Chapter 9
Sara made her way to Jim's office and sat down behind his desk. She fixed her gaze on Catherine, even in her sleep, she looked helpless, worried, defenseless. Catherine was sleeping quietly, her rhythmic breathing was making Sara sleepy, so the latter stopped watching her. Sara fumbled in the foreign desk for a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Having found these items, she began to make a list of questions she would ask the older CSI when she woke up. Her pen scratched busily and the time flew by. It was about an hour later that the owner of the office actually stepped in. Seeing two women in his office when they should not have been there, one of them asleep, he cleared his throat noisily and Sara looked up from her work. She immediately gestured him to be quiet and pointed at the sleeping Catherine on the couch.
Sara stepped right outside of the open door and Brass followed her. "Um, whatever it is you guys are trying to do, a slumber party, some quality time, or something like that, whatever it is, I'm sorry to ruin your fun. I need my office." Sara's lips curled into a small smile and then she caught herself. "Um, Jim, you haven't heard have you? Catherine's little girl is missing." Captain Brass immediately tried to rush into his office and talk to Catherine but Sara stood firmly in the doorway. "Uh, uh, uh. She needs the rest, she wore herself out today. But, maybe you could help us. Grissom, Nick, and Warrick are already at her house looking for any evidence. Catherine stated that she saw the bus come but Lindsey never made it to school. The Bus's number is 12. Right now, I'm waiting for her to wake up so that I could ask her some questions, hopefully she'll wake up pretty soon, I've been here a while. Then, we can clear out and you'll be free to work." The older man was standing there, awestruck. How many cases have they seen like this? And finally it was happening to one of them, one of their own. "That's all right Sara, I'll go use on of my colleagues' offices. I'm sure they wont mind a little break. Tell her I'll try my best, ok?" Sara nodded and stepped quietly into the office. Only then did she close the door. Situating herself behind the desk once more, she was startled to hear Catherine's voice, "Hi." Sara sharply looked up and saw Catherine's searching eyes upon her face, she nodded curtly. "Look, Sara, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you at all, I was just so worried. I still am, I didn't mean it, any of it." Sara took a shaky breath and transferred into the working Sidle, "Catherine, I need to ask you some questions about the disappearance of your daughter. You might want to make yourself comfortable, this will take a while."
Catherine stood up and carefully folded Grissom's jacket that had slipped off of her. She then pulled a chair up to the desk situating herself across from Sara. "Would you like to stay here or go to the interrogating room? Maybe you'd like for everything to go on record? Get a lawyer?" Sara's voice was platonic and her face revealed nothing. "Sara! What are you talking about?" Catherine was surprised, she didn't think she had hurt Sara that much. She apologized, but there was nothing more that she could possibly do to make it better. "It's procedure, Catherine, you know it."
"I know the procedure. I would like to stay here, I'm not a criminal."
"When was the last time you saw your daughter?"
"About 7:15, today in the morning."
"What happened this morning?"
"Umm, I saw my daughter walking out to the bus stop. I could see it from my kitchen window, and then I saw her socializing with her friends. I was washing the dishes, I think. Then, I saw the bus arrive and so I went to get ready for work because the shift was about to start."
"So, did you see your Lindsey actually get on the bus?" Sara's voice didn't waver, she knew she was causing the older CSI pain but she didn't care. Not right now anyways, she was just doing her job.
"No, I did not. I assumed that she had gotten on, she was at the very end of the line talking to her friends, and I turned away from the window as soon as I saw the bus get there."
"So, Lindsey might have never even gotten on the bus, is that right?"
"Yes."
"Ok, can you think of anyone that might want to hurt you or your daughter." Catherine was becoming agitated, she knew it was all part of the process, but Sara was not making it any easier. She was her friend, she could be just a little nicer.
"Yes, at the moment I think that you might want to hurt me or my daughter." Sara was busily writing Catherine's responses on a sheet of paper but abruptly turned to look at Catherine's face.
"You want that to go on record?" Sara was practically about to put herself under the 'suspects' list.
