Chapter 2: Two of their own

The next morning...

"Do you care to explain why CSI was not represented last night at the benefit?" Captain Brass demanded as he stormed into Grissom's office.

"What do you mean?" Grissom asked confused. "I sent Sara and Warrick." He answered calmly.

"Sara and Warrick?" Brass repeated. Now it was his turn to be confused. The two of them wouldn't not show up. He didn't want to worry Grissom unnecessarily until he had more details. Maybe there had been a problem. "When does shift start?" he asked the supervisor.

"Fifteen minutes." Grissom replied. "Have Sara and Warrick come see me when they get in." Brass said gruffly as he exited the office. Grissom didn't seem overly concerned with Brass's random appearance.

"Hey Jamie. Get me a copy of the check in sheet from the dinner last night." He directed his secretary who quickly jumped to the task.

He sat at his desk waiting quietly, hoping he was worried over nothing. She laid the sheets on his desk. Jim scanned the sheets and found the names Brown and Sidle. He was not relieved to discover that they had not signed in. "I don't get it." He muttered to himself. The clock read 9:55 pm. Five more minutes, would tell if his worries were founded.

10:10 PM and still no phone call. Brass headed back to the CSI lab to find Sara and Warrick.

Grissom found him first. "Sorry Jim-they're not here yet." He apologized. "Isn't that weird?" Jim questioned anxiously. "Things happen." Grissom shrugged as he headed off to check with Catherine on the progress of their case. "Why isn't he more concerned?" Brass wondered. He didn't have enough time to ponder Grissom's odd behavior; his mind was more wrapped up in finding Warrick and Sara.

Before Jim could leave the building his phone rang. "Brass." He answered. "Read me the plates." He ordered a few seconds later. He copied down the message and headed himself toward the video room. "Archie, play me the outside surveillance tape from last night. Start when the limo pulls up." He directed the young tech agent. Archie obeyed in his usual quiet manner, not asking questions, just doing his job.

Video played on the big screen. "Stop." Brass demanded as the limo appeared. "Read me the plates from the limo." He commanded after confirming that Sara and Warrick had gotten inside that limo.

"J as in John. L as in Larry. V as in Vegas. 2-5-8." Archie read off the screen. Jim stared at his sheet in disbelief. It was a match. Now he was full out worried.

"What's going on Jim?" Grissom demanded as he saw that his supervisor was still in the lab.

"Have your team meet me in the conference room." He ordered solemnly. Grissom obeyed and went to gather his team. Brass meanwhile got back on his phone. He hit the redial button, "Yeah, I confirmed it." He reported regretfully. "I'm letting them know now. Get all extra units out on this case."

He hung up the phone as he entered the conference room. "What's going on Griss?" Catherine wanted to know what was costing her time on the big case. Gil could understand her frustration. He was eager to get back to work not be dragged over the coals over two of his employee's tardiness. He tried to not look impatient while waiting for Brass to explain.

"Shouldn't we wait for Warrick and Sara?" Nick Stokes questioned the captain.

"That's why we're here." Brass announced suddenly much to their confusion. "They never made it to the benefit last night."

"What?" Catherine shouted. "We saw them leave last night." She protested strongly. Grissom's impatience faded quickly as it was replaced by concern.

"Their limo was found abandoned outside of Henderson in the desert." Brass informed their teammates regretfully.

Nick was stunned. He couldn't form a coherent thought, let alone ask any questions. He put his head in his hands, letting the statement sink in. The high profile murder case quickly flew out of Grissom and Catherine's minds. Two of their own were missing, and they were completely baffled.

"Let's get out to the scene." Grissom decided, gently urging the remaining of his team out the door. "I'll drive." Brass declared and the four plus Greg set out for the desert.