Spoilers for 2x15: Fair Game
Taylor was coming out of the bathroom when Flack stormed past her, practically knocking her back into the bathroom. What was worse, he didn’t even seem to notice her. Watching him slam the door to the break room closed behind him, and making the glass in it shake, she followed him. “Are you alright?” she asked him softly, as he rammed the empty coffee pot back into the machine.
“Does no one refill the coffee around here?” he snarled, throwing things around as he made a fresh pot.
“Flack, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he snapped at her, putting his hands on the counter and leaning into the sink.
“You normally send women flying and not stop to check they’re okay when nothing’s wrong?” she asked him, placing her hand gently on one of his.
Flack looked down at it. “What do you want, Taylor?”
“You practically tore that door down. I just wanted to check you were ok.”
Flack sighed and dropped his head. “We found Jennifer. Only she pulled a gun on me.”
Taylor’s eyes shot wide open. “Did she-”
“No,” Flack cut her off. “An officer shot her and stopped her before she could get it out of her pocket. It was a water gun. She thought I was after her.”
Taylor choked back a smile. “And this put you in a bad mood, why?”
Flack pulled his hand out from under hers and spun to face her. “Because the entire precinct now knows about it, which is why I am in here trying to get a cup of coffee, rather than over there, except there is no fu-”
“Flack, sit down,” Taylor ordered, pushing him onto the couch. She headed back to the coffee pot and busied herself with making a cup. “There you go,” she said, giving it to him. “Now, I’m not sure adding caffeine to your system is a good idea, but if it helps, I’m all for it.” She perched herself on the arm of the couch and watched him drink. “Next time you get stressed, come vent it at me, rather than the furniture which can’t stand up for itself.” Taylor got up and headed for the door. “Now, don’t even think about leaving here until you’ve calmed down,” she told him. “Go take a shower if you need to. That usually helps me.” She left and was heading back to the computer when she was noticed Mac, Stella and Lindsay chatting in the hallway. “I see you found Jennifer.”
Mac turned and looked at her. “How did you find that out?”
“Flack,” she shrugged. There was no need to go into details.
“Jennifer confirmed your story about Water Gun Wars,” said Mac.
Taylor pulled a face. “Okay, did you really think I needed my ‘story’ confirming?”
“Actually, no,” said Mac, “I’d heard it mentioned by the commissioner before, but it just means you are now in the clear.”
“She didn’t kill him,” Stella explained, “She was his target, though.”
“I’ve just thought, Vance booby trapped his apartment to keep other players out, not William Tucker,” said Lindsay, after a thought.
“Why go through all the trouble of renting an office and pretending to be a wedding planner, or a casting director?” asked Stella.
“Jennifer Cooper says creativity is encouraged,” Mac pulled a photograph of a blonde, “She ‘killed’ this girl by bribing a cab driver.”
“That’s not all that creative, or original,” muttered Taylor. She looked up from the picture to the three puzzled faces. “That’s how I was ‘killed’.”
Mac shook his head. “The victim lured his targets to the office and took them out of the game.”
“It’s pretty clever,” said Lindsay, looking at Taylor. “Sounds like fun, actually.”
“It was,” Taylor agreed. “I was actually really peeved when I was taken out.”
“Yeah,” said Stella. “Except someone in this game is killing people for real. And they might kill again.”
“It looks like you were lucky,” commented Lindsay. “It looks like our suspects are active players.”
“Well the pictures without the x’s are the people who are still alive,” said Mac. Whilst talking, the four of them had walked into his office and were now looking at the crime photos which were stuck to his glass board. “If we’re going to catch this guy, we’ve got to play the game. Become assassin and track down the active players until we find one holding Kyle Vance’s picture, and whoever has it – that’s our killer.”
Taylor clapped her hands together. “Alright! I’m back in the game!”
“Actually, Taylor, if you’re going to help, it’s going to be here. I don’t want you going out in the field,” Mac told her. “We’ve already established that one of these players is killing the participants,” he added at the sight of her glum face. “And you are not armed.”
“Alright,” she reluctantly agreed.
“Who’s our first target?” asked Stella.
“This guy.”
“Does no one refill the coffee around here?” he snarled, throwing things around as he made a fresh pot.
“Flack, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he snapped at her, putting his hands on the counter and leaning into the sink.
