Karl Adams sat in the interrogation room waiting for Mac and Flack's arrival, who were standing watching him from the observation room. They knew that he was starting to get agitated by his facial expressions, and sure enough, after a few more seconds, he began shouting.
'You can't do this! I have rights! I'm sure your chiefs will be interested to know how I got injured! He shouted, making both detectives smile and laugh slightly.
'Think it's time?' Mac said with a smirk.
'Oh I'd say so.' Flack replied as he reciprocated Mac's smile.
They entered the interrogation room, all smiles gone, and Mac sat in front of their suspect whilst Flack stood by the door. Mac flung a file down onto the desk before flipping it open and showing Adams the crime scene photographs and the photos Lindsay took of Maddie's injuries.
'This young woman was beaten and raped in the early hours of Saturday morning. You were working Friday night but didn't turn up for work last night or for your day shift today. Why's that?' Mac said as he tried to keep a calm approach.
'I didn't feel well; didn't realise not turning up for work was a crime now.' Adams sneered.
'Don't play games with me!' Mac shouted as he slammed his hand on the desk.
Adams jumped slightly, but made no indication that he was intimidated in any way. Mac then looked at the crimson scratches on his neck and remembered that Maddie had been the one who gave them to him.
'How'd you get those scratches on your neck?' He asked angrily although more calmly than before.
'A friend's cat gave them to me, can be quite vicious creatures you know.' Adams replied smartly, really testing Mac's patience.
Of all the cases, this was not the one to try his patience on. All rape cases disgusted him, but when he knew the victim or the family of the victim, it made his disgust ten times worse.
'When we brought you in here we took a swab from your mouth and fingerprints, we have DNA from the victim, what are the chances that your DNA is going to match the sample from her?' He asked.
'I'm not saying anything till my lawyer gets here.' Adams replied, which wasn't the answer Mac wanted, but for now the look of fear in his eyes would do.
-CSI: NY-
Upstairs, in the lab, Danny and Sheldon Hawkes were examining the forensic evidence they had, comparing the DNA taken from Maddie's nails to the sample taken from Adams. It was going to take a while before the results were received, so they moved on to testing the aftershaves found in Adams's apartment.
'Jo's on her way in with Maddie now. So we'll set up a small amount of each, allow her to smell each one, and hopefully, she'll be able to identify the scent she smelt.' Sheldon explained.
They walked into the next room and laid out several petri dishes on a table, labelling each with the scent that they'd emptied into it taken from several bottles found in Adams' apartment. In the time it had taken them to do that Jo had arrived with Maddie.
'Hey Maddie it's nice to finally meet you.' Danny said as he held out his hand to the young woman.
She smiled slightly and shook his hand and then turned to Sheldon.
'We just wish it was under better circumstances.' He said as he also shook her hand. 'I'm Sheldon and this is Danny by the way.' He added.
Maddie smiled before replying, knowing exactly who they were from her mom's descriptions of them all.
'Yeah, mom speaks a lot about you guys.' She said.
'Do you think you feel up to carrying out a few tests for us?' Danny asked and was relieved to see her nodding. 'OK walk this way.' He added as he led her to their table of samples.
One by one Maddie held her head about a foot above the dish, and wafted her hand towards her. She moved over the first three with no success, but when she smelt the fourth sample, she couldn't mistake the unique scent.
'That's the one!' She exclaimed.
'Are you absolutely sure?' Danny asked.
'I'm positive.' Maddie confirmed.
-CSI: NY-
Danny knocked on the door to the interrogation room which was then opened by Flack from the other side.
'Boss can I grab a word please?' He asked as he entered and looked at Mac.
Mac stood up from his seat and exited with the other two detectives, hoping that the reason he'd been interrupted was good.
'Maddie has given a positive ID of the scent she smelt at the club, it's one of Adams's aftershaves collected from his apartment. She's also asked if she can watch the interview. She wants to see if she can identify his voice.' Danny explained.
Mac was delighted that they'd got a breakthrough on the aftershave, but after spending the last couple of days with Maddie, he wasn't sure she was up to seeing her attacker. Just as he was wondering what to do, both Maddie and Jo appeared.
'Mac she really wants to do this.' Jo said to him.
He thought awkwardly for a moment, trying to decide what to do for the best. He didn't want to cause Maddie any more distress than she'd already had within the last couple of days. He looked at the determined faces of the hopeful mother and daughter, and could see that this meant a lot to them both.
'OK, but only if you think you're up to it Maddie.' He replied, and despite how she looked, Maddie nodded her head in agreement.
Jo, Maddie, Flack and Danny entered the observation room, whilst Mac re-entered the interview room. He began to ask Adams some more questions, and as he did Maddie listened intently. She closed her eyes and held onto her mom tightly as she listened, blocking out all other thoughts, until a memory flash hit her. There was no doubt in her mind; Karl Adams was the man who had attacked her.
'It's him, no mistake. He is the one who raped me.' She said as she opened her eyes once more and looked directly at the sneering form of her attacker.
'You're absolutely certain?' Flack asked.
'Yep definitely.' Maddie replied confidently.
