Title: Supernova

Summary: "Sara, since the beginning of time the stars have held the answers to all the questions."

A/N: All names and personalities not automatically associated with the show are figments of my imagination.  Any and all feedback is appreciated.  Thanks to MissyJane and SAR for reviewing – I appreciate your feedback and encouragement.

Thanks for reading! 

Disclaimer: 'CSI' doesn't belong to me (shouldn't come as a surprise, eh?)

Spoilers: "Playing with Fire," "Inside the Box"

***

                "My lawyer, Edgar Noble of Barnabe, Noble, Shape and Associates, will be filing a formal complaint over the handing of this sensitive case tomorrow.  I must admit that I am disappointed that the number two crime lab in the country would handle herself in such an incompetent manner."

                Nick stepped on Sara's toe, warning her not to react.  She threw him a dirty look, but kept her mouth shut.

                Grissom replied, "I am unaware of any incompetence committed by this lab."

                Noble, the quite old-school lawyer spoke now, "The press conference was in direct violation of the mayor's formal wishes that this office keep the investigation quiet."

                Brass responded, "The LVPD choose to ignore those directives on the basis they contravened the purpose of this office and the wishes of another victim's next-of-kin."

                The mayor snorted, "Robson doesn't have a sister."

                At this point, Cath opened the file folder in front of her and slid a couple sheets of paper towards Noble.

                "This is a copy of the statement Karena Völund, nee Robson, made to the assistant District Attorney at 8:07 pm today.  It has been notarized by Adam Bainsworth of Harper and Associates."

                "You're not going to win this game," Dr. Matthews threatened, his voice resonating with the hidden innuendo that all seven LVPD employees could possibly be demoted or fired at his whim.

                "On the contrary," Grissom stated.  "Nick, if you please."

                "Dr. Matthews and Mr. Noble, if you could direct your attention to the screen on the southern wall, we have a small presentation for you."

                Click.

                "This first slide is a photograph of the inside of the door jam at the warehouse where the three victims were found.  If you look carefully at the tape, you'll notice blue power residue.  A partial fingerprint was lifted from the tape.  You'll also notice an arrow pointing to a spot immediately below the piece of tape.  A thread of fabric was removed from that spot."

                Dr. Matthews shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Nick switched to the next slide.

                "This is a copy of the print lifted from the scene."

                Click.

                "This is a copy of your fingerprint, Dr. Matthews.  It matches the partial lifted from the scene at nine unique places, making it a 92% probability they are the same print."

                Noble leaned forward to whisper something in the mayor's ear as Nick forwarded the slide.

                "This is a blown-up image of the piece of thread removed from the scene."

                Click.

                "This is that same image side by side with the image of a sample fabric from Giani & Company, a local tailor."

                Click.

                "This is a notarized copy of the records book from Giani & Company, identifying the particular fabric as being used on a custom order suit purchased by a Dr. Ethan Matthews.

                "Lights," Nick asked.

                Noble spoke, "This proves nothing.  The evidence is purely circumstantial."

                Grissom ignored him.

                "Greg."

                "Well, samples of skin tissue were removed from underneath the finger nails of two of the victims.  Although we can't get a positive match from them, there is an 87% probability that the DNA belonged to the father of Brooke Matthews judging by the distribution of genetically linked alleles.  Last time I checked, you were her father."

                Brass leaned across the table, shoving a folded piece towards Dr. Matthews and another copy towards Noble.

                "What's this," Dr. Matthews asked.

                "A court order requiring Dr. Ethan Matthews to give the LVPD Crime lab a DNA sample.  Catherine, will you take the DNA sample if Mr. Noble doesn't object."

                Noble sunk back into his seat.  There was no way he could contest the warrant.  The evidence presented to them at the moment wasn't enough for a conviction, but it certainly was enough to get a court order for the DNA.

                Cath gently swabbed the inside of the mayor's mouth, before she passed the sample to Greg.  Greg promptly left to go compare the sample with the sample removed from the crime scene.

                The room remained eerily silent.  Warrick carefully watched the mayor, looking for any sign of trouble.  The lawyer sat dejectedly in his seat, wondering how he got caught up in this.  Cath kept an eye on Grissom as he watched Sara and Nick talked in hushes tones in the corner of the room.  He looked sad, in an 'I'm sorry' kind of way.  She couldn't understand why he was sorry.  If it was about the explosion, it should have been her with that look.

                The minute hand on the oversize office clock ticked slowly past the twenty-minute mark, then the thirty-minute mark.  Sara kept glancing up, wondering why it was taking Greg so long.  It should have taken him five minutes tops to upload the sample and run a comparison with the CODIS software.

                At twenty-five minutes to ten, Greg re-entered the room.  A grin played on his face; his emotions barely under control.

                "There is a 100% match between the two samples," Greg said with a blank voice, passing copies of the DNA comparison to Noble, Dr. Matthews, Grissom and Brass.

                "This establishes nothing," Dr. Matthews objected after giving the document a cursory glance, "but the fact my DNA was present at the scene.  I had no motive for the murders."

                "Sara," Grissom spoke.

                Sara stood, looking at Dr. Matthews straight in the eye.

                "You had motive for the murder of all three individuals," she stated firmly.  "We found a series of e-mails Austin sent back and forth between a publisher.  She was going to publish a book on her life in the sex trade, and you were afraid your name might come up.  Robson was tracking the fraudulent claims you filed with the IRS in regards to your donations to the Las Vegas Performing Arts Academy, which never saw a cent of the money you claimed to have donated."

                "None of that can be proven," the mayor blustered.

                "It all can.  Everything was documented by both parties, including when you inadvertently learned about both of their research.  But what is really sick is your motive for murdering your own daughter.  Your ratings were dropping.  You killed your own daughter to rack up sympathy amoung the voters before the election next month."

                "That's absurd," Noble protested.

                "It's not.  Here's a copy of the analysis Dr. Matthews hired Malcolm Bernard, a political analyst with the UNLV, to complete on the ways to boost ratings.  According to Bernard's report, nothing short of a murder within Matthews' immediate family would ensure a clean-sweep of the election.  You killed her to guarantee another couple years as the mayor.  That's pathetic."

                Brass rose.

"Dr. Matthews, could you please stand up."

                Dr. Matthews rose hesitantly, looking around the room for someone to help him.

                "Ethan Matthews, I have a warrant for your arrest issued by the Nevada District Court.  You are being charged in the homicide of Paige Austin, Brooke Matthews and Halle Robson.  You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense."

                 Two LVPD officers entered the room and remanded Dr. Matthews into custody.  Noble sat, shaking his head in disbelief.  He exited the room shortly after his client, muttering something under his breath.

                "What was he saying," Greg asked curiously.

                "Something about not be a criminal attorney," Nick grinned.  "Matthews may know how to pick his supporters, but he sure can't pick lawyers."

                "Griss, you have anything to say," Cath teased.

                Grissom smiled vaguely, his eyes staring into empty space.

                "Checkmate."

***