Disclaimer: I am not Anthony Zuiker, Ann Donahue or Carol Mendelsohn. All the characters of CSI: NY are not mine…I'm just borrowing them for a little bit. I promise that I will put them back, exactly the way I found them when I'm done….Oh, Cory Reid is mine and I will take credit for anything she does. :)

A/N This is kinda of an emotional chapter (those are the ones I like to write most so…) Enjoy!!

Chapter 3.

Paying Respects

Two days after Garcia confessed to the murder of Valerie Miller, Flack found out the details of her funeral from her family. Murmuring his thanks as he walked away, he searched for the card that had Cory's name on it. Finding it, he decided to call her and let her know the detail.

He admired her in a way. It took guts going to anyone's funeral; much less the one of a person that was killed because of you.

"Reid."

"Hey, Cory. It's Flack. Are you busy right now?"

"Just working on the Ortiz case. What's up?"

"I thought that I would call and let you know that I got the details for Valerie Miller's funeral."

"Thanks. When is it?"

"Friday, 3pm. Do you want me to take you?"

"Are you asking me out, Flack? Cause if you are that is a weird place for a first date!" Cory giggled.

"This ain't a date, Cory. I just thought that you might want someone there with you."

"I know, Flack. I was just kidding."

"Oh. Sorry."

"That's fine. Pick me up at the office at 2. See you then."

As soon as Flack had hung up the phone, it rang again.

"Flack. Be right there." Flack sighed as he got back to work.

--

Cory sighed as she hung up with Flack. She looked up when she heard a knock on her door.

"Travis. What can I do to help you?"

Travis smiled at his hardest working agent. "I have some new files for you to go over on the Ortiz case."

Excitement lit up her eyes. "Really. New data! Why do I feel like its Christmas?"

"You just want to catch the guy. I can't blame you for that."

Travis handed her the disk that contained the new information. "Thanks. I'll add this on and study it."

Cory worked at her desk for several more hours. Finally at 7pm she decided to go home. She saved all the new info on her hard drive at work and also on her laptop to take home.

--

Once home, Cory decided to work out a little. She changed into comfortable clothes and put in her dance CD. As The Prodigy started playing she slowing began dancing. About 30 minutes later she heard her cell phone go off. Pausing the CD she answered. "Reid."

"Cory, it's Flack. We have a case that we think might be connected to Mala Suerte. Can you meet us at the crime lab?"

"Sure, just give me about 30 minutes. I have to get ready."

(Crime Lab)

Cory walked into the lab, her hair still wet from the quick shower she had taken. She had simply pulled it back into a French braid, to make it easier to manage. She was still dressed in a suit, but without heals on.

As she walked into the lab she said, "Hey y'all. What's going on?"

Mac, Stella, Flack and a woman with wavy brown hair that Cory did not know looked up.

Stella was the one that answered. "Do you remember the list of activities that the Mala Suerte is involved in?" At Cory's affirmative nod she continued. "We think that we might have found some human slaves. They are all Hispanic."

"Yeah, Feebie…We were hoping you could talk to them since they don't speak any English," Danny said.

Cory looked at him in shock at the assumption. "Je ne parle pas espagnol, je parle français."

Mac looked at her in surprise. "Vous parlez français?"

Cory smiled "Oui. Je l'ai étudié à l'école."

The rest of the team looked at the two of them in confusion. The unknown woman spoke first. "Excuse me, what are you two saying?"

Mac apologized. "I'm sorry Lindsay. Cory was just saying that she doesn't speak Spanish. She studied French in school."

"Feebie…You live in Texas and you took French in school?" Danny raised his eyebrows.

Cory replied a little peeviously. "Yeah. So?"

"It just doesn't make sense. Are there people in Texas that speak French?"

Cory rolled her eyes. "Of course there are. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone in Texas speaks Spanish. I was going to become an international accountant; French is the second most spoken language in business behind English. Can we get back to the case?"

Danny had the grace to look embarrassed. "Sure."

