Chapter 4
They pulled up in front of the hotel and got out. Nick was furious. He felt Catherine take his arm.
"Relax." She said. "Brass said she was fine. She doesn't need you to go barging in there scaring her though."
Nick slowed down; "You're right Catherine. Thanks."
They rode up the elevator. They saw the tape across the door to the room and some cops standing in the hall. They went into the room and saw Grace sitting on the couch.
Nick looked around, "Where are the paramedics."
Grace looked up and saw them all standing there and felt her face turn red. She turned her head away.
Brass said, "The paramedics checked her over, black eye and some major bruises but she said she didn't want to go to the hospital so they had her sign the waiver."
Nick started to step forward and felt someone take his arm. He looked over at Grissom, "Let Catherine and Sara talk to her first." He said.
Nick felt his jaw tighten and started to say something then stopped, "OK."
Catherine went over and kneeled in front of her. "Hey Grace."
Grace couldn't look at her, "Hello Catherine."
Catherine opened her bag, "This is Sara, she works with us at the lab."
"Hi Grace."
"Hi." She couldn't look up from her hands. She didn't want anyone to see her like this.
Catherine put on her gloves. "I'm going to take this strip and get the fibers off your clothes."
Sara opened her bag and got out her stuff, "Grace can you tell me where he touched you?" she asked.
Grace closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, "He had his hands on my arms, he hit me in the face and in the stomach. He.." she shuddered thinking about it.
Catherine touched her arm, "Take your time."
She shook her head and continued, "He had his hand around my neck."
Sara looked at Catherine and she nodded. "Grace I'm going to swab your neck OK. We might be able to get something from it."
"Did you scratch him?" Catherine asked. When she shook her head yes she got her clippers out, "OK, I'm going to clip your nails so we can have that too." She sealed them in a bag and handed everything to Sara, "Can you get started on that right away."
"You got it."
Catherine looked over at Nick who was pacing by the door. "Grace." She wouldn't look up, "Look at me, this is not your fault, you know that right."
She looked up at Catherine; "Yes I guess so. It's just so ..." She put her head down again.
Catherine pushed her hair behind her ears, "And you don't have to be embarrassed either. Grace, I think Nick wants to talk to you. Is it ok if he comes over? He's worried about you."
Grace started to cry; "I guess so."
"Only if you're comfortable with it. He'll understand, believe me." She waited for her Grace to decided and nodded to Nick. "If you need anything let me know."
Nick walked over to her slowly. He didn't want to scare her. He sat down on the couch next her and felt her flinch. He was so angry but he didn't let her see, "Grace we don't have to talk about anything. I just want you to know I'm here for you OK. Whatever you need or don't need, just tell me."
Grace held her breath. It was the exact thing to say. He didn't ask her about anything that happened. He just wanted to be there for her. She reached over and took his hand. She still couldn't look at him. She knew what her face looked like. Her cheek was on fire.
Nick was relieved when she touched him. It wasn't much but it was a start. He sat there and waited.
She knew she had to look at him and slowly she turned her head. She didn't want to see pity in his eyes. She didn't think she could stand it. When she looked in his eyes she saw compassion and understanding and suddenly it was too much. "Oh Nick I was so scared." She leaned toward him and put her head on his chest and started crying. She felt him put his arms around her and she held onto him for dear life.
Nick wrapped her in his arms and held her while she cried. If Andrew walked into the room at this minute Nick knew he could kill him. If not kill him then beat the total living shit out of him. He better pray it wasn't him who found him. "Grace you need to go to the hospital and let them check you out."
Grace shook her head, "No, I'm fine. There's nothing they can do for me anyway, the paramedics looked at my face and my stomach already." She wiped her face and looked up at him, "I just want to get out of here. Is there someplace else I can go?"
Nick could have kicked himself, "Of course." He motioned for Catherine; "We need to get her out of this room."
"Sure thing. Be right back." She went over to Brass where he was talking with the hotel manager. "Can you get us another room to use?"
"Of course, let me call the front desk and make sure but I think the room at the end of the hall is empty." He picked up his radio and called. "Room 430 is available, I'll get the door unlocked for you."
"Thanks." Catherine walked back over to Nick and Grace, "The manager says there's another room on this hall, we can go there."
"Thanks Catherine." Grace said, "I just keep seeing."
Catherine said, "Don't worry about it. Let's go."
Nick stood up and took her hand to help her. She stood up slowly so she wouldn't get dizzy again. She gripped Nick's hand to steady herself and when she felt better she looked up at him, "Ready."
