Yes...here's an update FINALLY! I'm really sorry, there's a lot of stuff going on right now and it's hard to get motivated, plus I still haven't gotten over this darn bug. AHH!

Well here's the next chapter. I hope it was worth the wait. Thanks for all the great reviews they are wonderful and keep me going even when I don't feel like and thanks to Tefla once again. Enjoy!

Catherine sighed and leaned back in her chair. So far she had come up with a big fat zero on Carl Stenson. Oh … he was in the system, but she had not been able to find a single dark mark on his record.

He had been honorably discharged from the military back in 2003. She couldn't get any more information on his military background because it was classified. From the information that Greg was able to pull up he was a marine, and a good one at that.

She sat there contemplating her next move. She chewed on her bottom lip as a thought entered her head. Catherine sat up in her chair, pulled out her cell phone and dialed.

She listened as the phone rang and when she heard the voice on the other end, she spoke.

"Agent Culpepper please."

"So what makes you think that Nick is at Capral Enterprises?" Brass questioned Grissom while the others looked on.

"Jim … it's too much of a coincidence. I'd risk my life on it."

Grissom looked at his watch again. He had another forty minutes before he had to be over at the warehouse. "Jim, you really need to get over there. Nick is in that building somewhere and they are going to kill him as soon as they get this disk."

Brass took in a deep breath and looked into Grissom's eyes. He'd known this man for many years and learned that he could trust Gil Grissom's intuition. He was usually right, but in this case, it could cost Nick his life if he wasn't. He looked once more at the man in front of him then slowly agreed.

"OK Gil. I believe you, but we are going to need a little more to get into that building legally."

"… And we are going to have to do it in less than forty minutes." Warrick added.

Grissom was happy to see that Brass had agreed to all this, but there was still the road block of legally getting into that building. He turned his head towards the interrogation room.

"I think our answer is sitting right there."

The group all turned towards the window to look at Carl who now leaned back in the chair, looking as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Brass and Grissom looked at each other … silently giving the other the encouragement to go in the room and get what information they needed. The others just stood at the window watching in anticipation.

As the door to the interrogation room opened Carl looked over and spoke.

"I don't appreciate being kept waiting."

"Yea, well I don't feel too bad about that." Brass retorted while taking a seat in front of Carl.

Carl eyed the aging detective with great care. Both men had come back into the room acting different, almost as if something had changed. They must have found more information. He wondered what they had. He was sure he would find out soon enough. He waited for them to start.

"I'm going to cut to the chase here." Grissom started.

Carl turned his attention from the detective to Grissom.

"Where's Nick?"

"Like I said before … I don't know."

"I don't believe you." Grissom responded back.

Carl laughed, "Well believe what you will, but it's the truth."

"Robert Harris." Brass blurted out.

Carl turned his head quickly towards the detective with a look of shock on his face, but he quickly recovered.

"Who Captain Brass?"

Brass smirked. He had seen the look on Carl's face when he had mentioned Robert Harris's name. It was obvious that he knew this man.

"Cut the crap Carl. I just saw the look on your face in just mentioning that name. Now the question is … who is Robert Harris to you?"

Carl sat there brooding at the detective. He was angry with himself for being caught in a lie. Up to this point he had them in the palm of his hand. He would have to try and recover.

"I'm sorry Captain I don't know what you are talking about."

Grissom was about to ask another question when a knock came at the door and it slowly opened. Catherine walked in with a folder feeling the tension in the air. She knew how important it was to get the information from Carl. She hoped the information she was bringing Brass and Gil would aid in that.

Catherine handed the folder to Grissom who opened and read it then looked at her with a hint of a smile. She took that as a firm yes that the information she supplied could help Grissom. She gave Carl a look of disgust as she walked out and closed the door behind her.

Grissom could see Carl's eyes following the folder and he handed it to Brass to read.

"What's the matter Carl? Nervous?" Grissom asked his curiosity peeked.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I'm just fine."

"Yes I suppose you are."

