Backstabbers: Chapter 14
Disclaimer: Never have own nor profited from my Fanfiction, which includes this story. I write for personal expression and your entertainment only. ;)
A/N1#: Second last chapter guys! :( It's been a long but pleasurable journey and I'm glad to have shared it with you. Thank you everyone who's read, reviewed, alerted or favourite'd this fic – it's been an honour to write for you all :)
A/N2#: A microscope's 'stage' is where the slide is placed – just in case you didn't understand the reference below ;)
Black eyes narrowed with an intense gaze, focused on the target. Lips growing into an impish grin, the satisfaction spread quickly over his dark features.
Now I've gotcha!
Careful not to damage the evidential towel, Walter pulled at the mysterious substance until it rested safely between the pliers in his hand. "That's right," He taunted the crystal-like material.
"No-one can escape Walter's eye. Walter's got hawk-eyes, eye of the tiger baby." He breathed with a chuckle, placing the substance onto a slide.
A softer, lighter chuckle reached him from the doorway. Looking over his shoulder, Walter smiled before nodding to Natalia, turning back to the slide as she approached.
"Hey, BV." He greeted while setting the slide down onto the microscope stage, adjusting the focus, he stared intently through the lens.
"Hey," Natalia smiled, standing opposite the table to him. "Talking to the evidence, huh?"
Walter glanced up with a smirk, ready to challenge her joking. "Beats arguing with the centrifuge."
Joining him in his chuckles, Natalia raised her hands in defeat. "I'll admit that, but that lil thing's been fighting me all day."
Without looking up, Walter sighed. "So I take it you didn't find anything from the blood off the towel then?"
Frowning, Natalia shook her head. "Nothing. Eric couldn't pull a print either. Any luck in here?"
Regaining his proud grin, Walter removed his gloves with a snap. "Hmmm, let the newbie work some magic here and we'll see." He began adjusting the focus again, concentrating on the evidence.
"Don't forget to use the eye of the tiger, newbie." Natalia whispered playfully.
"Very funny, oldie." He retorted dryly. After looking up, he chuckled, seeing the raised brow glare that met him.
"Excuse me, but aren't you only 3 years younger?" she questioned lightly.
Rolling his eyes, he sighed "Yeah, to be honest I wouldn't have known it if Wolfe hadn't of told me." He admitted, returning to the microscope.
Clicking her tongue loud enough for him to hear, the big CSI noticed Natalia smirking. "Nice save."
"I had to; those heels you're digging look dangerous." He said mischievously, earning another smirk. Glancing down at her own footwear, Natalia was impressed.
"You really do got the eye of the tiger, huh?"
Standing up straight, Walter frowned. "Maybe, but the mind of the sloth." His grimace deepened in thought.
"This doesn't make sense." He whispered to himself.
Natalia watched him inquisitively, "What doesn't?"
"This," He said, taking out the slide and holding it up. "It looks like the hair gel from Chris' wounds, from his buddy Andy Mason...I can run it but that's twice this kid's tied to the evidence."
"I doubt it's a coincidence." Natalia breathed, watching as Walter placed the slide down and took out his cell.
"I'll call H." He stated. However, before he could call the Lieutenant, Natalia held a hand out, cutting him off.
"Wait a sec," she told him, deep in thought. "The gel was found on Chris and on the towel?"
"Yeah?" Walter waited for her to finish her theory, un-sure what she was thinking.
"So," Natalia continued. "That would suggest that the attacker helped Jenny into the bathroom right before the attack, right?"
Walter nodded, though his confusion only grew. "Wait, I thought you said it wasn't the best friend-"
"No no, I am saying that," Natalia interrupted lightly, "A guy couldn't have helped Jenny into the girl's bathrooms and according to her it was a blond female."
Walter waited in silence, still oblivious to her speculation. Sighing, Natalia continued.
"And who do we know had their hands all over Andy right before the concert?" She hinted, smiling when the realisation dawned across Walter's features.
"The best friend's girl friend."
She smirked, "Bingo."
Re-dialling Horatio's number, Walter turned to Natalia, wearing a humoured smirk.
"This sounds like a bad episode of 'All My Children'." He commented with a low chuckle.
Nodding while she rolled her eyes, Natalia grinned.
"Tell me about it."
Flashy pink-painted nails tapped impatiently across the glass table, an un-even dance that grew faster every minute. Blinking quickly under heavily mascara-coated eyelashes, dark blue eyes darted around the room.
Smirking outside, Eric Delko knew their suspect was sweating in the hot seat. Waiting only a minute longer he entered, Horatio following closely. Tossing the file down on the table as he sat, he stared straight into the 17 year-old's eyes.
