CHAPTER FIVE
Mark and Janice were now in the parking lot after being brought by a squad car. They watched Jim walking out of the woods with Iris by his side. The parents anxiously searched the faces of the Brasses for a clue of what was going on. In the background were a crowd of television news crews clamoring to have access to the parents, reporters and cameramen jostling for the best position like racehorses at the starting gate.
"Iris…Jim…what is it…please?" Mark asked in a faltering voice.
Brass looked to Iris as she stepped closer to Janice to hold her arm. "I am so terribly sorry…" Iris began as her voice cracked.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" shrieked Janice, pushing Iris away from her, as she fell weeping inconsolably into her husband's arms. Iris struggled to remain her own composure as Jim kept his arm about her.
Janice was hysterical as she beat against her husband's chest in sorrow. She quickly drew back like a snake ready to strike. "Why couldn't you have been on time? She'd still be alive if you'd been there when you should have. I blame you for this. God will never forgive you for letting this happen nor will I." Janice hissed as she lunged at Iris and slapped her forcefully.
Jim stepped between the two women. Iris stared numbly away, the print of Janice's hand on her face red against her now pale skin. "Mark, take her home and we'll be in touch. You can't do anything for your daughter here. I'll have a car run you home." Brass stated firmly. He motioned to one of his officers.
"Jim, I don't know what to say…Janice is beside herself…" Mark was reaching for words, his own voice strangling in sorrow.
"She was our only child…Heidi…Heidi…" Janice collapsed back into Mark's arms; her loud sobs intermingled with groans of anguish. He slowly walked his wife to the waiting squad car. Other officers formed a protective shield about the grieving couple as they were escorted to a waiting squad car to keep the news reporters at bay as they swarmed about trying to elicit a response or trying to gain the first wave of information to be made known.
They reminded Brass of sharks going into a feeding frenzy as he quickly went back to Iris, who was now his main concern beside the crime scene. He cupped her face in his hands to look down into those dark eyes he adored above all else. What he saw there was grief, sorrow, anguish, but love was there also to strengthen and encourage them both.
"Grissom's given me lead investigator on this, hon, and it's gonna be a bumpy ride so get your spurs out." Iris said softly as she buried her face into his chest and his chin came to rest on top of her head followed by his arms about her.
"Yeah, I know. Let's get on with it, then." Brass murmured into her ear.
Jim took his wife by the arm to walk back to the crime scene where Sara was already at work with Grissom's help. Another officer followed to bring Iris's kit that she was never without in her Jeep.