Charmin-Lady - thanks for the two reviews. Sorry I missed you off the top of chapter 2 so I thought I'd put you at the top of 3. Glad you're enjoyin the story!
CarlyBabes1234 - I know, I'm not a fan of Snickers stories, in fact I can't picture Nick with anyone on the show - that's why I wrote this story! I'm glad you like Greg and Katie, there's more to come! I wish I did write for CSI - dream job!
jewelbaby - thanks for the review - I know Nick in bra and panties would be a sight! I'd prefer him in normal boxer's thank you very much!
RenoSands - don't worry you'll find out more about Katie in later chapters - I wanted to keep her for the moment a bit mysterious. Thanks for the review!
Flame - thanks for the review and the info - I'm a fan of CSI but sometimes I miss the technical lingo! It just shows reviews help to add to the authenticity of a story!
Kristen999 - there is something to come later with Katie but it's nothing that I've ever read in any fanfiction before. I know what you mean, I hate when the female is weak and falls straight for Nick without even putting up a fight (not that I ever would!). Thanks for the feedback!
cenas-lil-hottiethanks again for the review. I wish Jeff didn't get fired from wrestling, I certainly do miss him!
Chapter 3Katie had searched the whole building and still could not find Nick. She had tried paging him and phoning his cell phone but he was not answering either. 'Great, my first day and I've lost my partner!' she thought as she exasperatingly sighed. 'What do I do?'
She started worrying and decided to search the building everywhere one last time. She checked every evidence room, interview rooms, offices she did not know belonged to, rooms she had never been in and finally the laboratory. Still she could not find him. As she stood outside the lab and eyed the lanky 'lab rat' she decided she should ask him for his help.
"Greg, do you know where Nick is?" she said, walking in the room to see Greg analysing some droplets of blood. "I tried to look for him to give him the results but I haven't seen him anywhere."
"A damsel in distress? I can never turn down a beautiful face. Have you tried his cell phone?" Greg said, winking at the female stood before him.
"I may be new but I'm not stupid. I've tried his pager and his cell phone. Nothing."
"Have you tried the roof of the lab?"
Katie gave Greg a puzzled look, "The roof? Why?"
Greg sighed dramatically and shook his head, "Katie, Katie, Katie. So young and naïve. You have so much to learn. I'd be happy to teach you."
"Why would he be on the roof?"
"Why don't you find out?" Greg's vagueness intrigued her and she headed up to the roof-top of the lab. As she reached the top of the stairs and opened the door, the cool night's breeze hit her and low and behold there was Nick sitting on a chair in the middle of the roof, chewing away on a hot sausage roll.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, Nick. I was starting to get worried."
Nick guiltily smiled, "Sorry, I just had to get away for a while."
"I've been trying to call and page you. I thought you abandoned me!" she smiled.
"I keep my cell and pager off. I needed a break. Pull up a chair," he motioned for her to grab the half-broken chair that was behind him and she pulled it up next to him, cautiously sitting down and hoping the rickety, old chair would sustain her weight.
"So why are you up here? You're not thinking of doing anything, are you?" Her eyes widened.
He laughed, "God no. This my secret hide-out when I can't be bothered with the shit that is happening down there. How did you know I was up here?"
"I don't think it's a secret any longer. Greg told me. Anyway I know what you mean, downstairs is too much. I need a break." Nick looked at Katie's almost aggrieved expression.
"You don't like it at Las Vegas?"
He saw how she quickly covered up her pained look with a false smile. "No, it's great." She looked at Nick, who had an 'I'm-not-buying-that-answer' look. "It's… it's not like it was in California. I do like the people though. This job can be depressing sometimes and we all need that bit of peace and quiet. Am I right?"
He smiled, "You got it in one."
"I'm like that as well sometimes. I need to get away from everything and just switch off."
Nick looked to Katie, as she looked out into the dark abyss of the night that was engulfing them. He saw the look on her face and this intrigued him - she was obviously hiding some pain but he didn't exactly know what. "Are you ok?"
She was slightly startled and turned to face him, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got lost in my own thoughts. Bad habit."
"You know, you can always talk to me if anything or anyone is bothering you."
Katie smiled and gave him an appreciative look. "That's very sweet of you. Thank you. And the same to you too. You looked a bit upset at the crime scene."
Nick sighed, "It's nothing. I just find it hard sometimes when women are..." Katie looked at him, slightly puzzled. "I shouldn't have said anything."
She placed a hand on his arm, "No, it's ok."
"I… I had a friend, who was a prostitute and she was killed."
"I'm sorry. Did it happen a long time ago?"
He looked down at the remainder of his sausage roll, "Yeah, a few years ago. But Conrad Ecklie, the day-shift supervisor, he tried to make me go down for it." Katie's eyes widened. "I didn't do it though."
