When Taylor stirred the following morning, she realised two things. Firstly, she was still in her clothes, and secondly, she wasn’t alone. And she didn’t mean Marty, who was asleep next to her, after they had spent most of the night talking.
Perched on the end of her bed, with a stupid smile on her face, was Maddy. Standing next to her was the reason for Maddy’s insane grin. Taylor nearly had a heart attack. The ghost was tall, dark, with piercing blue eyes, and a very toned body – Flack.
“Oh my God!” she cried, reaching for her glasses. They were barely on before she thankfully realised that it wasn’t him, only someone who looked like him.
Next to her, Marty woke with a start, “Wassthematter?” he slurred as he sat up. His mouth dropped open. “Is that?” he asked, pointing at the ghost.
Taylor shook her head. “It’s not him, but…” Taylor’s head whipped around, “You can see him?”
Marty looked at her and nodded slowly. “Every inch of him. Including a few inches I wasn’t expecting to see first thing in a morning.”
Taylor looked back at the body. She had been so focused on his face – making sure that he wasn’t Flack – that she hadn’t even paid attention to the rest of him. And she could indeed see the rest of him. He had a very toned, and very naked body. Taylor could feel the blood rushing to her face as she dropped her eyes and hid them behind her hand. “Oh dear lord,” she muttered in embarrassment. She could hear Maddy sniggering and shot her a death glare. “Funny how you aren’t embarrassed,” she told her darkly. Maddy just smirked at her.
“I deal with naked bodies daily, Taylor,” Marty told her, slightly confused.
Taylor shook her head, “I was talking to Maddy.”
Marty’s brow wrinkled further in confusion, “Maddy’s here?”
Taylor nodded as she rubbed her temples – she could tell this was going to get very confusing, very quickly.
“Not bad is he? Looks pretty familiar too,” Maddy wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, “So, does it all look familiar?”
“I thought it was him. He looks too similar.”
Maddy gave her a sly smirk. “Oh aye?”
“Mind out of the gutter!” Taylor exclaimed.
“Taylor, it’s a guy. My mind is nowhere near a gutter. Trust me,” Marty told her.
“I was talking to Maddy,” she reassured him.
“So you’re sleeping with Marty now?” Maddy asked her.
“I feel like I’m the ball in a tennis game,” Taylor muttered. She held up her hands, stopping both Maddy and Marty who were both about to start talking. “This is too confusing for,” she glanced at her clock. “7am in the morning?” she groaned. “Alright, let’s deal with the ghost – the naked ghost.”
“Well, I’m seeing signs a few nail scratches and bite marks,” Marty noted.
Taylor glanced at the bruising and nodded. “And he’s very clearly naked.”
“Oh yeah,” grinned Maddy.
Taylor rolled her eyes, “Well I’m thinking he died during sex.”
“Kinky sex. Now that’s a way to go,” said both Marty and Maddy.
“You two really scare me, sometimes,” Taylor muttered.
Marty grinned, “It could be worse. Well, John here has come to me, which means his COD isn’t obvious. And I can’t see any outwards sign of COD – I guess my job won’t start until the body comes to rest in the morgue.”
“How does he know he’s called John?” Maddy asked.
“He doesn’t,” Taylor told her.
“Well I’m not about to perform an autopsy on a ghost, in the middle of your bed,” said Marty.
“No, I was talking to Maddy,” Taylor groaned. “Maddy, he called him John, as in John Doe. It’s the name given to a dead body which hasn’t been identified. Marty, surely the body will be processed by Sid?”
Marty shook his head. “Not if he’s found in the next couple of hours, he won’t. Sid has an appointment this afternoon, so he swapped with me last night. In fact, I’m due in at work in an hour, so it’s a good job our ghost turned up when he did.” He got to his feet and headed to the door. “Walk in together in half an hour?”
Taylor nodded and he left. She turned her attention back to the ghosts, being careful as to where she let her eyes rest.
“Help me,” he requested.
Taylor nodded and looked at Maddy, “I know the ghosts usually appear as they died, but is there any chance you could find something for him to wear?”
Maddy rolled her eyes, “Sure. You just watch him whilst I nip into Hollister a grab him an outfit. Oh no, wait, we’re dead.”
Taylor pulled a face. “I don’t see what the problem is – you’re in a white suit. That wasn’t what you were wearing when you were died.”
“It’s the last suit I’ll ever wear.” Maddy stopped and laughed. “And now I’m going to save the world from evil aliens.” This time it was Taylor’s turn to roll her eyes. “Look, it’s not like we can get it dirty and need a new suit – we kind of just pass through the dirt. And don’t ask me how the mechanics of that work.”
