And the crowd roars. Thanks for all the great reviews.
Greg Sanders entered the ballistics lab, where he saw Bobby Dawson the ballistic expert leaning over a microscope. Just like DNA was Greg's specialty, Bobby knew weapons.
Bobby looked up from his microscope and smiled.
"Mr. Sanders what can I do for you?"
"Hey Bobby I was wondering if you could identify this bullet that we just pulled out of our victim?"
"Sure let me take a look."
Bobby took the bag from Greg, and inspected the bullet.
"This looks like a bullet from a 9mm Beretta, the magazine holds fifteen rounds. Maximum range is around one-hundred and fifty-two feet.
"You're sure?" Greg asked.
"You wound me Greg." He said smiling. "Yes I'm sure."
Bobby handed Greg back the bullet.
"Alright 9mm Beretta. OK, now that I have the type of weapon, let's see if this bullet has any prints on it. Thanks man."
"Anytime Greg."
Greg turned around to leave the lab when Sofia Curtis walked in.
Sofia just recently joined the ranks of detective. She had been a CSI and a good one. She worked on swing shift under the direction of Conrad Ecklie, and then she was lent for a short time to Grissom. She really had become a CSI for her mother. Deep down in her heart she wanted to wear the badge of detective, and she finally made it and obtained her dream
"Hey Greg. I heard what happened to Nick. This is unbelievable, twice in one year."
"Hi Sofia. Yea I know. We're all kind of still in shock. Grissom asked me to take over Nick and Warrick's case while everyone else concentrated getting Nick back. I do know that they have some leads."
"Well that's good news. Nick is strong, he will pull through this, we all will. I'm just wrapping up my case, so if any of you need any help I'm there."
"Thanks Sofia, it's appreciated. Well I've got to get going." Greg said pointing to the door with his thumb.
Sofia touched Greg's arm in a friendly gesture. "Hang in there Greg."
He made a half-hearted smile and turned to walk out, when he heard Sofia speak to Bobby.
"So Bobby what do you have for me?"
Grissom was driving back to the lab with Sara, while Brass and Warrick followed behind, when his cell phone rang.
"Grissom."
"Gil its Catherine. I found something."
"What did you find?"
"A tape recorder."
"A tape recorder?"
"Yea sound a little familiar?" Catherine replied back.
"Was there a message on it?"
"Yes. Gil this wasn't a random kidnapping like the last time. Nick was definitely the target here."
Grissom was silent, his scientific mind trying to come up with some explanation for all of this.
"Gil you still there?" Catherine asked.
"Yea Catherine I'm still here. Listen we are on our way back to the lab. Brass and Warrick are right behind us. We'll meet you in the A/V Lab.
"OK. I'll be in shortly."
Catherine hung up her phone glanced around to make sure she got everything. She looked at the ground again to make sure she didn't miss anything. Obviously someone came back to plant this tape recorder, but with the concrete there were no identifiable shoe prints. She reprimanded herself for not checking that sooner. She couldn't afford to botch anything up. It could cost Nick his life.
She informed Vega of the tape recorder and that someone had gotten through the police line to plant it. Needless to say he was going to have someone's ass. She told them that she was finished and that they could start cleanup. She hopped in her car and sped toward the Lab.
When she arrived Grissom, Brass, Warrick and Sara were sitting in the A/V Lab waiting for her. Warrick and Brass both looked like they'd been put through the ringer.
Catherine silently placed her evidence kit on the table; she put on a pair of latex gloves and grabbed the evidence bag that held the tape recorder. She carefully opened the bag and took out the tape recorder. An eerie feeling crept through the room. They had all done this before.
Catherine was the first to speak. "I found this tape recorder in the backseat of the Cadillac that caused the accident." She looked at Grissom then pressed play.
A disguised voice started talking.
"By the time you hear this recording Mr. Stokes will be in our possession. A package will be arriving via courier to the Las Vegas Crime Lab; this package will contain an untraceable videoconference number. Please extend an invitation to his Honor Judge Williams Stokes. All of you will need to be on this call or Nick will suffer the consequences. Remember 8pm sharp."
When the message ended Catherine turned off the tape recorder, and looked at everyone.
"According to this tape Nick was the target. This time it sounds like it has something to do with his father rather then the whole revenge factor."
Warrick had sat there quietly, but then stood up and spoke.
"Yea and if it wasn't for me, he would still be here with us."
Grissom walked over to Warrick. "Warrick you don't know that. These guys obviously were after Nick. They could have grabbed him anywhere, at home or on his way into work. For them to grab Nick in front of you guys really took a lot of planning. It seems to me that these guys did their homework."
He looked at the tape recorder and said, "I just hope they don't know too much."
The room went silent again, they all looked down to the floor, they knew what Grissom meant. Nick's abduction last year nearly did him in. They weren't sure how much more Nick could take before he closed in on himself.
Grissom found his voice again. "Warrick, you and Sara go through the evidence that we just brought back. Brass and I are going to make a phone call to Judge Stokes, then go see Conrad and tell him what's going on. Catherine see what you can find off of that tape recorder and the other evidence you collected."
Everyone nodded their heads in understanding and went about their jobs.
Grissom looked at Brass. "Well should we make that call?"
Brass hadn't spoken at all since the crime scene. "Gil, I don't know what I'm going to do if we don't find Nick. I take pride in my job, knowing that people can depend on me to help and protect them. I didn't protect him Gil."
"Jim it's not your fault that this happened. I'm sure Nick knows that. You know these guys did their homework, and could have grabbed Nick at anytime. They grabbed him on purpose and chose that specific time to do it, while he was supposed to be protected by you. These guys are messing with us. The question to ask yourself Jim, is are you going to let these guys get away with this? We need to show them that we aren't the pushovers they think we are."
Brass looked at Grissom for a minute then spoke. "Gil I suppose you are right, but it doesn't make it any easier. I'm still the one who has to live with myself in the morning." He turned away from Grissom and left the lab.
Grissom stood there for a minute then followed Brass out.
Grissom walked into his office to find Brass sitting there. He looked at his watch it read 7:30am. They had eleven and a half hours. Grissom sat down in his chair, opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a folder. He placed the folder on his desk.
Brass who was staring down at the floor glanced over at the folder. Written in the upper corner of the file was:
STOKES, NICHOLAS
Brass swallowed and looked back down. Grissom opened the folder to find Nick's emergency contact listing. He finally located the number of William Stokes and began dialing. He took a deep breath when the phone on the other end started ringing.
Supreme Court Justice Bill Stokes just walked into his office, as his phone started ringing. He ran over and answered it.
"This is Justice Bill Stokes."
"Your honor, this is Gil Grissom from the Las Vegas crime lab."
"Mr. Grissom what can I do for you?" he asked while sitting in his chair.
"Well sir, I'm afraid I have some bad news." Grissom said in a serious tone.
I'm so bad. There's Chapter 10. Please review. Thanks!