This story is based on characters created by Anthony E. Zuiker for the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Remuneration, Part 29
by Cheers

Without much effort, David Hodges had managed to identify the tire treads from the casts Stokes had taken behind the Albertson's as Firestone P235/75R15 Wilderness AT Truck tires. These were the same tires that were the subject of a massive recall in August 2000. Someone hadn't been paying very close attention when the warnings about this tire went out. The fact that the tire was still on the road irked Hodges. His findings meant that some yahoo was out there driving around on unsafe treads and they could cause a severe accident because of their negligence in not getting the tires replaced. The way things worked in this world, the owner of the tires probably wouldn't die but some innocent in another car involved in the accident caused by their apathy would. With Hodges' luck, he figured that innocent would in all likelihood be him.

Still mulling over the possibility of his eventual death-by-consumer-negligence, Hodges made an exhaustive list of all the makes and models of vehicles that came with the Wilderness AT standard. After adding this information to his final report, he headed out to find the only person he really wanted to give the results to - one Gil Grissom.


The sun was only now beginning to set. Robin was at play this evening, but she wasn't alone. The young girl was playing in the same sandbox where he had first discovered her only now there were two other children with her. One of the other kids was a boy and older, perhaps twelve. Obviously ignoring the play of the two younger girls, the boy busied himself with making a fortress out of sand and staging a massive armed battle.

Winding the dog's leash tighter around his hand, he cut up a footpath well before the sandbox and headed up a knoll where he could sit and observe the children. Perhaps, like two days ago, Robin would be last to go home tonight.


Nick Stokes entered the Crime Lab with a bag of evidence gathered from the Danbridge house and a beeper message from Archie. He was headed up the hallway toward the evidence room where he could get his carpet fiber samples logged in when he spotted Hodges heading his way.

"Hey, Hodges!" Nick called.

David Hodges heard his name and saw Stokes at almost the same moment. His displeasure at seeing the junior investigator was apparent. Checking his movement up the corridor, Hodges waited for Stokes to come to him.

Seeing the lab technician stop, Nick walked quickly to close the gap between them. "How's it going, Hodges?" Nick asked good-naturedly.

"How does it look like I'm doing?" Hodges replied snidely.

Nick stared at the lab tech for a moment, trying to understand why the man was so perpetually ill-tempered. Finally, he shook his head. No use wasting time trying to figure out the inexplicable, he decided. "Whatever, man," Nick said. "I called to you to see if you've finished the tire tread analysis I sent you."

Hodges briefly glanced at the file folder he was carrying and then back at the junior investigator. Nick noted the reaction and knew right away the lab tech was carrying the results.

"I was just headed to Grissom's office with something important," Hodges dodged. "Can I get back to you on that?"

The fact that Hodges didn't answer his question directly also struck Nick. Man, this guy was a piece of work. There was very little about David Hodges that Nick liked, but Hodges was a good tech. As a lab technician, Hodges did provide accurate analyses and was pretty speedy about it. Since that was the man's job, Nick felt he had to respect the ability. However, it hadn't taken long for the CSIs on the night shift to realize that there was almost nothing about them that Hodges respected. That just plain pissed Nick off. Thinking quickly, Nick did that last thing Hodges would expect him to do.

Stepping up next to the lab tech and placing his arm around the man's shoulders, Nick gave Hodges one of his most jovial looks. "How long have you been here, Hodges?" the CSI asked pleasantly.

With a more-than-usually-suspicious sidelong look, Hodges responded, "Five months, next Thursday."

"Has it really been that long?" Nick responded thoughtfully.

"Why?" the lab tech wanted to know.

The CSI gave Hodges a friendly and sympathetic look that belied the strength used to tighten his grip around the lab technician's upper back. "I think it stinks that you've been at this lab for that long and no one's explained how we do things around here." Nick gave Hodge's shoulder a not too friendly squeeze for emphasis and began to propel him down the hall. "You see this assignment board down here?" Nick said as they came to the end of the corridor and entered the foyer of the back entrance to the building. He nodded to the board, never easing up on his viselike hold. "This board lists all the current open cases and the primary investigator assigned to each case." Nick looked at the lab tech with nothing but the most cordial of expressions. "And you see that case right there?" He pointed with his free hand to the Danbridge case file number listed on the board. "That file number is the same number as the one on the folder you're holding. And see the name of the primary investigator assigned to that case?"

Hodges was beginning to squirm.

"Why, that would be my name," Nick continued. He gave the lab tech's shoulder another firm squeeze before finishing. "You see Hodges, the way things work in this lab is that ALL lab reports on each case go to the primary investigator for that case. So, I think that you must have been mistaken about wanting to give that report to Grissom. You probably meant you wanted to give it to the primary - me. Isn't that right?"

With a burst of effort, Hodges broke away from Nick's grip and moved a pace away before stopping. "I … ah …."

Quick as a cat, Nick stepped up and snatched the folder deftly out of Hodges' hand. "Thanks for the report, man" Nick said as he walked past the dazed technician and moved back up the hall. With the tire tread analysis report in hand and a self-satisfied grin on his face, Nick wished he could read minds right about now.


Catherine Willows met Doc Robbins in the autopsy bay, the autopsy table currently devoid of any of the normal unmoving clientele common to the place. Al Robbins was finishing up autopsy notes on some previous cases when the blonde CSI entered.

"What's up, Doc?" Catherine said as she pushed through the door. Robbins gave her an 'aren't you clever' look that made Catherine's grin spread even wider. "Not too original, huh?" she offered.

"Absolutely," Robbins replied. "Never heard that before in my life. But, from you it's music to my bilateral cochleae."

Catherine stepped up next to the doctor. "I bet you say that to all of the girls," she teased.

"Just the live ones," he retorted without missing a beat. The small smile on his face told her the doctor was enjoying their banter as much as she was. It was one of the things he enjoyed about his job. Medical examiners didn't often get to choose the people with whom they worked. Robbins was lucky to be associated with this crime lab and this night shift team. After a moment, Robbins asked the obvious question. "So what brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"Warrick and Sara have a possible name for our storage unit shooting victim," Catherine told the coroner. "I was hoping we could find some dental records and do an odontological comparison. Maybe get a positive ID."

Robbins nodded. "Give me his name and I'll see what I can turn up."

Catherine smiled again, "Wow, wit, charm, AND service."

"We're a one-stop shop," the doctor said.

"Yeah," Catherine agreed, "the last stop."