A/N: Thanks again to Sabrina who pointed out some mistakes and those few of you who reviewed the last chapter:-)
Deceptive Intentions
by Nicol Leoraine
Chapter 7
"I am fine," Nick bit back for the third time in the last two minutes. He was standing by his black Chevy, frowning at Brass. "I just eat something bad, that´s all. I am quite capable of working on this case!"
"I don´t doubt that, Nicky. But you know well enough that you´re too close." Brass raised his hand and shook his head, stopping another of Nick´s protest. "No, hear me out. Just remember what happened after Kristi died. It can happen again."
"What the-" Nick sweared, looking ready to bolt at the mention of Kristi. He remembered only too well what a hell it was when Eckley practically accused him of Kristi´s murder. How humiliated Nick felt when they took samples of his DNA, and how close he got to losing his job, as well as his freedom. No, he definitely didn´t want a repeat of that.
Brass touched his arm, bringing him back to the sour reality. Nick, hardly containing his frustration, shrugged it off.
"You implying I killed him? Yes, I was angry. I hated him for what he did to me, for what he said. But I would never do this!" Nick practically shouted, his whole body trembling. Several cops turned to look at him, even Warrick stopped talking into his cell and shot him a concerned look. Nick didn´t care. He just looked at Brass, hands turned into fists.
"That guy died sometimes between ten in the morning and six or seven p.m. Someone slashed his throat. I was at home, in my bed, sleeping or trying to. And no, I don´t have an alibi. Now, if you want to arrest me, go on. Otherwise, you´ll find me in the lab. If I still have a job there."
With that Nick turned, get into his car, slammed the door and started the engine. He took several deep breaths, then stepped on the gas and drove off.
Brass stood on the place, still shocked by the outburst. It took him several seconds to take in the stillness around him and he turned. Most of the cops stared at him and at the retreating car. Warrick had a frown of his own, the cell turned off.
"What!" Brass barked. "Don´t you have work to do?"
That was all it took and the cops looked away, getting back to work. They didn´t talk about what happened, it was too dangerous in the presence of detective Brass. No one wanted to get kicked in the ass, and they all knew Brass was capable of doing it, if anyone should harm his team.
"Catherine´s on her way," Warrick spoke to Brass. "Man, it really got to him."
"Yeah. But someone had to tell him that. Better me than Eckley."
Warrick frowned.
"You think he´ll really dare to do that?"
Brass only shrugged.
"Knowing Eckley, he´s already rubbing his hands."
"Yeah, and knowing Nick, he´ll just show it back into his face," Warrick sighed. "I just hope it won´t cost his job."
"Me too," Brass said, feeling disgusted by the whole event. "Come on, better get it done before it starts raining." Warrick looked up, seeing the white clouds on the night sky.
xxxx
Catherine Willows grimaced at the stench coming from her colleague. She was standing only a few steps from Warrick and although the younger man didn´t realize it, he had already acquired the typical smell of a homeless guy and although he didn´t look like one, and didn´t emanate the alcoholic odour, she took a step back.
"What?" Warrick frowned.
"Nothing. You just... smell."
"I don´t!" Warrick retorted swiftly, but then he sniffed and grimaced. "Man, could this get even worse?"
"Oh yeah, definitely. You see, the body is already on its way to the coroner. Now we need to look for the murder weapon, as well as for anything else. Because youalready "acquired" that lovely stench, I suggest you take the search of the container, while I´ll do the rest."
"Why?" Warrick protested, though it sounded more like a whine.
"Because you can´t interview anyone like that," Catherine paused, then with a smile added: "and because I am in charge now, so start working."
Warrick shot her a disgusted look and retreated to the container. Catherine clicked her tongue, then walked toward Brass, who was already speaking with the employee from the Chinese restaurant, who called the police.
"How long ago was that?" Brass asked and Catherine listened, trying to pick up on the conversation or where it was heading.
A young, skinny asiat shrugged, looking lost. He was shivering and had a twitch in his left eye. He was shorter than Brass and he had to look up every time someone spoke at him.
"It was lunch time. I remember him because he tripped over one of the chairs and started cursing really loud. Mr. Chang sent me to calm the man down, but he stopped before I even get to him."
"Are you sure it was Gonzales? That guy in the container?"
The young man nodded, throwing a curious look at Catherine. Brass noticed her too.
"This is Catherine Willows from the criminalists." The man politely nodded, then turned back to Brass.
"Am I in trouble, detective?"
"No, not at all. We just need to know what you saw. Catherine - this is Charlie Wanado." Brass frowned into his notes. "He says he saw Gonzales earlier today in the restaurant."
"Was he with anyone else?" Catherine asked.
"I am not really sure, Madam. I know he had brothand Kung Pao. He gave a small tip and left. I think he was waiting for someone."
"Did he talk with anyone?"
Wanado though about it and shook his head.
"I am sorry. He finished eating, then stood and walked towards the exit. That´s when he tripped. He started cursing, but he stopped, when some man spoke to him. They shared a look, the guy looked surprised, but he nodded and walked out. I didn´t see him after that."
"What about the other man? What was he doing?"
Wanado shrugged.
"After a moment he left, too."
"Just like that? How long was the man in the restaurant?"
"I don´t know, detective," Wanado replied a little exaspirated. He had enough of this interrogation, but was too afraid to say so. "Probably just a moment, because his table was empty. I thought he didn´t like all the shouting and left to find a quietter place to eat."
