Disclaimer: Don't own any of the CSI characters however Lucy and Grace are my characters.
Authors Note: Ok so I guess I posted both chapters slightly earlier than I said, I hope you all don't mind. Anyways please review as I said in the first chapter it makes my day! Thanks.
A Killers Prerogative!
"Hey Brass," said Grissom into his phone.
"Nicky called there's been a kidnapping at Adventure World."
"I'll meet you there," said Jim closing his phone.
Grissom headed to the breakroom where Catherine had just poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Catherine.
"We need to go to Adventure World," said Grissom starting to head out of the door.
"You're kidding right?"
"Nope, grab Warrick."
Catherine put her coffee cup on the table and left in search of Warrick, as she headed towards the locker room, Warrick was heading out.
"Slow down, you might want to go back in and grab your kit, Grissom wants us at Adventure World," said Catherine.
"Man, I wanted some sleep," said Warrick heading back in.
"Don't we all!" called Catherine.
Once Warrick had collected his kit, he and Catherine made their way to Adventure World.
"Grissom, what's going on?" asked Catherine standing beside him just outside the front entrance.
"Nick called in and said there has been a child kidnapped."
"Nick? At Adventure World?" asked Warrick confused.
"He has become so weird," said Catherine.
"Hi guys," said Sara walking up behind them.
"Now we're all here lets get going," said Grissom walking to the door. He knocked twice.
"How can I help you?" asked a faint voice from inside.
"My name is Gil Grissom from the Las Vegas crime lab."
The door opened and they all stepped inside, they were greeted by a crowd of scared people and Nick heading towards them.
"Hey Nick twice in two days," said Warrick with a hint of sarcasm.
"Don't start man, the missing child is a girl, four years old blonde hair and her name is Grace," said Nick looking at them all.
"Nick do you know where the little girl was last seen?" asked Grissom looking around.
"Yeah she was in the ball pond."
"Ok thanks Nick," said Grissom, "Sara, Warrick I want you guys to take a look around Catherine…"
"I know talk to the staff and customers."
Sara and Warrick slipped on their latex gloves and headed over to the arcade games, they looked around collecting the evidence and then headed back over to Grissom.
"Grissom we found this," said Sara holding up the clear bag with a light pink cardigan in it.
"Oh my god," said Nick looking around.
"No!" yelled Lucy running over to where they were still standing.
Nick grabbed Lucy and held her back, she was inconsolable and Nick held her tight against his chest, she seemed to calm down but all that could be heard were sobs.
"Officer could you please take this lady and keep her calm please," asked Grissom. The officer came over and Lucy went with him still in tears.
"Nick isn't that the same girl you were with in the desert, yesterday?" asked Warrick.
"Yeah she is, ok you'll need to know that the little girl that's missing she's mine and Lucy's daughter. I was supposed to take her to playgroup this morning and I had to pull a double she was really upset, that's why I asked to take the rest of the day off, so I could spend some time with them," said Nick placing his left hand on his forehead, "we took our eyes off her for a second not even that and she was gone, that's everything."
"Ok, Nick go and sit with Lucy and everything you just told me tell Catherine and we will do everything to find Grace," said Grissom.
"Thanks," said Nick walking over and sitting with Lucy who was still in tears, he hugged her and was whispering in her ear, Grissom watched him while Sara and Warrick continued collecting the evidence. While Grissom was watching Nick he could see that he looked more at ease with Lucy than he did at work like he didn't have to be anyone but himself.
Catherine was still working her way through all the scared families with Brass taking their statements from the afternoon's events, Sara and Warrick had continued to collect anything they thought to be evidence. Grissom still stood staring at Nick seeing the pain in his eyes, all Grissom wanted to do was unite Nick with his little girl. He walked round to find Sara and Warrick.
"Sara, Warrick, take what you've collected back to the lab," said Grissom sternly.
"But Griss…" started Warrick.
"No buts, Warrick I want that little girl back with her family."
"Ok sure," said Sara putting her hand on Warrick's shoulder.
"Thank you," said Grissom walking away.
"What's his problem?" asked Warrick looking at Sara while walking towards the entrance of the building.
"He just wants to see that Nick gets his daughter back," said Sara opening the door and heading out to her Tahoe.
"Yeah I know but he didn't have to be short with us."
"Cases with children involved always effect Grissom, just like the rest of us," said Sara climbing in the drivers seat with Warrick in the passenger side.
Sara drove herself and Warrick to the crime lab where they logged in the evidence and started processing.
Back at Adventure World Lucy still sat close to Nick and was crying into his shoulder. Catherine stood in front of him and he looked up at her.
