Spoilers for 2x20: Run Silent, Run Deep
A few hours later, and it wasn’t boredom which disturbed Taylor – it was Mac. “Taylor?”
Taylor turned around and pulled her glasses off (she’d taken her contacts out a while earlier), “Hey Mac.”
“Have you got a minute?” he asked her.
Taylor frowned, “It depends on if it has anything to do with micro-waving human tissue, because I might just have to pass.”
Mac frowned back at her, then realised what it was she was referring to. “No, it has nothing to do with that.”
Taylor shrugged and followed him into the AV lab, where Adam was waiting for them. He gave her a surprised welcoming smile, and then turned to Mac. “FASTSCAN. It’s state of the art in facial reconstruction,” he told them both.
“Looks expensive,” said Mac as he gave it the once over. “Did I sign a PO for this?”
“Yeah!” confirmed Adam quickly. “Remember, you said you wanted to be on the cutting edge of technology?”
Mac smiled at Adam’s worry, “Right. Well, let’s see if we got our money’s worth.”
Taylor watched in amazement as Mac held, what she could only describe as, a laser gun, at a skull, running the red horizontal beam of light up and down the bone structure. Slowly, the computer screen behind projected the skull as it was picked up, until, finally, the computer generated replica skull was complete. Adam hit a few buttons and the flesh and skin were added to the bone.
“John Doe,” declared Adam, as the face spun around. “All we need is a name.”
“Wow,” breathed Taylor, “The fact that a computer can do that is incredible.”
Mac nodded. “This is where you fit in, Taylor.” Taylor looked at him expectantly. “Can you run a picture of this in the New York Daily – have it in tomorrow’s edition?”
Taylor glanced at her watch, “If I get it over there now, it should just make print for the late edition.”
“Just make sure they don’t make a spectacle out of the headline,” Mac told her.
Adam laughed sarcastically. “It’s New York Daily…” he trailed off when he noticed the death glare Taylor was sending in his direction.
“Adam, I want you to see if you can find a match in missing persons,” said Mac, before Taylor could make a comment. Adam took one look at Taylor and left quickly. Mac leant over and picked up the print out of the face before handing it over to Taylor.
“I’ll head straight there,” Taylor told him as started to leave.
“Hang on,” Mac called after her. Taylor stopped and turned, waiting expectantly for a Mac to continue. “Take a Crime Lab SUV,” he said, throwing some keys at her.
“What’s this for?” Taylor asked as she caught the keys.
“It’s getting dark and I don’t want you walking anywhere by yourself, and I can’t spare anyone to go with you at this point.”
“I can grab a cab, Mac?” Taylor told him.
“Stop arguing, and take the car,” he instructed her, his tone firm.
Taylor grinned, “You’re not getting any arguments out of me.”
Taylor turned around and pulled her glasses off (she’d taken her contacts out a while earlier), “Hey Mac.”
“Have you got a minute?” he asked her.
Taylor frowned, “It depends on if it has anything to do with micro-waving human tissue, because I might just have to pass.”
Mac frowned back at her, then realised what it was she was referring to. “No, it has nothing to do with that.”
Taylor shrugged and followed him into the AV lab, where Adam was waiting for them. He gave her a surprised welcoming smile, and then turned to Mac. “FASTSCAN. It’s state of the art in facial reconstruction,” he told them both.
“Looks expensive,” said Mac as he gave it the once over. “Did I sign a PO for this?”
“Yeah!” confirmed Adam quickly. “Remember, you said you wanted to be on the cutting edge of technology?”
Mac smiled at Adam’s worry, “Right. Well, let’s see if we got our money’s worth.”
Taylor watched in amazement as Mac held, what she could only describe as, a laser gun, at a skull, running the red horizontal beam of light up and down the bone structure. Slowly, the computer screen behind projected the skull as it was picked up, until, finally, the computer generated replica skull was complete. Adam hit a few buttons and the flesh and skin were added to the bone.
“John Doe,” declared Adam, as the face spun around. “All we need is a name.”
“Wow,” breathed Taylor, “The fact that a computer can do that is incredible.”
Mac nodded. “This is where you fit in, Taylor.” Taylor looked at him expectantly. “Can you run a picture of this in the New York Daily – have it in tomorrow’s edition?”
Taylor glanced at her watch, “If I get it over there now, it should just make print for the late edition.”
“Just make sure they don’t make a spectacle out of the headline,” Mac told her.
Adam laughed sarcastically. “It’s New York Daily…” he trailed off when he noticed the death glare Taylor was sending in his direction.
“Adam, I want you to see if you can find a match in missing persons,” said Mac, before Taylor could make a comment. Adam took one look at Taylor and left quickly. Mac leant over and picked up the print out of the face before handing it over to Taylor.
