Missing Link

Prologue

The lamps inside a cosy little restaurant not far from Santa Monica Pier cast a dim amber glow. The walls were cream with a red border, the carpet a crimson and black combo. It created a warm and romantic atmosphere when it was combined with the piano music. A waitress leant on the bar and watched a couple that were seated by the balcony, a dreamy expression on her face. "They're so cute together. Don't you think?" Her question was posed at the tall, dark and blue-eyed man that was pouring a middle aged customer yet another drink.

He shrugged as his gaze drifted over to the couple that his friend was speaking about. "Woman doesn't seem particularly into him, looks like she wants to leave," he observed. The waitress sighed and nodded in reluctant agreement. She was a romantic at heart and wanted everyone to get along.

The couple stood; the man taking hold of his companions elbow as though he were escorting her off private property. "I don't like the way those people are staring at us," he sounded jittery. "It'll be better at home sweetheart."

His companion, Patricia Holmes, suppressed a shudder and instead smiled weakly at him. "That sounds nice dear." She wished she could get away but it was too dangerous. His behaviour had been erratic of late and could quite easily snap at any time. The food at the restaurant had been delicious and to outside eyes the company she kept appeared charming, though he was quite the opposite. It was their first night out… a date. Most couples who went out for the first time were unsure of what would happen after the meal but Miss. Holmes knew exactly what to expect. Once they got back home; the man she was with was going to kill her.

Patricia set down her bag on the table in the living room, but in her anxious state didn't notice as it missed and tumbled to the floor. He had driven her here, back to her own house. It was the same place that he had taken her from a week earlier. She knew it was no use begging for her life because he wouldn't turn back now. And besides, Pat didn't beg for anybody. The thirty eight year old woman heard footsteps behind her, a very faint sound on the carpet. The sound of the safety being taken off a gun came next, closely accompanied by the feel of cold metal being pressed against her temple. "Don't do this!" That was a voice Patricia hadn't heard before. It was deep like a man but had an almost feminine tone. And then the footsteps were moving away.

Was he playing with her? Was he having second thoughts after all? Apparently not was Pat's last thought as she heard the gun being cocked from by the front door.

The news broadcaster straightened her coat and looked toward the cameraman in front of her with a smile. "How do I look?" she asked nervously. When he gave her two thumbs up to accompany his beaming smile Natalia Wilmslow visibly relaxed. She flicked her dark hair back and then stared into the camera as they were about to go on air. Seconds later she began to read the report set out before her, Natalia's tone was noticeably grim. "One week ago a Las Vegas Crime Scene Investigator was reported missing from her home. And today Lucy Turner's body was found in her own living room. There are no clues as to who the killer may be but the question on everyone's mind is: Will he strike again? Twenty eight year old Lucy Turner was…"

Nick Stokes switched off the television and threw the remote control onto the nearby chair. "Ecklie's gonna want this case now; Lucy was dayshift. She was getting ready to take off on holiday when she disappeared." There may have been rivalry between the two shifts but Nick sure as hell wasn't going to kick up a huge fuss if Ecklie tried to take over the case. They knew what it was like to lose one of their own after all.

His friend, Warrick Brown nodded. "They gotta be feeling like crap right now, but dayshift might not be able to have a look in, they're too close. I doubt that'll stop them from trying though. Media is going to be all over this." He looked up at the blank screen. "Guys know forensics too, we may never catch him," It was said with a grimace, but he was only voicing what the others were thinking.

"Hey never say never. He'll make a mistake at some point and when he does we're going to be there to catch him," Nick replied with a positive attitude.

The door swung open and Grissom walked in, cup of coffee in one hand and papers in another. "Now that's what I like to hear," he quipped, having heard Nicks comment. He looked from one CSI to the other. "This case won't solve itself -- lets get moving," he urged before turning back to the door.

Nick and Warrick glanced at each other, eyebrows raised. "You don't think Ecklie'll want this?" Warrick asked.

"I have no doubt. But until someone comes and tells me otherwise, this is still our case now let's go. With the media traipsing all over the place and the police poking around, the evidence won't last long." Grissom was already backing into the corridor as he answered.

Nick coughed to get the older mans attention again. "But there's not been any evidence to disturb."

The Entomologist turned around, to cast a slightly reproving look at the Texan. "And to quote you, no more than three minutes ago, 'never say never. He'll make a mistake at some point and when he does we are going to be there to catch him'." He smirked before walking away. The two remaining CSI's jumped up from their chairs and quickly headed after him.

When Sara had left her apartment ten minutes prior to hearing the report on the radio, she had been silently fuming. And now, as she parked outside the home of Lucy Turner, her mood was no better. It wasn't the case that had gotten her riled up, though that hadn't exactly helped; it was Catherine. Or rather Catherine and Grissom combined. She had accidentally overheard other woman telling their friend and supervisor to back off, that it was dangerous getting involved in a relationship with someone he worked with i.e. Sara. She supposed Catherine thought she was being helpful, but it irked her that the older woman was interfering.

