"DiSoto's DNA matched to what we found on the counter," Calleigh reported to Tripp, as he stood outside the interrogation room. "There was also another donor in the sample but we didn't get a match in CODIS."
"This guy is about to get buried," Tripp said.
Alexx approached the pair just then, a file in her hand. "Calleigh I've got my autopsy findings. Carmen Torez was two months pregnant."
Calleigh looked up at Alexx, surprised. "Did you take DNA from the baby she was carrying?"
Alexx waved the file. "Right here."
"Did you find anything about the bakery proprietors?" Calleigh asked Tripp as she compared the DNA sheets on Carmen Torez's child and Pedro DiSoto.
"Checked out clean. Andrew and Jamey Harris, brothers from Fort Lauderdale," Tripp reported. "They said they take Sundays off because it's the Lord's Day."
Alexx made a face. "Must be nice."
"Alexx, was there a paternal likeness to Pedro?" Calleigh asked.
"No, honey, I'm sorry. Pedro wasn't the father."
Frank shook his head. "We've got his blood at the scene. Who cares about motive when we've got your evidence to back it up?"
"Unless it was an unwanted pregnancy," Calleigh ventured.
"If Pedro was hired, then we've got a motive," Frank said.
Getting her ducks in a row was Calleigh just being thorough. Unfortunately, Calleigh couldn't find a motive. After pouring over the DiSoto file for forty minutes, she couldn't find a bank statement or anything to link Pedro to a motive to Carmine Torez. Calleigh walked into the autopsy bay with Carmen Torez's file in her hand. The room always felt cold and strange to Calleigh, who preferred the sunlight of the lab.
Alexx was just washing down her table when Calleigh walked in.
"Hi, honey," Alexx greeted, not looking up from her work. "What do you need?"
Calleigh held the file close to her chest. "I was curious about Carmen's pregnancy."
Alexx walked over to the door that had Elena's name on it. "Want me to pull her out?"
Calleigh nodded and Alex pulled over a gurney. "Help me with this."
Calleigh set the file on a nearby table, put on a pair of small gloves and walked over the the fridge. Alexx pulled the shelf out and nodded to the edge of the body bag.
"Grab a hold, and just move her gently," Alexx instructed as though she was showing Calleigh how to make peanut butter cookies. "You ever want to help me move a body again..."
Calleigh waved her hands in front of her with a shake of her head. "You're on your own."
Alexx smiled. "So, you and Eric."
Calleigh looked at Alexx, her face stoic but her eyes worried. "What about us?"
Alexx unzipped the bag and shook her head. "Honey, you can't fool me. I've known you and Eric too long."
"Alexx I assure you, there's nothing going on," Calleigh said, hiding a smile. "We're friends."
Alexx put her hand on her hip and gave Calleigh a look that told her she wasn't fooled. "Calleigh."
"I'm telling you..." Calleigh started. Alexx raised one eyebrow and Calleigh's smile broke through. Her smile grew wide and she threw her hands up. "Alexx, how did you know?"
Alexx grinned. "Well, if I were going to give you a breakdown of symptoms you're in for it - I'd remark on the eyes Eric was giving you at the crime scene, the smile you've been hiding, the look you had on your faces this morning when I found you in the elevator, or the bruise on your collarbone."
Calleigh's hand flew up to cover her collarbone. "What?"
"I wouldn't have noticed until you helped me with the body. Your shirt almost covers it," Alexx said and Calleigh groaned. "Relax, Calleigh. I was looking for it."
Calleigh looked shocked. "Why..."
Alexx laughed. "Eric looks like a biter."
Calleigh's mouth was agape and she was completely flabbergasted. "I... You..."
Alexx continued to laugh. "Oh c'mon, Calleigh."
Calleigh couldn't help but laugh. "He is."
Alexx let out a cackle and slapped her hand on the counter. Eric walked into autopsy just then, looking around for whatever it was that Calleigh and Alexx were laughing at.
"What's so funny?" Eric asked with a slight smile.
Seeing Alexx and Calleigh sharing a laugh over a dead body was not something one might see every day. Calleigh had her left hand over her right shoulder and Eric looked even more confused.
"Oh nothing," Alexx said, waving the air and giving Calleigh a wink.
Eric gave Calleigh a questioning look but Calleigh just shrugged her shoulders. "So, I'm officially out of the loop?"
"Don't worry about it," Calleigh said with a smile and Eric waggled his eyebrows at her. Calleigh turned her attention to Alexx, who was smiling knowingly. "Alexx, would you please tell me if Carmen had any fractures or old broken bones?"
Alexx opened her notes on Carmen Torez. "I can do an X-Ray right now."
A worried expression washed over the medical examiner's face and she crossed her arms as Alexx looked over the film.
"She's got hairline fractures on her facial bones here," Alexx said, drawing her finger along the dark lines. Alexx put up the other film. "She's had three broken ribs and a broken arm recently."
"Alexx, was there anything in her file about a rape or assault?" Calleigh asked, hoping for sure there was.
Eric shook his head. "She was probably too scared to report it."
"This is so frustrating," Calleigh grumbled. "She should have reported it."
"Illegal immigrants don't know their rights, Calleigh," Alexx soothed. "They don't realise they're entitled to medical attention, green card or not."
"C'mon, if she was a white woman who had been raped it would have been on the news. Latinos don't get the same attention and you both know it," Eric said angrily.
"You don't have to tell me, Eric," Alexx retorted. "I watch the news."
Eric and Alexx shared a look before looking at the petite, blonde woman who was feeling just a little more than slightly defensive.
"Y'all are looking at me like I got a choice before I came into this world whether I was going to be born white or black or hispanic," Calleigh replied defensively.
"I'm just saying you might have it a little easier," Eric said.
Calleigh looked to Alexx who gave her a look that told her she agreed, although Alexx said nothing.
"You're both not serious," Calleigh said in disbelief. "I have blonde hair, green eyes and a southern accent. The first four years in Miami when I showed up on a crime scene they thought I was a reporter, not the cop trying to solve the case."
Eric looked at Calleigh in surprise.
"I have to prove myself every day to men all the time because of the way I look and if you think I have it any easier because of the colour of my skin then you're an idiot," she said and started walking out of autopsy.
"Hey, wait," Eric caught her arm. "I'm sorry. I am an idiot."
"Don't play the race card with me Eric," she said, her voice low. "I would never play it with you."
Eric shook his head in repentence. "You're right, I'm sorry."
Calleigh didn't know why she was so upset. "I would never think a hispanic victim was less important than-"
"Calleigh," he interrupted. Eric brushed her hair back over her shoulder and gave her a boyish smile. "C'mon. I was just mad. You know that's not how I really feel."
Alexx cleared her throat and the pair stepped away from each other. "Eric you came down here for something?"
"Uh, yeah. We found male DNA at the scene."
"Did you ever find out what that disturbance was?" Calleigh asked, crossing her arms.
"It's the same size as bread crates," Eric said. "There was no other evidence to suggest otherwise."
"Is he still upstairs?" Calleigh asked as she moved to the door.
"He thinks he's here for too many parking violations," Eric said, putting his hand on the small of her back. "Let's go."
"Most definitely," she said with a smile. "Thanks Alexx."
