"So," I said, seating myself next to the high schooler. I was back at CSI a day later, talking to band members, mainly the victim's immediate circle of friends. "Chantel Williams, right? I'm Tia Quinn, of Vegas CSI."
The redhead nodded. "Most people in band call me Scooter, though. Just one of those nicknames. Feel free to call me that."
"Thanks for the option, Ms. Williams, but I believe I'll stick to Chantel." I smiled at the 18-year-old. "So, you and Ms. Masterson were friends?" Chantel made a face.
"Used to be," she corrected. "She used to be really cool. But she got kind of boring and annoyed that I have a boyfriend and she doesn't. I mean, didn't." The teen sighed. "But she was whiny. I mean, Kyle isn't always around. And Heather always insisted on hanging out with one of the drum majors, Adam Nicholas. They were, like, joined at the hip. I mean, they dated for awhile last year, but they broke up because Heather was always flirting with another guy, Dave Miller. Which was so not surprising. Heather flirted with pretty much every guy in the band."
More questions led along the same lines. I got nothing else out of her. So I sent Chantel home. I hated questioning the band members during summer rehearsals. Word would get around quickly, with the teens being around each other every day. This being high school, I knew our investigation only fueled the rumor mill. For the next kid, I decided to call in Grissom to help me. As it turned out, Grissom must have been thinking along the same lines, because he appeared in the doorway a few seconds later.
"How's it going?"
I started at his voice. "Uh, okay, I think." I looked up at him and beckoned him in. "I hate dealing with high schoolers, though. These kids can be so cruel, and Lord only knows the gossip flying around." I flipped through my notes. "So far, two trumpets and a flute have told me that Heather flirted with anyone with a penis. I had two clarinets and a drum major tell me that the vic was a slut. They also said, quote, 'Heather has a huge ass,' end quote."
"What are their thoughts on her as a person?" He leaned against the table..
"Mostly involves her being a slut. Thing is, no one will say anything other than the sluttiness. Although I talked to her former best friend, Chantel Williams, and she said Heather used to be a great girl. She was just insecure and jealous."
"Williams or the vic?"
"The best friend said the vic, but I believe there was more than a little projection on Williams' part." I sighed. "Grissom, these kids are just talking regular high school crap. Sure, it's mean, but so far, there's no motive, anything. All the evidence we've picked up, my word! It could be anybody! A 150 plus member marching band. And we have no clue." I bit my lip, fighting to control my emotions.
"Tia, hey." Grissom knelt next to me. I turned my face away. "Hey. We are going to solve this. There has to be some underlying reason for every kid to have seen her the same way. These teenagers were good friends until the past few months. There is a reason. And we will find it." I nodded numbly, but I still wouldn't meet his eyes. "Tia." Grissom caught my chin in his hand and tilted it upward. I had no choice but to meet his stare. "We'll work this out. We will."
I was having a really hard time believing him. And an even worse time just being this near to Grissom, my boss, having his hand on my face. Someone cleared their throat in the doorway. Grissom let go and moved away quickly. We both looked to the door.
"Uh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt," Greg said. (Was it just me, or did he sound bitter?) "I just thought I'd let you guys know what Nick and I found."
"What is it, Greg?" Grissom said smoothly, not embarrassed in the least. I was! Greg dumped a file on the table and opened it. Wait a second. Grissom wasn't embarrassed? I forced myself to concentrate on Greg for the moment.
"Turns out that Heather and her parents had a lawsuit going against a fellow band member."
"Lawsuit?" I repeated.
"Yes" he replied, a tad impatient. "It was an assault suit. Seems a sophomore, Jay Darcy, tried to force himself on her in a practice room at the school this past June."
"He...what?" I sat down.
"The school already had a hearing on July 15th. Prior to that hearing, the high school administration was talking to various band members." The three of us looked up to see Nick striding into the room. "In doing so, at least three other girls came forward and said this Darcy kid tried the same thing with them. On band buses, the band locker room."
"Not only that, but Darcy has another lawsuit against him, this one from a freshman, Elena Lopez," Greg added.
"And mid-June would have been about the time Heather started seeing her friends drop," I recalled. "Jay Darcy..." I checked the band list. "Plays mellophone."
"Mellophone?" Nick asked.
"Marching version of a French horn," I answered absently. "I used to march mello back in high school. I've been well-educated." I thought some more. I leafed through a few papers, including a messy chart and the band list, and drained the last of my cherry Coke. "Jay Darcy was one of the vic's friends. Actually, the boyfriend of a friend. And also in Heather's own section, of which she was in charge."
"So?" Greg said.
"So I think we need to talk to a few of these students again. But first, the band directors."