DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from 'CSI'. They're not my property.
The tall blonde with a red necklace leaned back annoyingly in her chair. "So, why am I here?" Bertha asked the two CSIs sitting on the other side of the table.
"Because you're the last person to have been with Graham Nichols," Grissom replied.
"Huh, I guess that could be true. If you mean in the hotel room, yeah, I was the last person, unless he had another hussy after me..."
"So, you two are..."
"A couple... yeah."
"How long have you been together?"
"About two years. It's mostly a physical relationship."
"You're also a nurse?" Sara asked.
"Yes. Too bad Graham wasn't a doctor. We would've mixed better." Bertha smirked.
"You had problems recently?"
"Huh, who doesn't? But, no, we were okay." She seemed to care very little of the situation in the way she talked.
"You don't seem very upset about his murder," Sara noticed.
"As I said, it was physical. Nothing else was really involved."
"Would you mind giving us a sample of your DNA?"
"I didn't kill him," Bertha responded calmly.
"Lucky for you, if you're telling the truth, this will confirm it," Sara said and stood up with a swab in her hand.
Bertha rolled her eyes. "Knock yourself out," she replied and opened her mouth.
"Do you know anyone who might have a desire to kill Graham?" Grissom asked after Sara had finished.
"No. But he was a frequent visitor to the Deeper End before we met. He could've ended up with someone on nasty terms over there."
"The Deeper End?"
"It's a club. A... special club for grownups," Bertha replied with a twinkle in her eye.
"And were you a frequent visitor there as well?" Grissom asked her.
"No. Went only once, before I met him. It was too crowded for me." Bertha crossed her arms and smiled. "You should give it a try sometime though." She looked at both Grissom and Sara. "You might like it," she said and smiled again.
"Alright, thank you." Grissom nodded and glanced over at Sara.
When Bertha left, Sara leaned forward on the table. "The Deeper End, huh?"
"That's the place," Grissom replied absently.
They were met by a dark atmosphere the moment they entered the club. Dark, violet lights fell like silk onto each wall, piece of furniture or living skin; navy blue sofas against the walls, most of them occupied by couples or threesomes.
"Is it me or did the security guys let us in here way too easily?" Sara asked.
"Maybe they thought we belonged here," Grissom responded.
She chose not to give her response to that. Sara looked ahead at the small group of people dancing very closely to their partners, their movements copying those of a snake. She looked up and noticed a small stage and a silver-painted poll. The legs and hands of a young woman were caressing the metallic surface, her nude body only bearing two silver leaves on her chest and beneath her stomach.
"Unbelievable," Sara said.
"Never let anything surprise you in this town." Grissom smiled and looked over at the stairs to his right that were leading to the second floor of the club. "I'll check up there," he said and pointed to the guests that occupied the floor.
"Okay, I'll try to make my way through this pit," she responded and smiled back.
Reaching the second floor, Grissom tried to recognize the suspect. The dim light, the crowded space and the music helped very little in his quest.
After a long and fruitless search, Grissom approached the railing with hopes of catching a view of the suspect from there.
A familiar song, Wicked Games occupied the club, but a rockier version. The heavy melody gave the lyrics somewhat of a more seductive feel... perfect for the atmosphere here.
He traveled with his gaze over the wave of seekers for physical pleasure. Grissom watched carefully, but he found nothing. He did however, find someone else.
Her brown hair had been completely washed over by the deep purple light; her sweet pale face painted by the faint shadow of the lights and a single but fair layer of blue.
She looked up. He was looking at her... the casual look turned into a deeper stare. She did not see him though. Sara scanned the second floor but she somehow missed him. Grissom could have felt relieved in a way. She would not notice his stare... a slightly different, pleasantly disturbing stare.
He could see her eyes unusually clearly. They were darker, bolder, alluring... It could just have been the light... It was the light, the music, the overall mood of this place, but he cared little of that.
