Disclaimer: I own nothing and no-one from CSI:NY, I'm just borrowing them for a while. No infringement intended. Any new characters - well they're mine.
A/N: Hi everyone and thanks for the positive responses to that last chapter. It was a bit different but I'm so happy that it went down well. This story is getting a very steady number of alerts so thank you very much for that, for reading it and for reviewing. Definitely a bit of drama in this one! Enjoy!
Parallels
Don had dropped Ellie to work the next morning. He had half expected her to have a breakdown after receiving the photos, but she hadn't – in fact she hadn't mentioned it once Danny and Stella had gone. The only signs that she'd actually registered anything were much later in the evening. She was clearly tired but had insisted on staying up, feigning interest in the film he was watching. However, once he'd declared he'd lost interest, she too turned in for the night. Although they always went to sleep in spoon position, this time she'd almost wrapped him around her and when he'd got up in the night, she'd woken, asking for him, not content until he was back and she was cloaked in him once again.
When they woke up and got themselves ready for work, she again didn't say a word and was her normal, chatty self. A part of Don was really pleased about it, but it just felt weird to him.
Realising there was nothing he could actually do, he made his way up to the crime lab to see what the guys could tell him about the photos. Danny spotted him and waved him over, two cups of coffee in his hands.
"You read my mind," said Don taking a long pull on the hot drink.
"Rough night with Ellie?" asked Danny.
"Actually no. It's weird Danny, she's just not talking about it at all."
"Well, it's probably like Stella said – her way of coping. But you're worried."
Don shrugged. "Wouldn't you be?"
"I see your point."
"Anything on Kinnon?"
"Well, it was definitely Morris' gear he was using," started Danny. "We also called all the picture agencies and you have no idea how many new photographers there are out there. Anyhow, we did find the same name – Ken Wood – signed on to four of them, including the one Morris worked for. We showed Kinnon's mug shot and all confirmed him as being Ken Wood. They also all have lists of which photographers are where and which ones are just running around the city looking for celebs or waiting for something to happen."
"Which is how Kinnon knew Morris was on the approved list." Danny nodded in confirmation as Don continued. "And you've told the agencies to keep Wood on their books but inform us if he checks in."
Danny smiled. "You're good at this."
NYNYNYNY
Ellie had been glad to be based at the practice today. Although she didn't want to admit it, the photo thing had unsettled her and she felt like she had eyes on her all the time. At least being here, she could relax. She was sufficiently relaxed by lunchtime to agree to going out to lunch with a couple of colleagues, which she had enjoyed. Her afternoon was less busy and she had an early finish.
As she showed her last patient of the day out the door Alice turned to her excitedly.
"There's been a delivery for you – I think it must be from your young detective."
Alice handed over a long, slim box. Ellie opened it up carefully and found a gorgeous, long stemmed deep red rose and instantly knew it wasn't from Don – he knew she didn't really care for red roses. She picked up the little card, hesitating before opening it, but knowing she must. Sure enough it was from him.
Ellie,
We will be together soon and for always I promise
xx
Ellie plastered on a smile for Alice's sake, gathered her things, called Don and took a cab straight to the crime lab. This confirmed that Kinnon now also knew where she worked. She forced herself to keep calm and take in long, slow, deep breaths, focusing on muscle groups as a way of centering herself – she had to get a grip. She had known that she would have to face him and some strange way, this was helping. It didn't mean she wouldn't be scared when she finally met him but it did mean that she wouldn't be totally freaked like she would have been if he'd just appeared out of the blue.
Don met her at the lab and they handed off the boxed flower and card to Stella. Lina then took Ellie off to take a statement.
Don looked at the flower and shook his head slowly. He knew what this meant, but it was Stella who voiced it.
"A single red rose – the symbol of deep, true love. He's getting ready to meet her."
"I know," he said quietly.
"Poor Ellie. She must have thought it was from you at first."
"Nah. She hates roses. Ellie's an orchid girl."
Stella smiled softly. "The symbol of rare beauty."
"Absolutely."
Before either could say any more Adam came bursting through the door.
"Mac's on his way, but you guys have got to see this." He looked at Don. "Okay, maybe not you."
Don and Stella looked at each other but ignored Adam and followed him into the tech lab where Mac and Danny were waiting. Adam sat himself at his terminal.
