Chapter 4 – Sins of the father

How could this day possibly get any worse, Danny Messer thought to himself whilst sitting in the back of an ambulance having the lacerations on his arm and upper left cheek sewn up.

Mac and Flack observed from afar, apparently Danny's injuries were quite minor. Mac had tried to convince Danny to go the hospital for checks. But to no avail, was it him or did Danny like being a stubborn ass just for the sheer sake of it.

Danny felt incredibly light headed and unfortunately he suspected it had nothing to do with the hard object that had collided with his neck or his unscheduled meeting with a glass coffee table. He figured he could push through it.

"I've got guys searching the immediate area for Danny's mystery attacker, haven't come up with anything yet." Flack said to Mac although his gaze lay firmly on his injured co-worker

"Hmm ok good, I've got Stella and Aiden coming down to process the crime scene. They should be here soon, I think I'll take Danny back to the lab with me." Mac stated

"Sure thing." Flack replied

Mac walked over to where Danny was being treated

"Never wise to pick a fight with a glass coffee table." Mac quipped

"Well it was looking at me funny." Danny replied making a strained attempt at humour, he winced as the paramedic finished the stitches on his arm.

"Is he good to go." Mac asked the ambulance operative

"Yeah were all done here, although are you sure you don't want to get checked over at the hospital Mr Messer?"

"Yes I'm sure, I feel fine just a few cuts and bruises nothing worth going to hospital over," Danny replied trying to keep his tone friendly ' calm down the guy is just doing his job'

Danny climbed down out of the ambulance and joined Mac on ground level.

"Thanks for your help, no offence but hopefully we won't be seeing you again too soon." Mac told the paramedic

"Amen to that." The paramedic smiled and busied himself with something in the back of the ambulance.

Mac and Danny made they're way over to the car in silence. The both climbed in and Mac started the engine.

Mac decided he ought to say something to his fellow CSI who was clearly suffering.

"Are you trying to kill yourself or something because you know there are a number of speedier and less painful ways I could recommend." Mac said jokingly although his face did not show the same emotion as his voice.

"What are you talking about I'm fine, just a bit shaken up you know." Danny said tiredly

"Well you seemed to be 'just a bit' everything today. Your sick and your not fit to work, not to mention the fact you were just jumped by a suspect." Mac said seriously

"I'm feeling better than I did earlier." Danny knew Mac saw right through that one "I just want to get on with this case and get home."

Mac didn't know what to do, "Well ok but I'm, afraid it's just lab work and questioning for you then."

"Ok, sure as long as I can do something." Danny knew that this little incident had broken the camels back and he sure didn't think he could really handle doing to much himself, so grudgingly he told him self that lighter duties was probably the best idea.

And with that Mac started the car and spent the rest of the journey back to the crime lab in silence.

As soon as they arrived Jane parsons from DNA greeted them

"I have found a match for the hair on our john does shirt it belongs to a Mr. Mitchell Jones."

"Excellent thank you Jane." Replied Mac and then turning to Danny he said "Get uniform to bring this Mr. Jones in I think we need to talk to him."

"Sure thing Mac." Danny turned and walked down the hallway, his head was pounding but he convinced himself that he just needed a drink of water.

Mac watched Danny move briskly down the hall, he had never met anyone quite so stubborn in his life.

Just then his phone rang

"Taylor." Mac stated in a business like tone

"Hey Mac it's Stella, thought I'd give u a ring let you know what we've found."

"Sure go ahead." Mac said his mind smoothly clicking into its investigative mode

"Right well the victim had a GSW to the upper chest, which looks to be the COD but that has yet to be verified by the coroner." Stella paused "Also we have some epithelial samples from under her nails which hopefully can give us some viable DNA."

"Good work let me know of any developments you and Aiden can field this one."

