'Look who's back!'

Adam gave Shane a grin as he moved into the boardroom of the offices of Zimmerman Pharmaceuticals where their new customers were waiting for their attention. 'How's it going, bro'

'Good, it feels weird to be back at work though,' he laughed. 'Last time I was on a scene like this it was sunny and golden outside. Now it's like almost Christmas time.'

'I understand what you mean,' Adam agreed, then looked over at Watkins who was red-cheeked above her scarf, her eyes slightly glassy. 'Hey, you feeling okay Watkins?'

'It's windy out when you're walking from the subway instead of riding in a cozy department issue vehicle,' Watkins snapped back, making Shane and Adam lift their eyebrows. She raised a hand, sighed. 'Sorry. Rough night.'

'Oh?'

'Yeah, the wife and I were both up with stomach issues. Either of you ever been to Spice Island?'

'How is that place still in business?' Shane wondered aloud.

'Beats the living hell outta me. Shall we deal with these unfortunate souls?'

'Sure. Terry Montaigne and Kelsey Latimer, according to the ID badges around their necks.' Shane gestured with his pen to the man who appeared to be merely slumped over on the floor, while the woman had fresh blood-stains on her slightly-wilting white shirt. 'They were found by the floor manager. Both are employed here for Tel-Com, they're a call centre on floors three through eight.'

'Not a terribly original name,' Adam said drily. 'Not the point right now though. What can you tell me about time of death?'

Shane got out his liver-temp thermometer, tested Kelsey first as she was closer to him. 'Kelsey was killed between twelve and one last night while Terry checked out around the same time.'

'So they were likely killed by the same person, possibly within minutes of each other,' Watkins theorized.

'Nothing is guaranteed, especially considering there are two apparent CODs.'

'Oh?' Adam arched an eyebrow.

'Yeah, Kelsey has a through-and-through gun shot, small caliber so likely a nine millimetre or a thirty-two. Her boy here, he has the classic sign of overdose and-or poisoning.'

'Alright.' Adam closed his eyes saw the scene take shape. 'Terry is working late, comes across someone in this office doing bad things, gets put out for the count. Kelsey, also working late comes across our mystery baddie and wonders what the hell is going on so she's shot with the gun brought just in case.'

'But then why go to the trouble of poisoning Terry?' Watkins inquired, looking around the room for signs of a struggle, evidence of files or a computer cracked open. 'Why not shoot him?'

'Perhaps he has something of value, like a computer password or knowledge of a system?'

'A human key,' Shane concurred. 'That's good enough reason to keep someone alive until they aren't useful anymore.'

'A third alternative is that Terry was shooting up and Kelsey startled him, he shot her without realizing what he was doing then OD'd of his own volition,' Adam went on, wheels turning away as he sized up the situation. 'Has CSU been in to photograph the body?'

'Not yet.'

'Once they do, transport him to your place. I wanna know why two young kids are dead when they don't need to be,' he replied. So serious was his expression that Shane nearly saluted him. 'Watkins, you take the first witness, I'm going to consult with CSU first.'

Watkins nodded, and the moment she was out of ear-range Adam grinned. 'Do I sound like David Caruso or what?'

'David Caruso was a tool, you are already lightyears ahead of him in the cool department,' Shane replied with a grin, dapping knuckle with him. 'You buy that about Watkins getting food poisoning?'

'Yeah, why?'

'Dunno, just looked a little like she might have morning sickness.'

'In case you didn't remember, Watkins has a wife who as far as I know isn't a transexual,' Adam replied, a little confused.

'Yeah, but there are other ways, you know, like the turkey baster method.'

'Tur- you're disgusting. You kiss Petra with that mouth?'

'After I wash it out. Speaking of which...' Shane rose from his crouched position to stretch his knees and his back. 'How much crap will the guys give me if I call Alexis to see how Petra is while I'm at work.'

'Depends on how often you call. Once or twice is sweet. Anything more and you'll take Kevin's worried-daddy-trophies away from him.'

When Shane did have his two bodies back to the morgue, he started on Terry first as he had the least obvious of the wounds. He flipped on his Audiovox to record his notes he'd condense into his official report, and plunged back into work.

He'd made it to removing the stomach and marking the contents for running by the lab-techs when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. 'Pause record. Answer voice-call. Hello?'

'Hey Doctor Weaver.'

'Hello yourself Doctor Weaver,' Shane laughed when he heard Alexis' voice. 'What's up, you miss me already?'

'Yeah,' she admitted with no shame or irony. 'Just wanted to tell you that Sloan and Jeremy invited me and Petra over for supper since you're heading out with the boys so don't call home later, call my cell.'

'Aw, thanks for the heads up. How's our precious gem?'

'Fascinated by her mobile and trying to stuff her hand in her mouth.'

'Sounds like a good time. I'll talk to you soon.'

'You too. Love you.'

'Love you both.'

The call disconnected but before Shane resumed his recording, he looked dolefully at Terry. 'Dude, I hate to break this to you, but right now you and me gotta make a deal. From here on out, my job is to make New York a safer place. If that means putting a friend of yours in jail, I'm okay with that. You got that?'

He waited a beat. 'Cool. Now let's take a look at your liver.'