Entry #3 in the "A Year in the Life" series. The Brillows clan takes a somewhat unplanned family vacation, and run into trouble in a little mountain town called Jackpot. You know the drill -- CSI is not my sandbox. If it were, there would be more road trips.


99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall
by Alice Day


CHAPTER THREE

After the first flush of panic settled, Catherine had to admit that Dr. Sterling didn't match her mental image of Grissom's description. For one thing, he was...shorter. And oddly tense, but not in the way she'd seen in abusive men; more like he was convinced someone was about to haul off and slug him.

Still, she didn't like the fact that he'd been alone with Lindsey and Ellie. Under her prodding, Brass collected the girls and headed out to get the SUV tire replaced, while Brooks collared the veterinarian and took him out to the crime scene to clear the body for transport. By the time Sterling returned, she'd finished examining Slugger for trace. The dog's fur was loaded with dirt and plant material from his escape; more interesting was what she found in his teeth. "Do you have a microscope?" she asked, holding up a pair of tweezers.

The vet pointed behind her. "In the exam room over there -- box of slides are next to it."

"Thanks." The fiber went on a slide, then under the microscope barrel. She adjusted the focus knob, sharpening the image of a dark blue thread.

She heard Sterling come up behind her. "What did you find?"

"Looks like a cotton thread -- I found it between Slugger's upper canine and the neighboring tooth. Thread's thinner than the kind used in jeans, and dyed dark blue -- it might be from a pair of work pants or overalls."

He shook his head. "Ma'am, you've just described the outfits of maybe half the men in this town."

"Yeah, well, I never said my job was easy," she said, picking up the bag with the swab. "Were you gloved when you took this?"

"No -- your daughter didn't mention that," Sterling said, looking apologetic. "Is that a problem?"

"No. Whoever processes the DNA will just need to get a sample from you later on so that they can rule out your epithelials," she said. Her phone beeped, and she checked the screen. BRASS.

"Excuse me." She flipped the phone open. "Hi, hon -- are we ready to leave? Oh, you're kidding me. Where? All right -- I'll meet you there. Bye."

She snapped the phone shut hard enough that her knuckles cracked.

"Problems?" Sterling asked.

"Your local garage is out of tires that'll fit a Highlander," Catherine said, trying not to growl. "Someone named Marty Cooperman is driving out to a Goodyear near San Jacinto to see if they have any."

Sterling checked his watch. "He better get a move on -- the Goodyear closes at 6:00 PM, and it's almost 5:30 now."

"Great." She took a deep breath, forcing a sense of calm. "Look, I need to bag this, then meet Jim and the girls at a local diner. Do you have any small impermeable envelopes or bags?"

"How about a pill bottle?"

"That'll work."

The fiber went into a small blue bottle, and she sealed it with medical tape and signed it. "Lieutenant Brooks will probably pick this stuff up tomorrow. In the meantime, just store it somewhere cool and safe," she said, stripping off her gloves and grabbing her purse. "Do you know where the Rimrock Diner is?"

"Go out the front door, turn right -- it'll be about a half block down on this side of the street," Sterling said. "Oh, and would you tell Miss Brass thanks for her help with Slugger?"

That made her pause. "Ellie helped you?"

He nodded. "She kept Slugger still while I set his leg. That's never an easy thing -- the sound alone can make some people gag -- but she just hung on to him. Please tell her I appreciated it."

Catherine tried to picture Ellie Brass in a helpful mood. Somehow, the image wouldn't appear. "Uh, sure."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

The wind was starting to pick up by the time Catherine reached the diner, and she was grateful for the warm air and the smell of food as she slipped inside. The diner was small but pleasant, with a counter along one wall and seven or eight tables in the main dining area; about half of the counter seats and a third of the tables were already occupied. She looked around and found Brass, Lindsey and Ellie at a table in the corner, reading menus.

"What looks good?" she said, taking the seat next to Brass.

"I was thinking meatloaf," he said, handing her a menu. "Everything go okay?"

"Found a fiber in the dog's mouth -- could have come from the killer's pants," she said. "Everything's bagged and ready for the state police crime lab, so I think we're good to go."

"Assuming we can get that tire tonight," Brass grumped. "Everybody and their brother has an SUV or truck up here -- I can't believe they just ran out of tires in our size."

