DISCLAIMER: CSI is the property of CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Take You Out
By L.
ONE
Me and Grissom were standing in a living room looking at a body in front of us. We were waiting for Catherine and Warrick to show up, and didn’t want to rush ahead and do anything redundant before they got here.
- What else?
I sighed and rambled through my preliminary findings.
- Well, Ben & Jerry are proud of their organic and nutritional... standards. As far as I can tell, the chocolate fudge brownie only contain so called natural ingredients: organic cream, organic evaporated cane juice syrup, organic skim milk, organic brownies, water, -
- Organic water?
- Organic cocoa, AND carob bean gum.
- Ah. The carob bean gum, also called the locust bean gum. It is the material separated and variously refined from the endosperm of the seed of the carob tree, Ceratonia siliqua, a large leguminous evergreen that is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area. The carbohydrate component of carob bean gum is considered to be a neutral galactomannan polymer.
I pondered the significance of this and decided there was none.
- What about that jar, the one over there?
Grissom motioned to an opened tin jar next to a doggie bowl named “huck”.
- Well, that specific brand contains no corn or wheat, no dairy, no artificial colors or flavors, or no chemical preservatives.
I rattled this off, mildly annoyed of the fact that he assumed I knew this, and the fact that I did indeed know this.
I continued:
- It does contain high quality chicken and fish meal and eggs derived from human-grade processing plants. It is dense with vitamins, minerals, fats, and essential fatty acids and antioxidants from patented grape seed extract. It is digestible with high energy; low fiber carbohydrates.
- In other words: if you must eat dog food, pick this brand?
- Right.
The sadness of that kept us quiet until the others arrived.
- What about water?
These were Warrick’s words of hello. He and Catherine crouched down next to Grissom while carefully not touching anything. They both peeled on rubber gloves.
- Apparently, the water has been running in the showers for quite some time making it run over and leak into the double flooring and subsequently the neighbor’s roof.
Grissom stated this as if he had learned it by heart. Maybe he had. My part in the script was to fill in the rest:
- Mrs. Graining downstairs called the super who let himself in, called 911, and here we are.
Right, here we were. In the middle of a living room belonging to a Louise Halden, 37, shot once through the head. Now, the mother of Joseph, 3, was resting peacefully in front of her sofa with her brains poured out all around the floor.
Catherine rose and stood next to me. When David entered, we all backed away to give him the space he’d need.
After a few moments though, Catherine’s patience had worn thin.
- David, can you give us the estimated time?
- Approximately six days, give or take some hours.
- And where was the boy all that time?
She looked at me. I averted her eyes and clenched my hands. I did not want to look at her when she got it.
- Right here.
She stepped closer, touching my shoulder.
- Living on what?
- We were just discussing that.
TWO
I got ballistics. Grissom and Catherine took the body, and Warrick handled the house and outside perimeter.
We had four hours before the first preliminary meeting to compare notes.
I wanted the autopsy results because what I'd find so far didn't make any sense. The crime scene indicated that the victim had been shot execution style. But the entry wound and bullets were consistent of a much heavier weapon: a .300 Winchester Magnum.
The .300 Winchester Magnum has enough power, using 180 grain bullets, to drop deer well beyond 600 yards and it will take elk at 500 yards.
Its recoil is quite substantial when loaded with 180 grain bullets, but is still controllable. A good recoil pad fitted to the rifle is therefore a must.
The .300 Winchester Magnum is used by hunters for deer and elk.
The .300 Winchester Magnum is also recommended for snipers.
When I checked, I found a hole, just about half an inch, in the window.
Why would a divorced 37-year old mother in Las Vegas get shot by a sniper?
Ammo used was the .300 Winchester Magnum Hornady Heavy with a bullet diameter of .308", weight of 180 grains, and velocity of 3,100 feet per second. At 100 yards, this bullet’s trajectory is +1.39%, and at 300 yards it drops -6.45%.
It has a perfect trajectory at 200 yards, so as soon as I've found a map of the area I'll walk 200 yards from Louise Halden's house using the bullet’s direction as path finder.
I wondered what Louise Halden’s ex husband does for a living.
I wondered if he has ever been in the army.
I wondered if it was okay to call Catherine yet.
THREE
As it turned out, James Halden worked in a tunnel construction.
Doc Robbins confirmed that the victim, Louise Halden, had been shot from a long range using a rifle of sorts with excruciating precision.
Catherine wanted me to tag along to question the ex, and Grissom wanted to take a shot of finding the sniper site.
- What else can you tell me about the gun and ammo?
She drove, so I had ample opportunity to watch her while I answered.
- The bullet used has a deep hollow nose that upsets over a wide range of velocities and a rear lead core held in place and reinforced by a steel insert, it retains virtually 100 percent of its original weight on impact and performs like a conventional bullet in any given caliber or weight.
