Danny and Stella surveyed the room with grim faces. Drops of blood dotted the white sheets, which were thrown all over the bed and surrounding floor. There were no signs of forced entry, and everything else in the apartment seemed undisturbed.
Stella cast a blue light over the sheets. "Nothing except some dried blood."
"So the killer got in, kidnapped her when she was sleeping, and then took off," Danny's face suddenly lit up like a child receiving a gift. "Hello, what's this?" Stella watched in slight amusement as he opened the victim's wallet and took out her I.D.
"Katie Blench. Student at Chelsea University."
Silence followed his readings. The pair worked quickly around the small apartment, collecting evidence here and dusting objects there. Danny was bent over, examining the floor near the edge of the bed, when he halted and drew in a sharp breath. "Stella, you might want to see this."
He picked something up off the wood finishing, holding it outward so Stella could see. Her sullen voice echoed through the empty apartment.
"A red paint chip."
---
Lindsay was reading over the DNA results just as Mac sauntered into the lab. The young woman offered him a brief smile before handing him the paper.
"Blood found on the bedsheets belonged to Katie Blench, our victim," Mac reflected the print.
"Did Danny and Stella find anything else?"
"A few chips of red paint on the floor. The door wasn't forced open; the killer must have had a spare key to her apartment."
"Makes sense they would wait until night to kidnap her. That's when you're in your most vulnerable state." Lindsay could not hide back a shudder, even at her own words.
Mac patted her shoulder, a fatherly look crossing his creased face. "We'll catch this guy, Linds. Besides, you have Danny to protect you."
---
Flack and Hawkes spent the remainder of the morning interviewing the residents of the apartment, asking for any information on the victim, Katie Blench. Most people provided only small sound bites, but the odd few were a bit more cooperative.
"I know of Katie, yeah," a tall, lanky female leaned against her doorframe, casting a swift eye over Flack. "Granted I didn't personally know her, but I've seen her around."
"Any reason why you think someone might want to hurt her?" Hawkes inquired.
The woman shrugged carelessly. "Not really. She seemed nice enough. There was this guy across her apartment, though. Seemed a little sketchy. He was finishing a paint job for the man who lives there."
Flack was starting to get annoyed with her roving eyes. "You have a name for us?"
She snorted in disgust. "What do I look like, a stalker?"
Flack smirked and handed her his card. "If you remember anything else."
The woman returned the smirk, stepped back into her apartment, and threw the door shut.
---
Surprise washed over Mac's face as he looked up at the sound of a knock in his office. "Reed?"
The young man smiled awkwardly. "Hey."
Mac immediately rose from his seat. "Is everything alright? Something wrong?"
Reed slung his backpack off his shoulder, admiring the room for a moment. Nature had taken its course, and he had grown into a handsome 21-year-old. "The girl who was kidnapped, Katie Blench? She's my girlfriend."
"I'm sorry, Reed. I promise I will find whomever took her." Mac felt sympathetic towards his step-son, although he was secretly glad to see him. They had barely spoken since the incident at Queens, and Mac was willing to give him the space he needed.
Reed sat down on the couch, a distant look in his gaze. "I was with her the night she was taken. We were at the park and I walked her home, but I stayed outside and watched her go in," he shook his head at his previous actions. "I should have gone with her, Mac. I should have gone up to her apartment."
"Did you notice anything unusual when you picked her up?" Mac tried to keep the questions light; he knew things were difficult enough for the young fellow.
"There was this man who would hang out there sometimes. I don't know his name, but he had short bleach-blonde hair and was somewhat hefty. I think he was painting the apartment across from her because he wore a painter's outfit."
Mac felt his heart drop, but he held his voice. He had been made aware of the information Flack and Hawkes had gathered from the building, and suddenly everything was starting to add up.
Before Reed could continue, Mac's phone rang its familiar tune. Nodding apologetically at his step-son, he snatched it off his desk and flipped it open. "Mac Taylor."
He listened intently, brow furrowing with each passing second. Reed watched in silence. Did they find her?
"Okay, thanks." Mac closed his cell and stared hard at Reed. "You need to stay here."
The young man instinctively stood up. "Why, what's wrong?"
Mac whisked past him and opened his office door, calling to an officer nearby. "Mengiz, watch my step-son for me. I need to go somewhere."
Reed protested. "Is it Katie? Is she alright?"
Mac turned, eyes brimming with tears. "Stay here."
A/N: Anyone know who the killer is? Surprised to see Reed back? I wish he was in the show more; Kyle's a great actor. Ah well. Anyways thanks for reading and as always, reviews are welcome and appreciated.