Chapter Four:
He was surprised when he managed to get to sleep despite the fact that he fought to keep his emotions under control and not make love to her. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her arms around his waist. It felt good to have her there so close. She woke first as she lay there and stared at him. He was sound asleep and she studied every inch of his face while he lay there so close. Bright blue eyes suddenly returned the stare and he smiled at her.
"Did you sleep?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Good," he said. "You know when I heard you so upset it really bothered me that you wouldn't tell me what was wrong. I consider you my closest friend. Friends help one another," he said.
He ignored the slight tensing of her body as he spoke.
"I always want us to be friends," he said quickly. "I want to know that nothing will come between our friendship. I trust you…there's not many people I trust."
He looked at her and she understood. He was offering her his trust and friendship but nothing more. It would have to be enough if she hoped to have any kind of relationship with him. She felt the fourth splinter of her heart as she swallowed hard.
"Friends….good friends always," she whispered.
"What happens in San Francisco stays in San Francisco," he whispered.
"Always," she said softly. She looked away now as she tried not to show the disappointment but he turned her chin forcing her to look at him.
"Would you like me to review your serial case while I'm here?" he offered.
She nodded. She would have offered to let him do anything if it meant he would be staying longer.
He started to get up but she held onto him for a moment.
"Thank you…for coming," she said. She leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips. It made him waiver. He wanted her. He watched as she slipped out of the bed and it was then that he noticed she had nothing but a T-shirt on. It left little for the imagination as her nipples protruded from the thin clothing. He gulped forcing himself to turn away.
She casually walked past the bed and into the living room. She returned with a folder and sat down on the edge of the bed. She handed him the folder as he tried to divert his eyes from her long slender legs that were mere inches from his hands. He took the folder clearing his throat and tried to focus on the contents. He could already feel her warmth from beneath the covers and he resisted the temptation to fling the folder into the floor and grab her.
"Talk me through what you know," he said trying to pull her into the case hoping she would not look so seductive sitting there beside him.
Sara's lips curved slightly as she began to bring him up to date on the case. She had him lay the folder on top of the covers as she slipped out photo after photo of each murder. With each detail his attention was drawn to the faces of each of the victims. He glanced up once or twice as he listened intently now forgetting she was nearly naked in front of him. His hands flipped through each photo along with the police report of each crime. She felt a slight twinge of disappointment as she saw himself disengaging from her and now become fully engrossed in the case.
"There's definitely a resemblance in each of the victims," he said. "He likes…"
"Women who look like me," she said which made his head jerk up.
"My boss keeps telling me I'm a dead ringer for…."
"Your boss should focus on the evidence…"
"He does. He thinks if we could send out a decoy then maybe we could…"
"You're not going to be a decoy!" he said raising his voice causing her to stare at him.
"I'm not….he never insinuated that I should be the decoy…besides he would never let me," she said sounding a bit disappointed.
"Sara, no one should ever attempt to be a decoy with this killer. He's too good. Only someone stupid and naïve would allow herself to be a decoy," he said staring directly into her brown eyes as if pleading with her.
"Like I said, he would never…"
"You should never…."
"I never said I wanted to but if it was a way to catch this monster then…"
He quickly grabbed her hand. "No! It's not the way to capture this monster."
She gulped feeling his anger.
He loosened his grip on her hand now regretting his action.
"Promise me, you won't ever put yourself in that kind of danger," he said.
She sat there dumbfounded.
You care….
You really care….
But as a friend or….
Is it something more….
She took the contents of the folder and stood.
"I'm not sure I can do that….I might be tempted if asked," she said as she turned leaving him to sit there and fume. He watched as she left but she quickly returned to the bed laying on top of the covers and purposely ignored the slight breeze she felt. He gulped and she tried not to notice as he gawked at her near nude body now lying beside him.
"Henry would never let me attempt that so don't worry," she said purposely folding her legs up and crossing them together. The breeze became more apparent and yet it was ignored by her but not Grissom.
He swallowed hard as he tried to tear his eyes from the bare bottom that was now exposed except for the small bikini panties that she wore. The panties had tiny hearts and he found himself counting them.
Twelve, thirteen, fourteen….
He gulped.
"Grissom?" She asked.
"Hmmm?" he suddenly said realizing he had been lost in the panties.
