A/N: Madison Bellows, I'm pretty sure a simple thank you is not enough to say how grateful I am. You're really helpful.

Chapter 19: Routine, nothing more – Part 2

Detective Mac Taylor greeted Chief Sinclair with a strong handshake and stared at his retreating form. He then went back in his office to clear his mind a little. After few minutes Stella knocked before entering after a barely perceptible nod from Mac.

She sat on a chair. "We have some news-" Mac looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "Lindsay found out that the fiber from the covers is used only in four laboratories in New York. She and Adam are working to get the employees' names."

"That's good." Mac's cell interrupted the conversation with its loud ringing. He checked the ID and then answered without hesitation. He listened in silence for few moments while Stella was looking curiously at him. He ended the call with a "see you there asap," and then focused his attention back to the curly haired woman. "That was Danny. It seems that the killer sends the letters using a normal envelope. A used envelope was found in the second victim's house."

"It'd be great if we had some news from Angell and Flack, but going from door to door is a long and often useless task."

Mac sighed, agreeing. He stood up, "let's go. I want to see the companies you told me about earlier."

"Thank you. Goodbye." Flack stared at the closing door in front of him, "another name to scratch off our list."

"I can't believe it. When will Adam tell us if there are names on both lists?"

The lab tech had called them few minutes ago to update them. He had also added that, as soon as he had all the employees' names, he was going to compare the lists.

Flack looked at Jess for a while; he didn't like when she was feeling frustrated and defeated. He grabbed her shoulder, squeezing it gently, "I have an idea. We stop for twenty minutes to drink a coffee and eat something, okay? Then, we'll start again and I'm sure Adam will have something new for us."

Angell's lips outlined a smile, Flack's suggestion was perfect. They had questioned lots of people without stopping and her exhaustion was starting to take a toll. "Deal."

"Perfect. There's a fabulous diner not far from here."

She laughed, "you sound like the Zagat guide. Who wins for best places? Where are the five stars?"

"I don't see that as a problem. I'm always on the streets, it is vital knowledge, knowing where I can find some good meals." He put on a serious face but he couldn't help bursting out laughing at the end. That was one of the greatest things about his relationship with Jess, no matter how awful the day was she was always able to lift his mood by simply being there.

"This is the envelope."

"There's nothing written on it. So, no graphology analysis."

"How can you be sure the sheet with the question was inside?"

"Look at this," Danny pointed to the little dark shred attached to the envelope, "It looks like the cover."

"Let's check it." Very carefully Lindsay took the piece with a tweezers and put it under a microscope before moving to the PC. A while later, two pictures appeared on the mega screen of the lab. "So, to the left we have the reference piece – the cover found with the first victim – and to the right there's the piece from the envelope."

"They match," Stella confirmed.

"Exactly, you see these little different zones?", Lindsay zoomed in the picture, "this is that Caltex material. It's the same fabric."

"Idiotic question, is it possible that Miss Cruz worked for one of the companies?"

The group turned toward the door. "How long have you been there just looking at us?" Danny sounded surprised, he hadn't really noticed Flack.

"Why? Are you doing something illegal? When I am not around you use monosyllabic words?" Nobody answered. "I came up just few minutes ago. Nobody answered my question – the one about Cruz, obviously."

"Elizabeth Cruz was working on her Master's degree. Economical and administrative management in international firms. She had a part-time job, she was an accountable in a building company. She couldn't have come in contact with the cover," Mac specified.

"Okay. I'd like to know how the killer chooses his victims. He sends the letters so he knows their addresses. How much can you trust a person who you know only by phone?"

"I guess he's really empathic," Hawkes intervened.

"So, it's plausible to believe he has suffered something similar to the victims..."

"Maybe. But, if there's not evidence, we should follow other leads. How was questioning?"

"Banal, obvious, irrelevant. People we talked to have nothing suspect. Obviously we haven't finished yet, but I was hoping you brainiacs would help us narrowing the list."

"Gimme!" Danny took the sheets Flack was handing him. "Let's compare them with the employees and let's see the final result". A few swift finger moves and the PC started the analysis. Everyone was staring at the screen in grave silence.

"Why is it taking so long?"

"Flack, it's been less then five minutes!"

The detective made a funny expression, looked at his watch, at the screen and back at his watch. He hated the wait, he was a man of action. "Okay, I'll let the magic computer work in peace. I'm leaving, I'm gonna start my report."

The rest of the team stayed in the room and start looking at their notes to look for other perspectives.