Chapter Text
Past
“Caitlyn, you must never let your guard down for anyone. Keep that mask on if you want to be normal. I know you have these urges, but you are only to act on these urges if they fit the code. There’s going to be a lot of bad people out there, but you can’t get everyone. But if the opportunity presents itself, give them the—” Cassandra's breathing hitched, “—Justice that they rightfully deserve.”
“I understand Mother” Caitlyn reached out— “Don’t let them give me more morphine, I’m not in pain-” Caitlyn glared at the nurse, though her expression was unreadable.
“Hello Cassandra, are you ready for your next dose—” Caitlyn shot up, grabbing the nurse's wrists “She doesn’t need another dose, she's fine.”
The nurse ignored her words, Caitlyn gripped the nurse's arm. “I said she doesn’t need another dose.” The nurse looked back and jolted out of her grasp. She walked out glaring. “I’ll deal with this Mother” After a few more reassurances, she made her way out of the hospital room. Jayce trudged beside her “Hey Cait, what did you guys talk abou—” he flinched. Her words cut through the air “It was nothing Jayce. Just making sure Mother can enjoy what little time she has left” He frowned “Alright, I trust you”
⚠
Present
“Cait— Hey Caitlyn, you’re looking at the coffee machine like it insulted Mom” Jayce raised his eyebrows. “Oh- sorry, Just got stuck in my head there for a minute, I have to get the lab report back to Mel.” She grabbed her cup of coffee and ran back to her lab, before she could manage to look at the results two loud voices echoed through the other side of the lab. “Kiramman! How's that report going? Are you up to no good again?” Ah Jinx. The younger officer always had it out for her.
It made her wonder if she knew has seen through the mask Caitlyn had been putting on from the beginning. “I was about to—” she was interrupted by another voice, “Overworking yourself again Cait?” Viktor, the lead forensic scientist, and Caitlyn swore he had a thing going on with Jayce.
“Hardly, just making up for the lack of work that’s currently happening. Have you talked to Jayce yet?” It’s as if on queue Viktor clamped his mouth shut and strode into his own cubicle. How interesting. Definitely going to bug Jayce about that later. After dropping the report to Mel's office, it was time for scouting.
⚠
Music filled the air, the sound of laughter lightened the mood of the streets; it was a friday night after all. She found herself eating ice cream, to cool down from the humid heat. But her eyes caught her target, Salo.
An orchestrator for the Miami Choir by day, murdering innocent boys by night. As the performance came to an end she entered the back of his car. Silently waiting for her prey. The car door shifted. Good he’s here. She grabbed her garrote and strangled him enough to restrain him, but also leaving him struggling to breathe.
“Listen. You’re mine now. So you’re going to do as I say. Now drive.” The air, once warming, began to cool. “Turn here” Caitlyn removed the garrote from his neck, “We’re here.” She opened the driver's door, grabbing his neck. Thud. He hit the ground with the wire wrapped around his neck.
Silence. It was always so nice for Caitlyn, she began to think about how she was going to Kill Salo. Those boys deserved justice for what he’d done.Though her thoughts were conveniently interrupted. “What do you want from me?” the analyst knitted her eyebrows “I want you to look at what you’ve done.” The orchestrator could barely look at their skeletons.
“No… I can’t” frustration started to boil “I said look at them” she grasped his neck forcing him to look to the side “I said look or I’ll slit your eyelids myself.” He reluctantly looked with guilt, remorse even. “I’m sorry, I-I’m sorry” She focused on Salo “Oh good, you’re begging, is that what you had them do as well? Beg?” Tears started to well, Great now time for the water works. “I couldn’t help myself, you don't understand I get these urges.” Pathetic. She started prepping her syringe, “You know, I can’t help myself either. I get those urges too, but never children.”
She inserted the syringe through his neck tranquilizing him. She started to prep the empty room; filled with plastic wrap, Caitlyn laid Salo out, undressing him, wrapping him in saran wrap from head to the lower abdomen. She laid her equipment out, as the ritual began, she collected a sample of his blood; meticulously placing the blood sample on the table next to her tools, she grinned. “Now where were we?” The reciprocating saw started buzzing and blood started to gush, his bones started to crack, each cut screaming louder and louder. But no one could hear Salo’s screams, only Caitlyn heard them and she enjoyed every minute of it.
Once she finished with Salo she packed his remains in reinforced hefty bags while putting rocks in the bag to ensure that the body does not resurface. Time to drop him off. The morning breeze felt refreshing, heading to the dock seemed mandatory from the weather. She boarded her boat concealing the remains of Salo in a hidden compartment of her boat.
Various sailors passed by, unaware of what cargo lay beneath the Kiramman boat. She made small talk as they drifted past.
Once she was far enough from the bay, she tipped the weight overboard. The water swallowed his body whole.
The way it disappeared beneath the surface reminded her of something smaller.
Monsters. That’s all she could call them.
Though Caitlyn knew she was one too—just a very neat one.
⚠
Past
“Caitlyn. Our neighbor's dog went missing. Did you happen to know anything about that? What happened to Hiemerdinger?”
