Hello there…thanks for the great reviews and thanks again to Tefla for being my beta.
FaithHopeandLove951: Thanks for the great review. I really think you will like this chapter. It's a bit more setup.
NickGilGreggonumber1fan: Thanks. I hope you like the chapter. Let me know.
Rozzy07: Your welcome…I like most readers hate waiting so I try to update fast. Thanks for the great review. Yep my dark mind has sinister thoughts. What do I have in store for our CSIs hmm……
Angelic Little Devil: Ouch midterms. I'm so glad that I brightened your day. Well here comes some more sunshine and good luck on your midterms. Thanks for the review!
Chrissie0707: Here you go.
Snowangel-983: Thanks!
Nicole101: Yea well this chapter is the opposite of last I hope you enjoy. Thanks for the review!
Mma63: Here comes some more. Thanks for the review.
Happy-me-111: Yea Tefla's awesome. Thanks for the review!
Tefla: Yea you were right about recognizing the bailiff's name that was an oversight on my part. Thanks for pointing that out. Maybe I will try to fix it in the story somehow…goes off thinking.
And now Chapter 14…
Detective Jim Brass was sick of waiting for Williamson's call and not being known for patience he decided to drive himself down to the courthouse. Since he was scheduled to testify today he was off duty and driving his own car. When he pulled into the parking lot of the courthouse what he saw surprised him.
He could see smoke rising from the building. The courthouse was being evacuated, there were people running in all directions. There were fire trucks, ambulances and police cars parked at the curbs next to the building, what surprised him the most was the bomb squad and SWAT trucks that had just pulled in. Brass parked his car and made his way past the news vans and up to the front of the parking lot where an officer stopped him.
"Excuse me sir. No civilians past this point."
Brass pulled out his badge, "I'm Captain Jim Brass from the Las Vegas Police Department. What's going on here?" he said taking in the scene.
"Well sir, two bombs went off in the courthouse."
"What!" he started to scan the crowds to see if he could sight Warrick and Grissom. "Was anyone hurt?"
"No sir. No one was hurt, but there is a problem. It appears that while these bombs were going off one of the courtrooms was taken over."
"Taken over…what do you mean?"
"…The Brent Mitchell trial, when the bombs went off it appears that somehow guns had been smuggled into the courtroom. There are an unknown amount of people holding that courtroom hostage."
Brass gave up scanning the crowd he knew exactly where Grissom and Warrick were. He put his hand to his forward and brushed back his hair.
"Where is the command post?"
The officer turned around and pointed. "It's right over there sir."
"Thanks." Brass walked past the officer and over to the command post, but before he got there he took out his cell phone called Catherine and filled her in.
Brass walked up to where he saw the sheriff, the fire marshal and both commanders of the SWAT and bomb squads.
He heard the sheriff ask, "Do we know how many bombs are in the building?"
"No, we haven't been able to get close enough before they threaten to set one off again."
Brass listened with intent; he studied each man's face. He could see the worry and seriousness etched in their eyes.
"What about the hostages? Do we know how many?"
"As far as we can tell the courtroom was just about three-quarters full and counting the jury, the judge, the court reporter, both attorneys and the two CSIs, I would say that we are looking at thirty-five to forty hostages."
"Damn! What about the HTs (hostage takers), how many of them?
"We are unable to determine that, but we do know that they are covering both exits in the courtroom."
The sheriff looked around, "Where the hell is the hostage negotiator?"
"We have a call into her; she's on her way in."
"What are our options?" he said looking intently at his men.
"Right now our options are limited sir. They hold all the cards."
"Can anyone tell me about this Mitchell character?"
At that point Brass stepped up. This was something that he could answer.
"I can."
The sheriff looked over and saw Brass standing there. "Jim, what are you doing here?"
"Well sheriff I'm scheduled to testify today at the Mitchell trial."
"That's right. What can you tell me about him?" the sheriff waved him over to the group.
After Nick spoke with Warrick he dragged himself out of bed, he got dressed and walked out into the main room of the suite. He was surprised to see Officers Reed and Davis.
"Good morning guys." Nick said as he walked over to get himself a cup of coffee and a muffin.
"Morning Nick," they both replied back.
Nick picked through the muffins and finally found one to his liking. He grabbed his coffee and the muffin and sat down on the couch next to the officer. They hadn't turned on the T.V. yet.
