Later in the week, a new attorney was in the courtroom as Grissom arrived. He had been hired on behalf of the passengers from Flight 217 that died. He would be representing all of them in a class action suit against the conference, the airline and the canadian authorities.

Grissom knew of the attorney. He was good but still a gun for hire, just in it for his share of the settlement or some headlines. The hearing opened and Grissom was called to testify at once.

"Dr. Grissom, are you a medical doctor?"

"No, my doctorates are in Entomology and Forensics."

"How long have you worked at the Las Vegas crime lab?"

"Almost fourteen years."

"Then you have studied extensively on how people get away with murder?"

"No."

"Your honor this is deposition not a trial. I need more than one word answers."

"Watch yourself, Mr. Moore! Can you elaborate about your job, Dr. Grissom?"

"My job is to examine, collect and analyze evidence at crime scenes. To determine what happened and hopefully locate clues to find a suspect. There is almost always some evidence."

"Thank you. However, there are cases where a killer has never been caught."

"Unfortunately, yes! However, we hold these cases open. We often find fingerprints or DNA, the evidence is entered into a national criminal database. If the suspect is ever arrested again, then we get a second chance to convict him."

"Thank you, Dr. Grissom. Let's get back to the events of Flight 217. I hope you'll bear with me, I am still getting up to speed. I need a very detailed account of what happened before, during and most importantly after the flight. I have your previous testimony but I need to clarify some points. You were not originally listed on the passenger manifest for that flight."

"I was not supposed to be at the conference at all. The original plane tickets were issued to Catherine Willows from our lab. She is the swing shift supervisor and our lab's resident blood spatter expert. However, her daughter was injured a few days before the start of the conference. Since she was not able to attend, I stepped in as a substitute at the last minute."

"Funny, that information was not in any of your previous testimony, Dr. Grissom.........But I'll get back to that. Why did you change your tickets home to flight 217?"

"I was originally scheduled to leave much later on Saturday night. I saw a weather report very early that morning in my hotel room. An ice storm was forecast for later in the day. The airport had closed during an ice storm earlier in the week. My final lecture had been canceled, so I went to the airport hoping to leave early."

"Why the rush?"

"I came to the conference to deliver several lectures. I also participated in the workshops that I came for. There was no reason not to leave and hopefully avoid long weather delays."

"The previous night you had been drinking in the hotel bar?"

"I had one drink with an old friend that I met at the conference. Angus MacDonald, he is a captain with the Fairbanks Police Department. He was also kind enough to drive me to the airport early the next morning. I was able to reschedule my flights to go home early."

"You switched from a flight going to Seattle to a flight going to Fairbanks. May I ask why?"

"From Fairbanks, I was able to get a connecting flight directly to Las Vegas. My original ticket had me switching planes in Seattle to Los Angeles then on to Las Vegas."

"Again, Sir. Why the rush?"

"My wife is pregnant and wasn't feeling well. I wanted to get home as soon as possible."

The attorney looked surprised at Grissom's answer but hid it very quickly. "Thank you for that clarification. Please continue. "

"I boarded the plane and took my assigned seat 17F. The take off and flight proceeded normally for the first forty minutes. I had gotten up to use the rest room. While using the facilities the plane started to experience some turbulence. The pilot apologized for the rough ride, asked everyone to sit down and buckle up. I was returning to my seat when we hit more violent turbulence. It made walking back to my seat somewhat ……difficult."

"I understand that these memories are difficult for you......please take your time, Dr. Grissom."

"I had reached my row when the plane tilted sharply to the right. I was thrown down on to the seats in my row. I was moving over to buckle my seat belt as a second and much deeper drop......" Grissom stopped when a woman began to cry. She was quickly escorted from the courtroom. Taking a sip of water, he continued. "The second drop threw me against the windows of the plane. Then the entire plane started to rock from side to side as we began to loose altitude. I was unable to reach for my seat belt or get buckled in. The wing must have hit something because I was thrown back and nearly wound up in the row behind me. Then the noise of the engines changed and the plane started a descent. I was thrown forward, bumped my head and must have blacked out. When I woke up, I was wedged between the top of the seats in front of me and the overhead compartment."

"Then you were not awake when the plane finally hit the ground?"

"No, I was not."

"So you heard no further announcements from the pilots."

"No."

"Thank you, please go on."

"I am not sure exactly how long I was unconscious. I was not wearing a watch but it was probably less than an hour. When I woke up, Dr. Martin Dale examined me. He said my shoulder was dislocated and my ribs were badly bruised but not broken. He popped my shoulder back in place, fashioned a sling from a blanket and used a pillow for my ribs."

"Dr. Dale, by his own admission, had a few drinks before boarding. Was he drunk?

"Martin hates to fly! Many people have a drink to calm their nerves or to help them fall asleep before flying. In answer your question, he did not seem intoxicated to me. He was alert, speaking and thinking clearly; very focused on assisting his fellow passengers."