She looked up “I don’t know, maybe he ran away or something.”
“Cait, I found the Grave, and I saw bones and they weren’t just Hiem’s.” Her mother looked worried more than concerned.
“What else was I supposed to do, Dad was sick and he hasn’t been able to get any sleep because of that dog, he just keeps on yapping and barking at every leaf that passes by the street!” She didn’t understand what she did wrong, if anything she helped her Dad get better, he was able to sleep and recover better since that dog was gone.
⚠
Present
The door opened as she entered her apartment she unscrewed her air conditioner unit and pulled out a brown box. Upon being opened she ran her fingers through the previous blood slides from earlier kills. Caitlyn placed the fresh blood slide in the brown box and ran her fingers through the slides. So rewarding.
She screwed the bolts of the air conditioner back to the wall. Caitlyn opened her laptop to look at the database to find anyone who would fit the criteria of the code. A sudden buzz interrupted her search from her next victim frustration began to boil but it dissipated as soon as she checked the caller ID ‘Violet’ “Hello?” Caitlyn continued her search. “Hey cupcake, are you busy tonight?”
“No, not particularly did you have something in mind?” She scrolled through the database looking over names for possible targets.
“I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight?” She heard a sense of hope in Vi’s voice. I guess this could wait.
“I’ll be right over.” She closed her laptop and put on a loose fitted black long sleeve shirt with high waist jeans, and walked out the door.
⚠
Past
“Caitlyn Do you ever get urges to kill bigger things? Not animals but humans?” Her mothers gaze hardened.
“Yes. Why?” Caitlyn met her mothers stare, but there were no emotions behind her eyes.
“Have you killed anyone?” Cassandra bit her lip as she waited for her daughters answer
“No.” she answered flatly.
“Why not?” Her mother arched her brow
“Because you and Father wouldn’t approve.” Cassandra sighed with relief
⚠
The drive wasn’t far, but it didn’t stop old memories from coming with each red light. Caitlyn walked to the door and rang the doorbell. The smell of perfectly cooked salmon with a side of spring mix filled the air. Vi greeted her at the door. “Hey cupcake. Dinner’s ready!” That damn nickname. Caitlyn didn't understand why Vi had given her that nickname. Vi insisted that she was sweet like a cupcake when in reality she is the furthest thing away from being sweet.
The clink of silverware was the only sound in the kitchen, bouncing off the walls like an echo from a different life. Dinner was quiet. It always was— until Vi spoke.
“How was work today? Anything new?”
Vi’s voice had that softness that made Caitlyn pause— gentle, curious. The kind of question meant to draw someone closer. The kind of question people ask when they still believe there’s something real under the surface.
“Nothing to note,” Caitlyn replied with a small smile. “Just more blood spatter to analyze. Same old, same old.”
Vi laughed. “You make that sound so normal.”
“It is normal. For me,” Caitlyn said, casually cutting into her chicken. “Blood tells a story. You just have to know how to read it.”
Vi tilted her head, amused but slightly concerned. “Does that ever get to you? All the stories it tells?”
“No,” Caitlyn said, her voice steady. “You learn to compartmentalize.”
Vi reached for her wine. “Jinx stopped by earlier. Said you’ve been... acting weird.”
Caitlyn’s mind stilled Jinx? even as she kept her expression composed.
Of course Jinx had something to say.
The detective had been circling her for weeks now— too close, too curious. She watched Caitlyn like she already knew what was underneath the surface, like she was waiting for her to slip.
“She thinks everyone is acting weird,” Caitlyn said lightly. “She just doesn’t like that I don’t rise to her bait.”
Vi gave her a look, hesitant. “She notices things. She’s good at that.”
Caitlyn tilted her head. “You talk about her like you know her.”
Vi didn’t answer right away. “...We’ve crossed paths”
Something about her tone was off. Guarded.
“She watches you too,” Caitlyn said, watching closely for a reaction. “I’ve seen it.”
Vi looked down at her plate. “It’s complicated.”
That was vague. Too vague. And it echoed something Caitlyn couldn’t ignore. A feeling that something wasn’t lining up.
⚠
Past
Jayce had flagged her down in the hallway one afternoon, halfway between a precinct meeting and a broken vending machine.
“Cait— hang on. You’ve gotta meet someone.”
He dragged her across the room to a woman with a lazy grin, toned arms, and the kind of energy that seemed like it could break bones or bake bread, depending on the mood.
“This is Vi,” Jayce said. “Friend of mine. Helped me out years ago when I was still screwing up regularly.”
“Still screwing up,” Vi had added, offering her hand.
Caitlyn shook it, noting the warmth, the strength. She didn’t know what she’d expected—but it wasn’t this. Jayce smiled like he was proud of the match-up.
“Try not to scare her off,” he joked.
Caitlyn remembered watching Vi walk away later that night, something about her lingering longer in her mind than she’d expected.
⚠
What Jayce hadn’t said?
That Vi had a sister.
That her sister was Jinx.