Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. They belong to the brilliant minds who created them. I do this in fun and I make no money.

Author Note: I also do not own Angela Wilkins. She belongs to the wonderfully talented Winged Seraph who has been so kind as to let me use her here. Check out Angela's intriguing story in Saints and Sinners. I know that you'll enjoy it just as much as I have.

Episode One: Fact or Fiction

The neighborhood seemed serene, peaceful except for the crime scene tape stuck around the pale yellow house. The lawn was lush and Dara Waters imagined that they spent as much on landscaping as she did on her car payment a month. She unclipped her badge as she approached the tape, the uniformed officer standing there lifted the tape up and she ducked beneath it. “Where’s Detective Curtis?”

“She’s in the house Detective.” The officer responded. “Crime Scene is on their way and the Coroner just called in that she’s stuck in traffic.”

“Thanks.” Dara pulled a small leather bound notebook from her pocket along with her pen.

She found Sofia standing in the living room with a grim expression on her face. “I was starting to think you’d gotten lost.”

“I did a little.” Dara admitted. “What do we have?”

“The victims are brothers, Andrew aged two and Tommy aged five.” That explained the expression on her face. Death was always harder when it involved children. “It appears that they drowned in the bathtub while their mother was hanging clothes in the back yard. She came in, found them, and called 911.”

“Any evidence that she’s lying?”

“There’s a basket of damp clothes on the lawn out back, several items on the line already. She pulled them out, attempted to revive them to no avail and called it in.” As Sofia spoke she watched Dara copy the information into the notebook. “It looks accidental. Crime Scene and the Coroner will be here shortly and make the final determination.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Pardon?” Sofia focused on her partner.

Dara returned her gaze. They’d only worked a few cases together and she hadn’t really gotten a feel for her partner yet. On the surface Curtis seemed like a good cop but that was just surface. The cases that they’d worked on so far had all been softballs in comparison to what they were facing. Cases with children were never easy and this one was going to be particularly hard for her but she was able to shove that down, lock it in a box and keep it separate.

“I don’t like the odds of two children accidentally drowning.” Dara tucked her notebook back into her pocket and pulled out a fresh pair of gloves. She pulled them on quickly in an experienced motion. “Where’s the scene?”

“It’s upstairs and to the left. They haven’t cleared the bodies yet.”

It wouldn’t be the first time she’d seen the corpse of a child. That didn’t make it easier by any means but it had to be done. The scene had to be investigated to the fullest extent of her ability. There was no other option. She had to focus, think of the facts. In the death of a child the first and most viable suspect was usually a parent. Dara had to question the skills of a mother who left two young boys alone in the bathtub while she left the house.

The bathroom floor was wet. Was it from the boys struggling in a desperate attempt to survive or was it from them flailing beneath the water as she held them down? How did two boys drown simultaneously? The odds had to be astronomical that they would both slide between the water at the same instant and therefore not able to help each other. There were several toys on a shelf on the rack but none in the water. There was also no trace of bubbles even though there was a container of bubble bath sat on the same shelf.

Carefully she stepped inside, one foot after the other to not interfere with the scene. It was with a clinical eye that she studied the bodies of the two young boys. Her eyes searched for evidence of abuse and found light nearly faded bruises on both boys. The younger of the two had bitten his fingernails down to the quick. She crouched down and took a slim digital camera from her pocket. Quickly she snapped several pictures focusing on the areas where she saw the bruising.

“I think that’s my job.” The voice that spoke from behind her was female. Dara looked over her shoulder to see a shockingly pretty brunette dressed in blue scrubs. Her hands were already gloved and clutched her kit. “Angela Wilkins, assistant coroner.” She didn’t extend her hand and Dara wasn’t offended.

“Dara Waters, detective.” She remained crouching where she was and used her pen to motion to the bruising she’d been fixated on. “I see possible signs of abuse.”

Angela moved forward and crouched down next to Dara. “This bruising is definitely pre-mortem, probably about a week old.” She set her kit down. “The call to 911 came in about an hour ago; time of death should be shortly before that. Let’s see.” Angela extracted a long instrument from her bag. She expected Dara to look away, most would have, but instead she watched with interested eyes as she jabbed it into the liver of the older boy. “Liver temp is ninety.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Dara frowned. She glanced at her watch. “It’s about 110 outside, at least eighty five in here. The normal rate of heat loss should be about three degrees for the first hour, maybe a degree and a half per hour after that. This would but the time of death hours before the mother called 911.”

