Spoilers for 2x13: Risk
Taylor left the morgue and was on her way up the stairs when she bumped into Danny. “You ever gonna get out of that dress?” he asked her.
“I have been in the morgue all night,” Taylor yawned. “I’m going to go…” she trailed off as the stairwell dropped a couple of degrees.
Danny stopped and turned around to look in the direction she was staring. “Is he here?”
Taylor turned to look at him. “You can’t feel the cold?”
Danny shook his head. “You have the same expression on your face as you do when you’ve, well, seen a ghost.”
“He’s over there,” said Taylor, pointing at the ghost. “He’s holding a subway map and pointing to a spot on it.”
“So, you’re telling me that there’s something on that car we missed?”
Taylor shrugged, “I don’t know. But it’s important to him.”
“You do realise how crazy this is, don’t you? Montana spent the entire night telling me I was crazy,” he muttered.
“Every time a ghost appears, I think I’m crazy,” Taylor sighed. “But apparently, the Powers That Be, have a plan for me.”
“The Powers That Be?” Danny repeated in confusion.
“Not a clue,” she told him with a shrug. “I should apparently be expecting something I won’t be expecting. And I won’t like it.”
Danny screwed his face up. “Was that supposed to make sense?”
“Exactly,” she sighed.
“Well, come Drew. You can come to back to the train with me and Monroe,” Danny told her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
Taylor glanced up at him. “Do I need to point out that I’m still in a dress?”
Danny shrugged. “Your point being?”
“Never mind,” Taylor told him, shaking her head. “Come on, let’s go.”
“I have been in the morgue all night,” Taylor yawned. “I’m going to go…” she trailed off as the stairwell dropped a couple of degrees.
Danny stopped and turned around to look in the direction she was staring. “Is he here?”
Taylor turned to look at him. “You can’t feel the cold?”
Danny shook his head. “You have the same expression on your face as you do when you’ve, well, seen a ghost.”
“He’s over there,” said Taylor, pointing at the ghost. “He’s holding a subway map and pointing to a spot on it.”
“So, you’re telling me that there’s something on that car we missed?”
Taylor shrugged, “I don’t know. But it’s important to him.”
“You do realise how crazy this is, don’t you? Montana spent the entire night telling me I was crazy,” he muttered.
“Every time a ghost appears, I think I’m crazy,” Taylor sighed. “But apparently, the Powers That Be, have a plan for me.”
“The Powers That Be?” Danny repeated in confusion.
“Not a clue,” she told him with a shrug. “I should apparently be expecting something I won’t be expecting. And I won’t like it.”
Danny screwed his face up. “Was that supposed to make sense?”
“Exactly,” she sighed.
“Well, come Drew. You can come to back to the train with me and Monroe,” Danny told her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
Taylor glanced up at him. “Do I need to point out that I’m still in a dress?”
Danny shrugged. “Your point being?”
“Never mind,” Taylor told him, shaking her head. “Come on, let’s go.”
* * *
“I got blood and a load of footprints up here. How you doin'?” Danny was standing on the ladder of the subway car, shining his torch over the roof. Lindsay was in the car, examining that, and Taylor was standing on the platform. She was freezing, despite borrowing Danny’s CSI jacket, as she waited in case Randy decided to appear and give them some other information.
“Typical New York City subway car,” Lindsay shouted back out to Danny. “A million fingerprints and a smorgasbord of trace.”
“I got evidence of two surfers up here,” Danny told them as he climbed down from off the top of the subway car. “And it looks like they both made it down from the roof.” He made his way inside. “It looks like Mac was right, Monroe – they headed down and back inside the train.”
Lindsay shone her light on something Taylor couldn’t see from here she was. “I’ve got medium velocity blood splatter. Looks like we may have found our primary crime scene.”
“Alright, then all we gotta do is find our secondary surfer.”
“Can I suggest something?” asked Taylor.
“Is this coming from your ghost?” Lindsay asked her, scepticism lining her voice.
“No, this is coming from a once college student,” Taylor sighed. “I mean, the victim is a college student, right? Well, most students don’t go out by themselves,” she shrugged. “Why don’t you ask his roommate who his friends are – who he went out with?”
