XVI - SCOTTY
Sara and Catherine were methodically and carefully looking through the photo albums Sara had found in the living room. There were several photos of young men and women in various settings - church, Christmas, working around the commune - and Catherine remarked idly that at one point or another, several dozen people must have lived at the commune.
Sara, looking through a different album, nodded absently. "Lots of kids, too. This one is full of school pictures - home school, but obviously class-room settings."
Silence fell, interrupted only by the occasional flip of the photo album pages, before Catherine's voice broke the silence.
"I think this is him." She leaned forward, finger nail tapping at a picture as she handed the album to Sara. "It's a couple of years old, but I'd say it's the same guy who protested against the city last year -"
"-and who painted the walls at Lifestyles before being murdered." Sara squinted at the photo, drawing it closer to her eyes. "I think you're right, Cath." She smiled at the older CSI. "Shall we just box the rest of these and go through them back at the lab? Let's take this to Grissom."
* * * * *
Warrick and Nick followed O'Reilly and a couple of his men at an easy pace through the geo-homes, waking up the inhabitants and escorting them to the front porch of the farm house.
As they moved through the homes, the two criminalists performed a cursory inspection, looking for anything that appeared out of the ordinary, making note of closets and storage areas.
Not one of the residents was happy to be relocated outside, the men complaining - rather pugnaciously - that the police had no right to be forcing them out of their homes at midnight, glowering in particular when they spotted Warrick in the background.
After all five geo-homes had been emptied, there were 26 adults - 12 men, 14 women - and 11 children ranging in ages for roughly 15 to 18 months. The adults had been asked to wait on the large porch, and the children were taken inside under the supervision of a couple of officers and were waiting, tiredly, in the living room Sara and Catherine had already searched.
Grissom and Brass had escorted Enoch and Rebekah outside to join the rest of the adults off to the side of the farmhouse, and O'Reilly and the other officers now stood silent guard on the agitated gathering.
Nick and Warrick were speaking softly with Brass and Grissom when Sara and Catherine joined them.
"Hey guys. We've got another picture - pretty sure it's our John Doe."
Sara handed the photo album to Grissom, smiling as Nick and Warrick immediately lifted their flashlights to spotlight the page.
Grissom smiled grimly. "Looks like him. Anyone recognize who this is in the picture with him?" His question was rhetorical, and he quickly began scanning the people gathered on the porch.
Warrick leaned forward, squinting at the picture. "The little girl there looks like Nancy - the one who spoke to me upstairs, only younger. I think the young woman is Katie, also fro the farm house."
Nick agreed with Warrick. "That's definitely Katie. I think you're right about the kid too. She's in the living room with the other children. Katie's standing over there, off to the side of the porch."
Grissom's gaze followed Nick's hand. "Okay, then. Nick - why don't you go get Katie and ask her to join us in the kitchen? Warrick, you and Sara go get the girl."
Nick approached the young woman slowly, studying her intently. Where the other adults were sticking with their groups, talking in low, angry voices to one another, Katie had wandered to the outside perimeter of the porch and was gazing into the night sky. She was a fragile looking girl, and Nick didn't think she was much more than 20 - however, she had such a fresh- scrubbed, innocent look about her, he questioned even that.
As he stepped closer, Enoch and Rebekah watched his progress intently, small frowns marring their features. Katie seemed oblivious to his presence, and Nick realized she was humming to herself. "Excuse me." He smiled at her gently when she turned her gaze in his direction. "I need you to come with me, please."
"Where?"
"Just into the kitchen. We need to talk to you for a few moments. Eventually, we will be speaking with everyone, but we're going to start with you." Nick kept his voice deliberately soft, noting how Katie looked around at the others with jerky movements of her eyes.
"Do I have to go with you?" Her voice was low, and Nick heard the slight notes of panic in it. "Can Enoch come with me?" She raised her voice when she spoke his name, and Enoch immediately approached them.
"What's wrong, Katie?"
Nick looked at Enoch coolly. "Nothing that concerns you at this moment, Mr. Winters. We're going to start talking to some of the people who live here, and we'll be starting with Katie here. She's a little nervous." He smiled at Katie again when he said this. "She has nothing to worry about."
Katie looked from Nick to Enoch to Nick again. She was definitely scared about something. Nick watched with interest as she started to wring her hands, her large eyes appealing, even as her breathing quickened.
