| Specters of Crimes Past - by kyrdwyn (page 3) |
| Rated: R (language, adult themes) Spoilers: None Synopsis: Three years after Ghosts and Shadows, Jana finds herself at the heart of an investigation into the death of a local defense attorney. |
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| CSI, Gil Grissom and company, and places and etc are all property of Anthony Zuiker, Alliance Atlantis, CBS, and other companies. They did not condone this fic, and I am not getting paid for it. I write because I want to. All other characters not appearing on CSI in any way, shape, or form that appear in this story are my property. If you have any comments - good or bad, feel free to e-mail me at: toxicrev@yahoo.com |
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| Outside, under the watchful eye of two officers, Jana and Gil sat on her front lawn. Despite what they had said, neither was smoking. Jana was cross-legged, pulling out a blade of grass and tearing it into tiny bits before starting on another. Grissom had his legs pulled up and his forearms resting on his knees, staring off into the distance. "Will they find anything?" Jana shook her head. "I don't have anything in the house about the murder. Nothing about Jackson either. A few pictures of my parents, but that's not incriminating." Jana's head suddenly popped up and she looked at him, mischief twinkling in her eyes. "Did we forget to drain the bathtub?" Gil looked taken aback, then his tongue flickered between his lips before he laughed. * * * * * Inside, Catherine and Nick were carefully searching though Jana's bedroom, noticing the clothes Grissom had worn to work were tossed casually on Jana's bed. Neither of them said anything. Nick walked into Jana's bathroom and stopped when he saw the bathtub was full of water and bubbles, with wet footprints on the tile leading from the tub to the bedroom. Towels were lying on the vanity and the floor. Catherine came up behind him and took in the scene. Nick turned and walked out of the bathroom. "You can drain the tub if you want to check it for evidence," he said, moving on to the office. * * * * * Gil and Jana watched from the lawn as the investigators left, taking several evidence bags with them. The two went back inside and locked the door behind them. Up in the bathroom, Jana frowned when she saw the tub had been fully drained. "This thing takes too long to fill," she complained, going back into the bedroom and flopping facedown on the bed. Gil lay down next to her, his head propped on his hand. When Jana finally looked at him, silent tears were running down her cheeks. Gil reached out to pull her to him, holding her and silently cursing his inability to fix this problem for her. * * * * * The next evening found Sara slamming her locker door shut, wanting nothing more than to go home and take a long, hot shower. Marcus Jackson was a repulsive excuse for a human being. "Hey, you all right?" Sara jumped and turned, seeing Warrick standing a few feet away, looking concerned. She smiled. "I'm fine. I just had to go up to Ely yesterday." "Ely, huh? How come?" Warrick opened his locker and started unbuttoning his shirt. "I needed to interview Marcus Jackson." Sara shuddered again at the thought of facing the rapist/murderer. His black eyes, a startling contrast to his pale skin and white hair, had openly assessed Sara as a potential victim. Warrick turned, surprise on his face. "Why would you need to do that?" Sara blinked at him, then suddenly realized that Warrick had been away at a conference for the past week and didn't know about the case. She ran a hand through her black hair. "I think you need to sit down." Warrick looked puzzled, but he sat on the bench. "Marcus Jackson's attorney was killed a few days ago. Jana Stevens' business card was the only form of ID found on the body." Warrick shook his head. "Wait a minute - you can't be saying Jana killed him." "No, Jana has an alibi." Sara was surprised to see Warrick grin. "Grissom." "How'd you know? None of us knew they were dating." "I saw them out having dinner a few months ago. They looked pretty intimate." "And you never told us?" Sara complained with good humor. Warrick raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, the same way I never told anyone about you and the coroner's assistant." Sara blushed. "Okay, I know when to stop pushing my luck. Anyway, I've got a theory that someone is trying to frame Jana, so I thought I would go up and talk to Marcus Jackson. It was her testimony that really put him away." Warrick nodded. "And?" "Oh, he made all the appropriate noises about being sorry his attorney was dead, but…" "You didn't believe him." "There was something in his eyes…" Sara's voice trailed off. Warrick didn't interrupt her. He knew what she meant - those black eyes of Jackson's had creeped him out too. He stood up and pulled out a clean shirt from his locker. "Let's think this through, Sara. If Jackson