The blue Defender rolls to a stop at the curb. DCI Stanhope climbs out of the vehicle in her typical neutral colored ensemble, and trench coat. Her boots click against the wet pavement as she ambles towards the crime scene tape. Her colleagues are visible as she approaches the front door of the home. The house is like any other on the quiet street in this neighborhood. The exterior is a shade of grey, and small, evenly spaced shrubs line the walk way. The decedent's neighbor stands next to Aiden.

The sound of a shrieking human are the most striking feature as she approaches the door. Vera stops next to her partner as the neighbor fails to quiet the infant secured in her arms. The middle aged woman with dark hair secured in a bun, wearing a bathrobe atop her pajamas meets Vera's glance with a weary look.

"This is Laura Hilston she was out walking her dog around five thirty. She heard what she thought was a car backfiring, but the street was empty. An hour later she came back out with the dog, and that is when she noticed the light was on upstairs. The window was open, and she could hear the little lass screaming."

Laura shakes her head, "I knew something was horribly wrong. Maggie never lets her cry it out. I rang her, and she didn't answer. I have a spare key in case of emergency, and so I let myself in. That's when I found her," she explains as the swaddled infant continues to screech.

"Is there anyone you can think of who would want to hurt your neighbor?"

"No," she insists as she rocks the baby.

Aiden offers Vera a pair of blue booties assuming she is eager to head into the crime scene. Her eyes remain affixed on the wailing baby as she subtly shakes her head. She takes a step closer to Laura. Her face softens.

"May I?"

"I've tried everything. She's not stopped crying since I found her. This is just so unbelievable. You can certainly try your hand."

Vera nods as Laura places the rosy cheeked infant into her arms. The little one is only a couple of months old.

"Now listen pet," Vera muses, "You're safe."

Aiden, and Laura stare at each other in utter shock as the infant falls totally quiet. They all stand there is silence for several passing moments as the infant drifts to sleep in Vera's arms. Once she is certain that the little one is out, she returns her to Laura. Without another word she dons her booties, and heads in the door to the crime scene.

She finds Malcom in the master bedroom up a flight of stairs. Maggie Wilson lies in her bed with as Malcom bags her hands. Vera stops in the doorway of the room.

"I won't ask cause of death that is apparent. How badly did the neighbor contaminate your crime scene?"

"She steered clear of any visible blood. She did check for a pulse, but she assures me that she didn't touch anything else. She's volunteered a sample of her DNA."

Vera surveys the room. A weapon lies next to Maggie on the surface of the bed. Vera's gut says something is wrong, but the crime scene has yet to offer any support.

"It may be of interest for you to know that she was left handed."

"If that is true why is the weapon in her right hand, Malcom?"

Back in the bullpen Vera is standing at the white board applying a picture of the victim to the board. She readies her marker as the team stands nearby.

"What do we know about our lass?"

"Maggie Wilson age forty four. Single, never married. One child. The neighbor reports that she's lived in the same house for fifteen years. She is the CFO for a marketing company, Keystone and Associates," Aiden rattles off.

"Have we confirmed that she is left handed?" Vera queries.

"Yes, Ma'am," Jack responds, "I've just hung up with her boss, Henry Rivers. He confirmed she is left handed."

"The weapon in question is not hers," Kenny adds.

"The neighbor was pretty close to her. She said that she underwent five years of fertility treatment before she succeeded in having her daughter," Aiden chimes in.

Vera furrows her brow, "All of the time, effort, and money into having a child, only to allegedly end her life a couple of months after giving birth? Kenny get me financials. Mark the usual. Jack find out everything you can about her fertility specialist."

A series of head nods greets Vera as she turns towards Aiden. "Let's head over to her place of employment, and see what we can dig up."

Vera, and Aiden are on their return trip from Keystone and Associate's after striking out when Malcom calls. Aiden heads back to the station as Vera carries on to the morgue. She finds Malcom sitting in his office waiting on her when she arrives.

"What have you got for me?"

"There were no fingerprints on the gun."

"Other than the victims?"

He shakes his head, "There were zero fingerprints. Not even the victims."

"So she has no fingerprints?" Vera arches an eyebrow.

"She has them. There simply are not any on the weapon."

"So basically she had to use the weapon without touching it, or someone wiped off the prints after they used it?"

"You are in charge of theories. I only supply the forensics."

"I will keep digging, then," she turns to leave.

"Wait, there is something else."

She taps her foot impatiently, "I am not growing youthful with the passing moments, Malcom."

He motions to a seat beside him.

"I have zero suspects, or persons of interest. I haven't the time to sit for a chat, Malcom."

"I think you should make the time. I've run some of the DNA from the crime scene to sort out what might be contaminated, and I fear there is a problem."

"With the crime scene?"

He shakes his head, "With this case."

"I'm waiting."