Adam wrung his hands as Mac headed for his lab. There was something in the way the detective was looking at him now that made him a little uneasy. Mac stopped in the doorway, assessing the fear in Adam's eyes before speaking softly.
"The bartender said he didn't recognise the vic," Mac explained. "So we're gonna need a DNA match to ID him." Adam nodded his understanding, not wanting to risk speaking.
"I'll get a blood sample sent up from autopsy. I'm on my way there now." Again Adam nodded and nothing more. Forcing himself not to sigh aloud, Mac nodded in return before leaving the lab. Adam let out a long breath, turning back to his work. Mac hadn't said anything but that didn't mean he didn't know anything. If Rick was still bar manager then it was undoubtedly he who Mac would have talked to. With another sigh Adam forced himself to focus on the job at hand. There was a murder to solve and Adam's past had nothing to do with it. For now.
(~*~)
Mac was sitting in his office going over the case file. DNA had thrown up no hits and AFIS had done nothing with his fingerprints. So, Mac was back to the beginning. Leaning forward on his forearms, Mac studied the position of the body. The victim was doubled over on his knees. The attacker had obviously strangled him from behind although the ligature was still unknown. Sid had agreed that it was most likely a belt of some kind. There had been no attempt made to hide the body and so it seemed to Mac that this killing may be some kind of statement. The rain had destroyed much of the evidence, which left Mac feeling somewhat useless. A whole night and half a day had gone by, and Mac had nothing to show for it. The phone ringing pulled Mac out of his thoughts and he answered it distractedly.
"Taylor."
"Mac, we got another body. Same area as the last one. Looks to be the same killer from what I can tell." Mac pinched the bridge of his nose as Flack spoke.
"Alright, I'm on my way." Mac hung up and stood up from his desk. With a stunted smile he looked out the window; the weather had cleared up which meant more evidence to put this guy away.
(~*~)
Adam looked up sharply as a box full of evidence was placed in front of him. Mac had a small smile on his face and Adam couldn't help relaxing when he saw it.
"Another body?" He asked quietly. Mac nodded.
"The weather held out this time, so we have more to work with." Adam smiled a little as he began to take out the evidence bags and look at them. "This victim had the same stamp on his hand." Adam's movements stuttered for a few seconds, but he tried to pretend it hadn't happened. Mac noticed, but he too chose to ignore it. "I'm heading back to Club Paradise to see if anyone knows this guy."
"Ok. I'll run these samples as soon as possible." Mac didn't like the way Adam's voice shrunk but there was nothing he could do. He smiled reassuringly before turning to leave. Adam was holding something back about Club Paradise; Mac knew that. But it wasn't his place to pry. If Adam wanted to tell him, the lab tech would do so in his own time.
In the lab, Adam sat down with a sigh. One look from Mac made Adam want to spill his secrets but fear always won out. As long as his name didn't come up there was no reason for Adam to tell anyone about his history at Club Paradise. The rationalisation was shaky and it didn't stop the twisting feeling in Adam's stomach whenever Mac left with that disappointed look in his eyes. Shaking his head, Adam turned back to the evidence on his desk. He may not be able to beat his fear but he could at least give Mac his best work and find out who killed these men.