And So it Goes...
By: Manigault
So I'm really stretching these scenes to fit the show and maintain the story...lol. There was no police decoy in this story and the victim was the vic and..yeah, well everything else.
This is a short chapter but I wanted to get it out there this week. Hopefully, the next will be longer.
Thanks for reading this and double thanks for all comments!
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Sara watched as Grissom dressed, biding her time in asking the question that was weighing heavy on her mind. Catching her eye as he tucked his shirt into his pants, Grissom tilted his head slightly and gave her a small nod.
"I'll do my best to keep this as confidential as possible."
"Our relationship is outed." Sara said dryly. "How are we going to keep anything confidential?"
"Is that what's bothering you? I'm okay with everyone knowing that we're involved."
Sara chose her next words carefully as she kept her eyes fixed on his face. "It's important, but it's not all that's bothering me right now." Glancing at the carpet before letting her eyes slid back up to meet his eyes, Sara asked him the question that was on her mind. "Why aren't we going to the crime scene? It's because of me?"
"The crime scene is in good hands. I'm certain that Jim is handling it by this time and most likely has Catherine and at least one of the guys there as well. I'll call and make sure someone brings the miniature to the lab if it's not there already." Grissom followed his statement by pulling out his phone and hitting a number that linked him with Brass.
Brass answered on the first ring. "Gil? Sophia told me she called you."
"The miniature?"
"Nick is on his way back to the lab with it as we speak. It's the same as the others, Gil, only one that's different is the one that was left in your office. Maybe that one was a warning?" Brass couldn't help but keep the hope from his voice. If it was only a warning then perhaps the miniature killer would leave Sara alone.
"Or a game." Grissom asked him a few more questions regarding the victim before ending the call and filling the blanks in for Sara.
"So, you think that maybe I'm not an actual target? It was simply a move to show you that he's in control?"
"It's possible." Grissom hoped that Sara wasn't a target but the fact that this person would go to such lengths to prove something to him was unfathomable. Where did the picture of a young terrified Sara come into play? "It's also possible that you are the one he's trying to demonstrate his control of and I'm simply an instrument in his mad game."
"Who would do this?" Sara had been pondering the question since picking up the image of herself and was no closer to an answer as they left the hotel room and made their way to the lab.
Grissom couldn't give her any answers but hoped the evidence could as he reached for her hand on the way inside the lab.
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"Nothing." Greg read the latest test results with disgust. "What about you, Hodges?"
"Nada. Zip. It's all clean and a waste of time if you ask me."
Greg glared over the counter at Hodges who was smiling into a microscope. "Why is it a waste of time? This is Sara we're talking about, Hodges. You like Sara."
"Everyone likes Sara," said Hodges without lifting his eyes from the microscope. "It's just that this serial killer is too smart to leave evidence behind in shampoo or strawberry preserves."
"It's poison. Why wouldn't he put it in something that Sara would use on a daily basis?" Greg was geniunely curious about his response since the other man appeared sure of himself. But then Hodges was always sure of himself.
Pulling away from the microscope, Hodges finally looked at Greg, rolling his eyes dramatically before answering. "Does she eat strawberry preserves everyday? He would put it on something she would use, only something that would leave no trace."
If Hodges had added a 'duh' on the end of his statement then Greg would not have been surprised. "Like?"
"A toothbrush or hair dryer." Hodges started a long explanation of the type of poisons that you could place on appliances and how the skin would absorb them and how it would be virtually undetectable in the victim. "Unless you know what you're looking for that is."
Greg had to keep his mouth from dropping open. He knew Hodges was weird but this was scary weird. "We can get her hair dryer and check out other appliances. I thought that we had everything."
"Better use gloves!" Hodges suggested as he returned to his microscope.
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"This is it." Nick placed the miniature down on the table and stepped back to let Grissom and Sara investigate the tiny crime scene. "The vic was found exactly like the figure in the model."
"Is that a cat?. He killed her cat as well?" Sara felt indignation as she stared at the tiny figure of the feline. It was strange how she could view these victims with professional detachment but when it came to a small helpless creature she felt this rage.
Grissom cast her a sympathetic look before picking up his magnifying glass to exam the inside of the miniature. Aware of Sara's emotions he reached over and gently tugged her towards him, gesturing with the magnifying glass before he spoke.
"Was it a poison that killed them?" Grissom mused.
"Try carbon monoxide."
Everyone turned to watch the approach of Catherine as she described the fireplace and the elaborate set up along with the timer that was set to go off on the 17th of November. "It appears to coincide with your return, Gil."
"He couldn't have known about Grissom's sabbatical," Nick shook his head as he spoke, "we didn't know until almost time for him to leave. This model took weeks to perfect."
"Grissom? Who did know about your plans other than the college?" Catherine made a point of avoiding Sara's gaze as she asked him this question.
"Ecklie knew a couple of weeks before I left." Grissom turned his attention back to the model. "Although, I don't believe Conrad would have the ability to make these miniatures. He certainly wouldn't have the patience."
"If he left it on his desk then any number of people could have seen the request," suggested Nick, his words eliciting a sharp intake of breath from Sara.
She felt everyones eyes pinning her down as she stepped closer to Grissom and spoke the dreaded thought aloud. "You're suggesting that someone in this lab could be the person doing all of this?"
"Or someone who has access to the lab," offered Nick, not liking his theory at all. "You should stay near one of us at all times Sara, even here."
Grissom straightened up and stared from Nick to Sara before reaching for his phone. "Jim? I'd like for you to have someone stand guard near Sara while she's at the lab. I know that she's in the lab. Okay, thanks."
Turning to Sara he lowered his voice. "You have to promise me that you'll stay near me or one of the guys at all times."
"No problem." Sara wasn't stupid, she felt the shiver of fear run down her spine at the thought that this person could have access to the lab. Another thought occurred to her and she demanded the same promise from him. "You may be the actual target, Griss. I could have been some minor decoy." Her thoughts turned to the photograph and she knew it was time to find someone she trusted to run some analysis on it.
TBC