Just as they started to walk she heard someone yelling and instinctively took a step back. She stumbled and would have fallen but Nick and Catherine took her arms to keep her up. Then she realized it was John's voice.
"What the hell is going on in here. Let me in."
"I'm sorry sir, no one is allowed in. You'll have to step back."
"I will not step back until someone tells me what's going on in there. Where's Grace, what's happened."
"Let him in please." Grace said.
"It's OK Bill you can let him in." Catherine said.
John came into the room and saw Grace with Nick and some woman. He saw the bruise on her face and said, "What happened?"
"It's nothing John. I had a little problem but everything's going to be fine."
He walked over to her and gently touched her cheek, "A little problem. I'd say a bruise the size of the Grand Canyon on your face isn't a little problem Grace." He looked around at all the people in the room. "Who did this?"
Grace didn't answer so Nick said, "Grace was attacked by her brother."
John looked at Grace, "I knew you went to see him. You lied to me. I don't understand."
"John he is my brother, I had to try and see him. Please understand." God her head was pounding again. She felt sick on her stomach.
"OK honey, I'm sorry." John said.
Nick felt Grace start to shake, "We're taking her a different room so she can rest." He started walking toward the door with Grace.
John looked at her, "Grace do you think you're going to be ready for tomorrow night? Or do you me want to postpone or cancel?"
Grace sighed. "No I don't think I want to cancel or postpone. I'm sure I'll be fine by tomorrow." She let Nick and Catherine help her down the hall to the other hotel room.
Catherine said, "Why don't you lay down for a few minutes Grace. I'll get you some ice for your face, it will take down the swelling."
"That sounds good. Thank you." She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. She was suddenly very tired.
Nick brought over a blanket and covered her up; "I'll be right out here if you need anything." He touched her cheek gently.
Grace reached up and put her hand over his, "Thanks Nick."
Catherine came in an ice pack and put it on her cheek. "Just try to keep it on for awhile if you can." She turned to walk out with Nick.
"Catherine." She called her back. She came over and sat down on the bed next to her. "I just wanted to say thank you." She laughed, "I seem to be doing that a lot lately."
"Grace, you don't have to thank me." Catherine said.
"I know but you've been so nice to me and you don't even know me." She said.
"You don't have to know someone just to be nice to them. Besides, you seem like you need someone to be nice to you."
"Catherine, you and Nick are the best thing that's come out of this trip to Vegas. Even with everything that's happened, I'm really glad I came and got to meet you two."
"Thank you, that was a real nice thing to say. I'm glad we got to meet you too." She smiled at Grace, "And I know Nick's very glad he got to meet you."
Grace blushed, "You think so?"
"I know so." She stood up; "You try to rest for a bit, then we'll talk. OK."
Grace closed her eyes, "OK."
Catherine walked out and found everyone in the hallway. "So what do we know?"
Brass opened his notebook, "Well the manager called for security around 9 and security called 911 immediately. When he was coming in through the front door Andrew was going out the back. He must have slipped out the side entrance before security could lock down the building."
"I just can't believe he would attack her like that." Grissom said.
Brass looked at him, "What exactly did you say to him?"
"Just that he needed to watch himself and control his temper." Grissom shook his head; "Did she say why he attacked her?"
"According to Grace he told her she wasn't really his sister, said she was adopted. She just said he was mad because of what happened yesterday." He looked back at his notebook, "Said it was her 'punishment' for causing him trouble."
"Lets get this evidence back to the lab. I want everything done by the book so when we get him there aren't any problems." The whole time they were talking Nick was staring into the room watching Grace. "Nick maybe you should stay here and keep an eye on her."
Nick looked back at Grissom, "Thanks, I think I will."
"We'll put two uniforms outside her door too," Brass said.
Everyone gathered their stuff and Catherine walked over to Nick. "She's gonna be OK Nick. We're gonna find him."
"Thanks Catherine."
"Tell her I'll be back later to check on her."
"Sure thing," Nick said and walked back into the room. He sat down in the chair next to the bed and watched her sleep.
Gris walked back through the lab with Catherine and practically ran her over when she stopped suddenly. "Catherine!"
"That son of a bitch."
Grissom looked over and saw Andrew sitting at the desk. He pushed open the door and went in, "What do you think you're doing?"
Andrew looked up at him, "Uh, my job Mr. Grissom, what does it look like I'm doing."
"Catherine go call Brass."
Andrew stood up, "Is there a problem."