“Rigor is consistent with time of death being between four and five hours ago.” An unreadable expression crossed over her face as she moved to the younger boy. “Same temperature.” She exhaled as she placed the thermometer into a plastic back for sterilization when she returned to the lab. “It seems to me like the mother has some explaining to do.”

Dara set her mouth in a thin line. “You bet your ass she does.” She rose to her feet and turned to find a pretty chocolate skinned woman standing in the door.

“Ronnie Lake.” The woman smiled, her bouncy ponytail falling over her shoulder. “Are you ready for us yet Ange?”

“In a minute.” Angela replied. “She’s new and perky.” She glanced over her shoulder at Dara with a wry smile.

“She’s young still, give her time. I’m Dara Waters by the way.”

“You’re the new transfer right? From NOPD?” Ronnie’s enthusiasm shone through and Dara couldn’t help but smile as she wondered if she’d ever been that green.

“You’re clear Ronnie.” Angela rose to her feet. Ronnie took one step in the room and the sunny smile slid from her face. “You’d better not get sick in my crime scene Ronnie.”

“I’m… I’m going to be okay.” Ronnie swallowed and stiffened her shoulders.

“There’s no shame in not being okay.” Angela said softly. Ronnie blinked in surprise at the change in her tone. “Who are you working with?”

“Warrick. He’s downstairs processing the mother for trace.”

Dara caught the way Angela rolled her eyes even if Ronnie didn’t. The young girl opened her kit and began to gather evidence. “Make sure you photograph the bodies thoroughly.” Angela told her. “I’ll let my techs know to clear the remains on your order.”

Ronnie’s smile broke through once more as the two women left the room.

“I’ll post the bodies as soon as they get back.” Angela snapped off her gloves. “I’ll message you when I have results.”

“Sofia is the lead detective.”

“Sofia was ready to write this off as an accidental drowning.” Angela said simply. “For a former CSI she should know not to draw conclusions without evidence. Were you a CSI too?”

“No. I took a few classes at the FBI field office back in New Orleans. I picked up a few things.”

Angela nodded. “It’s good to keep current. It was nice to meet you Detective Waters.”

“You too Angela.” Dara smiled easily though the smile faded from her face as they came down the stairs.

“Are you ready to release the scene?” Sofia questioned as she approached.

“I will be when Ronnie gets done taking her pictures. This was a homicide; deliberate drowning and I’ll know more after the autopsy. Time of death is off by several hours from the mother’s version of events.”

Sofia frowned. “Let’s ask her about that. She’s in the kitchen. Warrick is processing her clothes and hands.”

“My babies are gone. My poor sweet babies.” Claire Edmonton wept as Warrick used a lint remover to pick up fibers from her black tee shirt. “I was only outside for a few minutes, just a few minutes.”

“That’s a lie.” Dara spoke before Sofia could and ignored the shocked expression on the other woman’s face. “Your boys were dead long before you made that call Claire.”

“That’s not true!” The woman protested. “Go away. I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Sadly you don’t have a choice. We know you’re lying about being out back for just a few minutes. Why don’t you take a deep breath and try the truth. The truth is the only way that we can help you.”

Claire Edmonton shook as Warrick stepped back to place the collected items in a sterile bag. “I didn’t kill them.”

“Someone did Claire; it wasn’t an accident was it. You don’t wait nearly four hours to call the police after an accident. Were they crying? Were they getting on your nerves? Would they not listen to you?” She moved forward. “Detective Dara Waters recording statement from Claire Edmonton, suspect in the death by drowning of her two sons.” She pressed record on the small recorder she’d pulled from her pocket.

“Am I under arrest?”

“Did I tell you that you were under arrest? We’re just talking here, I just need to know what happened to your boys.”

“I didn’t kill them!”

“Then who did Claire? Let me guess: a stranger broke in, put them into the bathtub with a slew of toys, drowned them and then stuck a load of laundry in on their way out?”

“Detective Waters.” Sofia spoke from behind her.

Dara ignored her. “Come on Claire. Say something. Tell us the truth. Tell us what happened to those two sweet boys Claire. Why are they dead?”

“I didn’t kill them!”

“Someone did Claire.” Her voice rose to match Claire’s. “If it wasn’t you, who was it?”

