------------CSI Lab-------------

Catherine scrolled through the case-file, Nick and Warrick looking over her shoulder. "Well," Nick started, "the letter said that his 'love' died, do we know anything about the husband... did she have a boyfriend, what?"

"I didn't see anything about a lover, but it's possible, I suppose." At that moment, all their beepers went off. 'DNA lab - Greg'

They walked in a few minutes later, "Whatcha find, Greggo?

"Well, the hairs you found -" he turned to Warrick, "Skin tag had fallen off."

"Damn it!"

"Blood, however... I did get a match. I was running it against AFIS to eliminate Sara, and it came back Frank O'Connor. He's a cop on the strip."

"Thanks, Greg." They raced out.

---------------Interrogation Room-------------

Frank O'Connor sat down across from Warrick; Catherine, Nick, and Brass watched from the viewing room. "So, what's up?" he started, looking at Warrick.

"Your wife was murdered several years ago, wasn't she?" the CSI asked bluntly.

"Yes, but that was... Is that what this is about, have you caught the guy?" The man asked hopefully.

"No, we are working another case that seems to be related. - Do you know a woman named Sara Sidle?"

Frank O'Connor looked confused, "Nooo," he drew the word out. "Why?"

Warrick slid a copy of the note across the table. "This was found at a crime scene, the-" Warrick tried to keep his voice impersonal. "The victim was posed similarly to your wife..." He was careful not to let on that Sara was still alive - if this was her assailant, he didn't want the man coming back to finish the job.

"Hang on," the cop pieced the information together. "You think I did this? Why?"

"Your DNA was found at her apartment, do you have any idea how it got there?"

The man stared in shook. "That's impossible!" he looked at the paper on the table again, and suddenly realized what had happened. He rose to his feet, "If we are finished," his voice making it obvious that they were, "I need to get back to work." He walked out. Warrick followed and turned to see everybody else just coming out of the viewing room.

"Well that gave us something at least."

"You know, I don't think he's our guy." Nick stated. "It looked like he was covering for someone else; I mean, he had no idea what it was about until Warrick told him."

"But, he's a cop! He knows that leaving like that makes him look guilty as hell. Why would he cover someone else's ass at the risk of his own?"

---------------XXXXXXXXXX----------------

Frank O'Connor pushed the door open slowly. "Johnny? You here?" He walked into the bedroom. John was dressed all in black, a ski mask in his hand, and a pistol on the bed. "What are you doing? I can't believe you did that, and now this? You can't do this, man! Come on- think about what you're doing!"

"I've thought about it!" Johnny turned to face Frank, tears rolling down his face. "I have to do it - you understand, don't you?" Unseen by his visitor, he grasped the gun.

"NO, I don't!" Frank shouted. "Why? What did she do? You just killed her as an example?"

"Listen, Frank: you can't stop me from doing this, so please don't try." He threatened in a low voice.

"No, damn it, you can't do this! I covered for you once with the cops, 'cause I figured I could talk to you, but I won't do it again! Melissa is dead, and I want to kill the bastard who did it, but killing innocent people won't solve anything! You have to stop this! Now!"

Johnny raised his gun, his eyes burning. "I'm sorry Frankie, I really am, but I have to do this..."

Frank watched in horror as the one person he trusted implicitly pulled the trigger. His chest burned with pain as he flew backwards, landing on the ground in a heap. As he closed his eyes, he heard the quiet "I'm so sorry." from his killer.