Title: Crime Life Series Part 1: Success

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: CSI and all its characters unfortunately belong to CBS and Alliance-Atlantis Productions. These stories are fictional, which is also unfortunate.

A/N: Hey guys and gals, this chapter's a bit early in posting. I hope there are people actually reading this! Just a quick note: anything that might be interpreted as a fact, please disregard unless you research and it turns out to be true. I'm not an entomologist, and I'm only just starting college so I have no idea about this stuff. Also, feel free to e-mail me and tell me if I'm wrong so I can fix it! Thanks to: Everyone who reviewed (and who didn't but still read it) and Microsoft Word for correcting my spelling errors.

CHAPTER 2

Cath, Warrick, and Greg arrived at the scene in 2 cars. As they walked up to the large house, Greg commented, "Wow! Nice pad. I'd never be able to get a place like this."

"I think that's a good thing," said Catherine. At Greg's look she added, "For the house. I'd hate to see what you'd do to it! Purple walls, lime green furniture, orange shag carpets!" They shared a short laugh as they continued up the pathway, ducking under the crime scene tape and approaching Captain Brass.

"Hey Greggo. Congratulations on the promotion. Sorry I couldn't make the party. Anyways, we've got what looks like a murder-suicide. The maid found wife in the living room. She called us, we found the husband. He's upstairs. Apparently after killing his wife, he went up to his study, got himself drunk, and shot himself using the gun he kept hidden in his desk drawer. Coroner's already pronounced, they're waiting for you guys to finish so they can take the bodies. I'll leave this to you guys, I've got a meeting with the mayor." He walked away to his car; leaving the 3 CSI's to get to work.

"Alright then, Warrick, why don't you start with the wife, I'll go upstairs with Greg and process the study." Catherine looked at the two men and got a nod from each, then she turned and led the way into the dark house.

Grissom got to the scene about 5 min. before Sara, so when she arrived he was already deep in thought. Why do I have to be in the dark about him all the time? Last week he didn't even want me at the vic's house. Now he wants me in the middle of nowhere with him.

"Hey Grissom. What'd you find?"

"Nothing. No bugs at all."

"Sucks for you."

"Actually it helps. Since there are no bugs, we know the desert mummified her. And also from the fact that she has barely begun to decompose."

"She's been here less than 6 weeks. Hasn't rained in that time. That would allow for her to stay preserved this long."

"Precisely. You check the surrounding area for footprints that might not have been compromised by our living vic, and I'll check the body for evidence of our rapist and killer."

Nick walked into the hospital and found a nurse, who helped him to find the victim's room and her nurse. After speaking with the nurse and securing the rape kit she gave him in his case, he went in to speak with the victim, Whitney Collins. He heard the nurse explaining that he was there to talk to her to help find the rapist. As he stepped into the room he moved to the chair farthest away from the vic.

"Hello Whitney. My name is Nick Stokes. I'm here to ask you about your kidnapping so we can get any information possible to put him away." He looked over the tiny blonde woman in a non-threatening manner. "We know that he drugged you, kidnapped you, raped you, and then dropped you off in the desert. Can you give me any details like where you were when you were drugged, if you remember anything about where you were when you woke up?"

"Well, I was at a going-away party for my friend. Her name is Chelsea Matheson. We had invited all of her old friends and guys that she had dated and was still friendly with. She called over a few that we didn't know once she realized she was getting a party. They came over, and one of the guys took over my job of managing the bar. He made me a drink before I went off to mingle though. First and last I had all night. I think it was how he drugged me. Anyway after that the party started to dwindle down and a few of us decided to stay over to help Chelsea move in the morning. I went to bed in one of her guest rooms, and the guy I mentioned before stayed over too. When I woke up I wasn't in the guest room anymore. I was tied to a dirty old bed and he was watching me. I realized then I was naked. He. He… oh god he raped me." Nick said nothing and gave Whitney a moment to regain her composure. "After that he left. I listened and all I heard was the fading of his footsteps outside the door. I don't know what that means but otherwise I don't remember much. There were no windows in the room. The only light was from the hallway that shone through under the door. It was like that for, I don't even know how long. He fed me, made me do things that I didn't want to do. I think he kept drugging me or something. One day I just blacked out. I woke up in the desert next to that other girl. I was so scared. I just started running. I was lucky to pick the right way. As soon as I found someone I started screaming for help. They brought me here. Please help me. I want to know this guy won't be able to hurt anyone else."

This horrifying story was almost too much for Nick to handle. He was glad he hadn't let Sara come here. "I promise we'll do all we can to put this guy away. He won't be able to hurt you anymore." With that he left the room to leave Whitney to her recovery.

PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks!