Alex Vartann ran the tip of his pen down the long list of K & M Vending clients. Had he realized how much money was in pop and candy machines he might have chosen another life sixteen years ago. The company serviced buildings and businesses both big and small with nothing particular sticking out in his mind.
            Getting to the end of the list he retraced his steps with the pen rising to the top of the page. Getting to the line that read Clark County, Vartann tapped the pen in thought. It could be anything, any number of buildings.
            Snatching the phone receiver from his desk, he checked the number at the top of list and dialed the vending machine company. He wanted to be thorough, not just because he was a man that liked to do a job right but because the little hairs on the back of his neck had started to stand on end.
            “Hello, my name is Detective Alex Vartann with the Las Vegas Police Department,”  he introduced himself while circling the Clark County entry over and over with his pen, making a blue ink halo around the words “I was wanting to speak with your business office.”
            He wanted an itemized listing of what county buildings were on K & M’s routes. Brass had said that Grissom was curious about Karns’ employee badge. Maybe cross referencing the client list with Karns route would come up with something.
            “How can I help you Detective Vartann,” a woman answered. He recognized the woman’s voice and momentarily drew a blank to her name. Maryann? Marilyn? Yes… “Marilyn, I was hoping you could help me,” Vartann began the tapping of his pen starting up once again “ I am needing Roderick Karns route and if possible an itemized list of buildings in your Clark County contract.
            “Sure. If you have an email address I can send it to you in a few moments.”
Vartann smiled broadly, having expected to wait for the usual paperwork machine to slowly grind up to speed. “Yea, sure,” he informed her giving her his email address at the station.