"Go with him, girl." Enoch's command was growled. "Just remember, he's not one of us." Katie flinched at this nodding to herself or Enoch - Nick was unsure. Nick himself took an opportunity to glare coldly at Enoch himself.
"What's that supposed to mean, Mr. Winters?"
"Nothing, boy. Just that you're not one of us. You don't understand the way things work around here, not like Katie here."
* * * * *
Warrick and Sara stepped to the doorway of the living room, silently observing the children inside for a few moments. Sara, who had not met Nancy earlier that evening, let Warrick take the lead. Warrick quickly spotted the little girl sitting half-asleep on the lap of an older child, and took a deep breathe as he approached her.
The children who were awake stared at him dumbstruck, the younger ones in an odd mixture of awe and terror, the older ones with a contempt that was cutting, especially coming from children.
The girl who had been holding Nancy on her lap blanched when Warrick stopped in front of her and sank to his haunches.
Warrick judged her to be about 10 or 11 years old, and he carefully blanked his eyes of emotion when he saw the fear in hers. Nancy had sat up a little, opening her eyes more fully when she spotted Warrick and smiling.
"You're back."
Warrick smiled at the little girl, genuine affection at her pleasure shimmering across his features.
"That's the first friendly smile I've seen all evening," he remarked warmly. "Hi Nancy. It's obvious you remember me. My friend here is named Sara," he nodded over his shoulder, "and she and I need to take you into the kitchen for a minute. We need to talk to you."
The older girl's arms tightened protectively around Nancy, and her voice shook. "No. I won't let you take her."
Sara leaned forward, her voice reassuring as she noticed the younger girl's pallor. "We'll bring her back soon. We just need to speak with her in the kitchen for a few minutes."
When the girl's only response was to tighten her hold on Nancy even more, Sara sighed in exasperation.
"Listen, we're the good guys, okay? We're with the police - so you can trust us."
The girl shook her head mutely at Sara, shooting another scared glare in Warrick's direction. Sara reached out a hand and squeezed Warrick's knee in sympathy, trying to hold in her anger. Before she could say anything else, little Nancy spoke up.
"Ruthie - it's all right. He has pretty eyes." She started squirming. "And he's not the boogeyman. He told me so."
The other children watched in fascination and awe as Nancy slid off Ruthie's lab and allowed Warrick to pick her up. Her small arms wrapped around his neck in absolute trust, and she smiled at the other girl from her suddenly elevated position. "You're not going to hurt me, are you?" Her girlish voice, so sweet and trusting, elicited another smile from Warrick.
"No, Nancy. I'm not here to hurt anybody."
* * * * *
Katie was sitting nervously at the kitchen table when Warrick and Sara walked into the kitchen; Nancy nestled comfortably in Warrick's arms. She smiled happily when she saw Katie, and ran to her immediately when Warrick set her gingerly on the floor.
"Katie!" She crowed happily, hugging the older girl tightly.
Off to the side, Nick, Grissom and Catherine were speaking softly, barely glancing up when the other two CSIs approached.
"He reminded her I wasn't one of them - I'm pretty sure he was threatening her in some way. She's definitely scared off something." Nick's whisper was intense, and his eyes darted over to Katie, before looking back to the others. "She didn't say a whole lot, but she's very tense - wasn't talking to any of the others out there, very nervous about something. And, I think I recognize her voice - from the 911 call. I'm not sure, but it sure sounds similar."
Grissom looked at the girl intently for a few minutes. Brass, standing across the table from her, raised an eyebrow at him.
"Okay." Grissom looked at Sara and Catherine. "You two start. We'll observe."
* * * * *
Nancy was tucked happily on Katie's lap, sighing contentedly, when Sara and Catherine approached them and sat down in two free chairs. Catherine had the photo album in her hands, opening it up and sliding it slowly towards them.
"Can you tell us who this young man is?" Her voice was gentle, and she tapped the picture softly. "We're pretty sure that's you two in the picture with him."
Katie leaned forward slightly, looking at the picture before closing her eyes and turning away. She didn't say anything.
Nancy also leaned forward, reaching out a small hand, one finger gently tracing the face of the young man. She smiled at Catherine sadly.
"That's our brother, Scotty."
Katie winced when Nancy spoke, her eyes opening and closing quickly again.
Catherine smiled intently at the little girl. "Does he live here too?"
"Not anymore. He runned away." Her response was sad, and she leaned her head against Katie's chest. "He runned away, and now Katie's sad. She doesn't think he's coming back for us."
