Following a hunch, Grissom called Dana Jackson, and asked about Natalie's friends. Bewildered, the woman said that Natalie had many friends, but mainly hung out with a fellow acting student by the name of Kayla Brooks…
"I still can't believe it." Kayla Brooks was clutching a tissue in her slender hand, tears running from bloodshot eyes.
Grissom was sitting in her apartment, waiting patiently for her to compose herself
"I'm sorry, I just, well, she was like my sister, ya know?" Kayla asked, her dark blue eyes tortured
Grissom nodded, pretending understanding. He really didn't, because he had never let anyone get that close to him
"Kayla, I don't want to remind you of your grief, but I have a question." Grissom said gently
The girl clutched the tissue harder, her knuckles going white, and she bit her lower lip… but she nodded
"When you and Natalie went to parties, did one of you have a accident? And maybe wreck her car, and have to go to a mechanic?" Grissom asked
Her eyes widened, and Grissom knew that his hunch had been correct
"How did you know?" she asked
"Just a guess." Grissom replied
"We went to a party about a month ago. We both got drunk, and didn't bother asking anyone to drive us home. We thought we were okay to drive. We kind of smashed into a tree, and Nat freaked. She knew her aunt would murder her, so she kept quiet, and we took it to a station out of town. In Laughlin. It was called SuperAuto"
Grissom smiled for the first time in days. He had a lead.