Summary: There's evil once again in the city of sin. Whatever happens in Vegas…might just kill ya.
Timeline: Sequel to Poisonous Fear (recommended that one is read first), Early/Mid Season Six
Spoilers: Grave Danger, Bodies in Motion, Shooting Stars, Gum Drops, Daddy's Little Girl, several references to other episodes
Disclaimer: This is all written in fun. Everything CSI is not mine and never will be. It belongs to the creative talent of the actors, the writers, the directors, and the producers. I am not making any money off of this. Only meant to offer something new on something already so great. No reason to sue.
Title: To Whom It May Concern
By: duffshel
Author's Note: Thanks again for the patience in getting this chapter out. I hope everyone is still there, though I have to say, missing a few people. Ah well, I know we all have lives and what-not. Got moved in and started some classes yesterday. Should be interesting. Have to get back into student mode after two years off. But, chapters will keep coming. The good stuff is coming! So, go on read and good luck to those of you heading back to school! Bye.
Chapter 15:
Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear
in children is increased by tales, so is the other.
Francis Bacon, "Of Death"
Nick rubbed a damp palm against an equally damp forehead. No matter what he tried, there was no removing the liquid his body was dumping from his pours. And it was beginning to burn in his eyes as it ran down past his eyebrows and lashes.
Another street light attempted to stop his progress, but Nick blew through it before the yellow could turn to red. Several other cars were on the road, but the Texan paid them little mind as he weaved around the vehicles moving too slow for his current standards. Only one horn sounded in his wake.
The lights from the Strip were within sight and Nick found himself giving the engine more gasoline. A slight hum answered his efforts, but as a whole, the speed just wasn't enough. Something bothered the CSI about everything, but Nick didn't let himself dwell on anything negative. He knew if he did, there was no way in hell he was going to be able to face Kelly in that casino.
When he had left his apartment building, Nick had grabbed his cell from the couch. It now rested, face down on the passenger seat. No noise came from it and for once, Nick was hoping for some. His fingers itched to call for help, someone else who could be there when he walked in to face one of his demons.
But self anger and hatred roared at those thoughts. A large part of him knew he could do this, had to do this. If he were to call in backup for this simple little meeting, then he was not strong enough. And there was no way he was going to admit he wasn't strong enough to do this.
It was quick when he came upon the casino. He almost blew completely past it in his efforts to reach it. This was a place that was never somewhere he went on his own so the turn was a little awkward to make. And the drive was busy.
There had been a couple cases that he had been part of in different parts of the building so Nick knew the way to weave around the cars and reach the parking garage all on his own. His fingers tapped the steering wheel as he waited for the car in front of him to collect their ticket so he could get his. The brace arm moved up slowly as Nick inched the truck forward.
Cars drove smoothly on the shiny cement of the parking structure. There were several cars moving back and forth trying to either leave or find somewhere to park. Nick drove straight for the second level and lucked out. An empty spot was waiting for him just over to the left of the level.
The wind was surprisingly strong even with the cement barriers all around him. His hair and clothes were shifted and moved as he walked towards the stairwell. Several women cut in front of him giving him a face full of cheap perfume. One even smile red stained teeth as she scanned him from top to bottom. Nick forced himself to shake it off and follow them down the stairs.
He walked confidently into the casino, eyes scanning the area. The slots were ringing and giving off too many colors at once. It was overwhelming despite the number of times he had entered a casino, whether on his own or for the lab. He never could see the appeal and still didn't really understand everything Warrick had gone through with his addiction.
Nick pushed past a group of young out-of-towners and moved towards the main entrance way. The craps tables were full, people yelling encouragements at the top of their voices. People were slamming hands and drinks down on the velvet tops of the blackjacks tables as hands were tossed back and forth. It was certainly an interesting way to do a people survey or study, that was for sure. But Nick only needed to find one member of the people.
The blonde hair was hard to miss against the off-white paint of the coffee house. Java Coast was an open shop with tall tables and chairs. Kelly was sitting in one of the outer tables, facing directly out into the casino. Her eyes were directed right onto Nick as he made his way over to her.
"Kelly? What happened?" Nick didn't know what else to start this conversation out with, "You came to the crime lab!"
