Chapter 20

Grissom looked through the interrogation window and saw Tina sitting there. She looked all prim and proper in a navy blue suit. Grissom watches as Brass confronts her trying to get any information out of him. She refuses to say anything saying she doesn't know Novak. Brass confronts her about being at Novak's place. She wasn't there. Grissom pulls out his cell phone and calls Horatio.

Horatio himself was standing outside of another interrogation room in Miami. Mac and Tripp were grilling Jack Higgins trying to find out where Lindsey was. Horatio looks down at his cell phone.

" Horatio Caine. "

" Horatio its Grissom. We found a bunch of stuff at Novak's apartment. There were all kinds of surveillance photos of Catherine, Warrick, and Lindsey. It was pretty detailed he's been watching them for a bit. We also found a computer. The files inside link right back to Nick's kidnapping. We have him. Nothing about Lindsey though. We also found out that Warrick's old girlfriend Tina knew Novak. We are not sure how. She's got a lawyer up but we found financials linking her to Nick's case. "

" Financials ? Can you do me a favour and check for a name. Jack Higgins. "

" Sure. "

Grissom goes through the printout that they got from the computer. There was the name Jack Higgins there a couple of times. Its started about three months ago. Right when Catherine moved to Miami.

" He's right here. About 6 times for about $ 1,000 each time then a huge check yesterday for $ 2,500. "

" Interesting. " Right when Novak probably picked up the uniform. He couldn't deny this. " Could you fax that to me please. "

" Sure. What have you found ? "

" The tech that gave Novak the uniform. He gave the uniform to Novak yesterday in fact which corresponds with your $ 2,500. I think he's been watching Catherine since she came to Miami."

" O.k. Don't tell Warrick about Tina yet. I want to know what she has to do with this first. "

" Of course. "

Grissom went over to the fax machine. Danny comes over to him.

" What do you have ? "

" I was just talking with Horatio in Miami. They found Novak's accomplice."

" Good to hear. Let me fax that then there is no question. "

" Good idea. I think now is a good time for you to talk to Ms. Andrews. "

" I agree. "

Grissom looked inside the interrogation room watching Brass grill Tina.

" So I mean you were supposed to care about Warrick. At least that is what I thought. "

" She doesn't have to say anything. Tina they don't have anything if they did they would have charged you. "

Tina's lawyer looks at her. Tina looked worried. She was fidgeting with her hands on the table. Danny grabs the paper and heads over

" So Ms. Andrews you said that you had no contact with Mr. Novak. Is this correct ? "

" Yes. "

" Who are you ? "

" Danny Messer NYPD. I'm assisting in the case. You do understand that this involves a kidnapping of a little girl. "

" I had nothing to do with that."

" Well we know for a fact that you had contact with Mr. Novak. On lets see about 6 occasions from what I can tell. "

" Where did you find that ? "

" Mr. Novak's computer. We had the warrant so there is no point questioning that. Look you mind as well give it up . It's obvious that you never really cared for the guy. I mean you knew that Mr. Novak tried to kill Mr. Brown right . "

Tina looked scared.

" I did care for Warrick. "

" Tina..." Tina's lawyer touches her hand.

" No I need to tell what happened. I didn't have any clue how twisted Novak was. I just wanted Warrick away from that redhead. I had no clue that he was after Warrick. "

" O.k. . So you admit that you knew Mr. Novak ? "

" Yes. We met at this club after work. It had been a really hard day... He convinced me to help him. "

" How did he convince you ? "

" I want immunity from what I am about to say. "

" You don't have much leverage her Ms. Andrews. "

" You need her to get Mr. Novak. She can give you information pertaining to the kidnapping of Mr. Stokes. Agree to talk to the DA for a reduced sentence and immunity for anything else that comes up. "

" We'll talk depending on the information that she gives. "

Tina then went into detailed description of how she met Novak. She met him at a club called " Sassy's ". She had gone there for a drink after work. She just needed to forget. She had been assisting in an operation with her ex husband David a couple of months back and now she was going to be in front of the Medical Malpractice board. He had given the patient the wrong medication which caused a severe allergic reaction sending the patient into a coma. She had lied at the medical board to protect David. She had been drunk at the club furious for finding David with a nurse again a couple of days later after she saved his butt. He had cheated on and off during their marriage. She said more than she should have with Novak. He was able to charm her. She thought he was a nice guy little did she know what he was really like. He used it to blackmail her. He told her that he wanted her to cozy up to this guy which turned out to be Warrick at a club where he was the DJ. Tina's job was to keep him away from Catherine. As long as she did her job he wouldn't tell anything. I mean there was perks. She really cared about Warrick. Novak then asked her to get the schedule for the lab. She agreed not questioning it. She thought it had to do with Catherine. She could tell that Warrick cared about Catherine. It was obvious how he looked at her. She tried everything. Eventually she realized that there was no point and told Novak. Novak had grabbed her wrist and held it hard. It caused bruises. She became really afraid when she saw the look in his eyes. She told him that she didn't want anymore money. When she heard about what had happened to Nick she realized how twisted Novak really was.

" Why didn't you come forward and tell the police what you knew ? "

" I couldn't take a chance. I would lose my career. "

" A man was nearly killed. "

" I realize that now."

