A/N Thanks to JellybeanChichi for the awesome beta on this chapter. And, many thanks for all your comments.
CHAPTER 17
With Daniel poised on her hip, Sara went to the door and looked through the peephole. She felt her stomach drop. How she hoped that her visitors might have finally found evidence to prove Grissom's innocence.
When she opened her door, she saw Karson, her supervisor, and Ecklie, and two detectives — Matty Foster and Tristan Bowden. That duo's presence did not make Sara comfortable.
"Karson, Ecklie. What's going on? Has something happened to Gil?"
"Interesting question, Mrs. Grissom," Matty stated.
His tone caused Sara to narrow her eyes. She didn't like his accusatory tone or the way he had stressed the "Mrs." in Mrs. Grissom.
"I disagree. I think it's a legitimate question. Anything could happen while he's in jail – especially if any of the other prisoners recognize him," Sara said.
"When was the last time you spoke to, or saw your husband?" Matty continued, ignoring Sara's response.
If looks could kill, then Sara's look would have killed Matty on the spot. "Not since his bail hearing."
When Matty gave a disbelieving snort, Sara glanced between the four men. "What's going on? Why all the questions about Gil?" she demanded.
"Sara, can we sit down?" Karson asked.
"That's a good idea, Sara," Ecklie said, trying to counter Matty's caustic nature. He put a supportive arm around Sara and tried to lead her to the living room area. "We need to talk, but it's important you feel comfortable. Do you want to put Daniel down in his room or…"
"I rather he be with me," Sara said as she sat on the puffy chair where Grissom usually sat with Daniel.
Ecklie and Karson sat across from Sara on a couch, while Matty stood with his arms crossed and the other detective sat upon the couch arm.
"There's evidence to suggest that while Grissom was being transferred to another prison, he and the other prisoners, staged a jail break," Ecklie volunteered. "There's been no contact with the transport vehicle for several hours. All efforts to re-contact the bus have been unsuccessful."
"Transported to another prison?" Sara said in complete surprise. "Why was he being transported? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did his lawyer know?"
Tristan, the detective on the couch arm, was watching Sara carefully. "You didn't know about your husband being transferred?"
"No. I didn't. And I should have been told," Sara said, her anger bleeding with her anxiety and fear. "But what do you mean you can't find the bus? What happened?"
"We have not found any evidence of the vehicle," Karson said. "All we know for sure is contact was lost and hasn't been reestablished."
"Well if you've found no evidence, it doesn't point directly to an escape," Sara argued with a shake of her head. "The radio could be out of range, or even broken."
"It's been almost 12 hours, Sara, for a transport that should have taken 2 to 3 hours at the most," Karson said. "We have searched on two highways by foot and air and haven't found anything."
"Listen to me. Gil did not kill Jake, and he would not try to escape custody," Sara said. "Suppose there was an accident, and he's hurt. You are all are assuming he escaped, instead of treating him like a missing person."
"Sara, there's no evidence of an accident, or anyone being injured," Ecklie stated.
"Then what proof..."
"The Transport never arrived at the next pick up point. Somewhere between Southern Desert Correctional Centre, and Nevada Southern Detention Centre, they disappeared. Seven people, including your husband, don't just vanish," Matty jumped in, growing bored with the exchange.
"I'm sorry, Sara, but under the circumstance, I have no choice but place you on administrative leave, effective immediately," Ecklie commented with a slight wince, recalling too vividly doing the same thing the year before, when he'd learned of Grissom and Sara's relationship, and pregnancy.
Sara held Daniel tighter. Her voice was low and sad. "You're suspending me, because you think he'll try and contact me." She stood up with Daniel. "Excuse me."
"Of course, Sara," Ecklie said.
The four men watched Sara leave the room, Matty getting ready to follow her. But Karson stood up to block his path. "Give her a second."
"She could be contacting him right now."
"With members of law enforcement right here? Are you kidding?"
Matty laughed. "Make sure you get the phone records, Mr. CSI. Because…"
The detective cut himself off as Sara came back into the room. She didn't have Daniel but had other items. Having been through the procedure before, she presented her weapon, ID and badge to Karson.
"Thank you, Sara," Karson said, knowing it was time to go.
"I've answered your questions. Daniel is in the kitchen in his high chair. I need to feed him, and I need for you all to leave."
While Ecklie and Karson made their way out the door and to the car, Tristan and Matty held back.
"We might have more questions, Mrs. Grissom," Tristan said, offering his card to Sara. "And if you hear from your husband…"
Sara snatched the card. "Goodbye detectives."
"You know," Matty started, "by the time Grissom gets out of prison, your son will be graduating college. He doesn't deserve your loyalty, he's certainly offered you none. Here you are raising your son on your own. It's time you faced the truth."
"You need to leave," Sara said, standing firm. "I'm will not take any part in this unjust persecution of my husband."
"You'll be saying a different tune when we catch him."
