A/N : Wow thank you to the faithful few for the reviews ... and to all the alerts! I guess that means I should continue ...?

So having made you all cringe with the last Fluff chapter (I'm going to blame that on a sudden lapse brought on by the strange mushrooms my sister-in-law put in the casserole) now we get to the Crime chapter ...

Chapter 3

The snow was coming down thickly once more as Stella pulled the curtain and switched out the light. She slipped between the cold sheets and shuddered. She wriggled around trying to get warm. Her ears caught the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing. A few seconds later a cold draught made her shiver as the cover was lifted. She rolled onto her side and allowed a warm body to snuggle up close. She melted into his embrace as Mac wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight until there was no gap between them.

"Three months, four days and five hours." she murmured.

"Huh …?"

"Since our last weekend together." she replied.

"That was fun!" Stella was unable to see Mac's smile but she knew it matched hers as she recalled their last weekend together in New Orleans. Mac swept her hair out of the way and kissed her neck. "And now I have you for almost a whole week." he whispered mischievously.

Stella smiled to herself. "Well ..." she began her voice taking on a playful tone. "I don't know about that Mac Taylor. I'm not sure we should be doing this..."

Mac started and raised himself up onto an elbow. "What..?"

Stella's smile turned into a grin as he sounded clearly panicked. "Well I'm not sure I can cope sharing you with a younger woman." She couldn't help herself as she giggled looking at the incomprehension on Mac's face. Then it dawned on him who she was referring to.

"Stella!"

With a quick twist she pushed him back into the pillows and rolled over to plant a firm kiss on his lips. She looked down at him in the dim light that penetrated the room from the street-light outside. His eyes were like dark pools, impenetrable and mesmerizing. She felt her stomach tighten as she saw the desire in them. His arms tightened around her as he pulled her down for another kiss. They both shot apart as the doorbell rang.

"What the hell?" Mac looked at Stella and then as his watch. "It's gone midnight!" The bell rang again, more insistently this time. Mac flicked aside the cover and padded out the room. Stella threw herself back against the pillows with a huff. Dammit! She heard Mac and Sid exchange words and then the opening of the front door. Stella raised herself up and listened. She couldn't quite make out the words but the voices sounded serious and urgent. She threw aside the covers and wandered onto the balcony overlooking the main room. Danny and Lindsay were already up and standing there watching as Mac and Sid spoke to a local law enforcement officer.

"Yes, I know where that is." Sid was saying. "Just give us a few minutes to get dressed Sam." Sid returned to his room as Mac took the stairs.

"There's been a homicide at one of the hotels at the other side of the resort. It's not something that the local PD are used to handling and they can't get anyone up here from county until the morning. Sam's a friend of Sid's and has asked if we can help. Go back to bed. We won't be long."

"I'm coming with you." announced Stella in a tone of voice that meant no one would dare argue with her. Mac wasn't surprised. He'd known that was exactly what she'd say. He turned to Danny and Lindsay.

"No point in all of us going. You stay here and I'll let you know if we need you." Danny and Lindsay nodded. Danny watched Mac follow Stella into the room at the end of the corridor and close the door. He looked over the balcony at the two sofas, then at Stella's room and then at his wife.

"Are they …?"

Lindsay just shook her head, rolled her eyes and pulled at his arm. "Of course they are. I told you not to put him on The List!"

"But they live a thousand miles apart ..." Danny continued to stare at the closed door until Lindsay grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him into their room closing the door behind her.

"But only three and half hours by plane." Lindsay explained. "Haven't you noticed that Mac has actually started taking weekends off every other month since she left? And how grouchy he was when he had to work through his last one? And how Stella was back at Thanksgiving and New Year?"

Danny looked at her amazed. "But how ..."

Lindsay looked at her husband and shrugged. "I wouldn't want to do it that way but whatever works for them." They both looked at the door as they heard Mac and Stella join Sid downstairs. They heard the front door close. "Now come back to bed." She ordered suggestively batting her long brown eyelashes as she smoothed down her Bordeaux red satin night-gown. Danny was suddenly very relieved at not having to go out in the snow.

'*****'

Mac held the door open for Stella and then jumped in after her. Sid got into the front of the 4x4 next to Sam Kingston. The red-faced police sergeant turned and beamed at them. "Well I must say I'm impressed. The guys at county will never believe this. Our first murder in fourteen years and I have not only New York's most prestigious ME but also the heads of the New York and New Orleans Crime Labs together. Must be my lucky day." He and Sid chuckled as he started up the engine and the heating kicked in. "It's good of you to come out on your vacation. Hopefully we'll be able to get this cleared up quickly and you folks can get back to the slopes."

"What do you know so far?" asked Stella.

