Chapter 5:

I checked my work twice, then before I left for DNA I checked it again, just to be sure. I turned down the hall just as Nick rounded the corner. "Did you get anything off surveillance?"

He handed me a folder and said, "Yep just got this from Archie."

"Cool. I'll meet you in the break room on 10. I've gotta get this to DNA."

I opened the door and Manson hit me like a tidal wave. I set the samples down and spoke to the back of the guy's head, "The Last Tour on Earth is one of the best albums by Marilyn Manson. However, Mechanical Animals will always be my favorite."

The guy spun around in his chair and the world stood still. I didn't even register the fact that the folder Nick had handed me was on the floor. The guy I was looking at was none other than Greg Sanders.

It all came rushing back to me. The taunting, teasing, the disputes between us, the way he broke my heart without realizing it. I stood there like a statue as he stood up and came over to me with a lopsided grin on his face. "Hey. I'm Greg. DNA extraordinaire and fellow Manson fan. You are?"

That's when I snapped. He didn't even remember me. How could he not remember me? After all the rumors he spread about me after that night, I was sure it would be imprinted in his mind like it was in mine. He took a step closer and I shoved him with all my might and ran out of the room.

"How long has she been like this?" I heard Nick ask Catherine.

I had been sitting in the break room staring at the wall for a good 10 minutes. The horror and pain of my high school life was drowning me again and again. The laughing, teasing, rumors. The cutting, the blood, the pain, the way it took away pain….

"Mar," Catherine sat down next to me and put a hand on my shoulder. I flinched but she didn't move it. "What happened?"

All I could muster was, "It's him."

Catherine turned to Nick, "Where did she come from? Where was she going when you last saw her?"

Nick took a deep breath and said, "Um I think she was heading to DNA…"

My line of sight was interrupted as Warrick kneeled down in front of me, forcing me to look at him. "How about you come with me to AV and ask Archie about the surveillance?" He held out his hand for me and I hesitantly took it as he helped me up. "It's alright Mar. Come on."

Archie was talking to Warrick and I was nodding along, but I didn't hear a thing they were saying. My mind kept skipping back in time to seeing him again. He pretended as if he didn't even know me…

"I got a call from Brass. They picked up the guy and are waiting for us. Mar, you coming?"

I nodded and followed him down the hallway, keeping my eyes on the ground.

I was on the other side of the glass, watching Brass and Warrick show the girl piece after piece of evidence. It was clear she was guilty, but I couldn't help but wonder. Did he do something wrong? Had he hurt her like Greg hurt me? Was she suffering too?

I was pulled from my thoughts when Warrick came into the room. "We got her. Now her fate is in the hands of the DA. Congrats rookie, you solved your first murder."

I smiled weakly and said, "We. You, me, and Nick. We solved this murder."