Lex Talionis
Chapter 38
Following Tate south was easier than Grissom had anticipated. With the laptop set up on the passenger seat and the tracking software running, he was able to stay far enough behind the Subaru that there was no way Sean would suspect he was being tailed. Wanting to preserve the computer's battery, he turned it off after passing through Hawthorne and sped up enough that he could keep the car in sight. Hourly phone contact with Sara kept everyone in Vegas up-to-date on his progress.
Noticing signs for an upcoming gas station, he watched as the Forester indicated and then turned in off the highway. Knowing he would draw Tate's attention if he stopped as well, Gil drove by and pulled off the road a mile or so further on. With no turn-offs between them, he watched his rearview mirror and waited for Tate to reappear.
He'd just switched off the engine when his cell phone rang. Picking up the handset, he glanced at the screen and discovered it was the call he'd been expected ever since he'd left Fernley.
"Grissom."
"You left something on the bed." Clare informed him somewhat brusquely. "Where do you want me to send it?"
"I don't want you to send it anywhere; it's for you."
"I don't want it!"
"I don't care if you want it or not; you've got it. Call it a loan if you like but I don't want it back."
"How much is in this envelope?"
"Five thousand." Gil told her. "I thought that would probably be enough to get you through until the baby's born but if you need more I want you to tell me; like I said, it can be a loan."
"I can't take this from you." She insisted.
"You can and you will." Feeling the beginnings of headache, Grissom squinted against the bright sunlight that was streaming through the windscreen. "You've done a lot to help me over the past couple of days Clare, at least let me return the favor."
"I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back."
"Don't worry about that. I just want you to be able to keep your head above water, okay? The last thing you need just now is to be stressing over money. We'll work something out in a few weeks time." He hesitated briefly. "Look, I know it's none of my business but when you took the mortgage out for the farm the bank should have insisted on life insurance."
"They did; both Brian and I have policies but without proof of death, the company won't pay out. It's useless."
"We have proof, Clare." He heard her gasp. "I didn't tell you at the time but I found two other disks at Sean's place; one of them was marked BA. I sent them back to Vegas with the Lurie recording and Catherine identified Brian from his license photo."
There was silence on the line so Grissom pushed on.
"It's not going to make you feel any better but, from what Cath said, he died quickly and he wasn't tortured like the others. I've got someone working on the tape now; we're going to try to find him for you, Clare, but even if we don't that footage should be more than enough to have Brian declared legally dead."
He heard a muffled sob followed by the sound of the phone being put down. He waited patiently for her to come back on the line; a minute later, she did.
"Thank you." She said sincerely, her voice sounding somewhat raw.
"You okay?" Watching the Forester approach from behind him, Gil turned his face away from the road as the vehicle sped past. Opening up the laptop, he turned it back on.
"Yeah, I'm fine; it's just... I can't really describe how I'm feeling just now. I'm relieved in a way; at least now I can grieve for him properly; I never felt like I could before since no one believed me." She gave a quick, embarassed laugh. "Well, it's a day of revelations, isn't it? First Sean shows his true colors and now you tell me this."
"Ah… there are a couple of other things I should probably confess to while I'm at it."
"Such as?"
"Remember when I said I ordered something online during the night? I bought the baby a gift."
"You didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to." "I know you haven't gotten around to thinking about a nursery yet but time's running out so I thought I'd start you off."
"What did you buy?" She asked warily.
"You'll find out when it gets there; the website said 48 to 72 hours for delivery so keep an eye out for it."
She sighed in resignation. "And the other thing you have to tell me?"
"I met your neighbor at the gas station yesterday; Kathy Miller."
"She and her husband own the place." She told him. "Their house is about a mile and a half further along the road from mine."
"She recognized the Lexus; apparently they'd noticed me driving in the other day. She wanted to know how you were doing."
Her voice hardened. "And you told her?"
"Don't worry; I said that you're doing fine." He took a quick breath. "Did you know that her son, Charlie loves horses and is looking for part-time work?"
