A/N: A quite sad chapter, I know...

Chapter 10: Sisters

"Mrs Lisak?"

The woman shook the detective's hand. Her grip was firm yet unsure: "Sandra, please"

Flack nodded: "Sandra... I'm detective Flack and I'm working your brother's case", he pointed to a chair in front of his desk, "Please, take a seat"

She heavily sat down with a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry for your loss"

"You don't know who... who killed Greg?", Don couldn't help but admire her. She was trying to be strong even if she was clearly on the verge of breaking down.

"No", a little pause, "Maybe you can tell me how your relationship was"

"I guess you know about Melissa...", another nod, "... they were a beautiful couple, she was a great woman. And he was my little brother...", she lowered her head, trying to hide a tear, "I'm sorry..."

Don handed her a tissue: "No need to apologize. We can take a break if you need it"

He hated these things. He hated when innocents suffered and hurt. He thought at Samantha, at how he had felt after seeing her at the AA meeting. I need to call her, need to see she's fine.

"I... I'd like to see him, if it's possible"

The detective stood: "Of course, please follow me", he gently took hold of one of her elbows, steering her to the right direction.

They stood for a few seconds behind the obituary glass. Buster's corpse, composed and tucked under a white blanket, laid on a gurney. From their position, he almost looked asleep.

"I know what you're thinking... what a bad sister! It's not I didn't love him and I'm not looking for excuses but can you realize how hard is to be near someone who doesn't want you to do it? I tried anything after Melissa's death; I also lived with him for a while, fighting with my husband Peter, but Greg... nothing. It was like he had disappeared. And he was so angry... as if it was his and my fault. When I went back to my home we started phoning each other. He seemed more himself. He sounded almost okay, said he had found someone to talk to. Maybe he was only faking it... and now, look at him...", she turned her head toward Flack, "Do you think Mel's death could be the cause of this?"

"It's too soon to tell", he lightly squeezed her shoulder, "You're free to go in if you're up to it"

Sandra weakly nodded and moved in the room. Flack stood outside, feeling like an intruder.

"The sister?"

"Doc..."

"Some cases just feed our guilty conscience"

Don frowned and studied Hawkes: "Are you planning to become a new Mac Taylor?"

"No, that's impossible... I lost my sister years ago"

The detective didn't comment, but he was surprised.

"Maya... she started taking drugs and an overdose killed her"

"Shel, I'm so sorry"

The other man shrugged, keeping his eyes on Sandra: She was caressing her brother's face.

"I knew what was happening and I tried to help her, but she avoided me. And then, it was easier to believe everything was okay"

"We all live in denial"

Flack's prophetic tone made Hawkes almost smile: "Now, who's the next Mac Taylor?"

Before the detective could reply, Mrs Lisak approached them.

"This is doctor Sheldon Hawkes; he works in the crime lab"

They shook hands. Sandra nodded, closing her eyes.

"Are you ready to answer some questions, now?", Flack gently asked. Sandra nodded following him meekly.

Interrogation rooms were one of Flack's elected places. There was something powerful in there, something which could scare perps. Maybe it was the cold low light, maybe the hard chairs or maybe the classic fake mirror. He didn't care; he just loved doing interrogations. But when he entered one with his victim's sister it felt really wrong. Even after leaving the door ajar and offering Sandra a cup of warm tea the situation wasn't better. He didn't suit him well, he felt like he was doing something immoral. He just hoped nobody would observe their chat trough the glass.

"Greg and me... Greg and me... some years ago our parents died in another stupid car accident. But I had my brother. He helped me getting through, staying strong for me. And then he met Melissa. You should have seen them together. They were meant to be a couple... can you understand it?"

For a second Jess's sweet smile flashed in Flack's mind. "Yes, I can"

"They were truly in love. We used to bet about who was going to be the first welcoming child... and now, I guess we have a winner, haven't we?"

A dark silence fell into the room. Flack swallowed a couple of times, mutely counted till ten and then asked: "What could you tell me about the accident?"

"Just an accident. They had gone to the movies, to watch one the historical films they both adored, and, while driving home, Greg dozed off. The car slid, ending up in the river. Poor Mel drown. The police investigated but Greg's alcohol and drug level was zero. A tragic accident... and then, he became a different person"

"It's understandable", another flash, this time Jess lying on a pool of her own blood at Tillery's. He slightly trembled.

"In these last few months it was difficult to understand his feelings. Sometimes, he sounded really depressed, other times he was just sad, and others... almost happy"

"Did you tell anything?"

"Just he had known other people, people who knew his pain. But when he told me we were having a fight so I didn't press him further"

Silence again.

Sandra sighed: "Now I know how he was feeling. It all seems so unreal, like the life I've known as mine has suddenly finished and I'm engulfed in this new reality so different and alien, like I'm not me anymore. I'm blaming myself for all the fights we had. The mind... it never stops: What if I had kept him more company? What if I had spent more time talking to him, listening to him? Life... who could foresee these things?"

Another long, tired sigh. Flack thought it was really impossible to foresee the future and he was glad to have a second chance. And only because Jess has fought.

"We can stop there, Sandra", Don stood. Sandra copied him.

"I wish I could have been more useful"

"Don't worry. You have my number: If you remember something – weird behaviors, names of new people in Greg's life, new habits – just call me. Even if you think it'll be a loss of time. We'll find the killer, it's a promise", well – done, detective! Not a single suspect but you're making promises.

"Thank you", they shook hands. Flack watched Sandra slowly walking away.

Then he grabbed his phone, dialing a number: "Hey you! Everything's fine, you?", he shortly laughed, "Listen, I've couple of free hours, what about a coffee?", he listened to the answer and a smile broke up on his face, "Perfect... I'll see you in ten minutes"

He hang up and composed a text: "Jess, I'm having breakfast with Sammie. I'll be back in a couple of hours. Feel free to call me if you'll have news", then he put his coat on and left the precinct.