V - MEAT BULLETS
Sara looked up from the papers she had been reading, glancing at Warrick. "Find anything?"
Warrick, who was sifting through the stacks Catherine and Grissom had collected in Phillips' office, shook his head.
"Not really. Just a bunch of memorandums, some letters - you know."
Sara nodded. "I've basically got the same over here. I'm wondering if they worked closely together - like, on a project or something? Maybe, we should try to see if anything I have from Rivers cubicle coincides with what Cath and Grissom pulled from Phillips? I mean, I'm sure the office policies, memorandums - whatever - they'll match. But there might be something else."
Warrick shrugged his agreement. "Can't hurt. And Brass was going to bring Waters here - you know, the other half of the morning show - we should talk to him."
"Catherine is already doing that - remember? She's been down there for 30 minutes already."
* * * * *
"So, Rivers didn't have anyone who was angry with him? No threats? No recent altercations we should be aware of?"
Jon Waters looked at Catherine blankly. "Enemies? Randy? No way. He was a great guy - everyone loved him. And he was really involved in a lot of extra-curricular stuff outside the station - he was always doing guest appearances for charities. He even coached for the special Olympics. He was a great guy!"
Brass was grim. "Obviously, someone didn't think so. What about your station manager? Phillips?"
"Well, he could be a bit of a hard-ass sometimes. Everything with him was the bottom line - you know, ad revenue, play lists, that sort of thing. But we all respected him. He wasn't my best friend, or anything, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill him either."
Catherine was looking at Jon intently, studying him for signs of nervousness or deceit. She didn't see any. "Didn't you and Rivers just recently start working together? Your show is relatively new, isn't it? The guy that you two replaced - was he angry about losing his job?"
"Stephens? Nah. He's working at a sister station owned by the main company - out in California. He wanted to move because his wife's family lives there, and she wanted to be closer to them. He was thrilled when they moved him!"
Brass and Catherine looked at each other. Brass shrugged. "Did Phillips have to fire anyone recently? Anyone reprimanded?"
"Listen, I've been there for 3 months now. No one's been fired, no one's left, no one's been in trouble. I'm telling you, it's not someone from our station that did this, and I don't know who did."
"Okay, Mr. Waters. We appreciate your taking the time to talk to us. Just one more thing before you go - was there anything they were working on together? Anything at all that would link them?"
"No. I mean other than normal station stuff, not really. They didn't socialize outside of work." Waters looked thoughtful, before adding. "But Randy and I are judging the Las Vegas Alt. Rock Battle of the Bands. The station is one of the sponsors, so Phillips was pretty involved in that. The final battle is - was - supposed to be in a couple of days."
"Who else is involved in the judging? Who are the other sponsors?" Brass asked.
"Why? You think there might be a link?" Waters looked suddenly alarmed.
Catherine gave him a reassuring smile, and said soothingly. "No, probably no link there. But we will need the names of the other people involved. Just to be safe. 'No stone unturned' - that's our motto."
* * * * *
Grissom walked into Greg's lab, muttering to himself. In his hand, he still held the small dish of straight pins. Robbins had finally managed to extract the last two, and Grissom was taking them to the lab to give to Greg.
"Hey Greg. Find anything?"
Greg looked up from his microscope. "Not really. I've got the blood samples running, but so far, everything looks on the up and up. Didn't get anything from the scrapings on Phillips. He obviously didn't scratch his attacker. What's that?"
He nodded at the dish in Grissom's hand. "Straight pins. Robbins pulled them from the ears of the station manager." He shook his head. "Twelve of them - punctured the eardrums."
"Oh. Want me to test them for anything? I don't think I'll find anything, but you never know."
"Yeah. See if maybe our culprit stuck himself by mistake. Check the blood. Anything on the video?"
"Well, I only managed to salvage about 10 viewable frames. And you're not going to believe this - it's a music video."
Grissom perked up. "Really? Any idea which one?"
"You already know, Grissom. Sara told me all about it."
"What?" Grissom looked confused, and then sighed. "Video Killed the Radio Star. Guy has a sick sense of humor. How do you know it's that video.?"
"Taped off MTV - there's a perfect frame with the song name printed on it in the corner."
* * * * *
Everyone looked up when Grissom and Greg walked into the lounge. Catherine had arrived moments earlier, and was chatting quietly with Warrick. Sara was still muttering over the myriad of papers she was reading, a small frown marring her features.
"Where's Nick?" It was the first thing Grissom asked.
Warrick looked at him and smiled. "He's on suspension, remember?"
Grissom grunted. "I know he was here - Robbins told me. Did he leave?" No one answered him. Grissom narrowed his gaze on Sara, who was studiously avoiding looking at him. "Sara? Where's Nick?"
Nothing. Grissom glanced at Catherine, who merely raised an eyebrow at him and grinned.
"Okay, fine. Since I don't see him here I'll trust that he came to his senses and left before I had to say something to him. If that is not the case, than I expect the next person who sees him to tell him to go home. He will be allowed back when his suspension is lifted." Slowly, Grissom walked towards Sara, smiling. "Got that Sara?"