Danny looked at her and grinned. “Well, well, well, Drew. You’re turning into one little investigator there.”
“Typical New York City subway car,” Lindsay shouted back out to Danny. “A million fingerprints and a smorgasbord of trace.”
“I got evidence of two surfers up here,” Danny told them as he climbed down from off the top of the subway car. “And it looks like they both made it down from the roof.” He made his way inside. “It looks like Mac was right, Monroe – they headed down and back inside the train.”
Lindsay shone her light on something Taylor couldn’t see from here she was. “I’ve got medium velocity blood splatter. Looks like we may have found our primary crime scene.”
“Alright, then all we gotta do is find our secondary surfer.”
“Can I suggest something?” asked Taylor.
“Is this coming from your ghost?” Lindsay asked her, scepticism lining her voice.
“No, this is coming from a once college student,” Taylor sighed. “I mean, the victim is a college student, right? Well, most students don’t go out by themselves,” she shrugged. “Why don’t you ask his roommate who his friends are – who he went out with?”
Danny looked at her and grinned. “Well, well, well, Drew. You’re turning into one little investigator there.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, and still wearing her dress (which was earning her a plenitude of interesting looks); Taylor was outside the dorm room that had belonged to Randy Williams with Danny and Lindsay. Danny knocked loudly on the door.
“Okay,” a female shouted from within. Danny knocked again. “Chill out!” The door opened and girl wearing only a small t-shirt and a pair of panties, was stood in the doorway, giving Danny an appreciative once over. What Taylor found somewhat amusing, was the irritated look Lindsay had.
Lindsay cleared her throat, and Danny snapped back into life, leaving Taylor to try and hide her smile with her hand. “We’re looking for Perry Lohmann,” said Danny. “Randy Williams’ roommate,” he added as he flashed his badge.
“What’s happened?” the girl asked him.
Lindsay smiled at her. “That’s what we’re here to find out.”
“You mind if we come in? Thank you,” said Danny, not giving her a chance to answer. “Perry Lohmann, wake up.” he said loudly, making his way over to a bed where Perry lay, tied up. “Subway surfer, we gotta talk.” Perry untied his right arm. “You’re a lucky boy,” smirked Danny, flicking the skimpy underwear which was being used to tie him up.
“Can I use the bathroom,” Perry groaned, “I’m a little hung over.”
“If you’re quick,” Danny told him.
“You can have a seat,” Lindsay told the girl, who sat down on the other bed,
Danny lifted up a piece of pizza that was lying on the floor, pulling a face. “I like what you did with the place.”
Taylor moved out of the way to let Perry enter the bathroom she was stood in front of. He gave her a shifty look, and then suddenly took off. Lindsay was after him in a second, followed closely by Taylor and Danny. The three of them ducked underneath a phone cord as they chased after Perry. Just ahead of her, Lindsay grabbed a hold of his shirt, but Perry managed to twist himself out of it, leaving Lindsay with the shirt. Not missing a beat, Lindsay continued after him – until he launched a water cooler container at her.
She dodged out of the way, and Taylor launched herself at him, sending him to the floor. As she spun out of the way Danny leapt onto him and pinned his arms behind him. “Don’t move,” he ordered the wriggling body.
“What the hell did I do?” Perry cried.
Danny looked up at the Lindsay and Taylor. “Damn it, you women put me to shame.”
“Okay,” a female shouted from within. Danny knocked again. “Chill out!” The door opened and girl wearing only a small t-shirt and a pair of panties, was stood in the doorway, giving Danny an appreciative once over. What Taylor found somewhat amusing, was the irritated look Lindsay had.
Lindsay cleared her throat, and Danny snapped back into life, leaving Taylor to try and hide her smile with her hand. “We’re looking for Perry Lohmann,” said Danny. “Randy Williams’ roommate,” he added as he flashed his badge.
“What’s happened?” the girl asked him.
Lindsay smiled at her. “That’s what we’re here to find out.”
