HEADS UP

Still in some kind of dream-like headspace, Phoebe let Sara drive her car as they made their way to yet another crime scene. Phoebe wasn't sure if Sara could pick up on her change of mood; she was trying to hide it. She wasn't sure she should blurt out she was going on a date with Nick. If it turned into a serious relationship, then maybe they would come out with it; but for a first date with the entire night shift team dying to know what was going on? Too much pressure.

Sara and Phoebe pulled up to a average looking home in an average looking street where an average looking mother was bouncing a baby on her hip while talking to a police officer. Phoebe led the way, her kit in hand, as she and Sara neared the front door.

The policeman, Officer Wallis, introduced Phoebe and Sara to Fiona Herington and her eleven-month-old son, Indy.

"I thought a sandpit would be a nice surprise for Indy's birthday next week." Fiona told Phoebe. "I ordered the sand from Shirley's; its one of the best. And to find a head inside…" she trailed off as her face turned a shade of green; she looked like she was about to be sick. "I just want it off my property."

"We'll be as quick as we can." Phoebe told her.

Officer Wallis led Phoebe and Sara out into the backyard. Next to a shiny new swing set was a half filled sandbox with a female head in the middle. It was face down in the sand with long, red hair; the same red hair that Phoebe had seen on the school photo of Lucie Stafford. Rolling the head over, Phoebe knew that this was definitely the same girl. Her eyes were closed and her face was scraped with numerous cuts; but it was definitely her.

Sara sighed as Phoebe told her they'd found the victim. "Well at least we know who she was now."

xxx

As soon as Phoebe and Sara got back to the lab after dropping the head off to Doc Robbins, Greg was waiting for them. The Doc had sent the young lab guru the silver ring that had been on Lucie's hand. He'd cleaned it off and found something interesting to show them.

"There's nothing all that special about the metal of the ring." Greg told them. "Just you're run of the mill sterling silver; all jewelry stores carry it."

"Then what's so important?" Sara asked him impatiently.

"This." he handed Phoebe the ring, which was now in an evidence bag. "It's inscribed."

Looking onto the inside of the band, Phoebe saw that Greg was right. "G-R-L-Z." Phoebe read.

"Anagram?" Sara suggested.

"Or just teenage slang." Phoebe offered. "G-I-R-L-S becomes G-R-L-Z. Although I always thought it was G-U-R-L-Z."

"Maybe it was cheaper to get it minus a letter." Sara said in a tone that made Phoebe think she was mocking her.

"Still, it's not that helpful." Phoebe surmised.

"Maybe her family knows something about it." Sara brought up, remembering that they had now ID'd there victim.

At that moment, Phoebe's phone beeped with a text message. She checked it. "Brass." She looked up at Phoebe. "He found the victim's family."

xxx

Brass drove James and Elle Stafford to the station to ID'd there daughters body. Well, her head at least. That was always a gruesome task. Upon seeing her daughters dismembered corpse, Elle vomited all over the morgue floor before running out of the room. James confirmed that this was indeed their daughter before leaving the room to comfort his wife.

Now, the distraught couple was huddled together on the couch in the waiting room. Phoebe, being the lead on the case, had to be the one to talk to them about their daughters' demise. She sat across from them in the waiting room with a solemn expression.

Elle Stafford was clearly a woman of class. She wore fashionable, dark jeans and a sleek, midnight blue, satin button up shirt. She had the face and complexion of a former beauty queen and the same flowing red hair as her daughter. Although right now her face was stricken with grief.

"I just don't understand." Elle said. "Lucie was perfect; wonderful." She dabbed a tissue to the corner of her eye. "And you're telling me someone just...just tossed her into a machine?" Overcome, Elle covered her mouth as tears watered in her eyes.

James put his arm around his wife. He had obviously been called in from the office. He wore a black pin-stripe suit with a white collared shirt and red tie. His hair was dark brown as were his eyes; but his face appeared sadly dull and hollow. "I want the person who did this thrown in jail." He said to Phoebe. "I'm a lawyer; I'll see to it myself if I have to."

"Mr and Mrs Stafford; I have every intention of finding out what happened to your daughter." Phoebe told them seriously. "Can you tell me if Lucie had any enemies? Perhaps someone from school?"

"Lucie was a beautiful girl." Elle said, as thought Phoebe suggesting anything different was likened to that of swearing.

James pulled Elle closer to his chest. "Truth is, Ms. Parker, we all kind of led our own lives. Elle and I both work and Lucie was always busy with school activities. We may not have been as clued in as we could have been but Lucie knew she could come to us if she had a problem."

"She's so confident; she would have taken care of it herself." Elle said, smiling sadly. "We should've known." She sobbed loudly into her husband's shoulder.

"Why didn't you report Lucie missing?" Phoebe asked.

"Like I said; we lead separate lives." James told her. "I work late; I'm lucky if I'm home before midnight. And Elle's work at the magazine keeps her in her office for hours at a time. Lucie would usually go out with friends for dinner after cheerleading practice. She'd let herself in, get herself to bed...and she'd be gone by the time I got up. When I didn't see her in her bed this morning I just thought she'd stayed at a friends." Tears in his eyes, James looked away from Phoebe.

Phoebe let them have a moment before continuing. "Does this mean anything to you?" She pulled out the evidence bag containing the ring from Lucie's finger. She held it out to James and he took it; sadly touching it with his fingers.

"She never took this off." He said wistfully. "Her and her friends got them for each other last year as a Christmas present." He clutched the ring in his hand. "Can we have this back?"

"As soon as we're done with the investigation." Phoebe promised.

James regretfully handed back the ring. "I want to be informed of everything." He said firmly to Phoebe. "Every clue, every suspect; everything."

Phoebe nodded, understanding his pain. She thanked the couple for their time and left the room. As sad as this case was turning out to be, Phoebe couldn't help but put even more pressure on herself. Now she had a lawyer on her case. She had to solve it; there was no other option.