This chapter's going to have some violence. You've been warned.


Chapter Thirty Three

Grissom watched from a distance as Nick spoke to Lady Heather and another woman who was presumably Kayla Dreyson. He had never been good at breaking bad news to the families. He doubted he'd be able to do it in front of Heather.

Kayla buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Lady Heather placed her arm around her friend's shoulder while her eyes rested towards the shadows where he was staying out of sight. Somehow she always seemed to sense his presence. It both unsettled and pleased him.

They had matched the unidentified remains of a body to the DNA sample that Kayla had provided of her sister. It was clear that she was the person whom everyone in the department store had seen that day of the explosion. She was the person whom everyone had assumed was Catherine.

Greg tapped his boss with his index finger, causing him to jump.

"Uh, Grissom, why are you hiding?" The spiky-haired CSI smirked.

"I'm not hiding." He cleared his throat and glanced at the file Greg was holding. "You got something for me?"

"With the permission of her sister, we did a background check on Joyce Dreyson. She's been convicted for possession on two prior occasions. On the third one, she escaped Texas. She was probably working for cash because all her deposits are direct cash ones. According to Kayla, she worked in Sam Braun's casino and for the last few months, the deposits have been pretty regular pay. But a week prior to the explosion, there was a deposit of around five grand in her account. Pretty big in one time, if you ask me."

"Pretty small payment for getting blown up." Grissom remarked dryly.

"Maybe she didn't know she was going to die." Greg lifted his eyebrows. "Maybe she was being paid to impersonate Catherine in that store. They wouldn't include getting exploded in the contract, would they?"

Grissom frowned, "Okay, if that was what had happened, then how did we find Catherine's DNA amongst the rubble? According to her, she wasn't even near it."

"I think I may have an answer to that." Ecklie's voice boomed.

"Conrad?" Grissom gave him a skeptical look which turned into a heavy scowl when he saw the assistant director holding the squirming young CSI, Janet Simmons, firmly. "What's going on?"

"Our evidence log was tampered with. Wendy first brought it to my attention. When we had it checked, we realized that one of the results was directly taken from the database and not a sample. In other words, Ms. Simmons here, accessed Catherine's profile from our records and simply copied and pasted. Catherine's DNA was never on the site."

Grissom stared at Ecklie and then at Janet. "Why?" He addressed his question to her.

"We'll have IA question her up on that." Ecklie shot her a menacing glare. "But playing with evidence isn't fun, young lady. Rest assured, it's your career down the drain."

Janet looked scared. She looked regretful. But her face didn't carry an inch of remorse. Grissom turned away, repulsed. "Take her away."

"Mr. Grissom, only those who have been as privileged as you can pass judgments." Janet retorted bitterly, before being led away by Ecklie.

He watched her leave.


Sofia stood up when the psychiatrist emerged from inside the ward.

"How's she?"

"She's still terribly traumatized, but I've given her some tranquilizers. That should help her for now."

"Is she ready to talk?"

"Yes, but do not tax her too much." The doctor cautioned. "There is one more thing, though. I noticed several bruises on her back."

"She was most likely abused." Sofia gritted her teeth.

Carmel was propped against several pillows. Her legs were folded close to her body and her arms were wrapped around her knees in a protective way. The tranquilizers seemed to have stopped the shivering, but it didn't take away the haunted look from her face. Despite that, Sofia noticed how incredibly beautiful the woman was. Long black hair had the sheen of midnight. Beneath the pallor of the trauma, the olive complexion layered soft features. Her leanness was complemented by supple, feminine curves.

"Hi." Sofia mustered a smile as warm as possible.

Carmel jerked, as if half expecting something terrible. She visibly relaxed when she saw it was only Sofia. "Hi." She greeted back.

After getting on with the usual polite generalities, Sofia came right down to business. "I'm Detective Curtis. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

The woman gave her a look that she couldn't quite decipher. "You are the one who rescued me. It's the least I can do."

Sofia cleared her throat and pulled up a nearby chair. "How do you know Sh- Sheridan Hastings?"

"I'm his wife."

"And do you know the woman we found in the bedroom?"

Carmel swallowed. "No. But I have seen her by the house a couple of times."

"If this next question troubles you too much then tell me." Sofia leant forward. "Did you see what happened?"

"Yes."

The fear seemed to be returning to the woman's face. Sofia touched her reassuringly. She knew, by being in this service for so long, that officers seek these kind of opportunities to question witnesses. Still in the aftereffects of what they had sighted, these people were more likely to tell the truth compared to later when they had reasoned all the pros and cons of speaking to the police. Often the questions had the worst kind of effect on these people. Reliving the horror snaps all the threads holding them together. Committed to her duty, Sofia knew she should press. But for some strange reason, she found herself empathizing with this victimized woman strongly.

"If you don't want to talk about it now…" Sofia began.

