Author's note: Slight change to the second part of the chapter. I did some things wrong. I've corrected them.
Chapter 7
Cate hurried down the hall of the lab. Her arms were full of files, evidence that she needed to get processed. She was behind and she hated it.
She was in such a rush and so flustered that she tripped over her own feet, spilling her files all over the floor. She swore at herself for not being more careful, then bent down to pick them up. She had finally collected all the files and started back towards the lab when she heard someone call her.
"Cate, can I speak with you for a minute?" she heard Grissom's voice from behind.
She turned around. "Could it possibly wait?" she asked, giving him a wry smile and indicating the stack of files in her hands.
"No," he replied and walked back in to his office.
She rolled her eyes and heaved a deep sigh after Grissom was out of sight. She really didn't need another confrontation right now.
"What can I do for you Grissom?" she inquired, sounding a little exasperated, as she walked in to his office. Once she had entered, she noticed Catherine was in there as well. She nodded a hello.
"About last night," Grissom started.
"I don't –" she began to defend herself.
Grissom held up a hand to stop her. "Catherine and I have discussed the events of last night. And, while the evidence was needed, neither of us can condone the method by which it was collected."
Cate's expression betrayed the annoyance she tried to hide, but still she bit her tongue. "I understand," she forced herself to say instead of what she really wanted. She had just had this same conversation with Conrad Ecklie and, at it seemed, so had they.
Evidently, the video of last night had been making its way around the lab and wound up on Ecklie's desk. He had stopped her on her way into the lab, but he hadn't requested her presence; he demanded it.
"Ms. Dietz," Ecklie stopped her. "In my office."
She could tell by the sound of his voice that this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. "How can I assist you?" she asked, walking in to his office, feeling like a child being called to the principal's office.
"It has come to my attention that there was some unorthodox evidence collection going on last night," he said as if she was being charged with a crime.
"I apologize wholly," she replied, a contrite look on her face. "It was a pure coincidence that I was there and it was a spur of the moment decision."
"I feel it necessary to remind you, Ms. Dietz, there is a reason you are no longer a field agent." He paused, as if giving her time to reflect. Then he continued, "And if it wasn't for your experience and credentials this conversation might have gone differently."
Her cheeks flushed. Like he needed to remind her of that. "I understand," she replied, trying to keep her temper in check. "And I appreciate your willingness to take a chance on me," she tried to sound grateful. She knew the game.
An odd half-smile crossed his face, like he almost believed her. "Your domain is the lab. Stay there," he ordered and then showed her the door.
"Also," Catherine started, bringing Cate back to the present conversation. "The lab has a strict policy about second jobs."
Cate had reached her frustration saturation point and interrupted. "I know. And, when I was hired, I informed Mr. Ecklie about the performance last night. He stated that it was fine as long as I wasn't stripping or prostituting. Apparently, as this situation proves again, he cares more about the PhD after my name than anything else on resume."
Catherine was a little taken aback by Cate's abruptness and her revelation, which, according to the look on Grissom's face, wasn't news to him. This wasn't the same woman she'd shared drinks with last night or observed for the last couple of weeks. She wondered what had caused the change.
Cate noticed the change in Catherine's expression and so softened her own. She hadn't meant to come off as harsh as she had. The conversation with Ecklie had soured her mood. "Sorry," she quickly apologized to both of them. "I just…it's been…" she let out a deep sigh and tried to regain the composure she felt slowly slipping away. She chastised herself for her lack of professionalism. "It won't happen again. May I get back to the lab?"
Grissom nodded and Cate left. Catherine was just about to ask Grissom a question, when her cell rang, alerting her to a crime scene that needed her attention.
"Remind me to talk to you later," Catherine said as she left, knowing Grissom probably wouldn't remember.
Grissom, alone in his office, was also pondering the change in Cate's demeanor. She wasn't the confident dancer she had been last night or the emboldened investigator that did whatever she had to in order to get evidence. She seemed flustered and frightened. He wondered what had caused the about face, but he didn't wonder long because there was a knock on his door.
"It's open," he called, not looking up from the file in front of him.
Sara walked in, looking at a file of her own. "Hey Gris," she greeted him, looking up. "I've got some interesting news."
