Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I own nothing relating to CSI. I wish I did. I also wish I had a horse and lived on Mars (do you think they get CSI there?), but that's beside the point.
Author's Note: Some of you may be wondering why all my chapters seem to have a different theme. Well, it's because for the past week and a day, we have been doing CRT's (criterion reference testing). I usually finish early, so that's when I write the chapters. Depending on how hard the test section was, determines what theme the chapters are. Enough babble! On to the story!
oops-I forgot. Warrior of the Shadow…GET WELL SOON! If you're already better when you see this, then…STAY HEALTHY! That goes for everyone!
The team is stationed around a Bronx bus station, looking for Jack Mendel. Stella questions various ticket inspectors while everyone else wanders around. Stella walks up to Mac.
"I got nothing," she whispers. "They said Mendel bought his ticket for the six-o-clock bus to Maine then left."
"Six?" Mac repeated, looking at his watch. "Well, it's five-thirty, so he should be here soon."
"If he hasn't caught on to us yet." She pointed out.
"We'll see. Tell Danny and Aiden to go wait by the right terminal." Mac instructed her before wandering off again.
"Got it."
5:55am
"All passengers for the six-o-clock bus to Maine, this is your final boarding call." A voice rang out across the station, causing Danny and Aiden to look up from their posts.
"He should be here." Danny stated impatiently.
"Maybe this was all to throw us off so he could go in the opposite direction" Aiden replied.
"I'm going to check the bus." Danny got up and went through the turn cycle, flashing his I.D. to get in. Taking a picture of Mendel out, he walked along the bus rows, which were cluttered and a possible safety hazard.
A crash came from the back of the bus. Danny looked up and saw Mendel trying to get to the emergency exit at the back of the bus. He had tripped, and now struggled to get up and out again. Danny quickly made his way to the back of the bus.
"Freeze!" He instructed Mendel, who ignored him. Mendel got the door open, just as Danny tackled him, sending them both tumbling to the street below. The struggled on the ground before Danny successfully pinned him down on his back. He looked into his face, not expecting what he saw.
Mendel looked at Danny who was frozen. "Danny," He wheezed. Danny couldn't believe what he heard. He would recognize that voice anywhere. Pictures flashed through his mind of their previous encounters.
A younger Danny standing along with other gang members, the leader, "G"/Mendel looking over them.
Danny leaving the group for the first time.
A bright light then a struggle at the crime scene.
Another light. "Danny, my boy," the cruel voice had said.
"Danny," Mendel gasped again. Danny didn't know what to do. There he was, someone he hoped he would never see again, the leader of his old gang, lying helplessly before him. So Jack Mendel was "G"? He was probably one of the few who knew that. Danny's heart was doing aerobics inside his chest.
"Danny!" came a voice behind them. He turned to see Mac and the others running toward him. Mendel seized the opportunity and threw Danny off him, taking off in the street. Mac followed pursuit.
Stella and Aiden came over to the shaken Danny. Stella was slightly clueless, as she didn't know as much as Aiden, who had a shrewd idea of what was going on.
"It was him." Danny said upset. "I never thought I'd see him again…but it was him…he did it…everything."
"G?" Aiden asked timidly. Danny nodded.
"G?" Stella piped in. "Mendel?"
"G is Mendel" Aiden explained.
"Who's G?"
"Mendel."
"What? Who exactly is this guy?"
"G…G…" Danny stuttered, "Was the leader of m-of a gang. His real name is Jack Mendel, but no one knew."
"So," Stella said slowly, trying to piece it all together, "G's…and that's why…oh."
Danny looked miserably behind him, the direction that Mac chased Mendel.
"I'm so sorry." He mumbled.
"It's alright Danny, C'mon." Aiden helped him up.
"Yah," Stella said coolly, "I don't think anyone needs to apologize to Mac right now. Besides, I'm sure he was more than happy to go after Mendel."
"Speak of the Devil's," Aiden noted, looking towards the now rising sun. The sun illuminated the outline of Mac and Mendel making their way toward the crowd. Mendel looked like a helpless boy being chastised by his father. They all watched as Mac whispered harshly at Mendel.
They could only imagine what he was saying.
Please tell me what you think. The next chapter will be the last of this, but I will probably be writing another later. I hope everyone has enjoyed this as much as I have writing it. CU next chapter!
