Chapter 4

Sara took in the pristine walls of the house and the décor. It didn't speak of a happy home nor did it reflect the mood of a grieving husband and father. To her it seemed that it was void of all emotion. The sharp corners and the black and white contrasts… it just didn't seem like Roland Bryce had any emotions for his missing family. First blush told her that he probably hadn't thought of his family at all given the way he looked at her and O' Reilly when they knocked on the door.

When Bryce answered the door, Sara responded to his inquiry with the usual, "Mr. Roland Bryce? I'm Sara Sidle with the Las Vegas Crime Lab and this is Det. O' Reilly."

Bryce let them in but didn't give the picture of a grieving or worried husband. He led them to his living room and invited them to sit, "Uh can you tell me what this is about?"

Sara had let O' Reilly take the wheel then and he asked Bryce about the missing person's report he filed on his wife and son. She was surprised at how casual he sounded when he asked if they found them. She was careful to reserve judgment since it could be that he was the type that didn't like to show his feelings in public. Or he could be a wife beater and in the process killed his son and maybe it was an accident.

"I… I keep hoping that someone would call or Claire would just walk through the front door," Bryce was saying. He shook his head as if in regret and added, "I just can't believe they are gone. I just…"

"Mr. Bryce, was there any reason that Claire would just disappear?"

"As I told you people before, there was no reason for it. We had a good marriage," Bryce replied with a firm look.

Sara took a mental note of the man's reaction as she continued, "Was there anyone that would have any reason to hurt your wife or son?"

"No. Claire was liked by everybody and Taylor was a good boy."

Sara and O' Reilly asked a couple of other questions. Bryce answered them. Since Sara didn't have a warrant to search the premises and she doubted that Bryce was going to let her, she was polite and thanked him for his time. As she walked through the house, she noted a few things, particularly a picture on the mantle that had the family in front of the fire place. She studied it and noticed something that caught her eye. She didn't want to give away too much but she was drawn to the picture and it looked like they might have a clue.

"That's last year's picture. The family portrait we sent to everyone. Done right here," Bryce supplied.

Sara didn't want to betray her suspicions so she commented, "It's a lovely picture. I truly am sorry for your loss." It almost felt like it was tongue in cheek. She was sorry; sorry that Claire married someone like Bryce and she ended up dead after being his punching bag.

"I have to tell her mother. I don't know how to break it to her."

Sara thought she had detected a tone of voice not typical of a grieving husband. Of course she could be a bit prejudicial about it since the very idea of his type really rankled. She just merely nodded and allowed Bryce to let her and O' Reilly out. Once outside she asked the detective on the way back to the vehicle, "So what do you think?"

"Doesn't sound like he's brokenhearted."

"My thoughts exactly," Sara replied, "And I think that picture on the mantel gives a clue."

"The picture was the murder weapon? Didn't look damaged."

"No but the fireplace itself. The one we saw looks different from the one in the picture and it could be that it was broken or hiding what killed the boy."

"So he changed it to hide the evidence," O'Reilly mused as they got into the car and headed back to PD.

Sage was not back yet but there was plenty for Sara to do. She decided to follow up and see if there were any reports of domestic disturbances against Roland Bryce. She also recalled that Claire had a mother. There was also the paltry physical evidence that they collected at the cabin up there. As she sat at the computer in the lab, she thought about where they found the bodies. She figured that if Bryce killed his wife and son and knew about the place, he might have property in the area. There was another source of evidence to look at.

She was about to get to work when her phone rang. She picked it up and said, "Having fun taking a walk?"

You'd be surprised at how much you can find when you stop and smell the roses.

Sara smirked a bit, "So you had a good time then."

Always do Sara. How did it go with Bryce?

"Well he wasn't broken up that his wife and son was found dead. In fact he seemed like he was not concerned with it." Sara looked around but her attention was focused on the conversation. "It could be that he did it."

A possibility but I have met types like him that believe to show emotion is a waste of time. Was there anything to suggest he might have done it? See anything?

"Well we didn't have a warrant so we couldn't search the house and I didn't want to tip him off that we had him as a suspect by asking. Besides if he asked for a warrant we're gonna need more than what we have if we're going to get inside."

But I sense that you found something that was in plain sight. Give.

"The fireplace," Sara replied with a slight smile.

The fireplace?

"It's possible that it matches the injury on Taylor Bryce's head. There was a family picture on the mantle taken last year and it looks different from the one that is there now." Sara paused to see if Sage was going to reply. The lack of response told her that Sage was coming to the same conclusions.