A young woman, dark purple, long hair to her back, tight leader corset, leader boots and torn black skirt walked up next to him. She looked at him, at his face but he did not notice her. She smiled seductively at him, hoping that her presence would turn his head, but it failed.
The stranger's face was focused on something else, too focused for him to acknowledge the presence of anything else. She followed his stare... somehow knowing exactly where to look.
The woman brought her face closer to his. "She's gorgeous..." her husky voice spoke to him.
Grissom quickly glanced at her and then returned to Sara. The woman's words seemed too weak to distract him from the woman on the floor.
The song played again. It was a popular choice tonight. Grissom did not care.
"She is different... not like many women that come here." The woman looked at him. She brought her lips closer to his ear as she spoke. "You have hungry eyes..."
Grissom smirked.
"I know... I serve my customers with that look." She earned another look from him, but once again it was brief.
Grissom gripped the metallic railing. The woman could lick his face in her attempts to seduce him and it wouldn't work.
She chuckled once. "Do you want her?" her voice shifted from husky to a silky version.
Grissom didn't respond. Why should he? It was none of her business. It did not disturb him that he kept looking at Sara this way... It should have, but it didn't. He could not think of a reason right now why.
"I know women with those looks... they are capable of fulfilling every kind of fantasy for their partner."
"You've met many like her?" he finally responded in an absent voice.
The woman smiled. "I speak from experience..."
Grissom perched his lips. She was good at her job, but he remained uninterested. "You know everyone that comes here?"
"It's my job to know them."
"You remember them?"
"Yes..."
Grissom nodded. "I want to ask you about someone."
"You'd be wasting your time."
He glanced at her. "Why is that?"
"I never discuss clients. Privacy is what counts here."
"Not even if it was about a murder investigation."
The woman chuckled briefly. "It's all about privacy..." She could tell that despite his question, this man had allowed the brunette on the floor to absorb his attention. She used this.
"Tell me..." Her hand touched his arm. "What...would..." her voice lowered, "...you like to do to her..."
Grissom held his breath in the most unnoticeable way possible. "Nothing..." he whispered.
She chuckled softly. "I won't tell..."
"We work together," he replied.
"There is nothing stopping you here... no regulations, no restrictions..."
Grissom looked at her. She was beginning to create a feeling of discomfort for him. Her green eyes enhanced by the dark makeup around them.
"I could take her place... but..." she touched the button of his shirt. "It would not feel the same..." Her lips formed a wicked and seductive smile. "We have a room... a private room for..." Her right hand ran up his arm to his shoulder. "Private people."
Grissom glanced at her hand and then back at her. His right lip curled up. "Show it to me," he told her.
The woman kept her smile to this, privately satisfied to have made a good sale. She noticed him glance over at Sara. "No, no... No need. We'll bring her for you..." She chuckled. The woman turned her face and caught another young beauty by the hand. "Sweetness will take you to your room."
The other woman with dark red hair smiled at Grissom, gesturing him to follow her. "This way."
"Thank you," Grissom smiled politely. "Oh, and... maybe you could join us later," he hinted over at the purple-haired woman.
"With pleasure," she responded.
The room had a soft blue color; a big, comfortable bed in the middle, one small table with two champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne, another small table with a black box on it; soft carpet on the floor.
He also noticed one of the walls felt soft, like a mattress. Grissom touched it to make sure.
"Some prefer the wall instead of the bed," Sweetness told him.
Grissom turned to look at her. "Oh," he smiled and looked back at the wall.
"Enjoy your night," she said and left the room, closing the door behind her and with it shutting the music off.
He opened the black box where a few packs of condoms were stored, four silky scarves and some small objects he could not describe but which were no doubt used for whatever intimate activity was to be planned here.
The door opened and he quickly turned around.
"I don't know what it is with this place," Sara entered, looking slightly annoyed. "No one wants to talk!"
Grissom smirked. "That happens." He turned around and slowly closed the black box again. "I think I may have found someone who's willing to tell us about Bertha."
"Who?"
"They should be here shortly. I'll need your help."
