Chapter 7

Greg was working as fast as he could to process all of the items Grissom had brought in: the blood, the ring, the samples from the street. He was trying to concentrate on the process and not to whom the items might belong. But his mind kept wandering to her.

He started to remember the night they met. The dancing had been exhilarating and the kiss was nothing short of spectacular. But he was convinced the number she gave him was a fake. Then there was their happenstance meeting at the diner afterwards, which was more than he could have hoped for. The number wasn't a fake. Of course what surprised him the most was when she fell asleep in his car. He wanted to wake her so he could take her home, but she looked so peaceful sleeping that he didn't want to disturb her.

He carried her into his apartment and laid her on the bed. He covered with a blanket and then went to the couch. He knew he'd be hurting when he woke—his couch was lumpy and just a little too small for him—but she was worth it.

And now, now he might never get the chance to tell her. He hit the desk with his fist in anger. Damn it all!

The computer beeped. CODIS had a match for the DNA sample from the ring. Greg read the name on the screen, Sean Martin. The further down the screen he read, the more his concern grew.

He printed off the information and rushed to Grissom's office. As he got closer he couldn't hear the words that were spoken, but from the sound of the voices, he knew there was a heated discussion going on. As he got the door he heard Grissom.

"What else do we need to know about Martin?"

"Sean Martin?" Greg, surprised, broke in before anyone else could speak.

"Yes, Sean Martin." Grissom sounded annoyed.

Greg was slightly disappointed. He was hoping he'd have new information. "Well, it was his skin on Alex's ring. But apparently, you already knew that."

"We have a suspect, yes. Thank you, Greg," Grissom replied, dismissing him. Greg took the hint and left.

"Now we know Martin is involved." Grissom continued after Greg had left the room. "How do we find him?"

"When I got the call about Hart, we put the word out we where looking for Martin. We're hoping one of our contacts can give us a starting place," Thompson said, the expression on his face saying more than the words he spoke.

"But?" Grissom pushed.

"But," Thompson sighed. "We've been looking for Martin for eight months and our leads are always a day late and a dollar short. Martin is a very intelligent man."

"Even an intelligent man makes mistakes," Grissom replied. "What we need to find is that mistake."

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Alex's body was throbbing. Whatever he had used to drug her sure left one hell of a hang over. She was still finding it hard to focus her mind. She knew she had to focus though; her life depended on it.

Even though she hadn't heard a sound from outside, she decided to hedge her bets and scream. She knew if she made it through this and found out help was just a yell away and she hadn't tried, she'd feel like a fool.

She took a deep breath and yelled with all her might, "Help!"

The sound reverberated in the room and she finally heard a noise from outside the room. It sounded like a startled jerk.

"Sleeping beauty awakes," she heard a man's muffled voice say through the door. "But no one can hear you," the voice taunted.

Then, the door to the room opened and the room filled with light. The light was so bright and unexpected it caused Alex to instinctively shut her eyes and turn her head.

"Tsk, tsk, Special Agent Hart," the voice said, dripping with venom. "I thought you'd run to me with open arms, not shield your eyes from me!" The voice chortled.

Alex thought the voice sounded familiar. She slowly opened her eyes and squinted so her eyes could adjust. The she saw him.

"Sean!" There was only terror in her voice. "How did you know I was in Vegas?"

Sean was one of the few things she never did share with Grissom. She didn't want to remember him, let alone talk about him. He was one of the few things that made her truly afraid. He was smart, although most of the time he relied on his physical strength. He was also a charmer. He always reminded her a little of Ted Bundy. And anyway, how do you bring up the man who killed your grandmother because you weren't home?

"It's not hard, babe," he sounded as if he were having a casual conversation with an old friend. "People talk and, I mean, you are a federal agent. You didn't even change your name!" He laughed again.

"But when you grabbed me, how did you know where I was? I didn't even know where I was!" She was trying to get as much information out of him as she could.

He laughed in response and walked closer to her. When he got right in front of her, he squatted so that they were eye to eye. "You really are a shitty investigator," he sneered. "I've been following you for weeks, just looking for an opportunity. I'm surprised you haven't noticed!"

Wow, I am a shitty investigator, she scolded herself at the thought she hadn't noticed him. No wonder I've always done better behind a desk.

He could see her thoughts in her facial expression. "Yeah, that's right, Alex. Weeks. And you've never seen me." He pulled out a hunting knife from the back of his waistband and slowly turned it over in his hands. "But me, I've seen a lot."

He moved so that he was standing behind her. He placed the blade on her cheek. The cool metal sent a chill through Alex's body. "I've seen you and your new boyfriend out all over town."

Shit! She thought. He's seen Grissom and me. "He's not my boy-" she started to explain but he continued as if she hadn't said anything, placing his free hand over her mouth, so she couldn't say anything else. He didn't like interruptions.

"And your girlfriend, she's hot for an older chick. I didn't know you liked to play both sides of the field. We could've had fun. Maybe I'll pay her a visit after you and I have…" he paused, trying to think of a witty way to put. He put his mouth right next to her ear and finished his thought, "Settled our differences."