Chapter Eighteen
The break room at the Crime Lab was that one place where the CSIs and the friendlier detectives gathered to lighten up. It was like an oasis in the desert of gruesome violence and evilness in human hearts. Even when they would meet up to discuss cases, the team was able to leave behind whatever anger or sadness they carried.
But today it was different. The graveness that had descended upon the entire HQ like smog had even infested the break room. Nick, Greg and Warrick sat across each other like three apices of a triangle. Cold sandwiches lay untouched in front of them. The most they could bring themselves to consume were the sludge-ish coffee in the pot.
DNA lab was almost through with matching all the collected samples with the ones provided by anxious relatives. Official death toll was now twelve, with three still admitted into the hospital in critical condition and seven injured. As the CSIs scavenged more and more, a lot many dismembered bodies were found beneath the rubble. At the very least, some relatives would have the fortune to be able to bury or cremate their loved one's remains. Few wouldn't be this lucky.
They were yet to find any of Catherine's body parts. They did find her car, though, or what was left of it.
Greg rubbed his eyes tiredly. Warrick briefly glanced at his watch. It was way past sunset now. And yet, none of them could summon the courage to go home.
"I'll turn on the news." Nick spoke. The 20-inch TV sparked to life as he hit the remote. They were replaying the scores of the World Cup final. Suddenly, there was a buzz and an attractive woman came on the screen.
"Sorry for the interruption. We've just received breaking news concerning the explosion at The Boulevard." Jan King recited with enough inflection in her voice to garner the viewer's attention.
"Breaking news?" Greg wondered aloud.
"The bomb blast that shocked the city of Las Vegas into terror on Saturday has grappled the police department's undeterred attention. Our correspondents have received information that the LVPD has a suspect. The alleged culprit is none other but someone from the inside, by the name of Sara Sidle." Photos of the burnt parking lot appeared in slow succession. "Sara Sidle is a criminalist in the PD's crime lab. Catherine Willows, another CSI said to have been killed in that same explosion, was on very intimate terms with Ms. Sidle. There is a strong possibility that the crime was personally motivated. The sheriff has been unavailable for comments."
"What the hell!" Nick exclaimed, not believing his eyes or ears.
"Who released it to the press?" Greg was in the same state of shock.
Warrick stood up, bristling with rage. "I won't need three guesses."
Arnold Harper wasn't alone when Warrick walked into his office. Sheriff Brackett was present in his entire thousand dollar suit. One look at his face, though, said he was furious. Warrick couldn't care less about being cordial with the Sheriff. He directly faced Harper.
"You're some piece of work." He spat.
Harper raised his hands defensively. "I didn't speak to the press."
"Right."
"He's telling the truth." Sheriff Brackett wiped his face. "Harper didn't talk to the press. He's been with me for the past four hours. We were discussing what to expose to the media when we saw the news."
Warrick slumped. "Any idea, who could have done it?"
"No. But at the moment, that's the least of our concerns. We have to think of how to ward off the media frenzy. We are going to look terrible." Harper ran a disgruntled hand across his hair. He couldn't believe his day. He had zero sleep in God-knows-how-many hours and what he thought was a high-profile career-making case was soon turning out to be a nightmare.
"Is that all you care about, looking good?" Warrick hissed.
"For the time being, yeah!" Harper snapped back.
"Okay, both of you, calm down." The Sheriff muttered. "We have to decide what to do about it and the last thing I need is friction in my department. Where's Grissom?"
"He said he had something to do." Warrick replied.
"Well, get him."
Rocky grunted in disappointment when Catherine covered herself with a blanket. He had been looking forward to seeing her feminine curves outlined in the flimsy shirt and pajamas. Initially, he was livid when he came to know that his job would entail keeping an eye on the woman through hidden cameras. Rocky had hoped for something more adrenaline-rushed. But one look at Catherine Willows and he had changed his mind. He used to think he wasn't into older women, but now he had to reevaluate his opinion. Of course, he couldn't lay a hand on her, but he could always indulge in voyeuristic pleasure.
"What's she doing?" Kristen walked in.
"Nothing." He muttered. "I think you've given her too much of that shit. She's hardly moved after eating."
"That's the idea, genius. If she is lucid, she'll think. And trust me; you don't want her to think."
"But you sure you know the dosage? Remember what the Boss said, no harming her?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm pre-med, give me some credit."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Rocky shoved several fries into his mouth.
"You know how much calories are in those things?" Kristen murmured disgustedly.
Rocky eyed her reed thin frame. "Well, it sure won't hurt ya."
In the background, the tempo of the TV sound suddenly changed. Kristen recognized the newsreading.
"Fuck! The bitch should have been awake for this."
"Shh." Kristen snapped, her eyes glued on the screen. For a while, there were no other sounds but that of the news reporter and Rocky's teeth as it munched on the greasy potatoes.
As Jan King repeated the news of the explosion and Sara Sidle's alleged involvement in it, Kristen and Rocky glowed in delight.
"Oh yeah, the plan's in sweet motion." She grinned.
Janet Simmons threw the cheap, disposable cell phone into the waste bin of the grocery store. She casually glanced around to see if anyone had noticed. Everyone was too busy with sliding their carts across the aisles and making sure they don't bump against the ever-increasing evening crowds. She gathered her bag of corned beef and squeezed her way close to the walls. That way, she knew, there was less of a chance of her being caught by the security cameras. She doubted the CSIs would really trace the person who had leaked information to the press. But she didn't want to take any chances. Her continued well-being relied on her being an 'inside' person.
She put on her sunglasses and let her hair fall in front. Janet knew she wasn't a striking beauty and therefore not likely to be noticed. But for the past couple of months, she had started to get quite paranoid. The money was good and so was the career prospect. But were she ever to be discovered, she would be fired straight out.
Her guilty conscience pricked but she had learnt to ignore it. Years of staring into the face of evil, having nightmares of unimaginable horrors, being paid a meager sum and not getting any time for enjoyment, had cured her of any saintly thoughts. Besides, if there was anyone she was truly harming, it was Sara Sidle. The woman was vile and truly deserved everything that was to happen to her. She had the Sidle genes. Environments could be changed, but who you are never changes. Janet had met the brother and even though she was, in a way, working for him, she barely kept her resentment for the man a secret.
She got into her Tahoe when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Christ!" She screamed, her heart almost stopping for a moment. "What are you doing here?"
Sean Sidle smiled. "Would you have rather preferred I meet you in open view of everyone?"
"I would have rather preferred you not meet me at all." She shot back.
"Ah."
"So, what do you want?"
"Another favor."
"Will I be getting something for it?" The words left a bitter taste in Janet's mouth.
"Of course."
Sorry for the late and short chapter. Drenching in the rain is never a good idea if you don't wanna get sick. Therefore, until the hammer stops pounding my head, I might not be able to update. I am also painfully aware of the lack of romance in the last several chapters. I'll definitely make up for it in the forthcoming ones. I just wanted to provide a fair introduction to allthe characters/traitors involved. Thank you for R&R-ing.
