Chapter Nine: Unnerving Truths
"You're late."
Greg nodded, already knowing before hand that he had been so. "I got stuck in traffic. Have you seen Sara?"
Warrick shook his head, "She's not coming in today."
This surprised him, and the shock was easily displayed on his face. "Why not?"
"Don't know, Grissom just said she's taking the day off," Warrick told him with a shrug, gathering up his car keys.
"He didn't say why?"
Warrick shrugged again, this time a little impatiently.
"When was the last time Sara took a day off willingly?" Greg asked him.
"I honestly don't know," Warrick answered with a sigh, "Look, we have five hours to clear a crime scene, and I've been waiting on you, so let's get going."
Greg nodded, scowling a little. He had planned on waking up early, but that alone had fallen through when his alarm failed to go off. By the time he woke up it was well past his usual wake up call, and had to hurry to get to the lab even at this time. Still he had reminded himself quietly that he could always talk with Sara after shift.
It had been weeks since they first started going out, and personally Greg was enjoying every moment of it. In between time at work and nights at home they had managed dinners and movies, and nightly walks along the strip. They were seeing a side of town that most others saw, save for themselves.
For the most part Sara thought his plans were ingenious, something that was appraised a little too far. But if she had really known it would have worried her. Greg spent the better part of his time alone planning the next day's activities, trying to find ways to keep busy, or more so keep her away from Rick.
He knew that her reasoning for coming in today wasn't because of health. Even if she was sick she would have come in, she always did. And if it was anything to really worry about, surely Grissom would have said why. She didn't have any close family, at least none that Greg knew of. And if Sara had previous arrangements that day, surely she would have called him.
These worrisome thoughts stayed with Greg throughout the next several hours, plaguing his mind, making everything hard to concentrate. It was clear that Warrick was fed up with him by the end of the shift, having yelled and then apologized several times in such a short time.
A few times he had even asked Greg what was wrong, but the younger man brushed it off, claiming to have not slept well, or that he was feeling a little under the weather. Warrick could probably tell that he was lying, but at that point Greg didn't care. He had already called her twice by the time they returned to the lab, leaving messages on her voice mail each time.
It was the same thing now, the endless rings, the prerecorded message. Greg let out a sigh, closing his eyes. "Sara, its Greg…give me a call, okay?"
"You're not going to get a hold of her."
Greg looked up as Nick walked into the break room, heading over to the small fridge. "Why do you say that?"
The Texan shrugged, pulling out his lunch, leftovers of lasagna from the day before. "She's at a meeting with that new friend of hers…whatever his name his."
Greg tried to fight down the rising panic. It could be any friend after all. "Rick?"
When Nick nodded the panic heightened, and Greg swallowed. "Why…?"
"She said he was meeting some client or something and he wanted Sara to come along with him."
"So she just went?" Greg asked skeptically. Even that was a little hard to believe.
"The guy doesn't really have any friends," Nick reminded him, "so she agreed. If you really have to get a hold of her she has her pager on. It was the only way Grissom let her take the day off."
"It's not that important," Greg mumbled, sitting down on the couch. "I just needed to talk with her."
"Are you feeling okay?" the Texan asked, suddenly switching gears. "You've been acting really odd lately, ever since Sara met that guy…"
His cold eyes studied the younger man, for a second he almost discarded the idea, but the itching to know grown. Then all the sudden he understood, but at the same time it was too far-fetched to believe. "That's because you've seen him before…"
Greg didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the floor before him.
"He's one of them," Nick wondered quietly, although it was more of a statement than a question.
Guilt was ever growing his stomach, making him sick as he continued to remain silent. He simply couldn't move, couldn't talk. After all this time someone had finally figured it out. Greg didn't know if he should be relieved or even more worried.
"Greg, talk to me," Nick's voice was tight as he placed the carton on the table. "Is Sara in danger?"
He swallowed, "I don't know."
"You've known all this time?" Nick asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "And you didn't say anything?"
"They were going to hurt her if I said anything," Greg shot back, trying in vain to protect himself, the choices that he had made.
"And so you thought she'd be better off not knowing? Hanging around with a potential killer? Damn Greg, I thought you were smarter than that."
There was a hint of panic in his voice, but it was masked by irritation, and Nick didn't even wait to hear an explanation. Instead he pulled out his phone, a handful of curses slipping pass his lips as he left the room. "Brass it's Nick, we have a situation."
Greg remained where he was, silent as ever. Things were out of his hands now, and as much as he wanted to he couldn't feel satisfied. He had tried to do what he felt was right, but the nagging thought made him wonder if he had made things worse.
"You didn't have to buy me dinner," Sara repeated once again. It felt as though that's all she had been saying for the last few minutes. Across from her Rick only smiled, giving her a shrug.
"We were already here, and the meeting lasted longer than I thought it would, it's the least I can do."
Sara nodded, sighing as she turned away. She hadn't honestly meant to be away from work all day, but when Rick had called her last night more or less begging, she couldn't just say no. Apparently he had been calling for days to arrange this, not wanting to go alone in a town he hardly knew. Getting a vacation day hadn't been very hard, seeing that she had several weeks stacked. Still, her timing had been questionable.