"Hey Cath," said Nick.
"Hey, can you tell me what happened?" asked Catherine sitting down next to one of her best friends, she couldn't even begin to imagine what he was going through especially since she had a daughter of her own.
"Well I bought Grace here so she could play and I thought it would be a nice treat her since I'm hardly around, we took our eyes off her for a second if that and she was gone."
Nick looked down at Lucy and kissed her on top of her head.
"Ok can you tell me where she was before she went missing?"
"She was in the ball pond."
"Ok, so now I'm asking off the record, why didn't you ever tell us about Grace?" asked Catherine.
"I was going to but I never got a chance and this is really not how I wanted you all to find out but hey you know now," said Nick his eyes full of upset and pain.
Catherine stood up and headed towards Grissom.
"Hey," said Grissom looking at the expression on Catherine's face, "what's wrong?"
"Did you know about Nick having a daughter?" she asked looking at him as if reading his mind in case he was lying.
"No I just found out."
"Well we can grill him later about his double life right now we need to find his daughter Grace," said Grissom smiling slightly.
"Yeah I know, I'm gonna go through all the statements with Brass, call me with updates," she said walking away.
"Will do!" called Grissom. He watched as she headed out of Adventure World with Brass not far behind her.
Somewhere near the desert sat a house, it had started to get darker and in the basement of this old house sat a little girl scared of what was going on.
"I want my mummy and my daddy!" she called crying at the sound of her own voice echoing back to her, "mummy, daddy help me!" Grace was screaming louder with every cry of help.
"Shut up you little brat!" yelled a man rushing into the basement, not that anyone could hear her he was just trying to watch T.V. Grace cowered away in the corner of the dark basement, she missed her family and her bright happy room.
"Thank you finally some peace, no one is gonna hear you little girl," said the man walking closer to her, "you want me to tell you why you're hear? Well it all started when I killed some poor bloke only I claimed I never did anyway your daddy was the man who helped the police put me in jail and I had to suffer and go through hell, so I thought I'd repay your daddy by taking you, it sounds fair, don't you think?"
Grace still cowered in the corner and whimpered a little even though she didn't fully understand what the man was saying she knew he was a bad man.
The man walked out of the room and left the little girl alone again. Grace sat there on the cold hard floor wondering if anyone in fact was coming to look for her, she secretly prayed they would she needed to see them and hug them.
"Please mummy, daddy come find me," Grace whispered quietly to herself.
Back in the louder part of Las Vegas Sara and Warrick were still processing the evidence.
"Sar?" asked Warrick looking in her direction she lifted her head from what she was working on, "don't you think its strange, all those children in that place and he chooses Grace," Warrick continued.
"I know what you mean Warrick, but how can we prove Grace was the target?" asked Sara.
"Maybe Grace wasn't the target."
"So you're saying that maybe Lucy or Nick were the intended target," said Sara watching Warrick who was concentrating really hard.
"What does Lucy do for a living?" asked Warrick who was looking at Sara with hope that she knew.
"I don't know, we don't know anything about her, but Nick has put many people in jail, one of them might be involved, you know this is just a hunch though, right?" said Sara.
"I know, but while we're waiting for results lets look through Nick's old cases, see what we can find."
Warrick and Sara stood up and went in search of the files in which Nick had assisted in putting the guilty in jail.
"Nick we need to find our baby," pleaded Lucy.
"I know baby, I know, everyone is doing their best to find her," said Nick trying to reassure his girlfriend.
"She needs to be at home with us," Lucy said starting to cry.
Nick held her close again and comforted her. A phone at Adventure World started to ring Lucy and Nick both looked towards Grissom.
"Grissom," he said into the receiver.
"All the statements are mainly the same," said Catherine on the other end of the phone.
"So what does it mean Catherine?" asked Grissom.
"Nobody saw anything."
"Thanks."
Grissom walked over to all the witnesses who had agreed to voluntarily stay.
"I know you're all tired and you want to go home and I can now tell you that you can."
A big sigh of relief washed over the faces of everyone except Nick who knew what that meant.
Everyone started collecting their things from the floor but kept hold of their children.
"Could I please ask you to leave calmly but quickly," said Grissom, "the officers will help, thank you for all your cooperation."
Everyone walked to the doors and the officers helped get everyone out safely. Lucy was the only one left seated by this time and Nick was standing next to Grissom.
"They haven't found anything have they?" asked Nick.
"Not yet but it doesn't mean they won't," said Grissom trying to reassure Nick.
"Grissom I know the procedure don't try to tell me that they are doing everything because I know they are, but you can only find so much evidence," said Nick looking towards Lucy who had broken down into tears again.