“I want a lawyer.”

“You’re not under arrest, you’re not entitled to a lawyer. This is just us talking. Do you want to be arrested? Do you know what happens to women in jail who killed their children?”

“I didn’t kill them.”

“Then who did Claire? Who are you protecting? Who’s worth more to you than the children that you gave birth to?” Dara was separated from Claire only by Warrick who’d been collecting the evidence. “Who? Who in this world is worth the lives of your children?”

The mother let out a mournful wail. “He didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“Well now we’re getting somewhere aren’t we?” Her jaw set in a firm line. “Who is he? I asked you a question, who is he?”

It was the crime scene tech who grabbed Claire as she crumpled to the floor, loud sobs echoing from between her lips. “It was Kevin.”

“Who’s Kevin?” Dara demanded as she crouched down to be at eye level. “Who’s Kevin?”

“He’s my eldest son.” Claire sobbed into the tech’s arms. “He didn’t mean to hurt his brothers. He didn’t.”

Dara’s lips curled with disgust. “Where is Kevin?”

“I told him to go to his friend Steve’s house.”

“What’s Steven’s last name? Where does he live Claire?”

“You can’t arrest him! It was an accident.”

“I can and I will arrest him. Tell me where I can find him.”

“You can’t take him! He’s all I have left.”

“Fine, if that’s how you want to play it.” Dara reached for the handcuffs concealed beneath her summer weight blue jacket. “Claire Edmonton, you are under arrest as an accessory to murder in the deaths of Andrew and Thomas Edmonton. You have the right to remain silent, anything that you say or do will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you can not afford an attorney one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”

She paused to regard Warrick for the first time. “Can you get her on her feet please?” The man did what she asked even though he frowned. Dara tightened the handcuffs on Claire’s wrists and motioned to a uniformed officer standing near the door. “Sanchez right?” The man nodded. “Take her to the station.”

He led Claire away. “We need an APB out on the son and a warrant to search this house.” She said to Sofia. Sofia stared at her for a moment. “Is there a problem here Detective Curtis?”

“I don’t know how you do things in New Orleans Detective Waters but what you just did is not acceptable.”

“I’m sorry? Did we just stand in the same room? We’ve got the mothers statement that the son committed these two murders. Holding her hand and giving her cupcakes wasn’t going to get that result.”

“I think that you need to go back to the station.”

“I think that you need to be prepared to do your job Detective Curtis and not rely on assumptions as you did here today. You were ready to wrap this up as accidental even when there were holes in the mother’s story from the start.”

“Holes? Assumptions?”

“The obvious ongoing physical abused evidenced on the bodies for one, the fact that the bathroom was soaked in water, more water than would have resulted had the mother simply pulled two lifeless corpses out of the house. The mother said she was in the back hanging clothes, why would you hang clothes in this heat when there’s a perfectly good clothes dryer in the air conditioned nook next to the kitchen. The house also smelled faintly of bleach and another cleaning agent when I entered. The mother mentioned nothing about cleaning yet the scents were in the air.”

“None of those things indicate homicide.”

“None of them indicate an accidental drowning either. The evidence is what indicates homicide Detective Curtis.”

“You’re not making a very good impression here Detective Waters.”

“I’m fine with not making a good impression if making a good impression means walking around with my head stuck up my ass.”

“You’re off of this case.”

“You’re not my supervisor Detective Curtis.”

“I am the primary on the case and I don’t want you in my scene. You may leave or you can be escorted out. The choice is yours.”

“That’s a great way to repay me for getting you the killer. Let me guess, when you type up the reports you’ll get full credit as the primary.” Dara snorted with disgust and frustration.

“Is there a problem here?”

Dara turned to see a older man with graying hair and glasses perched on the tip of his nose.

“Just a disagreement Grissom.” The tech spoke for the first time.

“I see.” His eyes moved between the two women. “I hear we have a suspect.”

“Ask her, she’s the primary detective.” Dara snapped as she headed out the door past the man. She ignored the curious glances of the other policemen in the house as she made her way off of the property and to the street where she’d parked her car.

She leaned inside and pulled out the pack of cigarettes stuck in the center console and lit her first cigarette of the day. She exhaled a stream of smoke holding the cigarette with one hand and pinching the bridge of her nose with the other. For a moment she stood there just concentrating on her breathing.

