Chapter 11
Although, everyone had tried their best, no one was closer to figuring the code out; unfortunately the computer didn't have any luck either.
Nick and Warrick had been sent to the diner to pick up some food, as they walked down the labs parking lot, a big blue and white motorcycle was rolling up and parked in front of the lab.
"What I wouldn't give, for a ride on that on," Nick said looking all childish.
"No thanks," Warrick said, "I'm not that, suicidal!"
"Sissy," Nick teased.
"I can live with that," Warrick smirked; "at least, I will be alive!"
Nick suddenly put the food to the ground and started running towards the bike, before Sara knew what was going on, someone grab her from behind and was swinging her round and round.
"Put me down," Sara cried out, "before I get seasick."
Nick put her down, "boy… am I glad to see you," he said hugging her.
"Glad to see you too, will you please let me breath now," Sara quipped.
The minute Nick let her go, Warrick was over her, pulling her into a big hug, "damn, it's good to see you girl, how have you been? You're looking good," he said releasing her.
Sara smiled; "I'm fine. So, what's up?"
The boys talked in the mouths of each other, to let her know what they knew.
"We better get the food inside, before it gets cold," Nick said.
The rest of the team was sitting in the break room waiting for the food to arrive when Sara walked in, she barely acknowledges any of them but went straight to Grissom.
But most of the others definitely noticed Sara; she was still wearing her black leather pants, which made her amazing long legs looking even longer. Her leather jacket was open but still following her soft curves, underneath she was wearing a soft firebrick colored button-down shirt, that made her dark chocolate brown eyes looking even darker, oh yeah, she was hot and sexy as hell.
Sara crossed her arms over her chest, blocking Grissom's view. After he looked up, she stared harshly at him. "Any news? Have you found him yet? And why the hell was it Ecklie and not you, who called me?" Sara asked sharply.
"Well, hello to you to Sidle, nice to have you back!" Grissom swallowed annoyed. He didn't like it when Sara was in this sort of mood.
"Just answer my god damn questions," she fumed, ignoring his warning look.
"We still don't know where he is, we received some kind of code a while ago. But neither of us or the computer have been able to break it," Grissom quickly answered, giving her a piece of paper, with the code on.
Sara took the paper turned around and left the room without saying another word. She went down to the copier and made some very big copies, and then she went into one of the small layout rooms and hung the copies on the wall.
She was pacing angrily around the room her temper still high, she was so pissed at Grissom; she knew she needed to calm down, -to focus, or she wouldn't be any help to Greg.
Sara closed her eyes and took some very deep breaths, and slowly her heart beats turned back to normal; she opened her eyes again, leaned up against the table, and started looking at the code hanging on the wall.
The door was being unlocked; Greg and Mark looked at each other, and then back at the door. Two people were entering the door, the first one with a gun in his hand, which he pointed at the two men sitting on the floor. A strong searchlight was turned on, making both men closing their eyes; a bag was put over their heads.
Greg was ordered to stand; someone walked over to him and put some kind of clothing on him. It felt like a vest, actually it felt like his own working vest, he was then ordered to sit back down again. Then a voice spoke.
"You two better start praying that your colleagues knows what they're doing, or you two will be going out with a big bang," he laughed, "None of you will remove the bags before we're gone."
Even through the bag, Greg could sense when the light was turned off, and soon after he could hear the door being locked again. Greg waited a little longer before removing the bag, the sight that met him made him wish he had kept the bag on. His vest had been turned into an explosive bomb!
Mark gazed at Greg; he could see the anxiety, but also anger in Greg's eyes. "Did you get a look of neither of them?"
"No," Greg replied, "but one of them is definitely a woman, her perfume gave her away!"
"CSI huh..?" Mark joked.
"Yeah, but right now I would have preferred working for the bomb squad," Greg sighed, shrugging his shoulders when Mark glared at him.
"Let's just hope their on to us," Mark said, "I really would like to get out of here alive."
"Yeah me too, not that it matters, when Sara hears about this, she is sooo going to kill me!"
"Sara… your girlfriend?" Mark asked curiously.
"I wish but no," Greg said with a lop-sided grin, "she's my best friend and one of the best CSI in the country, unfortunately she's also out of town."
The room turned silent again.
Sara was looking at the code, she knew her math and this was not something she had seen before, but somehow it seemed like basic high-school math. A homemade code, some high-school kids would invent so they could write secrets to each other without being caught.
Her eyes were beginning to sting from all of the intensive starring, so she decided to go and get a cup of coffee. Sara went into the break room and poured herself some coffee, turning to leave again a young woman came into the room.
"Hey" the young officer said when she entered the break room.
"Hello" Sara answered with a smile.
"So, I finally get to meet, the famous Sara Sidle!"
"Huh..? Sara yes, famous no I don't think so, and you are?" Sara deadpanned.
"Oh sorry, I'm Ann Jones, temporarily sent down here from the Northwest area since we're missing a guy to. So any luck with the code yet?"
Sara sat on the couch, nodding for Ann to join her. "Well, I think it's homemade, and I also think we have to go back to some kind of high- school math."