Taylor sighed. “Alright, Agent M. Why don’t you take Agent J and I’ll get changed and find out if anyone has reported a homicide?”
Maddy grinned, “You’re beginning to sound like your detective friends.”
“Bye Maddy,” Taylor emphasised.
Perched on the end of her bed, with a stupid smile on her face, was Maddy. Standing next to her was the reason for Maddy’s insane grin. Taylor nearly had a heart attack. The ghost was tall, dark, with piercing blue eyes, and a very toned body – Flack.
“Oh my God!” she cried, reaching for her glasses. They were barely on before she thankfully realised that it wasn’t him, only someone who looked like him.
Next to her, Marty woke with a start, “Wassthematter?” he slurred as he sat up. His mouth dropped open. “Is that?” he asked, pointing at the ghost.
Taylor shook her head. “It’s not him, but…” Taylor’s head whipped around, “You can see him?”
Marty looked at her and nodded slowly. “Every inch of him. Including a few inches I wasn’t expecting to see first thing in a morning.”
Taylor looked back at the body. She had been so focused on his face – making sure that he wasn’t Flack – that she hadn’t even paid attention to the rest of him. And she could indeed see the rest of him. He had a very toned, and very naked body. Taylor could feel the blood rushing to her face as she dropped her eyes and hid them behind her hand. “Oh dear lord,” she muttered in embarrassment. She could hear Maddy sniggering and shot her a death glare. “Funny how you aren’t embarrassed,” she told her darkly. Maddy just smirked at her.
“I deal with naked bodies daily, Taylor,” Marty told her, slightly confused.
Taylor shook her head, “I was talking to Maddy.”
Marty’s brow wrinkled further in confusion, “Maddy’s here?”
Taylor nodded as she rubbed her temples – she could tell this was going to get very confusing, very quickly.
“Not bad is he? Looks pretty familiar too,” Maddy wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, “So, does it all look familiar?”
“I thought it was him. He looks too similar.”
Maddy gave her a sly smirk. “Oh aye?”
“Mind out of the gutter!” Taylor exclaimed.
“Taylor, it’s a guy. My mind is nowhere near a gutter. Trust me,” Marty told her.
“I was talking to Maddy,” she reassured him.
“So you’re sleeping with Marty now?” Maddy asked her.
“I feel like I’m the ball in a tennis game,” Taylor muttered. She held up her hands, stopping both Maddy and Marty who were both about to start talking. “This is too confusing for,” she glanced at her clock. “7am in the morning?” she groaned. “Alright, let’s deal with the ghost – the naked ghost.”
“Well, I’m seeing signs a few nail scratches and bite marks,” Marty noted.
Taylor glanced at the bruising and nodded. “And he’s very clearly naked.”
“Oh yeah,” grinned Maddy.
Taylor rolled her eyes, “Well I’m thinking he died during sex.”
“Kinky sex. Now that’s a way to go,” said both Marty and Maddy.
“You two really scare me, sometimes,” Taylor muttered.
Marty grinned, “It could be worse. Well, John here has come to me, which means his COD isn’t obvious. And I can’t see any outwards sign of COD – I guess my job won’t start until the body comes to rest in the morgue.”
“How does he know he’s called John?” Maddy asked.
“He doesn’t,” Taylor told her.
“Well I’m not about to perform an autopsy on a ghost, in the middle of your bed,” said Marty.
“No, I was talking to Maddy,” Taylor groaned. “Maddy, he called him John, as in John Doe. It’s the name given to a dead body which hasn’t been identified. Marty, surely the body will be processed by Sid?”
Marty shook his head. “Not if he’s found in the next couple of hours, he won’t. Sid has an appointment this afternoon, so he swapped with me last night. In fact, I’m due in at work in an hour, so it’s a good job our ghost turned up when he did.” He got to his feet and headed to the door. “Walk in together in half an hour?”
Taylor nodded and he left. She turned her attention back to the ghosts, being careful as to where she let her eyes rest.
“Help me,” he requested.
Taylor nodded and looked at Maddy, “I know the ghosts usually appear as they died, but is there any chance you could find something for him to wear?”
Maddy rolled her eyes, “Sure. You just watch him whilst I nip into Hollister a grab him an outfit. Oh no, wait, we’re dead.”
Taylor pulled a face. “I don’t see what the problem is – you’re in a white suit. That wasn’t what you were wearing when you were died.”