“You sure know how to make a first impression.” She opened her eyes. “Sofia’s a good cop. She’s just having an off day.”

Dara inhaled from the cigarette again. “Well, that’s her problem, not mine. I’m just doing my job.”

“Your style is probably a little more aggressive than they’re used to.”

“Should I make excuses for that? I’m not here to make friends or win a popularity contest. I’m here to do my job.” She tossed the cigarette out of annoyance. “Don’t you have evidence to process or something?”

“I’m heading back to the lab now.” He said with a smile. “We weren’t properly introduced back there. I’m Warrick Brown.”

”Dara Waters but you probably knew that already. Did you check on the perky girl, Ronnie? She seemed a little bit shook up by the deceased.”

“It’s never easy when it’s a kid.”

“It’s never easy when it’s a person, or an animal.” Dara told him. “Can’t let that get in the way of the job though.”

“Ronnie’s a good CSI.”

“I wasn’t trying to say that she wasn’t.” Dara glanced down as her phone vibrated. “Waters.”

“This is Wilkins. I’m working on the autopsy of the younger boy now, found something interesting.”

“Mother copped to the doer being her oldest son.”

“I believe that they were drugged, sedated in some way. There were no defensive marks, no skin beneath their nails.”

“Thanks.” Dara said shortly before hanging the phone up. She ran her hand over her forehead and glanced over at the house. “Do you know if Curtis called for the warrant on the house yet?”

“I don’t.”

Shit. She didn’t want to go back in there but the warrant needed to be amended to include any prescription drugs or possibly toxic substances.

“Why do you ask?” Warrick’s voice snapped her back into focus.

“The boys didn’t struggle when they were drowned.” Dara dragged her hands through her hair. “I need you to go back in there and wait for the warrant to clear. Once it does I want every prescription medication, over the counter medication and all the cleaning products bagged, tagged and tested to make sure the label matches the product.”

Warrick smiled easily. “My orders are to get these samples back to the lab.”

“I’m telling you to go back in there and do your job.”

“I need to get what I’ve already collected to the lab.”

“Lock it in the trunk of your car. It’ll be secure, won’t break the chain of custody.” She swore as her phone rang. “Waters.” She listened for a minute. “Yes Captain Brass, I’ll be right there.” She hung the phone up. “Fuck.”

Captain Brass stared across his cluttered wooden desk at her. “Detective Curtis has expressed some concern over your interrogation methods.”

“Sorry, I left my kid gloves at home.” Dara crossed her arms over her chest in a defiant gesture. “She was ready to walk away and chalk it up as an accident. Those boys were murdered! Their mother was deliberately covering up the crime in a misguided effort to protect the murder.”

“The murderer was her son.”

“So?” She questioned. “That’s not an excuse. If anything it makes her more responsible because she’s the one who raised him. She’s the one who let him become a fucking monster who murdered his little brothers.”

“It’s not always black and white when it comes to parents and their children Detective Waters.” Brass’s eyes went to a picture on his desk. “Trust me on that. You can’t always control what you children do, no matter how good your intentions are. You’ll understand that when you become a parent.”

“That your kid?” She pointed to the frame.

“My daughter, Ellie. She’s had her fair share of trouble.”

“Did you cover up that trouble Brass? Did you use your badge to make it go away?”

“No.” Captain Brass shifted. “But a parent’s instinct is to protect their child.”

“Of course they are. You’ll do anything to make sure that they’re okay but where do we draw the line?” Dara questioned. “Claire Edmonton would have been content to sacrifice the lives of her younger boys to protect her eldest. Should we just look the other fucking way?”

“There’s no need to curse. I understand your frustration Detective Waters. I do.” Brass considered her for a second. “I can’t honestly say that I would have handled the situation any differently than you did. Be that as it may, there are many who question my methods as well.” He leaned back in his chair. “You have an admirable service record with the NOPD, an excellent closure rate as well. I believe you’ll be an asset to this department.”

“Is that it?”

“No. It’ll be good for you to remember that you’ve got to work together with your partner. Next time perhaps you should let her know what you intend to do before you do it.”

“Curtis is my partner, not my keeper. She’s the one who had her mind made up before the facts were in.”

“Just tread easy Waters.” Brass told her. “Curtis is a good detective. Give her a chance. That’s the same thing that I’m going to be telling her about you.”