Ann sat and smiled to Sara, "I also concluded it had to be homemade, but the high-school math never occurred to me, but that would make sense."
"So you know math?"
Ann's eyes were sparkling, "yeah, got a degree from UNLV in math, my best friend don't get it, she don't understand how anyone can like math, but I love it."
Sara couldn't help but laugh; she really liked this young woman. "Maybe, you want to help me out? They do say two minds work better than one!"
Ann's mouth felt open, "really… Sara Sidle wants to work with me?"
Sara started laughing again, "what is it with you and my name?"
"Incredulous," Ann said gazing at Sara; "You really don't know do you? How famous you are? How much people are admiring you, all the dedication and passion you put into your work, always willing to go that extra mile to bring justice to the victims. You're my role model; I want to be as good in my job, as you are in yours," Ann looked down, suddenly feeling very shy.
Sara didn't quite know what to say; finally she brought her hand to Ann's chin and gently lifted her head up until their eyes met. "That's very sweet of you, but please don't go around thinking I'm superman ´cause I'm not, I have my faults too, think you already have seen one of them," Sara pause arching an eyebrow, "...temper..."
Ann busted into laughed, relieved that Sara had reacted so cool to the things she had been saying. "Okay, I'll try to stay cool around you and not let it shine through that you are my big hero," she smirked.
"Fine, I can live with that," Sara said, "now back to work!"
Ann rose and saluted Sara, "yes ma´am," she said.
Sara got up, "don't you never ever call me ma´am, or I swear, I will bend you over and spank you!"
Ann just grinned, and started running towards the layout room, with Sara right on her heels. Nick and Sofia were walking down the corridor, but both came to a full stop by the sight of Ann and Sara.
"They sure seem to be hitting it off," Nick said, he couldn't remember, ever seeing Sara playing around in the lab.
Sofia didn't know what to say, it would be a lie to say the least, that she wasn't jealous at Ann. Sighing she said, "maybe, they'd found out something."
"Well let's go find out, shall we?"
"So, how is it going in here, found out anything?" Nick asked.
Ann was trying to swallow a grin, she looked first at Sara, and then at Nick. "Sorry Sir, we haven't figured it out, yet," she smirked.
Nick was looking totally confused, "Uh… Ann we are not that formal down her, you don't have to Sir me."
Sara had moved while Nick was talking, now standing so close behind Ann, that a piece of paper couldn't come between them, saying, "You better watch it, play with fire, and you get burned!"
Ann was fighting so hard not to laugh, but she managed to groan out, "I'll be good!"
Sara looked at Nick, "We haven't broken it yet, but we have a theory, we're working on."
"Okay, then we better let you get on with it," and with what he left.
Sofia was looking at the wall, lost in her own world. Sara was looking at Sofia, she was so pale and she had lost weight Sara thought.
Brass is letting her work way too much.
Sara couldn't help herself, even as she knew she was asking for trouble. She walked over and stood very close behind the detective, she leaned in making Sofia slightly jump and whispered in her ear.
"Tell me what you think?"
Sofia could feel the heat from Sara's body. She was so close. Not sure about what it was Sara was asking, Sofia those to play it safe. "I don't know Sara; math was never my strong side."
Sofia's phone started ringing, and Sara stepped away.
"Curtis.., yeah.., I'll be there in five.., bye."
"It was Brass! It seems my mom is here, so he wants me in his office." She flashed Sara a brief smile before looking at the young officer. "Ann I should bring you along. See you later Sara," the detective smiled.
"Later you two" Sara smiled back.
"I'll come back and help you, as soon as I can," Ann promised.
"Sure, you do that," Sara said kindly.
Captain Curtis knocked, and walked into Captain Brass office.
"Hello Jim, can I talk with you for a minute?"
"Hello Dana, of course you can, come on in." Brass replied, cocking his head in puzzlement as she entered the room.
"So how is the case coming, any closer to find the guys?"
"Well, the CSI team is working hard on it right now; they are working on tracking down the family they think are behind the whole thing."
"Sounds good," Dana said. After a moment's hesitation she continued. "But there are some other things I want to talk to you about."
Brass smiled, "let me guess Sofia?"
"Yeah," Dana sighed, "I'm worried about her, she doesn't seem to be doing so well, I'd tried to persuade her to see a doctor, but she claims she's not sick. Jim, is she working too much?"
"No, this has nothing to do with work, but that's all I can tell you" Brass answered, fixing her with a pointed look.
"Please Jim, it's my daughter we're talking about, I need to know what's wrong with her, I can't stand seeing her like this." she said. Despite the softness of her voice, a hint of sadness crept into her tone, causing him to give her a sad look.
"I'm sorry Dana, but I can't help you, as a parent I can understand how you feel, but this is something you need to talk to Sofia about." Brass said, trying to keep his voice level.
They were interrupted, by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Brass said.
Sofia and Ann entered the room.
"Hello mom, what brings you down here?" Sofia asked with an honest curiosity.
"Well, since one of the guys who are missing is one of mine, I think it's only fair I'm checking up on the case. And I wanted to see how Ann is doing." Dana retorted a small smile forming as she shook her head lightly.
