Chapter 3
It was only yesterday that the team had started on this case. Alice Kenner was a suspect in a hit-and-run case where and old lady was hit by an SUV. Several witnesses had seen a silver- metallic SUV and one of them could even remember a part of the number plate. All evidence had let her and Catherine to 6 SUV's in Las Vegas that matched the description and the part of the number plate.
Brass had found out 2 of those SUV's were owned by a small service company and had been nowhere near the accident site. 2 others were rental-cars that had been in the company's garage during the accident. That left them two SUV's to find.
After some computer-searching Brass had found both owners and their cars. The first place they visited was of a Mr. Brandz, fifty years of age, clothed in an expensive suit and dark rimmed glasses framed his round face. He was a real estate agent and his office had done great business last months.
"Mr Brandz, I'm Captain Jim Brass, I'm with the Las Vegas PD." He flashed his badge and then pointed over his shoulder towards the two women standing behind him. "These are Catherine Willows and Sara Sidle, they're with the crime lab. We would like to ask you some questions"
The man stepped aside and let the three of them enter. After closing the door he led them to the living room. He sat down in a large armchair near the large window at the backside of the room. Catherine took place on the couch opposite the chair and Sara and Brass both stood behind her.
"Mr Brandz, where were you two nights ago between eight and ten pm?" Sara asked impatiently, wanting to know if they were on the right track. Was he the bastard that had fled after hitting an old lady with his car, leaving her to die? She knew she shouldn't let her emotions interfere with the job, but she couldn't help it.
"What? Why is that any of your business?" He started
"Got something to hide, Mr Brandz? Brass asked
"I was in my office if you must know, working on a last-minute sale. Big costumer, big money. It was worth the overtime."
Catherine could feel Sara's hand grab the back cushion of the couch in a death-grip, and threw a look over her shoulder and saw Sara's impatience build up and before it would escalate in something worse she took over.
"Mr Brandz, we're investigating a hit-and-run. There were several eyewitnesses that saw an SUV that matches yours. You could help yourself by letting us have a look at your car." Catherine said.
"Don't you need a warrant for that?" Brandz asked.
"Only if you are not willing to cooperate. But if you're as innocent as you say you are, why not help us out now. Saves a lot of time." Brass told him.
"Knock yourself out" he said while throwing the keys on the coffee table in the middle of the room. "It's at the back. Be careful with my baby"
"Don't worry we'll treat her with all the respect she deserves." Sara said as she took a step towards the table and picked up the keys, giving the man a fake smile and walking out of the room.
"Oh, Mr Brandz?" Catherine asked as she stood up from the couch "who has access to your car?"
"It's my car, and I'm the only one that drives in it" he said. He seemed to get more and more frustrated from all the questions asked.
While Brass stayed with Mr Brandz, Catherine went over to the Tahoe where Sara stood at the back to collect their kits.
"Sara? Are you ok?" Catherine asked. Sara had stood at the back of the Tahoe without opening the back nor taking out their kits.
Opening the back of the Tahoe Catherine looked over at Sara who still didn't answer.
"Sara?" she tried one more time.
"huh… sorry I was thinking about something. What did you say?" she said, feeling a little embarrassed being caught off guard.
"Were you thinking about the case? Did you see something inside?" Catherine asked interested in Sara's thoughts.
Sara's face flushed a little. She averted her eyes hoping Catherine wouldn't notice. She couldn't tell her the truth. She couldn't tell her it was her she had been thinking about –or rather the fact that the two of them had to work on that SUV together. Working with her in such a confined space she would have to use all her strength to focus on the job at hand.
Feeling Catherine's eyes still on her –and realizing she hadn't answered yet- she remembered the question asked.
"That man works on my nerves. Don't tell Grissom I said this, but I've got the feeling something's wrong. I'm not sure what it is, but he's hiding something" she said.
"Stop the presses. Sara Sidle listening to her guts in stead of the evidence?" Catherine kidded, but then continued in a more serious tone "That's so not like you. Are you sure?"
"No, that's why it's called a hunch" Sara answered sarcastically.
Taking out the two kits and offering one to Sara, Catherine said "Well, let's go check that SUV and we'll know soon enough what he's hiding."
With a big sigh Sara took her kit out of Catherine's hands and headed of towards the back of the house where the car was parked.