“Yes Sir.” Dara folded her hands together. “If there’s nothing else, I’d like to get back out there and find Kevin Edmonton.”

“I got the call right before you came in; a squad car picked him up after he tried to rob a convenience store. He’s in the interrogation area.”

It surprised Dara to find Angela Wilkins standing outside the interrogation room staring in through the two way glass. “Hey.” Dara stopped beside her. “Got anything for me?”

“I pushed Hodges for the tox results. Both boys had elevated levels of the anti-anxiety medication Xanax in their systems.” Angela kept her eyes on the glass. “He’s already got a lawyer.”

“I bet Mommy arranged it.” Dara rubbed her hand over her forehead. “I’ll also bet he’s going to have some sort of diminished capacity defense mapped out.”

“You think the court will buy it?”

“Too often they do.” Dara watched the boy as he stared straight at the glass as if he could see them. “He’s got dead eyes.” She said on a sigh. Next to her Angela nodded. “Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.” She added. “It’s nice to know that someone around here wants to do the job.”

“Most folks around here are okay, annoying at times but okay.” Angela told her with a shrug. “Let me know how it turns out.”

“Sure.” She nodded as she reached for the door that would lead her into the interrogation room. Kevin Edmonton looked up and had the nerve to smile. “There’s nothing funny here Kevin.”

“Adam Matthews.” The handsome and slick looking lawyer rose to his feet. “Detective Waters I presume.”

“You presume correctly.” She sat down across from Kevin and ignored the attorney’s outstretched hand. “Have you been advised of your Miranda rights Kevin?” The boy nodded. “Do you understand them?”

“Yes.”

“My client has nothing further to say.”

“He doesn’t have to speak. His mother has already spoken for him.” Dara said simply. “She told us what you did Kevin.”

“What he allegedly did.” Attorney Matthews corrected. “You’ve only got his mothers word as to what happened. Shouldn’t she be a viable suspect as well?”

“Did your mother kill your brothers Kevin?”

“Don’t answer that.”

“If you’re suggesting that Mrs. Edmonton is framing her son to save herself it would be in your client’s best interest to speak.” Dara told him. “My partner is speaking to Mrs. Edmonton in another room. What do you think she’s saying?” She leaned forward. “I think she’s saying the same thing that she said at your house Kevin. I think she’s telling Detective Curtis that you killed your brothers and then went down the street to play at your friend’s house. Only you didn’t go to play, you went to rob a store. Don’t object Mr. Matthews, your client was caught in the act and brandishing a weapon.”

“My client is a sixteen year old child Detective, the product of an abusive household.”

“Mr. Matthews, you don’t disappoint. I was wondering what sort of defense you were going to use. It’s nice to see that you lack imagination. You do realize we’re going to require more than just your word or that of your client for that matter before that defense can even be considered.”

“I believe that’s a matter for me to discuss with the district attorney.” Attorney Matthews smiled. “We’ll discuss it while we’re discussing a deal.”

“If your client is innocent of the murder, a statement from him will go a long way towards facilitating a deal on the armed robbery charge. Or were you referring to a deal for the double murder charge?”

“My client is a child.”

“Your client is a killer; there are no special allowances because of his age.” A rap on the glass behind her had Dara rising to her feet. “Excuse me please.” Without waiting for a response she stepped to the doorway and into the hall. “Hey Ronnie.”

“Hey.” Ronnie smiled grimly. “We found the pill bottles in the trash on the side of the house in the receptacles waiting for pick up. There were prints.”

“Are they his?”

“Yes.”

“Who were the pills prescribed to?”

“The prescription was written to the mother. There were two bottles filled within days of each other. I checked with the pharmacy and her doctor called in an emergency refill because she claimed to have lost the pills.”

“Did she lose them or were they stolen?” Dara glanced back at the interrogation room. “If he stole them and stockpiled them this was premeditated murder.”

“He has a record too.” Ronnie handed Dara a manila folder.

She opened the file, skimmed the papers inside. “Interesting.” Kevin had been arrested seven times before his family moved to Las Vegas ten months ago. His crimes had ranged from trespassing to shoplifting and he’d also been suspected in several arsons in Chicago where the family was originally from. “Do me a favor Ronnie. Can you check if there were any disappearances of pets in his old neighborhood in Chicago and in his neighborhood now?”

