"Kristin Zimmerman, twenty-four from Eagle Rock was a university student before she became our victim number four." Don put a file on Sofia's desk with a photo of their latest victim. "Her mother reported her missing this morning. They were supposed to have dinner last night."

Another sad story, another mother, who lost her daughter. Would the same happen to her one day? Since she was a mother she asked herself this question whenever she found a dead female body, a daughter of somebody. A daughter like Susan was. You were nine months pregnant with your child, make plans, look forward to watch her grow up, become a mother herself and then somebody takes her and all your dreams away.

"Is her mother here?"

"On her way. Do you want to join?"

"Could you ask Greg, please? I think I'm not…the right person today."

"I can also take detective Ricardo with me. She's still here, a pretty good cop. Shares some of yours and Sara's attitude."

"More Sara's, I'm not that rude." The blonde smiled.

"Without coffee you can be this rude. Okay, I take her with me. Did you find anything helpful?"

"No."

"Mister Fisher is released."

"How is…?"

"She's fine and at home."

"Good. Don, I get crazy with this guy not leaving anything behind. How is that possible?"

"I have no idea."

"Me neither." The blonde sighed. "I take Lynn with me and have a look at her apartment. I doubt we'll find a trace of him there, it's unlikely he abducted her from there, but we have to give it a try. Do we know where her car is?"

"Gone. Traffic is already looking for it."

"Maybe he takes the cars of the victims to his car. Steve's friend said he found the car and it was far away from the areas Charlene was."

"Was there anything on their laptops? Did they share anything?"

"They were all on Facebook, we checked their friends list, no hit. Which surprised me, Angela had like a thousand friends. Can she have possible known all these people?"

"Unlikely. Don't some just befriend others to have many friends? Like 'oh, we're, in the same group, let's be friends'. It will be hard to find anybody, who has only people on their friend lists, who he or she met already and call a friend in real life. Does your son have a Facebook account?"

"I have no idea. Maybe." Now she'd ask Steve later. Not that it was bad or she disagreed with it, she just wanted to know now. And did she need a Facebook page too?

"Nice little apartment." Sofia took a look around Kristin Zimmerman's apartment. It was an one bedroom apartment in Eagle Rock, on a side street.

"Yes, a pretty nice apartment for a university student. I don't see any evidence of a man in her life." Lynn looked closer at the photos pinned on the wardrobe. A lot of photos of Kristin, barely any with men on her side and when, it looked like they were only university friends.

"She had a job, worked part time as a waitress in a pub on Sunset. You make some good money in tips on a busy Saturday night. She was a good looking woman, I bet some men tried to get her attention by giving a generous tip."

"Or meet a killer."

"Or meet a killer." Sofia repeated. "I can't find her car keys or any other set of keys. She must have taken them with her, means, he took her outside."

"Or took the keys with him to drive the car."

"No signs of a struggle. Who would you trust? Trust enough to let him get close to you to overpower you?"

"We're talking about a stranger? Nobody. Except for all the people in the mall or in a supermarket on a busy day."

"I'm quite sure we can rule a supermarket and the mall out, too many witnesses. What when somebody rings on your door?"

"I don't expect being attacked when I open the door…and there should be a sign of it. She has a cabinet next to the door, there are frames on it, they look undisturbed. Blitz her with something like chloroform?"

"Take the keys, carry her in her car and take her to his car. I wonder why we didn't find the other cars. He left the first one."

"Which was a mistake, he might have realized that and hides the cars now as well. He is a smart guy, otherwise we had arrested him already."

"Do you think he is a cop?"

"Maybe. I did have a look for cops and CSI coming from Boston to Los Angeles within the last two years. Two. Kyle and me checked both, they've got solid alibis."

"You and Kyle spend a lot of time together at the moment."

"We work together, we're not getting back together, Sofia. We're both in relationships, we're happy and we're much better friends than we were a couple. He can't hold a candle to Dirk, who, believe it or not, doesn't forget any anniversary and treats me quite often with roses, candle light dinner and little gifts. How often do you give Sara little gifts?"

"Not often enough, she deserves more than I can afford."

"So do I."

"When will you make Dirk pop the question?"

"Next year. We're already saving money for our honeymoon, a trip through Europe. A huge party and then I want kids."

"You can have kids before you're married. Worked perfectly for me." Sofia found the diary of the young woman and opened it. The last entry was about some university party and that she had a good night at the bar, made a lot of money in tips. She didn't mention anybody especially generous or annoying. Browsing through the pages she couldn't find a hint Kristin met one of their other victims. At one point, Sofia was sure, they were all at places like the Santa Monica Pier or on Hollywood Boulevard, but not together, not on the same day or even the same month.

"Shall we canvass the neighborhood? Ask when they saw her the last time? If she was with somebody?" Lynn suggested.

"You can start, I stay here a little bit longer."

