Chapter 6

Grissom sat across Sara. They were at his townhouse. Sara had been surprised when he had suggested that they meet there to talk about the case but was glad for uninterrupted time with Grissom.

They didn't have the file open; instead Grissom had cooked a simple dinner of vegetarian lasagna and salad. When he pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator he leveled her with a piecing gaze. "Can you have this?"

"My counselor says that I am not an alcoholic. She says I used alcohol inappropriately during a stressful situation."

He pulled out a corkscrew and worked on the bottle. He didn't look at her when he spoke. "Are you under stress now?"

She gave him a soft gaze and shook head.

Liar

He poured.

She watched him as they started to eat. He looked rested and at peace. "You look good."

His eyes filled with his Sara look. "Thank you. I feel good. I have been eating better and going to the gym, trying to get enough sleep."

She smiled back at him. They ate in silence fore several minutes. He spoke without looking at her. "So tell me about your visit with Mrs. Bloodworth."

Sara watched his hands work the fork as he cut into the pasta. "She told me I was gorgeous."

"You are." The words were out of his mouth before he could think. It was a self evident truth for Grissom, not something to be discussed or debated. The scientist in him regarded it as an undisputable fact that could not be disproved.

She didn't speak for a second and he almost didn't hear her soft "thank you."

He prompted her to continue. "She didn't realize that I looked like her until I pointed it out. She told me that she and her husband were regulars of Sherry's. They never saw her outside of work. That's was about it for the case."

Grissom looked closely are her. "Do you believe her?"

Sara thought for a second. "Yes I do. They may not conventional but I don't think she's a liar."

"Even where he's concerned?"

"I don't think she would lie to him but maybe for him."

I would too.

Sara watched Grissom's eyes. "What about him?"

Grissom focused on her mouth. "The same. He would probably never lie to her but he would lie for her and most probably kill for her. "

And God help me, so would I.

"What else did you talk about?" Grissom took a sip of the dark wine. Sara wondered if you could taste in on his lips.

"I saw some of her work. Her paintings are very powerful. I was thinking of buying one when the case is over."

"He has one in his office. She is quite good."

Sara's fingers played across the edges of her wine glass. "I didn't see any of his work."

"He seems to prefer water colors. He had a portrait of her when she sat for him in New York, before they were together." The next words from Grissom were an afterthought. "Or so he says."

Sara gapped. She wondered if Grissom had even thought about the irony of the situation. "You don't believe him."

"I don't know. You should have seen this portrait. It was obviously painted by a man in love."

Sara moved food around on her plate. "So just because he was in love that means that they had an inappropriate relationship."

Grissom's face felt warm. He mumbled a reply. "You may be right." Sara congratulated herself for not laughing out loud.

It was her turn to be curious. "What else did you talk about?"

"Mostly the case."

She saw vagueness fill his expression. "What else?"

His lips and another sip of wine, she waited. "He wants to meet you."

She blinked several times. Silence.

"I told him that I didn't think that was a good idea."

"She said she was scared for me to meet him."

"Me too." Grissom realized that he was done with subterfuge.

"I told her she had no reason to be scared."

Grissom put his fork across his empty plate. Sara stood and took his plate. He watched as she went to the counter and cut another piece of lasagna. She returned and sat the plate in front of him. He thought he felt her hands brush across his hair. She
remembered Leigh's words to be gentle.

"Why?"

"Because she could tell him anything. When you can tell a person anything there is no fear. I told her that I wasn't scared for you to meet her. I think you would like her."

Grissom chewed slowly. His blue eyes searched her face. "You wouldn't be jealous."

He regretted it as soon as he said it. "Sara that was very presumptuous of me, I shouldn't have."

She shook her head. "You know that I could be jealous but she's not your type."

Grissom laughed just above a whisper. "What else did she say?"

"She said that God brought us to her."

"He said that God brought her to him."

"Was it strange seeing him?"

"A little, he said I looked a lot like his brother that worked at Scotland Yard. I don't have siblings but I can imagine that it the same feeling you get when you look at a brother or sister that looks very much like but is still different."

"Speaking of which, his brother was the one that found something was odd with the DaVincis."

"How'd he do that?"

Gil was never tired of her unending questions. They always managed to teach one another something.

"Apparently Jiles Bloodworth has a very keen and highly unique sense of smell and he said that those two paintings smelled off."

"What was it that he smelled?"

"The paint that the forger used, it smelled different to Jiles and because it was newer than it should have been, to Jiles it reeked."

Grissom retrieved Sara's plate along with his and disappeared into the kitchen. He returned with two slices of cheesecake. He left again and delivered two mugs of coffee with Bailey's

She looked at the dessert, bit into it and then spoke with her mouth full. "Did you make this?"

"My Madre's recipe." Grissom was glad to see her eating and relaxing. "What else did she say?"

"She gave me a reading."

His eyebrow hitched in a way that only Sara would notice. "What did she use?"

"Crystals on a satin ribbon."

He took a sip of the hot liquid, a little rested on his moustache. "Will you tell me what she said?"

She smiled. He knew she would. "She talked about the team. She said that Nick and Warrick were blood brothers in another life, that Catherine may be Warrick's soul mate, that you are doing the right thing by holding Greg back for a bit. Oh and that Brass is ripe for a temptress."

Grissom forked cake into his mouth. "The fair Ms Lillian?"

"The rest is for women only."

"Tell" he cajoled.

She changed the subject. "Why don't you want me to meet him?"

"Sara." His spoke like a teacher whose students refused to give the correct answer.

"What do you think about their sex games?"

"I think that is why I don't want him to meet you."

"Oh. You know I would never want to do that right?" Concern flooded her body. "Would you?"

Sara what difference does it make to you? He wouldn't want to do play them with you.

"What if I wanted to?"

She did not speak. She watched his face. "You wouldn't."

"What if I did?" He challenged.
Damn Gil, shut your mouth and eat. You are scaring her to death.

"I don't know."

He was taken aback by her honesty.

His cell phone vibrated and rung. He swore a silent oath and moved to pick it up.

He barked into the phone. "What!"

Brass' voice came through the line. "Okay I'm not even going to ask. Where's cookie?"

Grissom scowled. "Why do you call her that?"

"Cause she's sweet. Where is she?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"The same reason that I ask Catherine where Warrick is when I can't find him, besides I just passed by your house about twenty minutes ago."

"Sorry to interrupt but I need both of you at the Bloodworths Asap."

Grissom frowned. "What happened?"

"Someone dumped a body over the wall of their back lawn."