            ******************************************************************

            If any one was to have seen Richard Bathory, they might think that he was waiting to be called up to get an award or prize instead of being re-tried in a capitol murder trial. He sat in his chair barely paying attention to the proceedings, grinning like a fool. Occasionally he would glance back in the gallery, his pale eyes roaming over the occupants before descending upon Grissom.
            Bathory ran his forefinger across his brow and down the side of his face to his cheek, mirroring the thin white scar that was still noticeable on Grissom’s face. He grinned slyly before rolling his head forward to eye the officer on the stand evilly. It was all fun and games to Bathory, people that he could toy with and hopefully dominate.
            Catherine and Nick noticed the exchange between Grissom and Bathory, their eyes darting back and forth between the men. Catherine was both amazed and overjoyed that Grissom did not rise to Bathory’s challenge. Grissom appeared to be unaffected by the man as he sat to Catherine’s right. The man had either gone completely numb or was exercising his immense talent at hiding his emotions behind blank facades
            Hell, he’s doing better than Nicky, Catherine thought as she noticed the scowl on Nick’s face as he glared at the man from across the courtroom.
            That odd sensation of being detached from himself had descended upon Grissom once again. He was a visitor in his own mind and body as he watched Bathory play his twisted little mind games with the police officer on the stand. Grissom remembered him from the Jessica Fielding murder. He had been the first officer at the scene and had looked pretty green around the gills when he had arrived at the scene.
            “He lost his hair,” Grissom muttered for some inane reason.
            “What?” Sara asked, leaning into his right side.
            Grissom casually flicked his index finger at the man on the stand. “He had more hair the last time I saw him,” Grissom explained with a shrug.
            Sara caught the confused look on Nick’s face as he glanced back at them over his right shoulder. She smiled slightly not sure if Grissom was hiding being nervous by spouting off odd facts or if it was just a random thought tripping through his mind. She was just thankful that the trial was going as well as it was. By the look of the jury, Bathory was already convicted for a second time and it was less than two hours into it.
            Grissom watched as Bathory got bored with the witness on the stand and proceeded to make his way through the victim’s family. He had expected the man’s gaze to fall on him next as part of the natural sweep of his soulless eyes but his attention passed by Grissom and settled on something in the back of the courtroom before returning his attention to the witness at the stand.
            Grissom frowned as he sought out what had momentarily caught Bathory’s notice. There was a court officer manning one side of the double doors leading from the courtroom. The man wore a look of mild boredom as he stood with his hands clasped casually together in front of him. He nodded to Grissom when he noticed the man watching him.
            Grissom was almost going to assume that he had misinterpreted Bathory’s body language when his eyes fell on a young man sitting in the back row.  An odd tingling sensation began at the base of his skull and tickled its way down his spine, causing Grissom to bunch up his muscled to control the shiver that was preparing to break out over his body. He couldn’t see the man’s face well since his forehead and eyes were almost completely hidden by the brim of his ball cap and the rest of his face was partially hidden with three days worth of dark stubble.
            The crew of co-workers had taken up seats in such away that Grissom was surrounded, literally, by friends. Nick, Warrick and Greg had taken the row directly in from of Grissom who was flanked by Catherine and Sara. Behind Grissom sat Jim, Sofia, Doc Robbins and David. It was Brass and Sofia who noticed Grissom staring at the man at the back of the courtroom.
            Exchanging inquisitive looks Brass leaned forward and whispered to Grissom, “Do you know that guy?”
            Grissom squinted slightly as he tried to figure out what it was his instincts were trying to tell him. Before he could answer Brass their attention was drawn to the judge who called for a recess while ADA Jeffrey Sinclair and Bathory’s defense attorney hashed out a legal argument in the judges chambers.
            “Phew! Glad for that,” Greg said in exaggerated relief “I need blood in my legs and a serious sugar boost.”
            Grissom had to smile as Warrick and Nick complained about being trampled by the younger man’s eagerness to get to the vending machine. Remembering the man that had caught his attention moments ago Grissom rose from his seat and sought the man out. He couldn’t find him among the court spectators.
            “Where’d he go?” Grissom asked scooting across Catherine to get to the aisle.
            “Where’d who go? Catherine asked rising to her feet.
            Brass looked back to where he had seen the man in the ball cap. “The guy in the hat?” Brass asked following Grissom out of the courtroom.
            One by one they exited the double doors out into massive, central hallway. Grissom scanned the hall way from end to end but had no luck in spotting the stranger in the hat.
            “Did you know him?” Catherine asked.
            Grissom had had only a vague awareness of the man. That odd feeling someone gets when they experience déjà vu as they try and place the face with any real memory.
            “I don’t know,” Grissom answered quietly. Following Sara over to where Greg stood at the vending machines, Grissom tried to shake the odd sensation from his mind.
            “Crap!” Greg muttered as he read the sign that told him his search for a sugary meal was not to be found “Out of order.”
            He looked at Sara and Grissom as if he had been insulted. “I’m sure this is not the only candy machine in the building Greg,” Sara said teasingly.
            Immediately Greg perked up. “Yea, I’ll just go down one level,” he informed them as he bounced off in search of a sugar pick-me-up.
            Grissom grinned at the younger man’s exuberance.
            “What are you thinking?” Sara asked softly, enjoying the smile on his face.
            Grissom turned the smile on her and her heart did a little flip-flop. “I was just wondering if I was ever that excited about candy.”
            “I don’t think anyone has ever been as excited about candy as Greg Sanders,” Sara said chuckling. “Although, I would have enjoyed that granola bar in there,” she added inclining her had towards the machine.
            Grissom looked at the munchy in question locked behind the glass window. “Would you like me to follow the great treat hunter to the next snack hunting ground?” Grissom asked her in mock seriousness.
            “I think I’ll survive Bwana,” Sara teased as they made their way back to the rest of the group.
            As they began to file back into the courtroom, Brass felt his phone vibrate at his hip. “I’ll be in in a second,” he told the others as he stepped off to the side.
           
