This story is based on characters created by Anthony E. Zuiker for the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Remuneration, Part 33
by Cheers
"I'm sorry," Martha Danbridge said for the fourth time.
"You tried your best, mom," Ron told his mother gently. Both he and Cheryl gave her an encouraging hug.
"It's all right," Grissom reassured her again. "We just needed to ask."
Mrs. Danbridge nodded and then fell silent. She looked small to Grissom, as if her whole body had somehow shrunk in on itself from the weight of the horrors the world had brought into her life these past few days.
Rising from the couch, Gil thanked Shelly's parents for letting them try the voice recognition. The fact that Martha Danbridge couldn't remember ever hearing the voice didn't mean that she had never seen the man before, only that she may have never had a conversation with him.
Ron walked the investigators to the front door. He paused with his hand on the inside knob. "Dr. Grissom," he began.
Gil knew where this was going and tried to cut him off. "No," he told Shelly's father. "It's okay."
Ron Danbridge forged ahead through Grissom's attempt to interrupt his apology. "I really need to say this," he insisted. "I had no right to jump to conclusions like that. I'm not a violent man, Dr. Grissom. I know there's no reason for you to believe me. What I did to you was inexcusable. I'm very sorry."
Carl Paulson stared at the young father for a moment and then looked at Gil Grissom again. It was obvious to him now that the CSI supervisor had received the injuries to his face at the hands of Mr. Danbridge, who had believed Grissom was Shelly's killer almost solely because of Paulson's accusations.
"Please," Gil was still protesting. "Don't worry about it."
Cheryl moved to stand next to her husband and took his arm. "Please accept our sincerest apologies, Dr. Grissom," she said earnestly.
Looking into the eyes of the young Mrs. Danbridge, Grissom could see that his objections were doing more harm than good. He took a slow deep breath and let it out. Graciousness had never really been a strong suit for him. He was sure his own mother would be horrified. "Alright," he said softly. "Thank you."
Ron Danbridge held out his hand to Grissom. Without hesitation, Gil shook it.
"I'm sure there are many people who owe you an apology, Dr. Grissom," Ron said as he let go of Gil's hand. "I hope your life returns to normal soon."
Nick gave Paulson another hard look. Carl looked down at his shoes.
"Not until we find whoever did this to Shelly," Gil told her parents, determined resolve in his voice.
Jim Brass hit the end button on his cell phone. "I found us a judge," he informed the three waiting CSIs.
"Do we have an address?" Sara asked.
"Yeah," Brass said. "He lives in an apartment complex on Tenaya."
"West side," Warrick commented.
Catherine grinned. This was the part of the job she loved. "Let's go," she told the group.
Once the three men were in the corridor outside of the Danbridge home, Carl Paulson stopped the CSIs. "Wait."
Grissom gave the detective an expectant look. Nick's look wasn't as generous.
Paulson knew that he would have to tell Gil Grissom that he had made a mistake. He just didn't think that doing so in the middle of an important investigation was appropriate. He also didn't want to do it with an obviously hostile audience. He came to the point quickly. "There is a Blaine McCallister that lives on the first floor here. She says she's seen a man walking a large dark haired dog," Paulson told the CSIs. "Maybe she's talked to him as well? If this is our killer's voice, we might have better luck with her."
"You want to run this voice recording by her as well? You think she might recognize the voice?" Nick asked.
Paulson looked at Grissom with hopefulness that the investigator would live up to his reputation for putting the work first. Carl was not disappointed.
"I know Ms. McCallister," Gil told Nick and the detective. "Let's play the recording for her and see."
In five minutes the three men were standing in Blaine McCallister's living room and she was listening to the recording of the 911 call. Ms. McCallister concentrated on the voice. When the recording ended with the caller hanging up, Blaine asked, "Can you play it again?"
"Sure thing," Nick said. He hit the play button once more and they all listened to the recording again.
By the time the recording ended the second time, Blaine was certain. "That's the guy," she told the investigators.
"What guy?" Grissom asked.
"The guy with the dog," she told them.
It was nearly 8:30 am when the three CSIs and Jim Brass arrived at the Sun Palms Apartment complex. The leasing office wasn't open yet. Brass was thankful that this wasn't a gated community. Pulling into the parking lot of the complex in two cars, Warrick and Sara in their Tahoe, and Catherine and Brass in his sedan, they pulled into the parking spaces next to the fourth building to the south of the main entrance.
Exiting the driver's side of his car, Brass called to Warrick and Sara as they got out of the SUV. "It's apartment 423. Looks like it might be around the side here."
Warrick nodded and grabbed his field kit before closing his door and following the detective. Sara did the same.
Before the Warrick and Sara could join Brass and Catherine, a squad car pulled into the parking lot and parked next to the Tahoe. Brass nodded to the uniformed officer that stepped out of the radio car. His name was Frank Nobilo.
Subsequent to introductions being made, the group moved up the pathway to apartment 423 and Jim Brass knocked on the door. After a few moments he raised his hand to knock again just as the front door was pulled open.
"Yes?" a man dressed only in pajama bottoms asked.
"Christopher DiMarco?" Jim Brass asked.
"I'm Chris," the man said sleepily.
Brass held out his detective's shield so that Mr. DiMarco could see it. "Captain Jim Brass, Las Vegas Police," he informed the suspect. "We have a warrant to search your apartment."
"A warrant? What's this about?" DiMarco said, the first hints of understanding in his voice.
"We're investigating the disappearance of Joseph Durant," Catherine told the man.
Brass handed DiMarco the search warrant paperwork and took a step into the doorway. "We're here to find out what you might know about it."
It was Saturday morning so there was no school. As he had expected, children were already at play in the park. He waited until he saw her.
He dropped the leash and pointed. His dog trotted over to the girl.
When she felt the cold touch of the dog's nose on her face, Robin looked up and smiled. "Hello," she said to the dog. Petting the dog made the dog's tail wag even faster.
When he stepped up to retrieve the dog's leash, he smiled down at the little girl. "I see you've found my dog again."
"He gets away a lot, huh?" Robin asked, still petting the pretty dog.
"You want to know what I think? I think he likes you."
That made Robin laugh. She liked the dog, too.
"Would you like to walk my dog?" he asked.
"Could I?" Robin asked excitedly, standing quickly.
"I think he'd like that very much." Handing the leash to the little girl, they set off across the grass of the park together.
