Ok peeps, here's some more!
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Back at SMPD's crime lab Catherine sat at a table in one of the layout rooms, the miniature in front of her. She'd sent Nick to trace with the white cloth they'd found in the coffee shop, but wasn't expecting him back with results anytime soon. This place seemed almost as busy as Vegas.
With a grim expression masking her pretty features, she slipped on a pair of latex gloves, before picking up a pair of tweezers and a magnifying glass and turning her full attention to Natalie's 'handiwork'. With the aid of the magnifier, Catherine ran her gaze over every part of the miniature. As her eyes moved behind the counter she frowned, catching sight of something tucked beside the coffee machine. She pulled it out with the tweezers and held it up to the light. It was a miniature takeout cup with… something written on it. Bringing both the magnifying glass and cup closer to her face she squinted in order to make out what it said.
"M… Mar… Margalicious?" her frown deepened. "What the hell does that mean?" With a small sigh Catherine placed the cup onto a tray next to her on the table, making a note of her findings in her file before continuing to scour the miniature. She opened some drawers with the tweezers, closing them again when nothing of interest presented itself. It was then that she noticed the trash can in the corner behind the counter. She lifted the lid, leaning closer and peering inside. Her eyes widened as they settled on the small, white plastic bottle nestled on top. She didn't need to bring it any closer to read the word written on it; "BLEACH" glared like a beacon at her. Catherine dropped her tools before ripping the gloves from her hands. Pulling her phone from its spot on her belt she flipped it open, punched in a number and brought it to her ear.
"Brass."
"Jim, it's Cath. You still at the crime scene?"
"Yep," came the slightly exasperated reply. "Still waiting for a uniform to come get me."
"Good. I need you to go back inside and check some things out for me."
"Sure. Where d'ya want me?" she could hear the sound of his footsteps, and the click of the door as it shut once he'd passed through.
"Behind the counter. Look next to the coffee machine and tell me what you see." There was a rustling sound from the other end of the phone, followed by a loud crash.
"Jim? Jim!" A frantic note seeped into her voice when he didn't reply, her mind running down the myriad bad things that could be happening right at that very moment.
"Sorry. Dropped my phone while I was fishing some gloves out of my pocket." The wry smile was evident in his tone while Catherine struggled to calm her racing heart.
"Jesus Jim! Way to give me a heart attack over here!"
He chuckled. "Sorry Cath. You wouldn't want me contaminating any possible evidence though would you?"
She huffed in frustration, clearly not amused. A few beats of silence passed before he spoke again.
"Got a coffee cup, looks like one used for takeout… There's something written on it." He paused a moment. "Margalicious mean anything to you?"
"Nope. Found the same thing in the miniature though. Now can you check the trash can?" More movement from Jim's end, the creak as he lifted the lid.
Silence seeped through the line.
"Bleach. But I'm guessing you know that already."
Catherine sighed. "At least she's kept the rest of her signature the same."
"Pardon me if I don't find that comforting." Jim's reply made her smile slightly. "When the damn uniform gets here I'll make him bag it and the cup and bring them to you at the lab."
"Thanks Jim." They exchanged goodbyes before she hung up, tossing her phone on the table and dropping her head to rest in her hands.
Minutes passed and she allowed her eyes to drift closed. She didn't hear the footsteps approaching, until a hand grasped her shoulder.
Catherine gasped and jumped, whirling round in her chair. Nick stood there, his hands held up in a gesture of surrender.
"For God's sake Nick! Between you and Jim I'm gonna end up heading back to Vegas in a body bag!"
"Sorry boss lady. Your ticker ok?" She shot him a dirty look as she placed a hand to her chest, breathing deeply.
"I assume you scared the crap out of me for a purpose Nick?" He smiled brightly at her, passing her the piece of paper she hadn't even realised he'd been holding.
"Got the results back on the cloth we found." Catherine slipped her glasses on, eyes scanning the page.
"Chloroform?"
"Yup. I'm guessing that's what Natalie used to incapacitate Emma. How'd you get on with the miniature?"
Catherine quickly filled him in on what she'd found, as well as Jim's findings at the crime scene.
"Damn. But did Natalie bring those things with her, or where they already there?"
His supervisor shrugged, removing her glasses from her face. "Only one way to find out."
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Lily
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