Catherine was now stalking the halls looking for Greg and Archie. She found them in the break room. "You two. AV lab now!" And she stalked back out.
"Wow, what do you think that's all about?" Archie asked as he emptied his coffee into the sink.
"I don't know, but I hope it's a lead." Greg countered as he poured his coffee out as well following Archie to the AV lab.
"Archie, isn't there some kind of infrared satellite technology out there now?" Catherine didn't even wait for the pair to take a seat.
"Well, the technology is there, but I wouldn't have any access to it. Why, what are you thinking Cath?" Archie pondered as he sat down at his panel.
"The only address she's had since she moved to Vegas is an empty lot." Catherine posed.
"Okay, and that helps us how?" Greg asked.
"She also has a bachelors degree in engineering." Catherine looked at the two questioning sets of eyes. "What if the lot isn't empty?"
"Ingenious!" Archie exclaimed as he turned back to his panel and started hitting buttons. "I can check satellite images of the area to see if I can find any unusual activity in that area."
"Wait, you mean, she lives under ground?" Greg asked catching the train of though finally. "Poor Nick." He mumbled.
"I hear ya. Look guys, this is probably going to take a while. You two look beat. Go get some coffee, take a nap, something. I'll get you just as soon as I get anything." Archie shooed the pair out of the lab.
"I could go for some coffee I guess, I'll buy." Catherine took Greg by the arm and they walked to the break room.
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"Guys! I think I found it!" Archie yelled as he ran into the break room. The sight before him would have been quite funny if the underlying reason wasn't so serious. Greg and Catherine were on opposite ends of the couch. Cold coffee cups on the coffee table next to their propped up feet. Mandy had apparently joined them at some point, choosing to sit in a vacant chair instead.
But when Archie came running into the room all three bolted out of their seats, coffee cups flying and three startled sets of eyes fixing on him. "What the hell?" Catherine demanded.
"Sorry guys, but I think I found what we're looking for! Come on!" They darted out of the break room, spilled coffee instantly forgotten.
**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**
Nick woke slower this time. No cool towel on his forehead. Instead he ached all over. He was shivering so hard the chains on his restraints were clanking against the concrete. Nick had a raging fever and he knew he was in trouble if somebody didn't find him soon. He couldn't remember ever being this thirsty. His dry throat caused him to start coughing. Trying desperately to support his battered ribs. It took several minutes for him to get the coughing under control. Spitting out the phlegm he had brought up he saw blood. "That can't be good for me." Nick thought to himself. "Okay Stokes, you have to keep your head in the game. Or she's gonna win, again." But that was easier said than done. Alison chose that moment to come back.
"Oh good, you're awake." Alison went to Nick and tried to stroke his face.
"No." Nick stated as firmly as he could as he turned his face away from her.
"Hmm, you need more time I see. Well Nicky, just keep in mind. Your friends are not going to find you. There is no rescue this time. You're mine now. You belong to me and me alone. I am smarter than all of them. Remember, the IQ of a genius Nick."
"Fuck off bitch." Nick rasped.
"I want you to accept me on your own Nicky. I need you to want me on your own. I already showed you what beautiful love we could make Nicky. You will come to want me, to need me like I do you."
"I said fuck off bitch! You make me sick!" Nick tried very hard to sound forceful, but his weakened condition betrayed him.
"Stop calling me that!" Alison fumed as she kicked Nick over and over. After several minutes she suddenly stopped. "Look what you made me do again! I didn't want it to be like this Nicky. I just want you to love me like I love you." Alison cooed. But Nick didn't hear any of it. After about the third kick to his fevered, aching body he had passed out.
"Alright, have it your way, for now. I'll be back later. You may be stronger that I anticipated. I'll need to think about this." Alison left again returning to her living room. Where she turned once again to her computer screen to watch Nick sleep.
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"What have you got Archie?" Catherine asked blinking the last of the much-needed sleep from her eyes.
"I found this." Archie clicked a link on his screen. "See the glitch?" He looked at the trio who were squinting at the screen. "Here, I'll play it again, watch this area right here." Archie pointed to a point on the screen and played the short clip again.
