Chapter 4

The annoying shrill of a cell phone suddenly woke her up. Looking at the digital clock on the bed stand, she discovered it was 3:45am. She yawned and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Catherine, its Nick."

"Why are you phoning at this time of night?" She rubbed her eyes.

"You're needed down at the lab."

"Why? It's my supposed to be my night off Nick."

"I know that. It's supposed to be mine too but this is urgent."

"Can't it wait?"

"No. There's been another murder."

Catherine raced to the bathroom and splashed some freezing cold water in her face. Her hair was a tangled mess, but it would have to wait. Pulling on her safety vest, she grabbed her keys and ran out of the house. She knew that the two killings were connected. If they weren't, why had Nick phoned her? The crime had taken place in a park near to her house, so the journey was quick. When she got out of the car she could see the bright lights of Nick and Warrick's flashlights illuminating the darkness.

"Where's the body?" She called, straining her eyes to see their faces.

"Over here." Warrick beckoned her over and guided her to a park bench. A girl's body was lying motionless underneath it, sprawled out on a bed of leaves.

"Same injuries as our other vic. David said it was death by asphyxiation." Nick said, pointing his flashlight at the girl's pale white face. That's when it hit Catherine. She knew this girl as well. It was Laura. Panic took over her body as she dialled Laura's mom's house number. "Hello?" A tired voice answered.

"Hello Mrs Parks, its Catherine Willows- Lindsay's mom."

"Oh hello, what can I help you with?"

"Is Lindsay in?"

"No, sorry. She and Laura went out and they're not back yet. Is everything ok?" Catherine couldn't answer. She was choking on her own fear. "Hello? Catherine?" She closed the phone. She didn't want to be the one to tell her that Laura's dead. Nick sensed Catherine's panic and turned to face her.

"What's wrong Catherine?" His face was full on concern. So was Warrick's. She felt like she couldn't breathe. The trees around her seemed to spin. It was like she was trapped inside a nightmare.

"They have Lindsay."