"Greg Sanders," Casey Jackson grinned at her partner. "You get back. I mean it." She had a teasing grin on her face.
"What's wrong?" Greg smirked as he took a step toward her. "What do you think I'm gonna do?"
"I don't like the look in your eye." Casey's blue-green eyes twinkled.
"What's wrong with it? Maybe you should take a closer look..." Greg wiggled his eyebrows and took another step toward her.
"You are such a ham!" Casey playfully punched him in the arm. "Now get back on the other side of the table."
"What for?" Greg raised an eyebrow. "I like it right here." To prove his point, Greg leaned his hip on the edge of the table.
"So you can set this on the computer desk," Casey handed Greg a file. "So we can go to lunch."
"Yes, ma'am," Greg smirked as he took the folder and walked over to the desk. "Where are we going anyway?"
"To the diner down the block. As usual." She smiled at her friend.
"Ah, today is two-for-one burger day."
"Yep," Casey pulled her long dark-brown hair into a ponytail and grabbed her bag. "Ready?"
"After you." Greg made a sweeping gesture toward the door.
Casey smiled and walked out the door. She and Greg walked quietly out of the lab and into the elevator. Greg pushed the ground floor button and the ride was quick. When they exited the building, Greg frowned.
"I'd better make sure someone knows we're on lunch break." He said. "You go ahead and I'll catch up."
"All right," Casey smiled and started to walk down the sidewalk as Greg jogged back inside.
Greg stopped the first person he recognized and quickly explained that he and Casey would be gone for a little bit. He walked back outside and saw Casey up ahead. He started to go after her, but froze when he saw a man dart out of the alley and grab her. Within seconds, the struggle ended as Casey fell to the ground and the man grabbed something off the ground.
"Hey!" Greg shouted as he sped toward the man.
When the man saw Greg, he bolted into the alley. Greg reached the alley and ran after the man. The man turned slightly and threw something at Greg as he climbed over the fence at the end of the alley. Greg stopped when he saw the man disappear behind the fence. He knelt down and picked up the object the man had thrown. He recognized it as Casey's bag and bolted up at the reminder. He'd left Casey where she had fallen!
As Greg approached Casey, a knot formed in his stomach and his pace slowed. Casey was sprawled face-up on the pavement, a large bloody gash on the side of her head. A small piece of pipe, with blood on one end, lay close to her body. Greg knelt down beside Casey and gently cradled her head. His stomach lurched as he looked closer at the wound.
"Casey?" Greg's voice trembled as he brushed the hair from her face. "Are you okay? Casey?!"