"I think I see it. But what is it?" Greg asked.
"Somebody tampered with the images. And that is not an easy task to undertake. The firewalls and detection software that this sight has, it's damn near impossible." Archie informed them. "Somebody looped the image. I would estimate there is about a month of footage of this area eliminated. You're engineering genius seems to be a pretty smart computer geek as well."
"Damn." Mandy was starting to get really pissed at this woman.
"I think we need to go back to that lot." Catherine stated.
"But there isn't anything there to see Cath." Greg reminded her.
"Not with our eyes. But we have other ways of seeing. We need to look under the lot." Catherine turned to Greg.
Understanding lighting up his eyes. "Right! Mandy, come on. I need your help loading some things into the Denali." Greg grabbed Mandy by the hand as they ran from the room.
"Archie, you did it again." Catherine smiled at him with admiration.
"Just bring him home again Cath." And with that Archie turned back to his computer to see if he could find anything else that would help them.
Catherine pulled out her phone pressing Brass' number on the speed dial. "Brass, meet us at the empty lot. We're heading there now." Archie didn't hear the rest of the conversation as Catherine walked out of his lab.
"Okay, Cath, I have teams standing by to see if we can figure out a way in. If we do they're only a couple of minutes away. Let's check this thing out." Brass walked over to where Greg had a ground density meter and Mandy was laying out a grid with string and small spikes. "So, this contraption is suppose to tell us if this is some kind of bunker or something right?" Brass inquired.
"Yeah, it measures how dense the ground is. If it's a bunker it will show a lot denser than the rest of the area. Then all we have to do is figure out how to get into it." Greg instructed.
"Okay, I have all the grids laid out Greg. What do you need me to do now?" Mandy asked brushing dirt off of her hands.
"Pray." Greg mumbled
"Amen to that." Brass added.
Catherine meanwhile was on the phone with Archie. He had called her with information on Alison's spending habits over the past couple of years. "She has spent a bundle on electronics. Computers, sensors, cameras, that place is going to be like a fortress if we ever get in. She also had a two-ton sheet of steel delivered about a month after she got here. And some serious hinge type devices. And an industrial motor. Used primarily for opening and closing very large equipment such as floodgates, canals, and things like that. It works by remote, so there's a chance to override it I guess" Archie paused as he read more.
"The way into the bunker is by bypassing her what, garage door opener?" Catherine surmised.
"That's about it Cath. Wish I could tell you more." Archie conceded.
"Keep looking Archie, let me know if you come up with anything else." Catherine hung up. Walking over to the others Catherine had an idea. "Brass, do you know any burglars?" Catherine asked him with a Cheshire cat smile on her face. Maybe this monster wasn't so smart after all.
"Uh, I can think of a few. Why?" Brass asked confused.
"I think we need one. Alison made herself one really big garage door, with one really big remote controlled opener." Catherine smiled at them.
"That was dumb." Mandy thought out loud. "Even I can crack a garage door opener code." Mandy looked up when she felt three sets of eyes staring at her. "What? It was an experiment in college." Mandy defended. "All you need is… I'll be right back. I have what I need back at the lab. Keep looking for the door." And Mandy sped off to her car.
"I knew there was a bad girl trapped inside her." Greg quipped, wagging his eyebrows.
"Get back to the task at hand Greg." Catherine swatted him on the arm. Some relief coming from the knowledge they were getting close.
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Nick began to stir slightly. Alison didn't delay in rushing in to him. She wanted him to see her each time he woke. She wanted her face to be the last thing he saw before he fell asleep. She wanted to be the only thing he thought of.
Nick was mumbling incoherently as he began to open his eyes. Blinking then looking at her puzzled. "Kris… Kristy?" He questioned. "You died." His mind was jumbled with images of Kristy first making love with him, and then laying on Doc Robins table. "Why are you here?" He mumbled.
"It's me Nicky. It's… Kristy." Alison lied. "I'm gone now. But I came to tell you something Nicky." She whispered in his ear. "You need to be with Alison now. She's the only one who loves you Nicky."
"No. She hurt me Kristy. She wants to kill me." He protested.