“You mind if we come in? Thank you,” said Danny, not giving her a chance to answer. “Perry Lohmann, wake up.” he said loudly, making his way over to a bed where Perry lay, tied up. “Subway surfer, we gotta talk.” Perry untied his right arm. “You’re a lucky boy,” smirked Danny, flicking the skimpy underwear which was being used to tie him up.
“Can I use the bathroom,” Perry groaned, “I’m a little hung over.”
“If you’re quick,” Danny told him.
“You can have a seat,” Lindsay told the girl, who sat down on the other bed,
Danny lifted up a piece of pizza that was lying on the floor, pulling a face. “I like what you did with the place.”
Taylor moved out of the way to let Perry enter the bathroom she was stood in front of. He gave her a shifty look, and then suddenly took off. Lindsay was after him in a second, followed closely by Taylor and Danny. The three of them ducked underneath a phone cord as they chased after Perry. Just ahead of her, Lindsay grabbed a hold of his shirt, but Perry managed to twist himself out of it, leaving Lindsay with the shirt. Not missing a beat, Lindsay continued after him – until he launched a water cooler container at her.
She dodged out of the way, and Taylor launched herself at him, sending him to the floor. As she spun out of the way Danny leapt onto him and pinned his arms behind him. “Don’t move,” he ordered the wriggling body.
“What the hell did I do?” Perry cried.
Danny looked up at the Lindsay and Taylor. “Damn it, you women put me to shame.”
* * *
“I already told you. I ran because I did something wrong,” said Perry. The four of them had returned to Perry’s bedroom and were questioning him – or rather, Danny and Lindsay were, while Taylor was nursing the elbow she had banged. “Sometimes when I drink, I do stupid things. Things I don’t remember.”
“Well you remember how Randy Williams ended up dead?” Danny asked.
Perry looked down at the floor. “I still can’t believe he’s dead. I was just with him, we went to party… He can’t be dead.”
He bent over and cradled his head in his hands. As he did, something caught Taylor’s eye. “Those are some interesting scratches on your back, Perry. Randy Williams had the same scratches.”
Lindsay looked over at the scratches. “Must have made you kind of angry that he was sleeping with you girlfriend.”
“Actually, I’m Randy’s girlfriend,” muttered Amber. “Randy and I have been going out since high school. I didn’t want to hurt him. Perry and I… it just happened.” She looked down at the floor.
“So where were you and Randy partying?” Danny asked, returning his attention to the friend.
“I don’t know. A bunch of places, I guess,” Perry lifted his head from his hands. “I was trashed. I only remember bits and pieces.”
“Start with the bits,” Danny told him.
“We… we were at some club. On Broadway.”
“Broadway is the longest street in the world, kiddo,” Danny pointed out.
“There were girls dancing. And we had a problem with a bouncer, and that’s all I remember,” Perry shrugged helplessly.
In all honesty, Taylor could sympathise. She had woken up many a time after a heavy night out, unable to remember much, but without a hangover. On the plus side, she normally had Maddy to fill her in on the night’s events, as Maddy usually remembered everything, but always wanted someone to put her out of her misery. Perry seemed to have the worst of both worlds.
“Well, that narrows it down,” Lindsay told him dryly. “How about some more bits? You said you had a problem with a bouncer?”
“We were way out of line and we pissed him off. He and Randy really got into it. Randy was hot. He wanted another shot at the guy. We waited outside until the bar closed.”
“Then you confronted the bouncer?” led Danny
“We followed him into the train station. They had words - that’s it!” Perry told him, “The train came; we got on, and went to the back.”
“You see the bouncer on the train?”
Perry shook his head. “Not that I remember. Look, we were clubbing, got trashed, got stupid, headed home – the usual. I left Randy on the train, went to another club,” his voice broke. “Now he’s dead.”
Taylor walked over to Danny and pointed to a pair of shoes she had spotted – they were filthy, like Randy’s had been. Danny crouched down and examined the soles of them. “You remember surfing on the train with Randy?”
Perry shrugged. “Maybe, I dunno.” He sighed. “We do it sometimes. We were hammered.”
“Well, do you remember killing Randy Williams, and throwing his body on the tracks?” Danny asked, a little forcefully, as he got to his feet.
“Look, I’ve got nothing else to say,” Perry returned, just as forcefully.
