Thanks to notesofwimsey, MesserMontana4ever, Kday89, mj0621, Standofffan, JeniRose & oddie33325 for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters!
She spun around grabbing the knife from his hand but as she did he managed to react. He threw his fist at her, hitting her squarely in the face, knocking her off balance and sending her to the floor screaming for help.
Immediately officers came running over to them and he disappeared, leaving the knife and a pile of forget-me-nots next to a dazed looking Stella.
"Stella!" Mac shouted as he reached Stella who was struggling to sit up. He knelt down next to her and helped her into the sitting position, checking her for injuries in the process.
"Looks like you'll get a bruise." Mac told her eyeing the red mark under her left eye. "What happened Stella?"
Stella stared at him blankly before turning to look at the small flowers on the pavement beside her.
"We lost him." Flack informed them as he jogged towards them. "Are you alright Stel?"
"I'm fine" she sighed as she pulled out her phone, dialled a number and placed the phone against her ear. "Damn it!" She cursed before dialling another number.
"Danny, is Lindsay with you?" She asked, not giving him time to answer properly.
"No Stel, me and Hawkes are the only people in the lab at the moment. I think she took a break, I saw her leave about ten minutes ago."
"Ok, thanks any way Danny."
"See ya later Stel."
"Stella what's going on?" Mac asked as she ended the call and stood up.
"We need to find Lindsay." Stella told them firmly as she lifted the crime scene tape over head and started to push her way through the crowd. Flack and Mac exchanged confused looks before following her.
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey Danny, look at this." Hawkes called to Danny across the room. "I think I've found the link between Stella, Lindsay and forget-me-nots." He told him handing him a case file and pulling up a picture of a woman in her late twenties with shoulder length blonde hair. "CSI Ashleigh Waring, formally of Chicago PD." Hawkes informed him.
"How is she linked to Stella and Lindsay?" Danny asked as he flicked through the file.
"Three years ago all three of them were working on a case involving the rape and murder of three women." Hawkes explained.
"How did that happen? They worked in three different crime labs in three different states."
"All three victims were killed in Chicago but only one of them was found there. The other two ended up in Bozeman and here in New York City each with forget-me-nots by their side."
"Where is Ashleigh Waring now?"
"Dead. She was found in the early hours of this morning, tortured, raped and stabbed. She had been dead for at least four days. Also there were forget-me-nots next to her, just like the others. The original case notes are on their way over here from Chicago and Bozeman already. Mac requested them last night so I don't know if knows about the dead CSI."
"Do you think this man is after Lindsay and Stella now?" Danny asked opening his phone and dialling a familiar number.
"I don't know but after what happened yesterday I'd say that someone definitely wanted them to suffer. I feel think we're missing something though."
"Hawkes, Danny, is Lindsay back yet?" Stella asked as she entered the room followed by Mac and Flack.
"No and she's not answering her phone either. I thought you were at a scene." Danny asked as Hawkes turned the computer screen off.
"Stella what did that man say to you?" Flack asked.
"What man?" Danny and Hawkes questioned simultaneously.
"Stella was attacked at the scene." Mac told them.
"We need to find Lindsay. He wants her dead like Ashleigh." Stella told them pacing the room nervously.
"Wait a minute. How do you know Ashleigh Waring is dead?" Danny asked raising his eyebrow.
"He told me then he said that me and Lindsay are next."
"Who is he Stella?" Flack asked taking a seat next to her.
"I don't know his name, I don't know anything about him."
"Except from that he tortured, raped and killed those women in Chicago three years ago and that he did the same to one of the CSIs working the case." Danny told her.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Adam asked as he entered the room.
"Adam, where's Lindsay?" Danny asked him.
"Outside, she said she had to grab something from her car." Adam told the group uncomfortably, each one of them was staring at him.
Instantly they all rushed over to the window which looked out over the car park. Below them Lindsay was arguing with a man.
"Stella, is that the man from the crime scene?"
Stella nodded. "Yes."
"Stay here Stel and call it in." Flack told her as all four men left the room.