Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: NY.
Series: None.
Spoilers: Corporate Warriors. Any of the dialogue you recognise was taken straight from the episode.

Chapter Five – Corporate Warriors

It was definitely a strange sight, but neither Lindsay nor Jess commented on that, exchanging a silent glance that said more than any words could.

Their victim sat on a bench in the park, hands in his lap, his eyes closed, the only sign of death the blood soaking his collar and the flies beginning to gather around him.

"He have anything interesting to say?" Mac asked.

"His name's Jared Stanton." Jess answered, checking her notes. "Lives at 73rd and Park. Now, before you ask, I'm at a loss, but, in my opinion, this isn't a body dump. He was left where he died."

Mac nodded in agreement. "No sign of disturbance and the flies appear to have been here a while."

"I think time of death was at some time in the pre-dawn hours." Lindsay added.

Mac circled the bench, coming to stand behind the victim. "So Jared Stanton walks into the park, sits down and offers no resistance when he's killed."

Lindsay took another picture. "I know, it doesn't make any sense."

Mac frowned at the body. "Don't quote me on this, ladies, but sometimes," he took hold of the man's head and lifted, revealing a clean cut through the neck, "not everything's connected."

"Tell me I told you about this case."

Jess stopped in her tracks, just in time to avoid running into Don, who had suddenly appeared in front of him. "What case? Sorry, Don; I've got two dead bodies and a killer who's a cross between Spiderman and Jackie Chan."

"Well, I got a ten-year-old kid who died in an arson attack." Don stated.

"Oh God …" Jess murmured, taking the photo he had from him. "I'm so sorry, Don; you never told me about this one. I wish you had."

Don sighed, his arms falling to his sides. "Yeah, me too. S'not your fault, Jess. Spiderman?"

Jess chuckled wryly. "Yeah, an eyewitness saw one of our vics going at it with some guy in a pool hall; swore they were in the middle of a martial arts fight and one of them ran up the wall, pushed off the ceiling and carried on."

"And how much had that witness had to drink?" Don asked.

"A lot." Jess admitted. "But Stella and Danny pulled a footprint off the ceiling."

"Alright, you've got the weirder case this time." Don conceded.

"It gets better." Jess told him. "Our other victim was beheaded and didn't move an inch. His head was placed back on his body." She sighed. "I think you've got the worse case though. What kind of sick bastard sets fire to an apartment when a child's home alone. I assume he was alone?" She added.

Don nodded. "Mom had to work."

"Poor woman." Jess murmured. "I hope she's staying with someone."

"Yeah, her boyfriend."

Jess frowned thoughtfully. "Don't take this as law, Flack, because you never mentioned a kid …"

"What?" Don prompted when she trailed off. "Jess, tell me you have something."

"I might have something." Jess traced the child's face with a finger. "You told me once about a man who set fire to his girlfriend's apartment because he wanted her to move in with him. It was only in passing though and, like I said, you never mentioned a child. I think I had a spousal murder and you said something about people doing strange things for love."

"Only problem is, arson isn't that uncommon." Don sighed, taking the picture back.

"No." Jess agreed. "But it's a process of elimination. You remember that case?"

Don shook his head. "Why?"

"Well, even before we were partners, I usually knew what your case involved and you knew what mine did." Jess explained. "Which means it happened before I started at NYPD. And if you don't remember the case, it means it happened between now and next July."

"That's still just under a year." Don reminded her.

"I know." Jess nodded. "But, like you said, arsons aren't that uncommon, so something must have made this one stick in your memory. I don't think the motive alone would be enough; it would have to be something big. Something like …"

"Something like a ten-year-old kid dying as a result." Don completed her thought. "Thanks, Jess."

"It's an insult to point the spout at your guest." Lindsay turned the teapot round and left the office, Jess jogging after her.

"He did that on purpose!" Jess whispered, once the door closed behind them.

"He's hiding something." Lindsay stated in response.

"Yeah." Jess agreed quietly. "I know. Just wish I knew what."

"You remember when we first met?" Lindsay asked suddenly. "You told me not to shut 'us' out this time. You don't just mean you?"

"Linds, last time, I got here a year after you." Jess explained quietly. "I was the last person I was expecting you to let in, but you did. Like I said, you called me from Montana. I mean everyone. Stella and Danny in particular – they were really worried."

"Danny?" Lindsay asked. "Danny Messer? You know something I don't? He seems intent on making my life hell."

"I think you're exaggerating a little bit." Jess told her. "If it's really bothering you, tell him and he'll stop."

"You think?" Lindsay sounded doubtful. "Don't you think that'll just make it worse?"

"Danny's not acting like this because he doesn't like you." Jess smirked. "It's the CSI equivalent of pulling a girl's pigtails on the playground."

"You know something I don't?" Lindsay guessed.

"I know a lot of things you don't." Jess reminded her. "But I'm not gonna tell you."

"Jess …" Lindsay began.

"No." Jess shook her head. "I will not be swayed on this, Lindsay. There are some things I want to change, but this is one of those things I'm leaving alone."

Lindsay smirked. "Well, that tells me all I need to know."

It had been one of those cases where the most obvious suspect turned out to be the murderer, which didn't happen very often, but it meant that Jess could go home knowing another murderer was behind bars and confident that a conviction would be reached.

But when she got home, her plans for a quiet night in changed abruptly, because Don was sitting in the hallway outside her apartment.

"You were right." He told her quietly. "That boy died because his mom's boyfriend couldn't take no for an answer."

"C'mon." Jess offered him a hand to his feet. "You look like you could use a drink."

"This another one of our future traditions?" Don asked knowingly.

Jess grinned at him. "Well, I do make a good Irish coffee."

AN: Review please!