"Damn it Sara. Let it go! I said I was sorry, what do you want me to do? You know that I didn't mean it, I was under a lot of pressure. Im SORRY. Ok?"
"Yes, can we get back to the questions please? I'm sure Grissom would like to have them as soon as possible." Sara's tone did not change.
"No, I don't want that to go on record. You know I don't. Being a suspect can ruin your rep, you know that. What kind of friend would I be if I put you under that kind of spotlight?"
"Well, we already know what kind of friend you are, so don't even go there, Catherine. I know what it can do to me, ok? I'm a damn good CSI and I'm just doing my job, and if that means I'm one of the suspects than be it."
"No, don't put it on the record."
"So, is there anyone else that you know that might want to harm you or your daughter."
"No, no one that I can think of." Catherine was trying to make the awkward situation go a little faster by playing along with Sara.
"Ok, I'll have some more questions ready for you later, when we gather some evidence. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go and join the guys." Sara nonchalantly got up from her behind the desk and was about to leave when Catherine stopped her. "Sara, is that it? What am I supposed to do? Just stay here and pray that my daughter is still alive? Pray that you will find some evidence? Pray for the return of my baby?" Catherine put a firm hand on Sara's shoulder, trying to persuade her from not leaving. "Catherine, I've got a job to do. All other cases have now been transferred to the day shift so, if you'll excuse me..." Catherine did not move her hand, "Sara, listen to me. I know that I said some horrible things, but please, can't you help right now? Please? What more can I do to..." Sara cut her off by slapping the hand on her shoulder away and heading for the door. "I'm not done speaking with you!" Catherine was the highest in line with the seniority power, next to Grissom, "Ms. Sidle, when I talk to you, you cannot just turn away, I'm still talking to you...Sara... Please don't leave me all alone, don't go, I need you right now." Sara halted mid stride and stopped to listen for a second. Even though it took all of her strength not to wisp round and hug her friend, Sara showed no emotion and continued towards Chapter 10
Catherine was shocked. She and Sara got off to a very rocky start, but their friendship was building. It was so strong. Did she throw everything away just now? Catherine slowly backed up to the couch and heavily sat down. Pressing Grissom's jacket close to her own body she slowly began to weep.
Sara made her way to Catherine's house where just a couple of hours ago she was comforting her friend. Also, where a couple of hours ago, she received a brutal slap in the face from Catherine, and from reality. Catherine was right, but Sara could not let it go. She wanted to forgive her friend, but just couldn't. Sara knew she was being stubborn, just like always, but, the thought got pushed to the end of her mind she she reached her destination. Grissom was quickly found inside. "Hey, Sara, did you talk to Catherine.?" Sara nodded, "Yeah, I jotted down some questions and her responses. I don't know of how much help they will be, but who knows?" Grissom nodded thoughtfully. "Hey, Gris, um, tell me you found something. Please tell me you guys found some evidence." Sara's eyes pleaded with Grissom's. Pleaded for the answers, for Lindsey, for the culprit, pleaded for herself. "Sara, there's nothing here. Nothing at all. Nick, War, and I combed out the place. Nothing, zip." Sara let out a shaky breath. This couldn't be happening. She was going to fail Catherine again, not that it mattered at the moment. First, Eddy, now, Lindsey. No, she HAD to solve this case, she just had to.
"Has anyone checked outside? Has anyone checked with the bus route and the bus driver?" Sara was intently searching for answers and considerably raised her voice. Enough that Warrick and Nick appeared. "Hey, Sar, what's up?" Sara paid no heed to the newcomers. Grissom silently shook his head, answering Sara's questions. "Well, what the hell is wrong with you? Get the bus here right now, locate the driver, and get all of the kids that drove that bus here pronto. Our suspects could be skipping borderlines right now! You, Nick and Warrick, go up to the houses and ask people if they saw anything this morning. Come on, we have to do this. Why isn't anyone helping me? Move it, move, go, go, go!!! Damn it, Nick? War? Why the hell are you just standing there? Go!!!" Sara's sudden outburst surprised all three men. Grissom waved his hand at the other two to follow Sara's orders and they immediately left. Glad to be out of range of Sara's fury. "Um, Sara, are you all right? We're doing everything we can, we ARE helping you, you're not the only that is trying to find Lindsey, remember that." Sara fixed a deadly stare on Grissom. "Well, excuse me for trying to make the case go a little faster. I'm just trying to help out a frie.....Catherine, here. And all you're doing is slowing me down. I'm going to check outside for any evidence." With that she strode out of the house and to her blue Tahoe. There, grabbing her kit she made her way to the bus stop. Leaving a very stunned Grissom behind.
