Chapter 1

My name is Kacie James. I live in Miami, Florida. I've lived in Miami all my life. My dad David was a detective for the Miami Dade Police Department (MDPD). Dad and Mom (Ellie) were killed in a car crash when I was nine and my sister Brittany was a year old. Dad's partner Horatio Caine adopted us since we had no living relatives. Papa (that's what Britt and I call Horatio) took being our adoptive father very seriously. He made sure we were always fed, clothed and getting good grades. Papa was very happy and a little precautious when I told him I was going to school to become a police detective/Crime Scene Investigator. I'm a CSI Level 3. I should tell you about everyone else. First, we have Horatio. He's my boss as well as my adoptive father. Papa is the CSI Supervisor, and he is a Lieutenant. His specialities are Arson and Explosives. Next, we have Calleigh Duquesne. She is a detective (like me) and her rank is Sergeant. She's the adoptive mom to Patty and Austin North. Her specialty is Ballistics. Eric Delko (CSI Level 3) is Calleigh's boyfriend, adoptive dad to Patty and Austin and my adoptive uncle (Papa was married to Eric's sister Marisol before she died). His specialties are Tire tracks, Fingerprints, Drug ID, and Diving/Water Rescue and Recovery. Next, we have Ryan Wolfe. He's my best friend (but I like him more than a best friend). His specialties are Trace, DNA and AV. He's a CSI Level 3. Natalia Boa Vista is one of my best girlfriends (Calleigh being the other). Her specialty is DNA and she's a CSI Level 2. Walter Simmons is our CSI Level 1. Ryan showed him the ropes of being a CSI. Walter's specialties are Art Theft and Toxins. Frank Tripp is our homicide detective, and his rank is Sergeant. His specialties are Warrants, Paper Trails and Background Checks. Yelina Salas is Papa's sister-in-law, and she is a private detective. Brittany James is my little sister. She was born on July 18th,1989, a day after my eighth birthday (July 17th,1981). She doesn't remember our parents, but I tell her about them. She's a student at the University of Miami. Raymond Caine Jr. is Yelina's son, Papa's nephew and my sister's best friend. Raymond Caine Sr., Papa's brother, was killed. Kyle Harmon is Britt's other best friend and Papa's son which means Kyle is my adoptive brother. He's a soldier stationed in Afghanistan. Britt and Kyle video chat when Kyle video chats with Papa. I sometimes video chat with him, too.

I forgot to tell you my specialties in the CSI lab. My specialties are Trace, DNA, AV, Drug ID, and Fingerprints.

Anyway, on with the story.