(a/n)

You'll see that Niamh's name isn't Spencer in this chapter, but that will be explained in later chapters. I'm doing a series of one-shots at the moment because I've got so much on lately. Late nights are letting my imagination run wild, which is bad for me but good for my documents.

E x

Detective Loki first laid eyes on her when she was nineteen, beaten and bloody. She was in a hospital bed, hooked up to tubes and wires. Awake, she could see and hear what was going on, but she wouldn't speak. She had spoken to a doctor when she first arrived, and then to nobody else.

Loki had only worked two big cases, this being the second. Small towns had few detectives and fewer big crimes. When the big cases hit, the media was ruthless.

'Miss?' He said, making two knocks on the door. 'I'm Detective Max Loki.'

All she did was look at him. Someone had messily tied her hair back and bathed her scorned face. She couldn't close her mouth for the swollen cut on her top lip. A small row of teeth were visible from the right angle, but Loki was already being dubiously addressed by her eyes. He presented a badge from the inside pocket of his duck-down jacked, not taking his eyes away from hers.

'I'd like to ask you a few questions, is that OK?'

She didn't speak.

'Doctor Abrams said you spoke to him; they're worried that something could be wrong with you throat.'

She shook her head, scratching the itch on the side of her nose.

'It must have been difficult for you.'

Silence.

She rubbed her eyes, prompting him to take the hint.

'Is it alright if I come see you again tomorrow?' She stayed silent and he left. The car journey back to his condo was cold and stormy. A blast of cold air from the north had hit the state and snow storms had just set in. The dip in temperature would have killed the girl if she hadn't have been found in those crucial moments… Sleep came amongst his thoughts of a different type of investigation.

'Detective Loki,' A chirpy voice bleated. 'Are you back to see Niamh Thomas?'

'Hello, Mary. I am, is she-'

'She's been transferred. Her father asked for her to be taken to a different ward.' She informed him.

'Why?'

'The press had ladders put up at the windows.'

'Shit,' He hissed under his breath. 'What ward is she on?'

'Roosevelt.'

'Thank you, Mary.' The eighth floor was a media free zone, he thought. A couple of flights of stairs and a series of porters led him to her new room. Inside it were vases of flowers; mainly bright ones, to raise her spirits, he thought. She was no longer dependant on tubes and wiring and her skin had a rosy tint to it now.

'Miss Thomas?' He began, before a girl walked past him and into the rose scented room.

The battered patient looked at the girl and smiled.

'Hey.' Her voice wasn't what Max had expected; it was not deep and masculine. It was sweet and husky. Obviously sore.

'How are you- no, thats a stupid question…'

'I'm OK. I'm OK.'

'Can I help you?' The girl asked him.

'Uh, Detective Loki. I'm here to speak to Miss Thomas.'

'Niamh?' The girl began. 'Want me to stay?'

'Can you go get me a soda?'

'Sure. I'll be back in a minute.'

Loki walked further into the room once the pretty brunette left… 'Family?'

'A friend.' She answered.

'Can I ask you a few questions?' She nodded. 'I'd like to know about your relationship with Mr. Morrison.'

'We're friends.'

'Thats all?'

'Do you think he was involved?'

'I don't know yet.'

'We fool around, it's nothing serious. I was seeing someone else.'

'Could he have had serious feelings for you?'

'No,' She shook her head wearily. 'He's... older than me.'

'Yes. But he has links with serious organised crime rings.'

'I know, but he-'

'Look who I found.' The girl said as she stood in the door frame with a soda. A man walked through from behind her, looked at Max and then smiled at Niamh. It was a sincere smile, but there was something Loki couldn't identify behind it.

'Hey, baby.' He said to her, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. 'Walker.' He said to Loki, holding his hand out.

'Detective Loki.' He said, keeping his hand by his side.'

'Have you found the bastard yet?'

'Not yet, sir.'

'I hope for their sake that you find them before I do.'

'I think you should let us focus on finding whoever did this, any other involvement could out our investigation at risk, Mr. Morrison.'

Walker stared at Loki venomously for a split second before effortlessly detaching himself from that personality. 'Of course, you're right.'

'Do you have any enemies, Mr. Morrison?'

'Unfortunately.'

'Could you give me a list of names of these people. Not now, obviously, I'm sure you'll need some time to think. But if you could take the list to the police department in the next couple of days.'

'Of course. Anything.'

Loki left without the answers to his questions. Apart from one. Walker Morrison did have serious intentions towards the girl, that was clear. But they were unreturned.

The truth was that Morrison was jealous of a boy called Fletcher. Fletcher had been seeing Niamh for what was thought to be a few weeks before her disappearance and was a prime suspect from the beginning until she was found. Morrison wasn't a suspect, but speculation was rife about an enemy of his taking revenge. Loki had his own ideas though.

Back in his shared office, Loki looked up Walker Morrison up on the records.

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE

NAME: Morrison, Walker.

ALIASES: Fell, Henry.

ACCOMPLICES: Ancelotti,Giovanni. Andrews,Jermaine. Townley,Michael. Bellic,Niko. Chang,Wei.

CRIME: (see below list).

PLACE OF ARREST: (see below list).

ARRESTING OFFICER: Stanley, Liam. Stevens, David. Davies, Tabitha. Bailey, Mark.

SEX: Male AGE: 34 BIRTHDATE: 7/21/1970 BIRTHPLACE: Republic of

Ireland

HEIGHT: 6" 1" WEIGHT: 156 EYE COLOUR: D. Brown HAIR COLOUR: D. Brown

BUILD: Slim SCARS AND MARKS: Lg. scar on back on neck (left, upper).

NATIONALITY: U.S.A CITIZEN: Yes

RESIDENCE: No permanent address. OCCUPATION: No employer

PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY

DATE CITY CHARGE AND DESCRIPTION

7/6/1987. Broker, L.C. Possession of a fire arm.

6/21/1987. Broker, L.C. Armed robbery. Aggravated battery.

8/21/1997. Dukes, L.C. Money laundering. Assault. Possession of

a fire arm. Grand theft auto.

20/12/1999. Alderney, L.C. Assault. Possession of a fire arm.

9/8/2000. Algonquin, L. . Assault.

7/21/2004. Algonquin, L. exposure (intoxicated).