After asking a nearby officer where the bus stop is, Sara walked down the road and stood still, as if a kid waiting for the coming bus. She slowly turned around, a busy road to her left, a thicket of bushes on the right, and a sidewalk in front and behind her. There were no signs of a struggle or anything at all, no footprints either, none on the hard cement. 'Where could she have gone?' Sara suddenly took in the whole bush side. They were big, big enough to hide a grown person behind. 'Some one must've pulled her through the bushes, or she walked into them." Sara spotted a broken twig and some misplaced leaves on her right hand and she cautisouly separated the greenery. She uttered a gasp as she took in the amazing view. Someone had made a small refuge on the inside of all of the bushes. It was about five feet across and the same in width, someone was here on a stakeout.
Sara immediately began snapping pictures of everything. The cigaret butts on the ground, a small knife and a pair of scissors, hopefully used to make the small alcove, and everything else that looked suspicious. Food wrappings, footprints, two sets, a bottled drink. She snapped away furiously, finally needing to reload her film, she kneeled down. Taking out a fresh roll of film Sara bent her head to take out the old one and insert the new. Then, she heard the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs, "Hey, Gris, look what I found..." Feeling a blunt object at her head, Sara's world went black. the exit. "I'm not done talking to you!!!" Catherine was outraged, sure, she was horribly mean to Sara before, but now was not the time for revenge. Not when her daughter's life was at stake, that is, if she was still alive. "You've said enough for the day, Ms. Willows." Sara's footsteps could be heard for lingering moments after she left.
Sara made her way to Jim's office and sat down behind his desk. She fixed her gaze on Catherine, even in her sleep, she looked helpless, worried, defenseless. Catherine was sleeping quietly, her rhythmic breathing was making Sara sleepy, so the latter stopped watching her. Sara fumbled in the foreign desk for a piece of paper and a writing utensil. Having found these items, she began to make a list of questions she would ask the older CSI when she woke up. Her pen scratched busily and the time flew by. It was about an hour later that the owner of the office actually stepped in. Seeing two women in his office when they should not have been there, one of them asleep, he cleared his throat noisily and Sara looked up from her work. She immediately gestured him to be quiet and pointed at the sleeping Catherine on the couch.
Sara stepped right outside of the open door and Brass followed her. "Um, whatever it is you guys are trying to do, a slumber party, some quality time, or something like that, whatever it is, I'm sorry to ruin your fun. I need my office." Sara's lips curled into a small smile and then she caught herself. "Um, Jim, you haven't heard have you? Catherine's little girl is missing." Captain Brass immediately tried to rush into his office and talk to Catherine but Sara stood firmly in the doorway. "Uh, uh, uh. She needs the rest, she wore herself out today. But, maybe you could help us. Grissom, Nick, and Warrick are already at her house looking for any evidence. Catherine stated that she saw the bus come but Lindsey never made it to school. The Bus's number is 12. Right now, I'm waiting for her to wake up so that I could ask her some questions, hopefully she'll wake up pretty soon, I've been here a while. Then, we can clear out and you'll be free to work." The older man was standing there, awestruck. How many cases have they seen like this? And finally it was happening to one of them, one of their own. "That's all right Sara, I'll go use on of my colleagues' offices. I'm sure they wont mind a little break. Tell her I'll try my best, ok?" Sara nodded and stepped quietly into the office. Only then did she close the door. Situating herself behind the desk once more, she was startled to hear Catherine's voice, "Hi." Sara sharply looked up and saw Catherine's searching eyes upon her face, she nodded curtly. "Look, Sara, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you at all, I was just so worried. I still am, I didn't mean it, any of it." Sara took a shaky breath and transferred into the working Sidle, "Catherine, I need to ask you some questions about the disappearance of your daughter. You might want to make yourself comfortable, this will take a while."
