Showtime
Chapter 3
"I find it hard to believe Casey" Don leaned forward from the comfortable arm chair he sat in "That you didn't think that any of this was odd. Your brother was totally reliant on help, he needed equipment to move around, yet you didn't find it strange that he'd managed to get from the bed to the bathroom alone, get in the tub alone, and then cut his wrists?"
Casey Harley sniffled and wiped tears away again "I just panicked" she shrugged "I knew he was unhappy, depressed, they warned us that it might be like that, but I never thought..." she stopped, her words drying into sobs.
"We understand that this is hard for you" Jo said in a gentle tone "But we know that there is no way that Lee managed this alone, he had help"
"Are you accusing me of doing it?" she replied hotly "Because I would never, ever hurt my brother!"
"But you'd help him right?" Jo pressed "If that's what he wanted?"
"No!" Casey glared at them "I don't believe this!"
"Casey" Don took over again "We also need to know where his equipment was. We found nothing to indicate that he needed any assistance at all at his apartment"
"I don't know!" she wailed "Please just leave me alone!"
"OK" Jo stood, realising that they weren't going to get any further, they needed some evidence to put Casey, or someone, in the apartment with Lee "We'll leave you alone, but please" she handed Casey her card "Call myself or Detective Flack if you think of anything at all"
"So what do you think?" Don asked her as they left Casey to her grief.
"She's hiding something" Jo mused "I don't know what, but she is. I need to get this evidence processed if we're going to get anywhere with this"
Don thought a few moments, he respected Jo's take on people, she had a way of seeing through things, profiling.
"Do you think she did it?" he asked.
"No" Jo replied "Like you said, slashing someone's wrists is hard to do, it speaks of rage, not love, not helping someone slip quietly away. It's messy and traumatic to all involved. I think we are looking for a murderer here, not an angel of mercy"
"But maybe she knows who did?" he asked.
"Possibly" Jo shrugged "Like I said, there's something there"
Don stood next to his car, door open as Jo got into the CSI vehicle.
"I'll call when I have something from the evidence" she called, closing the door with a cheery wave.
Don sat in the drivers seat, reading the message that had come through while they were interviewing Casey.
It was a picture of a plush hotel foyer, it had 'Continental Hotels' emblazoned everywhere. The caption with the picture made him smile.
Can we upgrade to here?
He text back with a grin, she was kidding if she thought that they could afford even a night somewhere like that, never mind a whole wedding - In your dreams babe!
He toyed with the phone a few seconds, throwing it onto the front seat as he put his seat belt on and started the car. He had to wait for Jo to come back with something concrete on this case, and his damned paperwork could wait a bit longer.
…...
Kate and her team entered the hotel foyer, she marched up to the desk, oblivious of the stares they were receiving from the staff and some guests.
"Sergeant Howard, ESU" she flashed her badge and ID "I believe you are expecting us?"
"This way sergeant" a stuffy looking receptionist replied, he eyed their black and blue uniforms with 'NYPD' emblazoned across the back and the handgun each officer wore. He led them into a lift, silence reigned.
As they stepped out, he waved expansively with his arms "The dignitary will inhabit the whole of this floor, with their entourage and security team"
"Thanks" Kate said "Once we've checked this out, I'll need to look at the function room where they intend to entertain and out the back, kitchens and stuff"
They walked along the corridor. Maids scurried from room to room, doors were open and Kate smiled as she saw a silver box, lid opened, with 'Messer' printed on the side.
"We have been requested by the manager to keep this low profile" the receptionist said.
"Of course" Kate nodded gravely "That's why we didn't bring the armour plated cars, the assault rifles and the helicopter"
She heard a chuckle from inside a room, and was relieved that at least someone had got her sarcasm, by the look on his face, the receptionist hadn't.
"Please don't hesitate to call reception should you need anything" the receptionist told her with a sneer before disappearing back into the elevator.
"I'm amazed at your self control there Krazy Kate" she looked round as Danny stepped into the hall "I wanted to shoot the guy an hour ago, Lindsay stopped me"
"He's just doing his job" Lindsay said "Even if he is an ass"
"One of my wife's qualities" he grinned at Lindsay "Her tolerance"
"She'd have to be tolerant" Kate said "Putting up with you"
Lindsay laughed, Danny narrowed his eyes, teasing "Don's right" he told her "You are mean"
"Somethin' I always like to hear" A voice said from down the hall "That I'm right"
"What are you doing here?" Danny asked Don, suspicion on his face.
