HEAT
CHAPTER FOUR: Meanwhile
Meanwhile, back at the lab, anxiety was quickly spreading over Grissom and Sara's whereabouts and condition. The first alarm was sounded by the state trooper who had been waiting all day near the CSI vehicle. When dusk came with no sign of them, Trooper McQuiston put out a broadcast and radioed a deputy to relieve him. The state police in turn contacted the local police and the Las Vegas station, and Jim Brass sent some of his men and Detective Vega to the area to set up a command post.
Catherine knew as soon as she arrived for her shift that night that things were not right with her coworkers. She called Brass, who had just gotten the message himself, and he assured her that he was taking action. She shared the news with Warrick, Greg, and Nick, and they reacted in their individual characteristic ways. Warrick was angry that no one had noticed Gris and Sara missing for so many hours and was determined to head out immediately to search for them. Nick unselfishly agreed to go with him. Greg was a nervous wreck and had trouble gathering his thoughts, repetitively asking what he could do to help. Catherine told them all firmly that there was little or nothing to do before daybreak, and sent them all out on assignments to keep them busy and focused.
When they had left, she fought down her own panic and drew a deep breath. Catherine picked up the phone and called the sheriff, undersheriff, and Ecklie, and filled them all in. Then she busied herself with a case though her thoughts kept wandering back to Gil and Sara.
The media quickly got hold of the story (the sheriff was always looking for free publicity) and all the local television news stations sent broadcast vans to the place they had last been seen. Once they were set up, the usual coterie of blow-dried reporters breathlessly repeated the same information for each broadcast.
CNN also sent reporters, as did the Vegas newspaper. "CSIs Lost In the Desert" was the top story throughout the night and next day. And Grissom's and Sara's faces were plastered all over the news.
Brass sent a class of police cadets to search the desert at dawn. The young cadets, eager to do some "real" police work, started arriving hours early, in the wee hours, and milled about excitedly. Brass considered dispatching a helicopter but knew that would have to wait for daylight as well. By the time he made it to the scene, there was a small army awaiting, with at least a dozen law enforcement vehicles, all with different logos on their doors. A small crowd of local residents also showed up, curious to see the excitement.
Brass was kept busy for hours with repetitive questions and interviews. He ordered the most eager and annoying of the cadets to go for lots of food and fresh coffee and that got them out of his hair for a while, as the nearest town was miles away.
The Park Service sent two rangers whose knowledge of the area and detailed contour maps gave Jim Brass some relief from the anxiety twisting his gut. The rangers set off with flashlights and Brass wished them well and good luck.
Trooper McQuiston returned to share the little he knew of the direction Grissom and Sara were hiking in, and the location of the skeleton, with the other officers. As a fresh face and voice, he was instantly besieged with reporters. Brass heaved a relieved sigh and retreated to his vehicle to call all the CSIs and update them. Then he had to return messages from Sheriff Mobley, Undersheriff McKeen, and Conrad Ecklie, three of his least favorite people on the planet. When that was done, he set his seat back and closed his eyes, mentally yelling at Grissom for putting them all through this drama. He took two Excedrin, drank two coffees, ate a donut and a cruller, and waited, along with everyone else.
As soon as the sun peeked over the horizon, Brass took charge of the cadets and instructed them to walk abreast, spread apart but within sight of each other, and head west, looking for footprints and other signs of Supervisor Grissom and CSI Sara Sidle. They bounded away like dogs let off the leash, and he smiled at their enthusiasm.
Brass radioed for a helicopter to help but was informed that the nearest chopper was out of commission. He released some of his frustration by cursing at the guy on the other end, then apologized and hung up. He then radioed the other precincts and was told after another aggravatingly long period of time that it might be more than an hour before they could get one to his location. Brass wished he had some of Grissom's migraine medicine and ate a sandwich.
After an hour and a half, Jim was informed that two of the cadets were injured, one with a sprained ankle and the other had taken a nasty spill and had an undetermined back injury. He rolled his eyes and muttered a few choice words under his breath. Brass sent for paramedics and when they rolled in he sent them out to help the cadets. This is turning into a circus.
Warrick and Nick arrived and came to a screeching halt in a cloud of dust. They found Brass in the mob. He was quite relieved to see them and felt their calming presence, as well as being touched that they would come straight out after their long night shift.
"What can we do?" Nick immediately asked.
"If you can catch up to them, get out there and direct those cadets. They're a bunch of kids. Take lots of water."
Warrick and Nick nodded and got their gear. Brass showed them the locations on the map and let them take the map along, with his thanks, and they strode away.
"Oh and guys?" he called after the CSIs. They turned back to listen.
"Grissom and Sara are going to be okay."
Warrick agreed and when Nick looked doubtful, he slapped him on the back and said, "C'mon, cowboy. Let's bring them home."
TBC
A/N: Thanks to My Kate for reminding me to tell this side of the story! Who do you think will find them?