Sara nodded at Grissom and smiled sweetly. Grissom leaned over the vinyl two-seater, and grinned at Nick, who was hunched in the corner on the floor.
"Got that Nick?"
Everyone laughed. "Man. How did you know I was here?" Nick sighed, as he slowly stood up.
"I'm trained to observe Nick. And besides, there was still an imprint in the cushion next to Sara when I walked in. Now go home. Brass was hoping to hear fro Internal Affairs before lunch time, so come in with Sara tomorrow evening and hopefully, you can stay."
Grissom looked at his watch. "There's not much time left on the shift anyway. Sara - you find anything interesting?"
"Nope. Nothing."
Grissom looked at Warrick, who shook his head and shrugged.
"Greg has some tests running, but so far nothing. Catherine?"
"Brass and I interviewed Waters. He's got a firm alibi for Phillips - everyone saw him at the charity event Rivers was also supposed to attend. We're still trying to confirm for Rivers, but I don't think he knows anything that happened. He wasn't really able to provide anything as far as potential perpetrators. He mentioned something about a battle of the bands - K-ROX is one of the sponsors, and he and Rivers judged. There're four other judges, so we'll check them out, but so far that's the only obvious link."
Greg sat up. "Is this the K-ROX Alt. Rox Battle Royale?" When Catherine nodded, Greg grinned. "Cool. Did you know the winning band gets to record a CD of original music at Pity Party Recording Studio? And guaranteed radio play and promotion on K-ROX? A friend of mine is in a band that's competing in the finals."
Grissom raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do you think he might come in and talk to us? Let us know if any of the bands that have been eliminated are angry or upset?"
Greg nodded. "I'm sure he would. I tell him about this place all the time. He even named his band 'Meat Bullets'."
Everyone laughed. "What? That's a great name for a band! I'll call him later this afternoon, see if he'll come in first thing when shift starts."
Grissom glanced at his watch again, sighing. "Okay, then. Go home, get some sleep. No one's going to care if you leave 15 minutes early. And Nick - hopefully, we'll see you tonight!"
_________
Author's note - A BIG shout out to SOBELL, who recaps the show at Television Without Pity - I had to steal Meat Bullets because it so fits with this story. I hope you don't mind! If you do, and you read this story, let me know and I'll change it. For those of you unfamiliar, Television Without Pity is the best place to go to read recaps of all the shows.
Sara looked up from the papers she had been reading, glancing at Warrick. "Find anything?"
Warrick, who was sifting through the stacks Catherine and Grissom had collected in Phillips' office, shook his head.
"Not really. Just a bunch of memorandums, some letters - you know."
Sara nodded. "I've basically got the same over here. I'm wondering if they worked closely together - like, on a project or something? Maybe, we should try to see if anything I have from Rivers cubicle coincides with what Cath and Grissom pulled from Phillips? I mean, I'm sure the office policies, memorandums - whatever - they'll match. But there might be something else."
Warrick shrugged his agreement. "Can't hurt. And Brass was going to bring Waters here - you know, the other half of the morning show - we should talk to him."
"Catherine is already doing that - remember? She's been down there for 30 minutes already."
* * * * *
"So, Rivers didn't have anyone who was angry with him? No threats? No recent altercations we should be aware of?"
Jon Waters looked at Catherine blankly. "Enemies? Randy? No way. He was a great guy - everyone loved him. And he was really involved in a lot of extra-curricular stuff outside the station - he was always doing guest appearances for charities. He even coached for the special Olympics. He was a great guy!"
Brass was grim. "Obviously, someone didn't think so. What about your station manager? Phillips?"
"Well, he could be a bit of a hard-ass sometimes. Everything with him was the bottom line - you know, ad revenue, play lists, that sort of thing. But we all respected him. He wasn't my best friend, or anything, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill him either."
Catherine was looking at Jon intently, studying him for signs of nervousness or deceit. She didn't see any. "Didn't you and Rivers just recently start working together? Your show is relatively new, isn't it? The guy that you two replaced - was he angry about losing his job?"
"Stephens? Nah. He's working at a sister station owned by the main company - out in California. He wanted to move because his wife's family lives there, and she wanted to be closer to them. He was thrilled when they moved him!"
Brass and Catherine looked at each other. Brass shrugged. "Did Phillips have to fire anyone recently? Anyone reprimanded?"
"Listen, I've been there for 3 months now. No one's been fired, no one's left, no one's been in trouble. I'm telling you, it's not someone from our station that did this, and I don't know who did."
"Okay, Mr. Waters. We appreciate your taking the time to talk to us. Just one more thing before you go - was there anything they were working on together? Anything at all that would link them?"
"No. I mean other than normal station stuff, not really. They didn't socialize outside of work." Waters looked thoughtful, before adding. "But Randy and I are judging the Las Vegas Alt. Rock Battle of the Bands. The station is one of the sponsors, so Phillips was pretty involved in that. The final battle is - was - supposed to be in a couple of days."
