AN: Thanks everyone for reading. Hope everyone is doing well.
Take care and enjoy.
CHAPTER 8
CATHERINE POV
"Really?" I raise a brow, holding up the note in my hands.
Sara has enough decency to look slightly abashed.
"Sorry," she mumbles mostly to herself. "I thought you'd still be asleep."
"Right," I state, standing and stretching my body, trying to work out the numerous kinks from having spent the better part of the night on a tile floor.
"You should get some decent rest," Sara suggests from her place at the opposite side of the room, cringing slightly at my cracking joints. "There's still hours before court. Which I know you'll want to be at no matter how hard I try to sway you otherwise."
I don't even bother answering the last part. Sara and I both know I'll be in that damn courtroom come hell or high water.
"What about you?" I question, tapping the less than informative note I caught the brunette leaving beside me as she tried to sneak out the door.
Left to do some things before court.
Thanks for…helping…last night.
-SS
"I just have to get a couple things in order," Sara answers vaguely, not filling in any blanks.
"Of course," I breathe out, knowing better than to even bother getting answers from Sara at this point.
I've failed enough times on this case to get Sara to open up that I've learned now to save a lot of time up front by not even bothering.
Sara pushes herself to a stand, paling slightly as she does so.
"You sure you're up for this?" I ask her, knowing she has to be in serious pain.
"Doesn't matter if I am or not," is her deflecting answer.
"Get some rest," Sara offers somewhat awkwardly as she moves to the door. "And, uh, thanks again…for…you know…"
I nod, knowing it's pointless to try to keep her here. I send her a small smile instead to let her know I understand what she's having trouble expressing.
"Sidle," I call her back just as she's almost out the door.
Hazel eyes meet mine.
"Good luck today."
Watching me silently for a moment, Sara eventually nods.
"Thanks."
And with that, she's gone.
Pacing up and down the marble flooring, I tap my notes anxiously against my hip.
Step.
Tap.
Step.
Tap.
"State versus Sidle."
Hearing the court room doors slam shut after that announcement by the officer at the door, I gather my things.
After what has felt like hours of anxious pacing, this case is starting, regardless of my nerves. Regardless of the fact that I've failed to make any headway despite my best efforts. It's about to move forward whether we're all ready or not.
Following the small group of people filtering through the door, I step inside. The large room is opulent in a way that only courtrooms seem to master so flawlessly. I see Gil sitting with some of his CSIs near the front, but I need space right now. I need room to think and to process all of this as things move forward. I know myself well enough to know I won't be able to do that as effectively if I'm worrying about Gil.
Grabbing a seat on one of the wooden benches in the back, I take my place.
It's not long before the people from the prior case are ushered out, and I see Sara being guided in by someone whom I assume to be her lawyer. The middle aged woman seems intense, fitting the stereotype of a criminal lawyer flawlessly dressed in her power suit and carefully manicured hair.
She whispers something to Sidle, the brunette herself dressed in a simple, yet stunning outfit of her own. Fitted grey dress pants, complimented by a midnight blue blouse.
But, it's not really her clothing that has my attention.
It's how damn good she is at hiding what's underneath it.
No one in this room would ever guess that she has multiple stab wounds and lacerations hidden under that silky blouse. And, only a slight wince as Sara stands to her full height lets me know I didn't just imagine the whole damn thing.
Hitting the wooden gavel loudly on the imposing judge's stand, the elderly man looks almost bored.
"State versus Sidle. Are all parties present?"
A chorus of 'yes, your honor's follows.
"What are the charges sought by the prosecution?"
"Criminally negligent manslaughter."
Sidle's jaw tightens slightly as the rest of the room falls deathly quiet.
"And how does the defendant plead?"
Seconds tick by, the air still and silent.
"Miss Sidle?"
Sara swallows, her eyes falling briefly to a man I recognize as Captain Jim Brass.
An almost imperceptible nod passes between them. Then, Sara squares herself, expression determined and stoic.
"Not guilty."
The judge nods like this is what he hears every day, which it likely is, and gestures to a stack of papers on his overflowing desk.
I, on the other hand, am shocked.
Sara hasn't been cooperative with my investigation, not at all. But she's never negated her guilt in leaving Gabriel Williams at that scene. In all our interactions, she made it abundantly clear that she was aware of her actions, and of Gabe's death resulting from them.
I would have bet my life on her continuing her stance and pleading guilty.
"I've reviewed the evidence in this case, and I deem it ready to proceed to criminal court. Court date is set for two days from now, November 19th at 8:00am."
"The prosecution would like to request that Sidle be held without bond until that time, your honor."
"Reason?"
