A/N: I apologize most psychotically and profusely for taking my sweet time about updating. I was having a little trouble with this chapter and it took a while to clear everything up. The thing is, chapters may still be slow in coming. I've had to do some refining of the outline, including adding some stuff, so it's getting rather tricky. But not to worry, it's because I'm nearing the good stuff and preparing for it that I'm being so slow.

Ch. 14

" So remember, if they ask, we never heard of a guy named Danny Messer," Flack said as he let Lindsey – her kit in one hand - lead the way to the back of Cassio's via a wide alley.

Lindsey looked at the tall detective and raised her eyebrows incredulously. " Do you really think they'd believe that? From what you told me, it sounds like these people know everything there is to know about Danny. Plus I'm fairly certain that someone spotted him and me coming this way."

" Probably. But it's a lot safer than saying right off the bat who fingered this place, especially if we find something." Flack then grinned. " No harm in playing a little pretend. Our boy's going through enough crap."

Lindsey twisted her mouth in a small grimace. " It was so weird the way he reacted. It scared the crap out of me. I mean I thought he was being delirious. These people are really after him?"

Flack sucked air through his teeth. " Weeellll, um, Mac was kind of sketchy about the details. Like I told you, it's mostly all a legal thing. Authorities are out to get these Quinn guys, and since someone in Danny's family is involved, he's involved. Mac said there was a possibility that Danny might be targeted for some bad stuff, but nothing really life-threatening. I don't know, Mac wouldn't go into it, he just wanted me aware of the situation, and you if these guys are the ones we want. Hope they're the ones we want."

" Don't hold your breath."

They were fortunate enough to have scrounged up a warrant that at least allowed them a peek at the delivery vehicles the restaurant used. After taking Danny back to speak with Mac, Lindsey had returned with Hawkes to check out the menus and talk to the maitre'd. Lindsey, to her amusement, had ended up using Danny's wedding reception tactic to get the head waiter to talk, and talk he did. The man had launched into a full-blown brag about how both fresh and safe their food was. They had their own warehouse where food was kept, and employed their own trucks so they could keep a personal eye on the delivery process without the hassle of trying to find the right delivery service. It was why Cassio's was so popular (as well as psychotically expensive, but like the maitre'd was going to say that. The menus had said enough.)

Lindsey still didn't know how a warrant was managed. They were going mostly by here-say, and the only real evidence they had was the sea-food found on the vic and a menu mentioning the very fish she and Danny had processed. Flack had said that the judge who had issued the warrant tended to be on the lenient side. Since they were only going in to check out the trucks – which didn't require a scene to be made and a complaint to be lodged later on by the establishment's owner – the judge found no reason to hold back a warrant. Even if nothing was uncovered, no harm no foul.

" I'm thinkin' judge Halley knows about this whole 'Feds goin' after the Quinns' thing. That's why he signed the warrant," Flack said as though snatching a peek at Lindsey's thoughts. Either that, or he was still trying to fathom it himself. Flack might have been aware of the judge's open-mindedness, but that didn't mean he always understood it.

" Makes sense, actually," Lindsey replied. " I'm surprised that we weren't told to hand this case over to the FBI."

Flack kicked a can that went skittering down the alley. They could hear shouts and the rumble of trucks resounding down the wide back-street. It was like stepping into another world, or in the case of New York another part of town. They had gone from ritzy to blue-collar just by walking between a couple of buildings. A truck began backing out from between where Cassio's ended and a fence began. The truck turned so the back end was facing Flack and Lindsey, then pulled forward to exit out the other end of the alley.

" Hope that's not the one we wanted," Flack said. " And the Feds wouldn't take over our case. We don't have anything to connect the Quinns to Gerrard's death."

" True."

They angled toward the driveway the ruck had just pulled out of, and entered a small delivery yard. On the right were more trucks parked in an angled row, one of which had its back-end open and people going in and out with dollies, hefting then wheeling crates and boxes from the truck to the restaurant.

" Well," Flack said when he and Lindsey stopped to study the trucks. " Have fun. I'll be standing guard, waiting to flash the warrant in case anyone gets nosy, mouthy, or more likely both."

Lindsey smirked. " Or we could just keep playing pretend and say we're from the health department. That should get people to back off pretty quick."