"No." Carmel cut in softly. "I want to talk about it. I can't remain silent. Not anymore."

---

Carmel hadn't felt so happy in years. For the first time, Sean had allowed her to go somewhere on her own. She had spent a blissful day as Lena's accompanying parent on a school trip. It had been fun, and freeing, to be with so many children and their parents. For many kids, both parents had been present. Carmel was only intensely relieved that Sean hadn't insisted on going along. He had seemed strangely preoccupied the past few days. She didn't know why, but she knew better than to ask.

The trip had to be concluded abruptly due to a thunderstorm warning. The teachers didn't want the kids drenched. Like many other classmates, Lena had been cross that their trip was spoiled. To make up for it, Mrs. Dobson, the mother of Lena's best friend, offered to have the children at her house for a while. Lena's pleading eyes had decided it for Carmel, even though she knew she was going to get a handful from Sean.

Carmel was thinking of varied excuses and lies to spin as she approached the front porch, when she noticed the back gates open.

"This is strange." She thought. Sean had strict orders regarding security. She knew the servants would face his ill temper when he discovers this small breach, so she hurriedly went to close it.

She saw a car parked close to gates. Sean had a visitor.

She had an unexpectedly reckless idea. The mansion was built with hidden passageways to all the important rooms from the outside. Why it was constructed as such, she didn't know. But she had found it particularly useful when she just wanted to avoid her husband for the entire day. If he didn't see her, he was less likely to be aroused to violate her.

She thought of taking one of these routes to the bedroom, getting some cash and indulging herself with some shopping spree. The brief moments of independence were worth Sean's wrath if he found out, and find out he will. But he abused her regardless of whether she ever did anything wrong or not.

She had just finished stuffing her handbag when she heard the unmistakable sounds of someone coming up the stairs. Her gaze dashed to the passageway and she realized she didn't have enough time to escape. She did the next best thing and ducked underneath the massive bed. Sean rarely used the bedroom other than to satisfy his sadistic desires. It wasn't likely he would stay there long without her.

"Sean, baby, I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry. You know that, right?" A female voice purred.

"You have really disappointed me, Kristen. I had such high hopes from you. You were so promising."

"I know, baby, I know." Kristen sobbed. "How can I make it up to you?"

Carmel saw them both enter the bedroom, her bedroom.Sean sighed. "I wish I could remain angry with you, Kristen. But you are still my number one. It's just this time you've really saddened me. I always thought you so competent, so ready to do anything to succeed."

"I am, Sean, love." Kristen ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair. "I promise I won't ever let you down again. You know I love you, right?"

"Yes." He exhaled. "I know that. Come here."

Kristen moaned as he wrenched apart the shirt she wore. He grabbed her close to him and kissed her heavily, even as his hands undressed and groped her.

"Oh, Sean, baby, my baby. I love you, so much." She gasped when his teeth played with her naked nipple.

Carmel shrunk further inside while her husband and the woman approached the bed. She felt the bed frame strike against her back as they collapsed on the mattress. She bit back a yelp.

"My love, my love." Kristen repeated, in the throes of passion.

"Yes, I know, Kristen. I'm your love. I'm your only love." Sean murmured in glee.

Carmel couldn't see what was happening, but she heard the tearing of fabric, the wet noises of mouths hungrily seeking flesh and the carnal groans of sex.

"You like this, Kristen?" Sean grunted and Carmel felt the bed shake.

"Yes, yes." Kristen whispered throatily. "I like this."

"And this?"

"Yes, more. God, Sean, more, yes!"

"How about this?"

"Yes… aah! Sean!"

"And this?"

"Sean!"

"This? This?"

"God! You are hurting me!"

"Kristen, my bitch, how do you like this?"

"You crazy bastard, get off me!"

"Oh you like this, don't you? Don't you, my darling?"

"No, I don't like this! Let me go!"

Carmel winced as she heard the cries of pain. She had heard it so many times, from her own lips.

And then the weight relaxed suddenly. Every fiber in her tensed when she saw the woman leap out from the bed onto the floor. She tried to move further back into the shadows, if it was possible.

"Sean, what do you think you are doing?" Kristen screamed, covering her bare chest with her hands.

"Filthy whore! All of you, all of you are just the same." Sean taunted. "You can never handle real sex with a real man."

"Don't come near me." Kristen crawled backwards with her elbows.

But it didn't take too long for Sean to tower over her and grab a fistful of her hair. She yelled out aloud and Carmel thought her bones would crack with the sound.

"You failed me, bitch! You failed me! And nobody fails Sean!" He pulled her up, just by her hair. Her hands tried to fight, but in vain.

"Sean, please, I'm sorry. I said I was sorry." Kristen began crying now.

"Sorry, eh? Sorry?" With his free hand he gave her a hard slap. A trickle of blood oozed out from her nose.

"You are a failure! A fucking, miserable failure! Why shouldn't I punish you, huh? Tell me. Give me a good reason."

