Hello everyone, finally had access to a computer for a few minutes so here is the next chapter. Of course I couldn't post without a round of thank you's (once again sorry I can't thank you all individually)…
CatherineLouise
krysalys
dark syrinx
Lorna
Britny
Kurama13
Charmin-Lady
Sorry if there are any mistakes in this, but here's…
Chapter 13
Katie's mind was racing with disturbing images and thoughts of what Clifford could do to Nick and her dad. As she speeded off the freeway she prayed that the police would get there in time to help the two people she loved the most. She turned the corner onto the street she lives in and glanced in the mirror to see the reflection of numerous police cars following further behind her.
She pulled up onto her driveway and before even switching the engine off she ran into the front door of her house, ignoring the protests of Brass behind her telling her it wasn't safe.
Katie felt an eerie atmosphere when she walked into the hallway. She could see no signs of a disturbance but something did not feel right to her. As she walked into the living room she saw exactly what was wrong: Clifford was stood in front of her father and was pointing a gun at him while Tom sat in his chair looking shell-shocked. Nick was sat to the side of her father in another chair, unable to move for fear that Tom would be hurt.
"Welcome Katie. It's so nice to see you in the flesh as opposed to from behind a camera lens. How are you?" Clifford spoke, a sickly tone escaping from his lips.
"What are you doing?" she asked, slowly edging towards Nick.
"I take it you got my message. You're a bit early but that's ok. I was hoping not to kill you but if I have to I have to."
"Please let my dad go. You can have me but just don't hurt him. He's not well."
Clifford let out a laugh. "I know. Actually I know a lot more than you would think. Let's see, what do I know? I know you and Nick kissed for the first time on your doorstep, that you like to have a quick bagel before you go to work, that Nick's favourite cereal is Fruit Loops. I know all about poor Tom's illness. I bet that old Tom here is the biggest burden for Nick."
Nick looked at Clifford in disgust, "You don't know anything."
"It doesn't take a genius to see that you wish he wasn't around so you can have Katie all for yourself, free from any responsibility she has for her father," he sneered. "You know, you surprised me when you picked Katie. You usually like your women nice, easy and unattached."
"Katie, I'm scared." Tom looked at his tearful daughter, "Why is he saying all these mean things?"
Katie looked at her dad, "It's ok daddy, just ignore everything he says. It's not true."
"She's right, Tom. He's lying." Nick turned to Clifford, "Let him go, please. He's innocent in all of this. Katie too. You want me? You got me. Don't involve anyone else."
This last comment angered Clifford, who put the barrel of the gun onto Tom's head, pressing hard. Katie cried out as she heard her father whimper.
"Involve anyone else? Maybe you should've thought about that before you involved my brother. You sent him to jail. You are going to pay for that!"
Nick looked confused, "I don't know you brother."
"You sent him to jail and you don't even remember him!" Clifford cocked the gun and placed his finger on the trigger. "Then maybe you'll remember this."
"Nick!" Katie cried.
"No! No! I… I do remember him. Yeah, I put him away…" Nick struggled to remember anything.
Clifford relaxed his hand and walked over to couch opposite Nick and Tom and sat down. Immediately Katie ran over to her father and embraced him into a hug while he quietly cried. Nick put a hand on Tom's back to check he was all right. "Yeah, since 2000 you've had him in jail. And for what? Killing a man? He didn't do it. But you didn't listen to him did you? You didn't like him so you framed Rob!"
"Rob?" Nick repeated. "Rob Hill?" Suddenly the case came back to him. "Clifford, he killed a man with a pitchfork and buried him in his garden. There were traces of his blood, fabric from his clothes and hair all over the body. Not to mention the murder weapon had his fingerprints all over it. No one set him up. He killed a person."
"NO, HE DIDN"T! You planted all that shit on him. He would never hurt someone!"
"What, like you?" Katie said. "Look, all we do is collect the evidence and it does not lie. Your brother did it. But that does not mean that you have to do this. The police are here, outside, and you can give yourself up. You will not be in trouble. But if you don't then you go to jail, just like Rob did."
At the mention of the police, Clifford stood up and went to the window, slowly peering outside to see a swarm of police officers surrounding the house, with Brass and Grissom standing by. As Clifford did this Nick got up out of the chair and protectively stood near Katie, who was now sat on the arm of her father's chair, holding onto Tom.
"Ah, seems like your boss likes you guys. It's a good job he's here. They can quickly process your bodies." Clifford gave Grissom a sarcastic smile and wave before turning his attentions to his three hostages. "You know you're girl is a smooth talker. I almost believed that little speech. Almost. You know, that's another reason why I'm here. You're quite a woman, Katie. Just like Sandra."
Katie looked up from her father and stood up. Nick placed a protective hand on the small of her back. "What did you just say?"
"Sandra. Your mom."
"I know who you mean," she said, icily. "How do you know about her?"
He chuckled, "Like I said before, I know more than you think. When Nick started having goo-goo eyes for you I decided to do a bit of research. You have quite a colourful life - mom's six feet under, dad's got Alzheimer's and now Nick. You deserve better than him. He's scum and he doesn't care about you or your dad. You're just another conquest to him."
"Shut up!" Nick lunged towards Clifford and the two wrestled for the gun. Katie watched as the two exchanged blows, grunting furiously as each man tried to gain the upper hand.
Katie decided this was the opportune moment to get her dad to safety. "Dad, come on. Let's get you out of here."
Tom looked at her like a lost puppy, "Where are we going? What's happening? Where are we?" Katie, for the first time in her life, was relieved that her father had no recollection of the danger he was facing and proceeded to help him out of his seat.
"Come on dad. Hurry up."
"But what's Nick doing?" he said, gesturing to him on the floor as he and Clifford carried on fighting.
"That doesn't matter. Just go outside, ok? I'll be out in a second." She steered her father in the right direction. As she did so she noticed Clifford gaining power over Nick and started beating him.
She ran to the two men and started hitting Clifford on his back but he stopped her by a forceful punch to the face that threw her on the ground.
Clifford lifted himself off the floor and looked at a semi-conscious Nick before turning to point the gun at Katie, "You want to start on me? I was trying to help you but I guess you can go first."
He pointed the gun straight at her face and started to pull the trigger. Nick, seeing this, managed to muster up one last lunge at his attacker.
A single shot rang out and the sound of broken glass was heard. Nick grabbed the gun from Clifford and punched him square in the face, knocking him unconscious. Nick collapsed on the floor and Katie crawled over to him, the two hugging each other for dear life.
"Are you ok?" he whispered.
Katie cried, "I'm fine."
As the two pulled away from each other Grissom, Brass and a police officer came running in.
"Are you hurt?" Grissom asked, as he looked at his two blooded and bruised co-workers.
"No, we're fine." Nick slowly stood up and helped his girlfriend.
"Katie," Brass started. "Your dad."
"What?"
Grissom went towards her, "He… he got shot by the stray bullet from the window."
Katie's face fell and she ran out of the house to see half-way down the path a pool of blood surrounding her father and a number of paramedics tending to him.
"No. Daddy." she whispered.
Thank you once again everyone and I'll try to update soon