Friends: New & Old
Chapter 5 - Death And A Twist
Tuesday was a very common day. Nick and Sara each had their speeches. They did a well and finished in a relatively short amount of time. When they had finished, Nick took Sara and showed her more of Dallas. Wednesday morning started off the same way. They had their speeches in the morning then packed up to leave that night, they were to head back to Las Vegas.
12:19p.m. Wednesday May 15
The Hotel
"Stokes," Nick said answering his ringing telephone and plopping on his bed.
"Nicholas, it's Sydney," Sydney said from the other end of the line.
"Hey Sydney. What's up?"
"I need your help."
Nick sat strait up and listened intently. Sydney rarely asked for helped when they were kids. After she moved when he was fourteen, she had not ever asked anything else from him. When she did not continue he spoke up, "What is it Sydney? What's wrong?"
"I told you Monday that Samantha Allen was kidnapped."
"Yeah . . . and?"
"The perps wanted ransom . . . and we tried to give it to them, but our negotiation was a bust. They decided they'd kill her this morning."
"I'm so sorry."
"We all are, but that's not why I called."
"Sydney, what is it?"
"Governor Allen wants Samantha's killer brought to justice. He already has the best Rangers, Walker and our team," She said with a slight chuckle, "and the best lawyers in the country. My favor to ask of you is also a favor to Walker. Our forensic teams aren't anywhere near as good as your team. We want you and your team to come and do the forensics. Governor Allen said he would pay the airfare for the rest of your team to get here and back. He found out you guys are the second best in the country." There was pause then she continued, "So will you do it?"
"I don't know. I'll have to talk to Grissom about it."
"Can you convince him?"
"I would jump at a chance to do a high class case. So would the rest of the team, but I don't know if Grissom would want to come this far away from Vegas, not without there a bug problem anyway. I'll talk to him though. I'll call you back after I talk to him. I promise I'll try though."
"Thank you so much Nicholas."
"No problem. Talk to you later, Sydney."
"Bye Nicholas," She said as they both hung up their respective phones.
"Sara!" Nick yelled after he finished talking with Sydney. The door between their rooms was open so he knew she could hear him. He got up and started searching through his stuff to find the number to Grissom's home phone. "Sara!" He repeated.
"What do you want Nick?" Sara asked coming into his room. "What are you doing?" She asked surveying the scene before her.
"Do you have Grissom's home phone number with you? I can't find my address book," He said.
"Sure," She said going out to room and returning a short time later with the number written on a piece of paper. "What are you doing?" She repeated.
"Do you want to work on case here? It's big."
"Sure, what?"
"Samantha Allen, Governor's daughter, killed this morning. He specifically wants our team to do the forensics."
"Oh, wow."
"Yeah, I got to call Grissom. I have to convince him to fly the rest of the team to Dallas today."
"Why don't you let me. I might be able to do a better job then you would."
"Are you serious? Governor Allen said he would pay airfare here and back."
"I'll call him. He and the rest of the team will be here by the end of the day."
"Thanks Sara."
"No problem," Sara said walking out the door and going to call Grissom. After about ten minutes she returned. "He said they all will be here about six."
"Thanks."
"So what do we do now?"
"I have to go down to the front desk and renew our room reservation."
"OK, do you want me to go with you?"
"No, that's OK. I'll be back in a minute," Nick said walking out is door. He came back half an hour later to find Sara sitting in his room reading. "Dang it!"
"What's wrong?" Sara questioned.
"There is another convention starting tomorrow. It seems every room in this hotel will be filled along with all the other hotels in town."
"So what are we going to do?"
"I don't know yet. Don't worry I'll figure out something. I've got to call Sydney."
"OK, I'll leave," She said getting up.
He motioned for her to sit back down and she did. "No. Please. Stay." Nick dialed his phone.
After the second ring it was answered, "Ranger Gage."
"Gage, it's Nick. I need to talk with Sydney," Nick told him.
"Cooke," Sydney answered.
"Sydney, Sara talked with Grissom. The team will be here by six. If it's not too much trouble though I would like to go to the scene and do a run through before too much evidence is lost and so we can get the body out of there," Nick said.
"That's great and if you want to come by the office I'll show you where the scene is."
"I'll be there later. Bye."
"Bye."
Nick hung up the phone and looked over at Sara. "Go ahead and finish packing. I will figure us all some place to stay. Even if means going to my parents'."