"You guys mind if I watch the morning news?"
Neither officer said a word; Nick grabbed the remote control and turned on the T.V. He had just turned the news on when the reporter said, "We have late breaking news. We now go live to the Las Vegas Courthouse where two bombs have just gone off and one of the courtrooms has been taken hostage."
Nick burned his tongue on his coffee and nearly spit it out when he heard the reporter say that. He put is coffee on the table and listened closely to what the reporter was saying.
"Thanks John. I'm here at the Las Vegas Courthouse where just about fifteen minutes ago two bombs were set off. The whole building with the exception of one courtroom was evacuated. A representative in the Las Vegas Police Department has told me that the courtroom where the Brent Mitchell case was being tried has been taken over by an unknown amount of armed individuals. As you may know Mr. Mitchell is being tried in both the abduction of Nick Stokes a Criminalist for the Las Vegas Police Department and for the alleged murders of two people."
"Maureen, did the police indicate how many hostages are in the courtroom?"
"Yes. I have been told that there are at least thirty-five to forty hostages in the courtroom. The most prominent of those hostages being Judge Harris, the District Attorney Edward Williamson and two of the Las Vegas Police Departments Criminalists: Gil Grissom and Warrick Brown. As it stands the hostage takers have yet to make any demands."
"Has a hostage negotiator arrived on scene yet?"
"Well John, the hostage negotiator was called, but has not arrived on scene yet. They say that she should be here within the next half hour."
"Have the bombs been cleared by the bomb squad yet?"
"So far my sources say that they have not been able to get close enough to the building to even check for bombs."
"Thanks Maureen."
"Sure. Reporting live from the Las Vegas Courthouse I'm Maureen Brennan."
Nick just sat there and stared at the television, he was in shock. Reed and Davis looked from the television then over to Nick. Reed took a cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.
"Yea its Reed looks like our plans have been moved up. You better get up here."
Nick heard Reed's one-sided conversation and decided that he didn't like the way that sounded; he looked at both officers and grew suspicious. He slowly stood up from the couch and started to walk toward the bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Davis asked.
"Um…" Nick couldn't think of anything fast enough.
"You aren't going anywhere," he grabbed Nick's arm and pushed him back down on the couch.
"What the hell are you doing?" Nick yelled as he tried to stand up again.
"Just sit there and shut up." Davis said as he placed his hand on his weapon to convince Nick.
Nick cursed himself he had left his gun in the other room. He figured he was safe. What an idiot!
"Well what's going on?" Davis asked Reed.
"The rest of them will be here in a few minutes." Reed answered looking over at Nick.
Nick's eyes darted from Reed to Davis. He wasn't sure what their game was, but he was dead for sure or at least that's what he thought. Surely these guys worked for Brent and they were hired to take him out before he could testify.
"Who are you guys really?" Nick got the courage to ask.
"You will find out soon enough." Davis replied back.
Reed stood up and walked into the room where Nick was staying and retrieved Nick's gun. He placed it in his pants near his back.
Nick eyed his gun as Reed placed it out of his sight. He wished that he had put it on. He had made a big mistake. One that may just cost him his life. If ever given the chance again he would never again make that mistake. Sitting there watching both men, Nick started to get angry, he was sick of this.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Nick's blood ran cold. He was afraid to see who was behind it.
Reed walked over to the door, "Who is it?"
"It's Tennison." The voice answered from the other side of the door.
Reed opened the door a tall older man with salt and pepper hair wearing a blue windbreaker over his suit walked in. He shared a few private words with Reed before making his way over to Nick. Tennison walked over towards Nick and extended his hand Nick didn't take it. He wasn't going to make friendly with someone who was going to kill him.
Tennison sighed, "I understand your suspicion, but there really is no need for it. I am Agent Ted Tennison with the F.B.I and we need your help Mr. Stokes.
Brent was wound up; things were going according to plan. He was glad that his brother and Ryan were there. This made the moment even more spectacular. This was the sort of thing he thrived on, other people's fear. He glanced over at the two CSIs who now sat at the defense table. Neither man knew it but they were going to play an important role, they only needed the last player of the game and he would be there shortly.
Well there you have it Chapter 14. Please review. Thanks!