Samantha

Chapter Three: the bump

Agent Smith knocked on Aaron's door at 8 am the next morning, ready for the lab report. He looked up from the computer screen he had been staring at. "Oh, Smith. You here for the report?" She nodded, wondering why else she would be here for. Shepard handed her a file from the chaos on his desk.

Lila flipped open the report, settling on the arm of the only unoccupied chair in his office. Her eyes scanned the report. "What does this mean, in the blood work? This toxin, was she high at time of death?" Aaron glanced at the file on his desk.

"It's not a toxin, it's a hormone." Lila looked confused, "So what does that tell us? She was a hormonal 20 year old who was unfaithful?" Aaron rolled his eyes. "Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by pregnant women. The victim was at least 7 weeks pregnant."

Lila brushed her hair from her face. "Was there enough DNA to take a sample?" Shepard nodded. "We're gonna need a sample to match it too first," he commented. Lila sighed, "Well, let's try to boyfriend first. Then we can track down Freeman, might as well test them both."

~•~••~•~••~•~••~•~••~

Jeremy let them in when they said they were here about Samantha. They broke the news to him and he started crying. "Are you saying that I lost Samantha and the baby?" Aaron and Lila looked at each other. "Did you know she was pregnant, Jeremy?" Lila asked.

He shook his head. "Maybe that's why she wanted to break up. She knew it was his." Agent Shepard cleared his throat. "About that. The man she was with, were you aware that he was her sister Julie's boyfriend?"

Jeremy's eyes widened slightly. "Seriously? That guy?! I had no idea, he used to come over all the time. I never got his name and all Sammy told me was the guy's name. Never knew they were the same. God, Julie must be pissed."

Lila shook her head, "We believe Julie doesn't know." Jeremy frowned, "She probably doesn't. Although, Sammy did mention that Julie and her had gotten into a fight recently." Aaron wrote that down. "We'll look into that. Right now, we need a DNA sample." Jeremy's eyebrows crinkled. "For what?"

Lila leaned forward. "We need a DNA sample to see if we can match it to determine who the father of her baby was, it could help with the case." Jeremy shook his head. "Are you refusing?" Aaron asked.

Jeremy clarified. "No, you can have the sample, but it isn't me. Samantha and I hadn't...been together in over a month before we broke up." Agent Smith took the sample from Jeremy. "We have yet to determine how far along Samantha was, so the father could be either of you at this point."  Hope brightened Jeremy's eyes and Aaron looked away.

~•~••~•~••~•~••~•~••~

When they pulled into Caleb's driveway, another car was there. Lila nodded towards it. "Same make and model as the sister's, probably Julie." Aaron nodded, walking towards the door with Smith not far behind.

Julie was the one to open the door, shock registered on her face. "Officers, what are you doing here?" Lila took a step forward, "We're here to ask Caleb a few questions if you don't mind." Her left hand tucked into the pocket of her jeans. "What's this about, if you don't mind my asking?"

Agent Aaron reassured her, "Just some standard questions about the last time he saw Samantha. Nothing major." Lila's eyes narrowed slightly then she glanced into the house behind her. "May we speak with him now? In private, preferably."

Julie crossed her arms. "Why does it need to be in private if it's not major?" she asked. "Relax, Jules! It's just some questions, you heard the man." Caleb stepped out of a hallway nearby. "I apologize, i was on the phone. We can speak in here." He motioned to a set of doors nearby.

Lila cleared her throat, "Why don't you stay here with Ms. Miles while I speak with Caleb. It'd be easier." Aaron nodded and Lila walked into the room off the side with Caleb. He shut the door behind them. "So, what's up?"

Lila reached into her bag. "We need a DNA sample from you to test against Samantha's fetus." Caleb paled, "She was..pregnant?" Agent Smith nodded, "Yes, and we need to know who the father was. Hints the sample." Caleb nodded, agreeing quickly.

Outside the doors, Julie and Aaron watched eat other. Agent Aaron cleared his throat. "Samantha's boyfriend, Jeremy, said Samantha mentioned the two of you got into an argument." Julie's eyes narrowed. "That your way of asking if I killed my sister?" she asked.

Aaron shrugged, "Depends, is that your way of confessing?" She crossed her arms. "No," she said through a frown. He grinned, "Then no." She huffed, leaning against the wall. "What was the fight about?" he asked. "None of your damn business, that's what."

Agent Shepard let out a whistle, "Sure makes you look guilty." Julie rolled her eyes. "Fine! Samantha wanted to move away, some place far she said. Her and Christina are all I have left, I got mad. But I didn't fucking kill her over it!" She stormed off down the hall and disappeared around a corner. 

Lila and Caleb opened the door that led back into the hall to see Aaron alone. "Where's Jules?" Caleb asked. "I think she said she went to go to the bathroom." He turned to Lila, "You get the sample?" She nodded. "We'll let you know when the results come in."

~•~••~•~••~•~••~•~••~

Agent Aaron pulled out of the driveway while Lila stayed silent. "Get anything from her?" she asked when they were a few blocks away. "Yeah, Julie is defensive. Didn't want to tell me why they fought. Told me some bullshit story about Samantha wanting to move."

Smith looked over, "And you don't buy it?" Aaron shook his head. "Not for second." She nods. "What about Freeman, anything from him?" Lila leaned back against her seat. "I don't think he knew she was pregnant. Before, I mean. He seemed surprised.. and sad." The car was quiet for second.

"Which one of them do you think is the father?" Aaron asked. Lila signed. "No telling, " she said. "Could be either. I think both want it to be them." He glanced at her. "Even Caleb?" She nodded. "I think he really cared for her..." Aaron sighed. "Either way, someone will be disappointed." Lila nodded, looking out the window. "Someone always is."

They drove a little longer is silence, both lost in thought. Finally, Lila spoke. "I think she knows about the affair." Aaron looks over, shocked. "Who?" he asked. "Julie. At the door, she was worried, fidgety. She knows something, the question is what."