Sam leaned forward, hunched over the steering wheel and peered out of the windscreen as he drove carefully through the heavy snow. "Call came in from Lori … Lori Jenkins, the manager of the The Pines. It's a B&B on the other side of town. Real nice lady. Real nice place she's got. Makes a lovely pumpkin pie." Stella smiled at Mac who arched an eyebrow. Evidently Sam Kingston had a soft spot for the lady in question and her cooking. Sam cleared his throat. "Anyway one of her guests complained about the noise coming from the room above around eleven this evening. She called down to Ms Jenkins who went to investigate. She entered the room which was unlocked. The place had been turned over, and I mean really turned over. You'll see when we get there. Anyhow, she checked the bathroom and found the girl. Blood everywhere. It's a real mess. She called us straight away. I told, Bruce – he's my deputy - not to touch anything but secure the scene and interview the guests. I knew Sid was in town with you folks so I came straight over."

"Do you have an ID on the girl?" asked Mac.

"She's registered as Sandra Beale. Ms Jenkins says she's a real nice girl. Her and her friend come up quite often. Not far now folks. It's coming down heavy. Be plenty of good powder for you tomorrow Detectives."

Sam pulled the car up in front of a large chalet with an extension on one side. They all got out. Sam grabbed a kit from the trunk and they tramped through the gathering snow to the front door. It was opened immediately by a handsome-looking middle-aged woman with greying blond hair pulled back in a tight chignon at the nape of her neck. Sam made the introductions.

"Lori, this is my good friend Doctor Sid Hammerback and this is Detective Stella Bonasera and Detective Mac Taylor."

Lori nodded politely to each of them and shook hands as she led them into the warmly lit interior. The décor was done in shades of apricot which cast a welcoming glow. There was a small reception desk, a table with details about the resort, maps and tourist information. Large glass doors on the right opened onto a room set with a number of tables. Huge glass windows looked out onto a small terrace which would be perfect for an al-fresco breakfast in the summer. Overall the impression was of a cosy, well-cared for family home-from-home not the scene of a murder. Lori's face was pale with anxiety. "This is a terrible business. I can't imagine who would do such an awful thing. She was such a nice girl."

"Did you know her well?" asked Stella as Lori led them up the wooden staircase and down a carpeted corridor.

"As well as I get to know any of my guests. This was their third year here and their second time this season. They always come at Christmas and for the road-race in the summer but I guess they decided to make an extra trip with the snow being so good this year."

"You said they? Who did Sandra come with?" asked Mac.

"Her friend, Emily Carter. I always give them the room on the top floor as it's a twin. It's just through there." Lori smiled at Mac as she pointed to a small staircase of the end of the corridor. He could tell she didn't want to go back in the room. "I don't know how I'm going to tell her about her friend." At everyone's enquiring glance, she continued. "Sandra came back – er some time after ten. Said she had a headache and that Emily would be back later. I haven't seen her come in yet."

"Do you know where they went?"

Lori shook her head. "No, one of the restaurants in town. Probably one where there was some night-life and some young men."

Mac thanked her politely and asked when the girls had arrived at the B&B. Lori nodded. "Yesterday afternoon … well Sunday afternoon … it's gone midnight now. Emily phoned up early Sunday morning. They booked to stay the week." Mac followed Stella up the narrow stairs and joined Sam at the top. Sam stepped back to allow them to enter. He was right. The place was a mess. Drawers had been pulled open, suitcases thrown on the floor, The bedding had been pulled off and the mattress was askew. Mac and Stella carefully walked the room, taking in every detail. Sid was already in the bathroom bending over a body. Sam watched their movements carefully eager to learn something from the two big city detectives.

"So what have we..." Mac's voice trailed away as he looked down at the dark-haired young woman lying on the white-tiled floor. Stella peered over his shoulder.

"It's the girl from the restaurant." Stella was shocked. "She was with the blond in the pink jacket." Mac nodded thoughtfully. After Stella had pointed them out when she greeted him earlier that day, he couldn't help glancing at her from time to time as they ate. She was right in his line of sight. He had noticed how she kept looking over at them. Although she was chatting and laughing with her friend she had somehow seemed so sad, so lonely. He remembered looking back at her as he took Lucy out onto the slopes. A sudden wave of sorrow flooded through him as he recalled how forlorn she had seemed. So her name was Sandra Beale, he thought to himself. "Mac?" Stella noticed Mac's mind was elsewhere.

"Er … sorry, you were saying?" Mac looked at Sid.

"Single knife wound to the stomach, penetrating the abdominal aorta. She would have bled out in seconds. I'd need to get to autopsy to confirm but the angle of the wound suggests she was stabbed from a side in an upward movement." Mac looked around the bathroom. Most of the cast off and arterial spray was on the wall opposite the door in which he and Stella were standing. A large vanity case full of cosmetics, brushes and little bottles stood open and a bottle of pain-killers was lying on the floor, it's contents scattered.

