Privacy by SLynn
Disclaimer: It's all mine, because yeah, this is what I'd do with my free time if I actually owned these characters.
Chapter 20: I Spy
Nick had stayed late that day in the lab. His case had gone well, better then Greg's at least. A db in a motel room near the strip that looked pretty much like a drug overdose. It was cut and dry but not entirely. On closer examination Nick had found a camera hidden in the vent above the bed. He'd questioned the manager who claimed to have no idea it was there and taken the whole thing back to Archie. After the trip to the warehouse Nick had met back up with him for the results.
"This is high tech," Archie said, handing the camera back over. "Really first class, not some amateur job."
"So can you tell me where it's transmitting too?"
"No," Archie answered, "it's got a long transmission range, could be anywhere, but not outside of town. This is the type of camera used more for commercial sites; it's not for personal use. You know, like they'd use in those houses that are wired for live over the net viewing. Stuff like that."
"Okay, so what's that tell us?"
"Not much, except that it was probably being broadcast on the net. I did some searching around and found this site."
Archie pulled it up. It was pretty basic, listed a bunch of spots around Vegas where you could view live cameras.
"I think this one was your camera," Archie said clicking a link that was now dead.
Nick gawked at it; the link had even said which motel and room number they'd been in.
"That can't be legal."
"It isn't," Archie answered. "But it's not like the cops can check every site on the web for this sort of thing."
He'd gone back now to the main page. It had lists of categories on it. Things like bathrooms, bedrooms, motels, public parks, etc.
"Someone's got a twisted hobby."
"It takes all kinds," Archie agreed, "I've looked up the IP address and should be back with you soon about who owns the domain. If we can get access to their servers, we can get a look at all their backup tapes; prove what happened at your scene."
"Good," Nick said still scrolling.
A few of the links were marked new. He clicked the top one out of curiosity. Archie didn't object.
"That doesn't look like a hotel room," Archie commented as the video came up.
It had been listed as one, but the décor wasn't right. It looked too much like someone's home. The quality was very good and you could clearly make out two people sleeping in the semi-dark, although both their faces were slightly obscured.
"This looks familiar," Nick said leaning closer.
He'd seen this place somewhere before, he just didn't know where.
"Isn't this kind of like invasion of privacy?" Archie asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable now.
Nick almost didn't hear him. Instead he pointed to the screen. In the far corner, near the foot of the bed was a jacket. Clear as day, once you really looked, you could read 'LVPD: CSI'.
"Son of a bitch," Nick said standing up. "Grab your stuff, we've got to go. Now."
"What?" Archie asked, looking as well.
"That's Greg and Sara's place."
Archie looked again and now he could see it too. Looked back to the two sleeping figures and wondered how he hadn't recognized them.
"Let's go," Nick said urgently, already at the door waiting on him.
Archie shut the computer down and they were on their way.
Amy, having gotten about three hours of sleep, wasn't happy to hear someone pounding on the door. Stumbling off of the couch, really regretting now how much she'd drank, she made her way slowly to the door. No one else in the house had so much as stirred.
She didn't bother checking the peephole, just opened it up. Probably the last person she wanted to see, especially as she was clearly hung over and not looking anywhere near normal or rested, was on the other side. Nick. Even better, Nick with company. Archie was with him.
For one awkward moment no one spoke.
"What are you doing here?" she finally asked, noticing now that they each had cases of equipment with them.
"We need to check something," Nick answered. "Why are you here?"
There were a lot of things she wanted to say to that, but settled on silence and just stood out of the way letting them both in. Archie was polite enough, said hello as he passed her heading down the hall after Nick. Amy followed, curious as to what was going on. Nick stopped at the door of the master bedroom and knocked loudly.
"What?" they all heard Greg yell loudly through the door.
"Are you decent?" Nick asked back.
After a slight pause, Greg opened the door and peeked out at the three of them.
"I'm still asleep right? This is some kind of weird dream."
"Afraid not," Nick answered. "We think this room is bugged."
"Give me a minute," Greg said shutting the door.
"With a camera," Nick called through after him.
Greg opened the door back up, a little wider this time.
"Now I know you're pulling my leg," he said, somewhat smiling. "The freezer, that was a joke wasn't it. This is just some kind of continuation, right? Please say I'm right?"
