Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to CSI or it's affiliates. I am merely a fan whose would like to take already established characters into a story of my own rendering.

Burn

Chapter 8

Warrick stared at Mary Hawthore through the one sided mirror. Her lawyer had just arrived and the two demanded twenty minutes alone before any questioning could begin. It was an odd procedure for a potential victim. Warrick was beginning to believe that Mary had something to hide.

Sophia walked into the viewing room and stood next to Warrick. "Brass called. He found Jeremy Hawthrone and he's bringing him in. We don't have to rush through Mary's questioning though."

"Why's that?"

"Because Jeremy was found with a few grams of cocaine. He'll be around for a while."

"Yeah, not to mention it could provide him with an alibi if another murder takes place while he's in custody."

"My thoughts exactly." Sophia pointed to Mary's figure sitting in the cold room next to her lawyer. She looked uneasy and ready to cry. "How much time do they have left before we can go in?"

"Five minutes. I'm going to get some coffee while we wait."

"I'll stay here just in case Brass comes looking for one of us to start."

Warrick turned his head and smiled lightly, "Hey now, don't start the fun without me."

Sophia turned as well and returned the smile, "Then hurry up."

Warrick smirked and walked out. Sophia turned her attention back to Mary. It was common to leave a witness alone for several minutes to observe their movements before questioning. It was an easy way to find if they were credible or not.

However, with Mary's case, she wasn't a normal witness. Plus she'd asked for a lawyer. It was as if she knew she'd be questioned about something that might put her in a compromising position.

Sophia had watched Mary earlier before her lawyer arrived. She appeared nervous and scared, darting her head at the sound of a pin drop. When the lawyer arrive, she started to cry and shifted constantly in her chair. She either had something to hide or she was trying to hide from something.

Warrick walked back in the room with two cups of coffee. He offered one to Sophia who gratefully took it. He took a test sip from his own as he glanced at the clock. "Time's up." He announced. "I just ran into Brass. He's sending O'Brian over to get us started. He'll join us in about fifteen minutes."

"Good. Let's get started."

The two quickly finished their coffee and walked into the room where O'Brian was already introducing himself. "And these fine people are CSIs Warrick Brown and Sophia Curtis."

The lawyer, whose visitor nametag read Jeri Lockhart, spoke up first. "First of all, I'm concerned that not only is my client having to endure more questioning, but also that you are not keeping her informed of this possible interest on her life."

"Well Miss Lockhart, that's why we're here. We'll be more than happy to tell you what we can. All we ask in return is that all our questions are answered to the best of their ability." Sophia was professional and curtious and Warrick was impressed.

"I'll do what I can." Mary said without meeting anyone's eyes. "But I just don't think I know much ,ore than I've already told you."

"That's fine." Warrick began as he sat down in front of Mary. Sophia sat next to him, which was a position in front of Jeri Lockhart. Decitive O'Brian had already slipped out and Brass and slipped in. He stood against the wall next to the door, not wanting to disturb the process. Warrick looked directly at Mary causing her took look up. "We can start with a real simple question. Do you know a Jeremy Hawthorne?"

Mary's eyes opened wide with shock. "He's my brother. My twin. Why?"

"Are you close to your brother?" Sophia asked.

"Not really. We live pretty seperate lives. We had a big blowout after high school with our parents. We wanted to go to college out of state and they wanted us somewhere around here. Jememy got so angry at me for not holding my own in the conversation. He just left and we've hardly spoken since. He's into drugs and prostitutes and I want nothing to do with any of that." Mary started gossiping as if she was talking to an old friend until her gaze found the recorder and microphone in front of her. Her face turned a slight shade of red and she looked up at Sophia with a glare that even made Warrick shift in his seat.

"Why do you care about my brother? What's he got to do with the dead women." A pause. "You think he killed them?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Warrick knew this was going to far. Stick with the evidence. Let it lead you, nothing else. "Miss Hawthorne, we mention your brother's name because he apparently was one of the last people to speak to the victim found in your house. Jenna Rhimes."

Mary started to look annoyed. "I've already told you. I don't know that name. I've never seen her before in my life."

"Where are you going with all of this?" Jeried. "All I can tell so far is that you have made a connection to my client with a person whose number was in the cell phone of the last victim. Perhaps the killer is trying to send you on a wile goose chase and waste both my client's and my time. So if you don't have anything else for us, I would like to have Miss Harthorne placed back into protective custody until the killer is found."

"Oh she will be, Miss Lockhart." Brass interjected as he walked towards the table and extended his hand to the lawyer, "Dective Jim Brass. I'm running this case. Sorry I didn't make it in earlier but I got caught up with other work."

Brass looked at the CSIs as if to ask for permission to question the witness. Both Sophia and Warrick nodded slightly. "Miss Hawthorne, when was the last time you spoke with your brother?"

Mary's face showed a brief moment of being uncomfortable. It went as quickly as it came and she looked at the brawny dective, "Last week. He asked me for money so he could get a hooker and some drugs. It was our birthday. He doesn't know where I live so I met him at Carter's grocery store around the corner from my house and gave him some cash. He kissed me on the cheek, wished me happy birthday and left."

"Does he often ask for money?"

"Not really. He works at a photography studio and makes pretty good money. But sometimes business is slow and he hits me up for a little cash. I know he's going to use it for drugs or sex but it's all I can do for him."

"You mean, as opposed to getting him help?" Sophia interjected.

Mary glared at her again. Warrick was now really uncomfortable. "Look lady, he's my twin. I can't save him. I've tried. All I can do is support him when he asks, which isn't often. I know deep down he's a good man, but right now he's just scared of himself and everything around him. Leave him alone."

"If you have nothing more, then we're leaving." By now Jeri rising from her seat and gathering her papers.

"That's fine." Brass said with a smile that looked more like a smirk. "We know where to find you."

Without another word, Mary and Jeri left the room, leaving the trio to huddle and decide their next more.

"She knows more than she's telling us." Sophia began.

Warrick nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I think she and her brother spend more time together than she wants to admit."

"So you think they might be in it together?" Brass questioned.

Warrick frowned. "No I'm starting to believe that they have nothing to do with the murders at all. Perhaps the killer linked Mary to her brother by way of the cell phone."

Sophia considered this for a minute. "That would mean that he knows the victims before killing them. It could also explain why they weren't bound as well."

"So what you're saying is that the killer got to know the vics, gained their trust, then got them to participate in a sex game gone bad?" It never seemed to suprise Brass at the way human treat each other.

Warrick looked grim, "It would explain also how he got the victims in the next vics house. He'd already made friends with the next vic. She may have even given him a key."

"We need to talk to Mary again." Sophia said.

Brass held up his hand in protest. "Let's wait until Grissom and Catherine go search Mary's house. They're over there now. Plus Nick and Sara are still working on matching names from the vics so we might find a connection for all three."

"OK, so the next best thing to do is talk to Jeremy Hawthorne. We might clear him." Sophia said looking at the clock on the wall. She was hungry.

Brass shook his head. "With the other charges he's facing, it'll be at least twenty four hours before we can touch him. I think it's time to speak with other friends and family of the first two victims."

Sophia agree and Warrick nodded, "Right. Let's find a connection first besides a house, then move from there."

"Good, I'll get some people in here." Brass smirked as he left the room.

"And we'll eat." Sophia said to Warrick who smiled. He'd forgotten how hungry he was until now.

"Good idea."