"I'm fine Captain Curtis, and now when Sara is back, we are going to solve the case for sure. She is so good at her work, maybe the best in the country, and I just know she is going to find Greg and Mark." Ann said enthusiastically.
Brass had to pinch himself, not to start laughing; Sara had indeed made quite an impression, one this young lady.
"That's fine Ann; I can hear your quite take, by this Sara person." Turning towards her daughter Captain Curtis asked, "And what do you think about, this Sara, Sofia?"
Brass simply held his breath and kept his humor in check, the annoyance clear in Sofia's body language.
Sofia looked down on the floor, afraid, her eyes would give her away, "I think, Sidle is a great CSI, I would rank her beside Grissom, and if anyone is going to crack the code it will be her. Guess, you could say, she like a bloodhound dog when she works a case. She won't stop before she fined what she is looking for. Guess, that's why her solve rating is sky-high" she replied honestly.
The Captain frown, "You seem to know a lot about Sara?" A surprised Dana sputtered.
"Mom," Sofia growled, "I used to work as a CSI remember, of course I know her, just like I know the rest of the team members" she replied, her voice equally calm as she watched her mother closely.
Just as Captain Curtis was about to speak again, all the pager started beeping.
"Okay, let's go," Brass said.
Everyone minus Sara was gathered in the A/V room.
"Okay Archie, tell me the computer have cracked the code?" Grissom asked.
"No sorry, but someone have locked themselves into our system and left this" Archie explained pointing at the computer screen.
A bunny was jumping across the screen, only to explode, after that a text saying: tic tack time is running, and then it all started over again.
"Archie, can you find the one who sent it?" Brass called out from the doorway.
"Maybe, but it's going to take some time," Archie confirmed, "if they know how to get in here they for sure knows how to cover themselves."
It was obvious the team was reaching the edge of what they could handle, they felt frustrated, angry and powerless, and all they could do was waiting.
"I want everyone in the break room on a five minutes coffee break," Grissom said. "I think we all need to calm down a bit. I don't think it's going to take long before we hear from them again!"
Brass and Captain Curtis, was sitting beside each other. "So, this Sidle isn't she suppose to take a break to?" the Captain asked.
Brass could hardly keep in the laugh, "Well, feel free to go and suggest it to her!"
"Nah, something in your voice tells me, that it would be a very bad idea," the Captain smirked.
"Grissom..!" Archie shouted out.
Everyone got up and ran to the A/V room, as they entered the room; a voice was coming out though the computer.
"Well CSI man, guess you haven't had better luck in finding your own guys, than you had in finding my daughter's killer. I will obviously need to tell you where they are, which is rather disappointing; I thought you were better at your job. You can find them…"
Mandy came in to the room, handed Grissom a piece of paper and left again.
Grissom read out loud: "Northwest desert, in the underground air-raid shelter?"
The line went silent for a moment. "You got thirty minutes before the whole thing explode, but don't worry, you're going to be able to hear it," and with that, the line went dead.
Captain Curtis looked ad Brass; "It's a 40 mile drive, that's impossible!"
Grissom ran out the door, and after Mandy, "where is Sara?"
Mandy turned around, "she left right after giving me the paper to give to you."
"Damn it," Grissom said entering the door, "Sara have gone after Greg!"
"She has what?" Was all, Nick could say suddenly feeling very dizzy.
Warrick and Sofia's faces had turned totally pale, Ann didn't know what to say, Catherine was trying to call Sara, but she knew she wouldn't be answering.
Grissom was the first to recover, "Brass, Captain Curtis, Sara is going to need all the help she can get, to get through traffic, can you get the squad cars to help?"
"Sure," Brass said, "Archie, can you connect us directly to the cars?"
"Yeah, give me a second… Okay, the line is ready!"
"This is Captain Jim Brass from LVPD; we need for you, to shut as much traffic down as possible, from down town to the Northwest city limit. A blue and white motorcycle will be driving in that direction, with only god knows what speed, she is to receive all the help you can give her to get through, and she is under no, and I mean no circumstances, to be stop, anyone who tries to do so will be out off a job tomorrow morning. Now go help her, and thank you!"
"This is Captain Curtis from the Northwest area; the same massage goes to all the cars serving under the Northwest area, do whatever you can to get her through, and thank you!"
After Archie closed the line, everyone, could suddenly hear Greg's voice.
"Oh shit Mark, this is not good, I think the bomb have been activated!"
"Fuck, I really hope the cavalry is on its way!"
"Maybe, you should try to get out of here," Greg suggested.
"Yeah well, I don't see myself walking through a steel door," Mark snorted, "So I think I'll stay!"
Catherine had been looking at the case files again. "I think I know, which family it is," she said, "Mr. Hunt is the only one working with computer. He is an IT consultant!"
"Brass, can you go with Catherine and check it out? And Archie is Gibson from bomb squad on his way?" Grissom asked quickly.
"Come on Catherine lets go," Brass said, heading out the door.
"He should be here any minute," Archie replied.
"Okay people, Captain Curtis is staying here to help me coordinate things, the rest of you go" Grissom said, trying to keep his voice level.
Tbc…