Catherine stood up and carefully folded Grissom's jacket that had slipped off of her. She then pulled a chair up to the desk situating herself across from Sara. "Would you like to stay here or go to the interrogating room? Maybe you'd like for everything to go on record? Get a lawyer?" Sara's voice was platonic and her face revealed nothing. "Sara! What are you talking about?" Catherine was surprised, she didn't think she had hurt Sara that much. She apologized, but there was nothing more that she could possibly do to make it better. "It's procedure, Catherine, you know it."
"I know the procedure. I would like to stay here, I'm not a criminal."
"When was the last time you saw your daughter?"
"About 7:15, today in the morning."
"What happened this morning?"
"Umm, I saw my daughter walking out to the bus stop. I could see it from my kitchen window, and then I saw her socializing with her friends. I was washing the dishes, I think. Then, I saw the bus arrive and so I went to get ready for work because the shift was about to start."
"So, did you see your Lindsey actually get on the bus?" Sara's voice didn't waver, she knew she was causing the older CSI pain but she didn't care. Not right now anyways, she was just doing her job.
"No, I did not. I assumed that she had gotten on, she was at the very end of the line talking to her friends, and I turned away from the window as soon as I saw the bus get there."
"So, Lindsey might have never even gotten on the bus, is that right?"
"Yes."
"Ok, can you think of anyone that might want to hurt you or your daughter." Catherine was becoming agitated, she knew it was all part of the process, but Sara was not making it any easier. She was her friend, she could be just a little nicer.
"Yes, at the moment I think that you might want to hurt me or my daughter." Sara was busily writing Catherine's responses on a sheet of paper but abruptly turned to look at Catherine's face.
"You want that to go on record?" Sara was practically about to put herself under the 'suspects' list.
"Damn it Sara. Let it go! I said I was sorry, what do you want me to do? You know that I didn't mean it, I was under a lot of pressure. Im SORRY. Ok?"
"Yes, can we get back to the questions please? I'm sure Grissom would like to have them as soon as possible." Sara's tone did not change.
"No, I don't want that to go on record. You know I don't. Being a suspect can ruin your rep, you know that. What kind of friend would I be if I put you under that kind of spotlight?"
"Well, we already know what kind of friend you are, so don't even go there, Catherine. I know what it can do to me, ok? I'm a damn good CSI and I'm just doing my job, and if that means I'm one of the suspects than be it."
"No, don't put it on the record."
"So, is there anyone else that you know that might want to harm you or your daughter."
"No, no one that I can think of." Catherine was trying to make the awkward situation go a little faster by playing along with Sara.
"Ok, I'll have some more questions ready for you later, when we gather some evidence. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go and join the guys." Sara nonchalantly got up from her behind the desk and was about to leave when Catherine stopped her. "Sara, is that it? What am I supposed to do? Just stay here and pray that my daughter is still alive? Pray that you will find some evidence? Pray for the return of my baby?" Catherine put a firm hand on Sara's shoulder, trying to persuade her from not leaving. "Catherine, I've got a job to do. All other cases have now been transferred to the day shift so, if you'll excuse me..." Catherine did not move her hand, "Sara, listen to me. I know that I said some horrible things, but please, can't you help right now? Please? What more can I do to..." Sara cut her off by slapping the hand on her shoulder away and heading for the door. "I'm not done speaking with you!" Catherine was the highest in line with the seniority power, next to Grissom, "Ms. Sidle, when I talk to you, you cannot just turn away, I'm still talking to you...Sara... Please don't leave me all alone, don't go, I need you right now." Sara halted mid stride and stopped to listen for a second. Even though it took all of her strength not to wisp round and hug her friend, Sara showed no emotion and continued towards Chapter 10
Catherine was shocked. She and Sara got off to a very rocky start, but their friendship was building. It was so strong. Did she throw everything away just now? Catherine slowly backed up to the couch and heavily sat down. Pressing Grissom's jacket close to her own body she slowly began to weep.
