Journey Through the Past- Chapter 23
Nick Stokes and Greg Sanders finished processing Grissom's townhouse and had brought several bags of evidence to be processed. Catherine and Jim Brass were in the layout room looking at photos of the safe house from where Grissom had been taken. In a file before them were the results from the tox screens that Hodges had run through Trace from the syringes. In addition, he had recovered epithelials from the used syringes. Mandy had also been able to lift fingerprints from the syringes.
"Cath, tell me that both Hodges and Mandy made a mistake on these results," said Brass in a quiet voice.
"Jim, the evidence is just the evidence. There's no mistake. Gil's fingerprints and DNA were found on and in both syringes. He's been using," Catherine said in a quiet voice.
"No, there's got to be an explanation. This is not the Gil Grissom that I know. This all centers around Lucas Mallory. We find his connections, we unravel this whole thing, including who the mole is in the department," said Brass.
Catherine stepped back from the layout table and in a frustrated voice commented, "I feel like we're starting from square one on this thing. It just keeps getting worse and worse. Okay, let's go over again everything we can find on Mallory, including any family and friends before he was sent to prison for the series of murders in LA."
"The under sheriff has warrants to start raiding the properties connected with MG Enterprises and LH Holding Company in the surrounding counties. McKeen wants to start in Esmeralda and Nye Counties. There are a number of desert properties that LH Holding has had for years and three of those properties have transferred ownership to MG Enterprises in the last six months. There's an abandoned mining company near Tonopah, an abandoned ranch, and a small rehabilitation clinic just north of Goldfield. He's not going to want to wait for whatever your team comes up with on these background checks."
"Okay, we report this evidence to the sheriff, but let's keep Greg here to do the research on all the players. Nicky and Rick will go with you and the sheriff. I want the boys up there to gather any evidence and to keep things kosher. I'll stay here with Greg and work on the evidence that we've got and do some more checking in AFIS and CODIS. I'll keep you updated on anything we uncover. Agreed?"
Brass nodded his assent and left Catherine examining the photos before her.
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Scott watched Mallory and Jones leave the building from where Sara was being held. They went straight to where Mallory's lab was located. Crossing the compound, Scott entered the building with another food tray in his hands. If he was right, they had just given Sara what they thought was another dose of Mallory's concoction. It would be the right time to get her out of the clinic.
He unlocked Sara's cell door and swung the door open. Sara lay on the cot, but she paid no attention to the fact that he had entered her cell. Puzzled, he set the tray down and knelt beside her. Sara slowly became aware of Scott's presence. She lifted her head and tried to focus her gaze on the young man.
Scott was swimming in and out of focus. She sat up slowly, dizziness making her see double.
"Scott," she whispered, "They gave some of the real stuff. They…they decided that the first dose wasn't good enough and gave me another shot."
Then Sara started to giggle, "I guess I'm a real lousy actress. Jones thought I needed more cuz' I wasn't out of it enough. This stuff does make you feel real good though. Maybe…maybe you should ask to try some."
Scott sat back, trying to figure out what to do next. He was sure they wouldn't have given her a full dose. Maybe he could get through to her. He needed her to sober up so that he could get her to Grissom. God knows what condition his father was in by now. Looking critically at Sara, Scott realized that she was in no condition to leave, let alone to help Grissom medically. He would have to wait until this dose had somewhat worn off.
Thinking, Scott decided to try to get her to eat something off the food tray. She had eaten very little since the "treatments" had started just so that Mallory wouldn't be suspicious that maybe the doses weren't working. Obviously, Sara's acting wasn't quite up to snuff so they had given her more of the drugs. They wouldn't have given her a full dose or they would run the risk of an overdose. The effects should wear off sooner than a full dose. He would just have to wait. Picking up the peanut butter sandwich that lay on the tray, he encouraged her to eat.
"Not hungry," said Sara in a low voice, trying to concentrate. There was something important we were going to do…What was it? Sara shook her head and pushed the sandwich away from her.
Forcing Sara to look at him, Scott used both his hands to turn her head towards him. Releasing her, he talked to her and signed to her.
Sara, I need you to concentrate. We've got to get to Grissom before he gets too sick. You need to eat something. It will help you. We can't go until this dose wears off a little and you can think a little clearer. Understand?