"I told you before; I cannot afford to take anyone on."
"You don't have to." He admitted. "I already have."
"Grissom!"
"He'll stop by twice a day to help with feeding and whatever else you need done." Gil explained. "The kid's about to turn sixteen and trying to save for his first car. I've left $200 with his mother, that covers four weeks; just see how he goes, Clare, he really wants to do it."
She gave in, knowing there was no further point in arguing. "When does he start?"
"He'll be there first thing tomorrow morning." She could hear the triumphant smile in his voice. "He wanted to start today but I didn't want him wandering around the place when Sean turned up."
"I've got one condition; as soon as possible, we sit down and work out a proper repayment schedule for all this, including interest. I don't want charity."
"It's not charity, Clare; it's just one friend helping out another." Watching the tracking program, he realized that the Subaru was speeding up. "Look, I have to go; I don't want to get too far behind your brother, but I want you to keep in touch, okay; let me know how everything's going."
"I will and I am grateful, really; for everything you've done."
He waited until he heard her hang up and then, with a satisfied smile, Grissom pulled back onto the highway and quickly accelerated after his target.
Having spent the better part of the past day behind the wheel of his car, Sean Tate was tired and angry. Angry at himself, angry at Grissom but mainly, angry at Clare. She'd been playing him for months now and he'd never realized it. What surprised him the most was that she'd actually managed to pull it off; her treatment of him had never changed, she'd continued on just as she always had, and yet, it had all been an act.
With no sign of a green Ford sedan either in Fernley or on the trip south, Sean wondered briefly if that was another of his sister's lies. Whether it was or not, it wouldn't make any difference now; Grissom was doubtlessly back in Vegas and Sean still didn't know where the man was staying.
He didn't particular want to spend the night driving round the city looking for a car that may or may not exist but his only other option was tailing Sara until she led him back to Grissom. Glancing at his watch, he realized that her shift wouldn't have even started yet and the prospect of sitting in the Subaru all night waiting for her to finish work was not at all appealing. He needed another plan and, at the moment, he was just too exhausted to come up with one.
Reaching down, he rubbed his hand over his calf, feeling the sticky wetness that was still seeping through his jeans. He'd bought a tube of antiseptic cream at the gas station he'd stopped at but, with nothing to cover it, the dog bite had continued to bleed. Looking at his now red palm, Sean knew he was going to have to do something about it soon.
With the turnoff for Indian Springs and Vegas coming up he quickly made a decision; he'd leave the search for Grissom until the morning. He was still booked in at the motel and, after a good night's sleep; he'd be able to start fresh tomorrow. Smothering a yawn, Tate left US-95 and began following Highway 160 in to Pahrump.
Grissom drove as slowly as possible along the busy section of Highway 160 searching for the Subaru. According to the tracking software, the car was parked somewhere nearby and, spying a familiar sign, Gil was fairly sure that he'd just discovered where.
Pulling the SUV to a stop, he had a clear view of the driveway and parking area of the Desert Rock Motel and could just make out the black Forester parked outside one of the rooms towards the back of the complex. As he continued to watch, Tate limped out of the room to collect a small overnight bag from the backseat of the car before going back inside and closing the door.
As much as everyone had wanted this all wrapped up today, it was looking very much like Tate had other ideas and, truthfully, Grissom wasn't too disappointed. He knew that Vartann had an arrest team on standby waiting for his call but, after two nights with very little sleep and a day of almost non-stop driving, Grissom wasn't entirely sure he had enough energy left to coordinate the task. Feeling his headache kick up another notch, he fumbled for his cell phone. Flipping it open, he speed-dialed Sara's number.
"Hey." He said tiredly when she answered.
"Where are you? We all though you'd have been here ages ago."
"Looks like there's been a change of plan." He explained about the motel in Pahrump. "He's inside the room now and I think he's probably intending to stay the night. I can't be sure but this may be where he's been staying all this time. We're going to have to get someone over here to process the place when he leaves."