"Okay, so you all know that I can have access to all your email accounts from here right?"
Mac raised an eyebrow at the tech expert.
"I said I can not that I did," he added quickly. "Even so you know that we have filters on the system – profanity filters and such."
They all nodded, not having a clue where this was going.
"Well, I got a ping on Don's account and when that happens, the account allows me access. This is what was there."
Adam nervously turned the screen around. They all looked, not believing their eyes. In front of them were more pictures, this time of Don and Ellie in her apartment taken that morning. Through the flimsy curtain you could make out Ellie in her underwear, putting lotion on, getting dressed, brushing her hair, Don kissing her, the pair of them eating breakfast and then them leaving and getting into his car. The pictures continued to show Ellie going into work and then laughing with her friends in a restaurant.
"Enough," rasped Mac.
Don tipped his head back, blowing out a breath. How the hell was he going to tell Ellie about this?
"Can you trace this Adam?" asked Mac.
"I tried but it was too late. I either needed to do it in real time or at least be able to capture the IP address before he logs off. But what I can do with Don's permission, is leave his account active to me so that if he does do this again, I'll know."
"Do it." Don didn't hesitate.
"And this came straight to Don's account?" asked Danny.
"He wants me to know he's there and is aware of me; that it won't stop him wanting Ellie." His eyes were blazing. "We need to get this bastard Mac and soon."
NYNYNYNY
"My advice – don't tell her," said Danny, trying to calm his friend down.
"How can I not tell her something like that Danny?" replied Don as he continued to pace the room, hands on hips, not quite knowing what else to do with them.
"Easy. Just. Don't. Tell. Her." Don shot Danny a look and Danny thought about how else to put this – it was so clear to him. "Okay, let's put it this way. She already knows that Kinnon knows where she works and where she lives –what difference will it make to know that he's watching her? What benefit does Ellie gain from that information? It'll just freak her out even more and you've already said that you're worried about her. You're with her every night anyway so he's not going to make any attempt to get to her then. Seriously Don, you do what you think is right, but personally, I think she needs to sleep and have as little stress added as possible."
Don thought about what his friend said. It made sense but he still wasn't sure it was right. Danny did have a point about Ellie needing to be kept as calm as possible though. No, Danny was right. There would be nothing gained. He may regret it, but he'd leave it. The frustrating thing was that they couldn't even put a police presence in the area in case they chased Kinnon away but then he'd sent the pictures to Don. What the hell was he playing at? Did he want them to put police on Ellie and if so why? The answer was to catch him before he got anywhere near Ellie. At least with these photos they may be that little bit closer.
"And you. How are you doing through all this?"
Don smiled at his friend, appreciative of the concern. "I'll be ok, but glad when it's over you know. Thanks for asking anyway."
Danny wasn't totally convinced but didn't get the chance to talk about it any more.
"Well, surprise, surprise, none of the addresses Kinnon gave the agencies checked out," said Stella as she entered the room. "And the chances of him renting anywhere or registering to pay utilities is virtually non existant, so it's back to the drawing board."
"This guy is seriously pissing me off," snarked Danny.
"You and me both Danno, you and me both." Don clapped the other man on the shoulder as he made his way out.
NYNYNYNY
Ellie was working back at the NYSB and enjoying every moment of it. The company had found it's feet again after the murder of their principal choreographer, the current golden boy Martin Jensen was back and things were ticking along nicely.
Going down to the room where the therapy equipment was kept, Ellie felt strange. It was here that she'd found one of the dancers seriously injured. She shuddered slightly as she recalled that horrible day. Looking around at the pristine room she put those thoughts aside and got out the things she would need for the next session. Still though, something felt odd. Leaving the large storage cupboard in the corner of the room she poked her head into the therapy room. Nothing. No-one was there. She pushed the feeling aside putting it down to paranoia. Even so she was happy when the next dancer to need treatment came.
