ONE DAY EARIER
It was 6:30 in the morning and Natalia was laying in a California king size bed on her stomach with the sheets bunched up at her waist.
Natalia was never a morning but since her love life finally took a turn for the better she found herself waking up the same time as her lover. Today was like every other day Natalia woke up and sat up in bed.
Looking around she found herself alone in the empty room, until movement from the bathroom caught her attention. The bathroom door opened to reveal her lover for the past 10 months, standing against the door jam in a black tank top and black boy shorts was Calleigh Duquesne.
Calleigh smiled and began to walk up the Natalia's side of the bed, "Morning sunshine." she said as she crawled her way up Natalia's body. Natalia watched as Calleigh climbed her body grinning looking like a Florida jungle cat getting ready pounce.
Her hands touched Natalia stomach at the hem of tank top, and raised it up as she continued to crawl up her body. Calleigh removed her Natalia's tank and leaned down for a hot and hungry kiss.
While kissing Natalia, Calleigh threw one leg over her waist capturing Natalia under her. Natalia let out a moan as she felt Calleigh's hands play with her breast.
Calleigh began to kiss along Natalia's jaw line, till she made it her neck. Natalia raised her hands to touch Calleigh, but Natalia stopped when Calleigh gave her a warning nip on her neck with a low growl.
Calleigh moved her hands from Natalia's breast to her wrist, and put Natalia's hands above her head. Once Calleigh did this she continued her assault on Natalia's body. She kissed her lips followed by her jaw line then her neck. Calleigh stuck out her tongue out and licked her way down Natalia's body getting to her main goal.
Calleigh made it to top of Natalia's pants, her fingers played with the hem of her pants when Natalia's phone went off. Natalia reached over and looked at it and saw that Ryan was calling.
Calleigh raised her head and saw that Natalia's finger was flirting with green slide button. "If you answer that I swear you will live to regret it."
"It's Ryan, he only calls if it is an emergency," Natalia said as she slid her finger to accept the call. "Boa..." Natalia gave a winch of pain when she felt Calleigh give her another nip on her hip harder than the one before. "Vista."
"Hey, Natalia are you okay?" Ryan asked
"Yeah, I hit my elbow on the nightstand." Natalia replied.
"Well, we found another body that fits the MO of our killer."
"What?" Natalia said sitting up, "We didn't get any clues, this is unlike the killer."
"Yeah, well maybe it's a copycat" Ryan said with a sigh, "I'm heading to the scene right now, actually I will be passing your house in a few minutes, I'll pick you up."
"Uh...I'm not at the house right now I had to run some errands this morning and plus I have to stop the by lab any way. So I'll meet you at the scene in 20 minutes." She said while putting her hands through Calleigh hair.
"Okay, well the scene is at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home on 8th street"
"Okay, see you in twenty" Natalia said. She hung up the phone and placed it back on the nightstand. Before looking back down at Calleigh, who was laying her head on Natalia's stomach.
"Crime scene?" Calleigh said crawling back up Natalia's body.
"Yeah" was all Natalia could say, as Calleigh kissed her long and hard. Natalia let out a moan as Calleigh backed way, "Dinner at my place tonight?"
"I would love that, because we still have some unfinished business to attend to," Calleigh said while rolling off Natalia.
Natalia grinned and followed Calleigh into bathroom were the two took a shower together and got ready for the workday.
Both women went to the station, Calleigh made her way upstairs to the lab while Natalia went downstairs to the hummer checkout.
15 minutes later Natalia was at Caballero Rivero, she made her way to back room were the caskets and cremation containers were stored. She looked around at the dark room to see Ryan in the corner snapping pictures and Tom looking at the body.
Natalia stopped and put down her kit and put on her gloves. "So did our killer strike again or is it a copycat?" Natalia asked as she looked around the room.
"The MO is the same, gunshot wound to the kneecap, stab wound in the lower stomach hitting the aorta causing him to bleed to death." Tom continued "From the outside it looks like our killer, if something is different it will have to wait till I get the body back to lab." Tom stood and waved for the corners to come and take the body.