“You normally send women flying and not stop to check they’re okay when nothing’s wrong?” she asked him, placing her hand gently on one of his.
Flack looked down at it. “What do you want, Taylor?”
“You practically tore that door down. I just wanted to check you were ok.”
Flack sighed and dropped his head. “We found Jennifer. Only she pulled a gun on me.”
Taylor’s eyes shot wide open. “Did she-”
“No,” Flack cut her off. “An officer shot her and stopped her before she could get it out of her pocket. It was a water gun. She thought I was after her.”
Taylor choked back a smile. “And this put you in a bad mood, why?”
Flack pulled his hand out from under hers and spun to face her. “Because the entire precinct now knows about it, which is why I am in here trying to get a cup of coffee, rather than over there, except there is no fu-”
“Flack, sit down,” Taylor ordered, pushing him onto the couch. She headed back to the coffee pot and busied herself with making a cup. “There you go,” she said, giving it to him. “Now, I’m not sure adding caffeine to your system is a good idea, but if it helps, I’m all for it.” She perched herself on the arm of the couch and watched him drink. “Next time you get stressed, come vent it at me, rather than the furniture which can’t stand up for itself.” Taylor got up and headed for the door. “Now, don’t even think about leaving here until you’ve calmed down,” she told him. “Go take a shower if you need to. That usually helps me.” She left and was heading back to the computer when she was noticed Mac, Stella and Lindsay chatting in the hallway. “I see you found Jennifer.”
Mac turned and looked at her. “How did you find that out?”
“Flack,” she shrugged. There was no need to go into details.
“Jennifer confirmed your story about Water Gun Wars,” said Mac.
Taylor pulled a face. “Okay, did you really think I needed my ‘story’ confirming?”
“Actually, no,” said Mac, “I’d heard it mentioned by the commissioner before, but it just means you are now in the clear.”
“She didn’t kill him,” Stella explained, “She was his target, though.”
“I’ve just thought, Vance booby trapped his apartment to keep other players out, not William Tucker,” said Lindsay, after a thought.
“Why go through all the trouble of renting an office and pretending to be a wedding planner, or a casting director?” asked Stella.
“Jennifer Cooper says creativity is encouraged,” Mac pulled a photograph of a blonde, “She ‘killed’ this girl by bribing a cab driver.”
“That’s not all that creative, or original,” muttered Taylor. She looked up from the picture to the three puzzled faces. “That’s how I was ‘killed’.”
Mac shook his head. “The victim lured his targets to the office and took them out of the game.”
“It’s pretty clever,” said Lindsay, looking at Taylor. “Sounds like fun, actually.”
“It was,” Taylor agreed. “I was actually really peeved when I was taken out.”
“Yeah,” said Stella. “Except someone in this game is killing people for real. And they might kill again.”
“It looks like you were lucky,” commented Lindsay. “It looks like our suspects are active players.”
“Well the pictures without the x’s are the people who are still alive,” said Mac. Whilst talking, the four of them had walked into his office and were now looking at the crime photos which were stuck to his glass board. “If we’re going to catch this guy, we’ve got to play the game. Become assassin and track down the active players until we find one holding Kyle Vance’s picture, and whoever has it – that’s our killer.”
Taylor clapped her hands together. “Alright! I’m back in the game!”
“Actually, Taylor, if you’re going to help, it’s going to be here. I don’t want you going out in the field,” Mac told her. “We’ve already established that one of these players is killing the participants,” he added at the sight of her glum face. “And you are not armed.”
“Alright,” she reluctantly agreed.
“Who’s our first target?” asked Stella.
“This guy.”
* * *
After being sent to the computer whilst the others tracked down the participants of the game, Taylor had decided that she would work on her column until either Mac came back, or until Maddy and Kyle appeared. But it was neither who disturbed her. It was actually a detective.
“You.”
Taylor turned around and peered questioningly at the dark haired detective. “Can I help you?”
“I want you to research Tony Collins for me.”
“Excuse me?” Taylor asked, blinking.
“I want you to run a background check on Tony Collins. Is that such a hard thing to comprehend?” the female detective asked, looking at her like she was an idiot.
“Not at all, but I’m not a lab tech, or a researcher,” Taylor pointed out.