"Oh?" Grissom replied, noticing her new hair cut and wondering when she had time to get it.
"The fingerprints from Xavier Weston match some found at the crime scene for the first victim in Reno," Sara informed Grissom. "And, they partially matched a few stray prints at the Marshall scene."
"Did they get a search warrant?" Grissom asked.
"They're working on it. Meanwhile, Sophia is working on bringing in Weston."
"Let me know what he gets here," Grissom told her.
She nodded and then turned to leave.
"Your haircut is nice," he said before she left the office.
She turned back to him and smiled. "I'll, uh, I'll be sure to let you know when he gets here." She pushed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear and then left. Her smiling deepening as she exited his office. She was impressed that he had noticed.
As it turned out, Sara wasn't the only one with a new hairdo. When Sophia appeared with Xavier Weston, Grissom hardly recognized him. Xavier's hair was now just blonde, slicked back with gel. He was clean-shaven with no make-up. His leather pants had been replaced by a pinstriped suit. However, Xavier still had the same smug look on his face.
"Nice to see you again," Xavier smirked.
"The pleasure's all mine," Sophia replied, her words overflowing with sarcasm. "So, let's try this again," she said as she again pushed pictures of Gina Marshall and Kevin Otis across the table at Xavier, this time, though there were also pictures of Heather Walker and Sam Cook, the first two victims.
Xavier barely looked at the pictures. "Never seen them before. That hasn't changed from last night."
"So, you've never been to any of their homes or work places?" Sophia asked.
Xavier's lawyer whispered something in his ear, but the younger man just shook his head. Grissom could tell Xavier's arrogance was going to be his downfall.
"Homes, no," Xavier replied. "Places of work, I can't say. I go lots of places. It's possible I might have been to one of them."
"What would you say if I told you I found your fingerprints at one of their homes?" Sophia bluffed. The prints from the Marshall home weren't enough of a match to stand up in court, but Xavier didn't know that.
Xavier's eyes got wide, then narrowed. "I'd say you're bluffing because my fingerprints aren't on record."
Grissom pulled out a picture from the file he held in his hands. It was a still from the video of their confrontation in the hall. It showed Xavier with his hands on Cate.
Xavier's lawyer took the picture from Xavier. He again whispered something into Xavier's ear. This time, however, Xavier responded in kind. It was impossible to say what Xavier was saying, but easy to tell that whatever it was, it was heated.
Xavier's lawyer finally spoke up. "These prints will never stand up in court. This woman is an agent of this lab," he threw the picture back down on the table. "And my client had already refused to give you his prints. Now, if you don't have anything else…" he and Xavier both stood.
"Not so fast," Sophia stopped them. "I have some more questions."
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"Ms. Dietz," Ecklie called after Cate, giving her a small sense of déjà vu. "In my office."
Cate's stomach twisted into a knot. She just knew that her outburst with Catherine and Grissom had gotten back to Ecklie and that he was going to use it to fire her. She hung her head as she walked in to his office.
He handed her a folded piece of paper. She was sure it was her pink slip, but when she opened it, it was a copy of a court motion. She let out her breath, which she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"ADA Sinclair got the judge to allow the fingerprints you collected to stand, but we will have to defend them when this case goes to trial," Ecklie said before Cate could say word one. "Is that going to be a problem?"
She looked him straight in the eye, knowing what he was asking and knowing what she would have to do, what she would have to face. "Not a problem at all," she replied, although she really wasn't all that sure.
"I've given Sinclair your file. He's going to call you with any questions he may have. Make sure you are available for him," Ecklie ordered.
She nodded; she knew the ADA would need to be prepared. She also knew she would have to have a conversation with Grissom and Catherine before her testimony. There were things she didn't want them finding out while she was testifying. She only hoped maybe Xavier Weston would confess and then she wouldn't have to take the stand.
She left Ecklie's office feeling dejected. She knew she had a few months before the case ever reached trial—if it ever reached trail—and before she would have to tell. She decided she would work extra hard to prove herself to the lab and Ecklie before then. Maybe, just maybe, it would dispel the speculation before it started.