“I’ll head straight there,” Taylor told him as started to leave.
“Hang on,” Mac called after her. Taylor stopped and turned, waiting expectantly for a Mac to continue. “Take a Crime Lab SUV,” he said, throwing some keys at her.
“What’s this for?” Taylor asked as she caught the keys.
“It’s getting dark and I don’t want you walking anywhere by yourself, and I can’t spare anyone to go with you at this point.”
“I can grab a cab, Mac?” Taylor told him.
“Stop arguing, and take the car,” he instructed her, his tone firm.
Taylor grinned, “You’re not getting any arguments out of me.”
* * *
Several hours later, Taylor had arrived back at the Crime Lab and was once again planted in front of a computer. She had managed to convince Alex to hold the evening edition by a full twenty minutes until she had arrived, something she considered as a small miracle. The ride over there, and back, had completely cemented Taylor’s desire to own a car of some description.
Currently, Taylor had taken over from Adam’s job and was trying to put a name to a face, while he had gone to carry on with the work he needed to do. So far, nothing, other than an ever-growing feeling of sadness as she flicked through the names and faces in front of her, over all the people that were missed by their families.
After coming up empty, she went to track down Mac and gave him the bad news. Part way to his office, however, Flack walked straight past, not noticing her, humming to himself, a huge grin on his face. She cocked her head and watched him head to the break room with an arched eyebrow.
“We were following a lead.” Taylor turned to find Stella studying her. “The suspects were all dressed up in some of the most expensive underwear I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh,” said Taylor, “Well, I guess that explains his good mood then.”
Stella smiled slyly at her. “He’s single, so he has to take all the perks he can with this job, even if it is only lining women up so we can test for spray on panty-hose.”
Taylor frowned. “You’re telling me that even if he wasn’t single, he wouldn’t have that grin on his face.”
“Oh, the grin would be there,” Stella agreed. “But only because he’d know he was going back to his girlfriend so he could take her underwear off.”
“Stella, when was the last time you saw Frankie?” Taylor sighed.
Stella pulled a face, “About seven hours ago. I was called out from his bed. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to hand this evidence over for processing, so that I can get back to that bed.”
Taylor watched with an amused smirk as Stella hurried away, before turning to continue on her quest to find Mac. She found him as he was about to enter his office, where a man was sat waiting for him, a paper in his hand. “Hey, Mac!” she called.
Mac paused and waited for her to dash over, “Thanks for getting the picture in. I wasn’t expecting a full front-page spread.”
Taylor grinned, “Turns out I actually have some power at the paper, but don’t ask Alex to confirm it, as he’ll only deny it. He’s very territorial when it comes to who’s boss. Actually, that’s why I’m here. Adam had to run an analysis on… something. So I finished up on the missing person’s search.” She looked cautiously at Mac, unsure as to whether or not she was actually allowed to do that. Mac just nodded. “It came up empty.”
Mac nodded again. “Don’t worry about it, Taylor. I think your article may have worked. This gentleman here thinks he knows who the victim is.”
“That was quick. The paper’s still hot off the press.” Taylor looked at the man again. He was staring at the paper looking very upset. She nodded at Mac and watched as he entered his office and seated himself opposite the man. Taylor turned and left, not wanting to disturb them.
She was on her way back to the computer room, for what felt like the hundredth time that day, when she spotted Lindsay and Danny talking on the gangway above her. Taylor smiled to herself – perhaps Danny was finally making a move. As she noticed the paper, and the serious expression on Lindsay’s face, the smile was replaced with a frown.
She paused and watched as Danny took the paper off Lindsay, his expression changing from serious, to worried. Taylor frowned and watched him walk away. She stood there for a few moments, contemplating whether to follow or not, but decided against it, instead returning to her original destination.
Currently, Taylor had taken over from Adam’s job and was trying to put a name to a face, while he had gone to carry on with the work he needed to do. So far, nothing, other than an ever-growing feeling of sadness as she flicked through the names and faces in front of her, over all the people that were missed by their families.
After coming up empty, she went to track down Mac and gave him the bad news. Part way to his office, however, Flack walked straight past, not noticing her, humming to himself, a huge grin on his face. She cocked her head and watched him head to the break room with an arched eyebrow.
“We were following a lead.” Taylor turned to find Stella studying her. “The suspects were all dressed up in some of the most expensive underwear I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh,” said Taylor, “Well, I guess that explains his good mood then.”
Stella smiled slyly at her. “He’s single, so he has to take all the perks he can with this job, even if it is only lining women up so we can test for spray on panty-hose.”