"Who else is involved in the judging? Who are the other sponsors?" Brass asked.
"Why? You think there might be a link?" Waters looked suddenly alarmed.
Catherine gave him a reassuring smile, and said soothingly. "No, probably no link there. But we will need the names of the other people involved. Just to be safe. 'No stone unturned' - that's our motto."
* * * * *
Grissom walked into Greg's lab, muttering to himself. In his hand, he still held the small dish of straight pins. Robbins had finally managed to extract the last two, and Grissom was taking them to the lab to give to Greg.
"Hey Greg. Find anything?"
Greg looked up from his microscope. "Not really. I've got the blood samples running, but so far, everything looks on the up and up. Didn't get anything from the scrapings on Phillips. He obviously didn't scratch his attacker. What's that?"
He nodded at the dish in Grissom's hand. "Straight pins. Robbins pulled them from the ears of the station manager." He shook his head. "Twelve of them - punctured the eardrums."
"Oh. Want me to test them for anything? I don't think I'll find anything, but you never know."
"Yeah. See if maybe our culprit stuck himself by mistake. Check the blood. Anything on the video?"
"Well, I only managed to salvage about 10 viewable frames. And you're not going to believe this - it's a music video."
Grissom perked up. "Really? Any idea which one?"
"You already know, Grissom. Sara told me all about it."
"What?" Grissom looked confused, and then sighed. "Video Killed the Radio Star. Guy has a sick sense of humor. How do you know it's that video.?"
"Taped off MTV - there's a perfect frame with the song name printed on it in the corner."
* * * * *
Everyone looked up when Grissom and Greg walked into the lounge. Catherine had arrived moments earlier, and was chatting quietly with Warrick. Sara was still muttering over the myriad of papers she was reading, a small frown marring her features.
"Where's Nick?" It was the first thing Grissom asked.
Warrick looked at him and smiled. "He's on suspension, remember?"
Grissom grunted. "I know he was here - Robbins told me. Did he leave?" No one answered him. Grissom narrowed his gaze on Sara, who was studiously avoiding looking at him. "Sara? Where's Nick?"
Nothing. Grissom glanced at Catherine, who merely raised an eyebrow at him and grinned.
"Okay, fine. Since I don't see him here I'll trust that he came to his senses and left before I had to say something to him. If that is not the case, than I expect the next person who sees him to tell him to go home. He will be allowed back when his suspension is lifted." Slowly, Grissom walked towards Sara, smiling. "Got that Sara?"
Sara nodded at Grissom and smiled sweetly. Grissom leaned over the vinyl two-seater, and grinned at Nick, who was hunched in the corner on the floor.
"Got that Nick?"
Everyone laughed. "Man. How did you know I was here?" Nick sighed, as he slowly stood up.
"I'm trained to observe Nick. And besides, there was still an imprint in the cushion next to Sara when I walked in. Now go home. Brass was hoping to hear fro Internal Affairs before lunch time, so come in with Sara tomorrow evening and hopefully, you can stay."
Grissom looked at his watch. "There's not much time left on the shift anyway. Sara - you find anything interesting?"
"Nope. Nothing."
Grissom looked at Warrick, who shook his head and shrugged.
"Greg has some tests running, but so far nothing. Catherine?"
"Brass and I interviewed Waters. He's got a firm alibi for Phillips - everyone saw him at the charity event Rivers was also supposed to attend. We're still trying to confirm for Rivers, but I don't think he knows anything that happened. He wasn't really able to provide anything as far as potential perpetrators. He mentioned something about a battle of the bands - K-ROX is one of the sponsors, and he and Rivers judged. There're four other judges, so we'll check them out, but so far that's the only obvious link."
Greg sat up. "Is this the K-ROX Alt. Rox Battle Royale?" When Catherine nodded, Greg grinned. "Cool. Did you know the winning band gets to record a CD of original music at Pity Party Recording Studio? And guaranteed radio play and promotion on K-ROX? A friend of mine is in a band that's competing in the finals."
Grissom raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Do you think he might come in and talk to us? Let us know if any of the bands that have been eliminated are angry or upset?"
Greg nodded. "I'm sure he would. I tell him about this place all the time. He even named his band 'Meat Bullets'."
Everyone laughed. "What? That's a great name for a band! I'll call him later this afternoon, see if he'll come in first thing when shift starts."
Grissom glanced at his watch again, sighing. "Okay, then. Go home, get some sleep. No one's going to care if you leave 15 minutes early. And Nick - hopefully, we'll see you tonight!"
_________
Author's note - A BIG shout out to SOBELL, who recaps the show at Television Without Pity - I had to steal Meat Bullets because it so fits with this story. I hope you don't mind! If you do, and you read this story, let me know and I'll change it. For those of you unfamiliar, Television Without Pity is the best place to go to read recaps of all the shows.