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 6: The First Conversation
"So, how did it go with the family?" Grissom asked.
"Mon's distraught, Dad's not much better. As for Tommy, he's still maintaining it was Albert. How's the evidence looking?"
Grissom sighed. "I can place all three of them in the baby's room, but there's nothing probative. It could have been any of them."
"Or none of them." Grissom raised an eyebrow, and she changed what she was going to say. "What if the baby's death was accidental? The mother says she removed the pillow: we only have her word for it that it was ever there." She wished she could believe it.
"Oh. Yes." Grissom nodded. "That's another possibility."
"They're sending Tommy to stay with an aunt across town for a while."
Grissom nodded. "Given what you've told me about the state of the mother, I would say that was wise."
Sara was logging evidence from Amy Raines' death when an instant message popped up on her computer. She frowned: she didn't think she had been logged in. Perhaps there was a glitch in the computer.
A666: Hello Sara
Sidleways: Who is this?
A666: You know who this is.
Sidleways: ?
A666: This is Albert.
Sidleways: Who?
A666: Tommy's friend.
Sidleways: Albert isn't real.
A666: Isn't he?
A666: Are you sure, Sara?
Sidleways: Okay, who is this? Is this a joke?
A666: This is not a joke.
A666: Goodbye Sara.
Suddenly, the screen went blank.
"Dammit!"
It was only when she reached out to press the reset button that Sara realized that her hands were shaking. She shook her head. A joke. It had to be. Probably Nick or Greg – or both – trying to scare her. Deep down inside, she knew she didn't believe it.