- So she got that fat sucker of lead going in 3000 feet per second bam in her head?
- Exactly. It is intended for hunters who want even more bullet weight for their particular quarry.
- Or snipers wanting maximum damage.
She thought about this for a moment.
- So what are you thinking as to the wound ballistics?
- Why, you have any ideas?
- No, not really. I figured maybe you'd impress me with your vast knowledge of "energy transfer," "neural shock," "Fuller Index," "one- shot stopping power," and "Strasbourg Tests".
I laughed out loud, she knows as well as I do that stuff is nothing more than pseudo-science at best, and downright wrong and possibly dangerous at worst.
We listened to the radio. I have absolutely no idea what was on.
How I'd longed for something that would make us... Somewhere in between the ticking and the tocking clock, in between what the song and the silence said.
I turned to her and asked about the autopsy results, since I hadn't yet had the opportunity to read Doc Robbins' report.
- Well she was shot to death, but you know that. I guess you really want to know about the bleeding, right?
I stared out the window and nodded.
- Louise Halden weighed almost 155 pound, with a cardiac output of 1.4 gallons per minute. Her blood volume was 60 ml per kilo. With a wound like hers, it took about 4.6 seconds to lose 20% of her blood volume from one point of injury.
- This is the minimum time?
- Yeah. It took her less than 5 seconds to die, Sara.
- Why doesn't it make me feel better? She was dead for six days before we found her.
- You've got to learn to take solace in the little things, honey.
"Honey", my ass.
- Well, that's the difference between us, Catherine.
- What, I take what I can get.
- Yeah, and it's enough for you isn't it?
She never answered. When we got out of the car we found Sofia waiting. She looked at Catherine and whistled.
- Damn, some guy is gonna get lucky tonight.
I turned around to take a look at Catherine too. She always looks good, but tonight was indeed something else. Her jeans looked like they've been spray painted, and the top showed more cleavage than all the girls on the strip combined.
- Nope, won't happen.
Catherine laughed but clearly enjoyed the attention.
I smiled and decided to play along.
- So, some gal is gonna get lucky, then?
I didn't know who was more surprised, them or me. Sofia raised an eyebrow and smiled.
- My, aren't we cocky?
Catherine watched me bemusedly.
- You're volunteering?
I just shrugged and grinned somewhat embarrassed and started walking.
We all went down into the tunnel, and one thing became alarmingly clear: interviewing the may-be-suspect here would prove difficult. The noise level was way off any allowed regulations. Catherine crunched her face as Sofia leaned into James Halden's personal space to shout her question to get him to follow us downtown or at least to a place more suitable for conversation.
He headed off to get something or other I guess, because Catherine turned to me and said something. I cupped my hand behind my ear to indicate I couldn't hear shit. She leaned into me and placed her hands on my shoulders and said something about him coming back in just a sec.
At contact, I immediately stiffened and pulled away. Catherine raised her hands high western style.
I sighed and reached for her hand.
- You know what?
She shook her head, and I pulled her to me with a smile. When she was close enough I squeezed her hand and shouted:
- Did you know that decibel is a dimensionless unit?
She chuckled and slapped me on my shoulder.
- You're such a tease, Sidle.
FOUR
Halden didn't have anything to say besides "I'm glad the bitch is dead", which was nice and "I won't say another word without a lawyer", which was expected.
Catherine tried every trick in her little black book, and Halden seemed to stumble some, but he held out. Me and Sofia however, we didn't know whether to laugh or run for our lives.
I drove back. Catherine sat turned in her seat and regarded me intently. It was raining now, and the car felt like a safe cocoon in the dark.
- Can I ask you something?
- Sure.
She suddenly looked a little bit nervous and turned her eyes to the road.
- You have to promise not to get angry.
I glanced at her sideways.
- Okay, I'll try.
- This is one of those cases, isn't it?
I watched the wipers squashing the rain away. Suddenly there in the road, my old self tried to get out of the rain. Somehow it just seemed to fit, with that old me trying to get back again. Imagination set in, and then all the voices began, telling me things that aren't happening.
- Yeah.
- How can I help?
I dared another sideways glance.
- Let's just get the fucker.
- Okay.
- Let's put him away for good.
- Okay.
We stayed silent for a while, just watching the black rain and the night. Then she asked if I wanted some more autopsy details.
She sat up in her seat and tucked her legs under her, with her back against the door, facing me fully. I have no idea how she managed, and it could not possibly be comfortable, but there you go.
- You remember that case a while back when that guy killed his ex for some LPs?
- Yeah, the dog custody thing. He swapped dogs.
- Right. You know how you found canine hairs and saliva in the victim's wounds...?
My knuckles turned white, and I let the gas pedal rest for a while. I could guess where she was going with this.
- Apparently, little Joseph was trying to wake his mother up. We found his hand and foot prints all around her and round the apartment. Seems like he was sleeping right there, too.