At the crime lab Warrick and Sara were looking through Nick's old cases.
"Got it," said Sara looking up at Warrick.
"What do you mean?" asked Warrick.
"Murder case, guy found guilty sent to jail for life, escaped three days ago," said Sara reading form the file.
Catherine poked her head in the doorway, "what you guys up to?"
"Finding evidence in Nick's old cases," said Warrick looking at Catherine.
"Anything interesting?"
"Funny you should say that," began Sara, "murder case and the guy escaped three days ago." Sara gave the file to Catherine and she took it from her.
Catherine took one glance at the file and walked out while taking her phone from her pocket.
"Brass we may have a lead get Grissom to the lab."
Sara and Warrick followed her to the layout room. The three of them looked over the evidence they had so far. Grissom had sent Nick and Lucy home and got to the lab as soon as he could, he met Sara, Warrick, Catherine and Jim in the layout room. Once there they all looked at the evidence and discussed what they had found.
"So what have we got?" asked Grissom looking round the table.
"Well Sara and Warrick had the thought of looking through some of Nick's old cases," began Catherine looking at Sara and Warrick.
"We found that one of the murder cases he worked on the guy they convicted escaped three days ago from jail, so possibly a suspect," said Sara looking at Grissom who was listening to what she had to say.
"OK so do we have any information on this guy?" asked Grissom looking round the table again.
"I'm going to work on it now," said Brass heading out of the layout room.
"Someone needs to tell Nick," said Warrick.
"I will," said Catherine, "I need to pick up Lynsey anyway so I'll take her with me."
"Ok we'll keep you updated if we find anything," said Grissom.
Catherine walked out of the layout room and headed towards the parking lot.
"Catherine!" called Sara running down the corridor, "Catherine, could you tell Nick that we're all thinking of him and Lucy."
"Will do but I'm sure he knows," said Catherine heading out of the door.
She climbed into her black SUV and drove to the babysitters house, when she arrived she walked up to the door.
"Hi, is Lynsey ready I've got to go see one of my colleagues so I can't stay long," said Catherine apologetically.
"Lynsey!" the babysitter called, "your mum's here."
"Mummy!" called Lynsey.
"Hey baby!" said Catherine picking Lynsey up.
"Thanks for looking after her Mrs Jones."
"No problem Catherine anytime, well bye Lynsey see you soon."
"Bye Mrs Jones," said Lynsey sweetly.
Catherine gave Mrs Jones the necessary payment for looking after Lynsey and headed out to her SUV, she strapped Lynsey into her booster seat.
"Are we going home mummy?"
"No sweetie we're going to see Nick."
"Yay!" cheered the little girl.
"Well listen baby I need to tell you a few things first," said Catherine, "Nick is a bit upset at the moment."
"Why is Nick upset?" asked the little girl.
"Well Nick has got a girlfriend and a little girl but his little girl called Grace has been taken by a bad person," said Catherine trying to explain the situation to Lynsey.
"So Grace has been taken by someone," said Lynsey.
"Yes baby, but try not to mention that to Nick."
"Ok, mummy can Grace be my new friend when she gets home?"
"I'm sure she will be baby."
Catherine parked her SUV outside Nick's apartment and helped Lynsey out of her booster seat. Catherine took hold of Lynsey's hand and they walked up to Nick's front door, Catherine let Lynsey knock on the door.
Nick walked to his front door and opened it to find Catherine and Lynsey who was staring up at him.
"Hiya Lynsey," said Nick picking up the little girl.
"Hi Nick," said Lynsey giving him a tight squeeze.
"Come in Cath, Lucy is in Grace's room, she cried herself to sleep," said Nick letting Catherine into his apartment.
"We're not going to stay long, I just wanted to let you know that we have a lead and we are pursuing it as we speak, everyone sends their love and to let you know that we are doing everything we can to find her," said Catherine sitting on the sofa.
"Thanks Cath," said Nick sitting down with Lynsey on his lap, "so Lynsey do you know about Grace?"
"Yes I know about Grace, can I see a picture of her please?" asked Lynsey looking up at Nick.
"Of course you can here you go," said Nick reaching for a picture on the side table and giving it to Lynsey.
"She pretty," said the little girl.
"Let me see," said Catherine holding her hand out for the picture.
Lynsey gave her mum the picture and Catherine looked closely at the little girl.
"She looks just like you, she's got your smile," said Catherine.
"Nick will Grace be my friend?" asked Lynsey as she turned in Nick's lap to face him.
"I'm sure she will," he smiled, that's all he could do without breaking down into tears.
"Well," said Catherine placing the picture back on the side table, "I came here to tell you about the lead, but we should get going."
