Chapter 17

Warrick stood in the doorway of the motel room and looked over at his colleagues as they processed the body. He stepped quietly into the room and met Brass's worried eyes. Brass shook his head sadly and said, "See for yourself." He walked slowly toward the body and stopped when Catherine stood up. Her eyes were filled with tears as she stepped away. Warrick's anxious eyes shot to Grissom who was still examining the body. His eyes reluctantly moved to the body. He could hear his own sudden intake of breath at what he saw before him. A young woman was posed serenely on top of the blankets on the motel's queen sized bed. She looked almost peaceful and surreal in the position she was in. Her legs were together and straight out and her hands were neatly folded across her stomach. Her dark hair was fanned out around her head. She looked like she was ready to be buried.

At first glance he thought it was Sara lying there. The similarities were startling, from her long legs to her dark hair to her pale skin and pouty lips. She looked just how he pictured Sara sleeping. Only this girl was not sleeping and thank god she was not Sara. "Jesus," he whispered meeting Grissom's eyes. "How was she killed?" "Stabbed in the heart," Grissom answered quietly. He pointed to the bathroom.

Warrick headed inside and froze when he saw the bloody evidence in the tub. "He let her bleed out," Catherine said softly from behind him. He turned and met her distressed eyes. He felt his stomach clench tightly into a knot. "It gets worse," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. He raised his eyebrows in question. How could it get worse? She motioned with her head to go back out to the body.

As Warrick walked back into the room, Grissom motioned him over. He gently lifted the girl's hands and opened them so Warrick could see her palms. Carved into one was the name Sara and on the other was the word dead

Warrick's anxious eyes shot to his boss's. "Damn," he mumbled. Grissom laid the girls hands back down by her sides and lifted the girl's shirt. Carved into the girl's stomach was the name Sara. "When we take her back to the lab, I think we're going to find her body covered in these carvings." Grissom said grimly.

Warrick shook his head, sickened by the thought. "Did he do these after she was dead?" he asked. "No, David thinks she was alive when he did it based on the coagulating of the blood in the wounds. We'll know more when Doc Robbins does the autopsy. I also asked for a tox screen." Grissom said.

"Hell," Warrick mumbled as he turned away rubbing his hands across his face. "He's got us by our balls he knows it." Warrick growled to know one in particular.

"No he's broken his pattern. He's escalating now. He's going to get sloppy. He's not taking the time to plan the murders out. He will leave a piece of himself. We've just got to find it." Grissom said. "But Gil his need to have Sara is also increasing. He's becoming unpredictable and that makes him very dangerous." Catherine said.

Just then Grissom's cell phone rang. "Grissom" he answered curtly. "Yes Greg, I am busy… What do you have? …What?…When?'… Good job. Keep digging." He clicked his phone off and looked over at his 2 co-workers.

"Greg found out where those listening devices were from. They were stolen from the San Francisco Police Department's storage warehouse 3 years ago." "What?" Catherine exclaimed. Warrick shook his head in disbelief.

"What are you thinking?' Grissom asked him. "This murder was way to personal. I'm beginning to think that Sara's been the target all along. This San Fran connection is just too much of a coincidence. I think we need to check into some of Sara's old case files."

"I agree. Something as been off since this whole mess started. I want you to go back to the lab and run a check on murders with similar characteristics in the San Fran area over the last 5 years. Maybe our suspect knew Sara from her days with the San Fran crime lab and just happened to find out she worked here and he decided a little payback was in order."

Warrick nodded and asked, "What should I tell Nick and Sara?' "Nothing yet. Let's see if this hunch plays out and if Cath and I find any sufficient evidence here. We'll decide when we meet you back at the lab."

Warrick took one last look at the dead girl before he headed out the door. Brass followed him out. "So where's the happy couple hiding tonight?" Warrick asked with a small smile. "I got them a room something special but it's not as nice as last nights."

"As long as there's food, a TV, a bed and Sara, Nick will be very happy." Warrick chuckled.

"Yeah, Nick's got it bad but so does she. She's just not ready to admit it yet. They've been on the verge for years now. I'm just glad they're headed in the right direction. The only thing standing in their way is this psycho." Brass said. "Whose ass we're going to nail to the wall." Warrick finished.

"Damn right! Tell them I'll be there in a couple of hours to pick them up. I've got a couple of witnesses to talk too. See you." Brass said walking away.

Warrick climbed into his SUV and sighed. They had to find this bastard as soon as possible because time was running out for Sara. Nick was going to freak when he found out about this victim and what was done to her. He wasn't sure how Sara would react but he knew it wouldn't be good. He headed back to the lab knowing it was going to be a hellishly long night.

He stood by a crowd of onlookers and watched as the tall, black man got back in his SUV. He knew she wouldn't come. She was too scared, her and her wussy new boyfriend. The boyfriend had come as a surprise. She had been alone for so long, pining away for her oblivious boss. He hadn't expected him, this Nick. But he should have known better. It was just like her to be screwing one of her co-workers just like she had back in San Francisco. Nick was a minor inconvenience. One that could be easily disposed of with a simple pull of the trigger. He would not let the boyfriend get in the way of his plans for Sara. He had waited to long.

He moved easily among the crowd of people. No one giving him a second look. He marveled at how effortlessly the big bad wolf could walk among the sheep. Fools! They were all fools, especially the high and mighty CSI's. He would bring them to their knees. He smiled at the thought. He could see them all crying over Sara's dead body. They couldn't stop him. He was too smart for them.

As he made his way to the car, his cell phone rang. "Yeah," he answered. He listened intently to the person on the phone. "Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can." He hung up and growled. He had to fly back to San Francisco. His mother had inoperable cancer and she had taken a turn for the worst. She wanted her son home with her when she died. He would go. That's what a good son would do. He smiled to himself. This little time away might work to his advantage. If a few days went by without incident the fools might begin to let their guards down. Yes, this could definitely work. When they least expected it, he would be there ready to take what was his: Sara.

TBC

Please let me know what you think. I have a Nick and Sara chapter planned and then the real action begins. So please stay tuned.