"Are you and Katie really sisters?" Sara spoke now, gently, her question directed at Nancy. She was surprised when Katie answered.
"Nancy and I are sisters, and Scotty's really our brother," she confirmed. "And he didn't run away. Papa Enoch banished him, and wouldn't let us go with him." She suddenly turned to look at Warrick, taking everyone by surprise as she gazed appealingly at him. "Do you know where he is?"
There was dead silence in the kitchen for a moment, before Warrick stepped forward. "I can't answer that right now." His voice was soft. "We need to talk to you a bit more first. May I ask you a question?"
Katie nodded reluctantly, biting her lip.
"Everyone who lives here seems to either be scared of me, or to hate me. But you and your sister aren't. Can I ask why?"
"They don't like you because Papa Enoch says you're evil." Katie's voice was just as soft as Warrick's, barely audible in the silent question.
"He doesn't even know me. I've never met him before today. Why would he say I'm evil?"
"Not you, in particular. Just -" Katie paused, biting her lip. "You're black."
Warrick nodded in agreement. "Yes, I am. My mom was black. But my daddy was white - so I'm really both."
Katie paled slightly at this, her gaze flying to the tense faces of the other CSIs before returning to Warrick's. "You're here - you're here about the murders."
"What murders, Katie?" Grissom stepped forwards, placing a hand at Warrick's elbow. His voice was commanding.
"The white girl and the black boy in the desert. No one knows I saw them. How did you know it was me?" Katie was crying now, big tears rolling from the corners of her eyes before dropping to the table. Nancy looked at her in concern, before tears filled her eyes too.
"Don't let Papa Enoch send her away!" the little girl whispered. "Scotty will never be able to find her if she goes."
Warrick looked at the little girl in sympathy. He turned to Grissom. "Why don't you talk to her. I'll take Nancy and wait in the hallway."
Grissom nodded at Warrick's suggestion, his gaze never leaving Katie's face. As he left the room, he heard Grissom's hushed tones; Katie's silent tears turning to harsh sobs as she learned the awful truth - her brother would never be coming back for them.
_____
Author's note: Sorry for the delay in posting chapters. Long weekends tend to get in the way of my writing! Anyway, thanks for the reviews - and your patience in waiting for this chapter. I hope the wait was worth it! Let me know what you think!
Sara and Catherine were methodically and carefully looking through the photo albums Sara had found in the living room. There were several photos of young men and women in various settings - church, Christmas, working around the commune - and Catherine remarked idly that at one point or another, several dozen people must have lived at the commune.
Sara, looking through a different album, nodded absently. "Lots of kids, too. This one is full of school pictures - home school, but obviously class-room settings."
Silence fell, interrupted only by the occasional flip of the photo album pages, before Catherine's voice broke the silence.
"I think this is him." She leaned forward, finger nail tapping at a picture as she handed the album to Sara. "It's a couple of years old, but I'd say it's the same guy who protested against the city last year -"
"-and who painted the walls at Lifestyles before being murdered." Sara squinted at the photo, drawing it closer to her eyes. "I think you're right, Cath." She smiled at the older CSI. "Shall we just box the rest of these and go through them back at the lab? Let's take this to Grissom."
* * * * *
Warrick and Nick followed O'Reilly and a couple of his men at an easy pace through the geo-homes, waking up the inhabitants and escorting them to the front porch of the farm house.
As they moved through the homes, the two criminalists performed a cursory inspection, looking for anything that appeared out of the ordinary, making note of closets and storage areas.
Not one of the residents was happy to be relocated outside, the men complaining - rather pugnaciously - that the police had no right to be forcing them out of their homes at midnight, glowering in particular when they spotted Warrick in the background.
After all five geo-homes had been emptied, there were 26 adults - 12 men, 14 women - and 11 children ranging in ages for roughly 15 to 18 months. The adults had been asked to wait on the large porch, and the children were taken inside under the supervision of a couple of officers and were waiting, tiredly, in the living room Sara and Catherine had already searched.
Grissom and Brass had escorted Enoch and Rebekah outside to join the rest of the adults off to the side of the farmhouse, and O'Reilly and the other officers now stood silent guard on the agitated gathering.
Nick and Warrick were speaking softly with Brass and Grissom when Sara and Catherine joined them.
"Hey guys. We've got another picture - pretty sure it's our John Doe."
Sara handed the photo album to Grissom, smiling as Nick and Warrick immediately lifted their flashlights to spotlight the page.
