Spoilers for 2x16: Cool Hunter
Taylor stifled a yawn as she headed to the bathroom. They had just returned from Washington Heights, but the early morning visit to the hospital meant she was already growing tired. She leant over the sink and turned the tap on to splash some water on her face.
“It was him.”
Taylor whirled around and found Stacie staring at her. “Hi, Stacie?” she offered cautiously.
And then the room seemed to explode in water. Taylor screamed as every toilet exploded, and every tap turned itself on, gushing water over her.
Stacie disappeared and the toilets and sinks pumped water over the floor, as if over-flowing. The door burst open and Stella and Danny burst in, guns drawn. Discovering Taylor was alone, they put their guns away and dashed over.
“What happened, Taylor?” Stella asked her, taking her jacket off and draping it over her.
Taylor looked up at her, peering out from under the hair which was now plastered to her face, “I… uh… I’m not sure. Stacie appeared, and everything exploded.”
“Stacie?”
Taylor nodded. “She’s the victim in Mac’s case.”
Stella sighed. “Alright, Danny, call maintenance and get them to look at the bathroom,” Danny nodded, patted Taylor’s shoulder, and left. “Taylor, have you got some spare clothes, or do you need to borrow some?”
Taylor shook her head, “I have some in my locker.”
Stella sighed. “You go get changed, see Mac if you need too.”
Taylor nodded and headed straight for the locker room. She had changed into a dry pair of combats and was pulling a camisole over her head when Maddy appeared. “What the hell happened to you?” she asked her friend, taking in the wet hair and pile of wet clothes on the bench.
“Stacie Avida.”
“Who?” Maddy asked, pulling a face.
Taylor glared at her. “DB in water tower?” she hinted.
“Oh,” Maddy frowned. “Look, she’s nothing to do with me, Taylor.”
Taylor sighed. “I guessed. But all she seems to be doing is, well, drenching me. She’s not hurting me, so she can’t be that dangerous, can she?”
“I really don’t know, Tay. The only thing is that all the spirits which need help, come to you through me, now. And the last person to see you who didn’t…” she trailed off and pointed at the cast.
Taylor slumped back against the locker, “I’m going to find out more about her.”
Maddy nodded, “I suspected you would. It’s why you became a journalist – you’re too curious for your own good.” Next to her, Ben appeared. “But don’t forget about this guy.”
Ben held out his hand. In it was a snake again. “Help me.”
Taylor nodded, resisting the urge to roll her eyes and turned back to Maddy, “You wouldn’t happen to know where any of the guys are who are on Ben’s case, would you?”
“Sheldon is with Stella in the room with the big lit up tables.” Taylor just arched an eyebrow. “What? You asked, he’s working the same case – figured I’d save you some time.”
Biting back a chuckle, Taylor shut her locker, threw her wet clothes on a radiator (which wasn’t actually on, but it would air the clothes out) and headed off in search of Stella.
“It was him.”
Taylor whirled around and found Stacie staring at her. “Hi, Stacie?” she offered cautiously.
And then the room seemed to explode in water. Taylor screamed as every toilet exploded, and every tap turned itself on, gushing water over her.
Stacie disappeared and the toilets and sinks pumped water over the floor, as if over-flowing. The door burst open and Stella and Danny burst in, guns drawn. Discovering Taylor was alone, they put their guns away and dashed over.
“What happened, Taylor?” Stella asked her, taking her jacket off and draping it over her.
Taylor looked up at her, peering out from under the hair which was now plastered to her face, “I… uh… I’m not sure. Stacie appeared, and everything exploded.”
“Stacie?”
Taylor nodded. “She’s the victim in Mac’s case.”
Stella sighed. “Alright, Danny, call maintenance and get them to look at the bathroom,” Danny nodded, patted Taylor’s shoulder, and left. “Taylor, have you got some spare clothes, or do you need to borrow some?”
Taylor shook her head, “I have some in my locker.”
Stella sighed. “You go get changed, see Mac if you need too.”
Taylor nodded and headed straight for the locker room. She had changed into a dry pair of combats and was pulling a camisole over her head when Maddy appeared. “What the hell happened to you?” she asked her friend, taking in the wet hair and pile of wet clothes on the bench.
“Stacie Avida.”