Greg smile had disappeared as Nick continued to look grave. Once more shutting the door, the next time he opened it Sara was with him. She looked extremely tired and not at all awake. He walked her out to the couch, all the while she asked questions he didn't answer. Amy sat down with her, confused as well.
When he got back to the bedroom, Nick and Archie were already inside, looking up at the A/C vent on the ceiling. Greg hovered in the doorway.
"What makes you think there's anything there?" he asked, watching them work.
"Because we saw you sleeping," Nick answered, finding what he'd been looking for.
Greg watched in disbelief as Nick retrieved the camera.
"I'm glad you have flat ceilings," he commented next as he began to dust for prints.
"How long has that been there?" Greg asked.
"Well the website said it was a new link," Archie answered bagging the camera.
"Website?" Greg repeated, sounding alarmed. "As in internet. Our bedroom was broadcast on the internet?"
"What?"
The three men each turned to the new voice, Sara. She'd woken up enough now and gotten some information out of Amy before joining them. She hadn't expected that.
"Just, calm down," Nick said getting down from the bed.
"You just said our bedroom has been online and I'm supposed to be calm," Sara shot back starting to step into the room before Greg stopped her.
"Let's just let them finish," Greg said, taking her by the arms gently, "and then they'll tell us all about it."
Nick said nothing more, just kept working as Greg led Sara reluctantly to the kitchen. Amy was making coffee already so they both just sat down. She brought them each a mug and joined them at the table, uncertain what else she should do. They all sat there in silence till Nick and Archie rejoined them half an hour later.
"Okay," Nick began, "my case last night was at a motel. I found a camera, just like that one, up in a vent. I took it with me, gave it to Archie and he found the site it belonged too. On that site we found an active link to your house."
"What do you know about the site?" Greg asked Archie.
"Well, it's pretty straight forward, voyeuristic. Most of the links on it are to hotel rooms and that type of thing. Some were in bathrooms, most were in bedrooms."
Sara shook her head. This wasn't happening.
"So when did this happen?" Greg continued to question. "How long…"
"We'll know once we get the servers," Archie interrupted.
"It's a local domain, coming out of Vegas," Nick continued, "we wanted to get this camera first before we go there and shut them down. We've already talked with Brass and he arranged for the warrant. I pulled some prints off your ceiling and the vent."
"What about the rest of the house?" Sara asked.
"I'm going to sweep it," Archie said. "I can start now if you like."
"Please."
Archie nodded and got up to begin.
"Why don't you guys come home with me," Amy suggested.
Sara thanked her and went to put together a few things.
"We'll help you start packing this afternoon," Greg added, as he went to join her, leaving Nick and Amy alone.
"Are you…" Nick started to ask, but the look on Amy's face stopped him short. "Got it, not my business."
She didn't want to be so angry with him still, but didn't know how to get past it.
"I'm moving out of the condo," she finally stated.
"Oh," he said with a nod, feeling something close to relief, "Do you need any help?"
"No," she answered sounding kinder, "thanks."
"Amy," Nick started to say but was interrupted by the arrival of Jennifer.
"What's going on? Some guy just burst into my room," she said in a huff.
"We're heading back to my place," Amy said standing, "We're just waiting on Greg and Sara."
"Why are they coming?" she asked. She was clearly not a morning person.
Nick stood up to go find Archie, irritated. He didn't want to be around Jennifer right now and only wanted to try and set this right with Amy, if that was even possible still.
"Just go wait in the car if you want," Amy said with a sigh as she walked her to the door.
Amy sat on the couch and waited for them, it didn't take too much longer.
"You didn't have to stay," Greg said finding her there. "We'll take our own car."
"Honestly," Amy said standing, "I think you're going to have to drive. I think I'd still blow over legal if I got pulled over."
"Really?" Greg asked with a smirk, some of his good humor returning, "Sara didn't tell me you girls had that much fun."
"I didn't tell you anything," Sara filled in, "I was asleep when you got home."
"Come on already," Jennifer called out, seeing them all gathered on the porch.
"She's so lovely in the morning," Greg said.
Sara actually laughed for the first time.
"Thank God she's leaving today," Amy added, not nearly as amused.