Author's notes: Sorry about the length of time it has taken me to get this updated. Between work and home it seems there are never enough hours. Hopefully you will all read it and think "It's been worth the wait". If not, oh well…I'm still having fun with Flack and the gang! Remember to hit that review button to let me know if I'm doing o.k.
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Danny stood outside the interrogation room waiting for the detectives to bring in the suspect. Through the work of the detectives running down the leads on Paul Walker, the woman that had pressed rape and assault charges had given them a list of Walker's friends. Several of these raised a red flag, including the low life scum currently being led in handcuffs towards him.
"Morning Danny," Detective Stevenson propelled the suspect towards the door. "Are you sitting in on this?"
"If you don't mind." Danny took a close look at Maurice Ricci. His hair was messy and he hadn't obviously been given much time to pull himself together.
"Not a problem. Come on Maurice." The detective put a sing song emphasis on the name Maurice.
Inside and seated the initial questions began.
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"You mentioned a name last night. Do you know a Hayden?"
His brow knitted as he searched, trying to access his memory. "I don't think so. Are you sure that's what I said?"
"I can't be sure, you were mumbling. I caught most of it I think. I heard "ayden", so I assumed it was Hayden. I guess it could be Payden or Jayden, or something else." She trailed off and looked at the figure sitting quietly on the bed. 'He's remembering something.
He closed his blue eyes and searched deep in his mind for something. Aiden. Suddenly like a flood, scenes flashed through his mind. A feisty brunette was smiling up at him, another with the same woman grabbing his hand as they walked into a dark building, her dark eyes laughing at him and finally a flower draped coffin with her picture sitting on the top. Feelings coursed through his body and wetness moistened his eyes. Opening them, he saw the concerned look Ash was giving him. "I remembered. It wasn't Hayden, it was Aiden. She is, I mean was a friend of mine. She's dead though." His voice was broken, the emotion evident in every word.
Ash moved to the bed to sit by him, putting her hand over his. "I'm sorry. I see that she meant a lot to you."
He looked into Ash's eyes, "I can feel that she was, but I can't remember details. I'm only getting images and feelings." The frustration crept into his voice. "I want to remember. But I can't."
"It will Danny. You've got to give it time."
"But what if it won't Ash, what if it won't."
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Interrogation rooms weren't built for comfort. Even with the climate control, a small room with four men in it, things were becoming close quickly. Danny could feel his shirt sticking slightly to his body when he shifted in his chair. It had been over an hour and Maurice Ricci hadn't said much. His lawyer had been contacted and now currently sat beside his client. The slick suit and handmade shoes proclaimed that he was connected to the Scalero family. There was no way a puke like Ricci could afford him. Danny didn't foresee any new information being forth coming with him there.. Ricci had maintained his cocky attitude. Commendable for someone who had been drug from his bed. He had admitted to knowing Walker and that he had been in contact with him yesterday.
"Come on," Danny leaned across the table. "You're a guy; Walker calls you up just to chat? Hey Maurice, got a good recipe for lasagna? I don't believe it. I think he called you up and said he needed your help with a problem; something that he couldn't handle on his own. Something so big that he ended up dead."
Shaking his head, Ricci looked at Danny and spoke as if he were speaking to a child. "I've told you four times." Paul just called to see what was up. I was busy, so I didn't talk long. I'm sorry that he's dead, but that's all I know." He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.
Danny continued, "So you were busy doing what?"
Ricci sighed, "I was working. Some of us have to do that." He glanced at the other men in the room.
"Yeah, that's right, working. Who for Maurice?" Danny's face was set in a firm line.
"My current employer prefers to remain anonymous. Invasion of privacy issues. I'm sure you can understand." Ricci sneered.
"That's right; Little Frankie likes his privacy doesn't he." Danny returned the smirk.
"Officer, my client is not going to sit here and answer the same questions over and over." The lawyer began sliding items back into his briefcase. "Either you need to charge him with something or we will be leaving."
"Give us a moment." Detective Stevenson ushered Danny outside. "We've got nothing to continue holding him other than some unpaid parking tickets."
"Yeah, let me go. I do want to get DNA from him first." Danny headed to the lab to get a swab kit. Minutes later he returned and settled into the chair. "Maurice, I'd like a DNA sample before you go."
Finally there was a reaction. Ricci slid his chair back and slapped his hands on the table. "Bullshit. You want something from me, you'll need a warrant!" He turned to his lawyer. "I'm not giving them the opportunity to pin something on me when I'm innocent."