"I know Gil. He didn't kill anyone and he didn't escape from prison," Sara said. "And you have no idea what you're talking about because you know nothing about him."
"I know all I need to know about him," Matty responded. "He was in the park at the time of Jake's death, and he has no alibi other than walking the dog. There's blood evidence, on both his clothing and Jake's. The boots are a match to the bruising on Jake's body. Must I go on? If he didn't escape when the opportunity arose, then where is he, Mrs. Grissom? He's a wanted felon, and I can assure you, we'll find him. When that happens, it'll be a very long time, before he'll be a free man. Think of all the years he's going to miss, watching his son grow up. What he's already missed."
Matty knew he'd struck a chord, when Sara glanced toward the direction of Daniel, before returning her furious glare in his direction.
"He's ruined his life, Mrs. Grissom, and you're on suspension because of him. Don't let him ruin your life or our job, or that little's boy life, more than he has already," Matty offered as parting words of wisdom.
Sara shut the door firmly behind the detective, and turning around stood with her back leaning against the door, as tears sparkled in her dark eyes.
For the next hour, Sara tried to focus on things in her immediate control and responsibility. She fed Daniel and Hank. Then she put Daniel to play contently in his playpen as he watched his favorite DVD as it quietly played in the background.
But she couldn't stop thinking about Grissom. She couldn't stop thinking about what Ecklie and Karson, and especially what Matty said. That evidence… God that evidence was hard to dispute. And he did go out with Hank that night….
But there's no way Grissom would… could kill another person. No… And it's something that Matty said that cemented that thought for Sara. Grissom would not do anything to ruin Sara's or Daniel's life. Even if he did kill Jake… which he didn't … Sara continually told herself… but even if he did, he would not escape leaving her high and dry. Never to speak to her again.
Even though he wouldn't allow any contact with her while he was in prison.
The first tendril of doubt began to manifest. But she wanted to believe in his innocence. She had to believe in his innocence.
"Dammit, Gil," she said softly to herself. "Why the hell were you on that bus?"
She grabbed the cordless phone to call Hobson Nash.
She was surprised that he answered.
"Sara, I've heard," was Hobson's greeting, sounding completely flustered. "I've had the Sheriff breathing down my neck, and the press wanting a statement, the prison warden wanting a piece of the action…"
Dismay colored her voice at the news that the media had already gotten news of the so-called escape. "Why didn't Gil want me to know he was being transferred to another prison? Did you think I wouldn't find out?" she cut off Hobson's diatribe mid-sentence. He wasn't the only one having a bad day. "And why hasn't he called? Have you even been passing on my messages?"
At the end of the line, Hobson took a deep calming breath. "Yes, I have been passing on your messages, Sara," he said calmly and in a tone that Sara believed. "I didn't tell you, because Gil asked me to wait until he was settled in his new facility, and then he was going to call you himself. As his lawyer, I had to respect his wishes, Sara. I tried to talk him round, but he was quite determined on the matter."
"Someone hurt him, didn't they?" Sara asked, thinking that was the only possible reason Gil could have for not keeping in touch.
Hobson waited a beat, clearly surprised by her surmise. "Sara, like I said…."
"Don't bullshit me, Hobson!" Sara yelled in the phone. "My husband was put on a bus that is missing. Now answer me truthfully. Was he hurt by other prisoners? Is that why he didn't want me to visit?"
"I'm sorry Sara," Hobson responded feebly.
Sara paused, feeling her emotions threatening to overwhelm her, as thoughts of Grissom being hurt crossed her mind. "He was recognized, and they hurt him, and that's why he was transferred."
"I really need to sort this mess out," Hobson said.
"Sort it out. Yes, sort things out because you've done a fantastic job so far!"
"Sara, I know you're upset…"
"Save it. Just save it," Sara said her frustration for this subpar lawyer escalating. "Do you have anything constructive to tell me?"
"You know as much as I know, Mrs. Grissom. And if I know anything more, I will promise to let you know."
"Oh, how great. I'll be sure to hold my breath, Mr. Nash." And with that trite comment, she hung up the phone.
Her hands shook with anger and anxiety, so she headed over to the playpen to pick up Daniel. She snuggled him gently to her, inhaling in his baby smell to calm her racing heart.
Daniel, wrapped his short arms around her neck tightly, delighting in the attention. "Mommommom!" he declared.
Sara smiled, despite everything. "Good boy, Cricket. Mommy. Can you find Daddy?" she asked, and pointed to a nearby photo of the three of them, that Betty had taken. "Look, there's Daddy," she pointed out Grissom. "Daddy," she said again.
"Dadadada!" Daniel copied exuberantly, and looked to Sara for approval. She praised him once more, kissing his cheek, turning it into a raspberry at the end. Daniel squirmed and wriggled as he giggled.
The giggles helped her soul, but did not extinguish the questions in her heart and mind.
"Just what is going on in that head of yours, Gil? Just where the hell are you?"