Flack chuckled. " Maybe I'll try it, see what works better."

Lindsey moved off to the right and the nearest truck. She doubled over and stayed like that as she moved along the row slowly while scrutinizing the tires. To some, it might have seemed like a long shot for her to find anything incriminating, and she was inclined to agree. However, she did have one advantage. The shipping yard wasn't paved, it was all dirt, and junkyards tended to be the same way. Even packed dirt still found its way in tread, and with a city that was mostly cement and concrete, there wouldn't be too many vehicles with dirt in the tires.

The second long shot was one of these particular trucks having dirt stuck in the tread.

" Hey, lady. You need help with something?"

Lindsey looked up at the man wearing a heavy jean coat and black cap, rocking the empty dolley he was pushing up the ramp. Lindsey just smiled at him.

" Just inspecting."

" You from some truck inspection company or something?"

Lindsey continued to smile. " Maybe."

The man sniffed, then nodded. " Well, I can tell you now, we keep these trucks maintained. It'd be our ass on the line if we didn't"

" Glad you're keeping that in mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm checking for visible tire damage."

The man nodded stiffly, then continued on into the truck.

Lindsey was starting to understand the pleasure Danny must get from being manipulative. She continued on with her 'inspection', moving around to the front of the trucks. She paused before the truck three trucks in, and crouched by the left-hand tire, setting her kit next to her feet. Her lips gradually turned up in another grin.

" Now this looks promising."

A foot-length of dirt was packed in two treads of the tire. " So how does a truck that only drives on paved roads attract so much mud?" She opened her kit and pulled out a scalpel and a circle of paper. She scraped the dirt from the tread where it landed on the paper in a thumb-nail sized pile. She then folded the paper in half, pulled out a small envelope, and dumped the dirt inside. She did the same to the second tread, getting as many samples as she could. When she was done, she closed up her kit and finished her perusal of the tires just to make sure.

On reappearing from around the last truck and approaching Flack, she couldn't hold back another grin.

" By that look alone you don't have to say it," Flack said. " You found something."

" Possibly, and I mean very possibly. I just need to do a little chemistry magic, then we'll see. I will say this much, though. One of those trucks didn't go its regular route."

CSINY

Mac kept to the side of the steps leading up to the Federal Court House with his hands hidden in the pockets of his coat to keep his fingertips from going numb. The lingering cloud of his breath kept veiling his view of the doors, which was an annoyance but not a hindrance. The person he was waiting for would be the one doing the searching out, not Mac. Still, Mac had never been partial to being taken by surprise.

The right phone calls to the right people had brought him to this place in this moment in time. His knowledge of the case against the Quinns wasn't as thorough as it probably should have been, but had been enough to put him in a quandary.

Lindsey's discovery of oil-ladened dirt in the tread of a Quinn-owned truck had officially put the Quinns on the department's radar. If the Quinns did have anything to do with Gerrard's death, then that meant one more case for the Feds to use against the family.

It was all still circumstantial, but according to protocol the people heading the Quinn prosecution needed to be privy to the information. However, because it was still circumstantial, Mac still had the authority to withhold the info if he felt like it, and he was leaning toward feeling like it. Chances were, the FBI would want to take over the Gerrard case, and Mac didn't quite feel like handing it over.

Plus, There was the possibility of using the case to help Danny in his situation with his father.

It wasn't really in Mac's nature to go against protocol, but considering that lives might be at stake, Mac found himself ready to bend a few rules if necessary. But only if necessary, when an alternative could not be found.

" Detective Taylor?"

Mac looked up to see Agent Stevenson heading down the concrete steps of the building, his own breath clouding his face.

" Agent Stevenson," Mac said. The agent stopped in front of Mac.

" Couldn't keep his mouth shut, could he?" Stevenson said.

Annoyance buzzed through Mac's nerves, and he shifted. " If we're talking about Danny Messer, I would have to disagree. He did a pretty damn good job of not saying what he wasn't supposed to. I filled in the blanks myself."

Stevenson's face was unreadable. " Why?"

