A/N: I would like to proudly introduce Falling & Calling, the sequel to Mistrust & Disregard. If you haven't read that, I suggest you do. This story begins 2 days after the end of Mistrust & Disregard, so if you haven't read it, you'll need to. Also, some of you might notice that I have decided to write the entire actual story in bold font. This is just because I enjoy the sight of Verdana in bold, so don't think that every word needs to be stressed. Thanks. --ShamedShadow
Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances, own the characters of CSI: NY, or the show itself. I only own Ryan.
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Falling & Calling
Chapter One: Picking Up the Pieces
May 13th, 9:02 AM, Grand Hall, Court House
"Your Honor, my client would like to make a statement before we begin." The lawyer said, glancing at his client, dressed in the orange of a convict, and chained to the table they sat behind. The judge looked surprised for just a moment, but the flicker was not missed by the convict, and the judge nodded. He stood, his chains clinking against the wooden floor and the sound echoing throughout the chamber.
"I would like to object to this trial." The convict said.
"And why is that?" The judge replied.
"Because it's painfully obvious that I commited the crimes I am charged with." The lawyer gave the convict a slight nudge in the leg. "My lawyer has pleaded with me to claim that I'm not guilty. But why? All it will do is prolong my suffering. I see it in your eyes that you already know that I am guilty. And the jury need not be here, I know that they will call me guilty. Your Honor, I object to this trial because it is uneccesary and we do not need to go through the painstaking process of calling witnesses, listening to them beat nails into my coffin, only to have the jury go for less than ten minutes, and send me to prison for life, to kill me when I near the end of my life anyway."
All was still in the courthouse. Most of the jury did not even attempt to meet the convict's steel gaze, they knew he was right. The judge finally coughed and looked down at the convict, pity in his eyes. The convict was right, but Due Process was Due Process. Swallowing his fear of this deadly man, the judge said, "You know I cannot dismiss this court. You will recieve a fair trial, and the men and women of the jury will decide your fate. Just like every other man and woman in this country would, Ryan Carter."
9:07 AM, St. Joseph's Hospital, Room 212
Mac Taylor stood over the sleeping form of Danny Messer, who was laying in a hospital bed peacefully. Mac looked up towards the window of the room, through which he spotted a rooftop that would've been perfect for the needless killing of one Tanner 'Post-It' Davidson. He headed out the door and for the building that was easily visible outside the window of that room.
Mac stood on the roof of the building, looking down at the hospital that was just across the road from the large building he stood upon. He frowned and went over to the edge and looked down at the hospital, crouching as he did so. He tried to envision the rifle, and the rifle-man, as the trigger was being pulled. It would be a hard shot, a shot through a window with only a small crack in the curtains covering it. Tanner would've had to have been in the absolute perfect spot for a shot like that to be made.
Wheels spinning in Mac's mind, he headed back towards the stairs.
9:17 AM, Temporary Crime Lab
Mac entered the crime lab, glancing around as he did so. Stella and Lindsay stood talking a few feet away, and Mac approached them, causing Stella to look over at him.
"Hey," Mac said, coming to a halt in front of them, "I think the Tanner Davidson's murder was planned, and not by just the killer."
"What do you mean? There's no way he could've planned his own death." Stella countered.
"He might've been in cahoots with the killer."
"What? Why would someone plot with someone else to kill themselves?" Lindsay asked.
"A good a question as any."
9:40 AM, Grand Hall, Court House
Ryan sat quietly, watching the jury slowly return to their seats. The judge waited until they were all seated, then said, "Have you written your decision on paper, as I asked?" One of the jurors stood.
"We have. The men and women of the jury find one Ryan Carter guilty of two counts of attempted murder," Ryan closed his eyes and leaned his head back, smiling slightly, "And guilty of the kidnapping of Lindsay Monroe. We have decided that a sentence of seventeen years in a federal prison is right."
"Guilty as charged, and the sentence stands at seventeen years in a federal prison." The judge said, banging his gavel against the small wooden circle on his desk.