“Who?” Maddy asked, pulling a face.
Taylor glared at her. “DB in water tower?” she hinted.
“Oh,” Maddy frowned. “Look, she’s nothing to do with me, Taylor.”
Taylor sighed. “I guessed. But all she seems to be doing is, well, drenching me. She’s not hurting me, so she can’t be that dangerous, can she?”
“I really don’t know, Tay. The only thing is that all the spirits which need help, come to you through me, now. And the last person to see you who didn’t…” she trailed off and pointed at the cast.
Taylor slumped back against the locker, “I’m going to find out more about her.”
Maddy nodded, “I suspected you would. It’s why you became a journalist – you’re too curious for your own good.” Next to her, Ben appeared. “But don’t forget about this guy.”
Ben held out his hand. In it was a snake again. “Help me.”
Taylor nodded, resisting the urge to roll her eyes and turned back to Maddy, “You wouldn’t happen to know where any of the guys are who are on Ben’s case, would you?”
“Sheldon is with Stella in the room with the big lit up tables.” Taylor just arched an eyebrow. “What? You asked, he’s working the same case – figured I’d save you some time.”
Biting back a chuckle, Taylor shut her locker, threw her wet clothes on a radiator (which wasn’t actually on, but it would air the clothes out) and headed off in search of Stella.
* * *
Sure enough, Sheldon was with Stella.
“What about the blood we found in the sandbox?” Stella asked. They both looked up as Taylor approached, and smiled at her.
“Belongs to an unknown male, and I’m still waiting on results from autopsy,” Hawkes replied. “How did you do?”
Stella let out an exasperated grunt. “Ugh, we got nothing but what I think are lies from our vic’s object of affection. But I did find the next hot thing.”
“Hmmm?” Hawkes asked.
“Remember, NHT Media. It was on Ben Hatfield’s business card. Next Hot Thing. He was a trend forecaster from Madison Avenue. He wasn’t stalking Jennifer Rodriguez, he was working. They call it cool hunting.”
“I read about that,” Hawkes said thoughtfully.
“Sheldon, are you reading my articles?” Taylor asked him.
Hawkes turned and looked at her, “That was you?” Taylor nodded. “How does that relate to crime?”
“What’s hot on the plate now, is worth millions on Madison Avenue. But do you think the guys who come up with the ideas actually get any credit for it? Or even any money for it? Unless you patent, or even sell the ideas, there’s not a thing that can be done. And that’s a crime.”
Hawkes nodded, “I see.”
“It must be why he had all those pictures,” said Stella.
“Um, Ben came back. He’s still showing me a dead snake.”
“A dead snake?” Sheldon repeated.
Taylor nodded, hopeful. “Does that mean anything to you?”
Sheldon shook his head. “Should it?”
Taylor sighed, “I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry, Taylor,” said Stella. “We’ll keep it in mind.”
“I’ll find you guys later,” she told them, as she nodded in agreement. “There’s something I need to do."
“What about the blood we found in the sandbox?” Stella asked. They both looked up as Taylor approached, and smiled at her.
“Belongs to an unknown male, and I’m still waiting on results from autopsy,” Hawkes replied. “How did you do?”
Stella let out an exasperated grunt. “Ugh, we got nothing but what I think are lies from our vic’s object of affection. But I did find the next hot thing.”
“Hmmm?” Hawkes asked.
“Remember, NHT Media. It was on Ben Hatfield’s business card. Next Hot Thing. He was a trend forecaster from Madison Avenue. He wasn’t stalking Jennifer Rodriguez, he was working. They call it cool hunting.”
“I read about that,” Hawkes said thoughtfully.
“Sheldon, are you reading my articles?” Taylor asked him.
Hawkes turned and looked at her, “That was you?” Taylor nodded. “How does that relate to crime?”
“What’s hot on the plate now, is worth millions on Madison Avenue. But do you think the guys who come up with the ideas actually get any credit for it? Or even any money for it? Unless you patent, or even sell the ideas, there’s not a thing that can be done. And that’s a crime.”
Hawkes nodded, “I see.”
“It must be why he had all those pictures,” said Stella.
“Um, Ben came back. He’s still showing me a dead snake.”
“A dead snake?” Sheldon repeated.
Taylor nodded, hopeful. “Does that mean anything to you?”
