Chapter 1

Dust stung her eyes as she looked up. Hot and windy. The sun glared down on the two of them as they dusted the stolen car. There was a movie she saw years ago: Reckless or Restless, or something. It was a forgettable flick but for the scene of this woman sitting on a bench on a hot and windy day. Her chesty, male lover is rubbing an ice cube down the front of her dress. Something about that image stuck with her, and hot, windy days brought out something soft and sensual in her.

"What'cha looking at there, Sunshine." He looked up at her and grinned his best Top Gun grin, his dark shades adding to the image.

"Just wanted to feel the wind." Sara let her dark hair dance freely in the strong breeze. Her white, cotton tank was getting sticky, but she resisted the urge to pull it up some and let the wind dry it. "Nicky, you remember this movie about these two people and he rubs ice on her and she's all worked up, and it's hot and windy…I just can't remember the name of that movie."

"Ah…nope. Sounds like a good show for a bachelor party though."

She flashed him one of her million dollar smiles. Impulsively, she pulled her tank out of her pants and tented it into the wind.

"Ah, Miss Sidle, are you aware that your midriff is on display?"

"Nicky, do you ever have one of those moments when you just …I don't know. You just want run barefoot through a meadow or something."

Nick pulled his shades down his nose, and peered closely at her. "You know you're not supposed to breath in that solvent."

"Oh Nicky, I just like a nice, hot, windy day is all." She lifted her arms above her head and leaned into the wind. Nick shook his head and began to pack his kit.

The insistent sounds of a cell phone erupted. Nick felt his pockets before locating the noise coming from Sara's black bag.

"Sara, it's probably Grissom."

"You get it. I'm communing right now." A dusty film had settled into her shirt.

"Yeah, he'll love that." Nick crawled over his stuff and grabbed her cell. "Hey Grissom…Naw, she's right here. Well, right now she's communing with nature. It's quite a sight actually…Now Grissom, hold on there, I am not trying to be enigmatic, it is exactly what's going on. Hell, if I had a camera right now, I'd be on top of a money making opportunity …Okay, okay boss, I'm just the messenger."

Nick thrust the phone at her. She wrinkled her nose, and grabbed it reluctantly. "Hey…Nope, we're all done here…Haven't been near the solvent, Nicky hasn't either…Yes, I know it can have a hallucinogenic effect…So, what's up?….That's Catherine's case…Okay, but I don't really know anything about the case…

So, you just need a female presence in the interview…Domestic abuse case, huh?…Okay, I'll drop Nick off and meet you in front of the address….hour, okay?….Hey Gris, ever seen this movie where there is man and a woman, and it's hot outside, and he's rubbing a piece of ice down the front of her….ah, never mind. See you in an hour."

"What's up?" Nick finished packing up the back of the SUV.

"Grissom needs a woman." They both stopped at their car doors and grinned madly at each other. Sara grabbed her wild hair and pinned at the back of her neck. Then she winked at her best friend.

"And you know me, Nicky. I aim to please."

Chapter 2

"Warrick, we are going to be late." Grissom gestured at his wrist watch.

"Yeah, and you think I can do what about that?" Warrick peered at his boss out of the corner of his green eyes.

"There's gotta be a way around this traffic jam."

"I think they've almost cleared the accident. We should be moving soon." Warrick leaned his head out the window.

"Well you know Sara, she doesn't like to be kept waiting." As if on cue, Grissom's cell began to sound. Warrick let a cool grin spread across his face.

"No, Sara, we're almost there…10 minutes I think. Got behind a pile up here…No you just wait in the car…Not to much to tell. Woman's name is Kari Stinson. She lives there with her three kids. The ex comes and goes as he pleases. Long history of domestics at the house. She never presses charges. Got his fingerprints off the murder weapon…Yeah, the Bellagio case. Thought maybe Stinson might know where we can get our hands on her ex-husband. She's wary though so I thought it might help if someone… a woman was there. Maybe ease her mind about our intentions….I'm not trying to generalize. It just seems like a good idea is all…Just wait. Lab policy. Brass would have your head … I'm serious Sara. Ten minutes. Bye."

"Our Miss Sidle is a tad impatient."

"Yeah, Grissom, what was your first clue?"

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A truck pulled up to the driveway, an old beater. A guy got out and strode up to the house. He wore layers of clothing despite the heat. At the door, he didn't hesitate, just walked right in.

Sara let out a breath hard. She reached over and hit a speed dial on her cell. "Brass?…Hey listen, this suspect you are looking for on the Bellagio thing…What's he look like?….Yeah, I'm in front of the ex-wife's house waiting for Grissom. A guy just drove up, license plates Nevada BTK208. Just walked right in…No, I'm not moving. Going to just wait for you all…So far, it's quiet."

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Grissom picked up his cell on the first ring. "Yeah…he's there!…okay, Sara is not doing anything, right?…How long? I don't know. Warrick?"

Warrick shook his head. "5-10 minutes. Still waiting for the traffic to thin."

"Yeah, I'll call her and tell her….Jim, you're about 10 minutes out?.. Okay, bye." Grissom kept the phone in his hand.

"Sara knows better." Warrick said. At the same time, he started to edge the Denali around to the shoulder of the highway.

Grissom was already tapping into his phone. "Hey…Yeah, I heard…We're almost there so you just relax…No, I'm not saying that you'd do anything stupid, I'm just…Sara?…Sara? What do you see?" Grissom glanced at Warrick who was negotiating the edge of a sidewalk. "Sara, we're almost there."

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The man had a child slung over his shoulder. She was maybe 5 or 6. He dumped her into the back seat. Sara could hear the child screaming for her mother. He disappeared back into the house. Sara craned her neck wildly up and down the street. She grabbed for her gun and checked the clip. Again, she looked for back-up. A scream broke from the house. Shaking, she grabbed the cell phone, fumbling over the numbers. She threw it down in frustration. She breathed in, and picked it up, hitting call return.

"He's hurting them…I'm going in…No choice, Gris, no choice…Please hurry." She felt his voice in her head ordering her to stand down. For a moment, she thought she could, and then the man came out with another child, thrashing wildly in his arms. A small boy this time.

She stuffed the phone in her front pocket. She stepped out, both hands on the gun. The man had disappeared back into the house. She ran across the street to the car. Backdoors locked, but driver's side lock jutted up. Keeping her gun trained on the house, she ran up to the driver's side and pulled the door open. She heard sobs.

"Everyone out." Her voice was shaky and light. There was no movement. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Okay, now, everyone out. Now! Hear me? Now!"

The girl scrambled up to the front first and then reached back and pulled her brother up.

"Where's your best friend live?" The girl looked at her, eyes wide. "Come on Honey. Tell me. Where's your best friend live?" The girl pointed to a house down the street.

"Okay, big girl. Get your brother and go. Go to your friend's. Run! Don't knock! Just get inside."

The girl piled out of the truck pulling her brother after her. She looked at Sara again.

"Run!" Sara watched them scramble down the street. Her phone was ringing again. She pulled it out and slapped it on her face. "Get here, Gris, please get here now." She jammed the phone back down into her pants without listening for a reply.

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"Jesus, Joseph, and Mary!" Grissom exploded. "She's insane, Warrick."

Staring ahead, Warrick was too busy running a red light to respond.

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Nick had everything out on the table. The big one with the light. It was quiet around there. Nobody around to bug him; nobody trying to claim space on his table.

Greg popped his head in. "Nick, the scanner. Hurry! Sara's in it deep."

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Brass closed his phone and slammed his fist into the dash. He turned his head to his driver. "I don't care what the hell administrative memo about safe pursuit you read last week. I want this car in front of that address now!"

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