Disclaimer: I obviously do not own CSI: NY. I just own my car, my laptop and my crazy muse who seems to want to write 4 different stories at a time. I also do own any characters that you do not recognize. You can borrow them if you ask permission first!

A/N: Here's the next chappie!! Thanks to all who reviewed. As always, please R&R. My muse loves the attention. :D Thanks so much to princessg and Axellia for being my beta's...any mistakes are my own, since I changed some thing after they got back to me!

Chapter 13.

Swiss Neutrality

The next morning, when Danny got up, he decided to let Cory sleep some more. He quickly got in the shower and let his mind work over all the information that Cory had given him the previous night. Okay. So the four victims knew each other. We need to get a timeline going to see if we can track their movements over the previous couple of years. Obviously, all of this is connected. Danny smiled as that thought flickered into his head. Just like Mac always says.

In the bedroom, Cory groaned when she heard Danny's phone ring. "Danny—come on. Answer your phone!" She groaned again as she opened her eyes and the light hit them. That was when she heard the unmistakable sound of the shower running. Sighing in defeat, she picked up the phone. "Hey, Hawkes. Danny's in the shower. What's going on?"

"Cory?"

Cory laughed. "What other woman is going to be answering Danny's phone at six in the morning?"

Hawkes laughed on the other end of the line. "Okay. I admit, stupid reaction. I was just calling Danny to see if he had gotten the email from your contact in Interpol. I know he was still here last night when it came back in."

"He was there, but he didn't have time to read it. He was exhausted, so I filled him in with the highlights when I got home."

"Oh. Okay. Tell him to bring coffee when he comes in. I think it's going to be a long day. There is a ton of information that was included in that email. It's going to take a couple of days to actually comb through all of the different forensic evidence."

Cory yawned. "Gotcha. Listen, I'll have Danny call you when he gets ready to leave. I have got to make some coffee if I'm going to make it to work today."

"Okay. Thanks. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye," Cory said as she hung up the phone. She climbed out of bed and grabbed her robe to make her way into the kitchen. With another yawn trying to split her jaw in two, she set the coffee on to percolate. She smiled in satisfaction as the fragrant smell began to permeate through the apartment.

She then looked into the pantry to see what she could make for a quick breakfast. Seeing tortillas, cheese and sausage, she decided to make breakfast burritos. Huh. I don't think that I have ever made those for Danny before. Usually, if I make breakfast, I do something more practical. Maybe I can surprise him. With that thought in mind, she retrieved the ingredients and began to make breakfast. She turned on her stereo was she worked, listening to her Metallica CD.

When Danny walked out of the bathroom, he noticed that the bed was empty. He smiled as a tantalizing scent wafted through the open bedroom door. Quickly, he finished getting dressed and walked into the kitchen. "Bella? What are you cooking?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

Cory turned her head slightly and brushed his lips with her own. "Breakfast burritos. I don't think that I have ever made them for you."

Danny sniffed appreciatively as he shook his head from side to side. "Smells good. Do I smell jalapeño's?"

"Yes. You don't have to eat them if you don't want to. I like them with my burritos, but I am from Texas."

Danny raised his eyebrows. "Okay. You may have gotten me on the back of a horse, but I ain't eating hot peppers with breakfast. That's just strange."

Cory began to giggle. "Whatever. It'll be ready in a couple of minutes. Oh, Hawkes called. He wants you to bring coffee since it's going to be a long day going through all of the evidence." Danny nodded in agreement. "Okay," Cory continued. "Here's breakfast. After I eat, I'm going to get dressed."

When Danny walked into the lab, he was carrying a travel mug of coffee for Hawkes. He placed all of his gear in a locker and walked around the lab, looking for the doctor. He found him in the layout room. "Mornin' Hawkes. Here's your coffee. Whadda ya have so far?"

Hawked looked up from the papers he was reviewing and sighed. "Not much. Most of what I'm going through right now is the forensic evidence. There wasn't much." He accepted the mug of coffee with a smile. "You know, I was just kidding about the coffee."

Danny laughed. "I know, man. I just thought it was still a nice gesture." He set his own mug of coffee down and pulled out another printout from a stack by Hawkes. "Why don't I go over the suspect list? I can cross reference the people on the list with customs and homeland security? Maybe we can get a lead there."

"Good idea. I'll get back to the forensics. This is going to be a very long day."

When Cory got to work, she set all of her bags down with a sigh. She smiled as Lydia walked in. "Hey, Lydia. What did I miss last week?"

