Chapter 10--The Doppelganger

Nick blinked hard. Sophia did a double take. Nick mumbled quietly, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

Nick and Sophia stood outside the door of Suspect #2, Driver of Red Camaro, and "Big Guy's" Ex-Boyfriend. Neither one of them had prepared themselves to be standing face to face with the doppelganger of one Gregory Sanders.

"Well, they say everyone in the world has a twin." Sophia whispered to Nick.

"They're not kidding." Nick replied.

The suspect had no clue what they were talking about. He did, however, have a clue about what had happened to his vehicle and to Scott, even though he tried denial.

"We're here to see your car." Sophia held up the warrant. Another police officer followed the suspect to his garage, with Nick and Sophia not far behind.

Nick dropped his head once he saw the car. He shook it in disbelief. "Idiot." He grumbled. Sophia shot him a look. Nick sighed and opened his kit to began preliminary findings. Not only was there still a temporary spare tire on the driver's rear side, but there was large dent above the wheel well and traces of blood. Now...now they'd have some DNA evidence. Nick thought it an easy bet that the blood belonged to Scott Gibb.

He may have looked like Greg, but Nick glared at him furiously. He walked up and moved in close. Nick looked him in the eye and spoke through his teeth. "You left him there to die. You drove off and left him. He was THAT disposable to you?"

"Nick..." Sophia spoke softly. "This can wait until we take him in...we've got lots of time to ask him questions." She then spoke to the officer who then led the suspect to a patrol car. Sophia returned to Nick's side.

"Careful there, Stokes," Sophia said to Nick. She gave his shoulder a squeeze after he knelt down to collect more evidence. "Don't let your emotions cloud you right now. Let's make sure there will be no question as to what happened with this vehicle."

Nick knew she was right. He needed to keep himself in check and make sure he missed nothing. He needed to make sure he made no mistakes.

When Nick had taken his last photo and was marked his last evidence bag, his cell phone rang. Nick checked the ID and smiled. "Hi." he answered the call.

"Hi! So...you miss me?"

Nick laughed. He never thought he'd feel so relieved to be pestered on the phone (as usual) by Greg Sanders.

"Matter of fact..." Nick began.

"Hey, Grissom didn't put me in 'time out' just yet...so, I'll see ya when you get back."

"How did you manage to get Gris to let you stay?" Nick was beginning to think that maybe Grissom was right, maybe Greg should go home. Things with the case were getting strange. It was now a bit clearer why Greg had been attacked...and with questions still unanswered, Nick couldn't help but worry.

"I dunno...we just talked for a bit. Told him I was fine, I can handle it. And I am fine, by the way. Really." Greg then spoke in an exaggerated whisper. "Grissom did however get a hot babysitter for me."

Nick couldn't help but laugh again. "What!"

"I'm here with Cat...Cahterine, sorry ma'am...what?...geez, ok...FINE...'Miss'...OW!"

"Greg?" Nick swore he heard Catherine slap Greg's arm.

"Yup...Oh, okay...so ANYway, we are here waiting for your suspect to come in for questioning."

"Yeah, about that Greg...um, when you see him--"

"What the...!"

Nick couldn't help but grin. "Ah, I take it he has arrived."

"Um...yeah." Greg was suddenly serious and his voice was quiet. "Nick...you um, you comin' back soon?"

"Real soon."

"Ok. Good. Cuz this is soooo not Kansas anymore..."