She squeezed his hand. "It was my bright idea to open my big mouth about the blood spatter. If I hadn't done that, we could've been at the cabin by now."

He took her hand and kissed it. "Nope, you did the right thing."

A snort came from behind Lindsey's menu. Catherine leaned across the table and put a finger on the menu's top edge, pushing it down far enough to look her daughter in the eye. "No commentary from the peanut gallery, please."

"Hey, you didn't have to spend the afternoon standing around a vet's office," Lindsey pointed out.

"It wasn't that bad," Ellie said absently, studying her menu.

"Well, yeah -- he got you to help him with the dog," the teenager said. "I just stood there holding up the wall."

Catherine remembered Sterling's request. "That reminds me -- Dr. Sterling said to say thanks for helping him," she said. "He seemed pretty impressed with you."

Jim's daughter gave her a flat look. "Sounds like you're surprised."

The CSI blinked at the sudden animosity. "No. Just passing along what he said."

Ellie's eyes narrowed, but she went back to her menu. Brass gave Catherine's hand an apologetic squeeze. "I've got to use the head," he said. "If the waitress comes while I'm gone, tell her I want the meatloaf plate and some coffee, okay?"

"Sure."

He got up and headed for a doorway marked RESTROOMS. As Catherine watched, partially to find out where the bathrooms were and partially to appreciate the view, the diner door swung open and Dr. Sterling came in. He nodded once at the waitress and headed to the back, taking a single table in the opposite corner.

The waitress came over to their table. "Evening, ladies -- my name is Doris, and I'll be waiting on you hand and foot tonight," she said cheerfully. "What can I get you to drink?"

"Two coffees," Catherine said, pointing at Brass's empty spot and her own. "Lindsey, what do you want?"

"Diet Coke."

"You have beer?" Ellie said, giving Catherine a challenging look.

"Sure do -- Bud, Bud Light, Coors and Sam Adams."

"I'll take a Sam Adams."

"Coming right up."

Catherine tried not to sigh. If the younger woman thought she was going to pick a fight by having a beer, she was working the wrong parent. "So, how's LA?"

The blonde leaned back in her chair. "You're kidding me, right?"

Jim, you coward, get your ass back here. "Just thought I'd ask," she said, trying to sound pleasant.

Ellie tapped her lips. "Well, let's see," she said, her voice overly bright. "I don't make nearly as much money as I did in my old job, but then again I'm not spending as much on recreational," she glanced at Lindsey, "items, so I guess it all works out. I have a crappy little apartment, but at least I don't live next door to meth dealers anymore so that's an improvement. I can make a mojito with my eyes closed, I've gotten really good at looking like I give a crap when customers talk to me, and my ass is usually bruised by Monday morning from all the jerks grabbing it over the weekend." She tilted her head to the side. "Anything else you want to know?"

Catherine was saved from having to respond by the waitress's return. "Two coffees, one Diet Coke, one Sam Adams," she said, putting the glassware and beer bottle on the table. "You're the crime lab folks from Vegas, right?"

"That's us."

Doris gave Lindsey and Ellie an approving look. "Heard you girls brought Slugger in to Dale's place today," she said. "Poor old pooch -- we used to let Mack bring him in here at lunch. He'd eat half of Mack's sandwich, then just snooze under the table, happy as a clam." She shook her head. "Terrible thing about Mack -- some folks just need to be taken out and shot. I hope Slugger gonna be okay, at least."

Before Catherine could reply, Ellie said, "He was dozing when we left. The doc said he had a broken hock and some cracked ribs, but he should be fine."

The waitress nodded approvingly. "Dale knows his stuff when it comes to animals," she said. "If he's taking care of Slugger, that silly old pooch'll be up and mooching sandwiches in no time."

Catherine blinked in surprise. "You make Sterling sound like a decent guy."

"Well, he is." Doris gave her a curious look. "Why, what've you heard?"

Okay, that wasn't smart, Willows. "That you're his ex-wife," she admitted. "And, um, that you two split up for a pretty good reason."

The curly-haired woman sighed. "Great. Alan's been running his mouth again, hasn't he?"