Sara looked hard at Scott and tried to understand his words. Grissom…right…Grissom in trouble…need to help him.. She slowly nodded and took the sandwich from the plate. Taking a small bite, she chewed slowly and swallowed. Scott nodded his approval, and she continued to nibble.
Scott stood up and signed to her.
I'll be back in an hour or two and see how you're doing. We'll leave as soon as it's safe and you can think a little better, okay?
The slightly dazed woman nodded and continued to eat the food that Scott had brought her. Scott left the building and continued across the compound. He needed to go to supply and get clothing for Sara. Feeling a little anxious in the change of plans, Scott fought the urge to leave the compound to check on Grissom. He wasn't sure where Mallory's guards were hunting for Grissom, and he would need to know where they were when he and Sara headed out. Scott would need to search for the guards and learn what their plans were in order to figure out the safest route to leave the clinic.
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He could hear voices in the distance. The man paused momentarily, hoping that the dizziness might pass. He gulped in great mouthfuls of air. Grissom staggered forward, losing his balance, sliding the rest of way down the steep side of the ravine, smacking hard against a boulder. Blinking to try to focus his vision, Grissom struggled to stand up. Touching the side of his head with his right hand, he was surprised to see his hand sticky with blood. His injured left wrist was sending needles of pain up his arm so he held his wrist close to his chest. Leaning up against the boulder, Grissom tried to get his bearings. Gotta get to Sara…gotta go…c'mon Gil, get it together…He shut his eyes tightly, trying to fight off the vertigo. Somewhere in the far reaches of his drug-induced state, he knew that he was hallucinating, but no amount of logic could separate what was real and what was not. Biting his lip, he straightened up, took a deep breath, and opened his eyes.
The world was spinning and looping before him. Now the voices that he thought he heard in the distance were starting to echo and become louder. Moaning softly, he sank to his knees and wrapped his arms about himself as if he were trying to hold himself together. Grinding his teeth together, Grissom once again struggled to his feet and fought off the urge to fall flat on his face. Staggering forward, he willed himself step by step down the narrow wash, occasionally stumbling against a boulder in order to retain his balance. Sweat beaded across his forehead as the desert sun beat down on him. Panting from exertion, Grissom slowly made his way closer to the clinic. The landscape shimmered and blurred in front him as the heat continued to drain his energy.
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The cloudiness that hovered over her thoughts gradually lifted, and she was able to focus her mind on the rest of the food that had been left before her. Though she was not hungry, she knew that she should eat the remains of what was left on the tray. What did Scott say? It would help me to sober up? Said he was coming back soon. Need to be ready to go to Grissom? She picked up the small apple that was on the tray and bit into it. Chewing slowly, she thought back what had occurred over the last day. Grissom had somehow escaped and Scott had been able to find him a safe place to stay away from the clinic. Apparently Grissom was suffering from severe withdrawal from the same hallucinogenic drugs that Mallory had been giving to Sara. Her body had not quite developed the physical craving for the substances, but Sara felt an uncharacteristic panic and anxiousness rising within in her. She noticed a slight trembling in her limbs and the beginnings of mild cramping in her abdomen.
Scott quickly rummaged through the boxes stacked in the far reaches of the storage room in the staff housing building. Here, Jones had stored Rachel's clothing and personal items after she had passed away. Scott guessed that Sara looked to be the same size his mother had been, perhaps Sara being a little taller. He found a pair of old jeans, hiking boots, and an oversized faded blue T-shirt. Stuffing the clothing into the laundry bag he had brought, Scott hurriedly closed up the cartons and pushed them back into place. The next place he needed to go to was the infirmary for additional medical supplies that Grissom might need. By then it would be late afternoon and the long shadows of the approaching dusk would provide some cover to get Sara safely away from the clinic.
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Baker and Lopez stood just on the edge of the outer perimeter of the clinic. They had reported to Mallory their sighting of the turkey vultures and the bloody sock. Mallory, who wasn't convinced that Grissom was actually dead short of finding his baked carcass brought in from the hot Nevada desert, had ordered the men to continue to search by circling the perimeter of the clinic in an ever-widening circle. They were to search until they found him, dead or alive. The clinic was miles from any major highway or city or town, the only access to the facility being a long stretch of winding dirt roads. Grissom wouldn't have gotten far in his condition and in this heat. The man had to be found. There was no other option as far as Mallory was concerned.