Brass and Catherine looked at each other with raised eyebrows. This stranger was making them more curious by the moment.
"Can you describe him?"
Wanado let out a tired sigh.
"Can´t it wait? Or try to ask some of the other waiters?"
"I am sorry, but we need to do it now. Just reply to this question and we will leave you to go back to the restaurant."
Wanado uncertainly looked at Brass, trying to determine if he really means it and deciding that he probably doesn´t have any other chance.
"He was tall. White, with light hair. He had a beard, or a mustache... I´m not sure."
"Can you tell me his age?"
"Between thirty and forty, I think." Wanado shrugged.
"Anything unusual about him?"
Wanado shot them a weird look as if asking just how much more did they want.
"No, I don´t think so," he said finally.
"Thanks, that will be all. You helped us a lot." Wanado nodded and left before the detective could cameup with another question.
"Well, what do you think?" Brass asked Catherine.
"Perhaps we should talk with the rest of the waiters in that restaurant, see if they won´t remember something else. This somehow related to that attack on Nicky?"
"I don´t know if it has something to do with Nick, but it sure as hell is related to the murder of Paul Mason. I don´t see how this could be a coincidence. Both were killed with a knife, in the span of two weeks. Both knew Brenda Lacke."
"But why was Gonzales there? I mean, I thought he´s still in custody. He attacked Nick, after all."
"Yeah well, apparently someone paid the bail. I will look into it, as soon as I find Brenda Lacke."
"So she isn´t in custody either?" Catherine asked, surprised. Brass rolled his eyes, disgusted.
"Lawyers," he almost spit out. "I already sent a patrol to her apartment and another one to check the 24/7 she´s working at. Though she wasn´t on any of the places. I´ll go and look at it right after we finish this."
"Maybe you should do it first, Jim. I had a feeling that girl can be deep in problems."
"She´s not the only one. I hope Nicky won´t do anything stupid," Brass voiced his thoughts, concern written all over his face.
xxxx
Sara was leaning over the scope, studying the red fibers probably belonging to the killer of a sixteen year old girl who was found in the ditch, beaten and strangulated. At least she wasn´t raped, Sara thought as she adjusted the scope so she could see better the tiny crystals of sand stranded in the wool. He killed her in an outburst of anger when she tried to run away and probably got scared so he didn´t even finish his work,only kicked the girl out of his car and drove off.. They already had the type of car thanks to the tire marks on the road. Now, to only find out what kind of sand it was...
Sara looked up as she heard the door close a little more loud than she would´ve liked. She was surprised to see Nick standing not far from her, looking lost and confused, but also angry. Sara wondered what could´ve happened to make Nick, of all people, angry.
"You finished early," Sara commented and cringed at the look Nick gave her. Well, at least she knew it had something to do with his job. Or Warrick.
"What´s got through your way, Nick? You aren´t slammingdoors very often," she jibbed, hoping for some reaction.
"Yeah well, you shouldn´t get used to it, Sidle. I will probably get the hell out of here soon enough." Nick bit back and wondered just why the hell did he come to the lab, or why was he standing there like an idiot and letting Sara grill him. When he drove off the scene, he thought about going home, to hell with work, but he knew it won't do much good. He was running too long and it was time he faced his fears, whatever they were. Because Nick didn´t know what he was running from before. But the lab looked like a pretty safe place and he hoped to find some case he could get engrossed with, to stop thinking about Gonzales, about Mason and about everything that happened for the last two weeks. But once there, he somehow lost the energy, leaving him only with the taste of anger and confusion.
"What happened?" Sara asked, her voice no more biting.
"Gonzales is dead," Nick spoke and sighed, letting go of some of the frustration that was eating at him from the moment he woke up.
Sara blinked.
"So?" She didn´t understood why it affected Nick so much. The man attacked him after all. If it was her, she would just wave it off, maybe somewhere deep inside think he deserved it.
"So!" Nick repeated with surprise. "That´s all you have to say?"
"And what should I say? I amsorry? Or that it´s a great lost? Come on, Nick. Even you can´t be so forgiving! He could´ve killed you." Sara almost waved her arm in frustration. Nick blinked in surprise at the exclamation, then shook his head.
"Great. Tell that to Eckley and I have him breathing down my neck. Do you realize I don´t have an alibi, but I have a motive? Hell, Brass already asked me where I was at the time! With my luck, they´ll find that knife right before my doorstep!"
Noneof them saw the figure leaning in the door, watching them, until Nick stopped to take a breath and the man coughed, gaining their attention. Both CSI´s spun around in scare, and didn´t relax at the familiar face.
"Nick, my office. Now." Before the man in question could even open his mouth, Grissom was gone.
"Damn it!" Nick cursed and looked at Sara.
"Good luck," Sara said, watching as Nick followed with slumped shoulders. She don´t wanted to be in his position now.
to be continued
A/N: When I am writing, I´ve got two beings fighting in my head. One is called My Muse, the other Writer´s Block. Every review makes My Muse stronger, though the lack of it helps Writer´s Block. It´s up to you which one wins.
Please review, if you want to help me finish this story, and don´t let the Writer´s Block win.
Uh, that was my crazy way of telling you that I was really disappointed with the low number of reviews. Hope you like this chapter better. /let me know, please/