Spoilers for 3x07: Murder Sings The Blues
Taylor grabbed the present from the seat beside her and got out of the car, heading into the lab to track Mac down so that she could wish him a Happy Birthday. She got as far as walking past the break room when she spotted Flack surrounded by dozens of little pink boxes. “Is this for Mac’s birthday?” she asked him, coming over to join him. Flack shook his head – his mouth full – and lowered the box he was eating from to reveal cake. Taylor eyed it suspiciously. “Are you pregnant?”
“It’s wedding cake,” he told her, finally swallowing. Taylor stared at him. “This sponge is heavenly,” he told her, offering her a box.
Still eyeing it warily, Taylor took a seat on the stool opposite and took the box off him, reaching for a fork. “Why are there several boxes of wedding cake samples in here?” She waited patiently for Flack to respond, but as his mouth was full, it was actually Stella who broke the silence as she joined them in the break room.
“The contact we found in the swim gym filter was the same prescription as Veronica’s, Grant Jordan’s former house maid.” Stella stopped when she noticed Taylor watching her. “You here to shed some light?”
“Mac’s birthday present,” Taylor told her, indicating to the wrapped gift.
Stella sighed. “Shame. Because this lens doesn’t prove Veronica was the one who drowned Jordan.”
Flack, who had calmly been eating cake whilst Stella was talking, just shrugged. “Huh.” He handed Stella a box. “Try some of the flourless chocolate torte. Might help.”
Taylor arched an eyebrow. Truth be told, she was exceedingly confused as to why Flack was eating wedding cake samples. Judging from the suspicious look Stella was giving the little pink box, so was she. She opened the box and smiled. “It’s exactly like the one Sid found.”
Taylor was even more confused. “Where on earth did Sid find cake?” She frowned. “Actually, spare me the details,” she told them, remembering the fish he had once pulled out from a guy’s stomach contents.
“Cake order,” Flack explained as Stella showed Taylor the contents of her box. It was a wedding cake with a bride and groom ornament seated on the top.
“Sid found the head of the bride in our vic’s throat.”
“They say weddings can be murder,” Taylor shrugged.
“Funny,” Flack told her. “That one’s from Pirinstein’s, signed by one Veronica Pirez. The same Veronica Pirez who donated ten thousand dollars to a charity auction over two weeks ago.”
Stella grinned. “She was the one who bid on him at that auction.”
Flack nodded. “And you know, when I found that out, I did some checking. Seems that the Jordan’s were registered at Tiffany’s, Crate & Barrel and Barney’s.”
“But when I was looking through Grant Jordan’s apartment, the only thing that even hinted at a wedding was a closet full of tuxedos,” Stella frowned. “There was nothing to indicate he was planning on getting married. I mean, no engagement ring, no honeymoon plans.”
“So maybe he didn’t know about it,” Taylor suggested.
“Veronica,” Stella said in realisation. “Veronica was planning a wedding with Grant and he didn’t even know it.”
Flack nodded, leaning forward on his chair. “Do you, Stella Bonasera take Veronica as a crazy with a motive?”
Stella nodded, “I do.”
“Right,” said Taylor getting to her feet, “I’m going to leave you two to plan your wedding, and I’m going to go and try and find the birthday boy.”
“You want to take some cake with you?”
Taylor gave Flack a smile. “You eat it. You look like you’re enjoying it.”
“Oh, I am. This is good stuff.”
Taylor picked up the present and left, still chuckling to herself.
“It’s wedding cake,” he told her, finally swallowing. Taylor stared at him. “This sponge is heavenly,” he told her, offering her a box.
Still eyeing it warily, Taylor took a seat on the stool opposite and took the box off him, reaching for a fork. “Why are there several boxes of wedding cake samples in here?” She waited patiently for Flack to respond, but as his mouth was full, it was actually Stella who broke the silence as she joined them in the break room.
“The contact we found in the swim gym filter was the same prescription as Veronica’s, Grant Jordan’s former house maid.” Stella stopped when she noticed Taylor watching her. “You here to shed some light?”
“Mac’s birthday present,” Taylor told her, indicating to the wrapped gift.
Stella sighed. “Shame. Because this lens doesn’t prove Veronica was the one who drowned Jordan.”