"I do not want to kill you. You stupid fool, I love you." Alison yelled at him.
Startled by the outburst, Nick blinked again. Finally seeing whom he was really talking to. "No, no, no, no." Nick groaned. "Go away. I'd rather die here than have you touch me again. You're sick and demented. Just go away, go away and let me die." Nick tried to roll onto his side but found his ribs to sore from the battering to allow it. "Just go away." He ground out between clenched teeth.
This infuriated Alison again. She stood and began screaming despondently kicking at Nick again. She was hysterical by now which caused her aim to be a little off. Nick wasn't fast enough to avoid her foot as it smashed down on the side of his head. Nick saw a blinding white light of pain. Then Alison connected with his ribs again. The blinding pain in Nick's head was keeping him conscious though. He felt the next several kicks and stomps. As Alison's foot smashed down on his already swollen hands, then his left knee. Nick was screaming too by this point, but his desiccated throat was preventing any sound from escaping.
Alison stopped as suddenly as she started. She looked down at Nick writhing on the floor in pain. "Look what you made me do again Nicky." She calmly stated as she walked out straightening her hair as she went.
Alison once again went to her computer. Considering the fact that Nick was not coming around the way she had hoped Alison decided to check her other cameras. Alison cursed loudly as she watched Mandy get out of the car and go to Catherine, Greg and Brass. I better step this up a few notches. Alison thought as she returned to Nick.
Nick had heard her curse and for a moment thought his rescue might be close at hand. But when he looked up at the door he saw Alison returning. "Now what?" He asked himself. As Alison walked over to a cupboard he had failed to notice previously. Alison looked back at him smiling seductively as she pulled out a small duffle bag.
Nick began shaking when he saw the bag. It was the same bag Alison had brought with her 30 years ago. It was the bag that contained the devices she had used to sodomize and rape him. Nick suddenly felt like he was 9-years-old again. He couldn't fight her off. She was stronger; he couldn't begin to fight her off in this condition. "Please, don't. Please. I'll beg if that's what you want. Please don't do it again." Nick was crying, "I won't let them look for you. Just leave. Please just leave. I can't do it again." Nick pleaded. Alison was oblivious to his pleas as she started taking her "toys" out of the bag. Placing them neatly on the floor in front of Nick.
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"I should be getting close." Mandy announced. Hearing a slight click the four of them turned to see the dirt being disturbed as the ground lifted slowly. They stood in awe as it opened up to a concrete drive that led down about 15 feet, then made a sharp right turn.
"All units move in to my location now! Now!" Brass yelled into his radio as they started down the drive. Catherine, Greg and Brass in the lead, flashlights out and weapons drawn. A few yards in though the make shift garage door closed.
"It's okay, I still have my little friend." Mandy consoled, indicating the code breaker box she still held.
"Good, you stay here and get this open for the others when they get here." Brass ordered.
"Sure thing. I'll follow you guys in when they get here." Mandy turned back to the door and pressed the button that had opened the door to let them in. "Uh, guys. Problem here. She must be using a program to shuffle the signal. This could take a while. Go on, I'll keep trying." Mandy turned her light back to the code box to start all over again trying to open the door.
They reached a closed door. Greg scanned it with his light. Checking the handle he found it unlocked. Of course! Greg thought. She never thought she'd be found. He turned the knob gently pushing the door open.
Inside they found a living room that could have been right out of Better Homes & Gardens. Every detail meticulously thought out. As they continued further in they found Alison's computer. It still showed the entrance where the officers were still trying to get in.
"She knows we're here." Greg needlessly pointed out. "I wonder if maybe she left?" He pondered.
"I hope not." Brass commented. "Cause I want that bitch to rot in prison. Even if Nick's okay." He looked at Catherine and Greg. "What? I know I'm no the only one thinking that." Brass shrugged.
"Door." Catherine alerted them. Pointing to the far corner.