Images conjured by your mind is usually troublingly more vivid and detailed than photographs. Hearing Catherine say it out loud made it paradoxically easier to handle.
- Did you notice he didn't mention his son at all, he didn't even ask how he was.
- Yeah...
Abruptly, I turned on the radio and sped up again. Catherine stayed were she was, but she got that look again.
- Did you know, in 1914 in World War I, the generals were worried over the amount of head wounds due to trench warfare. See, standing in a trench makes the head the most exposed portion of the body, making a wound from a sniper's bullet more likely. The Germans were the first to start testing a steel helmet, but the last to introduce it on the battlefield. The French were first to issue a steel helmet to the front line troops. That was 1915.
- Sara, you're rambling.
I took some deep breaths to steady my heartbeat, and turned to Catherine and said
- Can I ask you something?
She smiled.
- Anything.
- What do you think happened to their dog?
FIVE
A quick background check revealed that James Halden was indeed an old army guy. He'd served in the Gulf for six months in '92.
He also held a license for a .300 Winchester Magnum.
Slam dunk.
Only problem was, no one could find him. Sofia was furious and blamed herself for not taking him into custody when she had the chance.
Meanwhile, Grissom had been busy working the sniper site.
- You guys interested?
Me, Warrick, and Catherine nodded and followed him to the layout room.
- The mission of a sniper is to select and engage key targets beyond the range of the normal rifleman. He is more than a rifleman with extended range though. His training, weapon system, and ammunition allow him to consistently engage man sized targets out to and beyond one kilometer.
Catherine sighed and crossed her arms. Grissom raised an eyebrow and gave her a stern look before he continued.
- The Winchester is designed for use with either the M3A telescope or the metallic iron sights. The sniper must know the Winchester's components: the deployment case, the cleaning kit, day optic sight, the scope case, the front and rear sight, the stock, bolt, and barrel, and the trigger assembly. The deployment kit is a maintenance kit with tools and repair parts for the operator to perform operator level maintenance. This incl-
- Gil, for fuck's sake. Did you find anything useful, or have you just been googling snipers?
We all stared at Catherine. Grissom removed his glasses and started to polish them.
- I found a lot of useful evidence. What I was trying to convey was that this should be one meticulous man. But since you asked:
He started ticking off a list.
- One: an empty coke can with the suspect's saliva, DNA is confirmed; two: an empty shell matching the retrieved bullet; three: dog biscuits and a picture of who I believe is Huck; and four: his ghillie suit.
I thought about dog biscuits. Dog biscuits contain more nutritional value than candy for kids. Joseph had trace of patented grape seed extract under his nails; he'd been clawing and groping in that can. Maybe I'd feel better if he'd found dog biscuits instead? I doubt it.
Warrick shook his head, and leaned forward.
- It gets worse.
Me and Catherine looked at him, both of us too wary to say "what".
I don't think any of us really wanted to hear "what".
- Soil matching the sniper site has been found on Louise's living room carpet. And his fingerprints are all over the dog food can and the faucets in the bathroom.
We all contemplated this. Grissom got there first and cleared his voice.
- So, the evidence tells us that James Halden did in fact shoot his former wife and that he, either before or after the shooting, was inside the apartment and made sure there was sufficient... supplies for the dog and his son.
- Only one thing, Gil. He only left supplies for his dog.
- Yeah. And where's that dog anyway?
- Maybe he took him with him?
- And left the kid.
SIX
The ghillie suit is a specially made uniform used for camouflage covered with irregular patterns of garnish or netting. The garnish applied to the front of the suit should be covered with canvas or some type of heavy cloth to reinforce it. The back of the suit should be long enough to cover the sniper when he is in the prone position.
Catherine came into the locker room as I was about to leave.
She leaned against the door with her arms crossed, in effect blocking my way out.
- Can I ask you something?
I didn't hesitate.
- Sure.
- You have to promise not to get angry.
I smiled, but she was dead serious.
- Okay, I'll try.
Her eyes didn't leave mine for a second.
- Whenever Warrick or Nicky touch you, hug you, or play around you let them, why?
- It's just... They're just... you know, the guys.
- So you're saying I'm not one of the guys?
- No.
We should not be talking.
We should not be talking about this.
When engaging moving targets, the sniper makes common errors because he is under greater stress than with a stationary target.
One common mistake is to watch the target and not the aiming point.
- I'm saying you're not a guy.
This made her smile. Really, really wide.
A sniper must force himself to watch his lead point. Not the target.
- No, I'm not.
And with that, she let me leave.
The sniper begins the aiming process by aligning the rifle with the target when assuming a firing position. He should point the rifle naturally at the desired point of aim. Once a true natural position of aim is established, the sniper aims the weapon at the exact point on the target.