has his attorney killed, what does that gain him?" "Longer delay before his execution. The stay last month was due to Jackson's catching the flu. Apparently the state doesn't believe in executing people who aren't healthy." Warrick gave a snort. "So with his lawyer dead, Jackson can appeal his next execution date, saying that he isn't represented by counsel, etc." Sara nodded. Warrick frowned thoughtfully. "I wouldn't put it past Jackson to try something like that - and then pin it on Jana." "You know, if Jana was convicted of killing Wilson, Jackson might be able to appeal his sentence," Nick's voice sounded from behind them. "What do you mean?" Sara asked. Nick came forward and sat astride the bench. "Okay - Jana was the CSI on the case that put Jackson on death row - as well as the only victim to survive his attack. Without Jana's testimony, Jackson gets away. You weren't here then, Sara, but Wilson made some pretty nasty accusations about Jana's impartiality on the stand." "Because of her parents." "Right," Warrick said. "The jury chose to believe Jana." Nick nodded. "But if Jana goes down for Wilson's murder, Jackson's new attorney could argue that Jana killed him because Wilson had proof she was lying on the stand and Jackson's conviction was invalid. Ten to one someone's planting evidence to that effect right now." "An interesting theory, young Nicholas." The three CSI's turned as Brass wandered into the locker room. "And the best one I've heard so far for explaining why Jana seems to be the only viable suspect." "Brass, Jana didn't do it," Warrick said. The homicide captain looked at the dark CSI with amusement. "You've been back from Tennessee for what, a day? And you know this?" "No, but I know Jana." Nick nodded his head in agreement. Brass looked at Sara. "What do you think?" The young woman sighed. "I don't know Jana as well as you all do, but I do know that something isn't right about this investigation. Too many holes." Brass nodded "I agree. The problem is that Catherine is sold on Jana and she's got the sheriff convinced." The four friends looked at each other, all uncomfortably aware of the fact they might have to choose sides between the other two members of the unit - Catherine and Grissom. "So what do we do?" Sara's quiet question broke the silence. Brass looked at her. "We keep following the evidence." * * * * * "I can't believe you." Catherine's strident voice echoed throughout the morgue. Grissom and Dr. Robbins looked at her, and then at each other. "Let's talk outside," Grissom said, nodding at the doctor and heading toward the door. Catherine followed him and slapped a folded sheet of paper against his chest as soon as they were in the hallway. "You put her up to this, didn't you?" "Put who up to what, Catherine?" Grissom asked with genuine puzzlement as he took the paper from Catherine and read it. "Your girlfriend: Jana." "She's filed a complaint against you for harassment." "Yes, she has. You put her up to it, didn't you?" Grissom gave her a disgusted look. "You honestly think I would do that?" Catherine sighed, blowing her hair out of her face. "Gil, you've always had a soft spot for Jana - even before the two of you started dating. It's not out of the realm of possibility for you to take her side in this." Grissom crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall. "So you think that I would lie for her, and then encourage her to file a complaint against you." His voice reflected his disappointment in Catherine. "Yes, I'm on her side because I know she's innocent. I'm staying out of this case because I am her alibi witness. I'm sorry if that isn't to your liking. And Jana's decision to file a complaint against you was just that - her decision. I can't say I'm surprised. Jana can read a warrant as well as the rest of us - she would have known that you left out a vital piece of information to get that warrant." "I did what I thought was right, Gil." Catherine's voice was defensive. "Well, then I guess you will have to live with the consequences of your actions. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an autopsy to get back to." He stalked away from her and back into the morgue. Catherine watched him, her face in lines of dismay. * * * * * Jana and Warrick sat in a diner down the street from the crime lab. Jana was idly toying with her food, using her fork to draw lines in ketchup. Warrick was watching her. "I hear you filed a harassment complaint against Catherine." Jana smiled, a little sadly. "Yeah. Probably not the smartest thing to do. Gil will chew me out for it, but I can't just sit and do nothing." She let her fork drop onto her plate. "She deliberately omitted evidence from the warrant application. I can't let that slide by, you know. If I do, then I might as well confess. And I didn't do it." "I know." Jana looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks. You and Gil seem to be the only ones who believe in