Another glance at his watch told him he had thirty-five minutes to go before the drop-off. He looked back up at Carl when he heard a cell phone ring. The look on Carl's face showed that he was the guilty one. He was brought in for questioning and not under arrest, so he was allowed his cell phone.

The look of trepidation on Carl's face spoke volumes and Brass knew that this was the break they were looking for. This call had to be from Harris … checking up on things.

"You might want to get that." Brass commented.

Carl grabbed his cell phone and answered it all he while looking at Brass and Grissom. "Yea."

"This is Harris. You want to give me an update."

"I can't at the moment."

"Why not?"

"I'm not in a good position to speak at the moment."

"Have you been compromised?"

"Yes."

"Then you are on your own. If you were stupid enough to get caught then I don't need you anymore. You make sure you keep your mouth shut or I will shut it for you … permanently."

"Wh-what? Wait!" He screamed into the phone, but all he heard was a dial tone.

Brass and Grissom watched the exchange with interest. They knew the call was from Harris and from this side of the conversation it didn't sound good.

"Bad news," Brass asked with a smirk.

"You could say that."

Carl was surprised that Harris would disregard him so fast after everything they had been through. He told himself that as long as Harris had his back then he wouldn't let the man down. Harris had just fed him to the wolves and dropped him like a rock. He started to weigh his options. They had physical evidence linking him to Nick's house. Would it be in his best interest now to cooperate since Harris just ditched him?

Brass and Grissom watched the man in front of them weighing his options.

Grissom decided to ask again, "Where's Nick?"

Carl heard the question, but was still uncertain as to how to answer. So far he had been eluding their questions. He took a deep breath then jumped in with both feet.

"If I help you what do I get in return?"

Brass and Grissom glanced over to each other this was an interesting turn of events.

Brass spoke first, "Well that all depends on what you plan on sharing with us."

Carl looked down at his hands and then back up at the two men sitting before him.

"How about the location of Nick?"

Nick listened intently to the rest of Grissom and Harris's conversation. He knew that Harris had some plans for him and that made him anxious. He kept thinking back to how he got himself in this mess: wrong place, wrong time. Then again, that was the story of his life. No matter how much longer it was going to be.

'Time' he thought. He put off a lot of things cause he always thought that he had plenty of time. Now he wasn't quite so sure. He knew that Grissom was aware of his situation, but how would they find him? If he knew Grissom, the gang already had a plan. They would come through … they just had to.

Before Nick knew it the conversation between the two men was over and Harris was staring intently at him.

Nick could no longer stand the silence, "Can I help you with something?"

Harris smiled at Nick's remark, "You will be beyond any help soon Mr. Stokes. Your Mr. Grissom is under the impression that you are going to be released alive. Boy will he be surprised."

"Oh yea. I'm sure he will be … but I have a feeling that you are going to be the one getting the surprise."

"And why's that Mr. Stokes?"

"You are underestimating him. Even if you kill me … he will find you. I guarantee that."

"Brave words Mr. Stokes."

"I'm just telling you the truth. No matter what happens … you will go down."

"I'd be more worried about myself right now Mr. Stokes. I'm not worried about your Mr. Grissom. I am a professional and I take great pride in that. I have never been caught and I never will be caught. Unlike some people, I take care of my loose ends."

"So I'm one of your loose ends huh?"

"Yes. You are."

"And Erin?"

"Also another loose end. Both of you witnessed crimes committed by my men and myself. In order for me to continue … you both need to be eliminated."

Nick wasn't surprised at the words. Harris had already told him in no unconditional terms that he was going to be killed. He just didn't know when the time was coming. He just knew it was soon. His thoughts turned to the young woman that had been dragged into this whole mess. His heart was heavy because he felt responsible for her involvement.

He hoped that if they both had to die that it was going to be fast with no suffering. He knew suffering when he had been buried alive. He did not want to repeat that experience. He stopped himself from the morbid thoughts. He had to think positive. 'Yeah I'm positive I'm going to be killed' he joked with himself. He wished that he could be with Erin. She needed to be with someone. She was extremely scared and needed the support. He wondered if he would see her before the end. 'Stop it Nick. They are going to find you.'

