Page 27 of Unraveling Connections

“Hey guys,” one of the techs say’s as we walk through the door. “What can I do for you?”

“This is from a crime scene that we were working,” I say as I hand over the evidence bag. “I’ve also sent over some pictures of some tire tracks that I was hoping you guys could work your magic on and tell me what car they come from?”

The tech smiles, “Sure, we can do that. Do you need a rush put on it?”

I think about it for a moment, we know that the blood is Luc’s moms, that is pretty obvious so the only thing we’re doing by getting analysed is confirming that is the case. The tire tracks are not really going to be any help to us unless we have something to compare it to that links it to the mystery person that was in the house.

With this in mind I shake my head, “No, I think we are good. Just get to it when you get the chance.”

“Got it,” the tech replies.

“Thanks,” Peter adds, and we turn around, heading back out of the lab.

Instead of heading back to the guys so that we can finally start heading home, Peter and I head in the other direction so that we can find Emmerson. I am assuming that she is in her lab, since that is her favourite place to be here but if not then we can find her in the dorm side of the building which is this way as well.

Pushing the door to her lab open I frown, as I look around at the mess, I haven’t known Emmerson for very long, but this seems out of character, “Is it usually like this?”

Peter frowns, looking worried, “No, she usually keeps things immaculate, she says that she has no hope of finding anything ever again if she doesn’t.”

“I think it’s to be expected when you’re grieving,” I reply.

Peter hums but doesn’t reply as he shuts the door again and we head further down the hallway. Both of us figuring that if she is not here then she must be in the dorms.

A figure moving quickly toward us with her hood up gains my attention, and just as she goes to move past us, I realize who it is.

“Emmerson?” I ask.

She comes to a halt and looks up, giving me a shaky smile. She has got dark circles under her eyes and looks like she has not been taking care of herself, but she smiled.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you guys.” She says.

“That’s okay,” Pete replies, “we had to drop some evidence off at the lab and thought we’d come and check on you.”

Peter opens his arms, and Emmerson practically melts into him, her back shaking as she begins to cry. I grab onto them both and hug them tightly. We stand in the middle of the hallway, hugging her for as long as she needs us to.

Eventually, she moves back and wipes her eyes, looking slightly embarrassed, “Sorry, it’s been a rough few days.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine. Is there anything that we can do?” I ask.

She shakes her head, “No, but I really appreciate you guys coming to check on me. It seriously means a lot.”

“Of course, we’d check on you,” Peter replies.

We talk for a little bit longer before she starts to seem like she is getting a bit twitchy.

“Where are you headed?” Peter asks, seeing the same thing I am.

She hesitates, and then replies, “To my lab.”

“We’ll walk you; we need to head back that way anyway,” I reply with a smile, she nods but doesn’t reply and I wonder if it’s because of the condition her lab is in, I would’ve hoped that she would realize that we’d never judge her, especially not in this situation.

The walk back toward her lab is weirdly tense and the vibes are definitely coming from her, as I give Pete a questioning look and he just shrugs in reply, seemingly at as much of a loss as I am about the sudden change in her behaviour.

The closer we get to her lab, the more agitated and twitchier she seems to become, and I am convinced it is because of the messy lab, although it seems a little bit extreme. When we get to it, she stops outside the door and doesn’t open it like she usually would, as she looks at us awkwardly.

“Need a hand with anything?” Peter asks, “If I can help I will.”

Emmerson quickly shakes her head back and forth, “No, I'm good. Like I said before, thank you for checking in on me.”

---