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 7: Another Attack

"Sara?"

Grissom stuck his head around the door of the layout room. Three nights had passed since her conversation with 'A666', and Sara had almost managed to convince herself that it was nothing more than a sick joke by an as-yet-unidentified prankster.

"Yeah?

"We just got a call from PD. Someone attacked Tommy Raines' aunt at her house earlier today."

"Is she okay?"

"She might not make it."

Sara dreaded the answer to her next question. "Tommy?"

"Is with Child Services. He's fine. We need to go over to the aunt's residence."

There was a lot of blood. Tommy's aunt, Susan Johnson, lived alone in a three-bedroom suburban house. She had been struck several times with a heavy stone ornament in the shape of a nymph carrying a jar of water. It was a miracle that she had survived the attack.

They processed the scene, producing precisely nothing.

"We need to talk to Tommy," Grissom said.

Sara felt her heart sink. "Can you do it?"

Grissom frowned slightly. "Sara, are you okay?"

"Sure." Her smile felt unnatural. "I just don't feel like I ever get anywhere with him, you know? I'll head over to the hospital and check on Ms. Johnson."

Grissom nodded, obviously not satisfied by her explanation, but willing to let it go.

She arrived at the hospital to find Susan Johnson still lying unconscious in her hospital bed. She had three broken ribs, a hairline fracture of her skull, and severe bruising to her face and hands. Sara shuddered at the sight of her injuries. There was no way that they were the work of a child.

Susan's sister, Karen, was sitting on the other side of the bed.

"This is my fault," she said without looking up. "Tommy did this. It's my fault for leaving him with her."

"Mrs. Raines-"

"Do you believe in the devil, Ms. Sidle?" Karen Raines suddenly raised her head to stare intensely at Sara.

"The devil?" Sara repeated. "No, I don't think so. I believe humans are our own devils. Do you believe in the devil, Mrs. Raines?"

A pause. "I never used to."