"You want me to call Vartann? One call to the Nye County authorities and Tate can be picked up right now."
He briefly considered it. "No, it's too risky here. It's a busy motel and there are a too many people about just now. I'd rather see him taken down in Clark County anyway." He yawned. "I'll find a place around here that I can park the car without him seeing it and keep an eye on things tonight."
"I could always phone in sick and then drive over and keep you company; Catherine wouldn't mind."
"No way!" Grissom was adamant. "I don't want you anywhere near this guy. He assaulted his sister for just mentioning Debbie Marlin, I don't particularly want to know what he'd do if he was suddenly confronted by her look-alike."
"Well, how about if I send one of the guys then?" She suggested. "You're tired, Gil; you need to sleep."
"I'll be fine. Tate's got to be at least as tired as I am; it's my guess that he won't leave the room until morning anyway. I'll grab something for dinner, sit back and take it easy; with some luck, I can get in a couple of hours sleep."
"Okay." Sara said reluctantly. "The plan still stands though; as soon as he hits Vegas, you call it in."
"Give Vartann a call and have him stand his guys down until the morning; I'll let him know as soon as Tate leaves the motel and then call him again when we get to Vegas." He smiled. "This time tomorrow it'll all be over, honey; Tate will be behind bars and we can start getting our lives back on track."
"God, I hope so. Just swear that you'll stay out of the way when Vartann and his men turn up; I don't think any of us needs anymore excitement just now."
"Don't worry." He assured her. "I'll keep my head down. From now on, the less I have to do with Sean Tate the better."
"Good. I'll let everyone know what's happening and we'll wait to hear from you in the morning. In the meantime, try and get some rest, okay?"
"I will; I see you in the morning, honey."
Hanging up, Grissom started the Lexus and went in search of something to eat. Deciding on Chinese, he ordered his meal and quickly headed back to the motel. He parked twenty yards further down the street with the back of the SUV to the motel. Checking the rearview mirror, he made sure that he had a clear view and then settled in for the night.
Four hours later, with no sign of movement from the motel room, Grissom knew he was going to have to get some sleep. The ache in his leg was bearable but the headache that had been taunting him all day was being made worse by the overhead street lights and he knew from past experience just how bad it would get if he ignored it any longer. Opening the glove compartment, he retrieved the vial of Vicodin and shook out two pills, swigging from a water bottle to wash them down.
Resting his head back against the car seat, he closed his eyes and hoped the meds would kick in soon.
He was sound asleep in seconds.
Having fallen asleep, fully dressed, within minutes of entering his motel room, Sean slept for a solid nine hours before being woken by hunger. He was no nearer to a plan but he was certain of two thing; today he would sort out Grissom and tomorrow he would make one last trip to Fernley. He couldn't let Clare get away with what she'd done and, God knows that dog deserved to be taken care of; he's take great pleasure in sorting out both of them.
Getting out of bed, he groaned as his leg took his weight. Sitting back down, he pulled up his pants leg, wincing as the material stuck to his skin. The bite was red and swollen but at least the bleeding seemed to have stopped. Stripping off the rest of his clothes, Sean quickly showered and redressed then, pulling a pillowcase from the bed, he tore it up and used it to cover his wound.
During the three weeks he'd been using the motel as a base; Sean had learned the area well and knew there was a 24 hour pharmacy just a few blocks away. So, after pulling the door closed behind him, he walked across the car park and down to the street.
He admired the white SUV as he passed and wondered briefly why the driver had elected to sleep in his car when he was just yards from a motel. Shrugging his shoulders, Sean kept walking, forgetting about the vehicle as he tried to work out the best way to locate Grissom. He still believed Sara was his best shot; if he could get something for his leg and then grab a quick breakfast, he could head off to Vegas and be outside the Crime Lab waiting for her when she got off work.