"Would you mind rubbing my calf? I seem to have a slight cramp," she lied.
He swallowed staring at the bare legs before him.
"Cramp…leg?" he managed to get out.
"Yes…the right one," she said.
He started to reach for it but stopped himself. He got out of bed and pulled her up as well.
"I found that walking always helps a cramp," he said triumphantly.
"Thanks," she murmured. She stood but then got tangled in the bed covers on the side of the bed and found herself falling straight into his arms. He caught her. He stood there now feeling her breasts against his chest and he closed his eyes trying very hard not to lose what little control he had left. She glanced at him now and saw him close his eyes, the slight glimpse of pain evident on his face. She stepped away.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly as she walked over and slipped on a robe that was lying on a chair.
"Breakfast?" she offered as she turned away.
He wasn't sure what had just happened but he suddenly took control of his emotions.
"Breakfast would be good…I could help," he said.
"I'm not sure I could do omelets as well as you but…"
"Omelet it is," he said as he followed her into the kitchen.
They reviewed the evidence once more on the case and he gave his opinion on the type of person they were seeking. She scribbled down the notes keeping her eyes on the paper before her. When they glanced up, hours had passed. Dinner was ordered in as they sat there in the living room with the information now spread out over the floor. She walked through each piece visualizing each crime scene in her head. She stared at the last victim taking note of the position of the body and the clothing. She had not been aware until that moment how much she wanted to catch the man. He saw the determination in her eyes and it made him afraid.
He was startled by the knocking on the door but she remained fixed on the photos ignoring the knock.
"Sara?"
She glanced up when she heard her name and then realized the knocking had become persistent.
"Sorry…I was…"
"Working," he grinned.
She opened the door and soon they were sitting on the bar stools eating the Chinese. She nibbled as she stared intently at the evidence on the floor.
He reached over with his hand and turned her face so that she was facing him.
"Break time," he said.
She nodded but then suddenly she was up and returning to the police reports thumbing through each of them.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Something….some connection…that ties them all together….it's the way he chooses his victims," she said.
"Sara it could be based on physical…"
"If it was solely based on physical then I am the obvious candidate…" she stopped wishing she had not said anything.
"Henry's really going to use a decoy isn't he?" he asked.
"It's not going to be me," she said.
"No, it's not!" he said angrily.
"Look, I'm not going to volunteer," she said not sure she was telling the truth but not wanting him to be angry.
"Good," he said quietly.
She yawned.
"Tired?" he asked.
"A little…I haven't been sleeping very well," she admitted.
"Get some sleep," he said.
"What about you?"
"I'm used to being up at night," he said.
She wished she had not admitted she was tired.
"I could go a few more hours," she said.
"Sara, you don't have to stay up just because of me," he said.
"Another hour or so and then I'll call it a night," she said returning to the photos.
He nodded as he stood getting another cup of coffee.
"Could you pour me another cup?" she asked.
"Wouldn't that keep you awake?" he frowned.
"No…no…caffeine doesn't keep me up," she lied.
She wondered how many lies would cross her lips before he left.
He handed her the cup hesitantly and sat back down to review the police reports once more.
She took the photos and stared at them. She could imagine the terror each of the women must have felt right before he killed them. It sent a shiver down her back. She closed her eyes and visualized the crime scenes once more and soon she was sound asleep. He glanced over and grinned as she lay there on the couch. He left the photos in her hands not wanting to risk waking her as he continued to work. As the hours passed, she began to stir and suddenly she jerked awake letting the pictures fall to the floor.
"Sara?"
She gasped trying to catch her breath as she tried to control the trembling in her hands.
"Sara?" he tried once more.
"Sorry. I must have fallen asleep," she said.
"Bad dream?" he asked.
"I dreamed I heard someone reciting Shakespeare right before I felt someone grab me from behind," she said. "It must have been the extra coffee," she said trying to lighten things.
"Sara, did any of the victims read Shakespeare?"
"Each of the women had lots of books in their apartment. There were lots of literature…but yes each owned a book of Shakespeare."
"Same book?" he asked.
She thought for a moment as the color drained from her face. "Yes."
"Do you remember which book?" he asked.
"Shakespeare's Sonnets," she said softly.
