Deceptive Intentions
by Nicol Leoraine
Chapter 11
"We´ve got a name, Gris." Nick looked up at him, his voice sounding almost unbelieving.
"Anyone we know?" Grissom asked, trying not to sound surprised, as he walked to Nick.
"No, don´t think so," Nick mumbled, now concentrating on the page. "The fingerprints belong to one Richard Dummont, from San Francisco, CA. He´s a co-worker of Paul Mason - the second half of his team."
As Grissom reached him, Nick handed out the paper and watched as Grissom´s eyebrows went up. He too saw the photo, although it wasn´t top quality, and they both could see the resemblance with their up till now unknownsuspect. By all means, this man fit the description of the employees from the restaurant to the tee.
"Do they know where he is right now?" Grissom asked, already picking up a phone.
"No, the agent I talked with was surprised as me. Whatever happened, they didn´t seem to be alarmed that their two suspects fled town. Probably thinking they just took a vacation, or something."
"Like you said, that was an inside investigation, and they could be lax. But we can´t be. Get on the phone with whomever you talked to back in California and tell them to put out an APB on Richard Dummont. I am calling Brass. Hopefully, he´ll be able to alert some of his colleagues in San Francisco to start looking for our killer."
Nick simply nodded and pulled out his cell phone, walking to the other end of the room, while Grissom talked with Brass. Nick had to look through his notes to find the right numbers and he prepared himself for another nerve eating hour on the phone, trying to persuade the right people.
When Grissom finished his call with Brass, Nick was already listening to a crazy jingle they were playing him repeatedly, along with a comment that he is on the line and should wait. He frustratedly pulled the phone from his ear, and looked at Grissom questioningly.
"Brass is working on it. At least he knows who to look for."
"What about Brenda? Does he have anything new?"
"No," Grissom shook his head and looked at Nick, sensing his concern.
"I just think we should find her, sooner than this Dummont guy. Something still doesn´t fit in all this."
"We'll figure it out all in time." Grissom tried to assure him.
"I have a feeling she doesn´t have much time." Nick mumbled and jerked, as the jingle in the phone stopped and he turned his attention to the call.
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Despite his motives to look into the case and try to find some clues as toBrenda Lacke´s whereabouts, Nick´s plans were brought to end when a call from Det. Vega announced multiple shot gun victims in a restaurant. Whatever his plans, Nick along with the rest of the grave shift, had to head out. It took most of the night and early morning and it was almost eleven a.m. when Nick and Sara returned to the lab, going through the evidence. Warrick was still on the scene, finishing with the details, and Grissom with Catherine were in Desert Palms, waiting for the only living victim to give his statement.
All in all, it was a busy night and everyone was tired. At last Grissom called and gave them the rest of the missing details.
There were three victims. The first one died of a gun shot wound to his chest that hit him straight in the heart. The second - aparrently the shooter - had committed suicide with a shot into his head. The third one was a resident in Desert Palms, with a through and through shotgun wound to his left shoulder. All the victims were males, in their twenties and apparently lovers. At least, that was what the man laying in the hospital bed said between sobs to Grissom and Catherine.
"It´s a pretty straight case, Nick. Seems like the killer found out Fredricks and Johann werecheating on him, though he slept with both of them."
"Sounds like a damn soap opera," Nick commented and heard Grissom sigh.
"Did you get the fingerprints from the gun?"
"Yeah, I think it´s a clear case, Grissom. We´we got the gunshot residue on the hands of the killer. It was Gavin. He first shot Fredricks, killing him. Then he aimed at Johann, wounding him. When he realised what he had done, he turned the gun at himself and fired. We´re still waiting for the bulletanalysis, but..."
"That´s okay. We have Johann´s statement, as well as one of the waiters and two guests. I think we can close it."
"Yeah," Nick said, unconsciously rubbing at his temples. "It´s just crazy why people are killing each other."
Grissom heard the weariness in his voice and realised Nick probably didn´t get too much sleep in the last few days.
"Why don´t you finish it and head home, Nick? All of us could use some rest."
"You guys are coming back?" Nick asked, not at all excited by the offer. He knew once he get home, he wouldn´t be able to sleep. Even though he was tired, the prospect of the nightmares kept him alert. Also, there was the nagging feeling that he should do something - but what?
"Nick?" the voice brought him to the reality, and Nick grimaced at the concern he heard there.