"I know. And you weren't there."
Her voice was tight, cool of any emotion. In fact, her entire face was smooth and clear of anything Nick could use to assess this situation. She didn't look like a person that had just made that call to him and needed his help.
"Yeah, case. What'd you need from me?"
She watched him take a seat in the chair to her right, "Did you get the note?"
"Uh huh. My boss gave it me as soon as I got back. I read it when I got home. But I didn't see anything that needed to be discussed right away," Nick watched his words as much as the girl in front of him as he talked.
"Just wanted to let you know that. I thought…"
Kelly drawled off and lowered her head. Her hands tightened around the tall coffee cup resting on the table top. Nick could see the pale pink nail polish on her longer nails. They were perfectly trimmed.
"Thought what?"
"I thought it was true, ya know. But now, I don't know anymore."
"What happened?"
An explosive breath left her body and she sagged down into the chair, hands white now around the cup, "Too many things. I can't believe it happened the way it did. I never knew! I really didn't!"
Nick's eyes widened at the loss of control Kelly was suddenly having. Her face went pale, eyes shiny as she pleaded with him. Her entire posture screamed confused innocence. Nick didn't really know what to do.
"Kelly, I don't understand what we're talking about here. Can you just tell me?"
Her eyes met his slowly, unsurely, "I did something."
"Alright. Can't really get a lot out of that ya know," Nick tried to smile and ease some of her tension, "So, I really need you to just tell me."
Before he knew what she was doing, Kelly was on her feet and fleeing the coffee house. No one paid her any mind, but Nick almost fell over when he tried to catch up to her. She was almost jogging towards the parking garage doors.
"Kelly! Wait!"
Her blonde hair flew out as she shook her head, but her pace didn't slow down at all, "You have a car here?"
"Yeah, it's out this way," Nick huffed as he finally reached her side.
"We'll need it. I'll take you."
"Where?" Nick reached out and grabbed her arm. "You can tell me what's going on."
Kelly reached back and grabbed the hand holding hers with her free one, "Just drive. I'll show you."
They walked, hand in hand, to where Nick had parked his truck. The stairs had made it hard to keep the contact, but they had somehow managed. She set the pace fast once she saw the CSI unit. Nick held on and tried to get his keys out of his pocket at the same time.
He pushed the button on the remote and unlocked all the doors in one go. Kelly finally let go of his hand and moved quickly to the passenger set. She opened the door and hefted herself up before Nick even had a chance to open his own door.
Nick missed her moving his cell phone. All he could think about was how warm her hand felt in his.
!#$&()!#$&()!#$&()+
Detective Sam Vega walked with more determination than should have been possible. He should have been ready for his death march on this walk. It was a long way to Jim Brass' office when you knew you were going to die one way or another when passing the door.
There was no yelling to be heard yet, but it could be possible that Brass had killed both Vartann and Curtis already. No one would do a thing to the older man if he already had. Hell, Brass could go off on the entire department and all the mayor would probably do would be to slap him on the wrist.
Another CSI was lost. It made Sam's stomach twist up. He remembered enough about the last times. Everything had been fine then, but a person could only be so lucky. The LVPD had to be owing the magic man soon for all the miracles they already called in.
His feet got heavier, but somehow Sam made it to the closed door of Brass' office. The blinds were down and the door closed. He could almost fell the fires of hell beckoning to him. With a deep breath, the detective reached out and opened the door.
It was deathly quiet inside. All three turned to look at him, but no one said a thing. Vartann had already told everyone over the phone or radio so they all knew what had happened in that Vegas street. But Sam didn't want to have to talk about it now, or ever if he could help it.
He took the only empty chair left in the room. Sitting between the wall and Sophia, he could see the other three clearly. Everyone looked like a dump truck had blindsided them. All were pale and each had pinched faces of anger and concern. It was like before.
"Anyone hear anything yet?" Sam put out softly.
Sophia appeared to curl in upon herself as she heard the question, but was the one to answer it, "Nothing. We've been trying to get in contact with the other CSI's, but having little luck. Greg's with Sara at the lab. Gil and Catherine are at a scene out of city limits and aren't answering their phones. And Nick should be at home, no answer there either."
"Anyone head out to check on them?"