I picked up my things and went out to my car and drove home. I booted my computer and hit Google.
A search for "Gulf War" + "veteran" resulted in 1,760,000 hits.
A search for "sniper" resulted in 8,450,000 hits.
A search for "James Halden" + "sniper" resulted in less hits but a scarier scenario.
Supposedly, mister tunnel construction worker was extremely active on a number of Yahoo! groups and several obscure forums discussing snipers, the gulf war, and dogs.
The only living creatures that interested this sweet guy were the ones he could aim at or place on a leash.
According to Grissom, Halden had been waiting patiently for several days before pulling the trigger.
My ruminating the facts at hand was soon interrupted by the shrieking of my cell phone.
Sofia.
- Sara. We've found the dog and Halden. Me and Catherine are gonna take a shot at him right now. You want in?
Hell yeah.
SEVEN
During the siege of Sarajevo, from april 1992 to february 1996, snipers wounded 1030 and killed 225 persons, 60 of whom were children.
During the interrogation, Catherine was calm as ice.
She's never been more impressive. Or more beautiful.
Sofia's a smart lady, she remained silent and let Catherine run the show. And she did: she played him, tricked him, cajoled him, she let him think he was smarter than the two of them combined. And then he relaxed and she went straight for the jugular.
They had a confession in less than 30 minutes.
- I was watching her, ya'know. She didn't know it the stupid cunt, but I watched her every move.
- And what did you see?
- Nothing. And that's the fucking point, the bitch didn't do what she should, she didn't take proper care of him.
- Joseph.
Halden did not manage to hide his surprise.
- Hell, no, the kid? No, Huck, she didn't care proper for Huck.
- So you shot her.
- Damn right I did. I aimed for hours.
For a guy trying so hard to be meticulous, he'd been really careless. Wannabes, they're the worst.
The sniper performs an extraction as quickly as possible after the mission is accomplished. An extraction site is always planned and coordinated with supporting forces.
- You sure did. Impressive.
The stupid fuck smiled, he thought she meant it.
- Too bad you were so sloppy. Hell, with your "skills", you wouldn't even be allowed to join a gang of 12-year old paint ballers.
I was standing behind the mirror, watching quietly.
As Sofia took Halden away Catherine looked straight at me, through the glass.
- I told you we'd get him.
EIGHT
The primary mission of a sniper in combat is to deliver precise long- range fire on selected targets. By this, the sniper creates casualties among enemy troops, slows enemy movement, frightens enemy soldiers, lowers morale, and adds confusion to their operations.
The importance of the sniper cannot be measured simply by the number of casualties he inflicts. Realization of the sniper's presence instills fear in enemy troop elements and influences their decisions and actions.
Snipers become more significant when the target is entrenched or positioned among civilians.
I was sitting on a bench in the locker room. Clenching and unclenching my fists.
Sofia had asked me to join her for a drink, saying something about child services doing their thing, animal rescue theirs, and we ours.
I told her I don't drink.
When I heard the door creek open, I knew who it was.
- Can I ask you something?
I closed my eyes and leaned back, resting against the lockers.
- Sure, I promise not to be angry.
She chuckled and sat down right next to me.
- Ok, but can you promise not to be nasty or mean?
The sniper must be able to calmly and deliberately kill targets that may not pose an immediate threat to him. It is much easier to kill in self-defense or in the defense of others than it is to kill without apparent provocation. The sniper must not be susceptible to emotions such as anxiety or remorse.
I just promised.
- I'll try.
The sniper must select key targets that will do the greatest harm to the enemy in a given situation. Some targets, due to their size or location, may be better engaged with indirect fire.
- I've been feeling things for quite some time now, feeling things for you Sara.
Target selection may be forced upon the sniper. A target moving rapidly may be lost while obtaining positive identification. The sniper considers any enemy threatening its position as a high-value target.
- I was hoping...
The sniper must consider what effect the elimination of the target will have on the enemy's fighting ability. The sniper must also consider what the enemy will do once the shot has been fired.
- Maybe you would...
He must be prepared for such actions as immediate suppression by indirect fires and enemy sweeps of the area.
- Aren't you going to say something?
Somewhere in a dream between sleep and waking up.
Somewhere in between breathing out and breathing in.
I'm losing it.
- What do you want, Catherine?
- I want to take you out. On a date. I want to kiss you senseless and I want to make everything alright.
She took my hand and traced the knuckles, my palm, the scars. I kept my eyes closed and considered lying.
- You scare me shitless, you know.
- Yeah. I know. What are we gonna do `bout that, huh.
Each mission has its specific problems associated with evasion and escape. Plans for this are required after the mission is accomplished.
- I don't think there's anything we can do.
It is often the most difficult time to evade and escape.
- So, you'll let me?
I opened my eyes and turned to her.
- Sure. Do I have a choice?
- No.
The End