Scanning the expanse of desert landscape spread out before them, Lopez asked, "Where do we start?"
Sighing, Baker commented, "I guess we just keep looking. Grissom has been in out here far longer than a healthy man could survive without water. I expect we're looking for a dead body. C'mon. We got to get going or Mallory will have our hides."
The two men proceeded to hike through the desert, circling the clinic in an ever-widening arc. From the shadowed edge of one of the outlying the buildings, Scott observed the two men as they continued their search. He figured that he could get Sara out and away from the clinic when the two men were on the far side of the clinic opposite from where Sara was being housed. A firm hand clamped down on his shoulder as he was about to leave the shadow of the building.
"Arthur, what are you doing out here?" asked a curious Ken Jones.
Seeing Lopez and Baker disappear through the brush, Jones continued, "Watching Mallory's guards, are you?"
Scott nodded yes and glanced over his shoulder where Grissom had been held. Jones followed his gaze and looked back at the young man he considered to be his son.
"No, they haven't found Grissom yet," Jones said to Scott. "Do you care whether they find him or not?"
Scott shrugged and looked at Jones with his intense blue eyes.
"Arthur, you know that I love you, right? Whatever plans that Mallory has for Grissom has nothing to do with you. I won't let him hurt you."
Scott continued to look at Jones, wondering how far he could trust the man standing before him. He turned his head and stared out into the desert.
Jones studied Scott for a moment and then touched his shoulder to indicate that he wanted the young man to look back him.
"You care about him, don't you, Arthur? He's more than just a curiosity to you, isn't he? Why?"
Then realization edged into Jones' consciousness.
"Arthur, you did help him to escape, didn't you? I don't know what to say. I…I raised you like you were my own son. I loved both you and your mother. Why would you do this?"
Scott backed slowly away from Jones, his hands clenched at his sides. Scott had stopped talking when his mother had died and had slowly retreated into himself. Jones had no idea how much Scott could hear and just figured that the reason the young man no longer spoke was because of his inability to hear. Now Jones stood in shock when he heard Scott speak in a low voice.
"You lied to me all these years. My mother never loved you and you never saved her from an abusive drug-addicted husband. Grissom doesn't fit that bill. She told me to try to find my dad someday. She stayed here because she was afraid for him, not of him."
"Son, you don't understand… I can explain," pleaded the doctor.
"Don't call me that. I'm not your son. I'm not anyone's son," spat an angry Scott Grissom.
"Look, I…I didn't have a choice when you were a baby. I owed Mallory. His business partners financed my way through medical school. I had to take your mother and you in. At first, she tried to get away until she realized that for your sake and Grissom's that it was better to stay. Later, she learned to love me and I fell in love with her. She…she changed me…This clinic is because of her. She made me want to change. Arthur, there's too much to explain right now. I'm trying to make things right, but it's complicated," Jones continued.
Scott's eyes grew huge as the haggard man staggered around the corner of the building behind Jones and held a 9mm Berretta to Jones' head.
"Grissom!" exclaimed Scott in a soft voice.
"I'm..I'm sure that you have a lot to say, doctor. Right now I'm not interested," gasped Grissom. Flipping the safety off the weapon and cocking the trigger, Grissom shakily pressed the gun against the side of Jones' head and leaned heavily against the wall. Stiffening with a panicked look on his face, Jones stood straighter and held his hands up, staring straight ahead at Scott.
"Grissom…listen to me. I can help you. I can hide you and help you. I had to go along with Mallory's plan. I can get you off the drugs," Jones said desperately.
"Shut up…just shut up."
Grissom was not going to be distracted. "You're going to take us to Sara. Right now," ordered Grissom in a weak voice.
A/N: Another chapter in. It took a little longer than I anticipated and I'm still behind on work. Anyway, now that I've had 100 reviews on this story, I'm hoping that they will continue. It will certainly encourage me to keep going. Hope everyone had a Happy New Year!