Stella picked up with the case. "The reason we called you was because the warehouse where the women were found was on the list of properties that have ties to Mala Suerte that you left us."

Cory was all business as she replied, "Which warehouse?"

"The one down by the docks."

"Damn. I wish I had been there. What kind of evidence did you log?"

Lindsay is the one that responded. "We picked up multiple hair samples, fingerprints and bodily fluids at the scene. It looked like there had been an orgy there."

"Montana," Lindsay winced a little at the nickname that Danny called her, "How d'ya know what the aftermath orgy looks like?"

"Who said I knew?" Lindsay shot back.

"You were just talking like ya knew."

Cory interrupted at this point. "Messer. Didn't you just learn not to assume?"

Lindsay laughed at the sally. "I like you. We are going to have to have drinks sometime."

Cory smiled. "That sounds good."

Danny continued describing the evidence that was found at the scene. "I'm gonna run the prints through AFIS, see if we get any hits." He looked at Cory. "You got any FBI tricks up your sleeves?"

"You have as much access to that database as I do, Messer. Let me know what you find."

With that Danny left the room.

Cory turned to Lindsay. "Why does he call you Montana?"

"That's where I'm from. I've only been here for about 3 months. I think he does it to rub it in that I'm not a native New Yorker. It's really annoying. From your accent I can tell that you aren't form here either."

Cory smiled. "I'm from Dallas. I've only been here for about 3 months, too. What do you miss?"

"The wide open spaces, my family and my horse. I miss going riding everyday. It was so much a part of my life."

"I understand. I have two horses back in Dallas. Sampson and Delilah. They are both quarter horses. I ride every time I get a chance. Well, I better go see how Danny is doing with the prints. See ya later, Lindsay."

Cory left Lindsay alone to start processing the biological evidence.

--

Danny walked into the print lab in a daze. That woman is full of surprises. She speaks French? That was just so…sexy. Danny shook himself out of the daze as he began scanning the prints he had pulled from the scene into the scanner. He began running all of the prints through AFIS, hoping to get some matches.

The computer beeped as Cory walked in. "I guess I'm right on time. Who'd the print match?"

Danny looked at screen and replied, "Diego Gracia. You know him?"

"He's a mid-level member of the gang. Has ties to the top, but not one of the top members. Rumor has it that Carlos Ortega is the one that brought him into the gang."

"Where was the print found?" Cory yawned.

"It was found in the front of the building, not where the girls were found. Tired, Feebie?"

"A little. It's what? 2 am? I've been up since 4 am yesterday. I have to be back at work in 6 hours. Can you handle it from here? I really need to go get some shut eye."

"I'm on my way out anyway. I've been on since noon. I'll walk ya home."

"I'm a big girl, Messer. I can take myself home."

"I insist."

"Whatever." Cory yawned again as she decided that she was too tired to argue anymore.

As they walked out of the lab, Danny called goodnight to Mac and Stella. They walked out silently. They did not talk on the way to her house. Once at her building, Cory stopped and said, "This is my stop. Thanks for walking me home."

Danny put his hands in his pockets and said, "No prob, Feebie. See ya later."

Cory walked up to her apartment and went to bed.

--

When Cory got up on Friday, she knew that she had something going on, but couldn't remember what. After racking her brain for a few moments, she finally remembered what it was. God. It's Friday. Valerie's funeral is today. With that thought, she put more effort into getting dressed. She put on a new black suit. It had an A-line skirt that fell to just above her knees. She had a black silk shirt to go under the fitted jacket. Looking at her jewelry, she decided to wear her necklace that had the scales of justice on it. She pulled her hair up into a chignon, finished her make-up and left.

--

A little after one p.m., Cory was staring at the data in front of her. This doesn't make sense. There are parts of this data missing. It's almost like Mala Suerte knew that we were going to get these records and deleted part of the data. With that thought, Cory decided to call Agent Liz Jeffries on the investigation team that acquired the data.

"Liz. Hi, it's Cory. Can you come up to my office? I have some questions about the data you got for me. OK. See you in about 10 minutes."