"Talk to you later then, oh and by the way how's our resident glass coffee table enthusiast." Stella said a teasing tone in her voice

"He's off pretending he's 'absolutely fine' somewhere no doubt, I'm just about to go get him actually as I expect Miss Wilcox's father is here now." Mac answered

"Ok well keep an eye on him won't you Mac, Aiden said he seemed pretty ill this morning even before the attack." Stella said the humour gone from her voice; she was genuinely worried about her younger co-worker

"You know I will Stella and we both know he's going to hate it." Mac replied

"Ok then see you later." Stella concluded

"Bye."

Danny sat down in the break room with a large glass of ice cold water, he felt terrible. He was beginning to worry now because the headache was just getting worse and now he found his hands shaking. He took a few gulps of the water and slammed the rest down on the table; his body was definitely punishing him.

But even though he felt so awful Danny figured that he could still stay and do a couple of interviews and that's all Mac would let him do so he pacified himself with that thought.

Today had been so embarrassing first being seen so vulnerable by his co-workers second having Aiden Burn bear witness to one of his weakest moments, he knew so would be overly worried. They looked out for each other and he knew he'd be damn worried if she was this ill. 'Wait a second' he thought to himself 'did I just admit for the first time today that I am actually quite damn ill?' A pained smile spread across his face.

The ringing of his cell phone made him jump.

"Christ." He muttered sharply under his breath. "Messer." He said into the phone when he had answered it

"Hey Danny it's Mac I need you to come and meet me Mia Wilcox's father and brother have just arrived, I want you to come and sit in on the questioning."

"Yeah ok be there ASAP." Danny hung up and then gathered up all the energy he could muster to lift himself out of his chair. He groaned at the ascension from sitting to standing aggravated his headache. "Oh for the love of Moses." He spat through clenched teeth. Ok perhaps he would go home early but he'd at least go sit in with Mac first.

He gingerly made his way down the corridor towards the location where he would meet Mac

Danny was taking his time, Mac hoped he was ok but he just assumed that he was busy finishing something off.

Finally the frail form of Danny Messer rounded the corner at the end of the corridor and made it's way suspiciously slowly towards Detective Taylor.

"I see you decided to show your face." Mac said in a teasing tone

"Yeah sorry bout that got sidetracked." Danny said shyly

"Uh huh, ok sure, Mr. Wilcox is waiting for us inside." Mac gestured for Danny to move inside the room.

Mac followed Danny into the room and the both took a seat on the opposite side of Mr. Wilcox.

Danny surveyed the man sitting in front of him, he was small in stature and looked to be quite old late 60's perhaps, his hair was greying. His eyes were wild, yet somehow cold and unforgiving. Danny concluded from the mans posture (which was extremely rigid and straight) and facial expression that this man was quite severe.

"Well then are you going to explain why you have me in here." Mr Wilcox said in a severe and patronising tone.

"Mr Wilcox as you know we have found your daughter Mia murdered in her apartment earlier today, but she has been linked to another killing and we wondered whether you knew of any links between her and the victim." Mac stated

Danny removed a picture from a file on the table of the John Doe in the basement.

"Do you recognise this man Mr. Wilcox?" Danny probed

"Unfortunately yes I do, this piece of filth was my daughters junkie boyfriend George McNamara. Not only that he was atheist he had no morals whatsoever." Mr Wilcox said indignantly

"I'm sorry why does him being an atheist have any affect on his morals?" Danny asked

"Well I hate to break it to you young man those that do not see the way of the lord are damned and therefore seek to drag those that are blessed by our father down, that's what this man was doing to my daughter." Mr Wilcox said crossly

"I'm sorry but this apparent hatred you have of your late daughters former boyfriend, is it great enough to drive you to kill him. Because at the moment Mr Wilcox it seems you have motive." Mac stated seriously

"Ah again you fail to understand my faith, it is against my Christian beliefs that I would kill anyone no matter how much pain and suffering they had caused me. As the ten commandments state 'thou shalt not kill'." Mr Wilcox drawled condescendingly

"Do you know of anyone else that may have wanted to cause Mr McNamara physical harm?" Mac asked evenly

Mac could feel the anger pulsing through Danny he just prayed his temperamental co-worker would be able to keep his cool. Mac could tell that Mr. Wilcox was no the kind of person who would react well to intimidation. And Danny was pretty damn intimidating when he was pissed off. But in actual fact Mac was surprised that Danny has kept calm this long, even he himself was beginning to get riled by this man who seemed un emotional about his daughters death and so righteous about his faith.

