NOTES: Once again, thanks for your reviews! Here's to Chapter 4 of "I Need To Know"! Though I'd spice things up a bit; enjoy!
It has been a week since Danny attempted to kiss Lindsay at her apartment. Lindsay kept replaying the scene in her head. It kept her up all night. She was glad that Nicole went back to California, partly because it meant that she won't have to endure another round of teasings from her. She was a bit sad though since she didn't have anyone to talk to. But she quickly brushed that thought away. She has a case to work on.
Lindsay was processing some evidence at the lab. She was peering into a microscope when a voice interrupted her. The voice belonged to Flack.
"Hey, how's the case going?" he asked, leaning on the doorframe.
"In circles," sighed Lindsay. "There's a missing piece to the case but I can't find it. It's driving me insane."
Flack laughed. "What you need is to clear your head. You've been working too hard, Lindsay. What do you say we go for lunch?"
"I'm not too sure, Flack," said Lindsay. "I mean, I have lots of work to do. Plus, I have to go back to the crime scene to talk to possible suspects."
"Nah, I insist. You're pushing yourself too hard. Even Mac says so. How about Danny? Isn't he working on the case too?"
Clunk. Lindsay's mouth suddenly went dry. "Ummm... he's over at DNA. Loads of work."
Flack gave her a puzzled look. "Alright. Come on, let's go for lunch. I'll even accompany you to the crime scene."
"In that case," said Lindsay, removing her lab coat. "Let's go. I'm in the mood for a Burger King burger."
AT BURGER KING...
"Woah, slow down," said Flack, laughing at Lindsay. The moment the burger arrived, she took a couple of huge bites out of it.
Lindsay swallowed and took a slurp out of her soft drink. "I'm hungry. Can you blame me for having a huge appetite?"
Flack just laughed. After half an hour, they walked out of Burger King together and were off to the crime scene. Flack was driving and Lindsay sat in the passanger seat, staring blankly out of the window. Flack seemed to have noticed that.
"Lindsay, if you don't mind me asking... what is up with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, ever since working on the case, you seem - how do I put this - lost."
Lindsay sighed. "I told you, it's a missing piece of the case."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"Mind you own business."
"C'mon, you can tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Why do you like to ask questions?"
"I'm a detective. It's my job to ask questions like that."
Lindsay gave a small laugh. "Oh alright. You see, Danny and I had a sort-of-date".
"Oooh..."
"Shut up. Anyway, I accidentally left my badge there and Danny brought it back for me at my apartment."
"Did anything happened to you two later?"
"Promise you won't laugh?"
"I promise."
"You swear?"
"I do. Now tell me! This is getting interesting."
"Well... he - he - ummm - "
"He attempted to kiss you?"
The surprised look on Lindsay's face confirned that Flack was right.
"You won't tell Mac?"
"No, of course not."
Lindsay smiled. "Thanks, Flack."
"No problem. We're near the crime scene."
They reached the strip bar. They got out and walked into the building. Loud music was blaring from the speakers and the room was oddly dark considering it's only lunchtime. Female strippers were dancing around poles. The owner, Mr. Swehir, noticed the CSI and the detective coming in.
"I thought I let you forensic investigators do your stuff here already," he said.
"Obviously, we, being human, may have missed some things. We're going to be interviewing people here again."
"Oh alright. Make sure you don't scare anyone off. They still don't know about Kelly."
"We'll try."
Mr. Swehir nodded at them and walked off. As Lindsay and Flack looked around for the staff, Lindsay noticed someone there. A man. With long, blonde hair. He looked young and on his right forearm was a tattoo. When he turned towards their direction, Lindsay recognized him straight away. She let out a small gasp.
"What?" asked Flack.
"I think I may have found a possible suspect."
"Who?"
"Him."
She marched over to the man. Even though she was more on the petite side, her courage made up for her lack in size. She stood behind the man and folded her arms across her chest. Flack quickly followed her. Everything was coming back to Lindsay. Every single memory with this man.
"James Hiller," she said loudly. The man turned around to face her. Both Lindsay and Flack noticed that there were scratch wounds on his face.
"Lindsay Monroe," he said.
"Wait," said Flack. "You two know each other?"
"Long story," said Lindsay, her eyes still on James.
"So how's being a cop, Monroe? Enjoying it?"
"None of your business. We're here to question you."
"You're coming to the crime lab," said Flack, cuffing James up. "C'mon, let's go."
IN THE INTERROGATION ROOM...
"Do you know this woman?" asked Lindsay, sliding a photo of Kelly Greenwood in front of James.
He wiped his nose and cleared his throat. "Nope. Never seen her."
"Don't lie, Hiller," said Flack, who was sitting next to Lindsay. "Your DNA was under her nails. And we confirmed that it was you who had sex with her in her dressing room."
Danny was watching from the outside the room. Somehow he had a feeling that this man was bad news.
"James, please coorperate with us."
He leaned in towards Lindsay. "No matter how many years have passed, you're still the same as ever; polite, sweet - " he leaned in to smell her. "You even smell the same."
Flack roughly pushed James back down. "Hey, watch it, smart ass!"
Danny felt like going in there and just putting James behind bars. He didn't know why but he felt as if it should be him there besides Lindsay.
"Answer the nice detective's question," said Flack. "Did you know Kelly Greenwood or not?"
"Fine. Sure, I did knew her. Met her last week. We just clicked, you know? She invited me to her dressing room and had a little... fun."
"Then did you murder her?" said Flack.
"Why would I murder her? She's not worth my time."
"We found your DNA under her nails; which means she must have fought back at you," said Lindsay.
"Alright, that's it!"
James pulled out a hunting knife out of his side pocket and grabbed Lindsay by the arm. He pulled her closer to him and positioned the knife just above her neck. Flack instantly got up and pulled out his gun. Danny wasn't sure what to do. He pulled out his gun and waited just in case James did something. He quickly took out his cell phone and called for back-up.
"Take it easy and we'll work everything out," said Flack. "Just put the knife down, let go of Lindsay and we'll sort everything out."
"No!" shouted James and put the knife even closer to Lindsay's throat.
Lindsay was whimpering and it broke Danny's heart to see her like this. He couldn't take it anymore. He went into the room, raising his gun. "Hiller! Let her go!"
"One more step and I'll slit her throat!"
By this time, Danny saw a trickle of blood slide down from Lindsay's neck to her shirt. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"Danny..." she whimpered.
He couldn't take it anymore. With his quick reflexes, he quickly ran towards James and took the knife out of his hand. Flack quickly cuffed James up. Back-up arrived and they, together with Flack, had to drag a stuggling James out of the room. Lindsay quickly ran into Danny's arms and let the tears fall.
"Danny," she sobbed. "I was so scared..."
He stroked her hair and rested his chin on her hair. "It's alright," he told her softly. "It's over. He's gone."
Lindsay continued to cry and he comforted her. His hugged her tightly.
She was safe.
To be continued...