Brass took point as they reached the door. Turning the knob slowly. Brass paused when he started to open the door. He hoped he was the only one that could hear the pitiful sound he was hearing. "Wait over there, both of you." He ordered Catherine and Greg across the room. They reluctantly obliged him. When he opened the door all he saw at first was her lavish bedroom. Scanning a second time he saw the hidden door on the far wall. He motioned for Catherine and Greg to follow him in. Motioned for them to hold while he went to the hidden door that had been left ajar.
Brass opened the door a little further to see where Nick was and where Alison was. What he saw made his stomach twist. Nick was curled into as much of a ball as he could make begging this woman not to hurt him. Alison was standing over Nick with a large cylindrical device in her hand. As she walked behind him, Nick began screaming. Before Alison could get close enough to use it Brass pulled the trigger.
Alison froze momentarily. Then she fell on top of Nick, dead eyes staring him in the face. Nick began shaking uncontrollably. As Brass rushed over to remove her corpse from Nick, Catherine and Greg came running in. They had heard Nick's screams just before Brass fired.
"Oh my God." Greg stopped dead in his tracks seeing all the perverse devices arranged on the floor in front of them. "I hope she didn't use those." Greg shook himself out of his shocked state and joined Catherine by Nick's side.
"Nick, you safe now. Alison is dead. She can't hurt you. Come on Nick look at me." Catherine pleaded with him. Nick just continued to shake uncontrollably. "Brass, give me your handcuff key. We need to get these off of him." Catherine blindly reached behind her towards Brass.
Brass fished his keys out of his pocket and handed them to her. He had checked for a pulse on Alison but didn't find one. "So much for her rotting in a prison cell." He grumbled to nobody in particular.
"Come on Nick, talk to us. Look at us at least." Greg was pleading now. "Cath, he's burning up with fever." Greg noticed Nick's boxers were filthy but still intact. "I don't think she had the chance to use any of those." Greg motioned with his head towards the detested display.
Catherine finished removing the handcuffs and shackles carefully seeing his decimated wrists and ankles. There were multiple cuts and bruises as well as signs that at least one wrist may be at least dislocated.
When the last of his restraints was removed Nick crept away from them towards the wall curling up into a fetal position. "Go away. Don't touch me. I'd rather lay here and die than have you touch me again." Nick was still talking to Alison. His mind hadn't registered yet that she was dead. He was anticipating her attack when Brass shot her. But the actual shot didn't register in his fevered mind. He was still trapped in his hell and Alison was trying to hurt him again.
Greg took his phone out and pressed the speed dial for Mandy. "Have you got it open yet?" He shouted at her.
"They just started down Greg. I was able to disable the closing mechanism so it will stay open this time. Is Nick…" She couldn't finish her question.
Greg looked at Nick. "He's alive. We need an ambulance though. Can you call one for us?" Greg asked in a shaky voice, regretting having yelled at her.
"I called for one as soon as I heard the gun shot. Who got shot Greg?" Mandy held her breath as she waited for his response.
"Alison is dead. The ambulance is for Nick. He's delirious with fever and who knows what else." Greg hung up at that point and turned back to Nick.
"Nick, look at me buddy." Greg took Nick's face and forced him to look up at him. "Nick, it's me. It's Greg; you're safe now. She can't hurt you. Nick can you see me?" Greg fixed his stare on Nick.
Nick seemed to be looking through him for several moments. Greg kept his diatribe up until Nick finally gave him a small nod. "Alright, that's what I wanted to see. Nick, can you tell me where you're hurt?"
"Ev… ev… every where." Nick whispered. "She's gonna kill me." Nick looked at Greg sadly.
"Nick, Alison is dead. She can't hurt you; she can't kill you. Keep talking to me okay. Just a word every now and then is all I need. Can you do that Nick? Can you keep talking to me? Nick?"
Nick looked past Greg at the utensils laying on the floor. "She… she didn't use 'um this time."
Catherine was the first to hear the officers coming in. She went to the other room and stopped them there. "It's okay guys. You can go back up. If one of you could escort the paramedics when they get here though that would be very helpful." She smiled tiredly at them.
The officers turned and went back the way they came. About 10 minutes later one of them returned with the paramedics as Catherine had requested. Catherine usher the medics into the room where Nick was. He had slipped into unconsciousness again.