"Well he never got on with my son either, I mean they had been known to get into little fights but that's not Simons fault he's a good boy really just has trouble keeping his temper, but he confesses his sins to god so he shall be forgiven for his weaknesses." Mr. Wilcox said definitely

Mac and Danny looked at each other; the whole thing had now taken a worrying turn. Mac hated to jump to conclusions but this guy seemed pretty hardcore about his beliefs, he understood about believing in something larger than himself and even after the hell he'd been put through he still has a certain amount of faith, but this guy was nuts. Mac was aware of how far someone could take they're religion, but he damn well knew it more often than not ended badly.

"Well in that case Mr Wilcox we will need to have a word with your son, we were told he accompanied you to the station." Mac said slowly and deliberately

"Yes that is correct and I'm certain he would be more than happy to answer any questions you have, this family is pure and clean we have nothing to hide from the likes of you." Mr Wilcox said hotly as he was escorted from the room.

"That guys a loony." Danny said breathlessly as soon as the door closed.

"Well he certainly devout, whether you can call him a loony or not I don't know." Mac said diplomatically

"I don't get people like that, they spend they're lives looking down on people, pretending they're all high and mighty. I personally don't think it's healthy." Danny said still clearly peeved by the whole experience.

"Well we're all different Danny but I agree with you in taking anything to the extreme is never a good idea." Mac said still keeping himself firmly in neutral territory

A knock came at the door

"Come in." Said Mac loudly

A uniformed officer poked his head round the door

"Are you ready for Simon Wilcox to be sent in."

Mac nodded affirmatively

About 10 seconds later Simon Wilcox entered the room flanked by the police officer.

"It's ok you can leave us now." Mac said directing the statement to the policeman; who gave a nod and exited the room as quickly as he had come in.

"So Mr. Wilcox, we've heard from your father that you were less than impressed with your sister's choice of boyfriend." Danny said with a vicious undertone

"Yeah the guy's a waster he dragged my sister down made her unclean, he changed her." Simon said in a scarily similar tone to his father's

"Dragged her down how." Danny asked

"She used to be a good Christian girl, always lived by the bible until mother died, then she lost faith. My father banned her from the house until she had once again found gods love but she fell in with the wrong crowd, and George introduced to sinful practices such as drinking smoking drugs and pre marital sex." Simon said bluntly

"And this obviously angered you." Danny surmised

"I wasn't angry I was livid." Simon said he eyes becoming wild

"Livid enough to murder him?" Danny asked

"No I hated him but he didn't know any better, my sister on the other hand should have. She rejected gods love and the moment she did that she disowned me and my father." Simon said in a disturbingly serene voice.

"So you were angry with her also." Danny said

"Of course I was she had gone against everything my father had taught her, it's was disrespectful as well as sinful." Simon said angrily

"So what you thought you'd play god and kill these two sinners yourself. Did it mean nothing to you that she was your sister? Just so long as you showed her the meaning of god's wrath. You make me sick." Danny spat

"I didn't kill them I can't believe your accusing me of this I had nothing to do with this, but they deserved what they got." Simon said standing up threateningly

"Why did they deserve it huh, what because they had a drug problem? She needed your help and your faith got in the way."

At this point Simon lunged across the table at Danny, but Danny sensing this had moved back putting himself temporarily out of reach of the incensed man.

"Officer get in here." Shouted Mac

Without delay the officer followed by another burst into the interview room and restrained Simon.

"See that he calms down, then he's free to go." Mac ordered the policemen.

