Albert

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI, nor any other works which may bear a resemblance, intentional or otherwise, to this work.

Rating: T

A/N: I have a flatmate called Alberto. He is a very nice guy, and bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to 'Albert'.

Chapter 5: Another Murder

"So the social worker says there's no sign of abuse. The parents don't even smack Tommy, but the kid is totally disturbed, you can tell."

A week had now passed since the murder of Dr. Ross, and the investigation had stalled. Sara was sitting in the break-room, talking to Catherine.

"There's no evidence against the secretary?"

"Nothing. We've checked patients, former patients, parents. We had a couple of leads, but they didn't pan out."

"Nick said this case was getting to you?"

"Yeah, but not the way they usually do, you know? This one is just freaking me out."

"A lot of kids have imaginary friends."

"Did Lindsay?"

"Yeah, for a while. Lilly. She lived under the bed and would only eat cookies and ice-cream."

"She ever scare you?"

"Of course not," Catherine was scornful at the idea. "She was imaginary. Lindsay outgrew her, as kids do."

"Tommy's supposed to start kindergarten this fall."

"Well, there you go then. He'll forget all about Albert once he makes some real friends."

"What if he doesn't?"

Sara's phone rang before Catherine could answer.

"Grissom, what's up?" She was quiet for a moment, listening to their boss. "What? Okay, I'll be right there." She hung up and turned to Catherine, looking shocked. "There's been a murder at the Raines' house."

Half an hour earlier, while Karen, Steve and Tommy were watching TV, Karen had decided to check on Amy. She had emerged pale and shaking and had flung herself at Tommy, hitting him for the first time in his life.

"How could you? How could you?" She was sobbing.

"Mom!"

"Karen!" Steve seized his distraught wife around the waist and pulled her away. "Karen, stop it! Tell me what's happened!"

She turned to face her husband. "He killed her. Amy's dead, Steve: he killed her."

"No, Mom, I didn't, I swear!" Tommy was crying too.

His father looked at him coldly. "Go to your room."

"But dad-"

"I said go!" Tommy went. "We have to call the cops."

Now Brass was briefing Sara and Grissom.

"The baby wasn't even a year old. The mother found her in her cot. She'd been smothered with a pillow."

"Normally in a case like this the mother would be the prime suspect," Grissom observed.

"Yeah. She claims it was the son, the son claims it was his imaginary friend. Or it could have been the father." Brass sighed. "Child services is with the kid."

"Sara, you interviewed the Raines'. What did you make of Mrs. Raines?"

"She's at the end of her tether, but it's all directed at Tommy, not the baby. If it was Tommy's body in there I'd say definitely the mother. But the baby? I'm not so sure."

"Children Tommy's age have smothered infant siblings before," Grissom observed.

"Do you want me to talk to the witnesses again?" Sara asked.

"Thanks. We might as well be consistent."