Grissom smiled grimly. "Looks like him. Anyone recognize who this is in the picture with him?" His question was rhetorical, and he quickly began scanning the people gathered on the porch.
Warrick leaned forward, squinting at the picture. "The little girl there looks like Nancy - the one who spoke to me upstairs, only younger. I think the young woman is Katie, also fro the farm house."
Nick agreed with Warrick. "That's definitely Katie. I think you're right about the kid too. She's in the living room with the other children. Katie's standing over there, off to the side of the porch."
Grissom's gaze followed Nick's hand. "Okay, then. Nick - why don't you go get Katie and ask her to join us in the kitchen? Warrick, you and Sara go get the girl."
Nick approached the young woman slowly, studying her intently. Where the other adults were sticking with their groups, talking in low, angry voices to one another, Katie had wandered to the outside perimeter of the porch and was gazing into the night sky. She was a fragile looking girl, and Nick didn't think she was much more than 20 - however, she had such a fresh- scrubbed, innocent look about her, he questioned even that.
As he stepped closer, Enoch and Rebekah watched his progress intently, small frowns marring their features. Katie seemed oblivious to his presence, and Nick realized she was humming to herself. "Excuse me." He smiled at her gently when she turned her gaze in his direction. "I need you to come with me, please."
"Where?"
"Just into the kitchen. We need to talk to you for a few moments. Eventually, we will be speaking with everyone, but we're going to start with you." Nick kept his voice deliberately soft, noting how Katie looked around at the others with jerky movements of her eyes.
"Do I have to go with you?" Her voice was low, and Nick heard the slight notes of panic in it. "Can Enoch come with me?" She raised her voice when she spoke his name, and Enoch immediately approached them.
"What's wrong, Katie?"
Nick looked at Enoch coolly. "Nothing that concerns you at this moment, Mr. Winters. We're going to start talking to some of the people who live here, and we'll be starting with Katie here. She's a little nervous." He smiled at Katie again when he said this. "She has nothing to worry about."
Katie looked from Nick to Enoch to Nick again. She was definitely scared about something. Nick watched with interest as she started to wring her hands, her large eyes appealing, even as her breathing quickened.
"Go with him, girl." Enoch's command was growled. "Just remember, he's not one of us." Katie flinched at this nodding to herself or Enoch - Nick was unsure. Nick himself took an opportunity to glare coldly at Enoch himself.
"What's that supposed to mean, Mr. Winters?"
"Nothing, boy. Just that you're not one of us. You don't understand the way things work around here, not like Katie here."
* * * * *
Warrick and Sara stepped to the doorway of the living room, silently observing the children inside for a few moments. Sara, who had not met Nancy earlier that evening, let Warrick take the lead. Warrick quickly spotted the little girl sitting half-asleep on the lap of an older child, and took a deep breathe as he approached her.
The children who were awake stared at him dumbstruck, the younger ones in an odd mixture of awe and terror, the older ones with a contempt that was cutting, especially coming from children.
The girl who had been holding Nancy on her lap blanched when Warrick stopped in front of her and sank to his haunches.
Warrick judged her to be about 10 or 11 years old, and he carefully blanked his eyes of emotion when he saw the fear in hers. Nancy had sat up a little, opening her eyes more fully when she spotted Warrick and smiling.
"You're back."
Warrick smiled at the little girl, genuine affection at her pleasure shimmering across his features.
"That's the first friendly smile I've seen all evening," he remarked warmly. "Hi Nancy. It's obvious you remember me. My friend here is named Sara," he nodded over his shoulder, "and she and I need to take you into the kitchen for a minute. We need to talk to you."
The older girl's arms tightened protectively around Nancy, and her voice shook. "No. I won't let you take her."
Sara leaned forward, her voice reassuring as she noticed the younger girl's pallor. "We'll bring her back soon. We just need to speak with her in the kitchen for a few minutes."
When the girl's only response was to tighten her hold on Nancy even more, Sara sighed in exasperation.
"Listen, we're the good guys, okay? We're with the police - so you can trust us."
The girl shook her head mutely at Sara, shooting another scared glare in Warrick's direction. Sara reached out a hand and squeezed Warrick's knee in sympathy, trying to hold in her anger. Before she could say anything else, little Nancy spoke up.
"Ruthie - it's all right. He has pretty eyes." She started squirming. "And he's not the boogeyman. He told me so."
