Petals were strewn every where. Rose petals and on closer inspection they created a trail. Grissom followed.
From the front door they lead up a flight of stairs, turned a corner and stopped in front of a door, most likely a bedroom. The door was slightly ajar and he pushed it open. The petals made a path to the bed where they covered the slightly off-white down comforter. Candles covered every flat surfaces, most of them already burned out.
And in the middle of it all Grissom saw what it was he was here for. The woman's lithe body lay provocatively across the bedspread, her arms bounded to the headboard. All she wore was a pale lavender teddy that didn't hide anything.
The scene would have been any male's fantasy if it wasn't for the trail of blood leading from the wound on her chest.
"Only one stab wound. Most likely premeditated. What do you think?"
Grissom hadn't noticed Sara trailing after him. As soon as he had entered the house the rest of the world had faded and it was only him and the crime scene. He gave a small nod, then walked closer to the body.
"Yes, but there's a limited amount of blood. So, I'm guessing it wasn't the cause of death. Look at this bruising."
Sara stopped snapping photos for a moment and walked across the room to the other side of the bed.
"Thin ligatures on the neck. Strangulation. Do you think maybe she was expecting someone else?" She watched as Grissom leaned forward to inspect her bonds.
"This cloth is tied too tightly for her to have been able to do it herself. But There's no signs of defensive wounds. I think she knew her attacker."
"Have you talked to the first on scene?'
"Yes. Husband called it in. On his radio."
"The husband's a uniform?"
"Yep. Twelve years. This was supposed to be his night off, but another officer called in sick."
"So, why was our victim getting ready for a night of bumping and grinding?"
Grissom gave her a look.
Sara shrugged and snapped a few more pictures before speaking again. "I can finish up here. I know you still have some paper work to do with that Levine case."
He stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "Don't forget to check for skin under her finger nails." She nodded but Grissom wasn't entirely sure she'd heard him. He watched her for a moment more then turned on his heel and left.
Sara let a breath she didn't know she was holding. She knew she shouldn't have said anything, but this reminded her too much of the case they worked a few months ago where a young woman was killed while getting ready for the same thing their current victim was. Debbie Marlin had been her name, butterflies were her game. Griss had probably already forgotten.
She hadn't.
That was one of her great character faults. She never forgot.
She turned to put up her camera, the gasped and dropped it when she realized she wasn't alone. Sara tried to calm her pounding heart. "Excuse me, you aren't allowed in here. This is a closed crime scene." Her hand itched toward her gun, just in case.
The man smiled. "Relax. I'm just taking a look around."
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She tried to make her voice forceful, but it wavered when he took a step closer. His smile had twisted evilly, his dark eyes menacing. As he came closer Sara took several steps backwards.
Suddenly the heel of her boot caught the strap of her camera sending her tumbling. She hit the ground with a thud then rolled to push off the carpeted floor. That was where she made a mistake. She turned her back to a possible threat.
Like a tiger waiting to pounce the man lunged forward and pinned her to the floor her arms trapped at her sides. She thrashed as hard as she could, but to no avail. He wrapped his hands in her hair and pulled. He covered her nose and mouth with a cloth, muffling her screams. Mistake number two.
She sucked in a harsh breath and instantly regretted it. She recognized the smell. Chloroform. In mere moments she felt dizzy and her world started to spin. Another few seconds and everything was dark.