Taylor frowned. “You’re telling me that even if he wasn’t single, he wouldn’t have that grin on his face.”
“Oh, the grin would be there,” Stella agreed. “But only because he’d know he was going back to his girlfriend so he could take her underwear off.”
“Stella, when was the last time you saw Frankie?” Taylor sighed.
Stella pulled a face, “About seven hours ago. I was called out from his bed. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to hand this evidence over for processing, so that I can get back to that bed.”
Taylor watched with an amused smirk as Stella hurried away, before turning to continue on her quest to find Mac. She found him as he was about to enter his office, where a man was sat waiting for him, a paper in his hand. “Hey, Mac!” she called.
Mac paused and waited for her to dash over, “Thanks for getting the picture in. I wasn’t expecting a full front-page spread.”
Taylor grinned, “Turns out I actually have some power at the paper, but don’t ask Alex to confirm it, as he’ll only deny it. He’s very territorial when it comes to who’s boss. Actually, that’s why I’m here. Adam had to run an analysis on… something. So I finished up on the missing person’s search.” She looked cautiously at Mac, unsure as to whether or not she was actually allowed to do that. Mac just nodded. “It came up empty.”
Mac nodded again. “Don’t worry about it, Taylor. I think your article may have worked. This gentleman here thinks he knows who the victim is.”
“That was quick. The paper’s still hot off the press.” Taylor looked at the man again. He was staring at the paper looking very upset. She nodded at Mac and watched as he entered his office and seated himself opposite the man. Taylor turned and left, not wanting to disturb them.
She was on her way back to the computer room, for what felt like the hundredth time that day, when she spotted Lindsay and Danny talking on the gangway above her. Taylor smiled to herself – perhaps Danny was finally making a move. As she noticed the paper, and the serious expression on Lindsay’s face, the smile was replaced with a frown.
She paused and watched as Danny took the paper off Lindsay, his expression changing from serious, to worried. Taylor frowned and watched him walk away. She stood there for a few moments, contemplating whether to follow or not, but decided against it, instead returning to her original destination.
* * *
“Have you heard?”
“No, what?”
Taylor perked her ears towards the excited chatter. She poked her head out of the door to find, unsurprisingly, that it belonged to the three gossipy lab techs.
“Danny Messer is being placed on modified duty.”
Taylor’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, the duty sergeant is there to relieve him. He’s being stripped of his badge and gun.”
“Is this to do with him and his involvement with the Tanglewood Boys?”
“I bet it is. I always knew he was a bad boy!”
Taylor stormed out of the room and over to the three women. “That’s enough!” she barked at them. “You three are the most insufferable people to grace this lab.” The three lab techs stared at her in fright. “All you three do is gossip. Do you honestly think that Mac Taylor would have hired Danny if he’d done what you three seem to claiming? In fact,” Taylor ranted. “It’s probably because of you that he has the reputations that he does. Stop picking on the poor man. He doesn’t deserve the lynching you’re sending his way. Whatever’s happened, you should wait for an announcement, and even if and when that happens, it’s still none of your business to be talking about his personal life like he’s a character on a soap.” One of the techs started to try and say something, but Taylor cut her off. “Don’t even bother! Now, stop standing around like the three old spinsters that you are, and go and do whatever the hell it is that you’re paid to do!” Taylor waited, glaring at them, until they all started moving.
“Who died and made her boss?” one of the grumbled under her breath.
“She doesn’t even work here,” moaned another.
Taylor spun on her heel and marched over to Mac’s office, where she joined Lindsay, Flack, Adam and Sheldon as they all stood, watching Danny hand over his gun and badge. She watched silently as Danny was led away and was about to turn to Flack, who she was stood next to, when Mac motioned for her to come in. She gave a shrug in response to the questioning look her four companions were giving her, and entered the office.
“Taylor, I know it’s late, and you don’t work here,” Mac started, “But I need to ask you for another favour.”
Taylor nodded, “Sure.”
Mac sighed and sat down, indicating for her to do the same. “The skeleton we found was buried in the end zone of the Giant’s stadium.”
Taylor frowned. “Alright,” she said slowly.
“In the same grave we found a gun and a cigarette butt. Lindsay ran the DNA off the cigarette butt. It was a match to Danny.”
Taylor’s eyes widened in surprise, “Danny couldn’t have killed him!”
Mac shook his head. “No, and I don’t think he could have either, however, that is the only evidence we have.”
Taylor leapt to her feet. “Do you need me to process evidence, or go talk to the members of Tanglewood, or-”
“What do you know about the Tanglewood Boys?” Mac asked her sharply.