The detective glared at her. “Then why are you wearing a lab coat? Look I don’t have time for this. Page me when you’re done.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open as she followed the detective out of the room with her eyes. She was tempted to get up and find the detective so she could tell her exactly where she could stick that idea, but her curiosity got the better of her – she was a journalist, after all.
After saving her column, she began doing exactly what the detective asked and had soon pulled up some interesting information – Tony had changed his name five years ago from Larry Whitford after his restaurant had been sued and put out of business by the victim,
“She wants to impress Danny.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Taylor asked Maddy who had suddenly appeared next to her with Kyle.
“Detective Maka likes Danny,” Maddy elaborated. “She was asking Sheldon if he was seeing anyone earlier. She wants the information so she can impress him.”
“Is that her name?” Taylor started, and then frowned. “Have you been following Sheldon around all day?”
“Not all day,” Maddy told her, pouting slightly.
Taylor couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Being here with me now doesn’t count, Maddy.”
Maddy opened her mouth, but couldn’t come up with something to say. “At least I didn’t follow him into the bathroom,” she offered.
“Oh, and what stopped you?”
“Get him,” said Kyle, holding up a book.
Taylor looked pointedly at Maddy, “It was Kyle, wasn’t it.” Maddy said nothing. “For crying out loud, Maddy. You’re dead.”
“Yeah, but because I can’t touch doesn’t mean I can’t look.”
Taylor shook her head. “You are terrible. You’re supposed to be looking after him.”
Maddy ‘s pout was back. “Yeah, well… you’re supposed to be looking at the clues he’s giving you.”
“Fine, but leave Sheldon alone. Really, the last thing he needs is a dead stalker.”
“Fine,” Maddy reluctantly agreed.
“Get him.”
Taylor sighed and turned her attention to the book. “Of Mice and Men? What on earth is that supposed to mean?”
“Get him.”
Taylor looked hopelessly at Maddy, who just shrugged at her. “Thanks,” Taylor muttered, as the two disappeared again. She gathered up the printed information she had found on Collins, and left the computer lab.
She found Detective Maka in the hallway, or rather, Detective Maka found her. “I thought I told you to page me,” she shot at her, as she snatched the folder out of Taylor’s hands.
“Now, hang on a minute,” Taylor said to the retreating body. “Firstly, it’s rude to snatch, secondly, a thank you would be nice, thirdly, I didn’t have your number as you didn’t give it me, and finally, I am not a researcher. I am a journalist. I don’t get paid to do your grunt work.”
Detective Maka looked her up and down, before turning and leaving without saying anything.
If looks could have killed, Taylor would have been continuing that conversation with a ghost. Instead, she refrained from pulling off her shoe and launching it at her head (after having done that at Flack so many times, it had actually become almost therapeutic) and instead went to find Mac. “Of Mice and Men.”
“I’m sorry?” Mac asked, his expression blank.
Taylor sighed. “The last clue I got from Vance’s ghost was Of Mice and Men.”
“Taylor,” Mac began.
“The victim was killed with a blank gun,” Stella interrupted.
Mac frowned. “And he lured his victims into his fake office.”
Stella nodded. “The last way his office was set up was for a casting office – like somebody was auditioning.”
“Blanks, an audition, and a-”
“Headshot,” Stella finished.
“Our shooter has a flare for the dramatic.”
“He’s an actor,” said Taylor, brightly. “And considering the office was set up for an audition suggests that he is probably out there auditioning for a role in an upcoming production Of Mice and Men.”
Mac studied his glass board and plucked a photograph of a Chris Matthews from it, “Let’s find this guy.”
“Nice job,” said Stella as she and Mac left the office.
Taylor smiled and headed back to the computer. She had a column to finish.
“You.”
Taylor turned around and peered questioningly at the dark haired detective. “Can I help you?”
“I want you to research Tony Collins for me.”
“Excuse me?” Taylor asked, blinking.
“I want you to run a background check on Tony Collins. Is that such a hard thing to comprehend?” the female detective asked, looking at her like she was an idiot.
“Not at all, but I’m not a lab tech, or a researcher,” Taylor pointed out.
The detective glared at her. “Then why are you wearing a lab coat? Look I don’t have time for this. Page me when you’re done.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open as she followed the detective out of the room with her eyes. She was tempted to get up and find the detective so she could tell her exactly where she could stick that idea, but her curiosity got the better of her – she was a journalist, after all.
