A/N: Things are moving along quickly!

Hope and Justice Chapter 28

Nick's plan to find Warrick's killer had not gained one clue, not one whisper. Nick had led a double life for months and gotten no further than they were a week after the shooting. Well, thought Grissom, Nick did have Heather.

Early the next morning, the signal came from the chip that Nick had worn around his neck for months. Grissom called the federal agent who had gotten the same signal. When a location was given, he grabbed his gun from the bottom desk drawer, and left.

By the time he got to Red Rocks Canyon, three federal cars were behind him. One of the men shot the lock off the gate and the cars headed along the paved road. As the last vehicle, Grissom turned left and drove in the opposite direction on the loop road. Wherever Nick was in this vast desert park, if he had not removed the chip from around his neck, they were chasing a dead man. He drove faster along the crooked road watching for another car, a light, any signs that indicated life.

The sun broke the horizon casting long rays over the edge of the desert, turning gray darkness to gold and red colors in the foothills. Long shadows reached to the west of each outcropping of rock. Grissom reached for his phone to find its holder empty. He swore as he searched the seat, knowing he had left the phone on his desk.

The road climbed higher and he found a turnout at a scenic overlook. Looking below, he could see the federal cars continuing in his direction. He flipped his lights twice before turning back onto the paved road.

He talked to himself. "Where are you Nicky? Did you throw the locator away? How did you get here?" He drove on, seeing the lights of the cars less than a mile away. He almost missed the tire tracks on the unpaved trail.

The phone on his desk rang until it rolled over to voicemail. Three minutes later, Sara hit redial on her phone, getting his message again. The third time, she called the land line to the lab learning that Grissom had left suddenly. She asked for Catherine, Brass, Nick, Greg; all were out. She hung up and called Catherine.

"Willows."

"Hi, Catherine. Is Grissom with you?" Sara asked.

"No, Sara. We left him in his office. Ahh—are you okay?"

"I can't get him on his phone and he left the lab a while ago." Catherine heard a sharp intake of air from Sara.

"Are you okay? Where are you? Have you gone into labor?" Catherine's questions came so rapidly that one had no time to answer. She grabbed her purse from the table she shared with Adam Novak.

"I'm at home, Catherine. I need to go to the hospital. I need to find Gil."

A/N: We are almost to the end! Read on (leave us a note!)