Jim coughed and shifted in his chair a little, "Not yet. I wanted the four of us on this. I'm not taking any chances this time. Each of us gets to watch over the CSI's and help investigate the case. I've already talked with the mayor and Ecklie."
"Who's where?" Vartann looked ready to get out there so he could get things done. He looked guilty though Sam knew he shouldn't. There really wasn't a whole lot he could have done by the sound of things. Now was his chance to fix things and try to make it all whole again.
"I want Sophia to head to the lab, watch over Greg and Sara. Don't let them leave the building until I give you the word. Vartann and Vega, I want you two to find Gil and Catherine. Try to help them move their scenes along faster. I want them back to the lab as soon as possible."
'What about you?" Sophia asked as she got to her feet.
"I'm going to go find Nicky. Boy isn't going to get out of my sights on this one, guarantee it."
No one questioned his decisions to where they were going. Sam knew that Brass was worried most about Nick even though Warrick was the one they had lost. Enough had happened to the Texan over the years and now he lost his best friend, hopefully not forever. But Sam knew Jim would be the best to deal with the younger man.
"Alright people. Get out there. Answer your damn phones when I call! I'll have your asses on platters if you don't. Keep everyone updated and let me know about anything that happens anywhere. We're going to keep this under our control as much as possible this time."
Sam nodded and walked out into the hallway after Sophia. The fires of hell were still on his heels, but he could see the white light on the end of the tunnel. Only had to hope that it didn't mean what the back of his mind kept telling him it was.
!#$&()!#$&()!#$&()+
Grissom pushed some of the dirt out of the way as he leaned down closer. The smell of decomposition was strong, but he had learned to ignore it over the years. It was nothing to him now. Other than a chance to work and solve a new puzzle.
He squinted his eyes as he looked down into the slight ditch that was by the body of the girl. She hadn't been left in an alley like the other ones. And the girls kept coming quicker and quicker now.
Catherine had called him out to help on this particular body. It was left in a landfill, discovered by a worker as they walked the grounds. The body had the normal markings of the other girls, two gunshots, in the same places.
But the exciting thing about this newest discovery, there were footprints left in the dirt around the body. It was more than they had gotten at any of the other sites. And these two CSI's were going to take everything they got straight to the cleaners on this case.
Something had caught Gil's eye as he moved around the area, sticking out of the dirt. So now he was trying to extract it without causing too much damage to the area, after photos of course. It was some sort of metal.
Gil's lips pursed up in confusion as his brain ran through the different options possible for what type of metal this could be. There was a slight shine to it, but also a dullness that had started around the edges. And it wasn't what one could call a perfect metallic gray.
"What'd you find?"
The voice was sudden and rocked Grissom right from his thoughts, body turning on its heels to the intruder, "Piece of metal, found it in the dirt."
Vartann smiled as he moved closer to the CSI, watching where he was placing his feet in respect to the area Grissom was working in, "Interesting. What does it have to do with this?"
With a small smile and a shrug, Grissom bagged the tiny piece of evidence. He quickly filled out the needed information on the label before turning to the detective that was waiting for an answer. His little grin was still in place.
"Oh, could be nothing, could be everything. You know how it goes. But, I don't know what it is yet. Have to get it back to the lab and have to get some books ready."
"So, the great Gil Grissom is finally stumped on something," Vega chuckled as he took his place next to Vartann, watching the other man with a calculated gaze.
Grissom could feel the tension coming off in large waves. He knew their humor and smiles were being forced to several degrees. And they were watching him very closely. Obviously he was used to it from the job that he had, but this was taking it to a whole new level. They only did this sort of thing when something was wrong.
"What brings you two out here? We already have the officers that we need. Didn't think we needed two detectives on this one."
They both exchanged a look, neither looking happy anymore. Grissom's eyes squinted down even more as he watched their behavior. He may not be a people person, but he knew what to look for in body language. And there was something they didn't want to have to tell him.
"Um, well, you see…" Vega started out, but quickly shot a look over to Vartann who looked as if he were waiting for the world to open up and swallow him whole.
The other detective raised up to his normal height and met Grissom square in the eyes, "We had a scene across town. Same M.O. and everything, except this time the perp was present as well. Just so happens, that's where your guys were going too."
