work.

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I had been working for almost an hour. I was proud to admit that I had already found several trace materials on the victim's clothes. I was not proud however, to admit that I needed help in finding some more lift tape. 'Where the hell is it?' I thought as I searched through the numerous drawers and cabinets.

I turned toward the door when I heard some one walk in. I was surprised to see Danny. He looked pale. I was actually worried for a moment, but then I remembered the joke he had played on me at the zoo. I just stood there, watching him.

"Can I help?" he asked.

"No. Thank you. You helped enough already this morning." I replied.

He actually had the nerve to look innocent. "Oookay" he said. He found himself a seat and began studying the tape that had been found encircling the vic's wrist.

I was finally able to find the lift tape. As I walked back to my evidence, I couldn't stop the question from slipping out. I was just so curious. "So... where did you run off to earlier?"

I was shocked to see Danny look back at me with what seemed to be anger. "That's none o' yer concern." he said.

I stepped back from him, surprised by his reaction to such a simple question, but I still pressed on, "That's what Don and Mac told me." I said, "I was just curious where you went."

He looked at me again, "Don an' Mac are both smart guys... Ya should listen to 'em." With that, he stood up from his seat, gently picked up the piece of evidence and walked away.

'What the hell was that?' I wondered.

I watched as Danny settled himself onto a stool in one of the other layout rooms. I actually felt kind of bad. Danny obviously didn't want to tell me where he had gone.

I found myself listing all of the plausible reasons Danny had had to leave so abruptly.

He had a wife and child at home who needed tending to... no, I didn't notice a ring. And besides, Messer doesn't really seem like the type to settle down.

He had a doctor's appointment... no, if it were something like that, he wouldn't have gotten so defensive.

I ran through a couple more scenarios that might have made sense before I ran out. That was when I started coming up with the less plausible and less pleasant ideas.

He was secretly a government agent and he'd had to leave so he could assassinate a traitor... Yeah, right. And Don and Mac knew because they were spies too. I almost laughed out loud at the notion.

He was a mob informant and needed to report some important intel to his boss. Danny was Italian right?... That idea had the same problem as the previous one. Mac and Don obviously knew what was going on. I had only known all three men for less then a day, but none of them seemed like they would do anything like that. Plus, it wouldn't explain why Danny's watch had gone off.

Danny was secretly Dr. Jekyll. He had felt himself changing into Mr. Hyde and knew he had to leave before he hurt or even killed some one... now THAT was ridiculous. It didn't explain why Mac and Don knew, or why the watch went off. Plus... It was pure science fiction. I laughed at myself for my wild imagination.

I looked at Danny one more time through the transparent walls. 'I will figure out what you're hiding, Messer... Just you wait and see.'

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