Chapter Five
Sara climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. She made the quick journey to I-15 and as she merged into the traffic she glanced at Brass through the rearview mirror.
"Which exit?"
Brass stifled a yawn and glanced down at his notes. "42A...onto 95...and then take exit 83."
She nodded and took the first exit as Grissom reached over and turned the radio on. He gave her a small smile and resisted the urge to place his hand on her knee. She returned his smile and after a quick glance at Brass through the mirror, only to find him watching the traffic through the side window, she turned her eyes back to the road in front of her.
Brass' voice broke her out of her thoughts of what she was going to do to the man sitting beside of her when they got home. "Sara...you're going to miss the exit."
Grissom hid his smile and turned his head towards the window beside of him. Sara gave a small huff and drove down the exit ramp, coming to a stop at the red light at the end. She turned slightly in her seat, glaring at Brass behind her sunglasses. "Would you like to drive?"
As Brass opened his mouth, Grissom spoke softly. "Sara, the light's green."
Brass watched her as she made the left turn onto Cheyenne and grinned. Definitely needs more sleep, less caffeine.
Sara silently cursed each red light that slowed her progress to Carl Garrett. Grissom chuckled softly.
Sara turned her head towards him quickly. "What?"
"Screaming at the lights to change won't make them green any quicker..."
Brass let out a small laugh, which he tried to disguise as a cough. It didn't work apparently, as Sara turned to look at him.
"What are you laughing at?"
Brass gestured to the two sitting in front. "The two of you..."
Sara bit her lip to stop the smile and nodded before turning back and continuing down the road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They made their way into the plant and Brass walked to the receptionist's desk, introducing himself and requesting to speak with Carl Garrett. Sara gently nudged Grissom's arm, keeping her eyes on Brass. He turned to look at her and smiled.
"Think he suspects?"
His smile broadened briefly and he shrugged his shoulders. "Probably..."
She looked up into his eyes, with puzzlement in her own. "It doesn't bother you?"
He shook his head slowly and looked back towards Brass to see him heading their way. "No...but...we'll talk about this later, okay?"
She nodded quickly and tore her eyes from him reluctantly.
Brass came to a halt in front of the two CSI's. "Okay. Garrett's working today, but he's currently at lunch." He gestured towards the receptionist. "The nice lady over there said he should be back within 15 minutes."
Grissom leaned his shoulder against the wall and looked out the glass doors. "Okay..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twenty minutes later, the door opened and a young man walked through. Grissom stood upright immediately, recognizing the resemblance of the man to Ben Garrett. He looked at Brass quickly. Jim nodded and stepped forward, blocking the young man's path.
"Mr. Garrett? Carl Garrett?"
The man stopped and glared at him. "Yeah?"
He pulled out his badge and showed it to the man standing in front of him. "Jim Brass, Las Vegas PD."
Carl stared into the man's eyes for a moment. "What the hell do you want?"
Brass smiled thinly and gestured to nothing in particular in the air. "Just to talk."
He glared at the detective for a few seconds longer. "Look...I paid the speeding ticket last week, okay?" He attempted to push his way past Brass.
Grissom moved quickly and blocked the man once more.
"Who are you? His bodyguard?"
"Gil Grissom, Criminalistics. And...we're not here to discuss a speeding ticket. We're here to discuss the murder of Peter Marsden."
Carl stared at Grissom. "Peter. Yeah, he was Ben's friend."
Sara took the few steps required to stand beside of Grissom. "Not your friend too?"
Carl looked Sara over carefully. Almost too carefully for Grissom's liking. "I was an acquaintance of Peter's. I was more interested in Susanne. That's why I'd go over once in a while." He looked at the three people standing in front of him. "But, Susanne wasn't there that night."
Brass watched Carl. He wasn't liking what he was seeing. "Is there somewhere we can talk?"
Carl shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "The breakroom, I guess. Come on."
They followed Carl down a short hall and into the empty breakroom. Sara watched him as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Susanne wasn't there...but you were..."
"Yeah...I was there for a while. And then Ben and I left around midnight or so...I had to get home. It was getting late, I was tired. Susanne had to work a little later than I thought she did...and...I have to be here at 7 in the mornings."
Grissom watched him as Carl subconsciously ran his tongue across his front tooth. His eyes focused in on the tooth. Broken...recently, judging by the way he keeps feeling it. Like it feels...odd.
Grissom nodded and stood. "We may have some more questions for you later." His voice held no hint of his suspicions.
Carl smiled at the older man and watched as the other two stood as well. "Sure...no problem. You know where to find me."
As the three investigators left the room, Carl's smile turned into a full-fledged grin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They made their way back to the parking lot of the Las Vegas Police Department and dropped Jim off. He looked at the two and smiled. "You know...you two really need some sleep." He glanced at his watch. "You do realize that it's after 1?"
Grissom shook his head slowly and chuckled as he watched Jim walk off. He turned to Sara, only partly surprised to see her trying to suppress a yawn. He moved his hand to her knee and gently squeezed. "Hey..."
She placed her hand over his and turned to meet his gaze. "Hey..."
"What do you say we go back to my place and go to bed?"
She grinned brightly at him. He felt his face redden quickly. "I mean...to sleep..."
She squeezed his hand tightly. "I'm not tired, Griss..."
He laughed lightly. "Yeah...that's why you're yawning."
She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "Gil..."
"Sara...let's just go home, sleep for a few hours..."
"And head to the Marsden residence for a walk through?"
He grinned and nodded. He raised her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her palm. "And...I promise...later..."
"I'm going to hold you to that promise."
Her bright smile made his heart race. "I know...I definitely know..."