Jo walks out of the elevator. It was 4 am, but she couldn't sleep and decided to go to the lab, seeing if there was anything she could do to help the case. When she walked to the coffee machine, she almost got run over by Alexis, who was running through the lab with a big mug of coffee.
'Hey, watch your step!'
'I'm sorry, Jo! I'm just in a hurry. I want to get this thing cleared out, but it doesn't work.'
'How long are you busy with it?'
'I started last night at 7 pm. I've been here since them.'
'Really? Let me take a look, see if I can help.'
They walk to the lab, where the computer is running. Alexis is looking into a microscope, sights and sits back in a seat.
'I have no idea what this is. I've run it through 6 different databases right now and I can't get a match.'
Jo looks through it, but shakes her head, not a clue having what it could be.
'Do you know what Danny found, the pink fiber?'
'Yes, it was probably from a pink jacket, made from pink silk.'
'That most have been expensive, and extraordinary.'
'It was. It was made by Réne Lezard. Very expensive and fancy brand in Europe.'
'So, why don't you look if this sticky thing you found has anything to do with this brand, or with the making of it.'
Alexis typed something in on her computer. She puts it on a table near her and pulls of her 6 inch heels. Slowly she pulls op her legs and lays them next to her on the chair.
'Are you tired?'
'I'm dead tired. I could sleep for ages.'
'Well, this is going to take ages, so why don't you just close your eyes a bit.'
'You sure?'
'You stayed up here all night, so I guess you just need to sleep. It's okay, I'll wake you.'
Alexis nods and closes her eyes. After a few minutes, Jo can hear her breathing very frequently, and she knows Alexis is asleep. Then she feels her own tiredness. Nobody is in the lab, so why not? She closes her eyes and falls asleep in seconds.
Jo wakes up, hearing a annoying beep, different than the beep on her alarm clock. She opens her eyes and sees the computer from the lab. She sits up and rubs her neck. It feels a little stiff, sleeping in a small chair. Next to her, Alex is still asleep. She looks so small and sweet, totally different than the strong and independent woman Jo hired. It's 7 am, they slept for a few hours. The beeping continues and Jo looks at the computer. They've got a match. She walks to the small canteen and makes two big cups of coffee. She walks back to the lab and wakes Alexis.
'Good morning, time for work.'
Alexis eyes open rapidly. Then she yawns and gets up. Her hair is a mess, her makeup has been destroyed and she looks tired.
'I'm sorry, I didn't wake. What did you found?'
'We've got a match. The sticky stuff you found is glue. It was used to glue a button on the jacket the fiber was from.'
'Of course! Why didn't I think of that.'
'Doesn't matter, we got it now.'
Than Alexis sees herself in a mirror and sighs.
'I look awful. I'm sorry, but I'm going to the toilet, making myself look better.'
'If you think you need to, go on.'
Alexis walks of and Jo looks herself in the mirror. Her hair is still in shape, her makeup isn't erased, but she looks tired. Rapidly she puts it away and looks where the jackets are being sold. A quarter later, Mac walks in. As he sees Jo, he looks at his watch.
'You're early today.'
'I've been here since last night. Alexis and I discovered what the gluey stuff was we found on the crime scene. It's a special glue, made from lama spew, used to glue the buttons on the jacket Danny found fibers of.'
'Lama spew?'
'Yeah, pretty expensive and particular. This is the only shop in New York who sells them, and they are only for sale since last week.'
'Let Alexis and Don take a look at the place. Talking about Alexis, where is she?'
'I'm right behind you, boss.' Mac turns around. There is Alexis, standing in front of him. The jeans and T-shirt she was wearing last day made place for a panty and a long sweater. She's barefoot, because her shoes are still standing in the lab. She walks past Mac to take them. Her hair is in a simple knot, her makeup simple and natural. When she starts talking, Mac startled a little, but corrects himself in just a few seconds. It isn't that he likes her, he likes somebody else more. But she is a beautiful woman.
'So, where did you want Don and me to go?' She asks.
'This shop. It is the only shop where they sell the pink jackets.' Jo says, showing her a photo.
'I'm on my way. Call me if anything happens.'
They watch her walk away.
'Mac, are you okay? You're so quiet lately. If there's anything…'
'I'm fine Jo. I'm just worried how somebody could be killed inside the lab, and in my office.'
'I know what you mean. I'm scared to. But something else, what do you think about Alexis?'
'I don't know. She looks like a nice, smart young lady. But there's something about her, I can't really explain what.'
'Give her a change. I know, she's totally different than the rest of the team, but I think she fits. This team could use some new genes. Some freshness, someone with new ideas, other ways of working. I like her. She reminds me a bit of the young Jo.'
'She does? Never thought you would walk around whole day in high heels, wearing a dress.'
'There are things you don't know about me, remember that.'
Mac smiles.
'I'm going to Lindsay, seeing if she found something from the blood on the knife.'
'I'm going with you.'
'No, you're not. Remember you send me home for working to long and being tired like hell? Now it's my turn to send you home. No offend, but you look like crap.'
'Thanks Mac. I know, I'm really tired. But I want this case to end.'
'Me to, but we having nothing if we're going to make mistakes because we're tired. So, go home.'
'Only because I have to listen to the boss. I'll be back in a few hours.'
'Bye Jo. And sleep well.'
'Bye Mac.'