"OK. When are you leaving to meet Sydney?" Sara asked.
"In about ten minutes, I'm already done packing."
"Can I come with you? I mean if I went we could use two sets of eyes and it will go faster."
"Sure, are you done packing?"
"I will be in five minutes," She said leaving his room to finish packing. True to her word she was done in five minutes. They gathered up all of their things and left the rooms. They checked out and put their bags in the SUV. Nick drove to the courthouse.
1:29p.m. Wednesday May 15, 2002
Company B Texas Ranger Headquarters
"Nick. Good, you're here," Walker said as Nick and Sara entered Ranger headquarters.
"I'm not staying. We're going to the crime scene," Nick told him.
"I know. Sydney is waiting for you. Gage, call Alex and tell her to send Sydney down," Walker told Gage across the room.
"Sure thing boss," He replied.
A few minutes later Sydney came in the room. "Hey Nicholas. Are you two ready to go?"
"Yeah, Sara?" Nick replied.
"Let's go," Sara answered and turned to walk out the door. Nick and Sydney followed and soon they were on their way.
2:01p.m. Wednesday May 15
Warehouse D / The Crime Scene
"This is it," Sydney stated as Nick pulled up to the abandoned warehouse. Nick, Sara, and Sydney got out of the SUV and headed towards the condemned building, caring their kits they had borrowed from the local CSI's.
They walked up to the yellow police tape and a cop stopped them. "ID's?" She asked.
Sydney pointed to her badge, pined on her shirt, and the officer nodded. Sydney ducked under the tape and told the officer, "These two are with me. They're doing the forensics."
"I'm sorry," The officer started firmly. "I still need to see ID's. This is a very high-profile case." Nick and Sara showed the woman their Las Vegas CSI cards. "A bit out of your jurisdiction, aren't you?" She asked them.
"Look, we don't need any of your bull!" Sydney began. "We know this is a high-profile case. Governor Allen specifically asked for Nicholas and his team. I can get the Governor to call you if you don't let them by right now!" By now Sydney was less than an inch from the other woman's face, even though Sydney stood a good six inches or more shorter. The officer just stared at her. She turned on her heel and left without saying another word. "I'm sorry. I'm frustrated and tired and just fed up with the whole situation. Some of the cops around here a real jerks," Sydney apologized.
"It's OK. You don't have to apologize to us. We know the feeling well," Sara told her. Nick nodded his head in agreement and lifted the yellow tape. Sara went under it. Nick followed her and the three of them went up to the building.
Once they were inside Sara started processing the first floor. A different cop than before following her 'just in case', compliments of Nick. Nick and Sydney went to the second floor and to the room where Samantha's body still lay. Sydney watched intrigued as Nick began to process the room and the body. "You know," She began. "I never have actually watched someone do this before."
"That's the problem. CSI's need to watch cops do their job more often, and cops watch CSI's do theirs," Nick replied.
"Probably a good idea."
"Yeah, being a CSI and an ex-cop I've been on both sides of the line."
"Nicholas, what's wrong. You seem . . . depressed."
"I'm not depressed. Just stressed."
"Why?"
"Oh, there's another convention starting tomorrow and all the hotels across town are booked."
"Wow! That must big a pretty big convention," Sydney commented.
"That's the impression the guy at the front desk at our hotel gave me."
"So why is this a problem?"
"I have to figure out a place for the team to stay. Sara and I already had to check out of our rooms."
"I see."
"I mean I know I can stay at the ranch, we all know there will be plenty of room. I just don't want to. Besides the fact of the long drive there and back, I don't like the idea of my boss scrutinizing the house I grew up in."
"I think I know what you mean, and I'm not talking about Walker."
"Yeah. Anyway, now I have to figure out someplace for the six of us to stay. I know I can talk to the Governor about it. It's just I'm I sure he is grieving and has more important things to worry about right now though," Nick explained to Sydney.
"I think I know of someplace you can stay."
"Really? Where?"
"The girls can stay at my house and all you guys can stay with Gage. I'm sure I can convince him."
"Thanks Sydney but I don't want us to be a burden to you and Gage."
"Are you joking?!" When Nick gave Sydney a funny look she continued, "First of all Gage has the ultimate bachelor pad. His house is huge and he is the only one living there. Secondly my house isn't huge but it's a good size. Besides, I rarely ever get company at my house so I would love to have some noise around the place."