She wanted to leave already; sitting here in a beautiful restaurant, eating a fabulous meal seemed all too much like a date. Even as much as he insisted it was not. Sara still felt as though she was cheating on Greg, even if it was only in her mind.
She almost breathed a sigh of relief as her pager went off. It had been on the entire day, and yet no one had tried to even contact her. Hopefully now she would have an excuse to leave, and not seem rude in doing so. It was a flaw of hers; she could be as stuck up, and stubbornly rude as she wanted when someone ground her nerves, but if simply didn't like a person, and they had been nothing but kind…she couldn't find the effort.
"Don't get it," Rick pleaded, watching as she unhooked it from her belt loop. "It's so nice here…"
"I'm on call," she reminded him with a quick smile. "419 at the Luxor, I have to take this," she voiced, silently celebrating in her mind.
He moved to say something, but she didn't give him the chance, grabbing her small purse as she headed towards the door, breathing a sigh of relief. That had been easier than expected.
The drive over there wasn't that long, but strangely quiet, and even more so as she neared the Casino. There were no sirens, no police, no…nothing. Just people milling about as Sara felt her stomach twist into knots. Up ahead she spotted Brass' vehicle, and pulled in behind to park along the sidewalk. Maybe she had only beaten everyone, but even that was realistic. The paramedics in the very least should be here first.
Grabbing her kit from the car she stepped out into the night, walking alongside of the detective's vehicle. The passenger side window was already rolled down, strangely ready, as if he had been waiting for her. "Brass, what's going on? I got a 419 page…"
"Get in the vehicle Sidle," Brass cut her off, not even turning to look at her. Instead his eyes were focused on the rear view mirror and she turned to see what he was looking at. "Now Sara."
"What's going on?" She was feeling more and more worried with each passing moment, even as she slid into the passenger's seat.
"I'll explain on the way over," he reported quietly, pulling onto the road.
"Where?"
"You have a date planned."
It had only been twenty minutes, and it would take her at least ten to make the drive. So he shouldn't really be worrying at this minute. Still it wouldn't ease his mind, and he was jumpy as ever. Stirring his drink with a straw he glanced about the club, his eyes catching the several people he knew by sight.
Two by the doors, another by the restrooms. There was fourth across the dance floor waiting in the shadows and the fifth was somewhere behind him. Not to mention the numbers that were outside, unmarked police cars hiding within the shadows. The club was watched from all angles, anyone would be insane to try anything. Still, he would be less worried when Brass showed up with Sara.
The news had spread quickly, and action was taken shortly after. It wasn't a surprise that everyone was upset at him. He should have said something earlier, he should have filed a report, should have at least told Sara…everything he should have done, but hadn't.
Greg let out a sigh as he turned back around, stabbing the ice chips with his straw. He was too upset to even try and drink, far too worried, nervous. What if this didn't work, what if something happened, that if he or Sara, or someone else were hurt?
He had disagreed to this idea from the start. Grissom had assumed they were following Sara and possibly Greg with tracking devices. This was the sole reasoning for switching cars at a falsified crime scene. Her vehicle would then be driven back to the crime scene; once they were certain no one was following them.
Once both he and Sara were secure here, they would move in on their last known locations. Nick had been able to pull rap sheets up on all of them, shortly after Greg gave detailed descriptions of them all. If one were to slip away, they would be safe. Grissom wasn't taking any chances.
He turned around, searching the crowd near the doors and was grateful to see her face, Brass shortly behind as he ushered her in. Her complexion was pale, an expression of confusion masking her face.
She took the seat next to his, leaning against the counter. The silence between them was straining, uncomfortable. Clearing his throat Greg made the move to break it first. "Sara…"
"Don't," she cut him off, holding up her hand. She gave her head a few shakes before dropping them in her hands.
He turned away, grimacing as he stared straight ahead. He was almost certain that he would feel better once she had arrived, but now he was feeling worse than before. Out of everyone, how could he explain it to her?
"Why?"
It was the first real word she had spoken to him, and he turned to meet her gaze.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I was afraid…"
"Of what?"
"I don't know, of losing you maybe?" Greg stuttered, shaking his head.
"Come off it Greg," she swore lightly, "you know me better than that. You know that the only real defense against these guys is getting them behind bars, not letting them wander free."
"They threatened to kill you Sara," Greg pointed out sharply, "They had you address, your phone number…what the hell was I supposed to do?"
"I don't know," she scoffed, "anything but keep quiet about it. I have been making friends with someone who wouldn't think twice about killing me. All because of you, I had no idea what I was doing, and you just kept quiet about the entire thing."
"I did what I could," Greg muttered quietly, "I tried to keep you safe, kept you close to me…"
"Is that what I am?" she asked, "A prize? Everything you've said to me was a lie…"
"Sara…" Greg was shaking his head, but was never able to finish his statement as the building was filled with sudden gunfire.
TBC