Danny frowned and turned to leave, but something caught his eye. Taylor watched him as he bent back down and picked up a paddle with Greek letters on it. “You like being punished, Perry? Cos that’s what we do. Except we don’t tie you to the bed and spank you with some pledge panel. We throw you in jail.” Perry looked petrified. “So, you won’t mind if I borrow this? Right? See if Randy Williams didn’t get a punishment he didn’t deserve.”
“Well you remember how Randy Williams ended up dead?” Danny asked.
Perry looked down at the floor. “I still can’t believe he’s dead. I was just with him, we went to party… He can’t be dead.”
He bent over and cradled his head in his hands. As he did, something caught Taylor’s eye. “Those are some interesting scratches on your back, Perry. Randy Williams had the same scratches.”
Lindsay looked over at the scratches. “Must have made you kind of angry that he was sleeping with you girlfriend.”
“Actually, I’m Randy’s girlfriend,” muttered Amber. “Randy and I have been going out since high school. I didn’t want to hurt him. Perry and I… it just happened.” She looked down at the floor.
“So where were you and Randy partying?” Danny asked, returning his attention to the friend.
“I don’t know. A bunch of places, I guess,” Perry lifted his head from his hands. “I was trashed. I only remember bits and pieces.”
“Start with the bits,” Danny told him.
“We… we were at some club. On Broadway.”
“Broadway is the longest street in the world, kiddo,” Danny pointed out.
“There were girls dancing. And we had a problem with a bouncer, and that’s all I remember,” Perry shrugged helplessly.
In all honesty, Taylor could sympathise. She had woken up many a time after a heavy night out, unable to remember much, but without a hangover. On the plus side, she normally had Maddy to fill her in on the night’s events, as Maddy usually remembered everything, but always wanted someone to put her out of her misery. Perry seemed to have the worst of both worlds.
“Well, that narrows it down,” Lindsay told him dryly. “How about some more bits? You said you had a problem with a bouncer?”
“We were way out of line and we pissed him off. He and Randy really got into it. Randy was hot. He wanted another shot at the guy. We waited outside until the bar closed.”
“Then you confronted the bouncer?” led Danny
“We followed him into the train station. They had words - that’s it!” Perry told him, “The train came; we got on, and went to the back.”
“You see the bouncer on the train?”
Perry shook his head. “Not that I remember. Look, we were clubbing, got trashed, got stupid, headed home – the usual. I left Randy on the train, went to another club,” his voice broke. “Now he’s dead.”
Taylor walked over to Danny and pointed to a pair of shoes she had spotted – they were filthy, like Randy’s had been. Danny crouched down and examined the soles of them. “You remember surfing on the train with Randy?”
Perry shrugged. “Maybe, I dunno.” He sighed. “We do it sometimes. We were hammered.”
“Well, do you remember killing Randy Williams, and throwing his body on the tracks?” Danny asked, a little forcefully, as he got to his feet.
“Look, I’ve got nothing else to say,” Perry returned, just as forcefully.
Danny frowned and turned to leave, but something caught his eye. Taylor watched him as he bent back down and picked up a paddle with Greek letters on it. “You like being punished, Perry? Cos that’s what we do. Except we don’t tie you to the bed and spank you with some pledge panel. We throw you in jail.” Perry looked petrified. “So, you won’t mind if I borrow this? Right? See if Randy Williams didn’t get a punishment he didn’t deserve.”
* * *
Taylor yawned as she trudged up the steps to the crime lab. She pushed open the door and found herself face to face with QT Hammer, who was holding his cup of coffee again. “Help me.”
“Coffee.” Said Taylor, as he disappeared. “Yeah, I could do with a coffee right now.”
“Talking to yourself?” Flack appeared to her right, smirking at her. “That’s the first sign of madness, you know. Then again, talking to ghost has got to be way up there in list of signs.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
“Witty comeback,” he smirked, leaning against the wall. “Or did you leave them in your other dress.”
“No, you’re confusing that with my tolerance for you,” she snapped back.
“Someone’s a little grumpy,” Flack said, tauntingly.
“Someone hasn’t been to bed yet,” she told him through gritted teeth.