            ******************************************************************

            “Vartann!”
            Detective Vartann looked up from his computer screen at Vega’s call.
            “The tech guy says he’s ready in conference room A,” Vega threw a thumb over his shoulder indicating the room.
            Nodding, Vartann got up and followed Vega to the conference room. They had finally been able to track down Toby Cray in Aurora, Colorado. With a little help from the local police department and technology they would be able to interview the man via a video conference call.
            Vartann and Vega walked into the dim lit room with a large LCD screen taking up the wall opposite the door. The department IT techs already had the link established for the conference call and the detectives could see the room their counterparts would be sitting in. Almost on cue they watched as a detective lead the young man to the seat.
            Introducing themselves Vartann began questioning Toby Cray, who appeared intensely nervous anytime Bathory’s name was mentioned.
            “So you haven’t seen the guy in sometime?” Vega asked.
            “No and I pray I never do see that sick fuck again,” the kid scooted around in his chair nervously. “It took me over a year to get out and away from him and that’s where I’m staying.”
            Vartann considered himself a pretty good judge as to when he was being played and he didn’t get that vibe from Toby Cray at all. The young man had obviously tried to disappear in hopes of never being found by Bathory again. He acted almost superstitious at the mere mention of the man’s name, squirming, flinching, and visibly sinking deeper into his chair.
            “He had this ranch he got from his mom,” Toby answered the detective’s next question.
            “Yea, we found the ranch,” Vartann leaned forward placing his forearms across the conference table. “I was wondering if you knew of any other place he liked to hole up?”
            Toby seemed to dismiss the question almost immediately until all at once he sat up a little straighter. Something must have come to mind to spark the knowing gaze that spread across his boyish face.
            “Rich never had anywhere. Donny always said that he had to run to Markus when he needed to hide because Markus was the master of hiding spots.” Toby wiggled his fingers nervously as he tried to remember things he had tried so hard to forget. “I remember he use to buy places, property in other people’s names-“
            “Other people’s names?”
            “Yea, he’d pay for it and they’d put their names on it,” Toby said his voice raising in pitch as he became more animated, more excited as he recalled his life under the thumb of the mass murdering brothers. “Lonely old people, desperate women…I remember he even bought this rat trap trailer in the middle of nowhere under this guy he killed. He liked to do that a lot, thought it was funny or something.”
            Vartann nodded as he scribbled some notes down on the legal pad in front of him.
            “Can you remember any names?” Vega asked at Vartann’s side.
            Again it looked like Toby was going to immediately assume he had no knowledge to impart but just as fast he scooted forward in his chair, the metal legs scraping along the tiled floor, as a thought dawned on him. He gave a hollow laugh at the memory.
            “Vonna and Jeannie once inherited,” Toby made quotation marks in the air at the word inherited “a diner or something like that. There was this other place, I remember going there once with Markus and Donny, it was a cabin out in a woods. It was at night and I’m not sure where it was, but it smelled like my grandpa’s basement- damp, wet. I remember Donny told me it was another inheritance place some girl named Jess but I never met her.”
            “Great,” Vartann smiled. It was nothing specific but it gave them a few more leads to follow. “One last question- do you know of any known associates that Bathory might turn to? Somebody…maybe not in his regular crew?” Vartaan asked.
            “Rich, nah, he’s a whack job and most people can pick up on it pretty quick but Markus is smart man. Rich says he’s a genius but Markus is the real thing,” Toby proclaimed. “He would cut into someone like a doctor and heal’em right up if he wanted to and COOK! He was a mad scientist with all his chemicals and drugs.”
            Toby rubbed the top of his head as he searched the memories he tried so desperately to forget. “He used to sell some homebrewed shit some guy that Abrams knew.”
            “Derek Lopez?” Vega asked.
            “Yea, Yea!” Toby scooted up in his seat. “One time, I remember there was this gorgeous chick, she was like German or something that came with Lopez. Dana, Darcy, noooo, Dacy-“
            “Daciana?” Vartaan supplied.
            “Yea, that’s it!” Toby exclaimed. “Scott told me she was hooked into some mob boss but I never met’em.”
            Vartaan and Vega exchanged knowing glances.
            “Okay, thanks Toby,” Vartaan said, letting the young man know the questions were over.         
            “Hey listen, you guys aren’t going to give me away to that psycho or you?” Toby asked, once again worried about his own skin.
            “Toby, as far as I’m concern,” Vartann tapped the end of his pen on the table, closing it before slipping it into his breast pocket “we never talked.”