Taylor winced. “Their name came up in connection with the Brooklyn Bullets, but all I really know comes from office gossip,” she finished sheepishly. “That and the fact I was there when Sid was,” she grimaced. “Cooking skin.”
Mac sighed. “No, Taylor, thank you for the offer, but I intend on putting Sonny Sassone away on this one, and letting you near the case would be like letting Danny near it.”
Taylor nodded. “Alright, so, what do you want me to do?”
“Danny has been reassigned to modified desk duty. Basically, Taylor, stick him on the computer with you and watch him. In fact, if you can convince him to leave the lab for a while, do so, but just make sure you stay with him, and under no circumstances, allow him to go after Tanglewood on his own.” Mac sighed, “I wouldn’t ask, but I need everyone still.”
Taylor nodded, determined to carry out Mac’s wishes. “Mac, don’t worry. I’ll watch him.”
“Stick to him like glue, Taylor.”
“I can do better than that, Mac.”
Mac looked up at her questioningly.
“I’ll stick to him like an ex-wife after an alimony check.”
Mac managed a small smile and watched the journalist leave the room.
“No, what?”
Taylor perked her ears towards the excited chatter. She poked her head out of the door to find, unsurprisingly, that it belonged to the three gossipy lab techs.
“Danny Messer is being placed on modified duty.”
Taylor’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, the duty sergeant is there to relieve him. He’s being stripped of his badge and gun.”
“Is this to do with him and his involvement with the Tanglewood Boys?”
“I bet it is. I always knew he was a bad boy!”
Taylor stormed out of the room and over to the three women. “That’s enough!” she barked at them. “You three are the most insufferable people to grace this lab.” The three lab techs stared at her in fright. “All you three do is gossip. Do you honestly think that Mac Taylor would have hired Danny if he’d done what you three seem to claiming? In fact,” Taylor ranted. “It’s probably because of you that he has the reputations that he does. Stop picking on the poor man. He doesn’t deserve the lynching you’re sending his way. Whatever’s happened, you should wait for an announcement, and even if and when that happens, it’s still none of your business to be talking about his personal life like he’s a character on a soap.” One of the techs started to try and say something, but Taylor cut her off. “Don’t even bother! Now, stop standing around like the three old spinsters that you are, and go and do whatever the hell it is that you’re paid to do!” Taylor waited, glaring at them, until they all started moving.
“Who died and made her boss?” one of the grumbled under her breath.
“She doesn’t even work here,” moaned another.
Taylor spun on her heel and marched over to Mac’s office, where she joined Lindsay, Flack, Adam and Sheldon as they all stood, watching Danny hand over his gun and badge. She watched silently as Danny was led away and was about to turn to Flack, who she was stood next to, when Mac motioned for her to come in. She gave a shrug in response to the questioning look her four companions were giving her, and entered the office.
“Taylor, I know it’s late, and you don’t work here,” Mac started, “But I need to ask you for another favour.”
Taylor nodded, “Sure.”
Mac sighed and sat down, indicating for her to do the same. “The skeleton we found was buried in the end zone of the Giant’s stadium.”
Taylor frowned. “Alright,” she said slowly.
“In the same grave we found a gun and a cigarette butt. Lindsay ran the DNA off the cigarette butt. It was a match to Danny.”
Taylor’s eyes widened in surprise, “Danny couldn’t have killed him!”
Mac shook his head. “No, and I don’t think he could have either, however, that is the only evidence we have.”
Taylor leapt to her feet. “Do you need me to process evidence, or go talk to the members of Tanglewood, or-”
“What do you know about the Tanglewood Boys?” Mac asked her sharply.
Taylor winced. “Their name came up in connection with the Brooklyn Bullets, but all I really know comes from office gossip,” she finished sheepishly. “That and the fact I was there when Sid was,” she grimaced. “Cooking skin.”
Mac sighed. “No, Taylor, thank you for the offer, but I intend on putting Sonny Sassone away on this one, and letting you near the case would be like letting Danny near it.”
Taylor nodded. “Alright, so, what do you want me to do?”
“Danny has been reassigned to modified desk duty. Basically, Taylor, stick him on the computer with you and watch him. In fact, if you can convince him to leave the lab for a while, do so, but just make sure you stay with him, and under no circumstances, allow him to go after Tanglewood on his own.” Mac sighed, “I wouldn’t ask, but I need everyone still.”
Taylor nodded, determined to carry out Mac’s wishes. “Mac, don’t worry. I’ll watch him.”
“Stick to him like glue, Taylor.”
“I can do better than that, Mac.”
Mac looked up at her questioningly.
“I’ll stick to him like an ex-wife after an alimony check.”
Mac managed a small smile and watched the journalist leave the room.
Originally posted: 27/06/2006