"Face it Mr. Stokes. You are in an impossible situation. It amazes me that you think there's the possibility that you will get out of here alive."

Nick looked around the room at the men guarding him then back to Harris, "So where's your lackey Carl?"

"Oh yes … Carl. He's back at the lab keeping an eye out on your friends. I do need to get status from him."

Harris glanced at his watch as he walked over to the door, "I'll be right back. I have something to take care of. Keep an eye on him." He said to the guards as he walked out.

Nick felt his anxiety level go down a few levels. He knew that if Harris wasn't in the room he was safe for the moment. But where did he go? He suddenly got a lump in the back of his throat and worried for Erin.

Erin had watched as the men dragged Nick out of their cell. She had put on a brave face then, but she could no longer hold that façade. When Nick was here she was able to get the strength from him, but now she only had herself.

The figure on the cot suddenly jerked awake and sucked in a huge breath of air. Erin glanced around, remembering suddenly where she was before she wrapped her arms around her raised knees. Her gaze was locked on the door, wishing for it to open and for Nick to be alright. The reason behind this was she was trying to divert her thoughts.

She couldn't think of anything else except dying. She wasn't ready. It wasn't fair. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time … just like Nick. Now she was going to die. Erin let out a soft sob when she heard the keys at the door of her cell.

She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. She hoped that they were bringing Nick back and she didn't want to upset him by showing she had been crying. Erin watched intently as the door opened. Her hopes quickly faded. Nick was not at the door. Only a single man stood there.

She didn't know his name. She only knew him as the guy that had kidnapped Nick from the street. He looked more menacing in person than he did in the dark, but wasn't it always that way. Erin grew uncomfortable as the man stared at her.

Harris left the room where he held Nick and headed towards the room where his other prisoner was still locked up. He smirked to himself. It was time to have some fun with his two prisoners. He had a feeling the girl was going to be more fun than Stokes.

He pulled the keys from his belt and walked up to the door. He made sure to make a lot of noise. Harris knew that that noise would add to the intimidation of the moment.

The door unlocked and swung open. He could tell that she had been crying. 'Oh yes. This is going to be fun' he thought to himself. He looked at his watch. He still had fifty minutes before the disk pickup. There was still plenty of time to mess with his captives … before he killed them.

Erin stared at the man who entered the small room. She jumped when he spoke.

"Are you enjoying your accommodations Miss Matthews?"

She kept silent … afraid to answer. The man in front of her was a murderer and a kidnapper. As of yesterday, Erin knew these types of people only from the news. Now she was going to be part of the news and another statistic.

"Too afraid to speak. You should be." He inched closer to the cot she sat on.

Erin tried to make herself smaller if that was possible by pressing against the wall. It didn't help.

Harris moved closer and closer to the cot. He had no intention of attacking her, but she didn't know that. He could use that against her. He finally stood over her and then sat down on the cot … next to his frightened captive.

Erin stifled a gasp when he sat down on the cot. She moved away from him and to the other side of the cot hoping that he would keep his distance.

He snickered at her poor attempt to move away. He quickly made up the space between them and before Erin knew it … he was right next to her once again.

Harris leaned into her and smelled her hair. She was now making no effort to hide the tears that were starting to fall. This only lit his fire. He swiftly grabbed a handful of her hair causing her to scream in surprise. She grabbed his wrists trying to pry her hair loose, but failed.

He continued to smell her hair when he whispered in her ear, "Would you like to join Mr. Stokes?"

She was unsure of how to answer that question. Was Nick dead already or was he still alive?

Harris could see the uncertainty in her eyes and decided to aid her in her decision. "Don't worry Miss Matthews. Mr. Stokes is very much alive at the current moment. So I ask again … would you like to join Mr. Stokes?"

She nodded her head yes.

He let go of her hair and jumped off of the cot. He grabbed Erin's arm, in a bruising grip, and pulled her from the room.

Well there you have it. I hoped you liked it. Please let me know by clicking that review button. Thanks!