"Honey, you know as good as I do that won't happen. The cop doesn't leave the CSI alone. Never. If the suspect comes back to the possible scene, the CSI needs to be protected. You are my CSI now, I take care of you and it doesn't matter - on the paper - you were my lieutenant before. If I leave it would be a violation of rules and three years ago it had gotten me into trouble with you. We both go or we both stay."

Sofia smiled. "I taught you well." No, Lynn wasn't allowed to leave her here alone. The blonde wouldn't mind, but as her friend pointed out so well, it would be a violation of rules and Sofia taught her officer better.

The good thing about her interrogation was she could go home early, something Sara really liked.

"Hey Marie, I'm off work early today, where is my lovely daughter? I can take her with me, give you an afternoon off."

"I'm only a few yards away from your house. Louise is sick, Greg asked Marc or me to look after her, he's with Susan in the park and I'm with Louise."

"How is she?"

"Better. One or two days and she'll be much better and ready to play with all the others again."

"Good. All right, my daughter is with her grandfather in the park, no need to call him and ask him to get her back to me, you're with Louise, the twins are still in daycare, my son is out with a former suspect…"

"What did you say? Where is Stephen? With a criminal?"

"Well, yes, he is a kind of criminal, his lawyer managed to get him out. I'm talking about the young man, who was arrested for killing the four women. He was in custody when the last one was killed, it can't be him and there was no evidence he was ever close to one of the women. Steve and he met at the department again and Felix, the former suspect, invited Steve to a burger menu for helping him. Your grandson organized the lawyer."

"I need a serious conversation with him."

"No, this guy saved his life two years ago. Or saved him from serious injuries, I think he won't be a thread to your grandson."

"He better isn't. Is Sofia still at work?"

"Yes, she out with Lynn, looking at the victim's apartment."

"A former lieutenant protected by a officer."

"Two friends out doing their jobs, no ranks needed. Something smells odd here, burnt."

"Burnt? The car is on fire?"

"No, I'm on foot, went to the small seven-eleven around the corner to get some…"

A loud bang made Marie flinch. She didn't have to be an expert to know, something just exploded.

"Sara? Sara?" No answer. The connection was gone, the brunette couldn't hear her anymore. What did happen? And how was Sara?

After they talked to half a dozen neighbors they hadn't found anybody, who had seen Kristin with a man leave. Her neighbor, Mrs. Randall, saw her leave three days ago in the morning, around half past seven, the time she usually left for university. Their next destination was the university, get her class schedule.

"This woman, Mrs. Randall, seems to know everything what's going in this street. She's sitting behind her window, watching every step me make." Sofia said.

"Annoying on one side, very helpful on the other. If he had taken Zimmerman out of her apartment, Mrs. Randall knew about it, could give us a description."

"A license plate or told us, he took her car. We had a neighbor like her when I was younger, always at the kitchen window, observing you. As kids we believed she worked for the FBI and filed everything we did. Mom told my brother and me, when we do anything illegal, our neighbor will see it and report it to the FBI, who would come and take us to a place for bad children, away from our family."

"Not a nice thing to tell your children."

"No, it worked anyway. We didn't dare to do anything until we realized, the old woman wasn't filling anything for the FBI, she was only bored and used us and the other kids as her entertainment. Actually, she was quite nice, she gave us lemonade once or twice when it was very hot."

"You lived in Vegas, there are only hot and very hot days in summer."

"Mostly, yes." Sofia got into the car. Another thing she had to get used to, she wasn't the driver all the time anymore. Most times she drove when she went to a crime scene, when she was investigating with a cop, she became more and more often the passenger.

"Want to drive?" Lynn read her mind.

"No, your car, you drive. I give Don a call, maybe he got some new information for us, he should be done with talking to Zimmerman's mother. If she could provide a name of a boyfriend or anybody else, we have another place to go." Sofia dialed Don't number. "Yo detective, got anything new? We didn't find any clues in her apartment and her neighbor told us, she saw Kristin leave three days ago at half past seven in the morning, the time she always left when she went to university."

"Her mother gave me the names of her best friends, I will talk to them. There was no boyfriend, her mom said, it had been a while that Kristin was in a serious relationship. Can you and Lynn go to her workplace when you're done at university and talk to her boss? I wonder she took some of the guests home."

"Yeah, we can do that. Any news on the car?"

"Nothing. She didn't tell her mother about any threads or men, who followed her. I've got a list with names of people she saw regularly. From her doctors to favorite supermarket to sport clubs."

"Okay…hold on, there's another call coming in." She checked the number of the call coming in. "Hi mom, can I call you back?"

"No, you can't. Sara had an accident. She's at the Hollywood Palms, not serious injured and I'm with her."

"What did happen?"

"There was an explosion and the blast pushed her off her feet. She'll be fine, only needs a check-up."

"Mom, how serious?"

"When I have to guess she has the same you had after your first motorbike accident. See if you can come over, she could use her fiancé by her side. And you won't be able to concentrate on your work now anyway."