“It’s the last suit I’ll ever wear.” Maddy stopped and laughed. “And now I’m going to save the world from evil aliens.” This time it was Taylor’s turn to roll her eyes. “Look, it’s not like we can get it dirty and need a new suit – we kind of just pass through the dirt. And don’t ask me how the mechanics of that work.”
Taylor sighed. “Alright, Agent M. Why don’t you take Agent J and I’ll get changed and find out if anyone has reported a homicide?”
Maddy grinned, “You’re beginning to sound like your detective friends.”
“Bye Maddy,” Taylor emphasised.
* * *
Dressed in her usual attire, charcoal combats and a baby blue camisole, just under an hour later, Taylor and Marty parted. One going up and the other down, respectively. Taylor walked out onto the crime lab floor, heading straight for Mac’s office. She found him outside of his office with a man she didn’t recognise, but neither or them looked particularly happy. “Have you stopped returning phone calls?”“
“I’ve been busy,” Mac replied shortly.
“So I’ve heard,” said the man. “My client, Mr. Pratt says he’s being harassed by someone from your department.”
So he was an attorney, then?
“DJ Pratt is a suspect in an ongoing criminal investigation, but I don’t have anyone assigned to surveillance at this time,” Mac informed him.
“Are you saying my client’s making this up?” the lawyer asked in an accusatory tone.
“Your client’s a rapist, counsellor.”
Taylor frowned, completely confused as to what she had just walked in on.
“You’ve turned this into a personal vendetta, haven’t you?” the attorney pressed.
“It’s not a vendetta, it’s my job,” Mac corrected him.
You tell him, Mac, Taylor thought.
“Let me remind you of something, Detective. You’ve already gone down this road twice before, and both times you hit a dead end. In the first case your victim wouldn’t testify, and second you had no evidence,” the lawyer informed him.
“You know what they say about the third time,” Taylor piped up – she couldn’t just stand there and let this man have a go at Mac, even though Mac was more than perfectly capable of standing his own ground. Both men turned to look at her.
“I’m filing a civilian complaint of malicious prosecution,” the attorney told Mac, after glaring at Taylor.
“You do that,” Mac told him. “Are we done?”
“For now,” the lawyer nodded.
“Good, then get the hell out of my building,” Mac ordered, managing to keep his voice controlled and calm. The attorney gave him one last glare before walking off.
“Is everything alright?” Taylor asked.
Mac sighed, “Just one lawyer doing nothing to help clear the image that they are nothing more than sharks. Is there something I can help you with, Taylor?” he asked her, not answering her question.
Taylor noticed this, but didn’t press. Mac wouldn’t tell her anything if he didn’t want to, anyway. “I don’t suppose you have a new case involving someone who died naked?”
Mac gave her a funny look, “If it wasn’t for the fact I actually do, I would be very worried about that question.”
Taylor bit her lip, “Any chance I could tag along?”
“Is this the point where you tell me that another ghost turned up?” Mac asked wearily.
“Um, yeah?” she offered.
Mac sighed, “You wear glo-”
“Gloves, don’t touch anything, and do exactly as I’m told,” Taylor finished for him, reciting it as if it was a poem she had learnt at school.
Mac nodded. “We’re meeting Flack and Lindsay there,” he told her before setting off towards the elevator.
Taylor watched his back, feeling the small knot tighten in her stomach. She was hoping she could have gone a little longer in avoiding Flack. Trying to ignore that feeling, she followed after Mac.
“I’ve been busy,” Mac replied shortly.
“So I’ve heard,” said the man. “My client, Mr. Pratt says he’s being harassed by someone from your department.”
So he was an attorney, then?
“DJ Pratt is a suspect in an ongoing criminal investigation, but I don’t have anyone assigned to surveillance at this time,” Mac informed him.
“Are you saying my client’s making this up?” the lawyer asked in an accusatory tone.
“Your client’s a rapist, counsellor.”
Taylor frowned, completely confused as to what she had just walked in on.
“You’ve turned this into a personal vendetta, haven’t you?” the attorney pressed.
“It’s not a vendetta, it’s my job,” Mac corrected him.
You tell him, Mac, Taylor thought.
“Let me remind you of something, Detective. You’ve already gone down this road twice before, and both times you hit a dead end. In the first case your victim wouldn’t testify, and second you had no evidence,” the lawyer informed him.
“You know what they say about the third time,” Taylor piped up – she couldn’t just stand there and let this man have a go at Mac, even though Mac was more than perfectly capable of standing his own ground. Both men turned to look at her.
“I’m filing a civilian complaint of malicious prosecution,” the attorney told Mac, after glaring at Taylor.
“You do that,” Mac told him. “Are we done?”
