Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or its characters, nor do I make any profit from writing this.

A/N Thanks for reading and reviewing! D

Chapter 12

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"Ahh, Toby Rogers, so we meet again," Brass said as he looked through some papers and took a seat across from the man.

"Look, I admit to the drugs and if this is about the girl who answered the door, yes, I gave her the drugs. Please let me go, I know what I did and I will do the time for it."

"That's lovely, but that isn't what this is about and please don't try and tell me you aren't hiding anything or you didn't know about anything."

The man tried to look like he was telling the truth, but Brass could tell the man was hiding something. "Look, sir, all I know is that I did drugs and I gave them to the girl. It was fun. I left her in my house for a while and I went out to a party. It was at my friend Chris's house late last night and into this morning. It was crazy, too. I was way too drunk and I barely remember anything of it, just a few bits and pieces, but I know it was crazy. All of Chris's parties are crazy. I hung out there for a long time. I got there around eleven last night and it didn't stop till late this morning. I think I fell asleep after, because I woke up on his living room floor at around six."

Brass just sat there and listened, hopefully the man would start saying something relevant soon.

And so the man continued, "He kicked me out after that when he finally got a hold of himself and decided that the party was over and everyone should leave. The last time I saw him, he had a trash bag in one hand was gathering up all the cans and trash that were strewn around his house. I got a phone call from a friend and he told me that he needed to go in my house for something. I let him know where the key was and he let himself in."

"What did he need from your house?" Brass asked.

"I don't know, he never really said what he was doing. All he said was he needed to do something. He's a good friend and so I didn't feel I needed to ask. He does favors for me all the time; I figured it was my turn to repay him by doing as he says and not invading his privacy. Anyway, so he went in and did whatever. When I got back, I went inside and then you guys came to my door. I guess you were waiting for me?"

"Yes," Brass said.

"Well, then you guys came to my door when you saw me pull into the driveway and then I was arrested. I'm guessing your going to tell me why now, right?"

"Yes," Brass said, "I guess I'll start of by saying that you were arrested for selling drugs and the murdering of Ash Miloson. He was found dead on a bench on the strip. He died of a drug overdose; drugs that he bought from you."

"Didn't I just tell you that I admit to doing that? I just told you that I did do drugs, I did sell drugs, I did buy drugs, and I did persuade others to buy, use, and sell drugs. So, just send me to the cell now, please," the man said.

"Not so fast. I still have something else to talk to you about," Brass said quickly. "In a closet of your kitchen, a young woman was found, barely alive. This is why I'm here talking to you right now."

"Look, I'm pretty sure I was drunk and probably high, but I'm also pretty sure I would have known if I stuff some girl in my kitchen closet. I was over a friend's house and I came back alone later when I wasn't drunk. I came home alone, you know, by myself? I have no idea what you're talking about because I didn't harm anyone."

"Well, do you think Miss Parker, the young woman whom we found in your house, would know anything about this then? But I seriously doubt she knocked out one of our CSIs and put her in a closet in your house and then moved a hutch cabinet in front of it… She would need help to move that cabinet if she did have a role in this, you know, she'd need someone with strong arms, someone like you."

"What, do you think that if you keep saying I did it then it will come true? I didn't have anything to do with your CSI. I told you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, got it?" Toby asked angrily.

"Okay, so it wasn't you or the girl… So who was it then if you're so smart and know who did it?" Brass leaned back, "I'm all ears."

"Listen, I didn't want to think about it, but the friend I let in could have had something to do with it. If it will get you off my case, go talk to him about it and let me go rot in jail for crimes I actually committed."

"What's your friend's name? Tell me that and you can go with this police officer over here," Brass said and took the pen out from behind his left ear.

"His name is Garret Torren."

"Thanks. If you want, I'll try to put in a good word or two to your judge… try and get you a lesser sentence," Brass said, but not too loudly.

The man simply nodded a thank-you and was escorted down the hall by the police officer who had been standing outside the door.

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A few hours later, Brass and Greg found themselves sitting across the grey table from Garret Torren. The man wasn't young, but wasn't too old either. His hair was salt and pepper and balding slightly. It looked as if he hadn't shaved in about a week, but apparently, the man didn't care to notice. He seemed slightly comfortable sitting there across from the two of them and it seemed to make Brass a bit nervous. He'd rather be sitting across from someone who was as nervous as he was right now rather than someone he would probably have trouble getting any information out of. Mr. Torren probably knew what he was going to say and he probably knew all the tricks in the book from past experiences of this type of situation. Well, in a few moments, Brass would see if his assumptions were accurate.

