Blind I:

"KitaKitaKita!" I hollered entering the room. My apartment was small, but at least I don't get lost. I heard a small bark, the skittering of puppy paws on linoleum (quickly silenced by carpet), and a set of low growls. I snapped twice. "Shh, Nakita. Paris? You can come in." I held the door open. When he had walked in, I closed it.

"Got anything to drink?" He still sounded preoccupied.

"…Water good enough for you?"

"Nothing a-"

"No, Paris." I heard the couch in my den squeak. I brought a bottle of water from my fridge and navigated to the couch. "Here. Nakita!" I felt her warm weight settle on my lap. She had short hair, and her collar had tags in printed raised type in Braille. I readjusted her bandana.

"LeadMe leader dog in training?" He shoved my hand off Kita's head and proceeded to scratch it.

"She's from LeadMe, a local organization that places leader dogs in houses of assisted people. They allowed me to take her home a few days prior to her training start."

"Okay, what is she?"

"Yellow Lab. She's only seven months old, but that's old enough for training."

His phone beeped.

"I gotta take this, one moment." He excused himself into my hallway. Bits of his conversation floated down the hall.

"Claire… no, no I don't… I don't see ho- what do you mean he does? Tell him- no. Bye, Clair, no, I don't want to- Hi-llo. Mark! How are you doing? Good, no, I can't I have to- bye. Claire, I can't no, fine, next week… okay, that works…bye. ARRGGH!" He stomped into my living room. "Cori, I have to-"

"Sit down and tell me what's wrong?" I offered. Paris sighed and took his seat next to me. He sipped from his bottle of water loudly before explaining.

"Seven years ago, I married Claire Dayton. Five years ago we divorced."

"Would you mind telling me why, Paris?"

"Well, she came home one night all giggly saying that she was pregnant. Turns out it- it- it wasn't mine…"

"She was having an affair?"

"Uh, yeah. We'll go with that." Nakita yawned and laid her head on my chest to sleep. "How'd you do that?"

"Slow circles on her neck," I demonstrated as I spoke. "But that's not the point. What do you mean 'we'll go with that'?"

"My brother…"

"Derek? Or Ripley?"

"Ripley. He, uh, was the …dad…" I nearly jumped at his words; nearly waking up Kita.

"But, Ripley's-"

"Dead. I know." I remembered the funeral. Loads of publicity. I, of course, don't remember Ripley Stauer's Murder case. As Paris was my assistant, he couldn't work the case.

"Now what?" I asked, sliding out from under my quickly rowing Labrador. I navigated my way to the kitchen, grabbing for the jar on my counter. I pulled out a few of my office-famous chocolate mint cookies. I ambled back to the couch. Handing Paris a cookie, I urged him to continue.

"Her son, Markus, wants to meet his 'daddy'. His father's dead."

"I think we've established that. Why is Claire calling?"

"She thinks I'm the closest thing to a dad Mark's got."

"Well, he is your…ex-stepson…"

"I have to go. Your cookies are phenomenal, as always. Thanks, I needed to vent." He stood up, reached for Kita, who growled in her sleep, and made to leave. "On her note, bye."

"Bye," I replied. The door slammed shut.

I leaned back. I feel sorry for Paris. His infidelity-believing ex-wife cheated on him, had a child, and wants him to be part of the kid's life. I bit a large chunk out of my cookie. He was right, it was phenomenal. My telephone rang. Two high pitched shrieks, one low. The sound was luckily coming from the coffee table.

"Hello?"

"Cori! How's Nakita?"

"Love you too, Meg." My one-and-only friend that I don't work with groaned. Probably a companion to an eye roll. "She's fine, sleeping. What did ya' call for?"

"Can I come over?"

"Uh hun? Why?"

"I want to try something with Kita." Megan Grabin works for LeadMe. She placed Nakita for me.

"Sure. My door's unlocked."

[-x-]

Time magazine: 'Marvels of Modern Forensics: Detective LaVey'

Email interview conducted by Marie Jenesson, Jakob Nacco, and Emilene Vask, journalists for 'Forensics Weekly'.

FW: What specific techniques do you employ in your cases?

CL: I use several, but they all really depend on the case. A few are: Taking many notes; just sitting down and writing what I know. Another, I visit crime scenes and autopsy often. They allow me to be more involved in the case, as well as hear all information first hand. Lastly, I join Paris when he questions possible suspects.

FW: What connections do you have in the workplace?

CL: As far as friends go, pretty much just Paris and Sam. I don't really have any relationships. When it comes to connections, anyone will do anything for the blind girl!

FW: Word has it you make a mean cookie…?

CL: That's true! Everyone in the office loves my Chocolate Mint cookies. Most people think I can't cook. As long as I'm not preoccupied, I can be practically world-class with my baking.

FW: Thank you for your time.

CL: You are welcome.