Meaning that it could have caused the blunt force trauma. That leaves us the tool marks on Claire Bryce.

"Again we need a search warrant since I doubt Bryce will let us in. But I can tell you're up to something."

In the mood for an experiment?

"You know what I like Parker." Sara couldn't help but smile at that since she started getting into the habit of sounding like Sage. She couldn't explain it well but the jovial nature Sage had on a daily basis, even when she was feeling down, it was infectious. It was like she was the younger sister that everyone couldn't help but love but Sara knew that Sage wasn't just curls and bows; she was a woman who was a scientist and did have a way of speaking her mind. Certainly she liked watching how she and Nick verbally sparred.

You know I do. I'll head to the lab and we can simulate Taylor's injury.

"Take your time. I know you pace yourself and you did have a wild night," Sara teased. "Det. Aguilar does know quite a bit about old Vegas."

I'm sure he does. Just make sure you can keep up.

"You're on."

See you in about an hour.

Sage finished what she was doing and was looking at the wall of pictures. She found it interesting how homey it looked on the inside even though the outside of the place looked like it was a dump. Homeless shelters were less homey and more utilitarian. She figured that it had to do with the person who was running the show. Certainly Sister Alice had a big hand in things; that and money usually helps with it.

"Sister Alice likes to hang the success stories here. It sort of gives hope."

Sage turned to look at Nadine who had joined her. "I like it. A good way to remind the abused person that there is hope and a way out. Look at you."

Nadine gave a full-fledged smile of her shining white teeth that was a sharp contrast to her dark skin, "This is all part of the publicity of being a kickboxing champ. Most of the time I'm a mess."

"That photo I saw in the office about taking back the power says otherwise," Sage replied as she motioned towards the office.

"Some of the ladies and a few of the men asked about self-defense lessons. I ran it by Sister Alice and we started a couple of classes," Nadine replied. Instinctively she ran a hair along her smooth hair to the bun that was at the nape of her neck.

Sage studied the woman who stood as a symbol of strength for women. She was amused that she was a petite woman even though she had African American roots as well as Indian roots and yet she had seen her take down a man roughly the size of Nick and pin him like it was nothing. "Looks like it has grown to an event," she said.

"That was Joni's idea. She thought that if abuse victims got together and did a sort of take back the power thing…" Nadine shrugged her shoulders. She looked at the pictures. "We did good but I think we could do better."

Sage gave a slight twist of her head as she studied the pictures. "Maybe you could get a city org on board. Do an exhibition and rally to take back the power. Might bring on some publicity that you need." She shrugged her shoulders since it was a suggestion.

Nadine looked at the CSI and narrowed her eyes slightly but not in an angry way. This was how the same CSI got her to come forward and file charges against her husband and soon to be ex-husband once the divorce was finalized. She had to admit that it felt like how her husband used to keep her under his thumb but the difference was that there was no malice in it. There was a sincere desire to help even though Sage's business was collecting and analyzing evidence. She nodded in agreement, "Could be a possibility. You know anything about the sheriff's schedule?"

Sage chuckled, "Check in with his publicist. Mobley runs a tight schedule. Do it soon and you might end up helping him run for mayor."

"I guess I better make a few calls to a few people. Maybe make it a charity event. I know a few ladies who'd like to have fun with LVPD," Nadine replied with a teasing tone. She sobered though and said, "I hope you find out what happened to Claire and Taylor."

Sage looked at Nadine, "You know something?"

"I know that Claire was going to leave her husband. She was willing to file divorce papers the day she was last seen here," Nadine replied in a low voice. She looked around to make sure no one was listening and said, "I wasn't here then but there were some who talked and others who were long gone and living their lives free."

"That's why I had Sister Alice set me up with those women to talk to here. I know that she will do her best and explain why I need to have an officer present." Sage paused. She couldn't say anything more about the case but she was curious about something and changed the subject, "I know that this center gives out St. George medallions but Sister Alice changed to different ones. Do you know when?"

"I wasn't here a year ago but there were some women from then that had the old ones. After that it was this" Nadine showed off hers.

Sage nodded as she thought about it. "Thank you Nadine. I'll see myself out. I gotta get back."

"Hope you solve it."

"Me too," Sage muttered as she walked away. Her phone rang and she answered it, "Parker."

