AN. Sorry this took awhile. I found this chapter difficult to write. I meant to make a bigger deal out of this chapter but it ended up quite short. It's kind of a filler chapter so I can move on to the interesting part of the story in the next chapter and still have it make sense. I'm sorry this chapter and the last one are short but it was really one chapter split in 2. This is the events of chapter 12 from everyone else's point of view but starts where chapter 11 finished off.
Chapter 13
Ryan was stupefied by the older man's outburst. He blurted out, "John Carson!"
"And where will we find this John Carson?" Brass murmured in a low voice.
"He lives at the university."
Everything became a mad rush at this point. Everyone piled out of the interrogation room and followed Grissom who was storming to the Tahoes.
Catherine was on the phone to the university administrator who gave them the dorm name where John was staying. Brass was on the phone sorting out a warrant. Another officer would run it over to them at the university once it as sorted.
No one said a word on the way to the university. They didn't know what to say. Sara was in reach. They didn't know if she was dead or alive but either way this nightmare would be over soon.
Once they arrived everyone practically ran to the area of campus where they knew Carson stayed. Flashing their badges to security they ran up to the room. Nick hammered on the door, "OPEN UP!"
There was some shuffling behind the door and dishevelled young man opened the door.
"Mr Carson?" Grissom asked.
"No, that's my pain in the arse roommate. I'm Craig Holder. Can I help you?"
"You mind if we come in?" Grissom asked and without waiting for a reply he barged past Craig and entered the room.
The dorm was small, unimpressive and very unlikely to be holding Sara. The rest of team had filed in behind Grissom.
"You mind if we have a look around?" Grissom asked.
"Go ahead." Craig replied apathetically.
While the team looked around, Brass questioned Craig.
"Do you have any idea where your roommate may be?" Brass asked.
"Not really, we don't talk much."
"Any family in the area? Any close friends?"
"He was a bit of a loner and he mentioned once that his parents died."
Craig's face then dropped as if he suddenly realised something.
"What?" Brass probed.
"I think his parents left him a house. I'm not sure the address exactly but it's out by Boulder City."
Brass called Grissom through.
"We have another possible residence, out in boulder city. Unsure of the address though. Carson's parents left it to him."
The rest of the team had filed in behind Grissom wanting to know if they had found something.
"Okay, we'll head out there the now. Catherine and Nick come with us. Greg, go back to the lab and search John Carson. Find out where this other address is and call us as soon as you have it. After that meet us at the scene. Warrick, finish processing the dorm. See if there's anything useful here. Then meet us at the address too."
With confirming nods from the rest of his team they got to work.
...
The house they were at was frankly disgusting. There was no other word for it. Brass hammered the door.
When the door opened Brass asked, "Mr Carson?"
"Yes, what can I do for you gentlemen?"
"Mr Carson, I have a warrant for your arrest and to search the premises." Brass declared with slightly too much delight in his voice.
Before Carson could protest two police officers who had accompanied them had John turned round, handcuffed and were leading him back to the patrol car amidst John's yelling.
Brass told the CSIs they should wait outside while he and the two remaining officers cleared the house. In response Grissom, Catherine and Nick withdrew their weapons and entered the house without another word to the detective.
"As I thought" Brass chuckled.
...
It didn't take long to search the house which only consisted of the one floor. They found nothing. No Sara, no blood and nothing to suggest she was ever here. The CSIs insisted they look again. They didn't give up the search for a long time but eventually they knew it was a lost cause. Catherine and Brass headed back to interrogate Carson and Grissom and Nick remained to process the house to see if there was anything they could use to hold him.
As Catherine and Brass walked out the house towards Brass' car they saw Warrick and Greg pull up. Catherine shook her head at them as they approached answering their unasked question.
"She's not here, guys." Catherine whimpered.
Warrick cursed and walked off to cool off. Greg just stared at her. His bottom lip quivered.
Catherine couldn't handle seeing the boys in pain. She got into Brass' car soon followed by the detective. They would go back and question Carson. Their only lead.
...
Catherine stood in the observation room with a strong feeling of déjà vu. Brass and Ecklie sat across from Carson hoping for something even the smallest lead. Lindsey had been in earlier, just before the interrogation but when she tried to ID her final attacker she failed to pick the correct person in the line up. With no sign of Sara in the house and a false ID the chances that John Carson would be any use to them seemed slim.
"Mr Carson, where were you on the night of June 3rd this year?" Ecklie drawled.
"At my friend's flat playing video games."
"And would this friend be able to confirm that for you?" Brass chided.
"Certainly. Thomas Caldwell, dorm number 234. He lives a couple down from me." Carson answered smoothly, secretly thanking the heavens that he had blackmailed the boy into providing an alibi when the police started looking around the university.
Brass radioed dispatch and told an officer to go check this out.
"Do you know a Ryan Norton?" Brass asked innocently.
"I've heard of him around campus, why?"
"Well according to Mr. Norton, you aided in the assault and attempted murder of Sara Sidle and are the most likely person to be currently holding her hostage. Now why would he say that?"
"Don't know. I've never spoken to the guy."
Brass stood up and stormed out the room. They were getting nowhere.
...
All the CSIs were sitting in the break room. Carson had been taken back down to lock up but with no firm evidence they were not going to be able to hold him for long. Brass had gone back to HQ to check on his alibi as it was their only hope now.
Everyone sat on the uncomfortable sofas in silence. They were losing Sara more and more by the minute but this was the moment that they would find out if they had lost their friend forever. Evidence had been collected at the house but it turned out to be nothing.
Brass came through the door at this point. He couldn't make eye contact with any of them. He couldn't look into their faces when they found out. Brass just shook his head, said sorry and left to grieve in private.
Catherine broke down first. Her shoulders shaking as she disintegrated into quiet sobs. Warrick was next to her and put a strong arm around her shoulders. Catherine leant heavily into the embrace, letting his shirt muffle her cries.
When the sudden realisation came crashing down on Greg he wretched and fled to the bathroom where his lunch vacated him.
Nick and Grissom just sat there frozen. They had lost her. They both loved her. Not in the same way but it didn't matter. Both men felt a part of themselves die inside at that moment. She was gone.
AN As you can see I plan to drag this out a bit longer. Sorry for torturing you all but this is about a third the way through. The next chapter should make things a bit clearer and without giving too much away it also has the biggest twist of the story. It won't be the last cliff hanger but everything afterwards will be a result of the next chapter (sort of). I know I'm not making any sense but just enjoy.
