Everyone was early for the start of shift. Well, earlier than usual. Grissom
had decided to reside in his office, right up until he had to assign cases. He
knew that as soon as he'd enter the break room – everyone would be hounding him
to call missing persons.
Even Grissom wanted to call missing persons, but he had his doubts on the
authenticity of Greg's absence. After all, he did walk out. But the main
concern plaguing Grissom's mind was that Greg might not want to be found.
He remembered how once he'd just walked out – when he was younger – no-one had noticed, and he was appreciatory of that.
Sometimes, a person needs space.
He didn't want to unnecessarily call in local authorities to
something, which didn't even appear suspicious. Also, he didn't want anyone
doubting Greg – or anyone on his team – state of mind.
He gazed at the clock, thirty more seconds – and he would have to assign cases.
He knew Greg probably wasn't here – he would have come to his office to
apologise.
He sighed. Today was going to be a long day. He got into the breathing room –
and everyone was pacing, talking. Until they saw Grissom – then hungry looks
for hope appeared on their faces. And the room was silent.
Then, there was a knock on the briefing room door. Everyone turned, and
expected to see Greg. They were disappointed. A young female, with short black
hair, blue eyes was standing there. She was dressed in amber, and wore dark
green baggy trousers.
Everyone stared at her.
"Hi," she said, slightly nervous at the silent atmosphere of the room. "Do you
guys work with Greg?" she questioned, her voice wavering slightly.
"Yes," Sara said defensively. She didn't like the fact that someone was
delaying their efforts to actually find Greg.
Everyone continued to stare at her, they were all wondering who exactly she
was, but there brains and their mouths seemed to be disconnected.
Grissom was the first to break out of the trance, and offered her a seat, he
sat opposite her, and motioned for everyone to sit – he was trying to make the
atmosphere seem less hostile.
"Is Greg…ok?" she questioned, apprehension still in her voice.
"He's missing." Warrick said in an abrasive tone.
"Thought he might be," she said in a quite tone, looking to her hands, which
she laid on the table in front of her.
"You knew?" Catherine questioned, slightly shocked.
"How?" Nick said, slightly concerned at the girls source of information.
"Guys," Grissom motioned for them to take it easy, she wasn't a suspect.
Yet.
"Lets start at the beginning." Grissom said softly. He didn't want to scare
her; she was obviously overwhelmed by this type of questioning. "What's your
name, How do you know Greg, and how do you know he's missing?"
Sara scowled at the girl, and Grissom.
She'd be asking those questions in a slightly different order.
Methodical was good – but this girl has answers.
"My name is Melanie North. Greg and me used to go to college together, we meet
up once in a while, talk about our jobs…" she trailed off.
"And how do you know Greg is missing?" Sara said with a cold stare.
"Its not my place to say," Melanie yelled over the table. She was here for
Greg, no one else.
Melanie breathed deeply, in an attempt to compose herself. "Let me guess – he's
been working a case on a missing 11 year old boy," she took out a scrap of
paper from her pocket, and unfolded it. "This boy" she said, pointing to the
picture.
"Yeah, that's the last case we gave Greg," Warrick said enthusiastically.
"Does Greg know the boy?" Grissom said, slight concern was beginning to show in
his voice.
"Nothing like that," she said sharply, folding up the article, and putting it
back in her pocket.
Sara could see this was going nowhere. She could see Melanie's expression, it
was the same a purp had before he start saying "No comment," she knew that she
would have to soften her approach; and swallow her pride.
"Look, Melanie. You just walked into a room full of CSI's – we're naturally
curious – you say you have information – but you wont give it to us." She
sighed, "we want to help him, we want to help him anyway that we can, if you
can make us understand why he's gone…" Sara's voice, full of conviction, faded
off.
Melanie looked at Sara, then each CSI in turn. Greg had often talked about them;
he often spoke of how much he trusted them.
"Ok, ok. But if Greg doesn't speak to me again, ill know who to blame," her
eyes landed squarely on Sara. "When Greg was 11, someone took him – kidnapped
him – his mother watched him being taken by this man. Greg was gone for 7 whole
days – then he just arrived back home."
"My God…" Catherine exclaimed.
Nicks eyes grew with fear. He never knew. From Greg's composure, who would have
guessed?
Sara's eyes fixed on Melanie. Her whole world consisted of what she was saying
– here and now. She regretted the times she teased Greg – she regretted
everything.
"What happened to him?" Grissom said sadly, partly fearing the answer.
"He never told me," She said, tears forming in her eyes, "he never told anyone
– not his parents – not the police – not anyone. They never caught the guy"
"God," Warrick mumbled, holding his head in his hands.
"and…" she continued, wiping back the tears, "every time an 11 year old boy
goes missing – so does Greg. He did it all the time in college. And every time,
I'd find a newspaper clipping in his dorm." She finished, trying to smile.
She remember the time Greg had told her – it was after the third
time he went missing – she'd forced the truth from him – by blackmail – she
said she'd only cover for his absences if he told her why he went away.
"Where does he go?" Sara questioned in disbelief.
"I …don't…know," she said between sobs, it was hard having to explain to other
people. It was hard knowing that Greg had such a bad past.
"How long will he be gone?" Grissom said, looking at Melanie.
"Seven days." She stuttered, before completely breaking down. She'd been
through his absences many times – but not knowing what happened him at the
start – not knowing where he went – if he had money – where he slept – it was
too much.
Grissom laid a re-assuring hand on her back, and looked at the rest of his
team.
Greg – each time - went away for seven days – the same amount of time he was
kidnapped.
Grissom closed his eyes and let out a disappointed sigh.
'He recreates his own kidnapping'