"A problem? Uh yeah there's a problem, the fact that you attacked your sister in her hotel room is a definite problem."
Andrew laughed, "Is that what she said. The poor girl is confused. I didn't attack her. She's had mental problems before you know. On medication for it the last time I heard."
"So you're saying you weren't with her earlier and didn't attack her?"
"No of course I didn't. I was with her earlier, I went to see her to apologize but I didn't attack her."
"How do you explain the bruise on her face and the bruised ribs."
"She fell. She's very clumsy; she tripped over carpet and fell. But she was fine when I left."
Brass walked in with a uniform, "When Catherine told me I just didn't believe it." He motioned for the officer to get Andrew.
Andrew backed up, "Hey what's going on?"
"Andrew Lynn we're taking you in for questioning in the attack of Grace Lynn."
Grissom watched them walk out and looked at Catherine. "You better call Nick. If this is his story then I want her at the hospital and a kit done."
Catherine went to call Nick. She was so mad and she knew he wasn't going to be too happy about this either.
Nick's cell rang and he stepped out the room to answer it. He listened to Catherine and was in shock. "What! OK I'll wake her and take her."
Nick could not believe the nerve of Andrew. He went over to the bed to wake Grace up. He just got to the bed and she sat up and gasped. He sat down next to her, "Its OK."
"Nick, sorry. I was having a bad dream." She reached up to touch her cheek, "Well maybe it wasn't a dream huh." She looked at Nick who had taken her hand, "What's wrong Nick?"
"Grace, when Catherine and Grissom got back to the lab Andrew was there." Her hand tightened in his.
"What?"
"He's saying he didn't attack you. He's saying you fell when he was here and that you were fine when he left. We need you to go to the hospital and have pictures taken and an evidence kit done."
"Can he do that?" she whispered.
"Brass took him in for questioning so I don't want you to worry." He helped her stand up, "It will be quick, I promise. Catherine said she would meet us there."
He helped her out and they went with the two cops that were outside the door. Nick took her to her room to get a change of clothes. He knew they would want to keep hers at the hospital for evidence. When they got to the hospital Catherine was just pulling up.
"Hey guys." Catherine was still mad but she didn't want Grace to see it.
"Hey Catherine." She looked up at the hospital, "Weren't we just here?" she joked.
They pulled up in front of the hotel and got out. Nick was furious. He felt Catherine take his arm.
"Relax." She said. "Brass said she was fine. She doesn't need you to go barging in there scaring her though."
Nick slowed down; "You're right Catherine. Thanks."
They rode up the elevator. They saw the tape across the door to the room and some cops standing in the hall. They went into the room and saw Grace sitting on the couch.
Nick looked around, "Where are the paramedics."
Grace looked up and saw them all standing there and felt her face turn red. She turned her head away.
Brass said, "The paramedics checked her over, black eye and some major bruises but she said she didn't want to go to the hospital so they had her sign the waiver."
Nick started to step forward and felt someone take his arm. He looked over at Grissom, "Let Catherine and Sara talk to her first." He said.
Nick felt his jaw tighten and started to say something then stopped, "OK."
Catherine went over and kneeled in front of her. "Hey Grace."
Grace couldn't look at her, "Hello Catherine."
Catherine opened her bag, "This is Sara, she works with us at the lab."
"Hi Grace."
"Hi." She couldn't look up from her hands. She didn't want anyone to see her like this.
Catherine put on her gloves. "I'm going to take this strip and get the fibers off your clothes."
Sara opened her bag and got out her stuff, "Grace can you tell me where he touched you?" she asked.
Grace closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, "He had his hands on my arms, he hit me in the face and in the stomach. He.." she shuddered thinking about it.
Catherine touched her arm, "Take your time."
She shook her head and continued, "He had his hand around my neck."
Sara looked at Catherine and she nodded. "Grace I'm going to swab your neck OK. We might be able to get something from it."
"Did you scratch him?" Catherine asked. When she shook her head yes she got her clippers out, "OK, I'm going to clip your nails so we can have that too." She sealed them in a bag and handed everything to Sara, "Can you get started on that right away."
"You got it."
Catherine looked over at Nick who was pacing by the door. "Grace." She wouldn't look up, "Look at me, this is not your fault, you know that right."
She looked up at Catherine; "Yes I guess so. It's just so ..." She put her head down again.
Catherine pushed her hair behind her ears, "And you don't have to be embarrassed either. Grace, I think Nick wants to talk to you. Is it ok if he comes over? He's worried about you."
