Chapter 41

The Sherriff stood in the doorway, his face grave as he looked over at Sara.

"What do you mean, Conrad?" Sara asked. "How could he possibly know I was coming back? Even I didn't know I was coming back at that point."

Ecklie threw a file on the table before them as he stepped into the room. "I looked into Dr Thompson. Apparently, he volunteered with the PEAP program."

"He worked here?" Catherine asked, incredulously. Ecklie nodded.

"I've spoken to a few of the other PEAP counsellors. Thompson kept in touch when he left. One of them is a professor at WLVU. Apparently, Thompson was very interested in the research projects the university funded."

"So, Jimmy could have found out that Grissom and Sara would come back to Vegas at some point, to renew their grant," Nick said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But that still doesn't explain how he knew Sara was coming back before the trip was over."

"While Grissom and Sara were away, we had a little… friction in the lab. One of the new CSI's wasn't happy and wasn't shy about it."

Grissom watched Sara and Catherine catch each other's eye. He had a strong suspicion of who Ecklie was talking about, but no one said anything. Sara had filled him in on what she had found when she came back to Vegas. The difficulties Catherine was facing.

"When Riley left," Ecklie continued. "And with everything that had happened – with Warrick, and Langston – the heads of department were trying to figure out what to do next. The lab was short staffed, but we didn't have the recourses to train a new hire."

"Which is why you called me," Sara put in. It was only supposed to be a temporary placement, when Ecklie had called her in, the help out while they were short staffed. They were going to be in Vegas anyway, and neither Grissom nor Sara saw the harm in it. In fact, Grissom was happy for her. Proud of her. It was something she needed to do.

"It was Dr Thompson that suggested we call someone already familiar with the team, if we could get them. Someone who could just slot right in. Someone Catherine could trust, and who could help her."

Grissom's pulse pounded in his ears as Ecklie spoke. "He suggested Sara," he said, his jaw tight as he watched the Sheriff. Ecklie was shifting on his feet, uncomfortable. The rational part of Grissom's brain told him it wasn't Ecklie's fault. He could have no idea who he was dealing with. But the unnational part…

"He didn't specifically say Sara," Ecklie said, a little defensively. "But I don't doubt that was what he meant."

"But," Greg put in. "He couldn't know how long she would stay. It was only supposed to be temporary, right?"

"It was," Ecklie confirmed. "But we were having a hard time finding someone to replace her. The PEAP team…"

"You mean Jimmy," Nick interrupted, scowling at the Sherriff.

"Jimmy," Ecklie agreed. "Suggested not taking on a level one. We didn't have the time, or the resources to train them. And…" He hesitated slightly. "I didn't really want to lose you." He looked up at Sara. Half ashamed, half defiant. It was understandable. She was a great criminalist. It would make sense he would want to keep her for as long as he could.

Besides, if Sara had wanted to leave, she would have… right?

"So," Greg interjects. "Sara stays to help, and Grissom goes to Peru."

"Jimmy can't know how long you're going to stay, so he orchestrates a meeting," Nick put in.

"Are you suggesting he had something to do with his patients' death?" Grissom asked.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Hodges said, dryly. Russell shot him a look and the trace tech held a hand to his mouth. Nodding in apology.

"We did look into him," Brass said. "But, with everything pointing to the husband, our focus shifted pretty quickly."

"Whether Jimmy killed his patient, or he had a twisted case of luck, it doesn't matter. The point is, now he is actively in Sara's life," Russell said, looking over to his subordinate. The colour had drained from Sara's face as they spoke. She shivered and Grissom put an arm around her waist.

He had never hated anyone as much as he hated Jimmy Thompson at that moment. This man had been stalking the woman he loves. Pulling strings and even committing murder, just so that he can try and possess her. Own her, like she was some sort of trophy. Manipulating events, and people, to keep his sick fantasy going.

"I've had a look at Jimmy's laptop," Nick said, pulling Grissom from his thoughts. "There are files upon files, all on Sara." He opened the computer on the table and Sara drew nearer. Grissom dropped his arm, reluctantly, as she moved away from him. She had her arms wrapped around her waist. A shiver rand over her body. Slight, but obvious to him.

Grissom held himself back. There were times where Sara wanted to be held. Times she wanted his arms around her. And there were times she needed her space. Times she needed him to hold back, until she came to him.

"He has everything. Everything, from your social security number, to your favourite restaurant," Nick continued. "There's an encrypted file. Archie's working on it now. Also." He clicked open a thumbnail, shotting Sara an unsure look. "More photos."

Grissom literally saw red as the slideshow progressed. Nick, Greg, Hodges, and Russell all looked away from the photos now being show. Pictures of Sara. Intimate photos which caused Grissom to storm across the room. He was going to kill him. He was going to throttle him, with his bare hands.

Morgan was looking sick. Finn was clenching her jaw and Catherine looked as if she would gladly help Grissom rip the doctor apart and bury the pieces.

Grissom raised a hand, intending to slam the laptop shut, but Sara spoke. "Wait," she said. Her eyes wide as they took in the latest photo. She clicked the space bar, pausing the show, and her mouth fell open.

"Son of a bitch," she whispered. "That son of a bitch! He sent them."

"Sara?"

"Look, Gil," she said, pointing to the screen. It was a photo. The photo. The photo…

"How did he get that?" Grissom asked, frowning. He rounded on Hodges. The lab rat had the good sense to back up from the look Grissom was sending him. "Who else did you send this too?"

"Send what too?" Hodges asked. Confused, worried.

"The photo, Hodges," Grissom almost yelled. Sara was frowning up at him and Nick was looking between the former supervisor and trace tech, like he was unsure if he should be jumping between them. "The photos you sent me, who else did you send them too?"

"Gil," Hodges said, holding up his hands. "I didn't send you any photos."