"Sure."
Grissom approached her. "Um, it might involve something... unusual from me, but it'll get them talking."
"What do you mean?"
The door opened again and the green-eyed woman from before entered the room.
"Good, we can get started," Grissom said and smiled at Sara who seemed a bit confused.
"Your name?" he asked the woman.
"Huntress," she replied with her hands on her waist.
"Ah." He smirked. "Please, have a seat," he told her, gesturing toward the bed.
Huntress complied and sat down on the comfortable bed.
Grissom turned to Sara with a tamed smile.
"What do you have in mind?" Sara asked him.
Instead of telling her, Grissom took her by the wrists, lifting them up. Gently he pushed her back until her back was against the soft wall.
Sara had no idea of his plans, but she decided to trust him and go along with whatever his intentions were... As strange and uncomfortable as they might appear.
"I..." he started, his voice going down the soft, seductive path; his eyes were on her wrists before traveling over to Huntress. "Want her to watch us..."
Sara's heart shot up and then sank as lowest as it could. He could not have been serious. She looked over at the woman on the bed. Sara perched her lips. "Sure," she replied nevertheless.
Grissom looked up at her. His eyes darkened, his lips allowed the line to stretch them to that tiny distance, giving out a sign of some mysterious wanting. He slowly let go of her wrists, and with his fingers tapped the skin of her bare arms as they traveled over to the sides of her torso. His fingers pressed lightly on her sides until his hands could feel her warmth. They traveled down, sliding along her curves.
Sara fought hard not to swallow the annoying lump in her throat. It hadn't really been his hands which disturbed her. His look, that stare caused her inner stir. Grissom was a damn good actor.
Huntress sighed loudly. "You're so beautiful together."
"Tell me, Huntress..." Grissom started. "Are many couples allowed in here?"
"No... only those that want their privacy and are willing to pay for it."
"How do you know we can afford this," he said without taking his eyes off Sara.
"Don't worry about that... I had a feeling about you two..."
"Really..." Sara breathed out. His hands started moving up again as he came closer to her.
"Yes. There is something between you... it's not just physical..."
"We know," Grissom said and brought his face to the side of Sara's neck.
Sara closed her eyes and moaned. He was only breathing against her neck but from where Huntress was sitting, it gave the illusion that he was doing something else. Sara was playing her role...
"I only had this feeling about one other couple last week."
"Who could that be?" Grissom asked, his face still close to Sara's neck.
"Bertha and Graham... oh, they were so sensual."
Grissom smiled. They were on the right track. He brought his face in front of Sara and saw her open her eyes.
She was glad he stopped. His breath was irritating her skin in a loving manner, causing her to panic.
He pressed her harder against the wall.
She cursed the softness of the wall; it made it more welcoming for her back and for this: him and his closeness. She raised her chin and left her lips parted. She was welcoming him without realizing it.
"Did they enjoy the rough stuff or something more with our taste...?" Grissom asked and brought his hand to her cheek.
"They went further. Bertha was more demanding... even troubling at times," Huntress replied. "I think they must've loved torturing each other." She then stood up.
"No, stay there," Grissom said softly and looked over at her along with Sara. "We like it this way."
"Alone," Sara added.
Huntress smiled. "I sense that my presence is more of a distraction than an addition to your pleasure." She walked over to the door. "The contents of the black box will be perfect for you," she said and quietly slipped out of the room.
Now they were alone. His hand slid painfully slowly from her check to the base of her neck. The distraction had disappeared but their focus on one another did not. This was work...
Sara finally swallowed that lump. They were overly convincing here, even to themselves.
Her eyes fell somewhere else. This was too warm for them; unpleasantly warm. His eyes traced the line of her neck and then landed on the floor, away from her.
"At least we know they were here together..." Sara said softly, not looking at him.
"Yeah," Grissom responded with a whisper. He took a few steps back, away from Sara. "We do."
This might make them a little OOC for some but it was interesting to write, so that can be forgiven:)