"Sorry, just thinking. What did you say?"
"Go home, Nicky," Grissom sighed and ended the call before Nick could utter a sound of protest. Glaring at the phone, Nick put it down too and stood, pacing through the lab. He didn´t knew what he was looking for, but when he spotted the file laying on top of the table, he picked it up. It was the protocol from the interrogation of Brenda Lacke, and although Nick read it several times now, he still thought there wassomething he was missing.
Ten minutes later, when Sara walked into the room, she found the file laying open on the chair. There was also the notepad and pencil, and coming closer, she could see the imprint on the paper. She picked up the notepadand the pencil, and did what any detective would do. She scribbled across the top sheet of the notepad until she could read the imprint from Nick´s note, then she put it aside, frowning. Sara recognized the writing as Nick´s and wondered, what the hell was so important about the address Only when her look strained to the file did Sara remember. It was an address of the 24/7 Brenda Lacke was working at.
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He wasn´t surprised when his cell started to ring. One look at the display told him it was Sara. He was in temptation not to take it, but he was sure the second call would be one of Grissoms. He gingerly picked up the phone, while trying to navigate through the traffic. It was lunch time and the traffic was heavy, making it hard on already frayed nerves.
"Stokes," he spoke, trying to sound casual, although Sara could detect the slight annoyance.
"Where the hell are you going, Nick?" She asked, not really caring if he was mad.
"Why, home of course. Grissom practically ordered me to get some sleep."
"Yeah? So why do I have a feeling you´re out to shopping?" Sara bit back.
"You spying on me?" Nick felt the anger arising, though secretly he had to acknowledge Sara´s 'detective abilities'.
"Well, if you wouldn´t feel the need to lie to me-"
"I wasn´t lying!" Nick protested fiercely. "What, do I need to ask you for permission to go out?"
"Of course not, Nick," Sara retorted, equally pissed. "But we are working on this case together. I would appreciate if you tell me about any news. So, what´s your plan?"
"I don´t have a plan," Nick relented. "Just thought I should talk with Brandon."
"Why? We heard out the kid, he lied to us, we left him be. No new informations."
"Exactly."
"What?" Sara tried to hide the irritation, not succesfully. Nick could practically see the hand clutching the phone in deathly grip, the other one on her side, her whole posture threatening. Nick´s lips turned upwards in a grin.
"Look, just let me talk with the guy and I will call you back."
Sara rolled her eyes, and moved her hand off her side, brushing it through her hair and wondered why was she even so pissed. Nick was a grown up and a good CSI - he wouldn´t do anything stupid. She snorted. Who was she kidding? In his recent state, Nick would probably be the first one to do something stupid.
"What about Grissom?" she spoke, hoping for a reaction.
"You threatening me?" Nick asked and Sara could hear the smile in his voice. She sighed.
"Tell him I get off, that´s all," Nick took pity on her.
"Call me when you finish."
"Aye, sir," Nick spoke and Sara once again rolled her eyes, turning off the cell.
Nick smirked, sliding the phone back to his pocket. It was fun talking to Sara, much easier than with the others. Catherine was still in her mother mode and although Nick appreciated the concern, he didn´t feel comfortable with it right now. Warrick was concerned just the same, but after their little talk he gave Nick more breathing room and at least tried not to fuss. With Grissom it was entirely different. The man was a complete mistery to Nick. Sometimes he managed to do things that made Nick stare with open mouth. Other times he appeared almost insensitive toward the emotions of the others around him. But the 'appeared' was the key word there. Nick was sure that his chief wasn´t that unemotional genius that he often seemed to be, but a caring man who just didn´t know how to express himself. Or feared to. But in the end, Nick wouldn´t want them any other way.
All thoughts set aside, Nick parked the car and walked to the small shop. The street was full of milling people and he had to push around a group of chattering school kids. He threw an encouraging smile at the teacher who was trying hard to get the group away from the shop with candies. She smiled back at him, but her attention was quickly averted and turned away, shouting at the nearest kid who was just trying to put a chewing gum into the hair of a girl. Nick smirked, remembering his own school years. He was still smiling when he opened the door to the shop, but there his smile froze and he instinctively grabbed for gun.
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A/N: Smirk. Okay, the action is starting. Be prepared for the following chapters, and pleeeease, don´t forget to write reviews.