Crimson Lullaby pt 1
DB Russell stretched and yawned feeling relieved at being able to get up out of his chair. He'd solved his case, he was all caught up with his paperwork and was ready to go home.
"Russell!" Tate called from his office when he saw DB walk past. DB bit back a groan as walked into his office. He was so close to freedom.
Tate was sitting in his chair fiddling with the strap of his watch with a "Someone is in trouble look on his face,".
"You and Finlay, you have a good rapport right?" Tate asked, his causal tone didn't match the intensity blazing from his dark, rich brown eyes.
"I would say over the last couple of weeks we have worked together well yes. Has something happened?" DB asked, trying to rack his brain's at the cases they had worked together. She followed protocol, sure sometimes he saw her anger flare, but he had always intervened before it become noticeable to anyone else. This shift she'd worked with Mia on a robbery. If there had been some sort of blow up, he sure it would be all over the lab.
Tate let out and rubbed his temple. "Something happened at her previous Lab I wouldn't mention it but I'm worried that it's making her push herself too hard,".
"There was a twelve-year-old with a gun, he'd shot two people and he pulled the gun on her, and her supervisor in Philadelphia," Tate began, gestured for DB to take a seat before continuing. He sat down, fixated on what Tate had to say.
"From what there was no doubt in my mind that kid would have fired that gun again so she shot first. The boy died in hospital two days later. I used work with Finlay father, he was a cop, known her since she was six years old and I know being responsible for the death of a kid is killing her. When she accepted the job here, I was happy thought it'd be a chance to leave it all behind,".
"But it has changed nothing for her has it. Those feelings of guilt have just followed her here," DB told him, imagining it what it must have been like for her. Shoot an armed child or let herself and supervisor get shot. How many seconds did it take for her brain to switch from this is a child to her training and ultimately her own instinct to survive?
"No. She's pulling doubles and triples to the point I can see her burning out. That's why for a while I want to partner her with you. You get on well together but I know you and I know that you will come to me if you think she needs help or time off,".
DB couldn't stop thinking about what Tate had told him about Finn, he was uncomfortable about knowing something personal she hadn't told him. He wasn't thrilled about being asked to keep an eye on her either; he hadn't known her long but knew of she found out she'd take as him spying on her.
Now seeing her seated next to Zack waiting for Tate to arrive to hand out cases, offering him a small smile every time she saw him looking at her made him feel worse.
Looking at her he could see what Tate was saying, she had bags under here eyes and she looked thinner. Not thin enough for anyone else to notice or worry unless like him they really looked.
"Zack you're with me, Mia your working a robbery with Carlos at Zolon estate, Finlay and Russell you're working a murder at Blingo Motel," Tate half hollered through the doorway. "What are you all waiting for a kiss goodbye from your mothers get a move on,".
The car ride journey to the scene was silent. Inside the motel room was eerie, candles still burning and white rose petals covered in blood on the floor. Lying on the bed a young woman with her hands and feet bound with rope. Dressed in silky, white dress. Her lips smeared with lipstick and throat slit.
"There is a message on the mirror," Finn told him, taking photos. "My white bride, sung to death with a crimson lullaby, took her life and light on tonight,".
"I hate when killers leave messages like this it usually means they plan to kill again," DB said, remembering three years before when a killer left doll shoes at the scenes of his kills. It took six months, eight bodies before they caught him. It was huge strain on the team, each one desperate to find evidence that would lead them to the killer. The last thing Finn needed was a serial killer case, not right now when she was consumed with guilt and working herself towards a burn out.
"Well, we will just have to catch the killer before they do," Finn insisted with confident but exhausted smile.
"Good plan, Jules,"
"Jules?"
"Well, calling you Finlay sounds too impersonal, Finn was the name a cat that once scratched me and I know you hate Julie so I call you Jules in my head and tried it out-loud," DB explained, taking photos of the body.
"I'll allow you to call me Jules but to everyone else it's Finn,".