"Then you did not treat any of the passengers yourself?"

"I am not medically qualified but I did assist Martin doing what he instructed me to do. I only had one good arm and did the best I could to help."

"Spare us the false humility, Dr. Grissom. From all accounts, you took command. You inventoried all the food and water and told everyone when to eat and what to do."

"Martin and I had the knowledge of what food would spoil first. We tried to make the limited supplies we had last as long as possible. At first, we were in an ice storm with no end in sight. Later, we did not know how long it would be until we were found or even if we would be found. It took two weeks for us to be rescued, so it seems that our hunch was right."

"Yes....doesn't it seems odd in age of satellite communications that it took so long to find you."

"I am just very grateful to the men who looked for us and did not give up until we were found."

"Indeed, as we all are. Then your good friend Martin Dale made sure you were one of the first to be sent to Galena from the crash site."

"Dr. Dale attended the same conference I did but the first time we met was when he treated me on Flight 217. Later, one of the rescue teams told me Dr. Dale had sent men to Galena based on medical needs. You would need to ask him why I was chosen. I was unconscious at the time. I had absolutely no input into the decision."

"Were you unconscious or passed out drunk?"

"Don't say a word, Dr. Grissom. That's enough Mr. Moore! The court demands an apology for that uncalled for remark."

"I am sorry your honor and Dr. Grissom. Perhaps I should rephrase the question?"

"No, I'd like to answer your honor. Yes, I had a drink, one nip of scotch. I hadn't eaten anything in about two days. Martin and I had spent the entire morning moving over twenty dead bodies off the plane. We then dragged them over the ice as far as we could......" Grissom stopped for a moment to close his eyes. "We had to do that to decrease the plane's weight, hoping it would stop it from sinking. The plane came to a final stop on a frozen lake and the front wheel had broken through a section of thin ice. We also hoped that removing the deceased, it might improve the air quality on the plane. Martin and I were both used to the smell of decomposing flesh, we both work in a coroner's office. The others couldn't handle the smell. Later that night, after moving all of that weight, my shoulder was hurting very badly and I was growing more concerned about ever seeing my wife and unborn child. Yes, I had one drink on an empty stomach and almost immediately passed out. When I woke up, I was being carried to an Air Force rescue helicopter."

"Dr. Grissom, are you aware that two men died waiting for rescue helicopters to arrive and three more died despite all the heroic efforts of the doctors at Galena?"

"No, I didn't know that. Once the inquest in Galena began the survivors were kept away from each other."

"Were you also aware that your "silent protest" at Galena halted an inquest that may have uncovered the cause of the crash and those responsible for the death of 40 men?"

"The storm caused the crash."

"And you know this for an absolute certainty? What about mechanical failure due to poor maintenance by the airline? Or the hiring of shall we say unqualified or inexperienced pilots? And let us not forget the airline, that did not update the pilot or the passengers on the approaching storm. What about the conference that never informed their guests about the severity of the upcoming storm or requested that their guests to stay safely at the hotel until the storm had passed. Perhaps the inquest might have uncovered that someone tampered with the plane?"

"Why would any one of us tamper with the plane? Why risk their own life in a crash?

"Why indeed?" He took a page of information from his assistant. "Dr. Grissom you were recently married?"

"Seven months ago."

"To a Sara Sidle, your employee at the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Who is 30? Yes?

"Yes."

"And you are how old, Dr. Grissom?"

"I am 49, I'll be 50 in August."

"You said your wife is eight months pregnant? Perhaps you did not like being forced into the marriage? Or maybe you discovered the child she is carrying is not yours? Men have killed for less. A plane crash might have allowed you to play dead, escape from an unhappy situation."

"That is enough!" The judge slammed her gavel. "One more comment like that Mr. Moore, I hold you in contempt and I will personally assist Dr. Grissom in suing you for slander."

"I am so sorry your honor and Dr. Grissom. I was merely thinking out loud."

"No you were not, Mr. Moore! I have to deal with attorneys like you all the time."

"Your honor, I've asked no question that requires a response from the witness. I have nothing further and I think Dr. Grissom might need a break."

Grissom got up. "You and your army of guns for hire. When you can't win a case on evidence, you smear and lie about the witnesses against your client and I'm sick of it."

"Court is adjourned for today. Dr. Grissom, I can understand your anger but you need to control yourself or I'll have to postpone these proceedings. Mr. Moore, I'll see you in my chamber now!"

Grissom left the courthouse still angry at the courts, the lawyers but mostly at himself. He had let the attorney get him angry, sound vindictive and therefore less credible. He stormed over to the nearest taxi and went straight home.

Sara and the Sheriff were waiting for Grissom as he returned.

"Sheriff! News does travel fast. Are you here to lecture me on presenting the lab professionally during my testimony?"

"Gil, I am very sorry to be the one that has to tell you this. Martin Dale had a heart attack on the stand during his testimony earlier today in Juneau. He was rushed to the hospital. We got confirmation that he died, never regaining consciousness."