Flack held up his hands, “Whoa, I don’t want to hear about your sex life.”
“No, because jealousy is really not a pretty shade on you,” Taylor informed her, narrowing her eyes.
“Jealous? Me?” Flack scoffed. “Of you? Pah.”
Taylor smiled, “Face it; you’re jealous I have a life.”
“She says, all dolled up. You were clearly out, and had to interrupt your evening to come here.”
“Sooooo… you’re now willing to admit there are ghosts?” she asked him.
“Hell no!” Flack exclaimed. “But I am willing to admit I think you’re crazy.”
Taylor let out and infuriated groan. “No, you drive me crazy.”
“Ah, Taylor, here you are,” said Stella as she came over and joined them. She looked between the two of them, a small smile on her face. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No!” said both Flack and Taylor at the same time.
Stella looked between the two of them once more, “Mac says you should go up and see him. However, he’s currently fishing around in stomach contents.” She let out a laugh, “Sorry, no pun intended there.” Taylor groaned – she unlike Flack, knew exactly what Stella was talking about. “So, I’m going to offer you a lifeline. We have a suspect. Want to join us?””
“Us?” asked Flack, scowling.
“Ah, Flack. Of course us.”
Taylor looked at Flack, thought about the alternative, and nodded – if she saw a dish of stomach contents, she was pretty certain she would be seeing her own.
“Coffee.” Said Taylor, as he disappeared. “Yeah, I could do with a coffee right now.”
“Talking to yourself?” Flack appeared to her right, smirking at her. “That’s the first sign of madness, you know. Then again, talking to ghost has got to be way up there in list of signs.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
“Witty comeback,” he smirked, leaning against the wall. “Or did you leave them in your other dress.”
“No, you’re confusing that with my tolerance for you,” she snapped back.
“Someone’s a little grumpy,” Flack said, tauntingly.
“Someone hasn’t been to bed yet,” she told him through gritted teeth.
Flack held up his hands, “Whoa, I don’t want to hear about your sex life.”
“No, because jealousy is really not a pretty shade on you,” Taylor informed her, narrowing her eyes.
“Jealous? Me?” Flack scoffed. “Of you? Pah.”
Taylor smiled, “Face it; you’re jealous I have a life.”
“She says, all dolled up. You were clearly out, and had to interrupt your evening to come here.”
“Sooooo… you’re now willing to admit there are ghosts?” she asked him.
“Hell no!” Flack exclaimed. “But I am willing to admit I think you’re crazy.”
Taylor let out and infuriated groan. “No, you drive me crazy.”
“Ah, Taylor, here you are,” said Stella as she came over and joined them. She looked between the two of them, a small smile on her face. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No!” said both Flack and Taylor at the same time.
Stella looked between the two of them once more, “Mac says you should go up and see him. However, he’s currently fishing around in stomach contents.” She let out a laugh, “Sorry, no pun intended there.” Taylor groaned – she unlike Flack, knew exactly what Stella was talking about. “So, I’m going to offer you a lifeline. We have a suspect. Want to join us?””
“Us?” asked Flack, scowling.
“Ah, Flack. Of course us.”
Taylor looked at Flack, thought about the alternative, and nodded – if she saw a dish of stomach contents, she was pretty certain she would be seeing her own.
* * *
“Mr Reiter, you want to put the weights down, please?” Flack, Stella and Taylor were standing in the middle of a gym, watching their suspect lift a 50lb weight.
“When I finished my set,” he grunted, “48.”
“Mr Reiter, we need to talk to you about the losses you took in the market,” Stella told him.
“50.” He placed the weight down on the floor.
“Right now, Mr Reiter,” Stella ordered.
Reiter ignored her and clapped his hands, sending clouds of dust out in the air. Taylor glanced up at Flack –he had a small smile on his face. She turned her attention back to Reiter, only, stood next to him was QT. Taylor frowned, ignoring whatever it was Reiter was saying to the woman. “Help me,” said QT, holding up the same takeaway cup of coffee.
He vanished just as the woman bent down to pick something up in front of them. Taylor glanced back at Flack – he had a small smirk on his face. She rolled her eyes as Reiter came over to them.
