Note: Thanks for all the reviews! Here's a new chapter. I'll try to update before the weekend's up! Look for chapter ten Sunday!
Sunday 4:00 p.m.
"Brass is bringing him in now," Nick said into his phone. He was walking through the lab, field kit in hand, when Grissom gave him a call. "I'm on my way over to the interview room, now," he said turning the corner at the reception desk. Had he not been watching where he was going, he would have run head on into his supervisor.
The two men, phone still to ear, looked at each other agape. A smile quickly crossed the younger CSI's face as he began to laugh.
It was a genuine smile, something Grissom hadn't realized how much he'd missed seeing on the younger man's face. The smile reached all the way to his eyes.
"Hey, I was about to ask if you wanted to meet me over there," Nick said closing his phone.
"Yeah, I'll meet you over there," his boss nodded. "I've got some paperwork to drop off to Ecklie first," he said motioning with the file folder in his hand. There seemed to be less tension between the two supervisors as of late. Nick knew the reason why. It was something never really talked about. Something he was relieved had been rectified for the time being anyway. It sure made working in the lab a hell of a lot easier.
He nodded as Grissom made his way to the lab supervisor's office.
"See you over there," he said as Warrick entered the lab. The tall CSI had an ease in his stride.
"Hey bro," Warrick nodded noticing Nick. Had he been here all day?
"We've got our first suspect," Nick grinned.
"Who?"
"Brian Ferris. I'm going to PD now."
"Let me drop by my locker on the way," his friend said walking with him down the hall.
"So what's the connection?" Warrick asked as they left the locker room.
"Not sure yet," Nick shrugged. "Griss and I looked at surveillance tapes from the fourth robbery. This kid decided to join the heist. Caught him on tape creating a ruckus in the store while the robbery was going down," he said handing Warrick the still photos from the video. "Remember the powder we found on the bullets?"
"Yeah."
"We matched the powder to what was found in the store. Cath collected broken bottle fragments. The kid didn't wear gloves," he laughed. "We matched his prints through AFIS."
"He's had priors?"
"Shoplifting, vandalism…" Nick listed, "nothing too major."
"So, why did he show up this time around?"
"Guess we'll find out."
"Does he know Kevin McCallum?"
Another grin spread across Nick's face. It was enough of an answer.
"Oh, this is tight," Warrick said with a slight chuckle. He handed the file back to Nick. They were standing outside the interview room now.
"Is he in there?" Nick asked Brass. The detective was waiting in the hall.
"Yeah," he nodded as Grissom came walking toward them. "Is the whole class here, now?" he asked getting a smirk in return as Grissom joined their group.
"Let's get this going," Grissom said.
"Nick and I have a visit to make to Kevin after this," Warrick nodded as he and Grissom made their way to the adjoining observation room. They would just watch.
Nick and Brass entered the interview room.
Brian Ferris was a scared kid. He was scrawny for the 21 year old that he was. He sank into his chair next to his lawyer, Steve McArthur. His shaggy brown hair hung just below the top of his ears and into his eyes. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his black hoodie. He was closing himself off.
"Tell me Brian," Brass started as he and Nick took their seats across the table, "what'd you do Saturday night?"
He didn't answer. He just locked his eyes on an invisible spot on the table. The young man more resembled a sulky teenager than an undergrad.
"What is this all about?" the boy's attorney spoke up. "You drag my client out of his dorm in handcuffs without an explanation…" he trailed off.
"Why don't we ask Brian?" Brass shrugged. "So, how 'bout it Brian?"
"I was in my apartment," he shrugged, "watching a movie."
"All night?" the detective asked.
"Yeah," he shrugged.
"Were you alone?"
"My roommates were there," he shrugged.
"What'd you all do before that?" he asked the boy. "Maybe make a run to the grocery store?"
"Again, I ask what does this have to do with…" the attorney was cut off.
"I'm sure you've heard about the chain of robberies," Brass said looking at the lawyer.
"And you think my client had anything to do with them?"
"Oh, not all of them, just the fourth one," Brass said.
"Hell no!" the boy said raising his voice. His attorney quickly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then tell me why we found your prints at the scene?" Nick said leaning forward placing the open file folder in front of the suspect. "We have you on camera," he said, "You didn't even wear gloves."
"We've got a warrant to search your apartment," Brass said. "Anything you want to tell us?"
The boy sank back into his chair. He was done talking.
"That's fine," Brass nodded. "Why don't you guys get comfortable," he said standing.
"Let me see your hands," Nick said opening his kit.
"What?" the boy asked a glare in his eye.
"Your hands," the CSI said, "palms up."
"It's in the warrant," Brass assured the lawyer.
The boy slowly complied.
"You're testing for gunshot residue?" the lawyer asked, familiar with the test as Nick proceeded.
"Now turn them," the CSI said as the boy turned his hands palms down.
"You saw the photos Mac," Brass said to the attorney, they had crossed paths more than once in a suspect interview. "Don't sound so surprised," he said a glare in his eye as Nick packed up his evidence kit. "Now, don't go anywhere," he smiled as he followed the CSI out of the room.
"So tell me there's a connection between this guy and Kevin McCallum," Grissom said as he and Warrick joined their co-workers in the hallway.
"How's this for a connection," Nick said handing Grissom the second file folder he'd been holding on to. He deliberately saved this card to be played in a later round. This was his Ace.
"Kevin McCallum is Brian Ferris' roommate?" Grissom looked up incredulously. The grin was back on Nick's face. He loved his job when the pieces fell into place. And tonight, it was Valentine's Day.