After saving her column, she began doing exactly what the detective asked and had soon pulled up some interesting information – Tony had changed his name five years ago from Larry Whitford after his restaurant had been sued and put out of business by the victim,
“She wants to impress Danny.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” Taylor asked Maddy who had suddenly appeared next to her with Kyle.
“Detective Maka likes Danny,” Maddy elaborated. “She was asking Sheldon if he was seeing anyone earlier. She wants the information so she can impress him.”
“Is that her name?” Taylor started, and then frowned. “Have you been following Sheldon around all day?”
“Not all day,” Maddy told her, pouting slightly.
Taylor couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Being here with me now doesn’t count, Maddy.”
Maddy opened her mouth, but couldn’t come up with something to say. “At least I didn’t follow him into the bathroom,” she offered.
“Oh, and what stopped you?”
“Get him,” said Kyle, holding up a book.
Taylor looked pointedly at Maddy, “It was Kyle, wasn’t it.” Maddy said nothing. “For crying out loud, Maddy. You’re dead.”
“Yeah, but because I can’t touch doesn’t mean I can’t look.”
Taylor shook her head. “You are terrible. You’re supposed to be looking after him.”
Maddy ‘s pout was back. “Yeah, well… you’re supposed to be looking at the clues he’s giving you.”
“Fine, but leave Sheldon alone. Really, the last thing he needs is a dead stalker.”
“Fine,” Maddy reluctantly agreed.
“Get him.”
Taylor sighed and turned her attention to the book. “Of Mice and Men? What on earth is that supposed to mean?”
“Get him.”
Taylor looked hopelessly at Maddy, who just shrugged at her. “Thanks,” Taylor muttered, as the two disappeared again. She gathered up the printed information she had found on Collins, and left the computer lab.
She found Detective Maka in the hallway, or rather, Detective Maka found her. “I thought I told you to page me,” she shot at her, as she snatched the folder out of Taylor’s hands.
“Now, hang on a minute,” Taylor said to the retreating body. “Firstly, it’s rude to snatch, secondly, a thank you would be nice, thirdly, I didn’t have your number as you didn’t give it me, and finally, I am not a researcher. I am a journalist. I don’t get paid to do your grunt work.”
Detective Maka looked her up and down, before turning and leaving without saying anything.
If looks could have killed, Taylor would have been continuing that conversation with a ghost. Instead, she refrained from pulling off her shoe and launching it at her head (after having done that at Flack so many times, it had actually become almost therapeutic) and instead went to find Mac. “Of Mice and Men.”
“I’m sorry?” Mac asked, his expression blank.
Taylor sighed. “The last clue I got from Vance’s ghost was Of Mice and Men.”
“Taylor,” Mac began.
“The victim was killed with a blank gun,” Stella interrupted.
Mac frowned. “And he lured his victims into his fake office.”
Stella nodded. “The last way his office was set up was for a casting office – like somebody was auditioning.”
“Blanks, an audition, and a-”
“Headshot,” Stella finished.
“Our shooter has a flare for the dramatic.”
“He’s an actor,” said Taylor, brightly. “And considering the office was set up for an audition suggests that he is probably out there auditioning for a role in an upcoming production Of Mice and Men.”
Mac studied his glass board and plucked a photograph of a Chris Matthews from it, “Let’s find this guy.”
“Nice job,” said Stella as she and Mac left the office.
Taylor smiled and headed back to the computer. She had a column to finish.
* * *
“Hey Drew!”
Taylor hit the send button on the email and turned to find Danny poking his head around the door. “What’s up, Danny?”
“Did you order takeout?”
Taylor shook her head, suddenly wishing she had. “No, but I could go for something to eat.”
“Well, you have a delivery in reception,” Danny informed her.
Taylor frowned and followed Danny to the floor’s reception area, where, sure enough, there was a delivery guy waiting for her. “I didn’t order anything,” she told him.
The delivery guy handed it over anyway. “It was sent from a Mr Furness. He said to let you know that you missed out on another great evening of culinary delights, and he didn’t want you to get hungry, because you’ve been looking a little thin, lately.” Taylor was going to kill Roger for that comment. She sighed and carried the box into the break room.
“What have we got, then Drew?” Danny asked, rubbing his hands together.
“Whatever you want, because I am not touching it,” Taylor told him, dumping the box on the table and backing away.