"She's a CSI, your honor. Being tried in the city where she works. The prosecution would feel more comfortable if there were no opportunities for evidence to…change. Sidle has a lot of connections in this department and we simply seek to maintain the integrity of this case."
The judge considers this for a moment, taking the longest pause yet, and even then it doesn't last more than a few seconds.
"Granted."
"Objection!" Sidle's lawyer yells out, face appalled and flustered. Clearly she didn't see this coming.
"My decision is final."
Pounding his gavel to mark the end of this particular discussion, or lack thereof, the room is already filled with people leaving and entering for the next case.
Sara's jaw tightens, and again her eyes go to Brass. She sends him a silent message, along with another barely noticeable nod.
Feeling someone at her back, Sidle flinches away.
Then, seeing the court officer with his cuffs out, she swallows tightly before submitting and placing her arms behind her back. Hands cuffed, her lawyer quickly whispers something near Sara's ear.
Then, Sidle is escorted out of the room.
Brass waits until she disappears from site, then checks his watch, and makes a rapid exit of his own.
What in the hell are you two up to…
"And his cell?"
"Goes silent just like hers did. No pings, no data activity. Nothing."
"So we have Sidle's cell and Brass's cells both going completely silent at exactly the same time. Which happens to be the same time Sidle is seen leaving her crime scene with a loaded weapon."
"Correct."
"And, for no activity to be present, they have to have intentionally turned off their phones."
"And removed the battery," Vince amends. "Otherwise the SIM card can still be active though the device is off."
"Just like my traces on Sidle's cell," I think aloud, having used the technique often enough these past days to track down the elusive young CSI via the tower pings from her cell. "But both Sidle and Brass knew they could still be traced…removing their batteries to ensure there would be no evidence whatsoever of their locations…"
Pinching my temples, I breathe out an exhausted sigh.
"Thanks, Vince," I offer before we hang up.
The subtle nods between Sidle and Brass at court did not go unnoticed by me. But, just like the other leads in this case, I've hit pretty much a dead end. I can safely assume that Brass and Sidle were together wherever the hell she went to, but where that is or what they were doing is still a mystery to me.
Glancing at the clock, I realize that perhaps it's not going to be a mystery for much longer. Having worked this new angle for the better part of a day and a half, I'm now hours away from the start of Sidle's criminal court case.
For better or worse, this case is moving forward without me.
Again.
When court resumes, this time it's a very different atmosphere than the preliminary hearing. The courtroom is entirely full, for one thing, some people resorting to standing near the back. Large portions of the side aisles are taken up by large television news cameras, their associated reporters hunched nearby with their recording devices and pens at the ready.
Having worked this case mostly on my own for the last weeks, it was easy to forget that this is a case featuring a prominent division of Vegas' law enforcement. A case featuring a CSI's role in the death of her partner.
This is the type of story that gets media attention.
Feeling the palpable tension in the room rising even further, before I know it the courtroom is ushered to attention, everyone standing as the judge enters from his chambers. Unlike the previous judge, this one looks like he is anything but bored. In fact, it looks like his piercing gaze is trying to burn holes in the guests invading his courtroom.
When everyone sits after he does, for the first time I get a clear glimpse of Sara as she and the other members of the defense and prosecution remain standing.
It's amazing how different she looks from just a few days ago. While at her prior preliminary hearing she looked strong and untouchable, today she looks like she's doing everything in her power just to remain upright. She still has her characteristic intensity about her, but she looks like she's been through hell these past two days.
I can only hope they got her proper medical attention for her injuries while she's been in custody, not to mention kept her separated from the other inmates traveling in and out of holding – most of whom Sidle likely played a role in convicting. But, seeing her current state of being, I'm beginning to suspect perhaps my hopes are unfounded.
"Jesus…" I mutter, not wanting to think too hard about that possibility and what it would mean for Sidle.
"Miss Sidle, for the record, your plea is that of not guilty. Correct?"
"Yes, your honor."
"Are both sides ready to proceed?"
"Yes your honor," is stated in unison by the two lawyers standing stiffly behind their respective tables.
"Have a seat. Proceed with opening statements."
It's clear that this judge is not messing around, his dark gaze falling swiftly on the prosecution. He reminds me of old college professors I used to have, ones that could intimidate you by their sheer presence.
The prosecution, however, doesn't seem to let the tense mood affect them as they lay out their case. The lead prosecutor emphasizing Sara's decision to leave Gabriel Williams alone at an active crime scene, violating nearly a dozen policies, and his resulting death from those actions.
As the prosecution talks about Gabe, they emphasize the kind, warm, brilliant young man that he was. The type of man that was loved and respected by everyone. Then, with heart wrenching bluntness, they refer to his family who is now left with this senseless loss of their beloved husband and father. A loss that they emphasize was the result of sheer negligence and carelessness by a partner who was more concerned about herself and her own agenda than the well-being of her partner.