            *****************************************************************

            Sofia scooted over on the wood bench as Brass made to retake his spot on the aisle seat. Folding his forearms across the back of the bench in front of him, Brass leaned foreword to whisper over Catherine and Grissom’s shoulder.
            “Just got a call from Vartann. He’s been doing all my leg work this morning,” Brass whispered his eyes following the Adam Matthews as he cross examined the first officer at the scene. “Apparently Markus Bathory is a renaissance man. Not only is he a kidnapper and murderer but a drug pusher as well. And according to Toby Vray he’s been linked to lovely Daciana Hila.”
            Sofia rolled her head to one side as she soaked in the latest news.
            “He’s also a burgeoning real estate mogul. Likes to buy up property, but under someone else’s name. Mostly the kids that follow him,” Brass continued.
            Grissom turned slightly, looking over his left shoulder at Brass. “Well if that is true, we should run the names on any of his known associates- see if they own any property.”
            “We know that there is nothing listed under Kempler or Abrams,” Catherine added.
            Grissom shook his head. “They’ve had records since the day they were born, too risky…what about the girls?”
            “The girls are all dead as far as we know,” Catherine whispered checking to make sure the judge wasn’t going to buts them for excessive talking in the court.
            “So, hasn’t stopped him before. If he could hold onto property under his dead parents name what was to stop him from maintaining holdings held in the name of his dead followers?” Grissom asked.
            Sofia patted Brass on the shoulder as she prepared to get up. “I’ll check on it,” she said as she made her way to exit the courtroom, her hand already resting on the cell phone at her hip.
            “One other thing…looks like K & M vending supplied most of Clark County with goodies- even the lab.” Brass informed them with a quirk of one eyebrow.
            “Really?” Catherine scooted sideways to get a quick look at Brass. “Anything else?”
            “Well, I can tell you I can blame them for the extra five pounds I put on last year,” Brass teased slightly as he quietly patted his midsection.
            Grissom stared forward as he watched the court proceedings with complete detachment. There was a buzzing in his ears, like electronic white noise, and his mind itched signaling…signaling what?
            K & M Vending…Clark County… Roderick Karns? Grissom felt like his mind was spinning, chasing, falling. There was something important that he needed to see. What was it?
            It’s there! I know it! I blind to it, I can’t see it! Grissom lowered his head as he slowly stroked two fingers along his brow. It was as if the action was meant to coax the stubborn thoughts from his head.

            Karns…dead, missing ID...K & M Vending…Clark County..

Grissom’s inner thoughts began to pick up their pace, slowly coalescing while speeding up for collision.

