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“Welcome to the team, Gen, you can imagine how grateful we are to have you with us,” head of the Forensic team, Special Agent Shane McCutcheon said with a smile, “I hope you find working here pleasant. Please do let me know if you need anything at all.” Gen followed Shane into a large glass office, a mahogany table sat in the middle complete with a computer and shelves adorning the walls. “Make yourself at home, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the team in a bit,” Shane said, “And please, call me Shane. No need for the Special Agent McCutcheon stuff, alright? I’ll leave you to get comfortable and I’ll see you in the conference room in about ten? It’s down the hall.” As Shane walked out of the office, Gen settled into her new surroundings. Her new team leader seemed nice enough, Gen thought, the day is always full of surprises.

“Gen Taylor, I would like to introduce you to Agent Cadence Knight and Doctor Dana Fairbanks. We don’t usually go by titles here, so please just feel free to call them Cadence and Dana,” Shane added with a smile, “We’re like a small family here and although it’s not a very big team, we work very efficiently together.” Cadence extended a hand in welcome, “Glad to have you on board with us, Gen.” “Alright guys, we don’t have too much time for pleasantries, we have the profiling team coming in at about 9:30am to meet our new star anthropologist,” Shane said proudly before turning to Gen, “I’m sure you’ve read the case files and know more or less who, or rather, what we’re dealing with. I’m sure you’ll have a better feel of things once we all have been briefed by the profilers of their latest findings.” Gen decided to quickly run back to her office to grab her notebook.

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“Bette, you have all the case files and findings? I’m sure Special Agent McCutcheon wants all the information briefed thoroughly,” Helena Peabody, head of the FBI profilers, reminded Bette. Agent Tasha Williams and Agent Lara Perkins followed closely behind them into the large conference room at the forensics headquarters. “Helena, good to see you today,” Shane greeted. Helena smiled a half-smile and took a seat opposite Shane. “So where is this new anthropologist you were raving about?” Helena asked quizzically. As Bette took a seat next to Helena, her files slipped from her hands and she had to get down to pick up the scattered papers as she saw a pair of familiar feet step into the room from under the table.

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Gen walked into the conference room feeling confident. “Hello, you must be the new addition,” Helena greeted, “My name is Helena Peabody and this is my team.” As Gen turned to greet the rest of the profilers, she noticed one of them was on the floor, “For heaven sakes Bette, please get up,” Helena chided. Bette stood up and Gen found herself looking shocked and completely dumbfounded. A tension filled the air as Bette suddenly felt her knees weaken, she steadied herself by holding on to the conference table. She took a deep breath and held out her hand, “Nice to meet you, I’m Agent Bette Porter. And you are?” Gen gave herself a mental shake and reached out for Bette’s extended hand, trying to ignore the familiar warmth of Bette’s fingers and skin on hers, Gen replied, “I’m Doctor Gen Taylor, the new Forensic Anthropologist.”