Going back to her locker to change she noticed that the door was unlocked. She was fastidious about that kind of thing, so opened the door gingerly. There in the locker was another rose but this time it had a set of white silk and lace underwear hanging with it. A note attached
For when you're mine xx
NYNYNYNY
Adam was sitting waiting for some test results to come through when the computer next to him sprang into life, emitting a loud 'ping'. Jumping to attention, he quickly checked what was going on and found an incoming message to Don's account with jpegs attached. Acting quickly Adam started a trace as well as capturing the IP address in case the guy logged off immediately. Whilst waiting for the trace, he opened the files and swallowed hard as he saw pictures of Ellie going into a locker room, coming out and then of the locker itself with a rose and some fancy underwear inside. Before he could really process what this all meant, the computer 'pinged' at him once more.
"Got you, you SOB," he exclaimed to the empty room. He picked up the 'phone to dial Mac.
NYNYNYNY
Don and Lina went to get Ellie and waited for Stella and Danny to arrive. The CSI's put the rose and the underwear into evidence bags and dusted the locker room and the locker itself while Don and Lina looked at video footage and questioned staff. It was strange for all of them to be doing this knowing the answer to the question they were usually trying to find out – the name of the bad guy. This time they knew that and this was just evidence collecting to make the conviction as watertight as possible, but even so it was just as vital.
Just as they were all about to leave Don's cell rang, showing Mac's number.
"Hey Mac," he answered, putting a hand up so that they all stopped.
Don's face hardened as whatever Mac was saying was processed. The conversation over, Don turned to Ellie.
"Listen Sweetheart, we're going to take you home now, but then I'm going to have to go back to the precinct for a little while. Will you be okay? I can always get your mom to come over?"
"Oh yes that would be perfect! Just what I need. No, once I'm home I'll be fine and you won't be long will you?"
"No, not at all. Okay, you go sign out and we'll get on our way." He kissed her lightly and waited until she was out of earshot at the front desk until he addressed the others.
"Adam got a trace on Kinnon. He should have an address by the time we get Ellie home. Mac's assembling a SWAT team and we're going to meet them there."
They all nodded and went on their way.
NYNYNYNY
Lina pulled the straps of Don's bullet proof vest on tight. Her partner was edgy. She kind of understood but still she'd thought that he'd be pleased about this. They were finally going to get this guy.
"You okay, Flack?" she asked.
Don looked at her. "Honestly? Something about this doesn't feel right?"
"How so?" asked Mac, surprising both the other officers.
"I don't know. It's too easy maybe." Don searched for the words to explain his thought process. "This guy's found out about Ellie, got into the ball, found out where she lives, where she works, got into the place and left gifts for her, emailed me at work so knows I'm a cop and yet makes a mistake like allowing us enough time to trace him… I don't know Mac.."
Mac considered the detective's points – they were valid but then so was this address. And criminals like Kinnon did have huge egos and that's usually what got them caught.
"Okay, I hear you," he said, "but sometimes you just got to go with what you've got and hope you get lucky. Either way, Ellie is at home and safe – and we put extra men on her building. We'll take care in case he's rigged the place, but Don I don't see we have a choice." He clapped Don on the shoulder. "Come on, let's do this."
The team didn't enter quietly once in place. The address was of an office suite in a disused building. Flash bangs went in first, quickly followed by a stream of armed officers, all shouting with the aim of making as much confusion for the person inside as possible.
Don, Lina and the others went in slightly behind the SWAT team. Every room was swept and the words 'clear' were shouted back each time. Finally, an officer called from the far office. Entering, it was clear that Kinnon had been living here; empty soda cans and food containers littered the room but the thing that drew their attention was the laptop sitting proud in the centre of the desk. Don went cold as he looked at the message crossing the screen.
TOO LATE TOO LATE TOO LATE TOO LATE TOO LATE TOO LATE TOO LATE
Mac, Stella and Danny all turned to him at the same time, saying the same thing "Ellie!"
Mac immediately called to send extra officers to Ellie's apartment while Don rang her. He blew out a relieved breath as she answered. It was short lived.
"Hey," she said happily, "why are you calling if you're on your way up?"
"What do you mean? I'm not…" Her words suddenly hit him. She thought he was on his way up, that he was there. His mind whirled. He'd been right, this had been too easy. Kinnon had played them, had set them up. A thought hit him like a freight train.
"Ellie the door!" he screamed into the 'phone. "Have you opened the door for me?"
The others watched in horror as he waited for her reply. He heard her finally understand what he was saying and run to the door. His head dropped as he heard the door bang open and Ellie scream.