Hi all, Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter, internet access troubles, hopefully now resolved. (I'll know for certain in a day or so.). Thanks, once again to Smartstar247 for the review. I hope you like this one too.

Chapter 4

"Chandra have you finished the DNA analysis of Braun's hair samples yet?" Grissom asked, "The Arraignment is only an hour away and I don't want any surprises."

"I didn't even get started." Chandra replied. "I sent you an e mail, didn't you read it? There were no traces of blood in Braun's hair. Sorry."

"It's the evidence. Don't apologise for it." Gil said as he disappeared out the door.

He walked down the corridor into the rest room, "Nick, what's the story on the hairs Sara collected from D'Arto's clothing?"

"They're consistent with Braun's but that doesn't prove he killed him. We know he was in the apartment and the transfer could have happened at any time. There was one interesting thing though, I had a look at Sara's report and all the hairs she gave me to check were collected from D'Arto's pants leg. That seems unlikely unless Braun only stood at the foot of his body after it fell. If he'd been close enough to stab him, there should have been transfer to D'Arto's shirt and jacket. I'm re-checking all the hairs she collected in case she missed some."

"Then what are you doing in here? It's past ten o'clock already and the Arraignment's at eleven."

"Have a heart, I've been up all night on this!" seeing the look on Grissom's face he gave in, "Alright, I'll get right back on it."

"I'm leaving for the courthouse shortly. If you get a hit call me on my cell." As Nick disappeared, Grissom took out his phone and speed dialled. "Catherine. How are you bearing up?" He listened to her response, "Lindsey will come round. It's hard for her to take, especially at that age; everything unpleasant is a personal insult. Have you tried to speak to her this morning? Give it a try; she may be waiting for you to make the first move. Will you be at the hearing later? OK, I'll be in touch."

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Lindsey moved uncertainly through the public areas of the Clark County Courthouse keeping a watchful eye out for anyone who might recognise her. Now she was there she realised she had no idea where to go and she didn't want to draw attention to herself by asking. The board in the reception area had said Arraignments were being held in Court 14 but the Courthouse was large and badly signposted and she had quickly concluded she had little hope of finding it unless she saw someone like Gil Grissom or Jim Brass or maybe even a reporter she could follow. She glanced at her watch, 10:48; she didn't have a lot of time.

I've got to get there. I've got to talk to him! she thought.

She turned a corner and quickly ducked back, Gil! After a short pause she realised he hadn't seen her. She risked a quick glance and saw he was talking to the Sheriff. Judging from their gestures they seemed to be arguing but she couldn't hear what about. Finally, they broke off and began moving purposefully away from her. She followed, making sure she wasn't seen.

At last they turned and walked through one of the doors leading off from the passage. Lindsey crept up and looked inside. The room was packed, Gil and the Sheriff were walking towards empty seats at the front that seemed to be reserved for them and she saw her mother's detective friend, Jim Brass stand to greet them. The presence of several reporters she recognised from the press conference earlier clinched it for her; this was the place where Sam was going to be arraigned. She entered silently and hid behind a pillar where she could see but not be seen.

She watched as the Judge entered through a door at the back of the Court and banged his gavel. "This Court is called to order." he shouted and the noise level dropped by several decibels.

This was apparently all he expected because he nodded to the Clerk who yelled, "Case Number 198674, State of Nevada v Sam Braun."

Lindsey saw another door open and her grandfather being escorted into the court by two security guards. He was handcuffed and shackled causing him to walk with an odd shuffling motion. He wore one of the bright orange jumpsuits she'd seen prisoners wear on TV. She couldn't believe that her mother and her mother's friends were allowing Sam to be humiliated in this way and her heart ached for him. Sam finally came to a halt beside his lawyer and the court officers took a half step back. He remained standing.

The Court Clerk began to read from a sheaf of papers in front of him. "Sam Braun you are charged with the 2nd degree murder of Vincent D'Arto. How do you plead?"

Sam's lawyer gave him an almost pleading look but he stared stonily ahead, ignoring his lawyer's silent appeal as he opened his mouth to reply. "Guilty." he said.

Lindsey felt her heart clench and her head spin as the court erupted in shock and disbelief. Then without realising she heard herself screaming. "No. He didn't do it! He's innocent!" as she forced her way through the mob of people, scratching and clawing, fighting to get to him as Gil Grissom and Jim Brass looked on in shock.