“What’s my money got to do with you?”
“QT Hammer’s dead,” Flack told him shortly.
“What he do? Jump out a window?” Reiter scoffed.
“Now why would you say that?” Stella asked him.
Reiter shrugged. “I’m sure all his clients took it bad yesterday.” Flack bent over and picked up and aerosol from the ground, twirling it around. Reiter watched him. “Including me.”
Flack ignored him, and turned his attention to Taylor, grabbing her hand and spraying whatever the stuff was on it. Taylor snatched her hand away. Flack smirked, “Buler’s Magic Grip,” he read aloud. “Athletic adhesive used for rock climbing, discus throwing, and looky here,” he looked up at Reiter. “Weight-lifting.”
Taylor scowled at the detective, and wiped her hand on his jacket sleeve.
“What’s all this about?” demanded Reiter.
“We know you paid QT Hammer a visit earlier in the day. And thanks to your powder here, we suspect you had your hands around his neck,” Flack told him, after a quick glare at Taylor, who glared back.
“Look, it’s not every day you lose $2.4 million in 6 hours. So I paid him a visit. We had a little client/broker heart to heart. Just the two of us. I lost my temper and my money.”
“Yeah, and a vase,” Stella added.
“What?” he asked indignantly. “You want me to reimburse him? I think I can find five bucks. Let me find my wallet.”
“Yeah, do that,” said Flack. “We’re going to need your ID to file assault charges.” He followed Reiter as he went to get his wallet.
Taylor turned to Stella. “I don’t think he did it, Stella. QT showed up, again. He seems pretty insistent about that coffee.”
Stella sighed and nodded. “Alright, we’ll see what else the evidence can tell us.”
“When I finished my set,” he grunted, “48.”
“Mr Reiter, we need to talk to you about the losses you took in the market,” Stella told him.
“50.” He placed the weight down on the floor.
“Right now, Mr Reiter,” Stella ordered.
Reiter ignored her and clapped his hands, sending clouds of dust out in the air. Taylor glanced up at Flack –he had a small smile on his face. She turned her attention back to Reiter, only, stood next to him was QT. Taylor frowned, ignoring whatever it was Reiter was saying to the woman. “Help me,” said QT, holding up the same takeaway cup of coffee.
He vanished just as the woman bent down to pick something up in front of them. Taylor glanced back at Flack – he had a small smirk on his face. She rolled her eyes as Reiter came over to them.
“What’s my money got to do with you?”
“QT Hammer’s dead,” Flack told him shortly.
“What he do? Jump out a window?” Reiter scoffed.
“Now why would you say that?” Stella asked him.
Reiter shrugged. “I’m sure all his clients took it bad yesterday.” Flack bent over and picked up and aerosol from the ground, twirling it around. Reiter watched him. “Including me.”
Flack ignored him, and turned his attention to Taylor, grabbing her hand and spraying whatever the stuff was on it. Taylor snatched her hand away. Flack smirked, “Buler’s Magic Grip,” he read aloud. “Athletic adhesive used for rock climbing, discus throwing, and looky here,” he looked up at Reiter. “Weight-lifting.”
Taylor scowled at the detective, and wiped her hand on his jacket sleeve.
“What’s all this about?” demanded Reiter.
“We know you paid QT Hammer a visit earlier in the day. And thanks to your powder here, we suspect you had your hands around his neck,” Flack told him, after a quick glare at Taylor, who glared back.
“Look, it’s not every day you lose $2.4 million in 6 hours. So I paid him a visit. We had a little client/broker heart to heart. Just the two of us. I lost my temper and my money.”
“Yeah, and a vase,” Stella added.
“What?” he asked indignantly. “You want me to reimburse him? I think I can find five bucks. Let me find my wallet.”
“Yeah, do that,” said Flack. “We’re going to need your ID to file assault charges.” He followed Reiter as he went to get his wallet.
Taylor turned to Stella. “I don’t think he did it, Stella. QT showed up, again. He seems pretty insistent about that coffee.”
Stella sighed and nodded. “Alright, we’ll see what else the evidence can tell us.”
Originally posted: 02/06/2006