My apologies for taking so long to get the next installment to you. I have been working and haven't had much time. I think I also had a small writer's block going. Hopefully, this chapter will get me back on the right track. Enjoy.
ACID BATH
CHAPTER 10
The elevator ride to the ICU was uncomfortable in more ways than one for Sara. She had met Warrick on the way to the elevator, and they rode up together, along with Brass and Horatio. The two older men had arrived in a hurry after receiving a call from Catherine regarding Brina's condition. Neither man looked at the other. The tension in the elevator car was palpable.
The pain in Sara's head kept her from saying much. Warrick had attempted a light conversation, but soon fell silent to this somber atmosphere. They fell in line one behind the other like a family of geese, Brass leading the way, then Horatio, Sara and Warrick, and marched directly into the waiting area where Catherine could be heard trying to console Grissom.
Brass's heart constricted as he listened to them. Horatio bowed his head, subconsciously trying to build up the wall he had developed years earlier to shield himself from pain. Sara turned to look at Warrick quizzically and Warrick shrugged his reply.
"I'm sure she'll be all right, Gil," Catherine said. "They're doing the best they can."
"What happened," Brass asked as he rushed into the area.
Gil looked up, eyes red with silent tears. "She had a relapse of pulmonary edema with cardiac involvement," Catherine informed. "Dr. Cowen is with her now."
Horatio sat on the edge of a sofa quickly as his legs gave way. Brass grit his teeth and balled his fists, looking for something—anything—to pound.
Gil's eyes turned from the men to Sara, a look of concern covering his face after noticing the bandage wrapped around her forehead. "What happened to you," he asked.
"Oh, just our ever-friendly perp making his presence known at the judge's house," she answered, trying to make light of her injuries. "No big deal."
"No big deal," Grissom roared as he took the space between them in a second, eyeing her for any signs of distress. "You could have been killed! Where was your security?" Brass winced as Grissom's angry eyes turned on him, then on Catherine. "Where was your partner?"
Sara's anguished look gave Catherine all the leverage she needed to answer. "I was in the bathroom and Sara was in the bedroom doing our jobs. As for where our security was, apparently he was our security."
Grissom looked from her to Sara and back. "He---what?"
VVVVV
The lab was busy as always, everyone going his separate direction. The busy pace made for a noisy hallway and entry. Everyone was busy with his own project and paying little attention to who was coming and going. The receptionist was on the phone when he arrived, so he waited patiently for her to ring off. Handing her the package, he smiled disarmingly. "This is to be given to Sara Sidle. She said it was urgent."
"I'll be sure she gets it when she comes back," the receptionist acknowledged, signing for the package.
"Thank you." He nodded and turned on his heel, headed for the door, a smirk on his face.
WWWWW
Grissom sat staring at a spot on the carpet for a long moment after he was completely briefed by the five people sitting with him. It was almost inconceivable to him that this person could be a policeman, but the facts were there. How they were going to apprehend him was another story. They had nothing that would point them in the right direction. Finally, he looked up at his group. "Has anyone spoken to Brina's clerk yet?"
They all shook their heads. "We have been waiting for him to improve." Warrick informed. "I got the call as I was coming in with Mrs. Marriott."
"Then Catherine, you and I will go interview him." Grissom stood and stretched to his height. "I think it would be better if he talked to me, since we know each other." The others agreed with nods. "Horatio, if you would stay here and contact me when we are allowed to go into her again?"
"Of course, Doctor." Horatio smiled compassionately.
"I think I'll hang around for a while too," Brass offered. "I'm off the clock anyhow."
"We're going back to the lab," Sara said as she nudged Warrick toward the doorway. "See if we can get a line on the equipment he used."
XXXXX
Nick stared at the vent cover he and Greg had taken back to the lab through a lighted magnifying glass. He was trying desperately to find any kind of trace evidence that could open this case up for Grissom's sake, if not anyone else's.
Greg sat next to Nick, dusting for prints on the light fixtures. He new this was probably an exercise in futility. After all, anyone clever enough to pass himself off as Animal Control of a Police officer was clever enough not to leave evidence behind. But, they had to try, didn't they? He turned toward Nick as the older CSI let out an exasperated sigh. Nick opened his mouth to speak, then closed it for just a moment.
"Wait a second," he finally said. "What's this?" He reached for a swab and dabbed it into a brownish substance on the vent grill. Using a drop of phenolphthalein on the swab, he smiled. "Blood. Perhaps we can get DNA off this."
"Way to go Nicky!" Greg applauded. "Now, let's see if this will give us anything." He held up a card on which he had taped a fingerprint. "Maybe the perp just made his first mistakes." They both smiled, rushing out the door.
YYYYY
Sara stopped by reception on her way into the lab to check messages. "This arrived for you by FedEx today," the receptionist handed her the box.
"Thanks, Joyce," She looked at the address. It was written in block letter, like those of a child. The handwriting reminded her of her goddaughter. She wondered what the child might have sent her. Heading for the lounge, she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table to open her gift.
"Hey, Sar," Warrick said as he entered for his own pick-me-up. "What you got there?"
"Don't know. This looks like my goddaughter's writing. Wonder what she would be sending me."
"I'm sure it is something you will enjoy." He smiled as he turned toward the coffee pot, pouring a steaming cup for himself. "Haven't heard anything regarding the equipment yet. Have you?"
His only answer was a crash of a chair hitting the ground.