Chapter 9

Nick watched the Tahoe backing out of the driveway and cursed under his breath. This was without a doubt one of the strangest nights he had ever experienced and that was saying a lot given his line of work.

He rushed out the door and shouted after Sara "that's very grown up Sara" and returned into the house.

"What would make Sara drive off with Gil?" he thought to himself while putting on his jacket.

There was something going on here and he was determined to find out what it was. He got into his car and chased after Gil's Tahoe. They had a considerable head-start but as it was the only other car on the road, it was easy enough to catch up.

"Jesus Sara, why the Hell are you driving so fast?" Nick said out loud as he put his foot on the accelerator.

He was starting to get a very nervous feeling in the pit of stomach, he knew that things weren't right and he was starting to get increasingly worried about the pace that Sara was driving at. He knew that Sara was an exceptionally careful driver, and this behaviour was completely erratic for her.

"What has gotten into you tonight Sara?" Nick said to himself.

He tapped in her number into her cell phone but it just rang out.

"Dammit" Nick cursed slapping his hand against the steering wheel.

He tried Gil's number next, again to no avail. He was fast running out of options.

"I need a second opinion", he thought to himself. He checked the clock on the dashboard, and hoped to God Warrick would still be awake.

"Come on pick up, pick up", Nick repeated over and over but eventually just got Warrick's voicemail.

"Hey man, it's Nick, if you get this could you ring me straightaway, there is something up with Sara. I am following her in her Tahoe along Vegas Drive; she has just gone on to West Lake Mead Boulevard. She is acting very strangely. I could do with your help on this one man. Oh and by the way there is no point in ringing Grissom, he is with her and acting just as mad as she is. Just ring me ok?" he finished as he pressed the end call button.

Nick continued to drive after Sara not really knowing where she was going to and why she wanted to get there so desperately.

He knew he couldn't call Catherine, although her expertise would be great right around now, he couldn't justify waking her and her daughter Lindsay at this time of the morning. He couldn't believe that he had to work in a few hours; he was going to be frazzled by tomorrow night. Unfortunately, it wasn't the kind of job where it was possible to call in sick, if one of them wasn't there, evidence went unprocessed and it was one day more before they could catch the perps. They couldn't afford to let this guy walk not after what he had done to little Meghan, time was as always of the essence on such a delicate case.

As unimpressed as he was with Sara's stunt, he couldn't help but think there was more to this than just her wanting to talk to Grissom on his own. It was for that reason that he didn't just turn the truck around and go back to his big very welcoming double bed. He knew in his heart and his gut that there was something seriously askew here.

Just as they approached Martin Luther King Blvd, Nick's phone rang.

Without even looking he pressed the answer button and said "Sara, is that you? What the fuck are you playing at?"

"Whoa Nick, it's me Warrick. What's going on man, you sound strung out?" Warrick asked in his characteristically laid back manner.

"Warrick man, good to hear a sane voice. I don't even know where to start", Nick said wearily.

"Well why don't you start from the beginning, I am up now anyway", Warrick said with a soft laugh, although something told him he didn't have a whole lot to laugh about. He had never heard Nick utter a word stronger than "dammit" and was shocked when he had heard Nick's anger on answering the phone.

So Nick filled him in as much as he could. Listening to his own voice Nick thought he sounded crazy, outside of Sara driving too fast into the night, there was no real cause for alarm. Maybe he should just turn around and go get some sleep, but something just kept stopping him from turning the steering wheel.

"Where are you now Nick?" Warrick asked all traces of humour now gone from his voice.

"I am just about on North Las Vegas Blvd; I can't think where she might be heading to".

"Hard to know", Warrick mused. "She doesn't seem to be thinking straight, it's impossible to say what is going through her head right now. Keep behind her and I will catch you up. Keep me posted on where you are headed to ok?"

"K man, I'll try my best but I don't know how much longer the gas will hold out", Nick said.

"Well the Tahoe's get filled together so by that reckoning she should run out of gas around the same time, at least if that happens you will be able to ask her what the Hell all this is about", Warrick said and hung up.

Nick looked at his gas gauge it was just below the half way point. He stretched his back and rubbed his neck with one hand, the combination of driving and lack of sleep had left him stiff.

"You'll be driving for a while yet Nicky, might as well get comfy", he said to himself while switching on the radio. He hoped the sound of music would keep him awake for long enough to get to the bottom of this high speed chase with his feisty brunette colleague.

He continued along North Pecos Road, right on to East Carey Avenue, past Von Tobel Park and Tate School Park.

"Where the Hell is she going?" he thought.

He took a left on to North Lamb Blvd, right on to East Cheyenne Avenue.

"How much farther is she going to go?" Nick thought.

Just then the car in front stopped as they arrived at the Sunrise Vista Golf Club. Nick checked his gas gauge.

"Not quite empty, we must have arrived at last", he thought and pulled in a little way down the street so as not to be seen.

He rang Warrick and told him where he was.

"Stay there I am on my way", he said.

Nick turned the radio off and the headlights and watched as the door of Grissom's car opened. He expected to see the slender frame of Sara getting out the driver's side but instead saw a man getting out and lighting up a cigarette.

"What the…..?" Nick thought. "If Sara isn't driving and Grissom doesn't smoke, who the Hell was that?"

At that moment Warrick came around the corner and pulled in behind Nick.

He rang Nick moments later "Nick, who is that guy next to Gil's car?" he asked tentatively.

"Your guess is as good as mine man", Nick replied. "Make your way to my car, bring your gun and whatever you don't let him see you", Nick said cautiously. "This just got serious".