“Taylor, one of those boxes is chirping,” said Mac. He was sat in the break room enjoying a cup of coffee.
“That really does not surprise me,” Taylor told him.
“Hang on,” said Danny. “Has this come from the Regent?”
Taylor nodded. “Yup, courtesy of Roger Furness. He thinks he’s doing me a favour.”
Danny laughed. “It’s alright, Drew. We’ll eat it, wont we, Mac?”
Mac pulled a face. “Danny I think you will be the only one eating that. Except maybe Lindsay,” he added as an afterthought.
“Montana?” asked Danny, peering into some of the containers. “She won’t touch this.”
“Twenty says she will,” said Mac.
Taylor looked at Mac, who gave her a wink, which was thankfully missed by Danny. “Yeah, I’ll bet you twenty she eats it, as well,” Taylor quickly agreed.
Danny looked between them both. “Deal. You’d better have the cash on you.” He looked behind Taylor and waved at someone to come over. It was Flack and Stella.
“What’s going on here?” Stella asked, eyeing up the containers.
“A bet,” said Mac.
“We bet Danny that Lindsay would eat whatever was in those takeaway boxes,” said Taylor as Danny walked to the door.
“Yo, Hawkes!” he yelled out into the corridor. Sheldon, who was walking past the break room, came over. “We’ve got some grub in here.”
Sheldon smiled and came in. The smile quickly dropped from his face when he noticed the contents of one of the boxes moving, or rather, wriggling. “When you say ‘grub’…?”
Danny didn’t answer, instead leaning out of the room. “MONTANA!” he bellowed down the hallway, causing everyone in the vicinity to jump in fright.
“Danny, use your cell. Or better yet, go get her,” Stella reprimanded him, beating Mac to it.
“No need,” he said. “Here comes Monroe now.”
“What is it, Messer?” she asked him wearily.
“Food’s here.”
Lindsay frowned, and then shrugged, sitting herself down at the table. “You could have just used the phone,” she told him. “Or come and got me. I was only in the trace lab.”
“That’s exactly what I just told him,” said Stella.
“Alright,” said Danny, ignoring them both and carrying the tray over to Lindsay. “I got mealworm spaghetti, stinkbug pate - that’s nice. Cricket croquets, braised ant brochette, Thai dragonflies – who’s going first?”
“Not even if you paid me,” said Taylor taking a step back – she’d had enough of bugs, and she was no longer feeling all that hungry.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Stella said, waving the food away.
Flack pulled a face. “Pass.”
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “It’s just protein,” she told them, grabbing a deep fried spider on a stick and taking a bite out of the legs. Watching her chew on the spider’s legs, which she knew were hairy and… spider’s legs, Taylor felt positively nauseous. And Roger thought she was getting too thin.
“Told you she’d do it,” said Mac.
Taylor smiled, grateful that her mind was being taken off the ‘food’ in front of her, “Cough up, Messer.”
“Heh heh heh,” Danny faked the laugh. “Alright, alright.” He pulled out two twenties from his back pocket and placed each in Mac and Taylor’s outstretched hands. “There you go,” he told them begrudgingly.
“Ok,” said Mac, brightly. “Pizza in my office.”
“You bet Mac and Taylor I wouldn’t do it?” asked Lindsay in surprise.
“Yeah,” said Danny, taking the seat next to Lindsay. “What was I thinking – betting against a county girl?”
“You know, it’s actually not that bad,” Lindsay told them, reaching for another bug on a stick.
“Well, try it with some grasshopper chutney,” Danny said, offering her a pot.
Taylor looked around and realised that everyone had gone. “Well, let me know how it was,” she told them.
“You’re not staying? I can’t interest you in wasp tamale?” Danny offered, holding out a paper bag.
Taylor pulled a face. “I told you: not even if you paid me. It’s just going to be you two,” she added, a small smile on her face. “Good one, Mac,” she muttered under her breath after she had left the room.
She went to the locker room and peeled of her lab coat. She glanced down at her outfit. “Well, when in Rome,” she muttered, pulling her locker door open. She stopped as she noticed three dry cleaning bags hanging up. Taylor hung the lab coat up and pulled the first bag out. It contained the dress she had spilt the coffee down, now minus the coffee. Attached to it was a note; thanks for the coffee. I was going to return the favour, but you’d already had enough earlier. Taylor smiled and hung it back up.