“For now,” the lawyer nodded.
“Good, then get the hell out of my building,” Mac ordered, managing to keep his voice controlled and calm. The attorney gave him one last glare before walking off.
“Is everything alright?” Taylor asked.
Mac sighed, “Just one lawyer doing nothing to help clear the image that they are nothing more than sharks. Is there something I can help you with, Taylor?” he asked her, not answering her question.
Taylor noticed this, but didn’t press. Mac wouldn’t tell her anything if he didn’t want to, anyway. “I don’t suppose you have a new case involving someone who died naked?”
Mac gave her a funny look, “If it wasn’t for the fact I actually do, I would be very worried about that question.”
Taylor bit her lip, “Any chance I could tag along?”
“Is this the point where you tell me that another ghost turned up?” Mac asked wearily.
“Um, yeah?” she offered.
Mac sighed, “You wear glo-”
“Gloves, don’t touch anything, and do exactly as I’m told,” Taylor finished for him, reciting it as if it was a poem she had learnt at school.
Mac nodded. “We’re meeting Flack and Lindsay there,” he told her before setting off towards the elevator.
Taylor watched his back, feeling the small knot tighten in her stomach. She was hoping she could have gone a little longer in avoiding Flack. Trying to ignore that feeling, she followed after Mac.
* * *
John Doe was actually Scott Rivers and he was found in a hotel in Little Italy by Lucinda Garner when she woke up next to him. Short of looking upset, Lucinda seemed remarkably calm, her hair and make-up immaculate. She was dressed in an oyster silk robe, which really left little to the imagination, and was currently flirting with Flack who was interviewing her. “You have such a strong resemblance to Scott.”
“How well did you know Scott?” Flack asked.
Lucinda shrugged, her robe slipping slightly. “Well enough to be intimate. Why? Would you like to get to know me?” Mac coughed, and Lucinda threw what she clearly thought was a dazzling smile – well, perfect white teeth and it wasn’t hard to not be a dazzling smile – turning her attention to the senior CSI. “Lucinda Garner,” she held out her hand, which Mac took.
“Interesting scratch marks,” he noted, taking the hand to stretch out the arm and look at the markings.
Lucinda shrugged, again her robe slipping, ‘Scott is a very… fierce… lover. But don’t worry – I left my own markings,” she informed them with a coy smile.
“She hasn’t stopped since we got here.”
Taylor turned and found Lindsay standing just behind her, fingerprint dust in one hand, duster in the other. “She looks… fine, considering she awoke to find her lover dead next to her.”
Lindsay nodded. “You should have seen her drape herself over Flack when we arrived.”
“What is she claiming happened?” Taylor asked, curious.
“They got in the room around eleven, had something to drink, had sex, passed out. When she awoke in the morning, he was dead.” Lindsay let out a sigh, “I hate printing hotels. There are so many prints, and usually, only a few will be of any use. I’m going to carry on.”
Taylor nodded and stood back, watching as Mac and Lindsay processed the room, and Flack continued interviewing Lucinda. Maddy and Scott never appeared, but, to Taylor’s dismay, the green-eyed monster did make an appearance.
“How well did you know Scott?” Flack asked.
Lucinda shrugged, her robe slipping slightly. “Well enough to be intimate. Why? Would you like to get to know me?” Mac coughed, and Lucinda threw what she clearly thought was a dazzling smile – well, perfect white teeth and it wasn’t hard to not be a dazzling smile – turning her attention to the senior CSI. “Lucinda Garner,” she held out her hand, which Mac took.
“Interesting scratch marks,” he noted, taking the hand to stretch out the arm and look at the markings.
Lucinda shrugged, again her robe slipping, ‘Scott is a very… fierce… lover. But don’t worry – I left my own markings,” she informed them with a coy smile.
“She hasn’t stopped since we got here.”
Taylor turned and found Lindsay standing just behind her, fingerprint dust in one hand, duster in the other. “She looks… fine, considering she awoke to find her lover dead next to her.”
Lindsay nodded. “You should have seen her drape herself over Flack when we arrived.”
“What is she claiming happened?” Taylor asked, curious.
“They got in the room around eleven, had something to drink, had sex, passed out. When she awoke in the morning, he was dead.” Lindsay let out a sigh, “I hate printing hotels. There are so many prints, and usually, only a few will be of any use. I’m going to carry on.”
Taylor nodded and stood back, watching as Mac and Lindsay processed the room, and Flack continued interviewing Lucinda. Maddy and Scott never appeared, but, to Taylor’s dismay, the green-eyed monster did make an appearance.
Originally posted 14/07/2006