As Grissom walked down the hall assignments in hand he could almost picture his team in the break room. Catherine would be seated at the table reading the newest issue of one of her fashion magazines, Warrick would be listening while Nick and Greg discussed at length the pros and cons of whatever girl had now caught there eye, and then there would be Sara. It used to be that she could be found with the guys, joking about their descriptions of the new lady in their life. But ever since she had told him her secret she had been different, more closed off, more contemplative. Now more often she would be seated at the couch staring into the depths of her coffee as if it held the answers she was looking for. Turning the corner his musings were rewarded. They were all there just as he had suspected. Clearing his throat 5 pairs of eyes swiveled making him there target.
"Nick and Greg you have a robbery at Fat Mikes Convenience Store. Corner of East and 3rd."
As the two slapped high fives and headed out the door their conversation slowly drifted back until they were out of sight.
Turning back to the rest of his group Grissom held out a slip of paper to Catherine.
"Catherine you and Warrick get an elderly man shot to death in his house. Have fun."
As the two past him Catherine's retort was laced with sarcasm.
"Oh don't worry Grissom I'm planning to have a grand time."
Rolling his eyes he smiled at Sara.
"And we have a Ham dinner gone wrong."
As they sped down the highway in the Tahoe Sara finally realized what he had said. Turning to him she brushed a piece of hair behind her ear before asking.
"Ham dinner gone wrong?"
Smiling at her question Grissom responded.
"I'll elaborate."
"That would be appreciated."
"The information I've been given is that it seems as though Mr. and Mrs. Gibson along with there daughter Alexis were sitting down to what looks like a pleasant Ham dinner. Somewhere in the course of stabbing a piece of ham and bringing it to his mouth Mr. Gibson was stabbed with an umbrella. Mrs. Gibson was slightly luckier. She it seems actually got to put a piece of ham in her mouth before she to was stabbed only she was stabbed multiple times with a nail file. The daughter's food is according to Brass untouched and she cannot be found on the ground floor. There are no signs of forced entry and nothing looks disturbed. Your primary job when we first arrive will to be to search the house for the girl."
Turning into the driveway of a pretty brick house he shut the car off.
"All good?"
"All good."
When Sara first stepped into the house the scent of blood hit her full in the face. Looking around the dining room her gaze had fallen on a green bean resting on the hardwood by what was presumably the daughter's chair. It was rather odd for food already to be on the floor when it looked like dinner was just starting. It almost looked like someone had wanted to eat that first instead of the ham and hadn't bothered with a fork. But then it was as if they had dropped it in surprise. Or fear. Turning to the stairs she ascended them carefully, trying not to disturb any evidence that could be there. Spotting a blood drop on the stair she paused alerting Grissom to it before continuing up to the second floor.
No sign of forced entry, no sign of coming or going. For all they knew the murderer could still be in the house. Unlikely yes, but possible. Motioning to the officer standing at the door he started to ask him to assist Sara upstairs when a shot rang out...