Flack, who had calmly been eating cake whilst Stella was talking, just shrugged. “Huh.” He handed Stella a box. “Try some of the flourless chocolate torte. Might help.”
Taylor arched an eyebrow. Truth be told, she was exceedingly confused as to why Flack was eating wedding cake samples. Judging from the suspicious look Stella was giving the little pink box, so was she. She opened the box and smiled. “It’s exactly like the one Sid found.”
Taylor was even more confused. “Where on earth did Sid find cake?” She frowned. “Actually, spare me the details,” she told them, remembering the fish he had once pulled out from a guy’s stomach contents.
“Cake order,” Flack explained as Stella showed Taylor the contents of her box. It was a wedding cake with a bride and groom ornament seated on the top.
“Sid found the head of the bride in our vic’s throat.”
“They say weddings can be murder,” Taylor shrugged.
“Funny,” Flack told her. “That one’s from Pirinstein’s, signed by one Veronica Pirez. The same Veronica Pirez who donated ten thousand dollars to a charity auction over two weeks ago.”
Stella grinned. “She was the one who bid on him at that auction.”
Flack nodded. “And you know, when I found that out, I did some checking. Seems that the Jordan’s were registered at Tiffany’s, Crate & Barrel and Barney’s.”
“But when I was looking through Grant Jordan’s apartment, the only thing that even hinted at a wedding was a closet full of tuxedos,” Stella frowned. “There was nothing to indicate he was planning on getting married. I mean, no engagement ring, no honeymoon plans.”
“So maybe he didn’t know about it,” Taylor suggested.
“Veronica,” Stella said in realisation. “Veronica was planning a wedding with Grant and he didn’t even know it.”
Flack nodded, leaning forward on his chair. “Do you, Stella Bonasera take Veronica as a crazy with a motive?”
Stella nodded, “I do.”
“Right,” said Taylor getting to her feet, “I’m going to leave you two to plan your wedding, and I’m going to go and try and find the birthday boy.”
“You want to take some cake with you?”
Taylor gave Flack a smile. “You eat it. You look like you’re enjoying it.”
“Oh, I am. This is good stuff.”
Taylor picked up the present and left, still chuckling to herself.
* * *
She had wandered around the lab for a while, yet hadn’t seen Mac anywhere. She was close to leaving the present on his desk when Danny (complete with jump suit and mask) told her that he was working a case with Lindsay and Sheldon so to try them. The pair was in one of the labs pouring over pieces of what looked like trash. And Mac wasn’t around. She sighed impatiently and headed over.
“And they all tested positive for dimethylhydrazine, a.k.a. DMH.” Lindsay was saying as Taylor walked over.
“And what on earth would that be?” she asked them.
“The chemical that killed Jenny Anders,” Hawkes told her.
“I’m sorry I asked,” Taylor shook her head. “I don’t suppose either of you have seen Mac, have you?”
“Not for a while,” Lindsay apologised. “What do you need him for?”
“I just wanted to give him his present. But I think I may have to leave it on his desk.”
“I think he’s had a pretty lousy birthday,” said Lindsay. “He was interrupted from something last night for a dead body.”
“He didn’t have the sense to book it off?”
Lindsay chuckled. “This is Mac we’re talking about. I’m not even sure he knows how to book time off.”
“Fair point.” Taylor stared at the pieces of glass. “What are you going to do with those now?”
“Try to put these pieces back together to see if we can figure out what kind of container held the DMH and maybe lift some prints.”
“Which might help us ID her murderer,” Hawkes explained as Mac came bursting into the room.
“Happ-”
Taylor was cut off by Mac, who ignored her and focused his attention on Sheldon. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew Jenny Anders?”
“It wasn’t relevant,” Hawkes told him.
“I decide what’s relevant to a case. You knew the victim. You didn’t say anything about it. Why?”
“Mac, I met her at a club,” Hawkes protested in his defence. “I wasn’t even sure it was her until I saw my number on the receipt Peyton found on the body.”
“That was your number?” Lindsay asked.
“Your number is on the body – that’s evidence. You know that, Sheldon,” Mac told him, his voice surprisingly level considering how angry he was.
