CSI Texas

Chapter Eight

Alan proceeded to explain the shift schedule, his tone clear yet professional as they walked side by side down the corridor. “You’ll start the night shift tomorrow for twelve hours for five nights,” he said, briefly glancing at Victoria to gauge her reaction. “Then you’ll switch to day shifts for the following week also for five, now the days, and — this is a bit untypical — we give everyone a three-day break between shift rotations. Helps with rest and avoids burnout.”
Victoria nodded slowly, absorbing the information. The twelve-hour night shifts sounded intense, but the promise of a recovery period afterward eased her apprehension. “That sounds manageable,” she replied, her voice steady, though her fingers fidgeted slightly with the strap of her handbag.
She was dressed in a tailored navy blouse with subtle silver buttons, the sleeves rolled up to her forearms. Her beige slacks were slightly wrinkled from the move, but she wore them with an effortless grace. She adjusted the strap of her worn leather handbag again, more from nerves than discomfort, her gaze flickering around the modern facility.
They turned a corner and entered a wider hallway that buzzed with low chatter and movement. Alan led her toward the locker rooms and employee lounge area. The space was vibrant, filled with the low hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter. Several staff members sat on couches or leaned against counters, chatting casually as they waited for the night shift to begin.
Alan smiled and raised his voice just slightly. “Hey, everyone! I want you to meet our new colleague, Victoria Stewart, all the way from Phoenix.”
Victoria felt her heart quicken as all eyes turned toward her. She smiled and offered a light wave, her posture straight but relaxed. “Hi,” she said, her voice bright but cautious.
Alan gestured to a woman seated at the edge of a round table. “This is Kelly Malley. She focuses on weapons analysis, but she also does trace evidence and some DNA work.”
Kelly, who had short curly auburn hair and wore a deep green zip-up fleece over black jeans, stood up and approached. “Welcome aboard! It’s fantastic to have another woman here,” she said warmly, offering Victoria a firm handshake. There was something genuine in her gaze that instantly made Victoria feel more at ease.
“Next, we’ve got Alex Thomas,” Alan continued, indicating a tall woman with a measured expression and sleek dark hair tied back into a ponytail. She wore dark slacks and a pressed white lab coat over a grey turtleneck. “She’s our top medical examiner. If it’s medical, she’s your go-to.”
Alex stepped forward and extended a hand. “Nice to meet you, Victoria,” she said with a slight smile. Her tone was calm, and her handshake confident.
“Then there’s Steven Tailor,” Alan said, motioning toward a younger man in a light grey hoodie and dark jeans, who leaned casually against a counter. “He handles unexplained evidence, DNA, and anything audio or visual.”
Steven gave a friendly nod. “Glad to meet you! You’ll fit right in here,” he said, his laid-back demeanor infectious.
“And here’s Rico Valdez,” Alan added, pointing to a man with slightly tousled hair and a rugged, easygoing presence. He wore a dark blue flannel over a black T-shirt and cargo pants. “He’s our expert in vehicles, diving, animal traces, insects — you name it.”
Rico grinned and gave her a fist-on-heart salute. “If you ever need help with anything, I’m your guy.”
Alan’s tone shifted slightly more formal as he gestured toward a man standing at the back of the room. “And finally, our detective lieutenant from homicide, Chris Goffin.”
Chris wore a crisp button-down and dark trousers. His expression was unreadable, his arms crossed as he gave her a curt nod. “Hi,” he said, in a tone that suggested polite distance.
Victoria returned the nod with a composed smile, reminding herself that earning trust sometimes took time.
Alan checked his watch and addressed the group. “Okay, shift’s starting. Kelly and Rico, you’re our main presenters tonight. Steven, you’ll work with Chris. If anything comes up, Alex knows what to do.”
He turned to Victoria. “Tomorrow, we start your training. For today, I’ll show you around the department — labs, offices, and if we’ve got time, the morgue. Alex is the queen down there.”
“Sounds good, Alan,” Rico chimed in, already making his way toward the hallway.
They exited the lounge and returned to the front reception area. Victoria walked beside Alan, feeling the hum of activity all around them. To the left, she caught glimpses through glass walls into several specialized labs— chemical testing, audio analysis, DNA, and a room with a large projection screen. The ballistic room sat at the end of the hallway, filled with neatly labeled evidence drawers and equipment.
Alan walked with a confident gait, his hands casually in his pockets as he pointed things out. “Each of these rooms is run by someone from the team. They’ll walk you through the processes during training.”
Victoria nodded, absorbing every detail. Her earlier nerves had begun to fade, replaced by a growing sense of purpose.
They reached the elevators with sleek, brushed-metal doors. “This leads to the morgue and the second floor,” Alan explained, pressing the button. “Upstairs you’ve got HR, accounting, and the psychologist’s office. That’s also where the homicide unit is headquartered, along with more lab and admin personnel.” As the elevator doors opened with a soft chime, Alan added, “You’ll find that we don’t work alone here. It’s a network of specialists. When we hit something unfamiliar — and it happens more than you'd think — we collaborate. Otherwise, none of us would leave here before the next shift started.”
Victoria smiled at that. “It’s good to know it’s not all on one person’s shoulders.”
“Exactly,” Alan said, giving her a sidelong glance. “We work hard, but we take care of each other too.”
She followed him into the elevator, feeling the faint vibration as it began to rise. Her reflection shimmered slightly in the brushed metal walls, and she adjusted the strap of her handbag again, smoothing a wrinkle from her blouse.
The sense of stepping into a new chapter — challenging, yes, but promising — settled deep in her chest.