me." Warrick shook his head. "Nick doesn't think you did it. Brass and Sara think something's fishy." "But Catherine isn't listening to any of you." "Nope. She's set in her ways." Jana sat back. "If I didn't know her better, I'd say Catherine was in league with whoever is setting me up - but I know Cath wouldn't do that." Warrick stayed silent for a bit. Finally, he asked Jana, "What are you going to do?" "Keep my mouth shut from now on, I guess. If Catherine wants to talk to me, she can go through my attorney. Not much else I can do. I can't investigate." Jana ran a hand over her face. "God, I feel so helpless." Warrick leaned forward to take Jana's hand. "Look, Jana. Three years ago you helped us out when Grissom was kidnapped. We're doing the same for you. Don't think that you don't have friends in CSI." Jana smiled again, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Warrick." * * * * * Catherine stopped at the door to ballistics, amused by the sound of two Texas accents discussing guns. "What do we got?" "Jana's gun doesn't match the murder weapon. Rifling and twists are all wrong, and the ammunition is different." Nick reported. Catherine looked over at the ballistics tech. "Bobby - you sure?" He nodded. "I'm sure - I've gone over it a half dozen times. I even checked the gun for signs of tampering. No signs of tampering on the barrel, or the serial number - which does match her permit." Catherine sighed. "So much for that, then." "Catherine, we do have to consider the possibility that Jana is being set up." Catherine was already out the door, though. Nick looked over at Bobby and shrugged. * * * * * Warrick joined Sara and Nick in the break room. Nick was picking at a burrito and Sara was reading a file. "What's that?" Sara looked up at Warrick. "The fingerprints from the glass Nick found at the crime scene belong to a Jason Davis. This is his police file - very interesting reading." "Oh yeah?" Warrick grabbed a soda from the fridge and popped it open. "What's Mr. Davis been up to?" "Assault, aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon - twice, a parole violation, and several stints in juvenile hall." "Nice guy. We know why he was at the crime scene?" Nick shook his head. "No, but Brass is on his way to bring the guy in." Sara sat up. "Oh here's something interesting." "What?" both men asked at the same time "One of his assault arrests. He was arrested with another man - Marcus Jackson." All three CSI's looked at each other with knowing smiles. * * * * * Gil was surprised to find Jana asleep in his bed when he got home from work that morning. He had planned on calling her later to see how she was holding up. He knew Sara was going to be calling her, seeing what she knew about Jason Davis. If they could establish Davis' connection to Marcus Jackson and to the crime scene, they could blow Catherine's case against Jana out of the water. Gil quietly undressed and slipped into bed next to Jana. She instinctively moved to curl up against him. He carefully put his arm around her and listened to her breathing. He was worried that he might lose her to Marcus Jackson, again. Losing her 8 years ago had been bad enough. Catherine had been right to accuse him of having a soft spot for Jana - he pretty much always had. Jana's determination to solve cases and frustration with silly protocol had amused Gil even as it bothered him. He'd taken her under his wing, the way he had with Warrick. He'd seen something in her that reminded him of himself - and he'd wanted to nurture that quality. He'd felt so guilty after she'd left CSI - like it was his fault alone. Seeing her again during the Edgecombe investigation had been a mixed blessing for him. Discovering that Jana was still in Las Vegas and doing well for herself had assuaged some of his guilt, but the depth of her anger and hatred after five years had astounded him. She'd been determined to fight him on everything in that case, not giving an inch. Yet he'd finally been able to understand her anger, and apologize to her. To his amazement, she'd forgiven him. Not wanting to lose touch with her again, he'd tried to get their relationship back to a friendship level through casual lunches. Slowly, though, he'd realized that he wanted more than friendship from her. He winced slightly as he thought about the case he'd asked Jana to investigate for him - he'd suspected that Millander was involved yet he'd brought Jana in anyway. He'd just wanted confirmation. He'd gotten that, and more. Jana had argued with him, tried to get him to bring in the police, but he'd been too stubborn. She'd gone to the police then, behind his back, but she'd done it to protect him. When he'd opened his eyes at that warehouse after being kidnapped and seen her there, his heart had almost stopped in fear. Jana sighed in her sleep. Gil looked down at her and sighed himself. The past three years hadn't been easy - they'd argued, called off dates, called each