A/N: csifan, MissyJane and Bex3 – thanks for your reviews!

Chapter 3 – Rush Hour

SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

The mysterious person we left in Chapter 2 began to get impatient. He was pleased that he had picked the right target to get him to his goal. Mara Grey and Solomon James were just to throw those CSIs off the trail. He wasn't after money, or had anything against Mara and Solomon's lawyer parents. No, it was those stupid Las Vegas CSIs. The nightshift team – especially Gil Grissom. He had worked with Grissom before on a case and became annoyed with the entomologist's ways of solving it. When the case was solved, he (the killer) did get credit for it, but the thought of being helped by a bug-crazed scientist and his team was just too horrendous to imagine. He was an FBI agent, actually a special agent. Everyone was to follow his orders, work for him, not with him as Grissom had tried to do.

The man tapped several times on his desk in an irritated manner. His target, Casey Stokes, was being slow bait. She would think he was after her. She would ask the CSIs to help; they would go on the case immediately. They would follow his clues and locate him somewhere in Nevada. They would appear, he'd capture them, he'd talk to them and then he'd kill them. His former FBI skills had helped him in finding a relation to a CSI. His plan was working.

He stood up and called his men, all ex-agents from all the organisations: FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6, the lot. Right now nothing could make him feel negative about the whole thing. The bait was slow, but the plan was flawless.

* * *

NICK'S APARTMENT

"Greg was flirting with you? As in Greg Sanders?" Nick could not believe what Casey was telling him. She was laughing so hard, so was he, but he knew he had to be more mature about the situation. "Casey," he said seriously, "I don't want you too close to Greg. He's too old for you. I mean it Case, are you listening to me?"

Casey  straightened her face. "You didn't actually think I was going to date him did you? God, Nick, I thought as a Level 3 CSI you'd have known I wasn't interested in that sense! We're just friends you know! Like I am with the rest of the team."

Nick relaxed. He wasn't sure if he could believe Casey entirely, but he let it pass. "OK, I'm out. 'Night Casey, see you tomorrow." With that, he smiled at her and went over to his room.

The clock in the kitchen ticked loudly. Casey sat on the sofa in silence for about 2 minutes, listening to clock ticks, traffic and surprisingly, silence. The absence of Nick's light snoring amused her. She was still worried about the death threats that had been appearing in the post pile every other day. Nick didn't suspect a thing, he just quickly sifted through the post like it was evidence and handed Casey her share. She walked into her bedroom quietly and turned on her laptop. The Internet loaded and her email inbox popped up. She scrolled through the new mails: junk, newsletters, e-cards, relatives, friends back in England. However, there was one mail that proved to be rather interesting. It was from 'Nevada' and titled 'Help'. Casey had never heard of 'Nevada' and knew no reason why he or she requested her help. Still, she clicked on it and read the mail.

'Miss Casey Stokes of Manor House, London, England, I have come to you for help. It is regarding the death of your parents…however a mail like this could be traced easily…delete this immediately after reading and open MSN Messenger. I have added you and we will discuss this through that. – Nevada'

She did what she was told to do and opened Messenger. Sure enough, the mysterious 'Nevada' had added her and was online at that very moment. Casey began the conversation casually.

Casey says: hey Nevada, how r u?

Nevada says: Hello Casey, I'm in a spot of bother at the moment, thanks for asking.

Casey says: so… u wanted 2 talk…about this whole 'thing'…

Nevada says: Yes, I have some very important things to discuss with you regarding your parents and you. Are you ready?

Casey took a few deep breaths. Could she really trust this 'Nevada'? All she could do was to return to the conversation.

Casey says: well can I trust u? ur a complete stranger 2 me and I probably am 2 u…

Nevada says: You're going to have to trust me on this. Are you ready?

Casey says: yeah I guess

Nevada says: An ex-FBI special agent killed your parents. Obviously, this is the same person who killed Mara and Solomon…and you are the next target.

Casey says: and?

Nevada says: This person, a man, is not after you at all. In fact, the target is actually your CSI friends.

Casey says: no way. Who'd want 2 hurt them?

Nevada: All I can say is I know where he's hiding. Death Valley. I don't know what his plans are, but you'd better stop him soon. He knows the CSIs somehow, so you'd better take them with you for your own safety, and theirs. Now I must go. Goodbye, Casey.

Casey says: what???????? Wait! I need 2 ask u something!

'Nevada' was already offline by the time Casey had written this reply. She shut down her laptop as fast as she could and ran quickly into Nick's room. "Nick, Nick! You gotta help me! We're all in danger!" she cried, only to be greeted by silence. Nick was not there. The window was open wide and she could see evidence of a struggle both inside the room and outside on the path. Almost crying now, Casey ran to the phone and flipped through the phone book that Nick had with all of the CSIs numbers. She tried Grissom first. No answer. Warrick. No answer. Sara. No answer. Catherine. After three rings it was picked up.

"Hello?"

"Catherine!" exclaimed Casey, glad she had someone left, "you gotta help me! We, the CSIs, are all in danger! Drive over now, hurry! There isn't much time! I'll explain later!"

She hung up and called Brass, then remembered he'd gone to Hawaii for a two week holiday. Next, she tried Greg, who in fact was her last hope.

"Hey, Sanders here."

"Greg, be ready for me and Cath to come over ASAP. Don't ask questions, just be ready to save some CSIs."

***

CATHERINE'S TAHOE

"So, you're saying you were the target in our current case? Casey, I'm disappointed in you. You should have told us as soon as you got involved!" yelled Catherine.

Casey shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She'd never seen Catherine this angry before and wished she had told them a lot earlier.

"Where are we going ladies?" asked Greg from the backseat.

"Death Valley. You trained in self-defence, you two? There's no way I'm giving you a gun without a license or professional training." said Catherine wearily.

"I'm a brown belt in karate, Catherine," replied Casey quickly.

"I, um, have watched the movies," said Greg, embarrassed from being the only one who was not experienced with self-defence or guns.

Someone's mobile phone began to ring. Greg checked his and Catherine's and Casey checked hers. "Mine," she said as she flipped her phone.

"Stokes."

"You have one hour before it blows. You will not be harmed if you bring me the remaining CSI. Do not try to save them. You have my instructions. One hour."

Casey trembled violently. Greg and Catherine had never seen her like that. What happened to cool, calm, collected Casey? The Casey they knew, the Casey they admired for being so strong at such a young age. Now this Casey was breaking her identity, but they both realised how quickly she recovered.

"Catherine, step on it. We've got no time to lose."

"What was that all about, Case?" asked Greg not wanting to be left out.

Casey glared at him. "Greg, shut up. In one hour, we may be the only ones left. This guy wants the CSIs. He wants Catherine and then we can go. But we're not gonna leave her; we're gonna be the ones who save them." She turned back to Catherine. "This is going to be an hour to remember."

"Rush Hour!" piped up Greg, only to be silenced with the deadly glares of both Catherine and Casey.