ACID BATH

My apologies for typing the title in chapter 3 wrong. It is still "Acid Bath" not "Acid Rain". Thanks for all your input. I am pleased you are enjoying this. Keep looking for more in the future.

CHAPTER 4

Sarah and Catherine sat across the kitchen table from Janna as she poured coffee into their waiting cups. "Is there anything you can tell us," Catherine asked. "Something out of the ordinary, perhaps?"

"Yes," Janna said with a slight lisp, undetectable to the untrained ear, but the CSIs immediately noticed it. "There was a plumber." She began. "He came by about 3 o'clock. Said Miss Bree had demanded they come right away to fix a leak in her shower." She took in a shaky breath, tears welling in her eyes. "He was very persistent. I—I felt something wasn't right, but…" she wiped her eyes. "I was afraid she may have forgotten to tell me. She would have been quite unpleased if it wasn't done."

"Why didn't you call to verify," Sara asked.

Janna shrugged. "No time. She was in court and he insisted it was to be done before she got home."

"Were you afraid of what the judge might do if the work wasn't done," Catherine asked.

Janna nodded. "I was afraid she would fire me. Don't get me wrong. She's as nice woman and treats me fairly, but I haven't worked for her long and…"

The two women nodded. "Can you describe him to us?"

Janna thought for a moment. "I—I'm not sure. He was tall, about six feet?" She sighed. "Wore a plumber's uniform, cap and shades. I never got a good look at his face. He had it well covered."

"Any distinguishing features," Sara suggested, "birthmarks or tattoos?"

"Janna frowned, tears again streaming down her face. "I'm sorry. He was just a plumber," she shrugged. " Who pays attention?"

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

He sat on the front porch of his cabin, tinkering with a faulty carburetor. His long, thin fingers deftly probed around the part as his brown eyes registered each detail. With a sigh, he looked over at the old dune buggy. "Guess you've seen your best days." He tossed the carburetor into a box of spare parts.

The hot desert sun had awakened his thirst, so he rose and went inside for a cold beer. Popping the top, he flipped on the television with a remote. His eyes widened at the picture of the judge displayed on the screen. "The police are not giving any comment at this time as to the extent of her injuries," then newscaster announced. "Now, to other news…" A sinister grin crept over his face.

ssssssssssssssss

Nick Stokes walked into the lab where Warrick Brown leaned over a microscope. A scowl came over Warrick's face as he raised from the study. Nick's smile waned at the look on his partner's face. "No luck?"

"Not much," Warrick grumbled. "We did get one print off the envelope, but it's a partial. Don't know what good it'll do us. Then there's this," he pulled the paper from under the microscope.

Nick looked at the cut and paste job that had been done to form the words. "Now, why couldn't he have been a good boy and used a computer? Or better yet, handwritten it?"

"Yeah. At least we could trace that. This is standard newspaper print. Looks like the font used at the Sun. Standard notebook paper, too. You can buy this at any Wal-Mart store. Same with the envelope."

"What about DNA from the stamp or envelope?"

"Don't hold your breath. This guy's slick. He may have used a sponge or glue stick to seal that envelope. The stamp was probably self-adhesive. Most are these days."

"Yeah. Couldn't make our job easy, could he?"

"Maybe Cath and Sara have found something at the scene." Warrick nodded as they moved out of the lab.

ttttttttttttttttttttttt

Brass and Gil sat in the waiting area, heads leaned back against the wall. Gil's eyes were closed, but his mind was haunting him with his last sight of Bree. She couldn't die. Not now. She had so much to live for. That friend of hers she was always talking about, for one.

He suddenly sat upright. Had anyone notified him? Would he be coming? He jumped up and moved toward the outer door, waiting until he had cleared it before flipping open his cell phone.

"Where ya goin', Gil?" Brass called from behind him, then shrugged as the doors closed between them. "Guess you'll be back, huh?" He whispered, turning toward the nurses' station. With a sigh, he walked slowly to the nurse on duty. "Anything on her, yet," he asked for the hundredth time.

"Not yet. I promise, Detective, I'll tell you as soon as she comes around. She won't be allowed visitors, except for family, though."

"He is family." Brass nodded to the door as Gil came back through it.

"All right. Then, he'll be able to see her, but only for a few minutes. I'll let you know."

"Thanks."

uuuuuuuuuuuuu

The airplane touched down on the tarmac more quickly than he had expected. He must have dozed, because he didn't remember most of the flight. When the steward aroused him, he ran a hand through his short hair. "Las Vegas, sir," she smiled down at him.