Katie looked shocked, "Oh my God. Are you serious?"
"Oh yeah, he's had it in for me since day 1. He can't stand anyone who works with Grissom." Nick smiled at her dumb-founded look, "Don't worry, he's an ass but luckily we don't have to work with him." He stood up. "Maybe we should go. And thanks for listening. For some reason I feel like I could tell you anything." He reached out his hand to help her up.
"Well you can. I am a fantastic listener. And I have a pretty good shoulder you can cry on," she winked, taking his hand and steadying herself as she stood up.
Nick laughed, "Don't worry, I have a strict policy of not crying in front of a female. Got to keep up my 'macho' exterior." She laughed as he flexed his muscles, although when he turned around she had to fan herself after experiencing a hot flush when seeing his biceps. 'He certainly is all man', she thought.
"So did you get the results from Greg?" he asked, leading Katie down the stairs.
"Yep. He found out that the knife at the crime scene is the murder weapon and traces of the victim's blood were on it. A second DNA sample was on the knife but no match on CODIS. There was also a fingerprint but no match on AFIS either."
"That's a start. I've got two possible leads," said Nick, as the two went into an evidence room. "I've got the boyfriend, Eddie Myers, and also Marty Caulfield, the victim's brother. They were both identified by eye-witnesses at being at the hotel around about the time of the murder. I'm going to get Brass to pull them in."
"So, Eddie, where were you at 10:00 pm last night?" Nick and Katie were sitting opposite to the scruffy-looking man at the table centred in the dark, stale interviewing room. Brass had picked him up at a local strip club and had brought him in immediately for the two CSI's to interrogate.
"I was in bed, asleep," he sneered, spitting on the floor to the left of him.
Katie grimaced at his action, "Well according to numerous eye-witness you were at 'The Mirage' hotel and was seen man-handling your girlfriend, Sheila Caulfield. Did you know she was at the hotel with a client?"
"Yeah, didn't bother me," he replied.
"Your girlfriend was being paid to have sex with another guy and you weren't bothered?" she asked. Eddie shook his head. "Not even a little bit?" Again, he shook his head.
"Nah, I was cool with it. She used to give me some of her money."
"What, so you're her pimp?" Nick injected.
"I ain't no pimp. She just gave me her money. What?" he raised an eyebrow as Nick and Katie exchanged looks.
"So you're telling us that you didn't mind that your girlfriend was sleeping with other men for money, which she gave you. But you weren't her pimp and you weren't at the hotel last night?" Katie summarised.
"Nope."
Nick rolled his eyes, "Alright, we'll be in-touch. Don't think about leaving town."
Katie noticed something on his arm as she stood up, "Nice tattoo."
He flexed his muscle to show off the etching on his arm, "Thanks, its Celtic."
Nick led Katie out of the room, where Brass was waiting. "Did he confess to it?"
"No, but I don't buy his 'I was asleep' alibi," Nick replied. "He's still a definite suspect."
Katie nodded, "For sure. Is the brother here?"
"He's waiting next door so whenever you're ready." Brass led the two CSI's to the room holding Marty.
"Did you know your sister was a prostitute?" Nick asked Sheila's brother.
"Yes," Marty replied. Katie looked at the guy's blood-shot eyes and the way he picked his nails. She felt sorry for him, having lost a member of his family.
"Were you are 'The Mirage' earlier this night?" Katie asked.
Marty sighed, rubbing his hands over his face, "Yes, I was at the hotel. But I didn't kill her. She was with a client and I pleaded with her not to sleep with him. But that bastard, Eddie, was always forcing her to do it. She was a good girl. She just wanted money to pay for college."
"Where did you go after you spoke to her?"
"I went to my parents and crashed at their house." Marty looked from Katie to Nick, "Please, you have to believe me, I didn't kill my sister. I loved her more than anything. I just wanted her to see sense and leave Eddie. I was going to help her get an apartment and get a job. She was so much better than what she was doing," he cried, quietly sobbing and burying his face in his hands.
"Marty, it's ok, we will find out who did this to her." She gave Marty a reassuring smile and signalled for Nick to follow her.
As soon as she left the room she stopped, "He didn't do it."
Nick nodded in agreement, "Either he is a brilliant actor or he is telling the truth."
"I think I know who did it."
"Who? How can you be so sure Marty didn't do it?"
"Trust me. Female intuition."
"Female intuition? You have got to give me more than that, Katie, to go on in front of a judge."
Katie smiled, "Well, if you'd let me finish I was just about to show you the evidence."
"Lead the way, Inspector Clueso." He chuckled and she rolled her eyes and proceeded to lead him to the surveillance room.
Chapter 4 up soon…