Disclaimer: I don't own CSI. Though I sure want to. Many thanks to Tinuviel Undomiel and Nerwen Aldarion for the input, ideas, inspiration, and for your forgiveness for my half-hour tardiness. I shall never catch the wrong bus again. I swear. (PS You guys RAWK)
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The land rover was unremarkable. A perfect kind of car to drive around Vegas in and not get noticed. The driver gripped the wheel tightly with sweaty hands. His eyes flicked sideways, scanning the empty parking lot. The only lights came from neon signs and street lamps.
"She should be here by now." The driver bit his lip. "She should be here." The driver saw someone coming towards him, and froze.
A cop.
The numberplates had been covered up with a dark cloth. That was one of the things which made the security guard come over. That, and the fact that the mall was closed, and no-one should be in the parking lot.
"Sir?" The guard held up a flashlight into the man's eyes. "Sir, is there a reason your numberplates are covered up? It is a federal offence."
The man in the driver's seat squirmed, then lowered his voice. "I'm being blackmailed." The man hissed. "And I'm here to make a final payment." His eyes were wide with fear. "Please, sir, you have to leave. Now. Or he'll kill her."
The cop stepped back and nodded. He raised his voice for the benefit of anyone who might be watching. "Well, goodnight to you, sir." The cop walked slowly away, determined not to run back to his post. If he ran, the blackmailer could kill that poor guy. If the guard walked quickly, at a business-like stride, he might be able to reach his post and call for backup. Just in case anything went wrong.
Ten seconds later, something did go very wrong.
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"Caucasian male, late thirties, cause of death: two gunshot wounds." Grissom stated in his cool detached voice. "One shot under the jawline on the right side, the other through the neck. Profuse bleeding, as to be expected when a bullet goes through the jugular and the both of the carotids."
Warrick took a photo of the dead man sitting in the driver's seat, then looked up at Gil. "What do you think, Gris? The security guard who talked to the guy said this guy said he was being blackmailed."
"Mmm." Grissom agreed, his head tilted slightly, "I heard his statement. But I think there's something wrong with it."
Warrick tilted his head and frowned. "What, you think the guard was lying?"
Grissom opened the door of the land rover on the passenger side and looked around. The interior of the rover was immaculate, and smelt freshly washed... at least, under the smell of congealing blood. Grissom shone the torch around. There was nothing in the backseat, nothing on the passenger seat. The dead man stared vacantly out the windshield, a hole in under his jaw, and half of his throat missing. The man's arms hung limply either side of him. There was blood everywhere - over the steering wheel, the dashboard, the radio... and splattered on the two handguns that rested in his lap. The barrels of both guns were angled outwards.
"No," Grissom said calmly, "I think our victim here was the one lying."
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TO BE CONTINUED
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Okay, this here's my first attempt at a CSI episode. This up top is just the intro. Tell me what you think, any ideas, any suggestions, any comments? Reviews give me warm&fuzzy feelings.