Sara made her way to Catherine's house where just a couple of hours ago she was comforting her friend. Also, where a couple of hours ago, she received a brutal slap in the face from Catherine, and from reality. Catherine was right, but Sara could not let it go. She wanted to forgive her friend, but just couldn't. Sara knew she was being stubborn, just like always, but, the thought got pushed to the end of her mind she she reached her destination. Grissom was quickly found inside. "Hey, Sara, did you talk to Catherine.?" Sara nodded, "Yeah, I jotted down some questions and her responses. I don't know of how much help they will be, but who knows?" Grissom nodded thoughtfully. "Hey, Gris, um, tell me you found something. Please tell me you guys found some evidence." Sara's eyes pleaded with Grissom's. Pleaded for the answers, for Lindsey, for the culprit, pleaded for herself. "Sara, there's nothing here. Nothing at all. Nick, War, and I combed out the place. Nothing, zip." Sara let out a shaky breath. This couldn't be happening. She was going to fail Catherine again, not that it mattered at the moment. First, Eddy, now, Lindsey. No, she HAD to solve this case, she just had to.
"Has anyone checked outside? Has anyone checked with the bus route and the bus driver?" Sara was intently searching for answers and considerably raised her voice. Enough that Warrick and Nick appeared. "Hey, Sar, what's up?" Sara paid no heed to the newcomers. Grissom silently shook his head, answering Sara's questions. "Well, what the hell is wrong with you? Get the bus here right now, locate the driver, and get all of the kids that drove that bus here pronto. Our suspects could be skipping borderlines right now! You, Nick and Warrick, go up to the houses and ask people if they saw anything this morning. Come on, we have to do this. Why isn't anyone helping me? Move it, move, go, go, go!!! Damn it, Nick? War? Why the hell are you just standing there? Go!!!" Sara's sudden outburst surprised all three men. Grissom waved his hand at the other two to follow Sara's orders and they immediately left. Glad to be out of range of Sara's fury. "Um, Sara, are you all right? We're doing everything we can, we ARE helping you, you're not the only that is trying to find Lindsey, remember that." Sara fixed a deadly stare on Grissom. "Well, excuse me for trying to make the case go a little faster. I'm just trying to help out a frie.....Catherine, here. And all you're doing is slowing me down. I'm going to check outside for any evidence." With that she strode out of the house and to her blue Tahoe. There, grabbing her kit she made her way to the bus stop. Leaving a very stunned Grissom behind.
After asking a nearby officer where the bus stop is, Sara walked down the road and stood still, as if a kid waiting for the coming bus. She slowly turned around, a busy road to her left, a thicket of bushes on the right, and a sidewalk in front and behind her. There were no signs of a struggle or anything at all, no footprints either, none on the hard cement. 'Where could she have gone?' Sara suddenly took in the whole bush side. They were big, big enough to hide a grown person behind. 'Some one must've pulled her through the bushes, or she walked into them." Sara spotted a broken twig and some misplaced leaves on her right hand and she cautisouly separated the greenery. She uttered a gasp as she took in the amazing view. Someone had made a small refuge on the inside of all of the bushes. It was about five feet across and the same in width, someone was here on a stakeout.
Sara immediately began snapping pictures of everything. The cigaret butts on the ground, a small knife and a pair of scissors, hopefully used to make the small alcove, and everything else that looked suspicious. Food wrappings, footprints, two sets, a bottled drink. She snapped away furiously, finally needing to reload her film, she kneeled down. Taking out a fresh roll of film Sara bent her head to take out the old one and insert the new. Then, she heard the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs, "Hey, Gris, look what I found..." Feeling a blunt object at her head, Sara's world went black. the exit. "I'm not done talking to you!!!" Catherine was outraged, sure, she was horribly mean to Sara before, but now was not the time for revenge. Not when her daughter's life was at stake, that is, if she was still alive. "You've said enough for the day, Ms. Willows." Sara's footsteps could be heard for lingering moments after she left.