Electricity

By LMR

Disclaimer: After the last few seconds of "Smile," if I owned Criminal Intent, I would combine Eames with the movie I am watching right now. That movie is Saw iii.

A.N.: Extra thanks to Claire (guitar73girl) who Beta's, slices, dices, and comes in this attractive travel case! But wait, there's more!

Chapter 3: Things We Keep

xXx

"What do we know about the victim?" their captain asked.

Eames handed Deakins a stack of papers. "He worked at Cryptkicker Creations, a small special effects studio. His family lives in North Dakota. His friends at Cryptkicker reported him missing the 26th of June. His parents are flying in now. And he wrote a lot of checks to someone named Hoover Matthews with the memo "Storm." Still no idea what that means."

Goren finished, "We found the precinct crime tip number on the back of a business card. Looks like he was either blackmailing someone or going to turn that person in. We're thinking that could be motive. We think the card it was written on could be important. We're going to check the place out after his apartment."

Home of Justin Buck - 329 Shrewsbury St. - Monday, July 2 - 11:15 a.m. Doink, doink.

The two walked into the apartment with forensics in tow. The lush green carpeting reminded Goren of grass. Fitting, as the room suggested that Justin had been an outdoorsman. Kites and Frisbees lined the blue walls, proudly hung by fishing wire as decorations as if they were still up and flying. Even the warm and cozy lamp fixture on the ceiling suggested the sun. The book Extreme Kiting and You was prominently displayed on the modern coffee table, along with Snorkel Customization for Dummies and Great Nimbuses and Cirri of the Twentieth Century. There was also a picture book of synchronized swimming. Snapshots of various B-movie monsters, presumably by Cryptkicker Creations, littered the black refrigerator and bulletin board, along with some very amateur photos of interesting cloud formations. Also what appeared to be a Polaroid of Justin posing with... the Roaming Gnome?

Goren examined the various photos while Eames got to work on the computer in the corner. He gazed at one particular photo for a little longer than the others. A group of people, all in swimsuits, lined up next to a pool, and smiling for the camera. It was a formal picture, and he was much more interested in the one poking out from behind it. It looked like it had been taken moments after. The same group, casual, laughing, giving each other bunny ears. There was somebody new in the picture, a middle aged man in overalls hovering over the group, his arms around one of the women. His eyes traveled back to the formal photo. The back had a series of names, apparently in order of the line the swimmers were standing in. Penny Syllin, Justin Buck, Jim Shu, Nick L. Dime, Audra Nicholson, and Iskra Kent. Kent. Why did that name sound so familiar? Nah, probably nothing.

Eames was looking through Justin's bedroom dresser while her partner examined the kitchen. He found all the staples of bachelorhood. Beer. Ramen. Pizza. Beer. Beer-battered Ramen pizza with beer sauce.

Eames stood at the dresser with a worn but gently folded bit of paper. "Bobby, I found a note. 'Justin, the house isn't the same without you. Get well soon and come back to us. Koto.' Sounds like he was in the hospital. But there's no indication he was living with anyone, he's never owned a house. And 'us' makes it sound like there's kids, and he didn't have any. None of it makes sense."

Goren had moseyed to the desk area to join her. "Is it dated?" he asked, looking at the opposite wall.

"Last October."

Bobby grinned. "Different kind of house." He gently took Alex's shoulders and guided her around to the wall he was facing. He was admiring the picture like a kid might take in a circus ad, dazzled. It was a black light poster full of hideous creatures advertising a haunted house attraction put on by Cryptkicker Creations. "Koto worked at the studio with him."

Eames's brow furrowed. "Okay. But why would he keep some little note from a co-worker for so long?" And why didn't you? she added mentally. My note was better than that

Bobby shrugged, fingering the paper gently. "Well, see how it's been lovingly folded and obviously looked at over and over: See the creases? And Koto's a woman's name. Maybe he kept it because he was in love." I can't believe I just said that!

But Eames just nodded. "Where there's love, there's a motive for murder. We'll hit the workplace after we find out what's so hot about Hair She Blows."

xXx

Next week:

"'Aw, you'll look great, Hon,' Alex promised, touching the hair beside his face, letting herself brush her fingers over his cheek.

'I don't look great now?' Bobby teased, and Alex wondered if he was letting himself be real for a moment."