"So everything here says our killer, he didn't leave behind his usual clue to torment us. We were finally going to be a step ahead of him and then he pulls this." Ryan said before snapping another picture.
Natalia took out her flashlight and began looking around. "Yeah, but have you seen this place, it's a dump maybe the clue got tossed aside." Natalia said as she leaned down to next the chair where the body was found.
She took a picture before picking up the wallet that was found on the ground. "What do we have here Miss Boa Vista." A husky voice said coming from the door.
"Casey Clayton, 45 year old male from Settle. My guess he is here on vacation or business." Natalia said.
"And were there any clues to left behind to inform us that Mr. Clayton was going to be next?"
Natalia just shook her head before looking at Horatio who was still at the entrance.
"Okay well keep an eye out, our next clue is around here somewhere" Horatio said.
"Hey H! I found something," Ryan yelled from the office.
Both Natalia and Horatio looked over to the doorway were Ryan was. He came out holding a box for an Xbox 360 with an ID card for Microsoft. "Clayton was the lead software development engineer for Xbox live." Ryan said while putting the box in an evidence bag.
Natalia looked around as Ryan and Horatio continued their conversation. "So why didn't Mr. Falco report this?" Ryan asked.
"Good question, Mr. Wolfe" Horatio said before turning his attention to Natalia. "Did you find something Ms. Boa Vista?"
Natalia stood up holding a white piece of paper with blood, hair and a used Kleenex. "I think it's our next clue." She said handing it Ryan.
Ryan took a quick look at it before his phone went off. Handing it back to Natalia who bagged and tagged before walking back to the corner of the room.
"Actually, Natalia, can I see that?" Horatio asked, Natalia handed the bag to Horatio and with that he left the room.
Horatio walked out of the room and joined Frank who was questioning the owner, Mr. Falco.
Mr. Falco was a young man in his early twenties with dark brown short hair and a little stubble around his face. He was wearing a black pin stripe suit with Louie Vuttion sunglasses and loafers.
"Mr. Falco, can you explain why you didn't call the police when there was evidence that could have stopped this murder?" Horatio asked.
"I'm sorry, I didn't find it important." Mr. Falco replied.
"Didn't find it important. You don't find evidence to a possible murder important?" Frank said with a little disgust in his voice.
"I'm sorry officer Tripp, but look around you this funeral home is not in the best location." Pointing to his left "Go a mile in a half down that way you will be in Mara Salvatrucha territory" Pointing to his right "mile in a half down that way Latin Kings territory." Pointing behind him " Bloods" pointing in front of him "Crips, all roads cross right here. I get threats all the time, wanting me to pay for protection. If I call you every time I get a threat...you guys wouldn't be here right now."
Frank and Horatio exchanged looks, and quietly accepted his answer.
Back inside, Natalia and Ryan were still in the back getting ready to pack up and go back to the lab. When Ryan's phone went off again. "Who are you texting?" Natalia finally asked.
"No one, I'm playing burn the rope. They have new co op mode and I'm losing badly." Ryan said handing the phone to Natalia.
Natalia smiled, "Why are you going this way? You need..." Natalia was cut short when Ryan grabbed the phone from her.
"I can do it on my own." Ryan said putting his phone back in his pocket "I'll see you back at the lab."
Natalia walked back to her kit smiling, "But I solved it, I solved it don't you want to know how?" she said with a chuckle.
"No!" was the only noise she heard before the door closed.
The room was quiet for a few moments when a voice was heard behind her, "He might not, but I do."
Natalia turned around to see who else was in the room. When she finally completed the turn the only thing that she saw was a flash of sliver, there was a loud bang like the sound of medal hitting something followed by an even louder thud as Natalia's lifeless body fell to the floor. There standing over her body grinning with a shovel in his hand was none other then the owner Brian Falco.
Taking a wheel car from the other room he lifted Natalia into the chair and covered her body making her look like an old lady and took her outside by passing the patrol cars and put Natalia in the Hummer and drove off.