other names, then one of them would call up the other and they'd both end up apologizing. But he hadn't expected a smooth road - not with his track record in personal relationships. "Hey there handsome," Jana's sleepy voice brought him out of his reverie. He looked down to see her eyes were still closed, her hand lightly stroking his chest. "Handsome?" "Yes, you are," she smiled, opening her eyes. Gil stared into her blue eyes, reaching out to run a finger over her lips. She lightly flicked her tongue against it. He moved his fingers to trace down the side of her neck, and he spoke. "I love you." Jana went still, barely breathing. Her eyes widened - but he couldn't tell if it was in shock or fear or something else. "What did you say?" she whispered. Mentally he cursed himself for letting that slip out. He'd known he was in love with her long before they became lovers, but he'd refrained from saying the words, unsure of how she would react. "Never mind," he said softly, dropping his eyes from hers. He started to withdraw his hand, but Jana reached up to capture it. He looked back up at her, surprised to see tears in her eyes again. She pulled his hand back to her mouth and kissed it softly, apologetically. "I'm sorry, Gil, I just can't…I mean…." He kissed her forehead. "I know, Jana, I know." It hurt, but he understood that Jana couldn't say the words. He tried not to think about the fact that Jana might not feel the same way. * * * * * Catherine was in the evidence locker, searching for something, when Nick came up behind her and cleared his throat. She turned to see him standing there, a grin on his face and a folder in his hands. "What's up?" she asked. "Those prints off the glass at the crime scene belong to a Jason Davis," Nick said, handing Catherine the report. "Aside from several assault convictions, he's also a known associate of Marcus Jackson. Brass just picked him up and is bringing him down for questioning." Catherine gave Nick a sharp look, which he returned coolly, refusing to back down. He was tired of Catherine refusing to at least admit there could be other suspects in this investigation. If she didn't like that he was taking the evidence and following it to those other suspects, that was her problem. He was doing his job. "Hm." Catherine handed the report back to Nick. "I take it Brass will be asking him about Alex Wilson?" "Among other things," Sara replied from the doorway behind Catherine. "I just gave a copy of this to Brass." She handed Catherine a stack of papers. "While I was up at Ely I asked for a copy of the visitor's log for Marcus Jackson. Turns out that Wilson wasn't the only attorney visiting Jackson. For the past several weeks, a Thomas Morrison was visiting him. The reason given was a civil case Jackson was thinking of filing. I checked - Morrison is a civil attorney." "He ever file a case for Jackson?" Catherine asked. "Not recently." "Wait - Jackson's mail is read in and out of the prison. His attorneys and his family are the only visitors he's allowed. How would he contact this Davis to arrange a hit?" Sara grinned. "Turns out that Morrison has a ton of shady clients in his civil practice. He seems to specialize in suits against the PD. I checked the courthouse records - fifteen years ago Morrison represented Davis and Jackson in a civil suit stemming from their joint assault arrest." "So you're thinking that Morrison was the go-between for Davis and Jackson?" Nick asked. Sara nodded. "He's got connections to both men, we know he's been visiting Jackson - I bet if we check his phone records we'll find calls to Davis made recently." "When's the last time Morrison visited Jackson?" Catherine was flipping through the log. "Last Thursday - the day after the murder. He was there twenty minutes." "Long enough to let Jackson know Wilson was dead," Nick said with a grin. "Something else interesting." Warrick's voice sounded from behind them. Catherine arched an eyebrow. "When were you assigned to this case?" "When Brass asked me to look into something for him," Warrick replied. "The vacant office where Wilson was shot - it was rented five days before the murder to Glenbriar Incorporated." "We knew that," Catherine said impatiently. "Did you also know that Thomas Morrison is the president of that firm? And that Jason Davis is the vice president - and has been for the past 10 years?" Catherine blinked in shock. Nick, Warrick, and Sara smiled. "So Morrison visits Jackson, gets the info on the hit, recruits his business partner Davis for the job, rents the office, lures Wilson there, kills him, then takes Wilson's ID and plants Jana's business card," Catherine mused. "And Davis decides to have a drink of water while waiting for Wilson, forgets to keep his gloves on and doesn't wash the glass afterward," Nick added. Catherine looked up at the three. "So, maybe someone ought to bring in Morrison as well." |
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