#hdns

Ross nodded in agreement, adjusting the pins on the board. He said, “She's Annika Hartburry, the town treasure.” Ross started pacing across the floor as a part of his normal practice in solving a puzzle. Aside from the social hierarchy and actual labor of the job, Ross found the detective work particularly fascinating. The process aligned with how his brain worked or at least that’s how Miranda, his former boss at the Oasis Springs precinct, described it. The only issue was that he wasn’t able to prove exactly how his brained work or how incredible he truly was in the process because he was entirely unlikeable at the Windenburg Precinct. He was a laid-back beach boy with no place in a competitive job market like Windenburg. He continued, “Well, if it isn't the Captain's daughter, herself---”

Jackson turned his head at the sound of the front door opening. He grinned, “Welcome back.” Confused, Ross turned his head and eventually came to a sigh of relief that the two could take a break from talking about cases because Valentina was there.

“Thanks, Jack,” Valentina said, winking. She threw her keys into the side arm chair and put her jacket on the coat rack. Though she hadn’t been back since the holidays, the smell of freshly brewed coffee always made her feel like home.

Ross let out a chuckle, saying “Psh, nice outfit.”

Valentina grabbing a cup of coffee called out to Ross over her shoulder. “Shut up,” She said.

“Maybe you do want to change though before he gets back,” Jackson suggested, “It's not exactly the image you usually keep around your father.”

Valentina sighed, nodding in agreement, “Yeah, you're right. I'll be back in a second.” She set down her mug and followed the hallway into one of the side conference rooms. Thankfully, she had left a spare drawer of some of her old clothes from all the nights she had to stay at the precinct, waiting for her father to finish a case. She shuddered at the memory of her teenage self, falling asleep on broken office chairs, just waiting for a hot meal.  Valentina opened the dark drawer to her various sets of pressed skirts and knit sweaters with a deep sigh.

As she walked back into the main workroom from the side office, her ears were overthrown with the sounds of young men arguing like children. Ross finally exclaimed with a raised eyebrow, “Alright, so she was with the boyfriend. You think, he did it?”

Taking a sip of her mug, Valentina snarkily interjected, “Well, any decent cop knows that the boyfriend should be your number one suspect.”

Jackson turned his head back to the newly emerged Valentina, “Maybe I like a challenge, but that just seems too easy. As a girl with the brains you have, you have to know that you have to treat the victim like a suspect.”

Valentina furrowed her brow, putting her chin on her knuckles. Valentina repeated, “Victim like a suspect? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?” She set her mug down once again, befuddled, as she walked over to join the two staring at the board.

Ross chuckled, “No, we don't prosecute them or anything. You just have to be able to get inside their head so you can find their enemies.”

Valentina nodded slowly, catching on. She muttered,  “...or the reasons for them.”

Jackson shook his head and smiled at the ground, saying, “Exactly.”

Ross cleared his throat, “Well, you have to do a little more than just say it and actually do the work...it’s not really a case for kids.”

Valentina rolled her eyes and put her hand on his arm with a smirk, saying, “Oh, come on, I can handle a little CSI or two. I'm not as innocent as I look.”

Ross uncomfortably paused for a moment, swallowing. Ross, then sighed, going to grab another coffee. He called out over his shoulder, “CSI? See, you're already not cut out for it if you think this is anything like a tv show.”

Valentina crossed her arms and turned to Jackson with pleading eyes, “That's not what I meant. At least give me a chance. What’s your theory?”

Jackson smiled, “My theory is a suicide. It was their anniversary and we all know the Windenburg community has been creepily watching their relationship since they were like twelve. Maybe he was going to do something big like tie the knot and she couldn't bear the pressure.”

     “And the doctors haven't come back with anything from the bodies yet?” Valentina asked.

      Ross pursed his lips, shaking his head. “Nope and get this,” he said, “No trace of the weapon either. So, we're just left to speculate for now.”

Jackson nodded, “Suicide or not this had to be planned out. Not one cop out on the field today can find a trace of what the weapon could be.”

        Ross interjected, “That's not the case if it was an accident. Say our killer is inexperienced, like I don't know, her boyfriend!!” Running his hand through his asphalt colored locks, he continued, “That little bastard is barely legal so the likelihood of him being a raging serial killer is slim. They were in a fight and they met there to talk. It only got more sour and their little teen hormones were too intense and he takes it out on her.”

Jackson laughed, trying to avoid the ridiculous theory entirely, but Valentina stayed to listen. She tilted her head and asked, “He instantly regrets it and then what?”

“Well, he's young and afraid, “ Ross reasoned, “He wouldn't turn himself in.He just carries the weapon with him and gets the hell out...” Ross’s charcoal voice was interrupted by the creak of the Chief’s office door opening. Raising his eyebrows, Mr. Rodriguez looked over at his daughter standing in the station hallway.

Shocked, all Valentina could let out was a quiet, “Dad.”