Squirming under the stare, Cynthia Reese snapped, glaring at the officer.
"What?"
Eric left a pause before answering her, his voice holding disgust. "I've looked into murderer's eyes before and you know what...they all look the same."
Standing close-by, Horatio wore cold demeanour, watching the girl recover from the accusation.
"Woah! What did you call me?"
"You heard me." Eric growled out, shaking his head. Flicking open the file, he began searching for the right page.
"You know, you were pretty clever Cynthia." He commented lowly, earning another glare. "Finding out about Chris and Jason, using that to blackmail Chris for money, it was all well thought out."
"Except when he wouldn't pay up." Horatio finished, leaving a heavy silence in the glass interrogation room.
Holding up a manicured hand, Cynthia looked between both officers, feeling cornered.
"I didn't do that. Some thug grabbed Chris, not me." She scoffed, "No way you've proof that I did anything."
Eric chuckled, "Your right, a thug did attack Chris. Stole his prized guitar and pawned it off on Ebay."
Looking on as his brother-in-law took out a record of transaction and placed it in front of Cynthia, Horatio stepped in, equally cold-blue eyes clashing with hers.
"The only thing you forgot, is that by selling that guitar online, Cynthia...is that it led us back to you."
Swallowing thickly, Cynthia knew panic was printed right across her tanned features. "So-so-so Chris gave me the guitar to put up online, just to see how much it was worth. Doesn't mean I stabbed him."
Chuckling deeply at her attempt at brushing-off the allegation, Eric pulled out another sheet from the file. "How about this, Cynthia?" he challenged, tossing the page to her.
"What the hell is all this?" she asked, not understanding what the small, blue crystal-like flakes meant to her.
"That is hair gel from your boyfriend, Andy Mason." Eric told her, his tone growing aggressive. "Hair gel that we found in Chris' knife wounds."
Brow burrowing, Cynthia glared at him. "Then why isn't Andy in here?"
"Because," Horatio explained, "Andy has an alibi...you."
Glossy lips fell into a frown. "Me?"
Eric nodded, "Andy said you two hooked up at the concert, then you left quickly. Andy is seen on the security footage at the time of the attack-"
"While you are not, Ms. Reese." Horatio finished, tilting his head as he watched her reaction.
"But if it was Andy's hair gel then why am I here?"
Eric smirked darkly, "Because, after the...contact...Andy's hair gel was caught under your fingernails. When you stabbed Chris, it transferred from your hand, to the knife, to him."
Breathing heavily, Cynthia began tapping her high-heel strapped foot against the floor. "Oh yeah? Well prove it!"
Horatio smirked at her while Eric pulled his kit up from under the table. "Oh we can." The Lieutenant warned.
"You see this?" Eric asked her, holding up a bottle of Luminol. "No matter how hard you wash your hands, this will show us the blood."
Rising from his chair, Eric hadn't even stepped around the table before Cynthia panicked.
"Don't do it okay! I did it, I did it!" she rasped out, eyes growing teary. "Chris, he-he always said he'd take care of his friends. 'Bank on that' he said. But then he started to break away from Andy, spending all his time with his little boyfriend!"
Horatio and Eric remained quiet, listening to her breakdown with bitter facial expressions.
"Me and Andy were getting thrown to the gutter. Without Chris, Andy had nothing! I had nothing! I found those two one night and got a pic. All I wanted was the money, I didn't want to hurt Chris but he made me do it!"
Eric frowned bitterly, "All of this was for money?" he questioned with disgust. Cynthia didn't seem to have noticed him speak, lost in her confession.
"All that money..." she breathed softly, as though in regret. "Chris was raking it in but he didn't care – he just kept living so...averagely."
Being escorted from the room by an officer, Cynthia looked back at the CSI and Lieutenant, teary eyes filled with question.
"Why become a famous musician if he didn't want the money?" she asked, looking to Horatio. A heavy silence fell over the interrogation room.
"It's called...a passion." He drawled, watching as the teenager was led away to the holding cells.
Letting out a long breath, Eric stood behind the Lieutenant, brow burrowed in anger. "We don't get paid enough to deal with brats like that." He growled out, closing up his kit.
Hands resting on his hips, Horatio watched as Cynthia passed Jason in handcuffs, Natalia by the injured teen's side to guide him away and comfort him.
"I know Eric, that's why it is our passion."
So there you go guys, case solved! ;) I hope the ending wasn't a let-down to you all, money can cause people to do some crazy things (as can love)
Though the case is solved there still is one more chapter – it's a nice one ;) A happy ending if you will ;)
So stay tuned guys! XD
-Mel out ;D