Catherine had stated that the two of them getting involved might 'hurt their working relationship if things got messy'. Sara laughed out loud in the car; she and Griss were barely talking now so it wouldn't exactly change anything later on if they became involved and then split or had an argument. And besides, they were both professionals, they knew better than to let personal problems get in the way of work.

Unfortunately she and Catherine had been working a case together and so had to speak to each other eventually. Sara kept any questions and answers short. She didn't want to say anything that could cause them to get into an argument during work -- and there were a lot of things that Sara had wanted to get off her chest. Unfortunately it appeared as though as a 'quiet day at the office' wasn't what the Fates had in mind. Tempers were already frayed due to the case; which was due to go to court the next day, and so when they had started arguing the two women had not held back. They had been in the garage and so luckily only a couple of people that were passing back caught a glimpse of them shouting.

It was completely unprofessional of the both of them, and Sara had ended the tirade by left the building. Catherine had remained to finish her work. Both had started to calm down and realise how stupid they had both been - arguing at work, during a case - and both hated the fact that they must have looked like squabbling teenagers in high school. And so Catherine, at the end of shift, had drove over to Sara's apartment to try and smooth things over with the younger woman. They had talked, to start with, both trying to make the other see the errors in their judgment. Both were headstrong, and believed they were correct. Agreeing on the subject at hand just wasn't meant to be. Catherine had left before they could begin another shouting match and five minutes later Sara had left, on the way back to the Lab with the intent of speaking to Grissom.

Sara had heard the latest update on the Turner case via the radio; a couple of minute after receiving a call that all of the nightshift was needed. Sara was the first to arrive at the crime scene, as she had been in the neighborhood and by the time she had got there the area had been cleared but for a few nosy neighbors. She nodded and smiled at the cop that was there; he was new and looked quite queasy. Must've seen the body the CSI guessed.

"Its all clear," he informed, his was a little voice shaky. "How do you do that?" the cop waved his hand in the direction of the house, where the body was.

Sara Sidle paused in mid step. "Somebody has to. How can you kill somebody?" she indicated his gun. He got her point; they all had a job to do, their own way of catching the bad guys.

The house was small; a freshly cut lawn was situated out front with daffodils on the left along the driveway. Directly across from the door was a flight of stairs and to the left a doorway into the living room where the body was. Pictures hung on the wall: Of an elderly man and woman. Probably grandparents and a dog with a ball in its mouth as it ran across a park. At the back of the living room there was a door that was slightly ajar, which led to the back garden. The sound of a car on the front stole her attention and she look through the main window to see whom it was.

The door to the car slammed to a close and Catherine walked purposefully up the drive. "He,y" she greeted the cop with a friendly smile as he met her. She flashed her badge and he waved her though.

"Your friend is inside. She got here a couple of minutes ago."

At the 'friend' part Cath was going to ask whom, but t the 'she' part, the blonde had a pretty good idea. She pushed open the front door and peered inside, wondering what kind of reception she would receive from the other CSI. "Sara?" There was no reply. "Hello…" Not hearing anything downstairs she changed course to go upstairs. Four minutes later she was back in the living room; her eyes fell upon the closed door that led into the garden. There was a necklace on the floor, in the corner, and barely noticeable as it blended into the carpet. It was identical to the one she had seen Sara wearing not long ago, but Catherine didn't start jumping to conclusions, the other woman could have been processing the scene and not noticed that the necklace had fallen off.

She looked around the room for a moment before turning to look at the body. "What have we here?" Cath spoke in the empty room. She knelt down beside Lucy, and a note fluttered from her chest and onto the floor as a breeze from outside picked it up.

"Hey Cath, how'd you get here before us?" Nick queried as he stepped inside. The rest of the team entered the house shortly after.

She looked up momentarily, a concerned look in her eyes. "Uh…I was in the area. Guys, Sara's gone…"

"What do you mean Sara's gone?" Grissom asked, and did a very good impression of a man trying to show indifference. He crouched down beside his friend. "Where is she?"

Catherine passed him the note. As he read through the scrawled and looped writing his brow furrowed and his previous expression crumbled, to be replaced by grave worry.

I have her and I won't let her go. Your friend's arrival was unexpected but she is perfect. I will love her like my own.

Grissom quelled the immediate feeling of nausea. "He has her," he murmured dully. It had to be the killer.

Catherine took the note from him. It would be the first thing to be dusted for prints; whoever this guy was, he had been in a hurry. Maybe he had finally made that one mistake that would lead the team to him. "We have a new crime scene."

He had kidnapped Sara from under their noses. Grissom nodded solemnly. "And a new crime."