"Not much. Most of the cases are in the wrapping up process, other than the Martinez Brothers case."

Cory nodded. "Oh…I thought of something last night. Actually, Danny did. I think I know why the Los Dios Cartel is after me."

Lydia looked at her in surprise. "Really? Why?"

Cory exhaled. "Well, we know that Mala Suerte did not do any business with Los Dios, but I think that maybe the Martinez Brothers did. Since we have been so focused on catching them, it's probable that we are decreasing their bottom line. Ergo, the hit out on my life."

Lydia thought for a moment. "Well," she began. "That's definitely possible, but for some reason I think there I more to it than that. There are other teams of people that have been stopping the flow of drugs from that cartel, but they haven't been targeted."

Cory's mind began to process that information. "I know. Maybe we are being more effective?" She exhaled in frustration. "Oh, I don't know. I'm grasping at straws here. I just…"

"I know what you mean," Lydia said soothingly. "I say, don't change anything about what you are investigating. Obviously, you are doing something right." Lydia waved good-bye as she walked out of the office.

Cory just looked out her window, deep in thought. She was interrupted by a beep from her computer. She turned around and found that she had the weekly meeting scheduled in ten minutes. Putting her problems at the back of her mind, she gathered up her notes and made her way to the conference room.

Danny rubbed his eyes and he turned the page on the report he was reading. So far, he had run the fifteen suspects through every database he had access to and no hits. "I don't get it Hawkes. I've run every suspect through the database and not one hit."

"I'm right there with you. There is absolutely no forensic evidence. Basically, all I have is some unknown hairs, which could be from anyone since the women held a party in their room the night before they disappeared and a multitude of fingerprints. Most of the fingerprints were tied back to students, but there are a couple that are unknowns. This is just as frustrating as working our crime scenes!"

Danny nodded and sat back in his chair, popping the tension out of his neck. "I feel like we are missing something." Hawkes nodded, but both stayed silent as they processed each of the crime scenes in their heads.

"Wait!" exclaimed Hawkes. "What is the first thing that we noticed about the crime scenes?" He didn't wait for Danny to answer but continued, "The fake blood. This is someone that has access to movie products. Is there anyone in the suspect list that has experience?"

Danny looked through his papers again. "Not on the suspect list, but there are a couple of witness accounts that come from some people that were in the drama department at the boarding school. Let me run them."

Danny began to run the witness reports and was surprised to get a hit on two of the witness'. "I got two hits. One is on a Henri Dubois. The second is a Charlotte Peterson."

"Charlotte Peterson? Why does that name sound familiar to me?"

Danny drew his eyebrows together as he searched for more information on the new suspect. "She's an American. Wait—she's from New York City. She's the only daughter of Carl and Beatrice Peterson. He's a Park Avenue attorney."

Hawkes nodded as his mind kept processing the information. "That's not where I know her from. I think that I might have seen her at the last crime scene. Do you have a picture?" He walked behind Danny, who pulled up a newspaper picture of her. "That's her! She's the woman that Angell was talking to when we got to the scene."

"Oh, yeah. I remember her now. Angell said that she told her that she didn't know the victim, but had seen her around. Now why would she lie to us, unless she has something to hide?"

"Because she has something to hide. Reading through the reports that Interpol sent us, though, she has an airtight alibi for the time of the abduction. She was on stage giving a speech at the time."

Hawkes hung his head. "Damn. I thought we were on to something. What about the other guy?"

"Henri Dubois. He was a teaching assistant at the boarding school in the drama department. He entered the country on a work Visa a year ago and has been working in the film industry doing special effects since then. His current address is in the Village."

Hawkes smiled. "I do believe that we have enough to bring both of them in for questioning, don't you?"

Danny smiled then looked at the clock. "Damn. The day is already gone. We can't question them tonight. Both of us are maxed out on overtime and Mac will kill us if we don't leave now."

Hawkes looked disappointed, but then sighed pragmatically. "I supposed we've waited this long, so it'll keep until tomorrow." Hawked began to gather up the papers. "What are you up to tonight?"

"Taylor and Cory are going to have a girl's night, so not much. Wanna grab a drink?"

Hawkes nodded. "Sure. Lydia said that she had to work late tonight. Want to go to Ray's?"

Danny nodded in agreement as the both walked towards the locker room.