"Maybe the women frequent the same bookstore and this is where he is choosing the victims," he said.
She nodded once more.
"Any local book stores?" he asked.
She nodded once again.
"Books of Distinction," she said.
"This book store is near each of the victims?" he asked feeling a bit uneasy.
"Yes," she said staring at the last victim.
"Sara?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you frequent this book store?" he asked.
"Yes…I do," she said.
He swallowed hard.
"When was the last time you visited this book store?" he asked.
"Last week…a gentleman there recommended a book," she said.
"A book?"
"Yes, Shakespeare's Sonnets," she said.
They both swallowed hard.
"Sara, where is the book?" he asked.
She glanced under the couch and their eyes met.
He started to reach for it but she stopped him.
"I'll get a pair of gloves from my kit," she said.
He put on the gloves and reached for the book flipping through the pages. He glanced up at her.
"Have you read any of this book?" he asked.
"I opened it that day but then…no…I set it under the couch and forgot about it."
He checked the book once more and then stopped when he noticed a page had been marked.
"Page eight is marked. Did you mark it?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"There are seven victims," he said. "Perhaps he has already chosen number eight."
They stared at one another.
"We'll need to check the other victims to see if their books are marked also," he said.
She nodded slightly.
"Sara, could you identify the man who recommended the book to you?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Good. I think we need to call Henry right now and check the other books so we can talk to the DA."
She nodded.
He squeezed her hand.
The next hours were a flurry of activity as they revisited each crime scene and collected each book. Sara felt the lump in her throat tighten with each confirmation. Just as Grissom had suspected, each book was marked. They were taken into evidence and they sat there waiting for a match on the finger prints. When there was a match, Sara stared at the man who had recommended the book to her.
"That's him," she said.
Henry smiled as the warrant was issued.
A few hours later, Sara watched as the man sat in the interrogation room. His eyes were cold as he stared at the photos of each of the victims. A slight smile crossed his face as he stared directly at her. She knew he could not see her but she sensed he knew she was there.
"Good girl," smiled Henry. "I said you were a dead ringer for one of those women."
Sara stood there motionless.
"I think we're going to call it a day," said Grissom pulling Sara away by the arm.
"Take off…hell take a week off…you've earned it Sidle," he said. "I'll cover the press."
Sara felt herself being led out. Nothing was said until they arrived at her apartment. He opened the passenger side of the car but she remained seated there. He knelt down so that they were facing one another.
"Let's go inside," he said quietly.
Once inside, Grissom locked the door.
"You need to sleep," he said.
She nodded and he watched as she went into the bathroom. She returned shortly dressed in a pair of sweats. He pulled back the covers and she slipped in between the covers. He started to get up but she grabbed his hand.
"Stay," she pleaded.
He nodded kissing her gently on the forehead. He disappeared but returned taking her into his arms. He breathed in deeply knowing that if he had not come, she might have been the next victim. She swallowed hard knowing that if he had not come, she would have been the next victim.
"Try to sleep," he whispered. "I'm here."
She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep.
He kissed her gently on the lips and once he was certain she was asleep he let himself feel the fear that he might have lost her. It scared the hell out of him as he tightened his hold on her.
They spent the next couple of days enjoying the beach. They stood there with arms entwined as they enjoyed the solitude.
"You have to leave tomorrow, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes…I do."
"Miss Vegas?"
"I'll miss you."
She gulped back the tears.
"Friends….forever?" she asked.
"Friends forever," he whispered. He wasn't sure how he had managed but they had remained friends without crossing the line. He had wanted to make love to her so many times but he resisted not wanting to give her any false hope of a future together. She told herself she would let the tears come as soon as he left. It had been difficult not wanting to seduce him but she wanted him to leave with a clear conscious and she knew he would not be able to do that if they became romantically involved.
They said their goodbyes once more as he walked back out of her life and returned to Vegas.
Note from author:
Guess who comes to Vegas? Thanks to those are being faithful and leaving a review with each chapter. It means a lot. Some of you have asked where I got the idea and frankly it was from a reader. Remember when I asked for ideas before the last story ended? Thanks to Peggy for the idea! Now I know you guys want to get this heated up...believe me it does when sara comes to Vegas so be patient we're getting to the present. We just needed some background for future story line...
Take care!
Penny