When Liz walked into the office, Cory was still staring at the data. "Look at this," she said. "There is data missing in these files. Where they like this when you got them?"

Liz leaned over her shoulder and replied, "Yes. I noticed that, too. I thought it was strange."

Cory leaned back. "It's almost like they knew that we were going to be raiding this business and left us enough info to semi-point to what was going on, but not enough to actually nail them for something."

Both women looked up at the knock at the door. Flack stood there in a black morning suit. "Are you ready to go?"

"Is it two already?"

"Yeah. We need to go if we are going to make it to the church on time."

Cory turned to Liz and said, "Sorry. I have a funeral to go to. Can we pick this up on Monday?"

"Sure." She leaned over to Cory and whispered into her ear, "Girl, he is gorgeous! Are you guys dating?"

Cory started laughing. "No. We just worked on a case together. Liz, this is Detective Don Flack, NYPD. Flack, this is Agent Liz Jeffries." Cory turned to Liz. "I'll see you on Monday."

--

As Flack and Cory were walking into the Trinity Church, he turned and asked her, "Why did you want to come to the funeral?"

"I feel responsible for her death. She was killed because of me, so I just want to pay my respects." Cory sounded grim.

Flack thought that there was more to it, but decided not to press the issue. They picked up bulletins and signed the guest book and then were seated. They chose to sit at the back of the church, just in case either of their cell phones when off during the service.

Cory sat there. Lost in her own thoughts, listening to the eulogies from the people who knew Valerie the best. She was trying her best not to let the overflow of remorse that she was feeling show.

The minister took the podium after the last speaker. He said a few last words of respect and then announced that the victim's sister was going to sing "Amazing Grace."

Cory almost gasped in her surprise, both at the song and at the strong resemblance between the two women.

Valerie's sister began to sing.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see."

As the woman began the second verse, Cory couldn't take the emotion anymore and got up and quickly walked out of the church. She choked back tears as she hurriedly made her way to the restroom.

Flack got up to follow her, concerned and when he got into the lobby he noticed her going into the restroom.

In the restroom, Cory sat in a chair that was provided and let the tears she had been holding back flow. Oh, damn. I didn't mean to cry, but that just brought back memories. James, wherever you are, I'm sorry. I let Ortiz hurt another person because of me. I swore on your grave that no one would ever have to lose a loved one because of me again! What am I going to do?

Cory tried to compose herself, but it took five minutes before she could stop the flow of tears. After splashing cool water on her face, to reduce the puffiness, she tried to repair her make-up. With that done, she walked back into the church lobby, surprised to see Flack waiting for her.

"Cory? You okay?"

"I'm fine. And, no, I don't want to talk about it" she answered the unasked question in his eyes. "Is the service over?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I'm going home to get drunk now."

"Are you…" Flack trailed off as he saw the fire in her eyes. "I've got a better idea. I'm meeting the guys at Ray's for drinks. How 'bout you join us?"

"Who's us?"

"Messer, Lindsay, Hawkes, Mac and Stella."

"It does sound better than getting drunk alone."

"Let's go." Both turned and started walking to Flacks car.

Ccabello- Thanks!

Tylerhiltongroupie53- I'm glad you like Cory…she's so developed b/c she's been kicking around in my head for like 6 months!

Chili-peppers-the wait is over…

AshCarroll-I'm glad you like the case…if it's not apparent so far, there is the one major case and then the smaller cases that kinda give you the details.

Screaming-poetically-it's not bad to resent her but trust me…her and Flack are not getting together…maybe in an alternate life…Flack/Lindsay will happen…but not in this chappie…winces…hoping not to get hit

Pnkrckprncss-I'm trying to update enough that I still have a couple of chappies completed-waiting on my awesome beta to review…that's why every couple of days…btw: I love you name! everytime I see it I see I start to sing "Punk Rock 101" by Bowling for Soup..

Texas71-thanks for reviewing! I love reviews! Don't worry, I'm trying hard to balance the action and romance.