Cory managed to leave early from work, for which she was entirely grateful for. She headed home, to make sure that everything was ready for Taylor to come over. Two hours later, she did one last walk through the apartment, making sure that everything was presentable. She smiled when she heard her buzzer ring. "Yes?"

"It's Taylor."

"Come on up, Tay."

Cory walked into the kitchen and opened the bottle of wine she had set out for them. She had just poured two glasses when she heard a knock on the door. "It's open," she called.

She walked into the living room as Taylor walked in, dressed in her normal cami and camouflage. "Hey girl! How've ya been?"

Taylor sighed. "I absolutely can't complain. I haven't had any ghosts come and ask me for help since before the wedding. I don't know what to do with my free time."

"Enjoy the vacation! How are things with you and Marty going?"

Taylor flushed a little. "Very good. Both of our work schedules have calmed down enough that we've actually managed to go on a couple of real dates. I'd forgotten what those were."

"I hear ya. Listen, I have a question for you."

Taylor looked at Cory, who had a serious expression on her face. "What's up?"

"You know that I see ghosts. Do you believe in premonitions?"

Taylor thought for a moment. "Well, I personally don't have any experience with that, but after all that I've seen…I'm not willing to rule anything out. Why?"

Cory drew in a quick breath and explained her dream to her. "I'll tell you. This has me freaked out beyond belief. If it really is a premonition, then sometime during the winter, New York is going to have another terrorist attack."

Taylor whistled softly under her breath. "Damn. That's just scary. And you have no idea why you had this dream?"

"Not a one. I woke up screaming. I'm just really glad that it happened on a night when Danny was working. I don't know what he would have done if he'd been here with me."

Taylor smiled. "Messer might surprise you. I can ask Maddy and Aiden for you, if they ever show up again."

Cory just shook her head. "I don't think that they will be able to help…Maddy is the one that introduced me to my spirit guide."

"You have a spirit guide now? Why didn't you tell me? Who is it?"

Cory laughed. "I didn't tell you because we haven't had more than a two second conversation since it happened and I assumed that Maddy had told you! As for who it is, it's Armando."

"The guy that was killed by Ortiz?"

"Right in one. Yeah, that's about how I feel. Maddy said that we were entering into a tenuous time period in which The Powers felt like I needed some extra help. Armando was chosen to be my liaison, since he is trying to atone for the sins he committed entrenching himself into Mala Suerte. Both of them told me that we would talk about the why and wherefores later, but I haven't had so much as a visit where I've actually been able to talk. The only time I've seen Armando since was when I was in Texas, interrogating Ortiz."

"This is major, Cory. Maybe this explains why I haven't seen a lot of ghosts lately. Maybe, they are saving my powers—and sanity—for bigger reasons."

"That's my fear, but I can't seem to get a straight answer!"

Taylor looked deep in thought for a moment. "Have you tried to call to Armando? To see if he will come and answer your questions?"

"I didn't think that it was possible. But I'll try it." She drew in a breath. "Armando? If you can hear me, can we talk?" Cory waited a minute, with no results. "Damn it, Armando! Get your pasty ghost ass down here now!"

"No need to be rude, Cory. I was tied up in other business. What can I do for you?" Armando asked as he appeared in front of her.

Cory exhaled in her irritation. "I need answers. I'm tired of waiting around for you to explain things, so I'm going to ask the hard questions. Why were you really sent to me?"

Armando exhaled, if a spirit could do so. "Maddy told you. We are entering a turbulent time in history. You are one of the key players to averting a great disaster. That really is the reason that I am here."

"What kind of disaster?"

"I'm not a liberty to disclose that information."

"Armando," Cory said menacingly. "Just answer to stupid question."

"I can't, chica. I wish I could, but there are more forces at play that just you."

Taylor caught his hidden meaning. "You are talking about me, right?" At Armando's nod of agreement, she called out to Maddy and Aiden. Within moments, the two ghosts were also standing in front of them. "Okay," Taylor started. "Cut the BS and tell us what is going on?"

Maddy looked at the other two ghosts. "We can't. We can not give you any more knowledge than you are privy to right now. It's against the rules."

Taylor snorted. "Since when do I give a crap about rules, huh? The Powers have taken both of us on a twisted ride for their own pleasure. We want answers, now."

Maddy and Aiden looked at each other. "Fine," Aiden said. She turned to Cory, "You have had disturbing dreams, right?"

"Yeah."