" Do you know anything about Lindsey's kidnapping ? "

" I talked to Novak this morning..."

" You did what ? "

" I heard about the little girl. I knew nothing about it. I remember something that he said. If Warrick and Lindsey were out of the way then he could have Catherine. "

" What's the phone number ? "

Danny pushes a piece of paper in front of her. Tina writes down the number.

" Anything distinctive on the phone with him ? "

" I could hear a pinging sound. I'm not sure what it was. That's all I know I swear. "

" Why were you at Novak's place last night ?"

" I needed to find out what happened. "

" Officer can you please take her away. "

" But the deal ?"

" We'll talk to the DA contingent on that everything that you told us is the truth. "

Danny walks out and stands beside Grissom.

" A pinging sound. I wonder what she means ? "

" Maybe something close to the water. I mean buoys in the water off of Battery Park sort of make the same sound. So she could be something close to the water.

" You're probably right. I'll send the information down to Mac and Horatio. Lets run the phone number through the GPS system and see what we can find. Brass can get a warrant. "

Horatio was standing outside the interrogation room watching Tripp and Mac interrogate Jack Higgins. He was a young skinny kid with short blonde hair. Horatio noticed that he kept rubbing his nose. An officer walked up.

" Sir this just came over the fax for you. "

" Good. Thank you. "

Horatio knocks his finger on the window getting Mac's attention. Mac comes out.

" He's not saying anything. "

" Well maybe this might change his mind. Grissom faxed this sheet down to me. It seems that our Mr. Higgins has been receiving payments bi weekly from Mr. Novak of $ 1,000 and a $ 2,500 payment yesterday right around the same time the uniform was checked out of the unit box. "

" Interesting. "

" I also think that Mr. Higgins might have a drug problem. He was probably using the money to keep it up. Novak is a manipulator so this would fit. "

Mac heads back into the interrogation room.

" Look can I go. I've done nothing wrong. "

" I beg to differ on that Mr. Higgins. It is your contention that Mr. Novak never contacted you once. "

" Right. I mean I've never heard of this guy. Look I'm sorry he kidnapped that little girl but I know nothing about it. "

" How do you know that he was the one ? "

The young man keeps quiet and rubs his nose again.

" Look we have a transaction statement here showing that you were paid bi weekly by Mr. Novak starting about 3 months ago right around the time that Ms. Willows started working here. So did he ask you to watch her ? "

" I've got nothing to say. "

" Really. Well this involves the kidnapping of a 12 year old girl and you are going to help me find her. "

The guy was starting to get really nervous. He starts rubbing his nose.

" Got a cold or something ? "

" No just an itch. "

" Well by the way that you keep rubbing your nose. Do you have a drug problem Mr. Higgins ? "

" No. "

" Well according to your rap sheet here you've been sent up for numerous drug charges. " Tripp passes the paper over to Mac. " How bout we run a tox screen on you right now and see what we find ? "

" You have no grounds. "

" I can always call IAB in who can compel you to give a sample. That would constitute a firing from this job and make you ineligible to be rehired anywhere in Dade County. Now just give us the information that we want. " Tripp says. Mac looks over he could see that Tripp was starting to get irritated.

" Alright. He wanted me to watch the lady. I saw no problem with it. I was supposed to tell him when she worked and who was around her. Yesterday he came by and said he wanted a uniform. He offered to pay double what he was before."

" I would say a little more than double. This didn't seem suspicious. "

" Look I had to pay off my dealer. If I didn't it would get pretty ugly. I didn't think there was any problem. I mean the guy seemed alright. "

" You know that is illegal. "

" Yeah. But I needed the cash. I didn't do anything wrong. "

" Well Mr. Higgins you are going to have a long time thinking about that. What type of car was Novak driving ? "

" A silver 4 door hatchback. A Honda Civic I think. It looked pretty rusted out. "

" Officer take him away."

The officer took Mr. Higgins away.

" I'll run the car through our DMV database and see what I can find. "

" Good. I'm going to go see Mr. Hawkes and Mr. Delko and see if they have found anything."

Warrick was getting frustrated the cars were not moving. He looked at the Taxi driver then his watch. It was 10:55. He had to be there in 5 minutes. Warrick looked at his phone.

" Thanks I've got to go. " Warrick handed the guy a wad of cash and got out.

He broke into a sprint and arrived just outside the Dunkin' Donuts just before 11:00 am. The phone rang.

" Mr. Brown. I see that you barely made it in time. "

" I'm here look if you have done anything to Lindsey. "

" Hey watch your temper I don't think you are in a place to make demands. "

" Alright fine just let me talk to her. "

" Sorry I can't do that. O.k. I want you to go to the Casa Blanca Fish Market 1040 Macarthur Causeway. I want you to talk to a guy named Joe. He runs " Heads or Tails. " Ask for fresh red snapper from him. He'll know that you are coming. "

" Stop jerking me around. "

" You've got 20 minutes. To get there. I'd advise you to get going. Lunch hour traffic in Miami can be a bitch. You'll get new instructions there. Any cops around and the little girl dies. I mean it. "

Novak closes the phone. He puts down his binoculars and watches Warrick brush a hand through his hair and curse. He rushes over and hails a taxi. Novak looks at the package beside him. Now the next step needed to be put in place.