Grace started to cry; "I guess so."
"Only if you're comfortable with it. He'll understand, believe me." She waited for her Grace to decided and nodded to Nick. "If you need anything let me know."
Nick walked over to her slowly. He didn't want to scare her. He sat down on the couch next her and felt her flinch. He was so angry but he didn't let her see, "Grace we don't have to talk about anything. I just want you to know I'm here for you OK. Whatever you need or don't need, just tell me."
Grace held her breath. It was the exact thing to say. He didn't ask her about anything that happened. He just wanted to be there for her. She reached over and took his hand. She still couldn't look at him. She knew what her face looked like. Her cheek was on fire.
Nick was relieved when she touched him. It wasn't much but it was a start. He sat there and waited.
She knew she had to look at him and slowly she turned her head. She didn't want to see pity in his eyes. She didn't think she could stand it. When she looked in his eyes she saw compassion and understanding and suddenly it was too much. "Oh Nick I was so scared." She leaned toward him and put her head on his chest and started crying. She felt him put his arms around her and she held onto him for dear life.
Nick wrapped her in his arms and held her while she cried. If Andrew walked into the room at this minute Nick knew he could kill him. If not kill him then beat the total living shit out of him. He better pray it wasn't him who found him. "Grace you need to go to the hospital and let them check you out."
Grace shook her head, "No, I'm fine. There's nothing they can do for me anyway, the paramedics looked at my face and my stomach already." She wiped her face and looked up at him, "I just want to get out of here. Is there someplace else I can go?"
Nick could have kicked himself, "Of course." He motioned for Catherine; "We need to get her out of this room."
"Sure thing. Be right back." She went over to Brass where he was talking with the hotel manager. "Can you get us another room to use?"
"Of course, let me call the front desk and make sure but I think the room at the end of the hall is empty." He picked up his radio and called. "Room 430 is available, I'll get the door unlocked for you."
"Thanks." Catherine walked back over to Nick and Grace, "The manager says there's another room on this hall, we can go there."
"Thanks Catherine." Grace said, "I just keep seeing."
Catherine said, "Don't worry about it. Let's go."
Nick stood up and took her hand to help her. She stood up slowly so she wouldn't get dizzy again. She gripped Nick's hand to steady herself and when she felt better she looked up at him, "Ready."
Just as they started to walk she heard someone yelling and instinctively took a step back. She stumbled and would have fallen but Nick and Catherine took her arms to keep her up. Then she realized it was John's voice.
"What the hell is going on in here. Let me in."
"I'm sorry sir, no one is allowed in. You'll have to step back."
"I will not step back until someone tells me what's going on in there. Where's Grace, what's happened."
"Let him in please." Grace said.
"It's OK Bill you can let him in." Catherine said.
John came into the room and saw Grace with Nick and some woman. He saw the bruise on her face and said, "What happened?"
"It's nothing John. I had a little problem but everything's going to be fine."
He walked over to her and gently touched her cheek, "A little problem. I'd say a bruise the size of the Grand Canyon on your face isn't a little problem Grace." He looked around at all the people in the room. "Who did this?"
Grace didn't answer so Nick said, "Grace was attacked by her brother."
John looked at Grace, "I knew you went to see him. You lied to me. I don't understand."
"John he is my brother, I had to try and see him. Please understand." God her head was pounding again. She felt sick on her stomach.
"OK honey, I'm sorry." John said.
Nick felt Grace start to shake, "We're taking her a different room so she can rest." He started walking toward the door with Grace.
John looked at her, "Grace do you think you're going to be ready for tomorrow night? Or do you me want to postpone or cancel?"
Grace sighed. "No I don't think I want to cancel or postpone. I'm sure I'll be fine by tomorrow." She let Nick and Catherine help her down the hall to the other hotel room.
Catherine said, "Why don't you lay down for a few minutes Grace. I'll get you some ice for your face, it will take down the swelling."
"That sounds good. Thank you." She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. She was suddenly very tired.
Nick brought over a blanket and covered her up; "I'll be right out here if you need anything." He touched her cheek gently.
Grace reached up and put her hand over his, "Thanks Nick."
Catherine came in an ice pack and put it on her cheek. "Just try to keep it on for awhile if you can." She turned to walk out with Nick.
"Catherine." She called her back. She came over and sat down on the bed next to her. "I just wanted to say thank you." She laughed, "I seem to be doing that a lot lately."
"Grace, you don't have to thank me." Catherine said.
"I know but you've been so nice to me and you don't even know me." She said.
