Chapter 11

Gil eyed the politician before them. They had a witness that claimed she was behind the attack of Gemma Brown. The attack of Gemma Brown was brought on by their investigation of the Holcomb girls kidnapping. It all seemed to lead back to the woman before him.

No matter how long he did this job, it always amazed him the things people did to one another. From where this case was taking him, he was beginning to think the Jillian Holcomb had had her own children kidnapped.

Greg was sitting back on the desk like Warrick always did. Gil mentally smiled, the young man had taken to mimicking the older CSI's. He didn't think Greg needed to. Yesterday's interrogation on Carrey had proven that he could hold his own.

Brass eyed the woman and began the interview. "Mrs. Holcomb,…..how do you know Jarrod Carrey?"

"Who?" The politician had a good poker face. Gil suddenly wished Warrick was in the room. The ex-gambler could read a poker face better than he could. But, Warrick was too involved with this, he couldn't be brought into the interviews again. They'd already learned their lesson with that one.

"Mrs. Holcomb, we have phone records showing that you and Carrey were in contact. As we speak, your own phone records are being searched. Carrey, himself, has testified that you hired him to attack Gemma Brown and leave the message to cease the search for your children." Gil wasn't in the mood to beat around the bush. "We believe that you had your own children kidnapped. Care to elaborate why?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Jillian gave Gil a look of pure hatred.

"I think you do. Just tell us where your daughters are, and it will go better for you." Jim commanded angrily.

"You have nothing on me." she smirked. Gil saw a glint of something in her eyes and frowned. She was enjoying this.

Nick rubbed his eyes as they watered. They had spent the last hour looking over the phone records of Jillian Holcomb but they had come up with nothing. The woman was bright enough to know not to use her own phones to contact the kidnappers.

"Maybe we should have your girlfriend check this over." Sara suggested with a grin. Nick glared at her, refusing to give her a reply.

"Damn, I'm ready to try anything. There's nothing in this crap." Warrick tossed his printouts down and got up to pace. "I'm going to call and see how my wife is. I haven't seen her in…." he glanced at the large watch on his wrist. "over thirty hours. Damn, I'm beginning to hate this job."

"You should go, see her in person." Sara decided. "Take a couple hours off."

"No….I swore to Gemma that I'd find these girls. That's what we're going to do." Warrick argued. They'd each taken a turn napping on the couch, so they were all as tired as the next one.

"Maybe we should have Lucy come back in." Sara proposed seriously. Warrick paused on his was out, and looked to Nick, as if asking for his opinion.

"You really believe all that stuff?" Nick looked from one friend to the other.

"I never thought I would." Warrick admitted, looking a little self-conscious about it. "But, the evidence of the reality is sort of in her favor. I'd like to think that she's right, about the baby……."

"Of course you would! That's how these people get their fame and fortune!" Nick insisted. "They tell you what you want to hear, or need to hear."

"She hasn't asked for anything." Sara informed him. "I gave her the forms for reimbursement on the gas she spent dragging you an Greg around, she didn't want it."

"She's already taken two days off of work." Warrick nodded. "What kind of fame and fortune do you think she's getting?"

"She's a nurse. They already make more money than she could possibly get from us." Sara continued. "She's just doing this to help us……to help those girls."

"What do you have against the girl?" Warrick demanded. "I thought you liked redheads!" Eyes widening he studied his friend with a look of understanding. "Oh! That's it. You do like her."

"Shut up Warrick." Nick snarled at the tall man. "I can't stand her. She's constantly in my face."

"Yeah and you want it that way. Nicky! You want to suck face with her." Warrick teased, smiling smugly.

"Suck face, Warrick?" Sara butt in, looking disgusted at the man. "What? Are we in the 7th grade again? Does Gemma know you say things like that?"

Warrick chuckled, unperturbed. "This isn't about me, this is about Nicky."

Nick, his face flaming, hurried out of the room, determined to get even with Warrick soon. The boisterous laughter of his two colleagues followed him down the hall. Hodges looked up from his work, looking questioningly at him as he passed. Nick paid him no attention.

Nick made his way into the locker room and sat down on the bench. He needed time away from his co-workers, he needed time to think. He wasn't about to get that, as his phone rang in his pocket. Without checking to see who it was he answered. "Stokes."