The other children watched in fascination and awe as Nancy slid off Ruthie's lab and allowed Warrick to pick her up. Her small arms wrapped around his neck in absolute trust, and she smiled at the other girl from her suddenly elevated position. "You're not going to hurt me, are you?" Her girlish voice, so sweet and trusting, elicited another smile from Warrick.
"No, Nancy. I'm not here to hurt anybody."
* * * * *
Katie was sitting nervously at the kitchen table when Warrick and Sara walked into the kitchen; Nancy nestled comfortably in Warrick's arms. She smiled happily when she saw Katie, and ran to her immediately when Warrick set her gingerly on the floor.
"Katie!" She crowed happily, hugging the older girl tightly.
Off to the side, Nick, Grissom and Catherine were speaking softly, barely glancing up when the other two CSIs approached.
"He reminded her I wasn't one of them - I'm pretty sure he was threatening her in some way. She's definitely scared off something." Nick's whisper was intense, and his eyes darted over to Katie, before looking back to the others. "She didn't say a whole lot, but she's very tense - wasn't talking to any of the others out there, very nervous about something. And, I think I recognize her voice - from the 911 call. I'm not sure, but it sure sounds similar."
Grissom looked at the girl intently for a few minutes. Brass, standing across the table from her, raised an eyebrow at him.
"Okay." Grissom looked at Sara and Catherine. "You two start. We'll observe."
* * * * *
Nancy was tucked happily on Katie's lap, sighing contentedly, when Sara and Catherine approached them and sat down in two free chairs. Catherine had the photo album in her hands, opening it up and sliding it slowly towards them.
"Can you tell us who this young man is?" Her voice was gentle, and she tapped the picture softly. "We're pretty sure that's you two in the picture with him."
Katie leaned forward slightly, looking at the picture before closing her eyes and turning away. She didn't say anything.
Nancy also leaned forward, reaching out a small hand, one finger gently tracing the face of the young man. She smiled at Catherine sadly.
"That's our brother, Scotty."
Katie winced when Nancy spoke, her eyes opening and closing quickly again.
Catherine smiled intently at the little girl. "Does he live here too?"
"Not anymore. He runned away." Her response was sad, and she leaned her head against Katie's chest. "He runned away, and now Katie's sad. She doesn't think he's coming back for us."
"Are you and Katie really sisters?" Sara spoke now, gently, her question directed at Nancy. She was surprised when Katie answered.
"Nancy and I are sisters, and Scotty's really our brother," she confirmed. "And he didn't run away. Papa Enoch banished him, and wouldn't let us go with him." She suddenly turned to look at Warrick, taking everyone by surprise as she gazed appealingly at him. "Do you know where he is?"
There was dead silence in the kitchen for a moment, before Warrick stepped forward. "I can't answer that right now." His voice was soft. "We need to talk to you a bit more first. May I ask you a question?"
Katie nodded reluctantly, biting her lip.
"Everyone who lives here seems to either be scared of me, or to hate me. But you and your sister aren't. Can I ask why?"
"They don't like you because Papa Enoch says you're evil." Katie's voice was just as soft as Warrick's, barely audible in the silent question.
"He doesn't even know me. I've never met him before today. Why would he say I'm evil?"
"Not you, in particular. Just -" Katie paused, biting her lip. "You're black."
Warrick nodded in agreement. "Yes, I am. My mom was black. But my daddy was white - so I'm really both."
Katie paled slightly at this, her gaze flying to the tense faces of the other CSIs before returning to Warrick's. "You're here - you're here about the murders."
"What murders, Katie?" Grissom stepped forwards, placing a hand at Warrick's elbow. His voice was commanding.
"The white girl and the black boy in the desert. No one knows I saw them. How did you know it was me?" Katie was crying now, big tears rolling from the corners of her eyes before dropping to the table. Nancy looked at her in concern, before tears filled her eyes too.
"Don't let Papa Enoch send her away!" the little girl whispered. "Scotty will never be able to find her if she goes."
Warrick looked at the little girl in sympathy. He turned to Grissom. "Why don't you talk to her. I'll take Nancy and wait in the hallway."
Grissom nodded at Warrick's suggestion, his gaze never leaving Katie's face. As he left the room, he heard Grissom's hushed tones; Katie's silent tears turning to harsh sobs as she learned the awful truth - her brother would never be coming back for them.
_____
Author's note: Sorry for the delay in posting chapters. Long weekends tend to get in the way of my writing! Anyway, thanks for the reviews - and your patience in waiting for this chapter. I hope the wait was worth it! Let me know what you think!