"Maurice, we usually use that DNA to clear suspects. But I'm sure you've got some reason to worry. I'll work on getting that warrant." Danny smiled and left the room.
That smile had faded an hour later. The judge had refused to issue the order. Not enough evidence to require Ricci to give up his DNA. As Ricci and his lawyer left they crossed paths with a frustrated Danny.
Laughing, Ricci couldn't resist the opportunity to rub his release in Danny's face. "Well, it was nice meeting you officer. Maybe we can do this again sometime." The pair made their way out the door and to the elevator.
Slamming his fist down on the desk next to him, Danny turned to Detective Stevenson. "Son-of-a-bitch is walking right out of here, laughing in our faces. He knows where Flack is and we've got nothing!"
Once on the street Ricci's lawyer ushered him into a waiting car. Once they had pulled away from the curb he spoke to Ricci, "Frankie wants to know what the hell is going on here."
"I don't know. The cops come and pull me out of my bed and haul me downtown. They were asking all kinds of questions about Walker and the cop. They don't have anything to tie him to me. What I don't understand is where the cop went. He was out cold, but he was alive. Someone had to have found him."
The lawyer's gaze was serious. "Well, Frankie is unhappy with the amount of heat that this is causing him. If the cop was where you dumped Walker, then he's got to be somewhere. The cops would have checked everything out in the neighborhood."
Ricci thought for a moment. "Anyone who saw anything won't talk to the cops. It is a low profile kind of place. I'll get a change of clothes and head down there to see if I can jog anyone's memory. Think if I find their lost lamb I'd get a medal for it?" He laughed at his own wit.
Ever serious, the man beside him reminded him of the possible consequences. "I'd be more worried about what Frankie might do if there is any additional scrutiny of his business dealings."
"Tell Frankie I've got it under control."
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"Damn it Stella, he walked and we've got nothing to tie him to the case except our gut instincts." Danny raked his hand through his hair as he paced the office. "With DNA we might have tied him to the warehouse and that could have forced his hand."
Stella sat quietly, the guilt at having not had Flack's back still nagging at her. Suddenly an idea came to her. "You said that Ricci was with a girl when the officer's brought him in, right?"
Danny looked at her questioningly. "Yes, but I don't see what she will know. According to the statement she gave at the apartment, she only met him last night."
Stella smiled brightly, "Well if Ricci wouldn't give us a sample, I bet he gave her one last night."
The realization dawned on Danny and a smile crossed his boyish face. "I got ya. Thank god for easy girls!"
"Grab your kit and let's go visit lover boy's one night stand." Stella reached for her coat and limped slightly as she headed for the door.
Thirty minutes later they were standing outside the door of Holly Behrens. She opened the door reluctantly. Earlier at Ricci's apartment she had alternated between embarrassed and scared witless. While Holly had enjoyed the idea of being with a bad boy, the reality was not what she had expected. Letting the CSI's in, she led them into the small area that functioned as her living room.
"How can I help?" She questioned after Stella had explained the need to obtain Ricci's DNA.
"Were you and Mr. Ricci together sexually last night?" Stella knew the answer, but it had to be asked.
Red faced with her reply, Holly confirmed that she had been.
"We would like to, with your permission take a swab of your vaginal area to retrieve his DNA." Stella looked at the young girl, "This could be what helps us get our friend back."
"I've already showered and," the embarrassment caused her to lower her voice. "I douched. I just wanted to get the feel of him off of me."
Danny stood up quickly, the frustration he felt over this announcement was written all over his face. "Great, just great!"
Stella held up a restraining hand to her partner. "Did you wear panties home?"
Holly's face showed the confusion at the question. "Yes. But I don't see what that has to do with anything."
Stella smiled and pulled out a pair of gloves. "It's all about gravity."
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They had sat on the bed motionless for what felt like hours. Finally, he had shifted and taking a deep breath he spoke. "I need to know who I am Ash. I can't take the not being to remember. I need to go back and find something that will lead me to who I am. Let's go back to the alley."
She thought for a moment. The likelihood of cops still being around was pretty slim. After all, a murder in this area wasn't uncommon. Maybe Danny was right. Going back could give him the nudge that his memory needed. "Give me a moment to get myself together and we'll head out." She smiled at him, "Maybe the alley does hold your answers."