The windows to the interrogation room were shut and the gray-blue walls were illuminated by a series of fluorescent lights. There was a faint hum being emitted by the air-conditioner, but all other sounds were blocked out by soundproof walls and glass. There was no one on the other side of the mirror.
The large metal table had been pushed off to the side, leaving only a single chair and its occupant: Natalie Davis. She had been tied down, as she had previous lashed out at security after Grissom's departure from the room. She slouched forward, her hands roped tightly behind her back. Her hair hung down over her face, masking her delicate features. She seemed distant, and almost serene.
Alone in the room, and seemingly unaware of any reason for it, she took time to look around. Blinds on each of the six windows, one hundred and twenty metal strips to each set. A large vista mirror, reflecting herself. Gray floor panels, fourteen by eight and a third. Grey walls, standard height. Four rows of fluorescent lighting. The door had a hooked knob that opened from the right. Above the knob, a small window shed light in from the hallway. The table was on the wall opposing the door. Her own chair, a match to the table, had four straight legs with black rubber floor protectors. A small panel for the back, suspended by four metal rods. Simple.
She was rocking gently in her seat when the door swung open and in walked Captain Jim Brass, pulling a cart, two shelved, its contents hidden from view. He smiled curtly at her as she looked up.
"I'm back, Natalie. I want to talk again." He was extremely polite, smiling all the while.
She stared at him blankly.
"Do you want to tell me where Sara is now?"
She continued to stare.
"OK, I get it. Still silent. And, you know, that's fine. OK. But, uh, Natalie, I have my ways. We can do this the easy way or the hard way." He was walking towards her.
She started to glare at him.
"Look, I know you understand me perfectly. I don't see any reason for you not to comply. We have you. We can hold you. We have the evidence to hold you. Now let's give this up. Where is Sara?" His voice was gaining tension. "All right. I'm not buying this childhood trauma crap. You're a smart girl. A talented girl... But let me tell you I've had my share of grievances. And I'm a smart man too." He smiled, backing towards the cart. He bent over, reaching for a bucket and bottle. "I have my ways." He held up a bottle clearly labelled 'Bleach'. "Familiar?" She looked away. "No?" He raised his eyebrows and proceeded to unscrew the bottle. "You know, that's OK. I don't care if this has some sort of intrinsic meaning to you or not. I'm fine with that because, well, do you know what bleach does to the skin?" The cap was off now. "It burns it." He started towards her again, pouring the bleach into the bucket as he went. "Now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way."
Natalie was shaking furiously now. She shut her eyes tightly, muttering incoherent phrases to herself, which Brass could only assume was her nonsensical song again.
"Don't be a fool," he implored, now at her side and she unable to move. The bucket was tilted at forty-five degrees, suspended over her head. He shouted now. "Where. Is. Sara?" Natalie's mumbling grew louder. "Where. Is. Sara?" he shouted again.
"... I've got a pain in my side," she twittered.
"Tell me."
"... Something is wrong with..."
"Tell me, Natalie."
"I'm just as sick as can--"
Brass tossed to bucket of bleach onto the rambling girl and she let out a wild howl, which gradually transformed into Brass's own voice.
He sat straight up in his chair. He was in his office, drenched with sweat. He'd been sleeping at his computer. He slowly recalled the events of the night and he let out a tired sigh. He'd been dreaming. But the worst was yet to come."Christ, Jim," he muttered, sifting through a pile of papers. Natalie's pseudonym. Brass glared. "Little bitch doll," he spoke bitterly. He leaned his head into his hand.
Suddenly, his phone rang. He jumped, and then stared at it for a second, and then answered.
It was Grissom, filling him in on the current state of the case.
It was going to be a long one.