"Search for the Truth" part 1 By Rita Widmer

All pertinent information is in the prologue. Enjoy and thank you for all the feedback!

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'Concentrate, Gil, concentrate! You need to make a right at the next stoplight then a left immediately after that.

This is probably not a good idea! Here I am going faster then I ever have gone in a car before. 70...too slow...75...not fast enough....80. Was that a policeman I just passed? It better not be, because this car is not going to stop until I've reached Catherine. So anyone out there in my way better watch out or be ready for a chase down the streets of Las Vegas.

No time to fret about if this is a good idea or not. Catherine is injured, and she needs my help.

Catherine is injured!! Why didn't I call an ambulance before I left? She could be seriously injured or even...nope can't think that way. She is going to be fine, and she'll be waiting there with a slight smile on her face laughing at my being so frantic.

But what if she isn't? You've got your cell phone with you. Grab it and call 911.

You've got to stay calm while you talk to the operator. It is just a phone call to inform them that someone needs help.

Who do I think I'm kidding? This is not just any person out there who just happened to call my number. This is Catherine, we're talking about here. The woman that you....oh no, now's not the time to dive into those feelings. Now repeat after yourself very slowly She...is...your... best... friend and fellow coworker.

Now that you've got the operator on the line tell her all that you know. She's telling me to calm down. Do I really sound that frantic to her?

She's probably just use to having frantic people on the phone, and it comes as ritual to ask for the person to calm down. That's settled. She's going to get an ambulance and send over a policeman to meet me there.

This drive is taking way too long. Finally, I'm here!!

My heart stops for a moment as I look at the scene in front of me. There's police cars around the front, and as I sit frozen in my seat I can see Jim Brass walking towards me. This can't be good from the look on his face.

He tries to give me a quick smile for some kind of reassurance, but it only makes my heart race faster. She can't be....no she's going to be all right. She's got to be.

I don't even take the time to talk to Brass as I get out of the car. I have to get to her, and there's no time for talk. I won't believe him anyways until I see her for myself. I slowly enter the apartment.

Then I see her laying there, with medics surrounding her. Breathe, they wouldn't be here if she wasn't still here on Earth with you still.

I must have been staring at her for awhile when I feel Brass walk up behind me.'

"She's alive for now. She was shot twice in the chest and once in the arm. They are not holding out much hope, but if I know Catherine as well as I think I do she's a fighter. If she has any say in her survival she'll stay here with you."

"How did you get here so fast?" asked Gil as he went on CSI mode.

"The landlady heard the shots, and called the police. Warrick and Nick are on their way over as we speak to handle the investigation. Sara will deal with the apparent suicide over at Circus, Circus."

"Did the landlady see the shooter?"

"No, but this isn't your case, Gil. It looks they are taking her now. Go be with her, she's going to need you."

'I'm ready to protest. I want to find her shooter, but the appeal to go with her is drawing me away from the scene. Somehow I get permission to go with them in the ambulance. As I am about to follow them in I see Warrick and Nick get out of the Tahoe. From their expressions I know they hadn't been told who was the victim. I step in with only a nod towards them.

My mind wanders as I watch her laying there in front of me. Somehow she looks so peaceful though her body must be working hard to heal itself and fight the pain it is going through.

I am so caught up in my emotions at seeing her this way that I almost miss the ringing that fills the ambulance, but when I do my heart stops beating again.

TBC...