Chapter 3: Nick, Sara and Greg's case

Nick parked the Land Rover on the street and saw the yellow police tape marking off the house. The house stirred a memory in his mind and he frowned, his light brown eyes troubled. Something seemed very familiar about this street and this house, he mused to himself. Sara was already out of the vehicle, her field kit in hand and Greg was right behind her, eager to get started. With a sigh, Nick pushed aside the unsettling thoughts and followed them up to the house.

"Jim, what have we got?" Sara greeted Captain Jim Brass of the Las Vegas Police Department warmly.

"Kidnapping, apparently. The grandmother's inside, quick blow to the head knocked her out. Kidnapped went through the girl's window and followed her to a clearing where she stargazes. Backpack's still there and a ransom note." Captain Brass relayed efficiently and Nick swallowed with slight difficulty. This place was too familiar, he thought again before shrugging the thoughts away.

"All right let's get started. Greg, why don't you shoot pictures? I'll bag the evidence and Sara, can you talk to the grandmother?" Nick requested with a smile and the other two nodded agreeably.

Greg lithely stepped through the woods and they reached the clearing. There was the tree stump with the dropped candle next to it and a ring of stones with leaves brushed aside. Beneath the leaves were two packs of matches and the backpack. Nick examined the backpack and saw that there was another blanket, a pillow, and a diary. Greg snapped pictures of the footprints that were leading away and was about to follow them when a shout caught their attention.

"NICK! GREG!" Sara's shout alerted them to possible trouble and Nick's hand fell on his gun, holstered at his side. Sensing no danger, he and Greg took off towards the house.

They found Sara sitting on the carpet, tears streaming down her face.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" Greg demanded, kneeling next to her.

"Catherine…oh my God. Call Catherine…Lindsey's gone. It's Lindsey who's been kidnapped," Sara whispered and Nick paled. Captain Brass entered and saw them huddled there together.

"What's wrong?" Jim was instantly concerned.

"The girl who was kidnapped is Catherine's daughter Lindsey." Greg told him numbly.

Nick remembered the house now. He had just realized where they were from the interior.

Brass was stunned. "Get her off her case and out of the field. She needs to be here."

From the back of the house Catherine's mother called out weakly, "Catherine, where's Lindsey? What did I do with my baby?"

Grimly, Nick placed the call to Grissom.