With a smile, Sean started walking faster; anxious to get started on what he hoped was going to be a very satisfying two days.
Forty-five minutes later, Sean made his way back to the motel. Hunger sated and carrying a paper bag full of first-aid supplies as well as the morning newspaper, he felt more than ready to get things underway. Once again, the Lexus caught his eye as he passed; there was something familiar about it but he couldn't put his finger on what that was.
Sean stopped suddenly as he remembered; he'd seen the same SUV yesterday on the drive down. Moving towards the rear of the vehicle, he checked the license plate and, although he couldn't be certain, he was sure it rang a bell.
He struggled to remember when he'd first noticed the vehicle but couldn't pinpoint a particular time or place, however, there wasn't that many LX570s on the road; it had to be the same one.
The rear and side windows were heavily tinted, just enough detail showed through that Sean knew from his posture, that the person inside was still asleep. Cautiously, he returned to the front of the vehicle and peeked in at the driver. He reeled back in shock when he saw who it was.
Sean's hand rose up to cover his mouth as he quickly scanned the surrounding area. The other vehicles parked along the road seemed to be empty and he could see nothing out of the ordinary but it had to be a trap. There was no other explanation for it; somehow they had discovered where he was staying and were using Grissom as a lure. Turning round, he checked the motel's parking lot but everything looked normal there as well.
Confused, Tate walked back to the front of the SUV and stared at Grissom through the glass. There was no mistaking the relaxed posture and slackened features; the man was definitely asleep. With one last look around the street, Sean relaxed; after all, what self-respecting police officer was going to allow his bait to fall asleep on the job? There was no one else here; Grissom was on his own.
But, how the hell had he managed to find him? Clare was the only person who knew he was down here anyway and he'd made a point of telling her that he was staying in Vegas.
Anger surged through him as he put the pieces together; there was only one way Grissom could have found out where he was and, if the bastard had followed him all the way from Fernley, there was only one person who could have helped him.
Turning quickly from the SUV, Sean hurried back to the motel and let himself into his room. Tossing the newspaper and pharmacy bag on the bed, he turned on the room's electric kettle and paced back and forth as he waited for it to boil. Pouring hot water in a cup, he finally started to calm down as he sipped the coffee he had made.
If he'd needed proof that his sister had betrayed him, he now had it. It had to have been Grissom in the barn; that's who she'd been talking to through the door. Sean clenched his fists as he remembered the way his sister had distracted him and how he'd fallen for it. She'd get hers soon enough but just now he had to deal with Grissom.
One thing didn't make sense though; how had he managed to follow him all that way without Sean realizing it. It was quite a distinctive vehicle and he felt sure that had it been close enough to tail him he would have noticed.
There was only one way Grissom could have done it.
Going back outside, Sean scanned the other rooms for movement and, seeing none, began his search. Ten minute later, confident that the inside of the Subaru was clear, he dropped down beside the vehicle and slid underneath. He had almost given up when he saw it; a tiny red light flicking on and off hidden amongst the suspension. Reaching up he pulled it free and quickly got out from under the car.
Going back into the room, Sean examined the transmitter. Placing it down on the open newspaper, he was wondering what to do about it when his eye caught a familiar photograph. Forgetting the tracking device for the moment, he picked up the paper and read the accompanying text. He smiled happily as he realized that the plan he had been struggling to come up with had just fallen into his lap.
Thirty minutes later, he was ready.
Grabbing his overnight bag, Tate let himself out of the motel room for what he intended to be the last time. Reaching into the Subaru's glove compartment, he pulled out his handgun and slipped it into the waistband of his jeans, tugging his shirt down to cover the weapon. Then, after throwing his bag in the back seat, he picked up the newspaper and envelope he'd carried out with him and casually walked out of the car park.
He couldn't hide his grin as he made his way back to the Lexus.
TBC
A/N: Finally, I get to post this! Last time this damn site went down just after I posted a chapter and this time it was just before; I'm starting to think it's me. Thanks for reading.