The apartment was pristine and clean. There was nothing to indicate that Nicole Kirkland was Goth. None of the usual paraphernalia was around but the choice in furniture was something that didn't seem to fit in with her pay grade. Nick looked around trying to ascertain the type of person this woman was.

He had gone to the apartment while Catherine was following other leads to see if there was anything to indicate a possible suspect like an ex-boyfriend or something. He expected to see a lot of dark things going on and posters of Goth bands and the like. There was nothing like it around and it had him think that she was a closet Goth.

The apartment was furnished with furniture that was consistent with the Romantic period in literature. The wood on the furniture was dark like a rich cherry wood with very ornate carving. Nick thought that she had thousands of dollars' worth of furniture in there considering that it was very ornate and looked like a specialty job, possibly antique and it was everywhere.

There was nothing too indicative of the living room or the kitchen so he went to the bedroom. That room was like the other and he was surprised at the canopy bed. "This girl likes to live in style," he muttered as he took a look around. There were a couple of pictures, one had what appeared to be a possible boyfriend. Apart from that, it was neat and tidy.

And I thought Parker was a neat freak.

It wasn't a mean thought at all since Nick was thinking about Sage's campaign of trying to 'train' Grissom out of putting his experiments in the community fridge. He had also seen how she would systematically fix the samples that were in queue for analysis so they were appropriate in terms of case number and the usual protocols. It was funny enough to make Nick think about what would happen if Sage and the evidence clerk were set on each other. He recalled the last case, a simple robbery at a convenience store and he laughed at her when he saw her filling out a non-standard, non-official form and he asked what she was doing.

She called it a scene log; it was like an evidence inventory log but one that she made to keep track of evidence as it was collected. Name, case file number, CSI who collected it and where. She explained that she had started it when a case she inherited ended up missing the weapon in an assault that turned deadly. It frustrated her and she made it a point to triple check the evidence if necessary. More work for her but it worked and it had come handy a couple of times when they thought they lost evidence.

If Nick had to venture a guess, even her house was neat and it didn't matter that she had Riley the Irish terrier that bit him and now was her pet. That was what he could say about Nicole Kirkland's place. It was like the girl was a complete contradiction of how they found her. Even Brass' interviews with her friends and co-workers said otherwise.

The closet was next on his list and that was a surprise there. The clothing was organized, no surprise there, and there was where the clues seemed to fit to together. The more Nick looked at it, the more he was starting to become convinced that his victim took a leaf out of Sage Parker's book. The clothing tended to trend dark and the color that did exist was done in a retro style reminiscent of a time long gone.

There was also some clothing that did play on the stereotype of the obsession with death like PJs with skulls that were more cute than anything. It sort of helped that the skulls were in the girly pink style. Nick did find a couple of suits that were strictly business profession but slightly different to allow that retro feel that the rest of the wardrobe was comprised of. Still it wasn't enough to convince Nick that she really was a Goth.

He finished up what he was doing and even noted a few things that were similar to the necklace that the victim wore. He took a picture of the picture that had the possible boyfriend on it. Apart from the place itself he only found one thing that seemed to stick out. It was a letter that had been left open on the table near the door. A few phrases were in what he recognized as French and gave a slight eye roll but looked forward to another verbal sparring. The rest was in English and Nick could make out that it was some kind of threat to Nicole about being what she was. He bagged it and took it with him back to the lab.

He had pulled back up just as a familiar Tahoe did and out jumped the person of interest he needed to see. He called out, "Don't you ever sleep, Parker?"

Sage shut the door to the Tahoe after pulling out her kit. It was an ingrained habit to carry a kit everywhere on the job. The time at the shelter was a bit mood dampening but prospects were good and it seemed the mood was better now that Nick was in her sights. She grinned, "I do. I keep hours like a bat."

Nick chuckled as he grabbed his stuff, "And I bet you sleep in a coffin too."

"You know I actually once did but the occupant that owned it wasn't too happy. Then again I wouldn't be happen if someone was pushed into one," Sage replied in a thoughtful manner as she approached Nick's vehicle.

Nick looked at Sage trying to decide if she was teasing or not. He had been fooled before by a few of her stories and she did have a way of making you question how sure you were about things. He went with the best way he knew to try and get the truth: he asked a questioned designed to make her indignant, "You test drive at mortuaries?"

"Never considered that," Sage replied with a smile, guessing what Nick was up to. She loved teasing him because it was easy to and usually they had a good laugh afterwards. "Do you think they should make that an option? But I would think cremation urns would be a bit difficult."