“Um sure.” The way that Ronnie was looking at her made Dara wonder if she had something smeared across her face. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that if Kevin Edmonton likes to set fires he might like to torture animals too.”

Ronnie stared through the window. “He’s just a kid.”

“Some people are never just kids Ronnie.”

“Waters.” Dara turned at the sound of Sofia’s voice. “Wrap it up with the kid. We’ve got a confession. The mother recounted her former statement that her son was the murderer. She’s confessed to everything.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“She wrote it up and signed it.”

“She’s protecting the kid! CSI found his prints on the bottles.”

“She says that she asked him to throw them out.”

“And you believe that?” Dara snorted. “Come on Curtis, this kid has a sheet a mile long!”

“And none of his crimes have been violent.”

“Arson isn’t violent?”

“He’s only suspected in the arsons Waters. He wasn’t arrested or convicted.” Sofia pointed out. “Look. I know that you thought he was the guy but he’s not.”

“Why did she say he was?”

“She was scared! The way that you were screaming at her I can’t blame her. There district attorney is in there with her now. The case is closed.”

“What about him?”

“Child protective services will come for him shortly.”

“She’s covering for him.”

“You have no proof of that.”

“He’s not going anywhere with child protective services. He was caught red handed robbing that store. That’s armed robbery because he had a knife or is the mother going to cop to that too?”

“The district attorney agreed to not press charges against him if the mother confessed. He’s free to go.”

“How’s it going?” Dara looked up to see Angela Wilkins out of her scrub set and dressed in civilian clothes obviously on her way off of shift just as Dara was.

“It’ll be better when I’m out of here.” Dara tugged her hair back behind her ear as she waited for the elevator to arrive.

“I hear the mother confessed.”

“Yeah, it’s a day of fucking fiction at the LVPD.”

“The system isn’t perfect.”

”The system sucks.” Dara said sourly.

“I like to believe that everything balances out somehow.” Angela told her as the elevator arrived. The women stepped in and an older man began to speak to Angela which was fine by Dara. She moved to the back of the elevator and waited for it to sink to the ground floor. She wanted nothing more than to go home, take a long shower, maybe open a bottle of wine and lose herself in a book.

It was never easy starting a new job, there were always politics to contend with and she had no problem with that. There were more cliques than a high school and more cattiness than backstage at a beauty contest. She’d expected as much. She just hadn’t expected resentment because of the fact that she wanted to do her job.

When the elevator reached the bottom floor and the doors open Dara moved out with the crowd. “Good Night Angela.”

“Good Night Dara, take it easy.”

She nodded and moved through the parking deck to where she’d parked her personal car. The Mazda was sportier than the Pathfinder she’d had in New Orleans but she doubted she’d need the extra room and it just felt wasteful to pay for the extra gas when it was just her. The fact that the car offered a quick burst of speed when she needed it didn’t hurt and she took advantage of that ability as she made her way out of the parking garage.

The traffic wasn’t as heavy as she’d expected it to be and she made good time heading towards home. Not wanting to deal with the hassle of cooking, she rarely did to be honest, so she stopped for fast food even though it would mean an extra hour running the following morning. Running in Vegas was no small feat, the heat was enough to make her want to turn around after ten steps but if she wanted to fit in her clothes she didn’t have much choice.

It also cleared her head, kept her focus and kept her in peak form to do her job.

Home was a welcome sight as she pulled into the driveway even if the lawn was overrun with weeds and the roof sagging desperately in several places. The porch railing was in desperate need of repair but she’d save that task for the following day.

She carried her food bag and oversized drink with her and decided that she wouldn’t even bother going inside. Instead she sat down on one of the chairs she’d set up on the porch, spread her food out on the table and grabbed the book she’d tucked beneath the table.

Dara lost herself in the book, not even finishing her meal, and read until it was too dark to make out the words. With an annoyed sigh she tucked the book beneath her arm, gathered her trash and headed inside. The aroma of the scented candles she’d burned the night before still lingered in the air as she relieved herself of the garbage before heading upstairs to her bedroom.

She changed and because it was her nature she picked up behind herself, collecting her dirty clothes and her pajamas from the night before and tucking them into the clothes hamper. There was enough there to do a load of laundry but it seemed like too much effort so she simply crawled onto her bed and opened the book back up.

Somewhere between the killer striking for the third time and the heroine discovering his identity she fell asleep with the book still open and the light on.