            Missing ID? Grissom’s gaze rose to pierce Bathory as he sat watching Grissom from the corner of his eye. The look in Bathory’s lifeless eyes had Grissom’s head spinning backwards, a roar sounded in his ears as he felt himself was sucked back…back…back into Hell! The final pieces to his spotting memory crashed into his skull.
            The walls of the cistern had been covered in wet moss. Slick, cold stone that bit into his flesh each time he tried to climb from the cold, bitter water that cut into his skin like a thousand piercing needles. His fingers and toes would dig deep into the crevices between the stones, knocking decades old mortar from between the stones.
            Every time Markus would banish him to the tank Grissom would attempt to climb through the darkness, to escape the soul sapping cold waters and the imagined demons that began to slowly take flesh within Grissom’s wounded psyche.
            He had tried and failed so many times he was unwilling to count for fear of losing hope. But each time he had failed he had gotten a little farther up the cistern walls. Building on the last failed attempt Grissom had slowly notched out hand and foot hold along the cistern wall. His captors had felt comfortable in leaving him with his nightmares, not bothering to notice his progress in their monitors.
            When Jacob Toller had come out to pull Grissom from the tank he had been momentarily shocked to find him missing from the cistern, shackles and all. He had shone his flash light down into the darkness thinking the man had somehow fallen into the black waters below and drowned, never realizing until it was too late that Grissom had escaped his watery cell.
            Grissom slammed the large stone into the back of Jake’s head, dropping the younger man instantly to the ground. Disposing of the shackles just as quickly Grissom ran, fumbling through the darkness as his half-panicked mind screamed on and on –AWAY! 
            He didn’t notice Scott Abrams coming up the stone path as he was coming down until it was too late. The pale glow of Abrams cheap, plastic flashlight illuminated the startled faces of both men for a split second before Grissom growled and launched himself at Abrams.
            He hadn’t seen the knife Abrams had pulled. He couldn’t describe it or even swear that it had been a knife but as the two men tumbled and fell down the rocky hill Scott Abrams had been able to stick the short blade into Grissom. Rolling backwards and landing upright on his knees, Grissom pounced on the stunned man near him. His fists smashing into Abrams face, matching the tempo of the high pitched hysterical whines escaping from Grissom’s throat.
            The full moon had barely illuminated the road leading away from the camp but it was enough for Grissom. He ran and ran some more and when he couldn’t run he’d walk and when that became difficult he just stumbled on. It was all he could think- away!
            Grissom shot to his feet, his head snapping in the direction of the man that had caught his attention earlier. Jake Toller! Always in the background. Behind the camera. Always waiting for Markus’s orders!
            Grissom looked at Bathory, saw the worry building behind his transparent silver eyes and knew. Grissom grinned slyly at the man before pulling away from the tugging hands of Sara and Catherine.
            “Grissom,” Catherine complained quietly and in earnest as he made his way past her to the aisle.
            “What the…” Brass got up to follow Grissom trying to prepare himself mentally for whatever had set the man of this time.
            The howl of rage that erupted from Bathory as he launched himself out of his chair and partially over the wooden banister that separated the gallery from the actual court area was not what Brass had expected. Spinning, his hand instinctively going for his weapon, Brass watched as the screaming man was quickly apprehended by the court bailiff and two security officers.
            “GRISSSSSOM!” the man screamed being pulled back over the banister “THIS IS… YOUR FAULT!” Bathory screeched and grunted as he fought with his guards.
            Matthews tried frantically to get his client under control, while the judge yelled at the man to calm himself. Eyes ricocheted back and forth between the thrashing man and Grissom; his hand paused upon the door, halted in mid-exit.
            A clever grin slowly bloomed on Grissom’s face as the reason for Bathory’s outburst became clear to him. The two men shared a brief moment in time both knowing that Bathory was simply trying to divert Grissom’s attention. With an amused huff Grissom opened and almost slid through the open door.
            Bathory screamed at Grissom again as the guards struggled to drag him from the courtroom, the judge having had enough of the man’s out burst. Brass’ momentary stunned inaction quickly dissipated as he followed after Grissom, the rest of the slightly shocked crew following.
            Upon exiting the courtroom, Brass quickly sought out the whereabouts of Grissom. Spotting him Brass watched as Grissom rushed to the granite banister at one of the hall and searched the floors above and below. Whatever he was looking for had obviously come up bust as the man hurried past his perplexed and worried friends to examine the staircase at the other end of the hall.
            “GIL!” Brass called out, not really yelling but a fairly close facsimile.
            Grissom didn’t halt in his fast paced search as he threw over his shoulder, “He’s here!”
            Brass looked around at the other faces mirroring his confused frown, trying to see if he was missing the obvious clue as to what Grissom was talking about. As if on cue the group migrated to where Grissom was leaning over the banister, searching the stairs below.
            “Who?” Sara asked, reaching for his arm to get his attention.
            Grissom leaned back from the banister his eyes searching a side hall. “Bathory,” Grissom answered her absentmindedly.
            Not finding what he was looking for, Grissom hung his head with a sigh as he dejectedly let a hip fall back against the gray, granite banister. His fingers tapped restlessly, the only indication that his mind was still racing.
            “Bathory was in the courtroom,” Catherine said carefully uncertain as to how to proceed with him. The Grissom before this ordeal would have had Catherine sarcastically if not playfully sniping at him. This Grissom was a volatile mix and it was best to use kid gloves and plenty of protective gear.
            Grissom shook his head but before he could say anything, Sara asked, “Markus?”
            Grissom only nodded; raising his head he scanned the courthouse again. What are you up to Markus?  Jake was here, why? Abrams was in Vegas, why? Grissom’s mind tried to sort through all the facts. It was like trying to piece together a round puzzle. Where were the corner pieces to start with?

            Richard, Markus
…
            Markus, Jake…Jake, Richard…

            Markus, Abrams…Abrams, Karns? What was it he had been thinking before?

            Karns…dead, missing ID...K & M Vending…Clark County…

Grissom launched himself from the banister. “The machines!”
            Immediately Grissom could see the smoke roiling out from underneath the vending machine that had been out of order.
            “FIRE!” someone yelled near the machine as people began to scatter from the billowing smoke.
            Grissom could smell the potassium nitrate having dealt with the chemical many times before and knew it wasn’t a fire, at least not yet. His eyes caught the K & M Vending sticker in the upper corner of the vending machine a half second before he noticed the plain brown box wedged between the snack machine and the drink machine. Then time and space stopped with a blinding light and deafening roar.