“Who have you got doing your laundry?”
“Hello, Maddy,” said Taylor, without turning around.
“Sheldon should wear beiges and browns more often. They really suit him.”
Taylor turned around to face her friend. “Not only are you dead, he can’t see you. There is no chance of you and him ever having a relationship.”
“You want to bet on that?” Maddy asked with a sly smile.
“Maddy, firstly, you have nothing to bet with, secondly, I’ve just won a bet, thirdly, you’re dead!” Taylor pointed out for the umpteenth time.
Maddy grinned. “You really need to stop listing things. Besides, you’re always telling me, where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“But Maddy, there’s no body, never mind a will,” Taylor said, somewhat exasperated.
“You’ll see. Anyway, I’m not here about that. Kyle here wants to say thanks.” She nodded her head in the direction of the ghost next to her, who was now all cleaned up and wearing a white suit.
“Thank you, Taylor.”
Taylor smiled at him. “You’re welcome, Kyle. I just hope madam here didn’t upset you too much.”
“Actually, she did a pretty good job,” the ghost informed her. “She only left me when she realised I needed to be alone.”
Next to him, Maddy smirked at her. “Well, that’s good to know. Take care, Kyle.”
“You too.”
Both ghosts disappeared and Taylor turned to shut her locker. She made to leave the locker room, but was stopped by Stella who was coming in. “Here you are. Are you not joining us for pizza?”
Taylor shook her head, “I thought it was just for you guys.”
“You are one of ‘us guys’,” Stella informed her.
Taylor frowned. “But I don’t work here.”
“Not getting paid, you don’t,” Stella told her, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. Taylor grinned and allowed the Greek CSI to lead her to the pizza.
Taylor hit the send button on the email and turned to find Danny poking his head around the door. “What’s up, Danny?”
“Did you order takeout?”
Taylor shook her head, suddenly wishing she had. “No, but I could go for something to eat.”
“Well, you have a delivery in reception,” Danny informed her.
Taylor frowned and followed Danny to the floor’s reception area, where, sure enough, there was a delivery guy waiting for her. “I didn’t order anything,” she told him.
The delivery guy handed it over anyway. “It was sent from a Mr Furness. He said to let you know that you missed out on another great evening of culinary delights, and he didn’t want you to get hungry, because you’ve been looking a little thin, lately.” Taylor was going to kill Roger for that comment. She sighed and carried the box into the break room.
“What have we got, then Drew?” Danny asked, rubbing his hands together.
“Whatever you want, because I am not touching it,” Taylor told him, dumping the box on the table and backing away.
“Taylor, one of those boxes is chirping,” said Mac. He was sat in the break room enjoying a cup of coffee.
“That really does not surprise me,” Taylor told him.
“Hang on,” said Danny. “Has this come from the Regent?”
Taylor nodded. “Yup, courtesy of Roger Furness. He thinks he’s doing me a favour.”
Danny laughed. “It’s alright, Drew. We’ll eat it, wont we, Mac?”
Mac pulled a face. “Danny I think you will be the only one eating that. Except maybe Lindsay,” he added as an afterthought.
“Montana?” asked Danny, peering into some of the containers. “She won’t touch this.”
“Twenty says she will,” said Mac.
Taylor looked at Mac, who gave her a wink, which was thankfully missed by Danny. “Yeah, I’ll bet you twenty she eats it, as well,” Taylor quickly agreed.
Danny looked between them both. “Deal. You’d better have the cash on you.” He looked behind Taylor and waved at someone to come over. It was Flack and Stella.
“What’s going on here?” Stella asked, eyeing up the containers.
“A bet,” said Mac.
“We bet Danny that Lindsay would eat whatever was in those takeaway boxes,” said Taylor as Danny walked to the door.
“Yo, Hawkes!” he yelled out into the corridor. Sheldon, who was walking past the break room, came over. “We’ve got some grub in here.”
Sheldon smiled and came in. The smile quickly dropped from his face when he noticed the contents of one of the boxes moving, or rather, wriggling. “When you say ‘grub’…?”
Danny didn’t answer, instead leaning out of the room. “MONTANA!” he bellowed down the hallway, causing everyone in the vicinity to jump in fright.
“Danny, use your cell. Or better yet, go get her,” Stella reprimanded him, beating Mac to it.