Oh, yes, Las Vegas. It all came rushing back to him now. The phone call he had gotten…the urgency to get here to see what had happened to her. He couldn't just stay there and wait for a report. He had to see for himself.

He rose to his full height and moved out to the taxi stand after retrieving his bag. He grabbed the first available cab, folding himself into the tiny vehicle. "Where to, buddy," the driver asked.

"Spring Valley Hospital," he whispered, his heart tightening inside him at the thought of his friend in that place. "Make it as quickly as you can, please." He requested.

"Sure, buddy. Anything you say,"

He flipped on his phone and made the call, ignoring the cabby altogether.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Catherine flipped off her cell phone and pulled away from the desk as Sara and Nick came through the door. "Cath," Sara began excitedly. "We got a hit off AFIS on that partial. Right in town here."

Catherine took a look at the report on her way toward the door. "Okay, you and Nicky run with it. I have to get to the hospital."

"The hospital," Nick asked. "Has something happened?"

"He's in town."

"He—who?" Nick cocked an eyebrow.

"Her friend." Catherine said cryptically.

"Oh," Sara nodded. "The one from the picture. What does that have to do with you?"

"I think I better be there when he goes in. Gil might not be very well prepared for the meeting."

"But, you told him he was coming, didn't you?"

"Yeah, a while ago. He called to ask."

"Then…"

"Just go ahead. I'll meet you there when I can." She turned back to them. "Oh, and take Warrick with you, okay?"

"Sure," Sara said, slightly annoyed.

wwwwwwwwwww

The day at the cabin grew longer and longer as he waited for his friend to come with the money due him. He thought he would never get out of town at this rate. Pulling another beer out of the refrigerator, he sat down on the couch to enjoy the Gladiators game on the tube.

His cat jumped up on his lap, purring softly and grooming himself while they watched the game together. Finally at half time, a knock came on the door.

"Come in," he hollered. "It's about time you got here." He rose and smiled at his friend. "Want a beer?"

"Sure, why not." His friend answered as he went to the fridge for another one.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You can see her now, Mr. Grissom, but only for a minute or so." Brass stood to go in with him. "Just Mr. Grissom. He's family, right."

"Yes, I am, but I would like my friend to go in with me," Gil requested. "It'll be hard enough without having to go in alone."

The nurse sized up these men quickly and nodded. "But just a minute, as I said."

"Certainly." They said, stepping into the ICU unit room where Bree was lying, a tube down her throat and hooked up to a respirator, IV and heart monitor. Her face was partially covered by bandages, as was her left arm and leg. Gil put down his case and opened it, beginning to process her for evidence of any type. He gently combed her hair for particles and checked under her fingernails in case some slivers had gotten under them. He took pictures as Brass lifted the covers, trying not to attract the attention of the charge nurse.

"What are you doing," she bellowed from the hallway. "I thought you said you were family."

"I am," Gil said. "She's my cousin on my father's side." The nurse cocked a wary eyebrow at him. "But, I am also a CSI and we need this evidence." He tried to smile a little, but it only made him look sad. "Do you mind?" She held her place for a moment, then retreated.

As they finished processing her, Catherine stepped to the doorway. "Thought I'd find you here," she stated. "How is she, Gil?"

"Not well. She has pulmonary edema and has experienced cardiac arrhythmias. They brought her back at least once of which I am aware."

"So," a voice came from behind her. "What you're saying is that she still might…" he couldn't bring himself to say the word. He had told thousands of people that their loved ones had died, but when it came to talking about Bree…

"It's possible," Gil looked up from his cousin to see the tall, slender figure who had slipped into the doorway beside Catherine. Gil eyed him like. They looked like two tigers scoping each other out.

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Sara, Nick and Warrick stood behind the officers as they came to the door of the cabin in the desert outside Las Vegas. The old dune buggy in the yard was the only sign there might be life around the place. When they were all in place, the lead officer hollered, "Police," and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, the officers took a battering ram to the door, breaking it off its hinges.

Sara, Nick and Warrick entered the cabin as the officers cleared each room. A strong odor came up to sting their nostrils, so they held their hands over their mouths. "Mister Fontaine," Nick called. "Las Vegas PD. Come on out." He moved to an unopened door, slowly turning the doorknob. "Be careful," he told himself. "He could be just inside waiting to pounce."

As he shoved open the door, the pungent odor inside assaulted his senses. "Ugh!" he backed away, then the three CSIs together looked inside the bathroom. "Well, this is definitely the source of the odor," Nick said.

Sara pushed through to the bathtub, pulling back the curtain to find him. "Well, he's not going anywhere." She said.

TBC

So, do you know who the mysterious friend is yet? If you can guess, email me and let me know.