Mac wasn't ready to go into details, and his reluctance increased. " Because one of my CSIs is being put through hell and I wanted to know why. I also want to know why I wasn't informed about this trial. Yes, Danny's involvement is minimal, but that doesn't set aside the fact that as is supervisor I needed to be aware of the situation should cases involving any of the accused or witnesses pops up so that Danny can be removed from those cases."

" Detective Taylor," Stevenson began. " Danny wasn't even supposed to know. You said his involvement is minimal – well, it's supposed to be non-existent. You can thank his father for pulling him in..."

At this, annoyance began wreaking havoc through Mac. He had to avert his gaze to the ground and regather his composure before speaking again.

" Agent Stevenson," and he looked back up at the agent, " I've worked cases where a Quinn was suspect. I know what they're like. I know what Danny's father did was done in an act to protect his son. I know that the Quinns are probably going to use – or are even now using – Danny as a bargaining chip to keep his father quiet. I really shouldn't have to be telling you this, and it disturbs me that I am. I know you know the danger Danny is in, and the fact that the only protection you offered was witness protection isn't exactly sitting well with me."

Stevenson sniffed. " Messer made his choice, and so did his dad."

" And so you left it at that? Witness protection or nothing?"

Stevenson shrugged. " Danny Messer's a big boy. He can take care of himself."

Mac's anger was inevitable, and difficult to stem. He took a step closer to the agent, staring him right in the eyes. Stevenson seemed to find it amusing, and a small smile twitched the corner of his lips.

" Agent Stevenson," Mac said flatly, " I sincerely hope you were making a joke. Not that long ago, Danny was nearly killed in a hit and run, spent a month in the hospital because of infection, and is still in the process of recovery, so he's not exactly up to having to defend himself against people who know how not to be caught. And even healthy he still shouldn't have to. And I find it surprising that you would be naïve enough to think that Danny's father wouldn't warn him about what's going on. You seem to be unaware of quite a bit in this situation, agent Stevenson."

Stevenson frowned and glared at Mac. " I know what I need to know, and I'm doing what I can. What the hell is it you want from me anyways?"

" A little more consideration for your supposed witness and his son."

Stevenson let loose a bitter half-laugh. " Witness? The guy won't talk, he's refusing to take the stand. And for that reason, neither him or his family are my responsibility. He made his choice, they both did. Therefore, my hands are tied."

Mac debated on whether to mention the threat made against Calvin Messer – talk or jail. But Mac knew right off it would be a wasted breath. Stevenson would get pissed, blame Mac's knowledge of the blackmail on Danny, then just brush it aside like it was old news. Besides, Mac had what he needed – a decision. He was going to hold off on telling the Fed about Gerrard, just until more could be discovered and a more solid case could be formed against the Quinns; or at least one of the Quinns.

It would be Mac's own bargaining chip should things get really bad, or sooner.

" Anything else you wanted to ask or tell me about detective?" Stevenson said. " Because if not, I've got places to be."

Stevenson turned, about to leave.

" One question," Mac said. Stevenson stopped and turned.

" What?"

Mac knew he was taking a small risk, but instinct was pushing him and a gut feeling was telling him that it might be worth it. And he did, on occasion, placate to the needs of gut-feelings. " The name Gerrard sound familiar to you? We're working a case with a vic by that name."

Stevenson smirked. " Is that what happened to the little SOB? Rumor had it he got whacked. No surprise. The guy had a big mouth."

Mac narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. " You mean he was a snitch?"

" Sometimes – when he got something out of it. I wouldn't waste your time trying to find out who killed him. Guy's like him, they die taking all the answers to the grave. Everyone and their grandma wanted a piece of him."

" So I gathered," Mac murmured. " Did he ever rat to the Feds?"

" Yeah, and whoever else would listen. Like I said, he only opened his mouth when there was a profit in it." The agent then ended the conversation by turning his back and walking away.

Mac watched him go, content and even a little vindictive about with holding the Gerrard case from the agent. The man didn't deserve to know. Other agents, prosecutors – yes, but not Stevenson.

At least Mac had what he came for. If Gerrard had snitched on a Quinn, then his new residence at the morgue had been fated.

CSINY

A/N: (cringe) sorry for the lack of Danny in this chapter, and for it's shortness. He'll be in the next chapter, I promise. And further Danny abuse is forthcoming. Lots and lots of abuse. Be patient, pretty please?