"Of course thanks for coming over," said Nick showing Catherine and Lynsey to the door.
"Bye Nick!" shouted Lynsey running down to Catherine's car while waving.
"Bye Nick," said Catherine giving him a hug.
"Bye Cath, thanks again."
Catherine walked to her car and helped Lynsey into her booster seat. Nick went back inside his apartment only to be greeted by Lucy with a masked person holding a gun to her head.
"Nick," whimpered Lucy.
"Lucy," said Nick taking a step towards her.
"Stay where you are!" yelled the person behind the mask.
"Ok, look what do you want?" asked Nick looking at Lucy who was terrified.
"What do I want? I want you to suffer!"
"The take it out on me not her," said Nick looking straight at the person in the mask.
"I could do that but this is much more fun," said the person with a chuckle in his voice.
"You've got my daughter, haven't you?" Nick's voice was very loud all of a sudden.
"You are not in a position to ask me questions now I want you to do as I say."
"What's that then?"
The man told Nick exactly what he need to do. Nick left his apartment and headed to the crime lab.
"Hey Nicky what are you doing here?" asked Sara looking at him confused.
Just then everyone else entered the breakroom.
"I'm glad you're here," said Nick slightly nervous.
"What's wrong?" asked Sara concerned for her friend.
"I want you to stop looking for Grace."
"You want us to what?" exclaimed Catherine as she entered the room, from dropping Lynsey at her mothers house.
"Look Catherine after you left the kidnapper had Lucy at gunpoint, you can't go and find Grace or he will kill them both," said Nick looking around the room.
"I've got some good news!" said Greg walking into the breakroom holding a piece of paper.
"Not now Greg!" yelled Catherine.
"I've got a match and an address," he said giving Grissom the piece of paper. Grissom read the piece of paper and handed it to Nick. Everyone looked at Nick who couldn't take his eyes off the paper.
"It's up to you Nick what do you want to do?" asked Grissom looking at him.
"I want to go," said Nick.
"Ok, lets go," said Grissom.
"Alone, I need to go alone, but I'll call if I need assistance."
"Nick you know you can't do that," said Grissom, "it's not how it works."
"I know how it works Grissom I do work here, look if all of us turn up he'll feel threatened and maybe hurt them I can't risk that, but I will call if I need assistance."
"Ok fine, but you call if things get out of hand."
"Thank you," said Nick rushing out the breakroom door and back to the parking lot. He jumped into his car and drove to his location. He pulled up outside the house and got out of his car, he headed up to the door and knocked twice. The kidnapper opened the door and ushered Nick inside, checking for other police cars before closing the door.
"Where are Lucy and Grace?" asked Nick.
The kidnapper pulled out a knife and lunged at Nick. The knife plunged into Nick's chest and he fell to the floor. The kidnapper took hold of Nick's feet and dragged him to where Grace had been kept.
"Daddy!" called the little girl running to her dad.
"Ba…by," said Nick stammering on his words.
"Daddy what happened? I'm scared," said the little girl quietly.
"I know…baby…I know you're scared," said Nick, "where's mummy?"
"Mummy's not here daddy."
"Grace…I need you…to be brave…and I need you…to get my phone."
The little girl took her dad's phone out of his pocket and gave it to him. Nick fumbled with his phone until he found the number he was looking for.
"This is Grissom's number…who daddy works with…I need you to talk to him."
"Ok daddy." Grace took the phone and held it to her ear.
"Hello," said Grissom.
"Hi, this is Grace, daddy's hurt and mummy's not here, please help," said Grace quietly into the phone.
"Ok sweetie, we'll be there as soon as we can," said Grissom.
Grace put the phone back in her dad's pocket.
"Nick!" called Lucy as she was forced into the room.
"Mummy!" called the little girl.
"Baby!" Lucy picked up her little girl and headed over to Nick, "baby can you hear me?" said Lucy.
"Awww how sweet, but Lucy you have to stay over here and watch your family suffer," said the kidnapper dragging her back by her arm, the little girl jumped down and went and hid.
"Police!" called Jim Brass holding his gun out with the police squad behind him.
"Shit!" said the kidnapper dragging Lucy into a corner.
Jim and the police squad as well as Grissom, Catherine, Warrick and Sara entered the basement.
"Take one more step and she dies," said the kidnapper pulling Lucy out of the dark with the gun to her head.
"Mummy!" called the little girl running out of her hiding place.
The kidnapper pushed Lucy away and pointed his gun at Grace.
"No!" screamed Lucy.
Nick was drifting in and out of consciousness but the last thing he heard was two gunshots before he completely blacked out.