"Hello, Mr. Torren," Brass said and Greg simply looked up from his papers for a split second.

The man yawned a small yawn and nodded.

"So, what exactly have you been up to earlier today? Did you do anything interesting, any errands to run, places to go, people to see… you know, that type of thing?" Brass asked.

The man ran his left index finger over his bottom lip and then finally spoke, "Actually, you could say I did something interesting. I ran some errands, saw some people, and went to some places."

"Yeah, sounds really interesting…" Brass said, "Care to fill in the details?"

"Well, I went to the grocery store, saw my dad, and took a walk to the park. Is that detailed enough for you?"

"Not exactly what I was looking for, but I bet I can help you remember all the things you left out. I think your 'trip to the grocery store' was actually a trip down to pick up a woman… a woman named Sara Sidle. As for the part about your father, I think you really meant to say that you stopped by a friend's house, beat the woman till she was unconscious and left her in your friend's closet. Oh, yes, then you took a walk in the park… maybe you were hoping to take a walk in the park and not have to worry about the court hearing that was postponed earlier today. You thought after you kidnapped Sara and left the ransom note, trying to make the crime lab get rid of the evidence… your life would be a walk in the park."

"So this is what this is… what, I thought you people didn't bend the truth to what you wanted to hear."

"Wrong-o, pal. I didn't bend the truth; the CSI's followed the truth and not your lies. We follow what the evidence tells us and what the evidence tells us is that you got your lawyer to write a ransom note to leave at the parking lot where he kidnapped Sara Sidle, a CSI here at the crime lab. You drove her to you friend's house and left her in the kitchen closet to die after you beat the living hell out of her. Oh, and by the way, you got your friend into a bit of trouble. Aren't you such a great friend?"

"Hey," Mr. Torren stood up, "I'm pretty sure you can't be talking to me like that. If my lawyer was here…"

"Your lawyer isn't here right now, we've already spoken to your lawyer and he cooperated. I suggest you do the same," Greg Sanders spoke up.

"So you attacked my lawyer, too? You people… he didn't even do anything. If anything happens to him…"

"It's your fault," Greg cut the man off.

The man must have realized that the only thing he could do now was cooperate and maybe he could keep himself from putting more time on his sentence.

"Yes, it is my fault. Barry Steingard was merely a pawn in my plan. Just take him out of the gain and focus on me, the king and most valuable asset. Just Barry out of this."

"Look, Barry gets let off the hook if you tell us exactly what happened, you know, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and don't get skimpy on the details," Brass made his offer.

"Very well."

It was a few minutes before Garret Torren said anything. He took a sip of the bottle of water Brass offered him before they started talking. He rolled the cuffs of his shirt up and then back down again.

"I think you pretty much have it figured out. I was going to go to jail so I came up with this idea. I forced it on my lawyer; I guess you could say I threatened him, so he went along with it. He was to pick up the CSI and leave the note. He brought her to me, but believe me, he didn't harm her. Don't try to pin that or anything on him. I hid her away at a friend's house. It was supposed to get me out of court. You were supposed to throw away the evidence so I wouldn't be sent to prison. Get it?"

"Perfectly clear. You do know that I'm going to have to take you into custody and you will go to prison, right?"

The man nodded, "Listen, I cooperated to save my lawyer. If he ends up in prison, I'll get you for it."

"I told you, we've got ourselves a deal. We could just forget all about Barry Steingard and his role in your plot. Zip, Barry Steingard is just your lawyer now, not your accomplice."

The man nodded and said, "Thank-you." Brass nodded for the police officer to come in and taken Garret Torren. Now, Greg and Brass were left alone.

"Nicely done," said Greg.

"I have a way with words," he replied.

Greg nodded, "I hope Sara's okay. Maybe we should go see."

"Not now," Brass shook his head.

"Because of Grissom?"

"What do you mean?"

"He's there with her."

"Yeah, because of Grissom."

"Maybe he'll stop acting like he doesn't know what's going on. He acts like he doesn't know that Sara likes him. Hey, maybe he'll figure it out and then he'll focus on her and not my secret stash of coffee."

Brass chuckled, "I agree."

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A/N the end of this chapter. Sorry it took me so long to get it up. I decided to finally get on the computer and write this while I watched an old episode of "House." Next chapter should be up as soon as possible and I hope it's soon. Thanks for reviews and for reading! D )