As the words are voiced, each harder to stomach than the last, I see Sidle's features grow darker, her shoulders seeming to struggle to remain erect as the burden of each statement no doubt hits deeper and deeper. When her eyes shift slightly behind her, for the first time I notice the woman shooting daggers at the back of the brunette's head.
Their eyes meet, and Sidle's expression is nothing short of haunted. Swallowing tightly, the young CSI forces herself to face back to the prosecutor.
I don't need any further evidence that that other woman is Gabe's wife.
Swallowing tightly myself against the tense and dark mood in the courtroom, I watch the prosecutor finish his statement and take his seat.
"Defense?"
Rising, Sara's lawyer straightens her suit jacket before stepping forward.
"Defense would like to file an official motion for dismissal of this case."
Murmurs of surprise can be heard throughout the courtroom.
"Excuse me?" the judge questions, dark eyes narrowing.
"We are asking that this case be dismissed," Sara's lawyer repeats slowly.
"I heard you, Ms. Parker. I'm not hearing impaired. I am, however, very confused and eagerly awaiting your explanation for such a request."
"We are requesting that this case be dismissed on grounds of clear evidence of innocence and lack of jurisdiction."
"Excuse me?"
Sara's lawyer simply holds her ground.
"This case involves a much larger case, which is currently being overseen by another jurisdictional entity."
"You better start spelling this out for me very clearly, Ms. Parker. Before I get even more upset with this charade."
"No charade," the lawyer shrugs confidently. "This case is part of an active investigation. One which can account for Sidle's whereabouts at the crime scene. Negating the prosecution's entire set of charges and accusations they just presented."
"Active investigation by whom? What other jurisdictional entity?"
Ms. Parker hesitates only a moment, her eyes falling to a man I previously overlooked sitting in the front row. A stern looking middle aged man in a well-tailored suit.
"The FBI, your honor."
More murmurs are present throughout, the judge banging his gavel loudly on the wooden ledge before him as every television camera is focused straight ahead, red recording lights standing out like multiple tiny glowing eyes.
"That's enough!" the judge yells sternly to the courtroom, waiting with stern eyes until there isn't a single noise to be heard, everyone pulled into complete silence.
"Ms. Parker, explain yourself. Now."
"Sidle is involved in an active investigation with the FBI. One that she was involved in at the time of Investigator Williams' murder. Her whereabouts are not permissible for me to disclose here, but she was ordered to leave the scene that day by the lead FBI investigator in the case. Ordered by a superior officer, Sidle had no choice but to leave despite her own reservations."
"Objection!"
"No," the judge calls, pointing his gavel at the prosecutor who has gone completely pale. "This I want to hear."
"I have all of the documentation of Sidle's participation in the FBI investigation. Including her notifying her FBI supervisor the day in question that there were no officers on scene and that her partner would be alone, against policy as well as her own judgement. I have documentation of him ordering her to leave despite her voiced reservations, stating that they would provide their own undercover officers as soon as possible. Sidle followed those orders as demanded by her superior, justifying her actions to this court and eliminating the entire basis of the prosecution's case. All of these events are documented here, in both transcript and audio recording formats. These have also all been confirmed and signed off on by the FBI."
"Why the hell was this not brought to my attention sooner?"
"The FBI investigation was confidential, and I have only recently been allowed permission by the FBI to release this information due to this having become an active criminal case."
"I will not have any of this cloak and dagger bullshit in my courtroom. I want to review those documents."
"Of course, your honor," Ms. Parker states, for the first time growing slightly hesitant. "But, we would also like to mention that we would like not only for this case to be dismissed, but we are officially filing our own counter charges."
The judge's eyes widen.
"Against whom?"
"It will become clear enough when you review the documents. But, for the sake of this courtroom and those present here, I will disclose that we are moving to charge multiple members of the LVPD, multiple Vegas CSIs, numerous government officials, and some…court judges."
Face reddening in anger, the judge extends his hand.
"Documents. Now."
Silently stepping forward and handing the judge what has to be hundreds of pages of paper, Ms. Parker returns to her table.
"Sidle, for over a year, has been part of an undercover investigation run by the FBI looking at multiple members of the Vegas jurisdictional and law enforcement divisions for question of evidence tampering, bribery, blackmailing, money laundering, and wrongful convictions."
Ms. Parker stands up straight.
"As you'll see shortly, one of the named parties being charged is you, your honor. Which," she suggests with her own intense stare, "regardless of whether you allow complete dismissal of this case, should be more than enough to issue a mistrial."
AN: Thanks for reading.