"So she came back with a headache, went straight into the bathroom for the pills. The attacker comes up behind her, possibly grabbing her around the neck …" Mac stepped behind Stella and put an arm around her throat. He pulled her back towards him, simulating a stabbing movement with his hand up towards her stomach. Sid nodded in approval as he watched.

"... and he pulls out the knife causing the cast-off on that wall and pushes her down into the blood pool. He then wipes his hand and the knife on that towel." Stella pointed towards the bloodied towel in the bath. "What do you think Mac? It's not easy to stab someone that way. You'd need a lot of force." Sam looked impressed as they analysed the scene. They were obviously used to working together which he thought was strange as they came from two different cities.

Mac nodded. "We're definitely looking for someone with powerful arms. And a someone who was looking for something." As he looked around the room a young, nervous-looking ginger-haired lad knocked politely on the door.

Sam waved him in. "Ah Bruce, this is Detective Mac Taylor from the New York Crime lab and Detective Stella Bonasera from New Orleans." Bruce positively ogled Stella as they shook hands.

"Wow. It's really nice to meet you." The young deputy gushed. "Erm, I've finished interviewing the guests. Oh hey Sid!" Sid raised his hand in acknowledgement. Mac and Stella exchanged glances both wondering if Sid actually knew everyone in the small resort.

"Well go on son. Don't be shy." Sam encouraged.

"Oh … er … right!" Bruce flipped open his notebook. "Well the victim, Sandra Beale got in at about 10:30 complaining of a headache. She went straight up to the room. Mr and Mrs Quiggins who have the room below this one were in the television room downstairs. They came back to their room a few minutes later and heard a lot of banging and crashing. They called down to Lori … er Ms Jenkins … to complain. Ms Jenkins came upstairs and knocked at the door but there was no answer. She was worried like, so she came on in. When she saw what happened she called us. " Bruce looked up but Mac nodded at him to continue.

"The other guests are two brothers from New York City. They came in just after you left Sarge. They say they didn't see anything and hadn't even met the girls. There's a Mr and Mrs Johnson in the room next to them but they had the radio on in their room and didn't hear anything. Their two kids are in the adjoining room but they're only young so are asleep. The other two rooms are empty, the guests having stayed over the weekend. They checked out yesterday morning." Bruce closed his notebook. He looked at Mac and pointed to the end of the room. "I hope I didn't do wrong but the window was open when we arrived. I closed it. The snow was blowing in." Mac frowned and walked over to the window. He lifted the catch and pulled the window open. He peered out into the snow and at the darkened buildings beyond. The snow on the windowsill had been disturbed and there was a deep hole in the mound of snow that had accumulated outside. He sensed Stella join him.

"The perp jumped out the window?" she said.

Mac nodded and turned back to the room. "Question is how did he get in?"

Bruce raised his hand like he was still in school. Stella couldn't help but smile as she found it rather endearing. "Er … Ms Jenkins leaves the main door open till eleven. After that the guests have to request a key. The Johnsons retired early because of the kids, the Quiggins were in the television room and Ms Jenkins was setting up breakfast for tomorrow. So I reckon anyone could have walked in unnoticed like."

Mac nodded. "Have you checked the other properties around?" he asked. Bruce shook his head. "Could you do that? Concentrate on the ones that overlook the front door and this window." Bruce nodded eagerly, looked at Sam for confirmation and having received the go-ahead scuttled out of the door enthusiastically.

"His first big case." whispered Sam to Mac. "Mostly we deal with drunks, burglaries and irresponsible skiers. Speaking of which I hear you helped Geoff out yesterday with the kids." At Mac's look of surprise, he continued. "We're a small community Detective Taylor. Geoff is my brother-in-law. He was glad of your help."

Mac blushed a little as Stella grinned at him. "It was nothing. I was glad to be of assistance. Besides my god-daughter was in his class."

"Mac?" Mac turned his attention to Stella. "Look at this." Mac bobbed down beside Stella who had been looking under the bed. "I found this by the edge of the bed." Stella held up a small shard of glass for him to see.

"Mmm. Blue glass. Unusual." Mac looked around the room. "Embedded in the carpet?" Stella nodded. "Probably transferred from someone's shoes. Bag it?" Stella nodded. "Okay you want to finish up here?"

Stella looked at him. "Oh yeah. I'll leave the outside to you."

Mac looked at her simulating shivering and smiled wryly. "Thought you might say that." He grabbed a pair of gloves and Sam handed him a flash-light.

"Be careful out there. That ice can be dangerous!"

A/N: Now Mac can't possibly get into trouble that quickly can he?