"Nicky, it Cath……we've got a problem." Catherine sounded upset, causing Nick to forget all about his problems.

"What's up?"

"Grab Warrick and get to the Rampart. Sam's suite has been attacked."

"Oh God……Gemma?" Nick felt the air around him closing in as he waited for Catherine to answer.

"I don't know. I'm on my way there. Just make sure Warrick gets here in one piece."

Hodges drove them to the Rampart. Nick had to physically restrain his friend. Sara had taken her own vehicle, going to pick up Lucy Malone for fear that she could be the next target.

When they pulled up to the hotel front, Warrick opened the door and jumped out before the car had stopped. Nick hurried after him, hoping to prevent him from doing anything stupid. By the time he caught up to Warrick, having missed the elevator, he was too late. Warrick was being physically restrained my two police officers. Ecklie was sprawled on the floor in front of him, nose bleeding.

"Oh geez." Nick groaned, taking in the scene. "Shit, Warrick…..man….."

"Let me go! Gemma! Gemma! I need to see my wife!" Warrick called hoarsely, tears of fear and frustration was streaming down his cheeks as he struggled to get loose from the officers.

"Daddy!" Jessica cried, running out of the open door of the suite, she barreled down the hall to Warrick. "Daddy!" Another officer charged after the little girl, having lost his hold on the small child. As Jessica passed by, Nick stepped forward, blocking the officer's attempt to recapture the little girl. Jessica wrapped herself around Warrick's lower body, causing the man to struggle harder so he could get to his daughter.

"Let him go. He won't cause anymore harm. Let him comfort his daughter." Nick barked. Reluctantly the restraining officers released him. Warrick fell to his knees, pulling the trembling girl into his embrace. Nick offered Ecklie a hand up. The irate man accepted the help and stood glaring at Warrick as he checked Jessica over for any injuries.

"Be prepared to face charges for this." He snarled. Warrick didn't pay any attention to him, too busy crooning the small child in his arms.

Nick heard, and took immediate defense. "Ecklie, let's pretend you have a heart. Imagine what he's going through…….his entire family is on this floor and you were preventing him from going to them."

"If he would have just taken a moment, I could have told him that they were all fine. Everything happened here in the hallway." Ecklie rolled his eyes. "You Night shifters are too emotional for your own good."

"And you wouldn't be emotional if this was your family?" Nick growled. Ecklie grimaced, admitting that this was an excuse to be a little emotionally involved.

"Alright, I'll let this time pass." He winced. "But keep him under control from now. Brown, get that child out of this bloodbath."

Warrick kept Jessica's eyes averted as he carefully made his way to the suite, mindful not to disturb any evidence the day shift would be collecting. Once he was inside the suite, Nick took a good look around the hall. Two of the goons that he'd ran into before lay dead, shot point blank, right between the eyes just outside the elevator.

Four men he'd never seen lay strewn about the hall, obviously taken down as they made their way to the suite. The head goon of Braun's was slumped against the wall beside the door to the suite. He had obviously taken several rounds before he finally succumbed, but not before he had successfully stopped all the intruders.

Nick felt a deep sense of gratitude for the man. He had given his life, saving the lives of the four females inside. Careful to step exactly where Warrick had, he made his way into the suite to find quite a crowd inside.

Warrick and Jessica were nowhere to be seen. Nick assumed they were in the bedroom where Gemma was. Several police officers were spread around the room. Grams sat in a chair, looking irritated and upset. Catherine was holding Lindsey to her as she spoke intently to Sam Braun. Nick gave Grams a wink before heading over to Sam and Catherine.

"So…..everyone in here okay?" Nick questioned, glancing down to the young girl. "Linds?"

"I'm okay Uncle Nick." Lindsey didn't sound like the little girl he'd once known. Although, clearly upset, she sounded like she was in control of herself. Nick gave her a smile, thinking how much like her mother she had become.

"Yes, Charles kept them out of here." Sam nodded towards the door with a sad look on his face. "He was a good man."

"I guess we owe you our thanks." Nick offered as he held out his hand to the man. Sam looked reluctant but accepted the offer.