"Please, baby, I love you. Please don't do this." Tears and blood began to run down Kristen's face.

"Nehhh… I'm sorry, that was the wrong answer." He slapped her again. Carmel saw him reach towards his prized dagger collection and pick out the smallest piece. The blade was just over six inches long, but its wicked gleam left no doubt about its effectiveness. She had scars to prove as much.

Kristen's eyes widened in horror as she noticed the weapon. "Sean, Sean, what are you doing? What the fuck are you doing?"

"I don't know." He frowned and then grinned. "Planning to cut you up, maybe?"

"No!" Every ounce of self-preservation in her shouted out. "Don't do this. I beg of you! Spare me, Sean! Have mercy!"

"Begging? Ah, beg then." He threw her down to his feet. "Grovel like a worm and BEG!"

She caught hold of his ankles and whimpered. "Please, Sean, let me go. I'll do anything you want. I'll never fail you again. I promise. Don't do this, please, please!"

"Say you are my slave." He demanded.

"I'm your slave."

"Say you are my whore."

She choked. "I'm your whore, Sean. I'll forever be your whore. Just please let me go."

"Say you'll do anything to please me."

"I'll do anything to please you. Whatever you desire."

"Even if it means you need to be butchered."

"Sean! No!" She held on to his feet and kissed it, not caring for the revulsion. "Please, no! No!"

"What a liar." He shook his head sadly. "Sean doesn't like liars. Sean cannot tolerate failures and liars. You are both. What can Sean do? You've left him with no choice."

He took her by her fragile neck and lifted her up. "Sean wants you to see what he does to you. Sean wants you to feel your perfect little body being carved into tiny, tiny, tiny pieces." He brought his face so close to her that she could see into the dark pits of his eyes. "Sean wants you to feel more pain than you could ever imagine."

"Sean… please." Her wails were hopeless. There was no pleading with the Devil; she knew that now. She could only pray that her death would be swift and she wouldn't suffer.

But he wasn't ready to offer her even that. He snapped her neck and immediately her body went limp. She was paralyzed of motion, but not of sensation. He licked his lips in delight and began the methodical mutilation. The round breasts, the flat abdomen, the thighs still wet from sex, the genitals swollen by his violent thrusts, the long creamy legs, the elegant hands and finally the face. Before slashing her face, he saw into her eyes. She was still alive, still breathing, and aware of every humiliating torture. Her eyes reflected the agony and the distress of someone who couldn't conjure a worse Hell. As possibly the last strain of life seeped out from her, Sean was finished.

---

Sofia wasn't aware of how tightly her hands were clenched together until she felt her nails dig into the softness of her palm. She lifted it and saw the red marks of pressure upon them. Her heart was pounding painfully in her rib cage and her muscles had turned to jelly.

Silent tears streamed down Carmel's face, which had gone ghostly white. Sofia couldn't even begin to comprehend what it must have been like to witness such brutality.

"C-Carmel?" Even a whisper took a considerable amount of effort.

"I have seen Sean do terrible things." Carmel said. "To me, especially. Every time he came near me, he ensured that I hurt. But I have never seen him kill anybody. Not like this. Not like a wild animal. I couldn't move after that. I was so afraid that he'll find me and he'll do the same thing to me."

She turned to look directly at Sofia. "I'm still afraid."

Sofia tried to offer some reassurance, but found she was empty of it. They were facing a monster, someone who was beyond any humanity or reproach. She felt too inadequate to offer any sense of protection to this woman.

"Why did you stay with him? Why didn't you come to the police?"

Carmel gave a sardonic smile. "Sean has gotten away with more crimes than you can count. I'm pretty sure your police doesn't even have a record of him. You think you'd be able to nail him for mere abuse? He would have walked free and he would have then hunted me down and punished me in the worst manner possible."

"What about yo… your daughter? Did he…" Sofia shuddered. "Did he abuse her too?"

"Oh, no, he loved Lena. She's one of the two people he truly loves. And besides, he isn't a pedophile. Kids don't interest him. But yes, I was afraid that once she grows up, he wouldn't deter from turning to her. Part of the reason I stayed."

"You could have taken Lena away with you. You were her mother. The court would have granted you some consideration."

"I'm not her mother." Carmel shook her head. "Sean and I married two years ago. Lena was conceived much, much before. As far as I know, I was his first marriage. Who her mother is or was, nobody knows."

She clasped her hands together. "But I loved Lena as my own daughter. Even if I somehow escaped, I couldn't take her with me. She would have been in the clutches of that beast, forever."

Sofia laid a hand over the woman's. "We found your daughter. She's in protective custody. Sean won't reach her."

Carmel looked up to meet her sky blue eyes and for the first time since they met she smiled. "Thank you, detective, for everything. For everything."


I know, no Catherine and Sara in this chapter. Sorry. Thank you for the reviews, everyone :)