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"Lindsey, I've made you your favourites, pancakes with maple syrup. Come on out honey and have something to eat." Catherine knocked on the bedroom door. After some thought she'd decided to take Grissom's advice and take the initiative with Lindsey. The offer of pancakes was her own idea, a mixture of peace gesture and bribe. There was no response to her knocking so, frowning slightly; Catherine put her ear to the door. She listened for a long moment but could hear nothing. Beginning to worry now, she opened the door. "Lindsey?" she called, "I'm coming in."

She took in the implications of the empty room and the wide open window immediately and rushed to the front door, signalling to the two LVPD officers out front, thankful that the press vultures had disappeared off to Sam's arraignment.

"My daughter's missing." she explained, "She must have run off during the night. Put out an APB immediately. I'll go get a recent photo for you."

As the officers nodded, Catherine's cell rang. She glanced at the caller ID, hoping against hope it was Lindsey. Grissom, probably calling about the arraignment. She was tempted to ignore him but her training kicked in and she accepted the call. "Gil, Lindsey's run away. I need to keep this line clear in case she calls so unless this is important…" As she listened, her face relaxed. "OK, thanks. I'll be over right away." She closed the cell and turned to the two officers and her mother who'd joined them after being alerted by the noise.

"Cancel the APB." Catherine told the officers. "Lindsey was at the Arraignment. She caused a disturbance and is being held at HQ."

Lily gave her daughter an "I told you so" look. "That's exactly what you'd have done at her age." she said, "She's known Sam all her life and has always been fond of him. Then, almost as soon as she discovers he's her grandfather you go all heavy handed and forbid her to ever see him again. Lindsey is a bright, intelligent strong-minded girl, just like you were at her age, and old enough to know her own mind. She was bound to rebel and now that Sam is in trouble, she'd want to be there for him."

Catherine gave her mother an ironic look, "Even after he cast you aside for a newer model you kept a light burning in the window for him. Sam uses people, then discards them when it suits him. I wasn't going to have him do that to Lindsey."

"You weren't listening when I told you what a complex man he is. And he's never let you down when you've gone to him for help." her mother asked. "Anyway, what makes you think it was Sam who ended it, not me?"

Catherine looked at her mother in astonishment. It was true, she had only assumed Sam had ended the affair with her mother, she didn't know for certain. She wanted to ask Lily so many questions but didn't have time. Hopefully they could pick up on this later. "I've got to go fetch Lindsey." she said.

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Lindsey sat on a chair in an interview room, scowling. He hated the entire world but the judge, the stupid spectators who'd got in her way, her mother, Grissom and Brass in particular. Once they'd got over their surprise, they'd intercepted her and dragged her out of the court, preventing her from reaching her grandfather. She could still see the look of shock and horror on Sam's face as they'd carried her away.

She barely glanced up when Brass entered the room.

"You're a very lucky girl Lindsey." he said as he sat down. "The judge wanted you charged with assault and contempt of court but he agreed to let your mother handle it once I'd explained the circumstances to him. Mr Grissom has contacted your mother and she's on her way over here right now."

Apart from a slight shrug of her shoulders, Lindsey ignored him.

Brass sighed, he recognised the signs, he'd seen them often enough in his own daughter. He hoped Catherine could get through to her. If she couldn't he feared Lindsey would go the same way as Ellie.

Just then the door opened and Catherine entered.

"Lindsey, what were you thinking? Your grandmother and I were worried sick about you. Do you know how lucky you are they're not going to press charges for disrupting the courtroom?"

"Great!" Lindsey replied to her mother. "So I'm lucky. And that means you want me to just stand by while you and your cop friends railroad Sam into prison, right? I want to speak to Sam. I'm his grand-daughter. I have a right."

"Actually as a minor, you can only visit with your parent or guardian's permission." Brass replied.

"Which I am certainly not giving after the way you've behaved." Catherine said.

"Yeah, like you would have before?" Lindsey asked sarcastically.

Catherine sighed and was about to reply when Grissom walked into the room. "Lindsey, why are you so insistent that Sam Braun is innocent?" he asked, "You heard him plead guilty. Do you know something that would exonerate him? If so, you must tell us now."

"Let me speak to Sam." she repeated.

"You were D'Arto's apartment on the night of the murder weren't you?" Gil persisted.

TBC