"That would be great Sydney, but are you sure?"
"Of course, besides Sara and I get along just fine. You seem to get along with Gage also."
"Sure," Nick said dubiously. 'Yeah right! That guy hates me for some reason I'm not sure of. Oh well, maybe before I have to leave, he will get over what ever the heck is wrong with him,' He thought.
"Great, I'll go call Gage now," Sydney said walking out the door. She came back in twenty minutes later just as Nick was finishing up. "All done?"
"Yeah," Nick replied standing up and walking over to her at the door.
"Gage agreed."
"OK. Thanks."
"There are only four men, right?"
"Yeah. Grissom, Warrick, Greg, and myself."
"OK. Gage said he will meet you at the airport tonight to show you where his house is."
"OK."
"Sara's done by the way. She's waiting for you outside."
"Great. You ready to go?"
"Yeah," Sydney replied as Nick gathered up his stuff and the two of them went to meet Sara.
5:23p.m. Wednesday May 15
DPD Crime Lab
"If you need anything else I'll be in my office down the hall," Director Evans told Nick and Sara. He had just finished showing them around the crime lab after they had gotten their authorized ID's for this lab. So there would not be a problem like last time is they decided to go back to the crime scene.
"Thank you Mr. Evans," Sara said. "We will be back sometime after 6:30 to get the rest of the team authorized." Director Evans nodded in understanding then walked away. "Well it is not as near as updated as our lab back home, but it will have to do."
"Yeah," Nick began. "What do you want to do now? Do you want to start working?"
"Actually there are some things I wanted to run by Greg first."
"OK, no problem. Are you hungry?"
"Come to think of it, I am."
"Let's go get something to eat."
"OK," Sara agreed and they walked out of the lab in search of food.
5:47 p.m. Wednesday May 15
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
"Did you find it?" Sara asked Nick as he walked up to her.
"Yeah. Their flight is due in a couple of minutes," He answered. They had gone out to eat then came to the airport to pick up the rest of the team. "I wonder where Gage is?" Nick thought out loud.
"Why would Gage be here?" Sara questioned.
Nick snapped his head in Sara's direction. "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't tell you, did I?"
"Tell me what?"
"About our living arrangements for the next few days."
"No. You told me you would take care of everything."
"Well you ladies will stay with Sydney."
"OK. That's fine, but what about the rest of you?"
"The rest of us will be at Gage's. According to Sydney, and I quote 'Gage has the ultimate bachelor pad. His house is huge and he is the only one living there' unquote."
"Sounds like you guys will have a blast."
"Grissom will be there, remember? Mr. Let's-Never-Have-Any-Fun-What-So-Ever."
Sara began to chuckle the replied, "True. In that case I am sorry that you will have to put up with him," Sara replied.
"It won't be that bad. I'll only have to put up with him, and Gage, when we go to the house. Most of the time then I will be sleeping anyway."
"What is wrong with Gage?"
"I don't know Sara, for some reason he despises me and I just don't know why."
"Oh. I'll ask Sydney if she knows why. Still though, you will have to deal with Grissom while we are working."
"Yeah, but you will be there also so it won't be bad at all."
Before Sara had a chance to analyze Nick's words, the intercom came on and said that the flight from Las Vegas had landed. Nick walked Sara over to where the rest of the team was coming from the terminal. "Hey, Warrick, guys! Over here!" Nick yelled as Warrick, Catherine, Greg, and Grissom made their way to where Nick and Sara were waiting.
"Did you have a good flight?" Sara asked once everyone had gathered.
"Are you kidding?" Warrick asked. "There was no turbulence and we all slept the entire way."
Nick and Sara both let out small laughs. "Well I'm glad," Nick told them. "We have a very long night ahead of us." Greg just groaned.
Just then Gage came running up to where everyone was. "Sorry, I'm late. Traffic," He explained.
"That's OK," Sara told him. "Gage, meet Grissom, Catherine, Warrick, and Greg." Introductions were made and they all shook hands.
Everyone went to get the rest of the luggage and carried it out to the waiting vehicles. "To a night of fun!" Greg said sarcastically as she climbed into the SUV. They loaded the luggage in the vehicles and left. The men dropped their stuff off at Gage's then met Sara and Catherine at the crime scene.
To be continued . . .