Catherine didn't know how to explain that she'd heard about Sterling's history from Grissom, not the police lieutenant. "Well--"

"Oh, for the love of Pete." Doris glanced over her shoulder at the other corner table, then leaned in. "Look, honey, Dale is harmless," she said in a conspiratorial tone. "Yeah, he gave me a black eye once, but that was during one of his damn nightmares -- he was thrashing around in his sleep and whacked me one. The nose I did myself when I tripped over this potbellied pig he was treating." She shook her head, smirking. "Now, Alan's just as sweet as can be, but I'm telling you, he's got the wrong end of the stick about Dale and me. I didn't leave him because he smacked me around -- I left him because he's boring as dirt." With a final wink, she straightened up. "Now, what can I get you folks to eat?"

Bemused by the waitress's unexpected autobiography, Catherine gave Brass's request for meatloaf, adding a chicken Caesar salad for herself. The girls gave their orders, and Doris headed for the kitchen.

Ellie watched her leave, then turned on Catherine. "What was all that about?"

The older woman frowned in embarrassment. "Grissom told me some things about Dr. Sterling," she said. "Which seem to have gotten garbled in transmission."

"What sort of things?"

"That he had a history of spousal abuse."

"The doc?" Ellie made a dismissive sound. "Please. I know guys who get off on hitting women -- he's not the type. He didn't even want to look at me."

"She's right, Mom," Lindsey agreed. "He was kinda weird, but he wasn't mean or anything."

Catherine raised her hands in surrender. "Like I said, something obviously got garbled along the way."

Brass arrived at the table, scowling. "I just got a call from that Cooperman guy," he said. "The Goodyear's closed, so we're stuck here for the night."

Catherine bit back a groan. Next time I hear about a crime scene on vacation, I'm keeping my big mouth shut. "Well, we'll get to the cabin tomorrow, at least," she tried to temporize.

"Yeah. Look, let's just eat dinner, then I'll call around the hotels and get us a couple of rooms for the night."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Ellie sipped her Sam Adams, ignoring her father's pointed look at the beer bottle. She didn't particularly like the taste of beer, but sometimes he needed reminding that she wasn't nine years old anymore. Besides, any needling he got, he'd more than earned with the shit he pulled today.

Her attention drifted across the room. Sterling was still at his table, reading what looked like a veterinary journal. Half a tuna melt and a pile of fries sat untouched on his plate.

A smile played across Ellie's face, and she stood up. "I'll be right back."

Her dad gave her an absentminded nod, most of his attention on Catherine's talk about thin blue fibers. Lindsey glanced over at the veterinarian, however, and gave Ellie a look that clearly said You have got to be kidding me.

She smirked. "I'm just gonna ask him about the dog," she said in an undertone.

"Whatever."

Shrugging, Ellie turned and headed over to Sterling's table. "Hey, Doc."

The vet looked up from his journal, blinking at her. "Oh. Miss Brass. Hello."

"Mind if I sit down?"

He looked around the diner, as if expecting to see a camera crew pop out of the woodwork. "Uh, okay."

Way to make a girl feel welcome, Doc. "So, how's Slugger doing?" she said, taking the seat across from him.

"He's resting comfortably. I think he'll make a full recovery."

"Great. So what are you going to do with him -- I mean, since his owner is dead."

The vet shrugged. "I'll keep him at the office, see if I can place him with someone in town. He's a pretty good pointer -- I can think of a couple of hunters who might be willing to take him."

"Oh. That's good." She picked up a sugar packet, playing with it. "So, uh, what do you do for fun around here?"

He thought for a moment. "It depends on the age group. The local high schoolers like to get tuned up on their recreational drug of choice, then steal motorcycles and race them out near the foothills. People your age, well, they usually take off for Elko or Reno as soon as they can. Other folks hit the casinos, or go golfing. That's really about it."

"Huh. So are you a casino man, or a golfer?"

He closed the journal, smoothing the cover. "Neither," he said with a shrug. "I'm kind of dull. Just ask my ex-wife." He nodded at Doris.

Hooking had left Ellie with a sharp set of instincts about men; despite what Doris had said, there was something about the vet that didn't register as 'boring'. "I dunno -- you seem kind of interesting to me," she said, leaning across the table and snagging one of his fries.

He gave the theft a bemused look. "You're pretty interesting, yourself. You don't sound like a Las Vegas native -- East coast?"