"Now you're talking shit," Nick countered.

"Usually do. It's just funny because you take it so seriously," Sage replied with a straight face. She blinked a bit since her eyes started watering again even though she put in drops before she left. It was probably because she was tired.

"Yeah because I expect a straightforward answer from people; I don't like it when people pull Grissom and do a puzzle. And half the time when you're joking, you can make it sound real." Nick tried not to sound petulant about it.

"Maybe I just like doing it to make you pay for rule 41," Sage dropped as she assumed the cute innocent girl pose. It wasn't completely innocent sine she looked Nick in the eye as if to dare him to say anything different. "After all it is hard to forgive and forget when a good cup of coffee is on the line," she added.

Nick took in the pose with a slightly narrowed look and said, "Rule 41? You're serious?"

Sage dropped her act quickly, "Nope. You learned your lesson." She gave a grin and added, "Admit it Stokes, you like it when I get one up on you since you always seem to come back for more. I'm beginning to think that you're a glutton for punishment."

Nick's narrowed eyes dropped into a grin. He locked up the Tahoe he was driving and replied, "Maybe so. You can be irritating."

"But you love it." Sage couldn't help but laugh a little. As they started walking back into the lab she stayed in step and asked, "So what's the 411?"

"How do you know I want to ask you something about a case? It could be that I might be offering a chance at debt collection." Nick looked at Sage who was looking like she was going for a stroll around a park rather than going to work in a crime lab.

"Because you get yourself in a jam with verbal sparring before asking me about a case and if you wanted debt collection, you would ask if I was busy," she rattled off and actually counted on her fingers. "If you actually cared about what I did at home you'd ask about that or make a comment about Riley."

"Hey that mutt bit me."

"And you lived. Let it go," Sage replied as if trying to soothe a grumpy child. "So what do you need? I gotta meet Sara in the garage. Experiment."

"I thought you had the night off?"

"Shorthanded. So?"

Nick frowned a bit wondering if Sage actually did have a life outside of the lab. He went to business though and explained, "Well Catherine and I were on a 419 and the victim was sexually assaulted, raped and killed."

"Okay so what do you need me for?"

"Victim was dressed in clothing that you'd be familiar with." Nick shot a look at Sage as if to prompt her to figure it out. "She was dressed as a Goth but the thing is her life's a complete contrast to the whole Goth thing. Everything in her apartment was… normal except for expensive furniture."

"And that's where you went wrong, Stokes," Sage replied as she continued their walk. "The religious fanatics as well as the posers painted this bleak image of Goths to the point that people think that they are freaks who worship Satan. No so. What was her clothing like?"

"Um… modern but with retro look. A lot of black but quite a bit of color."

"Goths do have a unique sense of style and true Goths gravitate towards that old look like Romantic era aka Bram Stoker style but they make it unique. They like darker things and do listen to music like Dismember and Bauhaus."

"And what about the people who turn to it because they feel they don't fit in?"

"Posers for the most part. Goths don't envy popular people. They are what they are because they like it. From what you described of the victim, she probably has a wardrobe that is professional but tailored to reflect her taste and style of Goth. It's easy and interesting combinations come from mixing retro with modern."

Nick thought about it for a moment and took it in. He glanced at Sage and noticed that she was also describing herself to a degree. He noticed that her jacket was cut to look like period wear but it was modern. She was wearing black mostly but that was probably a professional thing except for the shirt. Then there was the dog collar. "You know quite a bit about this. You sure you're not full time Goth?"

Sage looked at her person and gave a chuckle and replied, "Maybe. I do listen to Goth music which was an offshoot of punk rock in the 80s and definitely no Manson. That doesn't count. Just don't tell Greg." She shrugged her shoulders as she paused in the hall, "Not all Goths dress alike but they are people that are not the kind to go with the in-crowd. Think outside the box kind of thing. That help?"

"A little. Thanks Parker."

"No problem," Sage replied as she started down the hall to meet Sara. As an afterthought, she paused and turned back. "Oh and Stokes, some like to wear the religious jewelry like Celtic crosses. Many are people who believe."

It certainly helped a bit as Nick went to log in his letter. He had forgotten to ask Sage to read the French. He could do that later and continued on his way to meet Catherine.

A/N: Case is moving along on both ends and Nick learns a little more about Sage even though she is talking about someone watching for more Night Owls...