Saturday, March 28, 2008; 1:30 PM PST
Though she was still trapped in a hospital bed, in Jess' mind this day had brightened considerably from when she had first opened her eyes.
Ryan had called Horatio and, though their conversation was brief, he seemed to be treating her with a less protective attitude than Friday had revealed. She had put in calls to Charles, her Lieutenant and the department receptionist Carissa, asking them all to be in the hospital at half past one. Carissa was quite confused on the phone, but Jess hoped that she would be a willing participant in the next step in 'The Plan', as she now called it in her mind.
After assuring Dr. Cameron that she was "quite herself" today, he had allowed the nurses to bring in the extra chairs that Jess needed for her afternoon meeting. The ladies had even helped the CSI tame her curls, making her feel even more prepared.
That is until they walked in the door. All bravado left her when she glimpsed the Lieutenant's scowl and Charles' concern-filled disapproval. Ryan had kept to himself most of the morning, but she could now see by his silent, yet overt communication with Charles that he did not approve either.
'Please have a seat.' She looked at her hands as they knotted the sheet covering her legs. At this point, stilling them would be useless. She could only hope for an advocate in Carissa as she cautiously made her way into the room.
'Ma'am?'
'Thank you for coming, Carissa. I realize this is unusual and please call me Jess.' She hazarded a glance at the young woman; a shy smile reflected in Carissa's eyes at the recognition. Thank goodness for small miracles!
'You all know each other, so we'll skip the intro…'
Charles leaned forward onto his knees. 'Jess, what the he!! are we doing here? You need to be resting.'
'I have been resting, thank you. You are here because it seems that I have to be briefed by Lieutenant Caine from Miami to find out the status of this case. You are here because like him, I have tired of this mouse-chases-cat game we have been playing with Jacob Evans thus far.' She paused, and then finally looked him in the eye. 'You are here because you have withheld from and lied to me for the last time.'
The federal agent sat back in shock. Ryan remained silent, but she could see his bemused expression in the corner of her eye.
'Ryan Wolfe… Ry, you are not off the hook either.' She gave him a sideways glance. 'You cannot help protect me if you do not tell me the truth. What was delivered to the hospital yesterday?'
'No!' burst the Lieutenant and Charles.
'Gentlemen, I do not mean to be insubordinate, but I asked Ry what happened. I am not some frail flower. I am a lead CSI for the San Diego Police Department and I deserve to know the details of my own assault case.'
She was met by silence. Agent Dewey's threatening stare at Ryan led the younger man to simply shrug.
'Fine. Carissa, you do not have to answer any of my questions if you chose, but I would like to know what evidence came in yesterday from the hospital.' She looked at the woman kindly. Jess hated to put her in this position, but she was running out of options and she was running out of time.
3:15
PM
Jacob had been monitoring the main entrance of the hospital all afternoon. He knew she had visitors. Mr. Tall… stupid federal man… and the SDPD lead man had entered the building about two hours ago. That seemed like a long visit. Jacob was a patient man.
Ah, here they are! Who is the blond with them? I have seen her at the police department before, but never with Mitchell and never at a crime scene. I wonder what is going on in there.
He watched as the obviously disgruntled older police man climbed into his department cruiser, slamming the door. Mr. Dewey began guiding the young woman to his black sedan. Interesting… I wonder where they are headed. Knowing further surveillance of the hospital entrance would likely yield nothing, he decided to follow the Agent. If nothing else, his companion could prove interesting… he laughed cynically to himself.
Slipping the car into gear, he easily found the perfect distance to tail the pair as they drove away from the hospital. Once he realized their destination he flipped on his surprisingly still functional surveillance equipment in the back seat.
3:45 PM; Jessica Mitchell's House
'Sir, I want you to know that I meant no disrespect in the hospital.' Carissa was getting uncomfortable with the silence. She glanced at her watch. It has been thirty minutes since we left the hospital and still not a word from the man. How does CSI Mitchell handle this? No matter what the CSI had said in the meeting, she could not imagine calling her by her given name.
Charles looked at the woman standing rather fearfully behind him at Jessica's door. 'I understand why you did it.' Do I? At least I understand the courage she demonstrated; there was a time when I had it myself. Might as well congratulate her at least, welcome her to the team. 'Con… ahem…Carissa, we will just get what we need and get out of here, okay?' Any positive words lodged in his throat.
She shrugged as she passed him in the doorway. Apparently I am still in the doghouse. Work should be interesting tomorrow morning! 'Will you please bring me the suitcases from the garage, as CSI Mitchell requested, sir? I will be in her bedroom preparing the clothes needed for your trip.' Carissa did not even lift her eyes to look at him.
It was a rare thing for her to be involved in the CSIs lives. She knew she was the receptionist; her friends were the other departmental assistants at SDPD. Unlike the others, though, CSI Mitchell had always treated her with respect and kindness. And being included was a nice change. I have no intention of failing, even if this is a small job.
She pulled Jessica Mitchell's detailed list from her pocket. How does a person know where each and every item of clothing is located? Amazing. Carissa began to stack the various items in neat piles on the bed. By the time Agent Dewey came down the hall, she was humming as she prepared the requested toiletry bag.
'Miss… ummm… Carissa?'
'In here, sir.'
'Oh, okay; I will leave this suitcase by the bed for you. Do you need help with anything else?'
'No. Please shut off the gas and double check the refrigerator for us, Agent Dewey.'
Charles stared in awe at the bathroom door. He had never paid any attention to the woman before and now her confidence gave him pause. She countered her Lieutenant, her boss, and now she is telling me what to do. Not that I agree, but I am impressed.
'Fine. I will be in the living room making Jess' and my airline reservations for Saturday's flight to Miami while I wait.' No point in being covert here; I sure hope that Evans is still listening to these bugs. If he is not, we are in a boatload of trouble here.
4:05 PM
I cannot believe this. Why is she leaving San Diego? What does she gain in Miami? That is my home, I know it best. Who does that little CSI think she is?
Jacob's fury grew as he sat in the car, just one block from CSI Mitchell's home. He wanted to toy with her here, to make her forget and regret every moment of her life in this place. Jacob wanted to own every one of her memories.
Difficult, but not impossible; I can still accomplish my goal. I will just do it in a different location. He was not about to be deterred now.
He continued to listen to the blond woman hum and the Agent pacing the living room, likely on hold with the airline. Suddenly, the silence in the bedroom was deafening; he turned the volume up and was startled by the woman's voice as she spoke directly to him.
4:15
PM
Carissa waited until Agent Dewey was fully distracted with his phone call in the living room before closing the door. CSI Mitchell had been fairly certain that a bug was planted in her bedroom, though where was still a mystery. She pulled her second sheet of instructions out of her purse. The men did not know of these private words that Jessica had passed to her new 'confidante'.
Here goes nothing.
'This is a message for Jacob Evans from CSI Jessica Mitchell of the San Diego Police Department.' She tried valiantly to quell the tremors in her voice. 'Mr. Evans, you have not won and you will not win. I will never give in to your torment. You believe you have a direct view into my life, but you do not. I have looked into the window of your soul; I have seen the evil inside of you. Your criminal endeavors will end soon and you will spend the rest of your days in a six by nine foot cell. It may be here in San Diego or it may be with Lieutenant Caine in Miami, but you will be apprehended. You will be tried and you will be convicted because I will be there with the evidence to be sure that justice is served. Remember, Jacob, remember my name. I am CSI Mitchell and I am not done with you yet.'
That said Carissa collapsed shaking onto the bed.
