Thank you for the review Blackcat509! I won't be having any trouble updating this story as it's already done, so fear not!

Chapter 7

An Unexpected Guest

A few hours had past and the two younger pathologists had moved to the conference room, talking through the case again, but still not getting anywhere. Leo appeared in the doorway, a confused expression on his face. "Um, Harry, Nikki," he said slowly, "There's someone here to see you." He moved aside, and out of all the people in the world, the last one they were expecting stepped through the door; Charlie Little.

"Hi," he greeted with a nervous wave.

"Hello," Harry returned, sending Nikki a hopeful glance over the table before they both moved towards him. "Charlie, isn't it?" He nodded. "What brings you here?" Glancing behind him to where Leo still hovered, Charlie swallowed.

"It's okay," Nikki said softly. "You can trust us."

With a final nod, the teenager seemed to make up his mind and stood taller. "I didn't want to go to the police," he began, not quite meeting their eyes. "I don't know why. It's stupid because I know you're going to tell them anyway."

Harry shook his head. "It's not stupid. We're much nicer than the police." Nikki elbowed him in the side and he sighed. "But you're right; whatever you tell us, we're going to have to pass it on."

"Have a seat," Nikki suggested, pulling up a chair herself and watching as he seemed to relax. Harry and Leo joined them and she nodded for him to continue.

Taking a deep breath, he began. He told them of his father's illegal chimpanzee operation and his deal with Conner Wilson, but then he surprised them. "There was another man, John Miller. I saw him and my dad meeting outside the zoo one night. Usually they're sold for money, but this time he traded something for the chimp. I couldn't see what it was, but it was different. I had a bad feeling about it." He took a breath and glanced around, analyzing their reactions. "I was curious, so I followed him. I followed John Miller. I know it was stupid," he defended when Leo gave him a disapproving look. "I should've called the police, but… I didn't want to get my dad in trouble."

"You followed him?" Nikki asked, gently steering him back to the point.

He nodded slowly and continued. "I followed him to a warehouse. It looked abandoned, but he met another man outside."

"Could you see what he looked like?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, they were standing in the lights of the car, so I could see them both just fine. He was, I don't know, about six feet tall. I'm not good with heights, but he was a bit taller than John Miller who's the same height as my dad. He's five foot ten inches, so I assumed somewhere around six feet. He was wearing a big black overcoat, black trousers, and a brown fedora. I think his hair was brown too, but I couldn't see it under the hat." Pausing for a moment, his shoulders seemed to relax as he blew out a long breath and looked up to meet their gazes.

"That's good," Harry smiled. "You were right to come to us."

Charlie returned the smile, though his was considerably weaker, and said, "I know where the warehouse is; I can show you."

Getting to his feet, Leo shook his head gently but sternly. "I'm sorry, but I think it would be better if you just told us where it is." Nodding solemnly, Charlie did as he was asked and Harry immediately left to call the detectives.

Rolling up to the warehouse, they found Sadler and Easton already there with a team of police officers. Harry had barely parked when Nikki jumped out of the passenger seat. Leo was not far behind them and soon, everyone had arrived.

"So, it was Charlie Little that told you about this place, was it?" Sadler asked, craning his neck to eye the building suspiciously.

DI Easton wandered over from an officer and pursed her lips. "That's the son, right?"

"Yup," Harry nodded.

"And you trust him?" she asked.

The three pathologists exchanged a glance. "We do," Nikki answered, her expression almost daring someone to comment.

"Right then," Easton said, drawing out the first word. "Let's go."

"You three stay out here," Sadler ordered. "We'll yell when it's safe, and don't argue," he added, narrowing his eyes at them before turning to follow the other detective.

Harry began fidgeting on the spot soon after the last policeman disappeared through the big doors and Leo rolled his eyes. "Will you stand still?" he asked, but his tone was joking and Harry sent him a snarky look.

"Do you really trust him?" Harry asked, turning the other way to look at Nikki.

She frowned at him. "Don't you?"

"Well…"

"You don't?" She looked irritated.

Harry fidgeted again, although this time it was her harsh gaze that was causing his unease. "It's not that I don't trust him," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "It's just that we don't even know him." He paused. "Plus he's a teenager. I can't read them. They're like aliens."

"Oh Harry," she huffed in exasperation, turning to the warehouse, though a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

A few more moments of silence passed and finally, Easton appeared in the entrance. "It's empty," she announced.

"What?" Nikki practically stormed past her. She was sure they were going to find something, but the detective was right. The supposedly abandoned warehouse was just that; abandoned. Leo and Harry trailed after her, but neither looked quite as upset. Still, they came to stand nearby and looked around with the same disheartened stare as she did.

"Well," Sadler sighed as he made his way over. "I think I'd like to have yet another word with that Charlie fellow."

"He could have just been mistaken," Nikki insisted.

He didn't look convinced. "I really hope you're right and he didn't just send us on a wild goose chase." Turning to the policemen, he called, "Come on, we're done here!" Then he left them alone to return to the police station, Easton trailing after him looking grumpy.

"Are you alright, Nikki?" Leo asked once they'd all left and silence had descended.

She turned her head and fixed him with a sarcastic stare. "Peachy."

Knowing that it was probably better to leave it at that, Leo made his escape. Sending Harry a raised eyebrow, he silently wished him luck. Once he'd gone as well, Harry started wandering around the wide open room. "I was sure too," he said from behind a dusty crate. "I guess I did trust him." He popped his head around the side and back into view. "Charlie, I mean; even though he's a teenager."

That earned him an eye roll and Nikki started ambling around as well, half hoping she'd find something the others had missed. "I'm worried about Curtis," she called quietly across the room.

"Me too," came Harry's answer. "I mean, it's entirely possible that he changed his mind about visiting Conner Wilson and went to a pub instead. Maybe he just got drunk and accidentally got on a plane to the Caribbean."

"Harry…"

"Lucky bugger," he continued. "He's probably traipsing around on a camel right now. Not that they have camels in the Caribbean, but that's in case he ended up in Africa instead."

"Harry."

"Maybe he went somewhere completely different, like Iceland or Canada."

"Harry!"

"What?" he yelled, finally hearing her.

Nikki rolled her eyes. "Get over here!"

He hurried over, moving around some spider web-covered shelves to see her standing in the middle of an open area. As he walked towards her, his face changed from confused to very confused. He paused and took one step forward. His footstep sounded different. It rang out louder.

"This is hollow," he said quietly. Nikki nodded. "There's something under here." Again, she nodded, appearing rather amused at his deductions. Jumping into action, he got off the hollow sounding piece of plywood and helped Nikki move it aside. There beneath it, was a stairwell.

He turned to exchange a glance with his friend, but she was already descending. "Nikki," he whispered harshly. When she didn't stop, he gave an exasperated sigh and stepped down after her.