Grissom walked past both of them into the bedroom and closed the door.

The Sheriff looked at Sara confused. "Should I call someone, a doctor?"

"No thank you. I have to go to him now. Please show yourself out." Sara was already walking to the bedroom. She was not sure how she would find her husband but was very surprised to see her husband was just sitting on the bed. "Gil?"

"At least he won't have to testify anymore. I wish I could say the same."

"Gil, what happened in court today?"

"The new lawyer was a busy man, accused me of picking who lived or died. That Martin and I conspired to save ourselves or that I orchestrated the whole crash to disappear.....to get away from you, our marriage and the baby." He stopped when he realized that Sara was crying. "Sara, I'm sorry. You know none of that is true. It feels like everything lately is totally out of my control." Grissom chest heaved and slowly tears started to fall. "I really wanted you to meet Martin.......Ohhh God!"

Sara sat on the bed and pulled him into her arms. He could no longer hold back the pain. She held him as he cried, until he no tears left and slipped into an exhausted sleep. Rolling him over onto his back, Sara covered him with a blanket and quickly left the room. She searched for several minutes until she located the telephone number for someone who had once helped her.

"Dr. Oliver, please. This is Sara.....Sidle." It took a few minutes but Sara heard a very familiar voice.

"Ms. Sidle, this is unexpected. Are you all right? Are any troubling memories surfacing?"

"I regained my memory nearly a year ago, doctor. Remembering my past was a lot easier than living through it the first time, believe me."

"I see! Then how can I help you, Ms. Sidle?"

"I'm married. It's Grissom now."

"May I offer my congratulations to you both."

"You don't sound very surprised."

"I'm not. Since you're not having problems, I can only assume this call is about your husband."

Yes, Gil has had a lot to deal with lately."

"Yes, I've seen the news and read about the crash and his ordeal after. I've wanted to call him, offer my help. Is he having problems?"

"More than problems! Gil has had too much to deal with for much too long. Today he lost a very dear friend. I think it was the last straw. I held him as he cried. My husband rarely shows his emotions and he has never shed a tear in the ten years that I've known him."

'That must have been very difficult for both of you. How is he now?"

"Sleeping! He is mentally and emotionally exhausted. He has not been sleeping well and he is not eating. Gil won't or can't tell me when he is in pain. He doesn't want me to worry because I'm pregnant. He spends all day in court, reliving the horror of the crash and those two awful weeks. Now, his friend from the crash......Martin Dale, the man that saved him, died today during his court testimony. Gil is devastated! He needs help, please doctor!"

"Sara, he needs to ask for help. He has to come to me! I do want to help him but…"

"No! He can't, he won't. I'm asking for him. I can't loose him. Please, Dr. Oliver?"

"Alright Sara, I'll be right over.....are you still at the apartment on Rancho."

"No, we are living temporarily in the Wynn Apartments, suite 2800. Please hurry!"

Sara made tea as she waited. She was startled to see the bedroom door open. Grissom left the bedroom, looking more lost than angry. "Gil, honey? You need to rest."

"No, I have to go to Martin's funeral. Oh god help me, I have to fly back up there again."

"NO! You are not going. I will send flowers, send a card, we can call his family but you are not leaving this apartment. Please for me, Gil. I am asking you not to leave me again."

She walked him over to the couch. "Sit down, here have some tea. Your hands are like ice." Grissom nodded and sat, still looking lost and very confused. He did not take the cup of tea she offered him. Sara left him to get a protein shake. "Here drink this. You haven't eaten anything all day. Gil, does the smell of food make you feel sick? Is this OK?"

"I didn't know how to tell you. I've tried a few times but nothing I eat will stay down."

Sara made sure he finished the full can of the protein shake and then prepared another cup of tea. Grissom's fingers eagerly wrapped around the cup. She reached over to carress his face but he didn't respond or even look at her. Grissom was lost in his thoughts and was unwilling or unable to share them with Sara.

A short time later the bell to the apartment door rang. Sara let in Dr. Oliver. "Sara, it's good to see you again. You look wonderful. How are you?"

"Thank you for coming, Dr. Oliver. I'm fine, I'm very worried about Gil." She returned to the couch with the doctor but Grissom was unaware of them. "Gil, look who is here?"

As if just waking up Grissom turned to them. "Martin?"

"Hello, Gil! I'm not sure if you will remember me."

"Dr. Oliver, of course!" He tried to shake hands but stared at the bandages on his hands as if he forgot why they were there. Turning to his wife, he looked very confused. "Sara, are you all right?"

"Sara called me. She is very concerned about you. Martin's death on top on all you've had to deal with lately. I thought maybe we could talk, try to make sense of things."

"I'd really like that because nothing makes sense to me anymore."

Sara leaned over to kiss her husband's cheek. "I'll leave you two alone to talk."