Danny and Mac watched, as Simon Wilcox was lead out of the room

"What?" Exclaimed Danny

"You saw him Mac he obviously has a temper, and he has motive. His DNA puts him with our victim what more do you want?" Danny asked incredulously

"Danny we have nothing, he's the brother of the victim so there's bound to be traces of him on her, and you were antagonising him. What got into you just suddenly leaping down the guys throat, we needed to be gentle with this one but instead you once again decided to go all Rambo on him." Mac said heatedly

"I know the guy did it Mac, I just know." Danny said despairingly

"Well Danny I'm afraid if we want to take someone to court saying 'I just knew he did it' isn't going to cut it, is it." Mac replied in a placating voice "Listen Danny your obviously ill and I think this case has got to you why don't you go home now, you're no good to me in this state. And I need you back on top form as soon as possible, so that will involve some rest and dare a say it a trip to the doctors." Mac concluded

Suddenly it was as if all the barriers Danny had been working to keep up all day in front of his co-workers suddenly came down.

"You're right Mac i'm a mess." Danny mumbled wearily "I hate feeling like this, I've never handled being sick well. Can you forgive me for a royal ass today." Danny said apologetically

"I'll only forgive you if you get well again, go home get some rest see how you feel. I personally think you need to get yourself checked out but a realise that's going to be a bit of a leap for you." Mac said kindly

"Ok sure thing I'll be off then Mac, but if you need me you know where I am. I don't think I'm going to be out anywhere, my bed and a few paracetemol sound like heaven right about now." Danny said with a small ironic grin on his face.

"Bye Danny, I'll check in with you later." Mac said as he walked past Danny to head back to the labs.

He wasn't going to get away with what he did; oh no he was going to get what was coming to him. Simon Wilcox stood by the Exit of the police station waiting for the blonde haired cop that had questioned him earlier.

After what seemed like an age the guy he had been waiting for exited the building alone…thankfully.

Simon quickened his pace easily catching up with his target that was moving slowly for someone who looked quite physically fit.

"Hello again." Simon said ominously

Danny recognised the voice immediately, and it felt like the bottom of his stomach had dropped out. Mac was right Danny had pushed the guy to far, and now here he was feeling horribly ill on a quiet street with the guy he had just accused of murder. 'Damn' he cursed internally.

"You think you're so clever don't you, just because you have a police badge you think you can push people around tell them what's right and wrong." Simon said menacingly "Well I hate to tell you this…what's your name?"

"Messer, Danny Messer." Danny said his voice hiding the intense fear he felt inside.

"Danny then, but that's not you're job that's the lords. And the lord needs people like me to teach people like you a lesson." Simon said again in the disturbingly serene voice he had adopted earlier. "Do you know what I mean by people like you?" Simon asked condescendingly

"I wouldn't know Simon cause I'm not insane so I can't even begin to imagine what the hell you could possibly be on about." Danny surprised himself with how nasty he sounded, even if his bite was nowhere to be found he hadn't lost his bite.

"You're a sinner Danny Messer who doesn't believe, but once I'm over with you you'll see and you'll thank me for saving you're soul." Simon said in a deranged tone.

Danny panicked what the hell did that mean, he made a feeble attempt to run but Simon brought a rag up over Danny's nose and mouth and all of a sudden the CSI's senses were numbed. ' Shit chloroform' Thought Danny numbly. And within a matter of seconds all his thoughts ceased as he fell into a deeply unconscious state.


Oooo it's my first proper cliffy (I think)

Thanks again to all my reviewers without you none of this would be possible (lol ok ye this is my imaginary Oscar speech adapted for lot of you seem very worried out our poor ickle Danny, well I would say fear not but then I would be comforting you falsely as our man is not out of the woods of angst and pain yet. I don't want to give anything away but we will soon have more of an idea what could be wrong with him!

Again any recommendations are welcome, hope you are still enjoying it!

BTW due to the length I haven't been able to be very good with the checking, so forgive me any mistakes it should be readable.