"He's being nosy" Kate said, grinning at Lindsay "He can't stand being left out"
"I am not!" Don defended.
"I don't see no dead bodies lyin' around" Danny pointed out with a smile.
"Yet!" Don said, menacingly "I am actually here on official police business"
"Oh yeah?" Lindsay asked, a smile forming "What?"
Don looked slightly uncomfortable "I'm not allowed to say" he covered.
"See" Kate shrugged "Nosy, he'll be hiding from Gerrard, or paperwork, or both, and no one has had the decency to kill someone else in the last half hour, so he can't even get out on an investigation"
"I think you got it there Kate" Lindsay teased him "It must be a guy thing"
"OK!" Don held his hands up "I'm wagging, there, you happy now?!"
"Well some of us have work to do" Danny said, turning back into the room he came out of with Don in tow, Kate walked to the end of the corridor, with her team, checking for exits, possible weak points in rooms.
"You got somethin'?" Don's interest was sparked, he'd worked with Danny long enough to know when something had gained his attention.
"Maybe" Danny frowned "Bit odd, looks like a blank wall, might be from the high def wiring, I'll need to check the plans" he fiddled with his laptop "Yeah. More high def" he added.
"Huh" Don said "How much does a room like this cost anyway?" gazing around the well appointed space, it boasted every luxury, and then some.
"More than I make in a month" Danny said "I'm done here"
…...
"You seriously got nowhere better to be?" Kate asked Don, head on one side as he followed them into a function room, set out for around 40 guests.
"Nope" he grinned as he nosed around "Oooh a Sultan" he said "You're gonna be mixing with the rich and famous" he teased.
"No" she said with mock exaggerated patience "I'm gonna be outside the door, with a big gun"
Kate turned to inspect a fire door, checking it's stability, he moved closer behind her, not touching but leaning in and speaking quietly.
"You could always put on that dress you wore for the widows and orphans" he said, she didn't need to see his face to know the expression "I think a handgun strapped your the top of your leg, ya know, under the stockings could be the way to go"
"That your new fantasy?" she feigned disinterest.
"Old fantasy" he laughed "New addition"
"The gun?" she asked, a smile creeping into her tone.
"Uh-huh" he confirmed.
"Very James Bond" she grinned at him over her shoulder.
"I dressed up as James Bond once" he said "Big hit with the ladies"
"All the gear and no idea?" she teased.
"When we get married" he gave her a stern look, one she knew wasn't real "You'll have to be nice to me you know, I won't tolerate grief like this any more"
"When we get married" she raised her eyebrows at him, a cheeky smile spreading across her face "I'll get away with it, like I always have"
He opened his mouth to reply and was cut off by Danny.
"Hey Flack, you busy tonight?" he called across the room from where he was running the bug sweeper across a light fitting.
"No honey" he teased, raising his eyebrows at Kate before turning and heading for Danny.
"You wanna catch a game?" Danny asked, ignoring Lindsay's chuckle as well as Don's sarcasm.
"Sounds like a plan, if I don't have to arrest anyone" Don said.
"Hey!" They all heard Lindsay shout from across the room "What are you doing?"
They heard the muffled sounds of running carpet, turning they saw Lindsay being pushed aside from the storeroom door she was holding open, as a scruffy man in jeans and a hoodie made a dash for one of the sets of double doors leading from the room.
"Hey Stop right there, police!" Danny shouted, Don tried to stop him, stepping into his path.
The man took a swing at him, catching him full in the mouth, sending him reeling back into Danny. Don, Danny and the kit crashed on the floor as the man dodged around the mess, heading for the other doors.
Lindsay was right behind him, members of Kate's team had their guns drawn and were shouting at the man to stop. Kate came at him from the other side, with Lindsay one side and Kate the other, they managed to bring him down between them.
"Lie still!" Kate warned as he struggled, he was further persuaded by Lindsay's knee in the small of his back.
"Next time I tell you to stop" Lindsay said, helping Kate secure the cuffs "Do it, I hate running in heels"
Don helped Danny to his feet "Gee Flack" Danny rubbed at his chest, leaning on his colleague "You're heavy"
Don gave him a look of disbelief, his own hand rubbing the rapid swelling across his mouth "Danny, I just got punched in the face, I didn't do it on purpose!"
"I know buddy" Danny said, inspecting the small cut on Don's lip "You OK?"
"Get a room you two" Kate smirked at them, as her and Lindsay dragged the detainee to his feet.
"Was it me" Danny said quietly "Or was that"
"Hot?" Don finished "Hell yeah" they grinned at each other.