"Those dreams are a warning of what may come if certain things don't change." She held up her hand as both Taylor and Cory opened their mouths. "Don't ask what…We really can not tell you that. Not even we have access to that sort of information."

"Cory," said Armando. "The dream you had was a precognitive dream. That is your main—um—talent. The future is not set in stone."

"That's right," Maddy picked up. "The future is mutable. It changes with every single decision that a person makes. For instance, if I had not died, then Tay would not have a guide to help her with other ghosts."

"And if I hadn't let myself get so caught up in catching one sadistic killer, then more than likely Tay would be dead right now. Since Tay would be dead, then she could not have let the team know where you and Danny were and one of you would not have survived."

Cory shook her head. "Okay, I get that. But why me?"

Armando shook his head. "I'm really not trying to go off topic here, but I think this will help you to understand better. There are certain people in the world with something a little extra. It tends to run in families. Did you tell your parents about seeing ghosts?"

Cory looked confused. "Yeah and they just about disowned me. We had the fight not to long after I moved back to New York."

"Did they ever say that they didn't believe you?"

"Now that you mention it, they never did. They just told me that I was playing with forces that I couldn't control and if I continued then I would die."

Armando nodded. "This much we can tell you, ask your mother about having precognitive abilities. I think the answer might surprise you."

Cory felt the light go on in her head. "You mean to tell me that my mother can do the same thing and she is judging me for using the ability?" she snarled.

Armando held up her hand. "I'm not saying anything. As it is, we've said too much and it's time for us to go."

Maddy and Aiden nodded in agreement as the three ghosts vanished.

Cory and Taylor both sighed in frustration. "Well," began Cory. "That was informative. Is it just me or are you just as confused as I am right now?"

Taylor nodded. "It's not just you. Every time I try to broach a subject like this with them, I always end up with more questions than answers."

"Good God. I have a headache. What do you say we call it a night? I think I'm going to take some aspirin and hit the sack.

Taylor stood up. "I agree. Maybe if we sleep on it, the answers will come to us."

Cory laughed as she stood up. "Maybe." She gave Taylor a hug goodbye. "Stay safe on the way home."

"Night."

AN: So I finally explained why Cory and her parents aren't close. I'll admit it was a mistake on my part. I was going back and reading ATTH (to write the smut of course) when I realized that in that story I had said that she was close to her parents. Now, what do you think that her mom is hiding?? And as you can tell, Danny's case is getting wrapped up! Yeah. There will be some drama coming up.

Ashlie3-Thanks! I like Lindsay, but I don't like the way that the writers have been treating her, so I completely understand. I love Flack, but I love Danny more...I'm glad that you've been reading!!

ladyerudite-Wow! Really! I'm glad. I've tried hard to make sure that I clarify anything that was coming from ATTH, so that if I had any new readers, they wouldn't be lost! Thanks for the compliment!!!

Girl of Many Worlds-Hehehe. Dr. Pepper is good! I've decided to stick to Diet, but I also have acquired a taste for Red Bull (it's really good after I've been out all night partying). I'm actually working on chapter 17 now, so I'm ahead. That gives my beta's time to get back to me!

my0621-Hopefully this wasn't a long wait! I'm glad that I'm able to actually post again.

brainDamage089-Wow...I can't believe you almost read all of it at once! Let's see if I can respond back all at once...I thought that it was a good way to open, it's a hook...If you can't tell, this story is going a little more supernatural (I blame Axellia (lol) for letting me use Taylor in ATTH...it opened up so many doors!)...Yes, they both are gorgeous. If I can find a way to a way combine Flack and Danny, I think I'll have the perfect man. YUM! I'll admit, I wrote what I'd like to do on my honeymoon (if I ever get to have one)...Chapter 4 was all about moving the plot, so. If Little Corinthian tells me that she has found a way to clone them, I'll let you know. I'm sorry that the boy toy well is drying up in Jersey, it's semi-full here, though! Boy toys are fun (lol)...Flack is very romantic...I just wanted to write, Duh-huh-dun in chapter 6. I can't wait to write the smut chapter for that!...I am writing the smut! It's just taking its time(lol)...The real question is why does she have a hit out on her? I don't know the answer to that yet, my muse has been keeping her mouth shut on motives...That's the image I was going for with Mac. I thought it was a good way to reveal that him and Stella were together. It really shows that he will do anything for her. My fav image of that chapter is Mac giving the guy the LOOK to make him go away (grinning). How late were you up reading? Now you have 3 chapters to read instead of 2!