"Which guys?"
"Brown and Sanders. They came to the call we sent out. But…"
Grissom placed his hands on his hips and lowered his chin a little, "But things went wrong?"
"You could say that. The guy was someone Warrick knew. Well, sort of."
It was getting more and more confusing by the minute. Grissom didn't like to play these type of word games and he had to say they were really getting on his nerves with this one.
"Alright, just tell me. What happened?"
Vartann closed his eyes for a second, his shoulders slumped in defeat, "Warrick traded himself with the girl. They both left and we don't know where they went."
Out of everything Grissom had been ready for, this was on the far bottom of the list. It hadn't warranted any attention in his mind in the scenario list. Warrick wasn't someone who got in this kind of trouble. The man was too smooth. These were things saved for others, one other.
"How did he know him?"
"From what happened before with you guys. He was part of the church mess. Knew exactly who Warrick was, asked for him specifically in fact. And Warrick went along with it. I tried to talk him out of it, I really did."
Grissom bent down and began to gather his thoughts under the pretense that he was getting his things together. He had hoped the church fiasco was done, finished. They hadn't gotten much out of it once the bad guys were gone, but there was reason for these men to be back. Especially not now.
"What are you doing?" Vega asked as Grissom stood back up.
A deep frown settled on Grissom's forehead, "Packing up. Heading back to the lab."
"Brass wants you two to finish the scene first. Reason we're here is to help speed it up so we can get moving along. Can't leave this to blow in the wind."
Warring thoughts went off in the CSI's mind. On one hand, he knew he couldn't leave the scene yet. There was a lot to do yet and the girl deserved their best practices and observations. But his other half was worried for his team worker, his friend. It wanted nothing more than to pick up and run out into the streets like death was hot on his tail.
"Is anyone going to keep in touch with either of you, updates and things?"
"Yes, Brass himself," Vartann nodded as he turned to try to find a head of blonde hair.
"You guys tell Catherine yet?"
"No. We wanted you there for when she went off. Figure you can keep her from killing us better than if we were on our own."
The two detectives walked away to where the female CSI was working, steps slow. Grissom raised one eyebrow in shocked question to the comment, but forced himself to follow after them. He needed to be there for someone on his team at least.
!#$&()!#$&()!#$&()+
It was hard to breathe. Warrick shifted a little, turning his body a little more onto his back. His head ached and something tasted funny in his mouth. A groan was muffled. Something wasn't normal.
Warrick tried to move his hands, but found they couldn't leave the small of his back. The strain in his shoulders suddenly hit him and forced his eyes to fly open. It was nothing, but black darkness.
His tongue couldn't seem to work. He flexed his lips, only to encounter something. The taste was strong, along with some smell. It was all too overpowering. And he couldn't see what he needed or wanted to.
Panic flared in his entire body forcing him to kick out with his legs and shift around on his shoulders. His biceps screamed at the pull as he forced his arms under the full weight of his torso. Breathing got even harder.
Slamming his eyes shut against the opposing darkness, Warrick counted quickly to ten, then slowly a second time. It gave him something to focus on. Something that calmed him down enough to attempt to assess his predicament.
There was something tied across his mouth, the large knot digging into the back of his skull. And whatever it was, didn't taste all that clean. The cloth bag over his head didn't help matters since the smell was trapped right into his nostrils.
He was tied up, gagged and hooded. All he could remember was following Shaun to that van and seeing that face that haunted his dreams at night. Now, he couldn't see anything and had to admit, Warrick was scared.
It was quiet wherever he was. Nothing was moving, not even the sound of a slight breeze. There was a dampness in the air, almost like a thick humidity. But the temperature was almost borderline chilly. It was somewhere Warrick knew he would never vacation given the choice in the matter.
Finally getting his body's reactions under control, Warrick tried to think of things he could do to get out. He twisted his hands and wrists as much as he could, but there was no give in whatever was holding his hands. Kicking out his feet didn't meet any surfaces. And he couldn't even think of calling out for any help.
He didn't know how long he lay there, thinking of anything that might work. Warrick barely heard the opening of a door. But he did feel the hands that reached down and forced him to his feet.
TBC…