Taylor shifted, feeling uncomfortable. It seemed Lindsay felt the same way. “I’m just going to go check on the-”
Mac cut her off too, “No, you stay here, Lindsay.” He turned back to Hawkes. “You put all our work in jeopardy. You know a victim, you have knowledge of a case – you are responsible for pulling yourself of that case.”
Sheldon took a step back, “Mac, I knew Jenny Anders for maybe an hour. I was just-”
“An hour is all a defence attorney needs.” Finally, Mac exploded, causing the whole lab to stop what it was doing and stare. “This lab does not make compromises. We do not take short cuts. We follow the evidence. Science is our integrity. You’re off the case Sheldon.”
“That was a little harsh,” Taylor muttered as Sheldon walked out of the lab.
“Taylor, what are you doing in here?” he asked, then continued without even giving her the chance to respond. “You shouldn’t be in here. You are not a professional. You shouldn’t be anywhere near evidence.”
“I didn’t touch anything, Mac,” she told him quietly.
“That is not the point,” Mac exploded again. “You do not work for this team. You are putting every case we’re investigating in danger of being thrown out in court! I think it would be best of you got out of here right now.”
Taylor nodded, “Alright.” She handed him his present. “Happy birthday,” she told him before she left.
“And they all tested positive for dimethylhydrazine, a.k.a. DMH.” Lindsay was saying as Taylor walked over.
“And what on earth would that be?” she asked them.
“The chemical that killed Jenny Anders,” Hawkes told her.
“I’m sorry I asked,” Taylor shook her head. “I don’t suppose either of you have seen Mac, have you?”
“Not for a while,” Lindsay apologised. “What do you need him for?”
“I just wanted to give him his present. But I think I may have to leave it on his desk.”
“I think he’s had a pretty lousy birthday,” said Lindsay. “He was interrupted from something last night for a dead body.”
“He didn’t have the sense to book it off?”
Lindsay chuckled. “This is Mac we’re talking about. I’m not even sure he knows how to book time off.”
“Fair point.” Taylor stared at the pieces of glass. “What are you going to do with those now?”
“Try to put these pieces back together to see if we can figure out what kind of container held the DMH and maybe lift some prints.”
“Which might help us ID her murderer,” Hawkes explained as Mac came bursting into the room.
“Happ-”
Taylor was cut off by Mac, who ignored her and focused his attention on Sheldon. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew Jenny Anders?”
“It wasn’t relevant,” Hawkes told him.
“I decide what’s relevant to a case. You knew the victim. You didn’t say anything about it. Why?”
“Mac, I met her at a club,” Hawkes protested in his defence. “I wasn’t even sure it was her until I saw my number on the receipt Peyton found on the body.”
“That was your number?” Lindsay asked.
“Your number is on the body – that’s evidence. You know that, Sheldon,” Mac told him, his voice surprisingly level considering how angry he was.
Taylor shifted, feeling uncomfortable. It seemed Lindsay felt the same way. “I’m just going to go check on the-”
Mac cut her off too, “No, you stay here, Lindsay.” He turned back to Hawkes. “You put all our work in jeopardy. You know a victim, you have knowledge of a case – you are responsible for pulling yourself of that case.”
Sheldon took a step back, “Mac, I knew Jenny Anders for maybe an hour. I was just-”
“An hour is all a defence attorney needs.” Finally, Mac exploded, causing the whole lab to stop what it was doing and stare. “This lab does not make compromises. We do not take short cuts. We follow the evidence. Science is our integrity. You’re off the case Sheldon.”
“That was a little harsh,” Taylor muttered as Sheldon walked out of the lab.
“Taylor, what are you doing in here?” he asked, then continued without even giving her the chance to respond. “You shouldn’t be in here. You are not a professional. You shouldn’t be anywhere near evidence.”
“I didn’t touch anything, Mac,” she told him quietly.
“That is not the point,” Mac exploded again. “You do not work for this team. You are putting every case we’re investigating in danger of being thrown out in court! I think it would be best of you got out of here right now.”
Taylor nodded, “Alright.” She handed him his present. “Happy birthday,” she told him before she left.
