Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:Miami in any shape or form – I am just borrowing for a little while and will put them back when I am finished playing.
a/n – thanks for everyone who read and reviewed "A New Start for Mari" – this is a continuation of Mari's adventures with the Miami Crew.
a/n – also for readers information – words typed in "Italics" indicates that Mari is signing in ASL and words appearing in "Bold" text are text messages to and from Mari. Also Mari's character is loosely based on my hearing difficulties – like Mari – I wear hearing aids, lip-read and sign.
Let the adventures begin….
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Mari Jessop was busy interviewing to a deaf woman, trying to get a description of her attacker in order to draw a sketch of him. Mari didn't usually deal with witnesses, but she was the only one who could communicate in ASL. "Okay, you are doing good Gabby. Now how about his eyes, close together or set far apart?" signed Mari.
Gabby continued her description and Mari's pencil flew across the page as she interpreted Gabby's answers.
Outside in the hallway, Lt. Horatio Caine stood watching the two women thru the window, and Detective Frank Tripp walked up to where Horatio was standing with another man, who was wearing a business suit, with a gold badge clipped to his belt.
"How is Mari doing with the witness?" questioned Frank.
"It is a work in progress."
"Horatio, this is Detective Sean Haywood, a detective with Broward County PD homicide," said Frank.
"How may I help you?" asked Horatio shaking hands with the other detective.
"I'm here to speak with Mari Jessop," replied Det. Haywood.
Horatio noticed Mari looking at the three of them curiously, so he indicated that they should walk further down the hallway. "What is this in regards to?"
"Mari's parents were killed in a hit and run accident last night," Frank answered.
"Can you wait until Mari is finished with this witness? We've been having a hard time with this witness due to shock."
"Do you know if she will be much longer?"
"I don't know, let me check with Mari," Horatio walked back into Mari's line of vision and waited until Mari looked up and saw him. "How much longer?" Horatio asked silently, mouthing the words.
Mari looked at her witness and then down at her sketch. "Not much longer," Mari signed. Horatio nodded and rejoined the other two men.
"Miss Jessop is deaf?"
"Yes, but she lip-reads very well," replied Horatio.
"But I don't know sign language. Is there someone who can interpret for me?"
"That will not be necessary," Horatio chuckled and Frank smirked, as Det. Haywood looked annoyed. The three men talked quietly until Mari escorted Gabby to the front door, then joined the three men standing in the hallway, carrying her sketch pad.
"How did you do? Was Gabby able to give you a good description?" Horatio asked quietly.
Mari held up her sketch pad, showing them the sketch of the suspect. "What do this think? Gabby has a good eye for detail."
"I know this loser, so he has graduated to assault," said Frank, shaking his head in disgust. "Thanks Mari for your help, good job as usual. I'll get the sketch copied and distributed to the patrol officers and detectives." Frank took the sketch that Mari gave him.
"Glad that I could help," replied Mari, as Frank walked off with the sketch.
"Mari, this is Det. Haywood of the Broward County PD homicide," Horatio said, introducing Mari to the detective.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Jessop," said Det. Haywood, as he shook Mari's hand. "Lt. Caine, is there someplace private where I can talk to Ms. Jessop?" Horatio led the way to his office, where Det. Haywood gently broke the sad news to Mari about her parent's fatal accident.
"What happened?" questioned Mari.
"It was a hit and run driver," explained Det. Haywood.
"Do you have any leads as to who the other driver was?" asked Mari, as Horatio stood nearby.
"We are still gathering evidence, but it is beginning to look like a homicide. Do you know if your parent's had any enemies? Or anybody who maybe held a grudge against them?"
"No, but the last time that I had any contact with them was at my brother's funeral two years ago. They disowned us four years ago," replied Mari, frowning at the memory.
"Disowned! Why?"
"We wouldn't follow their arrangements," Mari said simply.
"I need to know where you was last night at eleven pm."
"What! Am I a suspect?" a shocked Mari asked.
"All possibilities have to be considered. You just admitted that you were on the outs with your parents," explained Det. Haywood.
"Yes, but I could never hurt my parents. I loved them!" exclaimed Mari.
"I still need to know your whereabouts," demanded Det. Haywood.
"I was home alone and no, I don't have anyone that can confirm this," snapped Mari, her blue eyes flashing.
"Mari, not another word, not without a lawyer present," Horatio said firmly. "Detective, this interview is over."
"I will be back with more questions," snapped Det. Haywood, as he stalked out of Horatio's office, and Horatio and Mari watched him walk down the hallway to the front doors of the lab.
"Horatio, what am I going to do? I don't have the money for a good lawyer."
"I don't want you to worry about it, I will take care of it," Horatio reassured Mari.
"I can't believe it, mom and dad are gone. I'm never going to be able reconcile with them," Mari buried her face in her hands, sobbing. Horatio sat beside Mari on the couch and put his arm around her shoulder in comfort and sympathy. Eventually Mari stopped crying and looked up at Horatio with red rimmed eyes.
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel numb."
Calleigh walked past the office and Horatio called for Calleigh to come into the office. "Just sit quietly," and Horatio passed Mari some fresh tissues.
"What happened?" Calleigh questioned, walking into Horatio's office. Horatio quietly explained the situation to Calleigh, and requested that she drive Mari home.
"Mari, I'm sending you home with Calleigh," Horatio said, getting Mari's attention first.
"Thank you. Who do I need to contact about making funeral arrangements?"
Horatio explained that autopsies would need to be completed before her parent's bodies could be released for burial. Then Calleigh led a quiet Mari out of the office, out of the lab towards the parking lot. Horatio flipped his cell phone open and dialled a number. "Alexx, I need you to contact the M.E. in Broward County about the results of two autopsies."
"Sure, what are the names?"
"Stella and Stanley Jessop – they were killed last night in a vehicle accident. And Alexx, they are Mari's parents and Broward County homicide considers Mari a suspect in their death."
"Oh God, poor baby. How is Mari doing?"
"Shaken of course, I've sent her home with Calleigh," explained Horatio.
"Okay, I will check on the results for you," promised Alexx.
Horatio then dialled another number on his phone. "Mr. Wolfe, I need you to go the following address and check out an accident scene and report back to me."
"Will do, boss," replied Ryan
"Thank you," replied Horatio before snapping his phone shut, and just then his phone rang. "Horatio."
"Yeah, patrol picked up our suspect and are bringing him in for questioning and a line-up," reported Frank.
"Frank, you are going to have to handle this one yourself. I have another situation to deal with," Horatio briefly explained Mari's situation.
"Okay I'll keep you posted on my suspect. And you take care of Mari."
Horatio walked to the A.V. lab and requested Cooper to check Mari's phone and blackberry records for the past twenty-four hours, in hopes of finding evidence of Mari's innocence in the death of her parents.
Meanwhile Calleigh and Mari were drinking coffee at Mari's house and Mari was sharing memories of her family.
Later on that day, Ryan requested that Horatio meet him in the layout room, Ryan had pictures of the accident scene spread out on the table. "The car was mangled, rescue had to use the jaws of life to get the bodies out of the wreck. They are pretty confident that the Jessop's car was pushed in front of transport truck. They didn't have a chance of surviving."
"Any trace evidence from the other vehicle? Traffic cameras?"
"They found tread marks and paint transfer from the other vehicle that rammed them from behind and it was a heavy vehicle like a SUV. They are still processing the evidence. And it was a deserted stretch of highway, so no traffic cameras," Ryan reported. "How is Mari doing?"
"Good work, Mr. Wolfe and Mari is still processing and dealing with the shock," replied Horatio, before he turned to walk out of the room.
TBC….