4- "Agent Szmerka"


Taña Szmerka wasn't planning on that day changing her life either. She awoke and drove to Richmond and checked into shift just as normal.

She arrived at her desk in the Investigative Support Unit a little earlier than expected, so, in a wise move, she decided to overview the case she would be working.

She had been a professional criminal profiler for the FBI for officially two years, but the training and preparation went for much longer. She had just finished her probationary period (all agents had to go through it) and was finally where she had planned on being. She was even beginning to work on a case, but, of course, she was under the watchful eye of her former professor, Agent Johnson.

She retrieved the folder of crime scene photos and scattered them over her desk. The blood didn't faze her; but she was slightly disturbed because the victim was actually a dog. The dog was murdered by a minor, who spread the dog's remains all over his lawn and forced his little sister to watch. She hadn't actually gotten an actual murder case yet, but an agent doesn't receive those until he or she is assigned to a field office. The assignements were due out any day, so that was the news that was abuzz in the office that day, and that's why she didn't find it weird that her superior called her into his office that day.

She did find it weird that the Director of the FBI was in the office as well.

"Agent Szmerka?" Devin Richards asked, standing and shaking her hand. She accepted his hand and tried not to look too confused.

"We received your field office requests," Agent Johnson said.

Taña nodded.

Devin continued, "You requested Denver. Why?"

Taña wondered if this was a test, because you never really do finish your training with the FBI, but continued on as normal, "I went to college there and I fell in love with it."

She smiled, but the Director and Agent Johnson didn't look convinced.

"Uh... I actually have a bad allergy of mold too, and it is pretty dry there..."

"Well, that's a relief," Devin interrupted, "Because we have moved you to a desert climate."

Taña narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "Where?"

"Las Vegas."

"Las Vegas?" She asked, thinking back, "There were no openings in the Las Vegas FBI Field Office. I remember reading..."

"We aren't sending you to the Field Office."

Her insides ran cold, and then she clicked, "The Experiment. You... I... you're using me?"

They nodded.

"With all due respect, Director, but I was first in my class at Quantico and did two internships... I think I would be more qualified working with my fellow agents..."

"Of all my students, I never expected you to jump to such conclusions."

Taña tried not to get angry, "Why are you sending me?"

Devin answered, "A lot is riding on the success of this experiment, so we are sending our top students to the top state crime labs. You are to work there for an undisclosed amount of time..."

"How long?"

"It depends, but maybe the five year minimum..."

"Five years? Working at the State Level?"

"There is nothing wrong with the state level of crime solving, Agent."

"What do I get out of this?"

Taña knew she shouldn't have asked that, and Devin did look a little miffed, but he said, "No Agent seniority."

She wasn't expecting that.

"We are sending you alone, Agent. Your flight leaves in two days."

"You're not telling me something."

"You're right, Agent Johnson, she is smart. You do have one senior to obey."

Taña began to look worried.

"The crime scene investigator who is in charge will be your senior. A Mr. Gil Grissom."

Don't get mad, Taña, just breathe. He would never give a CSI seniority over a GS-13 FBI agent.

"Sir?"

"You heard correctly."

"But when we take over a state case, the FBI always has seniority-"

"We are not taking over, Agent. We are working alongside. This is the only way they will cooperate. And you will too. You will still receive federal government pay as a GS-13 and seniority over the rest of the CSIs. There was no other way to work this, Agent, and as a recent graduate, you and your fellow students are the most qualified to undergo this trail period."

Agent Johnson began to talk, "Imagine how lucky you are, Agent Szmerka. Unlike most profilers, you will be able to start with the CSIs, not after them, you will be able to see the actual scene, not just work with photos. You will be able to profile suspects along with the CSIs, first, and recently after the murder, before they can think up stories of delusion. You will have every opportunity to become an actual profiler, and not a last hope of a case."

Taña took a deep breath and nodded as she took the airline ticket that was handed to her then asked, "Why Las Vegas?"

Johnson smiled at that, "You are the only student of whom I don't worry about partying."

She smiled and left, then paused, wondering if that was a compliment or not. She couldn't ponder it, though. She had to pack for Nevada.

This is going to be very, very interesting...


The grim look on Grissom's face as he walked into the meeting the next day shut everyone up.

"Last night, I received a phone call from Devin Richards."

Catherine spoke up, "Devin FBI Director Devin Richards?"

"Yes. The coordinator of this Crime Lab and the FBI are conducting an experiment that is total bull and will do nothing but waste our time."

Greg was shocked to see Grissom so angry and chagrined.

"Uh, anyone care to elaborate?" Nick asked. Catherine answered, "The FBI is sending a criminal profiler to work alongside us during our murder cases. I read it in the newspaper, but I never expected they would send one to us."

Grissom nodded, "Criminal profiling is the most un-scientific method for crime scene investigation. Totally bogus."

Greg smirked, "Did you just use the term 'bogus'?"

Everyone ignored him, and he passed out the assignments and said, "Greg, you're teaming with Nick. I have to go prepare for our very own profiler."

He stalked out of the room and everyone turned their heads to Cath, who shrugged, "I have never been against profiling."

"We all care about the who, what, when, where and how, but we all know Grissom doesn't particularly care about the why." Warrick said thoughtfully.


"They say the high school years are supposed to prepare you for the real world, which must suck also."