“No need,” he said. “Here comes Monroe now.”
“What is it, Messer?” she asked him wearily.
“Food’s here.”
Lindsay frowned, and then shrugged, sitting herself down at the table. “You could have just used the phone,” she told him. “Or come and got me. I was only in the trace lab.”
“That’s exactly what I just told him,” said Stella.
“Alright,” said Danny, ignoring them both and carrying the tray over to Lindsay. “I got mealworm spaghetti, stinkbug pate - that’s nice. Cricket croquets, braised ant brochette, Thai dragonflies – who’s going first?”
“Not even if you paid me,” said Taylor taking a step back – she’d had enough of bugs, and she was no longer feeling all that hungry.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Stella said, waving the food away.
Flack pulled a face. “Pass.”
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “It’s just protein,” she told them, grabbing a deep fried spider on a stick and taking a bite out of the legs. Watching her chew on the spider’s legs, which she knew were hairy and… spider’s legs, Taylor felt positively nauseous. And Roger thought she was getting too thin.
“Told you she’d do it,” said Mac.
Taylor smiled, grateful that her mind was being taken off the ‘food’ in front of her, “Cough up, Messer.”
“Heh heh heh,” Danny faked the laugh. “Alright, alright.” He pulled out two twenties from his back pocket and placed each in Mac and Taylor’s outstretched hands. “There you go,” he told them begrudgingly.
“Ok,” said Mac, brightly. “Pizza in my office.”
“You bet Mac and Taylor I wouldn’t do it?” asked Lindsay in surprise.
“Yeah,” said Danny, taking the seat next to Lindsay. “What was I thinking – betting against a county girl?”
“You know, it’s actually not that bad,” Lindsay told them, reaching for another bug on a stick.
“Well, try it with some grasshopper chutney,” Danny said, offering her a pot.
Taylor looked around and realised that everyone had gone. “Well, let me know how it was,” she told them.
“You’re not staying? I can’t interest you in wasp tamale?” Danny offered, holding out a paper bag.
Taylor pulled a face. “I told you: not even if you paid me. It’s just going to be you two,” she added, a small smile on her face. “Good one, Mac,” she muttered under her breath after she had left the room.
She went to the locker room and peeled of her lab coat. She glanced down at her outfit. “Well, when in Rome,” she muttered, pulling her locker door open. She stopped as she noticed three dry cleaning bags hanging up. Taylor hung the lab coat up and pulled the first bag out. It contained the dress she had spilt the coffee down, now minus the coffee. Attached to it was a note; thanks for the coffee. I was going to return the favour, but you’d already had enough earlier. Taylor smiled and hung it back up.
“Who have you got doing your laundry?”
“Hello, Maddy,” said Taylor, without turning around.
“Sheldon should wear beiges and browns more often. They really suit him.”
Taylor turned around to face her friend. “Not only are you dead, he can’t see you. There is no chance of you and him ever having a relationship.”
“You want to bet on that?” Maddy asked with a sly smile.
“Maddy, firstly, you have nothing to bet with, secondly, I’ve just won a bet, thirdly, you’re dead!” Taylor pointed out for the umpteenth time.
Maddy grinned. “You really need to stop listing things. Besides, you’re always telling me, where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
“But Maddy, there’s no body, never mind a will,” Taylor said, somewhat exasperated.
“You’ll see. Anyway, I’m not here about that. Kyle here wants to say thanks.” She nodded her head in the direction of the ghost next to her, who was now all cleaned up and wearing a white suit.
“Thank you, Taylor.”
Taylor smiled at him. “You’re welcome, Kyle. I just hope madam here didn’t upset you too much.”
“Actually, she did a pretty good job,” the ghost informed her. “She only left me when she realised I needed to be alone.”
Next to him, Maddy smirked at her. “Well, that’s good to know. Take care, Kyle.”
“You too.”
Both ghosts disappeared and Taylor turned to shut her locker. She made to leave the locker room, but was stopped by Stella who was coming in. “Here you are. Are you not joining us for pizza?”
Taylor shook her head, “I thought it was just for you guys.”
“You are one of ‘us guys’,” Stella informed her.
Taylor frowned. “But I don’t work here.”
“Not getting paid, you don’t,” Stella told her, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. Taylor grinned and allowed the Greek CSI to lead her to the pizza.
Originally posted: 11/06/2006