Las Vegas Crime Lab

Las Vegas, Nevada April 28th 2004

But, Mom, that's not fair all the kids at school are going." Meghan's voice sounded whiney over my cell phone if all the kids at school jumped off a bridge would you?" I countered.
"Besides you told Michelle' mother that you would help Michelle babysit on Friday night."

"I know Mom but.."

"Meghan hun, I'm sorry but I really don't have the time to talk right now ok? I'm on a case here and I'm just heading in to see Uncle Greg ok? I'll talk to you soon, love you."

"Bye mom, love you too."

"Greggo, tell me that you have something for me." I said strolling into the lab.

"I wish that I could Tessa but I got nothing." I stared at him in disbelief. "Ok thanks Greg." I walked out of his lab feeling slightly disgruntled. In my state of disbelief at having lost a potentially important lead, I ran smack into Warrick.
"Hey just the CSI that I was looking for." He said, I could tell by the look on his face that he too had nothing that was gonna help us. "We got nothing. Damn, Tessa, what the hell are we gonna do?" I could hear the frustration and anger in his voice.
I shrugged wearily. "Nothing we really can do, with out the sufficient evidence he's gonna walk Rick." I slammed my hand down on the top of the table as we entered the break room. "Damn it." I snapped angrily. Nick and Sara came into the room just then.
"What's got you steamed Tessa?" Sara questioned. I stalked over to the coffee pot and poured some "break-room sludge" into my cup. "We lost him. No evidence, no DNA, nothing. He won we lost…end of story." "Tessa, what the hell is up with you? I've never known you to just give up on a case like this." Sara said to me.
I shrugged tiredly, but wasn't given the chance to answer because we were interrupted by Anna, the receptionist from the front desk. "Tessa, there's a letter here for you, it was just delivered." I took the letter from her. "Thanks Anna"

I looked at the envelope, but there was no return address. The only name on the envelope was mine. "Ms. Theresa M. Matthews" Sara said reading the envelope.
Rick looked up. "Let me guess now, your middle name must be Marie. And I thought that nobody called you Theresa?"

"You're right on both counts. Actually though, there was only one person that ever called me Theresa." I carefully read the letter; "Theresa please met me at Boulder Café Friday night. I have some information that I think that you should know." I read the letter out loud. "Its signed Emily."

Sara looked at me. "Tessa, your mom's name was Emily wasn't it? You said that she's the only one that called you Theresa….." her voice trailed off as what was happening sank in. Warrick, however was totally out of the loop. "So what s the problem"
I shook my head.
"The problem is, Rick, my mother died when I was twelve."