* * *
Taylor was submerged in a book a while later. She had left the crime lab and headed for her office to get some work done on her upcoming article. She wasn’t exactly mad at Mac. She could understand where he was coming from. She just thought she had managed to get further with him. Clearly not. And Sheldon wasn’t replying to her text messages.
“I thought I might find you here.”
Taylor looked up from her desk and found Flack leaning against the door frame. “I do work here.”
“Yeah,” Flack laughed. “But I bet you spend more time where I work.”
“Just be thankful you don’t work in a brothel.”
Flack arched his eyebrows. “Something you want to tell me, Tay?”
Taylor frowned as she worked out what she had just said. “Sorry. It’s the story I’m working on.” She put the pen she had been chewing down and turned her monitor off. “I guess you won’t have to worry about me being in the lab any longer.”
“Yeah, I heard about Mac’s little explosion.”
Taylor sat back and ran her hand through her hair, “I guess it was a long time coming. He does have a point. It’s Sheldon I’m worried about.”
“He’ll be fine.”
Taylor nodded, “I know. So, what’s the matter?”
“Can’t a guy come visit his girlfriend at work every once in a while?”
“Don, I’m not complaining, but I think this is the second time you’ve been in this building,” she told him softly.
Flack shrugged. “Only needed to come into it the once. You’ve always been at the lab or visiting me. Which is why I decided it was time to come and visit your office.” He stepped into the room and looked around. It was small anyway, but Taylor had journals, past papers, books and notepads open with paragraphs highlighted all over the floor and any surface that was free. “I see you’re settled in here?”
Taylor shrugged. “What can I say? When I research, I research.”
Flack smiled. “Alright, so I have motives for being here. I can’t stay – I’m chasing up a witness, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t have plans this evening.” Taylor shook her head. “Good, because I’m going to make reservations. For eight o’clock. So I’ll pick you up at 7.30. Which means you can’t spend forever in this office. And I know you have no control, but if you could try and get Aiden and Maddy to give you a night off, it would be much appreciated.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Taylor said as she frowned, trying to think if she had forgotten something important. As far as she could tell there weren’t any birthdays or anniversaries in May.
“I’ll see you later,” Flack grinned, knowing as he left that Taylor was going to be driven mad wondering what the occasion was.
“I thought I might find you here.”
Taylor looked up from her desk and found Flack leaning against the door frame. “I do work here.”
“Yeah,” Flack laughed. “But I bet you spend more time where I work.”
“Just be thankful you don’t work in a brothel.”
Flack arched his eyebrows. “Something you want to tell me, Tay?”
Taylor frowned as she worked out what she had just said. “Sorry. It’s the story I’m working on.” She put the pen she had been chewing down and turned her monitor off. “I guess you won’t have to worry about me being in the lab any longer.”
“Yeah, I heard about Mac’s little explosion.”
Taylor sat back and ran her hand through her hair, “I guess it was a long time coming. He does have a point. It’s Sheldon I’m worried about.”
“He’ll be fine.”
Taylor nodded, “I know. So, what’s the matter?”
“Can’t a guy come visit his girlfriend at work every once in a while?”
“Don, I’m not complaining, but I think this is the second time you’ve been in this building,” she told him softly.
Flack shrugged. “Only needed to come into it the once. You’ve always been at the lab or visiting me. Which is why I decided it was time to come and visit your office.” He stepped into the room and looked around. It was small anyway, but Taylor had journals, past papers, books and notepads open with paragraphs highlighted all over the floor and any surface that was free. “I see you’re settled in here?”
Taylor shrugged. “What can I say? When I research, I research.”
Flack smiled. “Alright, so I have motives for being here. I can’t stay – I’m chasing up a witness, but I wanted to make sure you didn’t have plans this evening.” Taylor shook her head. “Good, because I’m going to make reservations. For eight o’clock. So I’ll pick you up at 7.30. Which means you can’t spend forever in this office. And I know you have no control, but if you could try and get Aiden and Maddy to give you a night off, it would be much appreciated.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Taylor said as she frowned, trying to think if she had forgotten something important. As far as she could tell there weren’t any birthdays or anniversaries in May.
“I’ll see you later,” Flack grinned, knowing as he left that Taylor was going to be driven mad wondering what the occasion was.
Originally posted 26/08/2007