Sheldon shook his head. “Should it?”
Taylor sighed, “I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry, Taylor,” said Stella. “We’ll keep it in mind.”
“I’ll find you guys later,” she told them, as she nodded in agreement. “There’s something I need to do."
* * *
Something was research – nothing new in Taylor’s books. (She was seriously thinking about asking Mac for a job, considering how much research she did for the criminalists). Taylor was sat at ‘her’ computer, scrolling through various case files. Old newspaper clippings and cases spread out over the table beside her.
An hour in, and Lindsay’s curiosity had gotten the best of her and had joined her in her work when she had spotted her after returning from Stacie’s apartment. It was pushing lunch time by the time Mac found them. Taylor looked up from the article she was pouring over. “This case is getting creepier by the minute,” she told him.
Lindsay pulled a face. “Al the previous deaths in that building have mysterious circumstances.”
“Sounds to me like you’re starting to believe in that curse,” chuckled Mac.
“Mac, I believe in the science,” Lindsay told him, ignoring the sigh from Taylor.
“Me too,” Mac agreed. “But what do you have?”
Lindsay gave him a folder. “This is what I found in Stacie Avida’s apartment.”
“Blood on the doorframe, flowers from the roof, and a used condom. Semen from the condom was a match to what we found in the vic,” Mac read. “What about the blood we found on the frame of the door?”
“A male donor, but it’s not a match to the semen,” said Lindsay. “But I found a substance on the flower consistent with mucus. That is a match to the blood.”
“But not a match to the semen. There were two male donors in her apartment. Her boyfriend, the super, didn’t have a cold – he was allergic to flowers. Murder and romance. It’s always about the little things.” He turned to Taylor, “Did you find anything else?”
“Not yet, but I’ll keep on looking. I’m going to get some lunch first. Would either of you care to join me?” Taylor offered, getting to her feet.
“I’m afraid not,” Mac said, “I’m going to bring the Super in.”
“I’m going to carry on working,” Lindsay told her.
Taylor nodded and headed towards the door. “Oh,” she said, stopping and turning, ‘Stacie seems pretty adamant that he did it. So I’m thinking your suspect is a male.” She disappeared out of the door before either of the CSIs could comment.
She made her way down the corridor on a mission to find Danny. She knew he often thought with his stomach, and was probably hungry himself. She almost ran into him as he walked out of one of the labs.
“Where’s the fire, Drew?”
“No fire, just hungry. You game for some lunch?”
“Are you buying?”
“Isn’t it your turn?” Taylor asked him.
Danny stopped. “Is it me, or is it always my turn?”
Taylor grinned. “Damn, I was wondering how long it would take you to catch on to that.”
“I caught on a while ago. And I’ve been keeping a tab. I think buying me lunch until the end of next week will suffice,” he declared.
“Danny, its Monday!” Taylor objected.
“And?” Danny asked, innocently.
“The Messer charm may be good, but it isn’t that good!” She laughed. “Fine, lunch is on me today.”
Danny wrapped his arm around her neck. “Do not question the power of the Messer charm!” Taylor just laughed. “Right, I need to call in and see Stell first,” he told her, leading Taylor back into the AV lab, where Stella was sat at a computer.
Taylor perched on a counter behind them as she watched them work. Next to her, Maddy and Ben appeared. This time, instead of showing her a snake, he took a pen and wrote on her cast, AB0 429. Except as soon as Taylor had read it, it disappeared and Ben allowed the pen to drop to the floor as he and Maddy disappeared.
Taylor ran the numbers over in her head, wondering what they were, as she looked at Danny and Stella. Neither of them seemed to have noticed that anything had happened. “Alright, boy meets girl,” Danny was saying, flicking through the photographs. “Boy impresses girl with his pimped out ride.”
Right, well we talked to girl. Where’s boy?” Stella asked.
“I may be able to find him. See the reflection in the window?” He clicked on the reflection and enlarged it.
“AB0 429,” said Taylor.
“Can you clear it up, Danny?” asked Stella after both of them had given Taylor confused looks.
“Give me a sec. Let me enhance the resolution.” He clicked a few more buttons. “Gotcha. AB0 429. Boom!” he exclaimed, turning to face Taylor.