"New Jersey, but I'm living in LA right now."

"Oh. Are you an actress?"

No, but I used to hook with a couple of them. "God, no. I tend bar at a club." She glanced over at her dad's table. "And I'm taking some online courses on the side, but that's kind of a secret right now."

He followed her glance. "Why is it a secret?"

Ellie tried to figure out how to explain it in a way that didn't sound idiotic or childish. "If my dad finds out, he'll be all gung-ho about it, and next thing I know he'll be signing me up at Western LVU or something," she said, waving the fry. "I want to take this at my own speed, you know?"

Sterling nodded. "Sounds reasonable to me. So, when you're not working or taking courses, what do you do for fun?"

"Dancing, usually." She shrugged. "I know it sounds kinda stupid. I mean, I work in a club, I should be sick of dance music by now. But I still love it."

"If it's something you enjoy, that's all that matters," he said. "You know, if you're still here tomorrow night, you should head over to the Snowcap Lounge. They're holding a Valentine's Day dance -- it's popular, half the town will be there."

Sterling nodded. "Sounds reasonable to me. So, when you're not working or taking courses, what do you do for fun?"

"Dancing, usually." She shrugged. "I know it sounds kinda stupid. I mean, I work in a club, I should be sick of dance music by now. But I still love it."

"If it's something you enjoy, that's all that matters," he said. "You know, if you're still here tomorrow night, you should head over to the Snowcap Lounge. They're holding a Valentine's Day dance -- it's popular, half the town will be there."

"Hm." She nibbled her stolen french fry, considering him. He'd been nice to her, and he was kind of cute, in a geeky middle-aged sort of way. "Are you going to be there?"

He snorted. "Wasn't planning on it," he said, picking up his glass of iced tea and taking a sip.

"Want to go with me?"

He stared at her for a millisecond, then choked on his tea. Concerned, she jumped up and rounded the table, slapping him on the back until he stopped coughing. Nearby people stared at them, and she glared back. "Take a picture, it lasts longer," she growled.

The diners' attention reluctantly swung back to their plates.

Okay, maybe I should've waited until he swallowed. "Sorry," she said, sitting back down.

"'S all right," he croaked. "You just...surprised me."

"Yeah, I guessed. So is that a yes?"

"That -- I -- um." He frowned. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want me to go to the lounge with you?"

She shrugged. "I like to dance with guys I know, and you're the only guy I know here. Seemed like a good idea to ask you."

He gave her a dubious look. "I think I'm a little old for you, aren't I?"

"God, I'm not proposing or anything, Doc." She leaned over, studying what she could see of him around the table. "Besides, you look like you can still shake it."

He blushed. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think you really want to go with me," he said. "I don't exactly have the greatest reputation."

"Neither do I, so it's all good," she said cheerfully, snagging another fry. "If we're still in town tomorrow night, I'll be at the Snowcap. You show up, and I'll dance with you. Deal?"

Sterling's mouth quirked, almost turning into a smile. "You're serious, aren't you?"

She grinned. "I'm always serious when it comes to dancing."

"Well..." He took a deep breath, clearing his throat at the end. "All right," he said. "I'll be there."

"Cool." She spotted her dad waving her back over. Lt. Brooks stood next to him, giving Sterling and Ellie an appraising look. "Oh, great. Look, I'd better get back before he sends some cops after me," she said. "Again. See you tomorrow night?"

"I'll see you."

She winked at him as she got up, deliberately putting a bit of a sway into her walk for his viewing pleasure. As she approached her family's table, her dad frowned at her. "What were you doing over there?" he asked.

"Just talking," she said, sitting down. "The dog's going to be okay, by the way. Hi, Lieutenant."

"Miss Brass," Brooks said with a nod. "I was telling your dad I heard you all are stranded here for the night." He turned to the Homicide captain. "I don't know if you already checked, but since it's a holiday weekend all the hotels are booked up."

"Oh, this trip is getting better and better," Brass growled. "Look, the four of us can't camp out in a Highlander overnight."

"Nope, you can't." Brooks held up an index finger. Dangling from it was a keyring and two silver keys. "So, seeing as you folks were kind enough to help us out today, you've got yourselves a place to sleep, courtesy of my brother Leland and the Jackpot Police Department."