Chapter 1/?: I Don't Know You At All

I felt sick to my stomach. Not literally, no, but it just seemed like everywhere I looked in the parking lot of my apartment building, there was a couple holding hands or something. I'm sure that wasn't the case, but it just felt that way. Maybe it was just because I felt so alone, but whatever the case was, it sucked. I got into my car, and headed away from my apartment. The first thing I heard when I started the car was my Incubus CD blaring through the speakers. I turned it off, though, because I wasn't even close to being in the mood for music.

I couldn't even specify to you one significant emotion that ran through my head on my way to work that day. That's how chaotic I felt inside. I pulled in, and the first face I saw wasn't exactly the most welcoming one. Ecklie got into his car, with the usually crusty look on his face. He watched my little Escort come into the parking lot, and his crustiness all but doubled. He loathed all people on the night shift. Grissom, Sara, Catherine, Warrick, Greg, Molly and myself…mostly the last three mentioned, though. I ignored him, and got out of my car, to head into the building.

Catherine and Warrick brushed past me, one on either side of me, without so much as a hello. Apparently, they were far too immersed in each other's conversation to even see me in between them. Hopefully they were talking about a case, so that I could justify in my mind why they hadn't even waved. Next, I saw Sara and Grissom, sharing a quick kiss, before going off in different directions. Sara, who was headed toward me, was the second person that didn't acknowledge my presence. Apparently, Ecklie was the only one that knew I was alive today. That's when you know life is sad.

Greg and Nick sat in the break room, talking and playing Playstation. I decided that for once, I would be the one to just walk on by, and not acknowledge. I didn't feel much like talking, anyway. I just breezed past the break room, and walked into the A/V lab, where I was greeted by a not so warm look on Molly's face. "There you are!" she put her hands on her hips, and narrowed her eyes at me, as I entered the room. "I've been waiting for fifteen minutes!"

"Molly, it's only nine-o-five!" I defended myself, not feeling like I really needed to. Why should I have to defend myself to Molly Parker? That was beyond what she deserved. "I'm only five minutes late! Actually, no, my watch is ten minutes fast! So, I'm five minutes early!"

Molly scoffed. I hated that preppy, snobby look she got on her face. It was like some sort of holier than thou attitude, and I wanted to whack it right off her face. Fortunately for her, I couldn't hit a woman. "Anyway," she continued on with whatever it was she wanted. "Cath, Warrick and I are investigating a rape slash murder," she winced when she said the word rape. "…and we need your help."

I was shocked that the egotistical Molly Parker was admitting that she needed help. I was also kind of wondering how she could need it for a rape slash murder, but whatever. She admitted that she needed help, and I was going to give it. "Ok, what's the deal?" I asked, a smug grin on my face.

"The sick freak left a tape of a distorted version his voice, to toy with us, and it's the only even semi-plausible evidence we have. I have a suspect, and Cath, Warrick and I are pretty sure that's who it is, but we need you to do this, to be sure," I saw a half-second of pain in Molly's eye. I have to admit, for that split second, she looked a lot humbler, and a lot prettier than she'd ever looked. That snotty look never suited her properly. "And, I kind of know how to make the voice sound like it's supposed to, but I'm still learning. Which is where you come in…"

I stepped up to the plate. I was being a lot more sympathetic than I thought I could ever be with Molly. "Sure thing, Molly. Where's the tape?" I asked, feeling kind of bad for her. I didn't know why she was being so sensitive about this, but it kind of made me see her in a different light.

She handed me a tape, and we sat down in front of the computer. In the few seconds of silence, which seemed everlasting, I could have sworn that Molly was about to cry. I wondered what had gotten her so worked up; but then again, part of me didn't really want to know. This was Molly we were talking about. But then, this was a different side of Molly we were talking about. She looked like there was some deep running agony inside her, and I felt bad. I actually felt bad for Molly. "Thanks, Archie…" she broke the silence, and flashed me a smile.

"It's my job," I flashed her a quick grin, and then turned back to the computer. "Ok, let me hear the tape, first. So I can hear how warped the voice is, and maybe hear what was done to it…" I explained, clicking the play icon.

The voice coming through the speakers dwindled from high frequency to low frequency. "I killed her, and you won't catch me. None of your fancy tools will do the trick! At least she went out on a good note, though!" The voice was definitely male, though. I could tell that even through the distortion. I thought for a second, typed a few commands in, and then pushed play again. This time, the voice came through all deep, and very masculine.

I looked at Molly, who was listening carefully. "Anything sounding familiar?" I asked, knowing it couldn't be that easy.

She shook her head, just as I knew she would. "Nope…" she looked discouraged. "How long does this usually take?"

"I can usually get it pretty quickly, but the way this one dwindles from high to low frequency? It's gonna be pretty tough…" I explained, sitting back in my chair, and looking over to see the very discouraged look on Molly's face. "But then again, the next one I try could be it. It's hard to tell, really…"

She flashed me a quick, thankful smile. "Let's hope it happens soon…" she went back to her old self. "Then I won't have to be in your presence for much longer!" she crossed her arms, and leaned back in the chair. Deep down, I knew that Molly wasn't going to remain a pleasant being for too long. I hated her, so much.

I closed my eyes for a second, and then typed in another command, and clicked the play button again. Maybe I didn't know after all. Maybe something inside me thought we'd actually be friends after that split second of connection. "How about this?" I asked, before the words played again.

Molly closed her eyes and listened. Again, the harsh words came through the speaker, and she winced. "Actually, yes…" she nodded a little. "That sounds like the victim's father…" she looked on the verge of tears again. "You've just confirmed my worst fear. Is there any way you can save that like it is?"

I nodded, and put the now normal voice on a disc. "Will it hold up in court?" I asked, noticing how my question sort of perplexed Molly, too.

"I hope so…" she replied, taking the disc and tape, and heading to the door. "Thanks again, though, Arch…" she half-smiled, as she left.

"No problem…" I told her. Normally, I wouldn't care, but something inside me wondered what was wrong with Molly. I headed to the break room, to get a cup of coffee, and talk to whoever was there.