“Nice, Messer.” Stella also turned. “Now that is a slightly easier clue than a dead snake. Now, let’s see where that car takes us.”
Danny sent Taylor an apologetic look. “Late lunch?”
Taylor nodded miserably as her stomach gave an impatient grumble.
An hour in, and Lindsay’s curiosity had gotten the best of her and had joined her in her work when she had spotted her after returning from Stacie’s apartment. It was pushing lunch time by the time Mac found them. Taylor looked up from the article she was pouring over. “This case is getting creepier by the minute,” she told him.
Lindsay pulled a face. “Al the previous deaths in that building have mysterious circumstances.”
“Sounds to me like you’re starting to believe in that curse,” chuckled Mac.
“Mac, I believe in the science,” Lindsay told him, ignoring the sigh from Taylor.
“Me too,” Mac agreed. “But what do you have?”
Lindsay gave him a folder. “This is what I found in Stacie Avida’s apartment.”
“Blood on the doorframe, flowers from the roof, and a used condom. Semen from the condom was a match to what we found in the vic,” Mac read. “What about the blood we found on the frame of the door?”
“A male donor, but it’s not a match to the semen,” said Lindsay. “But I found a substance on the flower consistent with mucus. That is a match to the blood.”
“But not a match to the semen. There were two male donors in her apartment. Her boyfriend, the super, didn’t have a cold – he was allergic to flowers. Murder and romance. It’s always about the little things.” He turned to Taylor, “Did you find anything else?”
“Not yet, but I’ll keep on looking. I’m going to get some lunch first. Would either of you care to join me?” Taylor offered, getting to her feet.
“I’m afraid not,” Mac said, “I’m going to bring the Super in.”
“I’m going to carry on working,” Lindsay told her.
Taylor nodded and headed towards the door. “Oh,” she said, stopping and turning, ‘Stacie seems pretty adamant that he did it. So I’m thinking your suspect is a male.” She disappeared out of the door before either of the CSIs could comment.
She made her way down the corridor on a mission to find Danny. She knew he often thought with his stomach, and was probably hungry himself. She almost ran into him as he walked out of one of the labs.
“Where’s the fire, Drew?”
“No fire, just hungry. You game for some lunch?”
“Are you buying?”
“Isn’t it your turn?” Taylor asked him.
Danny stopped. “Is it me, or is it always my turn?”
Taylor grinned. “Damn, I was wondering how long it would take you to catch on to that.”
“I caught on a while ago. And I’ve been keeping a tab. I think buying me lunch until the end of next week will suffice,” he declared.
“Danny, its Monday!” Taylor objected.
“And?” Danny asked, innocently.
“The Messer charm may be good, but it isn’t that good!” She laughed. “Fine, lunch is on me today.”
Danny wrapped his arm around her neck. “Do not question the power of the Messer charm!” Taylor just laughed. “Right, I need to call in and see Stell first,” he told her, leading Taylor back into the AV lab, where Stella was sat at a computer.
Taylor perched on a counter behind them as she watched them work. Next to her, Maddy and Ben appeared. This time, instead of showing her a snake, he took a pen and wrote on her cast, AB0 429. Except as soon as Taylor had read it, it disappeared and Ben allowed the pen to drop to the floor as he and Maddy disappeared.
Taylor ran the numbers over in her head, wondering what they were, as she looked at Danny and Stella. Neither of them seemed to have noticed that anything had happened. “Alright, boy meets girl,” Danny was saying, flicking through the photographs. “Boy impresses girl with his pimped out ride.”
Right, well we talked to girl. Where’s boy?” Stella asked.
“I may be able to find him. See the reflection in the window?” He clicked on the reflection and enlarged it.
“AB0 429,” said Taylor.
“Can you clear it up, Danny?” asked Stella after both of them had given Taylor confused looks.
“Give me a sec. Let me enhance the resolution.” He clicked a few more buttons. “Gotcha. AB0 429. Boom!” he exclaimed, turning to face Taylor.
“Nice, Messer.” Stella also turned. “Now that is a slightly easier clue than a dead snake. Now, let’s see where that car takes us.”
Danny sent Taylor an apologetic look. “Late lunch?”
Taylor nodded miserably as her stomach gave an impatient grumble.
Originally posted: 04/07/2006