Her mother was right. Sara had an accident, Sofia had to get to her as fast as possible. The description her mother gave her, calmed her a little bit down. The same Sofia had after her first motorbike accident. A couple of bruises, scratches and a concussion. The trouble she got from her parents was worse than the injuries. Hopefully it was the same with Sara.

"How are you?" Sofia almost jumped into Sara's arms. There was her lover, on a bed in a hospital room. A bandage on her head and a right leg, as well as a couple of patches on her arms and leg and one on right cheek.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look like you're fine, what happened? Who tried to attack you?"

"Nobody."

"Sara, you're in hospital and you are covered in bandages and patches. Did somebody attack you?"

"It was an accident."

"An accident? What kind of accident?"

"Science accident."

"Here we are, I think I've got a déjà vu." Doctor Bendler came into the room. "You look like you had a rough day, Sara. Will you fight me today again like you did when we first met? I can't send you to Jules anymore, you know that."

"There's no reason for me to see a psychologist and I plan to see you son-in-law for dinner, Alison. He will tell Jules everything."

"We might find something to fight about if you're talking about dinner tonight."

"I do and I won't fight with you, only get up and walk out of the room and the building. You can't hold me against my will."

"Now, didn't I tell you years ago not pick up a fight with me? When I want you here for a night you stay, no matter what you want. I can you chain to the bed."

"Get real."

"Could anybody tell me what happened? And more important, how serious you're injured, Sara." Sofia stopped them. She wanted information before she went crazy about her lover being injured and in hospital.

"Your fiancé became part of a science project, chemistry, if I'm not mistaken. It wasn't planned the student is more than sorry for what he did, which doesn't chance the fact you have a concussion and a twisted shoulder and ankle."

"Nothing serious, like I said."

"Serious enough to stay a night, be under the watch of a doctor."

"I'll be under the watch of a cop/CSI, at home in my bed, which is much better than a hospital. Oh, and there's a doctor in the house too. Just one level below me."

"A dentist isn't a help."

"Alison, I won't stay. Sofia can take me home, I lay down and relax, stay in bed until tomorrow and that's it."

"Tomorrow? You won't work for the next days. First of all you can't walk without crutches, which will be hard to handle with the bruised shoulder, and second, you need to rest longer. If I let you go…"

"There is no if."

"IF I let you go, and it's my decision and not yours, so IF I let you go, you stay in bed for the next two days. No walking around, no garden party, nothing. You can read unless you're having a headache, listen to an audio book or watch movies, I don't care, but you won't leave the bed for more than a short trip to the bathroom. Which reminds me, no showers alone in case you lose balance. And I want one of your in-laws with you when Sofia is at work. These terms are not negotiable."

"You're a nightmare."

"Ditto and I accept your agreement. Lean back, let me have another look at you."

"That's doctor harassment, worse than police harassment."

"Shut up, we want you fit for your kids and the wedding, it will take less time when you do what I tell you." Doctor Bendler checked Sara's eyes with a little flashlight, took a look at her ankle and moved her right arm a little bit. "Do you have painkillers at home?"

"More than enough."

"Not Sofia's you can share most things in a relationship, not your medication. Sofia, I want you to make sure Sara does exactly what I told her."

"I do my best but when I'm at work…"

"Don't worry, I talked to your mother, she promised me to make sure Sara stays in bed and I'm sure my daughter will have a conversation with her too when she comes over for to look after her. For you it will be dinner in bed, Sara. No sitting at the table, you have to lay down."

"Spoilsport."

"Whatever it takes to make you recover. All right, I want you to get your car at the front entrance, Sofia, while I organize a wheelchair and let somebody take Sara there."

"I don't need a wheelchair, some crutches will do it." The brunette protested.

"I said my conditions aren't negotiable. A wheelchair or you stay in this bed. Make your pick."

"You're not invited to our wedding anymore."

"If you don't listen to what I told you there might not be a wedding. You're both two very stubborn women, both very smart but absolutely unreasonable when it comes to your own health."

"We can look after each other." Sofia smiled a little bit. She would make damn sure her lover stayed in bed, if necessary she'd chain her to the bed….come to think about it, it was a nice idea, if Sara wasn't injured.

"Do that. Your mother took good care of my granddaughter I heard."

"Yeah, where is Louise? Did mom take her with her?"

"No, your father is looking after her while one of your housemates picked up Susan so she can't catch Louise's infection. Where's your son?"

"On his way to here, I called him. I call him again, tell him to go straight home, we're on our way too. Honey, stay in bed until the wheelchair is here. I know it's pretty humiliating but it's for your own best. Believe somebody, who has been through this. I love you and I'm so glad you're not seriously injured." Sofia bent over and kissed Sara. There were no words that could describe how released she was that Sara would be fine within a couple of days. Sofia knew better than anybody else how much different it could end when you were involved in an explosion. It had cost her half of her left leg, with a bruised shoulder, ankle and a concussion the brunette was off pretty good.