"You don't have to know someone just to be nice to them. Besides, you seem like you need someone to be nice to you."
"Catherine, you and Nick are the best thing that's come out of this trip to Vegas. Even with everything that's happened, I'm really glad I came and got to meet you two."
"Thank you, that was a real nice thing to say. I'm glad we got to meet you too." She smiled at Grace, "And I know Nick's very glad he got to meet you."
Grace blushed, "You think so?"
"I know so." She stood up; "You try to rest for a bit, then we'll talk. OK."
Grace closed her eyes, "OK."
Catherine walked out and found everyone in the hallway. "So what do we know?"
Brass opened his notebook, "Well the manager called for security around 9 and security called 911 immediately. When he was coming in through the front door Andrew was going out the back. He must have slipped out the side entrance before security could lock down the building."
"I just can't believe he would attack her like that." Grissom said.
Brass looked at him, "What exactly did you say to him?"
"Just that he needed to watch himself and control his temper." Grissom shook his head; "Did she say why he attacked her?"
"According to Grace he told her she wasn't really his sister, said she was adopted. She just said he was mad because of what happened yesterday." He looked back at his notebook, "Said it was her 'punishment' for causing him trouble."
"Lets get this evidence back to the lab. I want everything done by the book so when we get him there aren't any problems." The whole time they were talking Nick was staring into the room watching Grace. "Nick maybe you should stay here and keep an eye on her."
Nick looked back at Grissom, "Thanks, I think I will."
"We'll put two uniforms outside her door too," Brass said.
Everyone gathered their stuff and Catherine walked over to Nick. "She's gonna be OK Nick. We're gonna find him."
"Thanks Catherine."
"Tell her I'll be back later to check on her."
"Sure thing," Nick said and walked back into the room. He sat down in the chair next to the bed and watched her sleep.
Gris walked back through the lab with Catherine and practically ran her over when she stopped suddenly. "Catherine!"
"That son of a bitch."
Grissom looked over and saw Andrew sitting at the desk. He pushed open the door and went in, "What do you think you're doing?"
Andrew looked up at him, "Uh, my job Mr. Grissom, what does it look like I'm doing."
"Catherine go call Brass."
Andrew stood up, "Is there a problem."
"A problem? Uh yeah there's a problem, the fact that you attacked your sister in her hotel room is a definite problem."
Andrew laughed, "Is that what she said. The poor girl is confused. I didn't attack her. She's had mental problems before you know. On medication for it the last time I heard."
"So you're saying you weren't with her earlier and didn't attack her?"
"No of course I didn't. I was with her earlier, I went to see her to apologize but I didn't attack her."
"How do you explain the bruise on her face and the bruised ribs."
"She fell. She's very clumsy; she tripped over carpet and fell. But she was fine when I left."
Brass walked in with a uniform, "When Catherine told me I just didn't believe it." He motioned for the officer to get Andrew.
Andrew backed up, "Hey what's going on?"
"Andrew Lynn we're taking you in for questioning in the attack of Grace Lynn."
Grissom watched them walk out and looked at Catherine. "You better call Nick. If this is his story then I want her at the hospital and a kit done."
Catherine went to call Nick. She was so mad and she knew he wasn't going to be too happy about this either.
Nick's cell rang and he stepped out the room to answer it. He listened to Catherine and was in shock. "What! OK I'll wake her and take her."
Nick could not believe the nerve of Andrew. He went over to the bed to wake Grace up. He just got to the bed and she sat up and gasped. He sat down next to her, "Its OK."
"Nick, sorry. I was having a bad dream." She reached up to touch her cheek, "Well maybe it wasn't a dream huh." She looked at Nick who had taken her hand, "What's wrong Nick?"
"Grace, when Catherine and Grissom got back to the lab Andrew was there." Her hand tightened in his.
"What?"
"He's saying he didn't attack you. He's saying you fell when he was here and that you were fine when he left. We need you to go to the hospital and have pictures taken and an evidence kit done."
"Can he do that?" she whispered.
"Brass took him in for questioning so I don't want you to worry." He helped her stand up, "It will be quick, I promise. Catherine said she would meet us there."
He helped her out and they went with the two cops that were outside the door. Nick took her to her room to get a change of clothes. He knew they would want to keep hers at the hospital for evidence. When they got to the hospital Catherine was just pulling up.
"Hey guys." Catherine was still mad but she didn't want Grace to see it.
"Hey Catherine." She looked up at the hospital, "Weren't we just here?" she joked.