Disclaimer: I don't own CSI: Vegas. LA's all mine though.

Chapter 2

Later that day, they had tracked down Pearson's movements for most of the past few days. Most of their information was from surveillance cameras in varying stores, banks, and such, as well as some eye-witnesses. Their best lead was a small bar called McInelly's, where, according to witnesses, she was from 8 p.m. until 11:30 on the night before she died. The only reason people had even noticed her was because she was in the process of starting a career in acting, and she made a point of telling everybody. So, a few news broadcasts with her picture, and the tips started flowing in.

So, Nick, Tobias, and Rebekah went to talk to the bartender, and any other witnesses who happened to be there at the time. Rebekah only got to because Vivian said she needed more experience questioning witnesses.

They approached the bartender, who introduced himself as Nate Smith. He told them that Pearson had been there for hours, telling everyone how she was going to be a big star. "I was getting pretty close to throwing her out, 'cause she was scaring off the customers."

"Did she leave with anyone?" Rebekah asked.

"No, but there was this shady lookin' guy that was watching her all night. I think he may have followed her out, 'cause I'd been keeping an eye on him, and right after she left, he disappeared."

"Could you describe him?" Nick inquired, eager to finally catch this guy.

"Well, he was just an average looking guy, nothing about him really stands out in my mind. But…there is a security camera over the bar. We've had some trouble with people trying to steal stuff from the pool tables. How pathetic is that? Anyway, he was hanging out over there, so it might have a shot of him."

He led them into the back room, where he looked through a shelf of tapes to find the night in question. "They never put them in here in order. If they were arranged properly, it would be right at the end, but no…"

He gave a little cry of triumph when he finally found the previous night's tape. He put it into a nearby VCR and fast forwarded it to 8 p.m. Then he played it at normal speed until he saw what he was looking for. "There! That's the guy!" He froze the tape and tapped the screen on the image of a rather shady looking guy.

Nick made note of the time in the corner of the screen. "We're gonna need that tape."

"Sure thing," Smith replied, as he popped the tape out of the VCR, put it back in its box and handed it to Nick.

Back at the lab, the image had been isolated, enhanced, and printed. They could now see the face of the man they were chasing. Now they just had to put a name to the face.

Since it had become apparent that he had come to LA specifically for Annette Pearson, the next logical step was to talk to people who knew her, to see if they recognized the man from the tape.

Their first stop was Pearson's roommate, Jenna Valdez. They had gone to high school together, and afterwards Jenna had moved to LA. When Annette decided to pursue a career in acting, she had moved into her apartment with her.

Tobias and Rebekah took this one, as Nick was back at the lab, tracking down other friends and relatives.

After brief introductions, they showed Jenna the photo taken from the tape. She looked blank and then suddenly surprised.

"I know him! Oh, what's his name…? Um… he went to high school with Annette and I. Hang on, I'll be right back." She darted to a bookcase, and returned carrying a yearbook. She quickly flipped to the section containing her Senior class. "Here he is. Martin Elroy." She pointed to a picture of a young man who looked almost exactly like the picture Rebekah was holding. He even had the same shifty eyes.

"Who was he? What connection did he have to Annette?" Tobias inquired.

"I'm not sure. She was always in the popular group, and he… well, he wasn't really in any group. He was really quiet, kept to himself. I don't think he had any friends. That's pretty sad—wait! I think he may have asked Annette to our Senior Prom. She turned him down, he was probably completely crushed. It must have taken him weeks to get up the nerve to ask her." She paused and looked at the CSI's in front of her. "That's all I can remember. I hope it helps."

"Oh, you've been very helpful. Thank you for your time," Tobias said as they left.

When they returned to the lab, they came hurrying in to the Trace lab, when the others were gathered, trying to get something else from the bits of evidence spread on the table before them.

"We got a name!" Rebekah said loudly as the came through the door.

Everyone looked up expectantly.

"Martin Elroy, attended high school with Annette Pearson," Tobias explained.

Sara looked skeptical. "But what reason would he have to kill her?"

Tobias continued, "He asked her to the Senior Prom. She turned him down. He was a really shy, unstable sort of guy, and he may have just snapped."

"Nine years later?" Sara asked.

Rebekah stepped forward. "Sure, it may have been building up for all of those years, then suddenly he lost it, decided to do something about it. So, he starts killing women that remind him of her. Then he somehow finds out that she's in LA, and come out here to kill her."

Greg nodded. "So that's why all the victims were dressed in formal wear. He was still after a Prom date. But what about the blue chalk?"

Nick thought about for a moment. "Well…he was hanging around the bar watching Annette, maybe he did that for the victims."

"What did he use to kill them? It would have to be something long and thin, noting the size of the wound," Anthony pointed out.

"I guess we'll just have to find him and ask him ourselves," Vivian replied.