Mac briefly looked at Flack as he entered the room, and noticed him subtly nod his head. With a very small smile Mac turned his attentions back to Adams.
'I think we're done here. Detective Flack, escort him out please.' Mac said as he stood up. 'We're charging you with the rape and assault of Madison Danville,'
'You've got nothing on me!' Adams protested.
'Well actually, we've just got a positive ID on you.' Flack answered as he led Adams away.
-CSI: NY-
That night Maddie and Jo sat on the sofa together watching a film. It was the most relaxed either of them had felt all day. The DNA evidence confirmed Karl Adams's guilt, not that it was doubted for a second. He was formally charged shortly after Jo had left with Maddie.
Shortly after their arrival home Russ had received a call from the FBI stating he was required urgently. Initially he wasn't going to go, but Maddie assured him that she was fine and that he was to go "do his thing". She'd always been proud of her mom and dad's achievements, and knew that their work was important to them, but she also knew that their family came first in their lives.
'You hungry yet?' Jo asked as she lovingly stroked Maddie's hair, as she rested her head against her shoulder.
'Starving actually, but I can't be bothered moving.' Maddie replied sleepily.
'How'd you fancy take-out?'
'Sounds like a plan to me.'
Jo smiled and took out her cell from her pocket, dialling the number for Maddie's favourite Chinese take-out. It took about twenty minutes for their food to arrive, but they were both grateful when it did.
'Come on young lady, table please.' Jo said as Maddie began eating whilst sat on the sofa.
She was placing mats and cutlery down on the table as she watched Maddie, very reluctantly, move from her position on the sofa.
'It's too quiet around here without Ellie.' She commented as she joined her mom, referring to Ellie's absence at a friend's sleepover.
'Yeah it is. How'd you think I feel when you're all out and it's just little old me rattling round?' Jo replied, tipping the contents of the silver take-out container onto her plate.
'Well, actually, I kinda wanted to talk to about that. Would it be ok if I stayed here for a while?'
'Aw honey of course it is. You don't need to ask. Why'd you think I got such a big apartment?' Jo replied rhetorically, resulting in a small smile from Maddie.
As they tucked into their meal silence descended, both tired and hungry from the recent events. It had been a long and stressful couple of days, but it was now coming to a close and they could all start to move on.
-CSI: NY-
Six months later…
Jo, Russ, Jo's mother Ruth and Ellie were sat amongst the other relatives as they watched the students graduating. One by one the black cloaked figures walked up the stairs to the stage, shook the hand of the University director and collected their degree before they walked back down towards their peers. Jo's heart felt to be racing with excitement as she watched for Maddie, until it skipped a beat when she heard Maddie's name called.
'Madison Danville!' The older gentleman said as he called her forward.
Loud cheers erupted from her family as she stood up and walked towards the stage. Jo took out her camera and took as many photographs as she could, before she was interrupted by the arrival of Mac.
'I'm sorry I'm late.' He apologised as he took the spare seat next to Jo.
'Where have you been?' She playfully scorned.
'I got caught on a case, but I'll explain more later.' He explained as everyone clapped once again as Maddie left the podium.
The ceremony lasted a further forty minutes and Jo was so glad when it was over. All she wanted to do was hold Maddie tightly and tell her how proud she was. They made their way to the hall where a buffet had been laid out for the guests and graduates.
Jo pulled Mac to one side to discuss the case that had kept him detained and she noticed her mom give her a coy smile. As much as she loved her mom, she wished that she wouldn't try to fix her up on dates all the time. She rolled her eyes at her before moving away slightly.
Thankfully the case didn't sound too complex, or at least it didn't warrant either of them returning immediately to the lab. They re-joined the group, by which point Maddie had found them, and they were determined to have a good time.
After a while Mac pulled Maddie to one side, whilst her family were otherwise distracted in conversation.
'I just wanted to offer you my personal congratulations.' He said.
'Thanks Mac, means a lot.' She replied with a broad smile.
'Well you should be proud, I've seen your scores; you've done really well in everything. You've shown great aptitude as a law student and in the field of forensics, exactly what I look for in a field agent.' He stated, noting the look of surprise as her eyes lit up. 'I'd really like to have you on the team at the crime lab if you're still interested.'
'Mac that's great, I'd love to!' Maddie exclaimed with excitement as she went to hug him.
Jo noticed the commotion of excitement from where she was standing so she went to investigate further.
'What's going on?' She asked.
'Mac's just offered me at the crime lab.' Maddie replied excitedly.
'Oh well that's great news!' Jo said as she hugged Maddie.
'I start next week.'
After everything she'd been through before, Maddie somehow managed to pick herself up, dust herself off and come out on top. She was a fighter and definitely a Danville through and through.
'What do you say we ditch this joint and head back to ours for a real party?' Jo said as the three of them returned to the rest of their family.
Everyone agreed and headed for the nearest exit, feeling like they had some serious celebrating to do. Maddie was excited about working as part of the team and couldn't wait to get started, and both she and Jo were excited about being able to work together. Now it was just a case of waiting to see what else lay in store for them.
Thanks to all those who have read and reviewed, I hope you have all enjoyed it. Hopefully another story should be in the pipeline soon.