A new Chapter again. Thanks for all of you who have read and reviewed. I have been asked in a review about the Slash thing. To make clear what I meant: No one of the series regulars is going to be involved with a person of the same sex. I just think it's not in character for any of them.

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Warning: Mentions of child abuse

Chapter 2: Family Portrait

After they had told Tara to make X-rays of their victim, Ryan and Nicole drove to the address where Smith's parents lived. Nicole had collected the warrant already, and now both were sitting in Nicole's Merc, driving to the house. As usual, Nicole had the volume turned up, and Ryan had to listen to the Pussycat Dolls' song Halo five times in a row. When they finally arrived, he almost knew the lyrics by heart.

"I seriously don't know how you can like this."

"The Dolls? Why wouldn't I?"

"I mean, it's not like it's high quality music…"

Nicole laughed, "You know, I don't care. I love music that gives me the feeling of freedom. And their music does…" She looked at the house and sighed, "You know. I hate it when I have to tell parents that their child is dead. You really think the father did this?"

Ryan shrugged, "I don't know… I mean… It looks like something… I don't think a random stranger would do this, and I doubt this is from that attack he reported. And unless he's in some sort of strange SM scene… Yeah, I think it was the father."

Nicole sighed, "What goes on in a father to do such a thing?"

Ryan could have told her, but he decided to not. Instead, he rang the bell. A few minutes later, a man opened, "Yes?"

As Ryan didn't speak, but only watched the guy, Nicole introduced them, "Mr Smith? I'm Detective Nicole Ferguson from MDPD, this is CSI Ryan Wolfe… Can we come in?" The man nodded and guided them to the living room. There they sat down on the couch, and Nicole said, "Gerald Smith? I have bad news for you. Your son is dead."

Ryan frowned. He had already sometimes been present when some cop had told the relatives of a victim that their mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother was dead. But never before had he heard a cop delivering the news so cold like Nicole had just done it. She had always had a reputation of being a cold-hearted woman, but since he had only known her other side, this surprised him.

But the reaction of the man opposite them surprised him even more. No reaction whatsoever.

But Nicole was not yet finished. "We have a warrant to search your property and your person."

Now, the man looked at her, "On which grounds?"

"Child abuse."

"I'm sorry?"

Nicole leaned back, "Your son's back is covered in scars. What did he do to deserve such a beating?"

"That's none of your business."

"Oh, it is now. Have you killed your son?"

Ryan looked at Nicole. Her eyes were hard as steel when she looked at the man.

But Smith was not nearly as impressed as Ryan, "I didn't kill my son. Do you want me to report you for harassing me?"

"Do what you think you have to do. CSI Wolfe is going to search your stuff now, while you gonna answer me a few questions…"

"Not without my lawyer…"

Nicole grinned, "We can also do this the hard way, but I would prefer if we just talk. Casually…"

Ryan got up, "I'll be right back…" He walked up the stairs. He didn't have to think long on where to start. His way led him immediately to the parents' bedroom. To the wardrobe. He opened it and looked for the belts. He found four of them. He tested them for blood, but to no avail. Still, he bagged them. In the lab, under a microscope, he would surely find something. He then walked over to Cody's room. It looked like every other room of a boy his age. Actually, no… it didn't. Yes, there were posters of 50 Cent and Timbaland… but one wall was apparently dedicated to Cody and his friends. Ryan walked over to that wall and looked at the pictures. They showed Cody with a bunch of guys. Six or seven young men, all looking very happy and excited as to what life would have in store for them. And now, one of them was gone. He sighed and walked over to the next wall. The only thing on it was a large painting. It was rather abstract, only lots of colours that looked like somebody had just thrown them at the canvas.

"I have no idea what people like about this sort of art…" That was Nicole, leaning in the doorframe.

Ryan turned around, "Where did your friend go?"

"Gerald? Well, he decided he won't talk to me without his lawyer, so I called patrol and told them to escort him to HQ."

"I see… exactly, is that how you question people everyday?"

"Yep. Nothing sweet about me… What have you found?"

Ryan sighed, "I bagged four belts I found in the parents' bedroom. It won't help with our case, but I think the father used them to beat him up…"

"You found anything here?"

Ryan frowned, "I don't know… Does this look like a boy's room to you?"

Nicole looked around, "Sure, why not? And a boy with taste. Timbo is cool."

"When I was his age, I didn't have high classy art hanging in my room. And I was some sort of a dork."

Nicole grinned, "I wouldn't have known… But you ask me, this is not high classy art. He has done this himself."

"The painting?" Ryan frowned, but then checked the signature. "You're right. C. Smith, 3/24/2006. How does this work?"

Nicole explained, "It's painfully easy. You have the canvas, you dip your brush in whatever colour you want and then you just start hitting the canvas with it. Have you never seen Linkin Park's video for Numb? It's a wonderful therapy for aggressions."

Ryan looked at the picture, "You have seen the scars on his back. What do you think, how old are they?"

"You think…?"

"Look at this. It's the only painting around. I don't think he has done this often. And the colours? Red, and black. It's depressing…"

"And even more… look at the black lines. They were drawn on purpose like this…" Nicole bit her lip, "It's a portrait of his back."

Ryan swallowed, but then said, "At least, we have a date… So, the beating took place on the 24th of March 2006…"

"More like the day before. I'm sure he couldn't draw such a painting with his back on fire…"

"Wouldn't be too sure about that…." Ryan said gloomily.

Nicole turned to him, "How…" But a distinct noise interrupted her. Both Nicole and Ryan turned to the door.

A woman stood there, gun in her hands. It was pointed directly at Ryan's head.

EEEEEEEEVIL Cliffhanger. I don't think I will need long to update, but every review makes me post the new chapter an hour earlier, sooooooo ;) Just kiddin'.... maybe :D