The next day, Lindsay walked into her office to find another bouquet of flowers on her desk. They were larger, more extravagant than the previous one. Lindsay examined the bouquet, finding the card weaved in between the flowers. She retrieved the card from within the bouquet and opened it. Lindsay froze as her eyes scanned over the card. It was identical to the cards Hanna and Dina had received. Lindsay sat at her desk and opened the file. She flipped through the evidence they had processed yesterday, hoping she had been mistaken.
"Another bouquet Montana?" Lindsay turned as Danny entered the office. Danny sat down at his desk and turned on his computer.
"We have a problem Danny." Lindsay said.
Danny looked at her, "What's that?"
Lindsay held up the card she found in the bouquet. "Didn't you pull that from Hannah's apartment?"
Lindsay held up the bagged card. Danny's eyes grew wide with realization. "Oh my god."
Lindsay stood from her desk and walked out of the office. Danny followed closely behind her. They hurried down the hall toward Mac's office. Mac was sitting at his desk looking over the crime scene photo on his computer. Lindsay and Danny entered his office in a rush. Mac looked up, instantly concerned by both of his workers expression.
"We have a big problem Mac." Danny said.
Mac stood up, "What problem is that?"
Lindsay held up the card and the evidence bag. Mac walked around his desk and took both from Lindsay. He looked them over and looked back at Lindsay in disbelief. He pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Flack get up to the crime lab, we know his next target." Mac said.
Hearing Mac say the words sent fear through Lindsay's veins. Lindsay had never been this close to an investigation sense the massacre in Montana. Danny placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.
Mac shut his phone. "Alright, Danny I want you to process the flowers from Lindsay's desk and the flowers from the vics apartments. Get Adam working of calligraphy comparisons."
"What about me?" Lindsay asked. "Mac please don't pull me because some guys targeting me as his next victim."
"Your protection is the bigger priority Lindsay." Mac answered.
"Mac, you can't afford to pull me off this." Lindsay argued.
"I hate to say it Mac, but Lindsay's right. We need her on this case." Danny said.
Mac glanced between Lindsay and Danny. He knew full well they were both right, but he wasn't going to put one of his workers in danger. Mac nodded, "Lindsay, help Danny process the flowers. Do not go anywhere alone, Lindsay. As soon as Flack gets here, we're going to figure out your protection off the clock."
Lindsay nodded. "Right."
Lindsay and Danny walked out of Mac's office in search of Adam. Danny took a few side-glances at Lindsay. He felt a twinge of fear boil inside him. Someone was trying to take Lindsay from them and they weren't anywhere close to finding who he was.
"We'll find 'em Linds." Danny said.
Lindsay looked up at Danny, "I know we will."
"You don't have to be scared Linds, no one's going to let anything happen to you."
Lindsay smiled, "Thanks Danny."
"Hey Danny, Lindsay!" Adam rounded the corner in front of them. He held a manila folder in his hands.
"Adam we were lookin' for ya." Danny said.
"Yeah great, here I am. The tox results came back on both Hanna and Dina's blood." Adam handed Danny the folder.
"Flunitrazepam, Temazepam, Midazolam, and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate." Danny read.
"This guy filled both women with four typical date-rape drugs. It's not wonder they could fight him back." Adam explained.
"But how is this going to help us? He could find these drugs anywhere." Lindsay said.
"You're right Linds, but Sid autopsy report showed only one puncture mark, which means only one of these drugs were injected into her. The other three were introduced into them another way." Danny replied.
"Correct. Stomach contents came back with Flunitrazepam in Dina's wine. Hannah's contents came back positive for the same drug. Now both when had laceration on their fingertips cause by something sharp. My bet is, the other drugs were coated on what pricked them." Adam explained.
Danny looked up at Lindsay. "We get a list of flowers they received?"
Lindsay nodded. "In the office."
"Adam, go with Lindsay. Get everything we've got and meet me in the lab. We need to test all the flowers." Danny said.
Lindsay and Adam headed back for the office. Danny hurried into one of the labs, still reviewing the report Adam had given him. This case was now wide open with possibilities and connections. And time was ticking.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hours after Adam had met Danny and Lindsay with the tox results, they had been running every test they could think of. However, they weren't any closer than they had been hours before. None of the flowers themselves had been coated with the drugs. Lindsay sat in front of the analyzer, waiting for the next batch of results. Danny sat next to Adam, who had finally got around to comparing the writing.
Mac entered the lack with Flack behind him, "Anything?"
Lindsay shook her head. "Nothing over here. Every petal is completely clean of narcotics. The wrapping of the bouquets are clean too."
"What about hand writing?" Mac asked.
"Got a match. Same guy wrote every note, including Lindsay's." Danny answered. "But we got no DNA to trace back to this guy."
Mac nodded. "Alright. Keep me posted. Lindsay, I need to speak with you in my office…now."
Lindsay stood from the desk and followed Mac and Flack out of the lab. They walked down the hall to Mac office and closed the door.
"Lindsay, I don't need to remind you of the severity of your situation." Mac said.
Lindsay shook her head. "Not really Mac."
"I've talked with several men from the protection program Linds, they can have some men watch your apartment while your there and escort you." Flack said.
"I don't need protection. What I need is to help Danny catch this guy, that's the only way this is going to end." Lindsay said.
"We know that Lindsay, but I can't let you go anywhere outside this building alone. If this guy is targeting you, he will do everything in his power to abduct you. And that is something I won't allow to happen." Mac replied.
"Mac I understand, but be realistic. I can't be constantly watched by protection agents, they'll only slow down the investigation." Lindsay said.
The discussion was cut short when Danny tapped on the glass door. He walked in, "Found traces of latex on Lindsay's card. This guys making sure he doesn't leave prints, but he's leaving some trace."
Mac nodded. Danny turned to leave. "Danny wait!"
Danny came back into the office.
"Get the rest of the team in here. Tell them every case is put on hold and this case takes top priority. And tell them to meet in my office now." Mac ordered.
Danny glanced at Lindsay briefly. "You got it Mac." He exited the office in search of the rest of the team.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several minutes later, everyone was gathered in Mac's office. Mac stood behind his desk with Flack to his right. Lindsay stood by Flack, but out near the others. Stella stood off to Mac's left in front of his desk. Sheldon stood in between Stella and Danny. Adam was in the back with Kendal.
"Four days ago, Danny, Lindsay, and I were called to an apartment where we found a young woman bound to her bed and strangled. Another call came in two days later with another victim. Same COD, same crime scene, same perp. Now this guy has marked Lindsay has his next victim." Stella and Sheldon looked over at Lindsay in shock. "This case is now top priority. We need to get him off the streets and behind bars now.
"As for Lindsay's safety, she doesn't leave the lab alone. Someone is to remain with her at all times. After hours, we'll have cops keeping watch on her apartment and escorting her to the building. No one is to leave her alone, even for a second. Is that understood?"
Everyone nodded.
"Good. Sheldon, you, Adam, and Kendal, go back to the bodies. See if you can find something we missed. Stella, you and Danny do another sweep through the vics apartments. Lindsay, you and I are going back to the flowers." Mac ordered.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
weeee! here we go!! you don't hate me yet, do you?
I own nothing