A/N- My thanks, as always, to Krystal and to everyone still reading and reviewing.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never have been, never will be and I'm not bitter about that….well maybe a little :)
Out of the Closet-Chapter 4
Grissom headed out of the autopsy room with a file detailing the findings in the Julie Samson murder. It was obvious to him that she had been poisoned as in the previous closet killings, but it had now been made official by the local coroner. A coroner who hadn't been the most helpful man in the world.
It made Grissom realise just how lucky he was to have Al Robbins back in Vegas. Al was an efficient and capable worker but also brought a light heartedness to autopsies that was so badly needed in their job. Some may have thought it disrespectable but it was just a way for them to deal with the horrors of the profession.
This coroner, however, seemed to be distinctly lacking in the sense of humour department.
Grissom muttered his thanks to the man as he left. He puffed out his breath in a long sigh at the day he had experienced. So much for having a break from work, he thought as he looked over the file that was the source of his problems. Work had, quite literally, followed him to California.
All he wanted to do right now was go back to his hotel room and call Sara. So he moved with a new swiftness to shorten the duration of the journey.
Suddenly he realised there was a reason he kept a cell phone with him-so he could make calls on the move- and he retrieved it from his pocket.
He found Sara's name and made the call, listening to the quiet ringing on the line. It was at the same time he heard a louder version of the noise in the ear that the phone wasn't held to.
Grissom turned around to find the owner of the phone at the other end of the corridor with a large grin on her face.
"Damn, there goes my surprise." She huffed walking towards him.
Grissom could only smirk back in delight at her unexpected appearance, all the while remembering the challenge they had set each other the day before. God, this is going to be difficult, he thought as she sashayed her way to him.
He didn't hide his surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Sara reached her destination with a mock frown. "That's a nice way to say hi."
"Sorry, I'm just surprised. I'm glad you're here but why are you?"
"Catherine was worried about you, said you sounded distracted this morning. She was too busy to come here herself so sent me instead." She offered him her patented Sidle smile before continuing. "So is it really Julie Samson? Catherine didn't give me much in the way of details."
"It is Julie Samson and she was found in the Janitor's closet poisoned. Different M.O though, she didn't ingest the poison, like the others. It was injected."
"Lipstick?" Sara asked remembering the distinctive pink on the other victims.
"Just for show, applied after most likely."
"Do you think we have a copycat? Someone who knew you would be lecturing here decided to alter your plans?"
"And they accidentally selected a victim who links back directly to the murders in Vegas? It's too much of a coincidence not to be the same person."
"So Alyssa Pembrose strikes again. I tell you Griss, she better not come near you again or I'll kick her ass."
"You know that wouldn't solve anything." He replied, secretly pleased at her protective streak.
"Yeah, but it would make me feel a hell of a lot better." She exclaimed with a grin.
"I don't think she would come near me again. She would have no reason to."
"Griss, this is all about you. This girl gets some twisted thrill from seeing you fail so she has every reason to come after you and those around you." She softened her voice. "I got another letter this morning."
Sara grabbed something out of bag and held it up to Grissom. The clear plastic bag held a piece of paper with a handwritten message in pink ink. The message this time read…
DON'T THINK YOU'LL STOP ME. HE COULDN'T!
Grissom took his time to read the clear note. He understood from Sara's expression that there was again no useful evidence found on the paper.
"The postmark was L.A. So either Alyssa is here or she has an accomplice."
"Other than the one she just killed?" He queried.
They both contemplated the facts until they were interrupted by Grissom's phone ringing.
"Grissom."
"Dr. Grissom, it's Lea. I found something out about that girl Julie Samson and well…I'd rather not say on the phone but it might be important. Can you come to my dorm room?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll be there in about ten minutes." He ended the call and turned to an intrigued Sara. She wondered who nearby was phoning him.
"Where we going?"
"To see Lea Rose Sympbas."
"Where?"
"Her dorm room."
Sara rolled her eyes at him. "Griss, the girl who came to see you in your hotel room asks you to go to her dorm room and you accept?"
"Yes," he replied innocently. "She said she might know something important about Julie Samson."
"I find your naivety endearing but one day it might get you into trouble." She warned as she gently stroked his arm.
The move didn't go unnoticed by Grissom who felt the surge of electrical energy even before she touched him. It was a beautiful contrast to their discussion; he was anything but naïve when it came to Sara. Even when she had been his student there was a mutual attraction that he easily could have explored. And now she was subtly trying to break down his resolve to win their childish challenge.
But he didn't understand why he was being naïve about Lea, she was only trying to offer her services in solving the murder. "She's a nice girl who is just trying to be helpful."
With a knowing smirk Sara responded, "I bet I know how she wants to help you."
"Sara!"
"I'm sure she is a nice girl but you gotta be careful. I'm sure even Alyssa Pembrose had a nice side sometimes." She defended while continuing to caress his forearm. She was pleased to hear him take a quick breath, confident she would be victorious in the little bet they had going. Ten minutes and he was already showing signs of weakness.
Finally he said, "point taken. Now kindly keep your wandering hands to yourself Miss Sidle, we have work to do."
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They reached Fletcher Hall, room 232, after a short walk across the campus. They stood outside Lea's room when a thought suddenly occurred to Sara.
"How did you know where she lives?"
"She told me."
"Any reason for that?"
"Should there be?"
"No, just when I told you my room number at Harvard it was because I wanted you to come by and seduce me." She noted his unsurprised reaction and then added wistfully, "You never did come by though."
"That's because if I did I would have seduced you." He laughed as she dramatically gasped and leant back against the wall beside the door. He knocked as she composed herself.
Lea arrived at the door, dressed in a revealing red top, seemingly on her way out.
"Dr. Grissom, I'm glad you could come so quickly. Come on in." He was reluctant after all Sara had been saying until he saw another girl behind Lea.
She saw him looking so answered his unspoken question. "That's my friend, she's the one who told me about Julie." Lea ushered Grissom into the room and was about to shut the door. She hadn't noticed Sara around the corner but did once Sara put her foot out to hold the door.
Turning around quickly Lea eyed her suspiciously.
"Hi, I'm Sara Sidle. I work with Grissom in Vegas. You must be Lea."
"Yeah, I'm Lea-Rose." She responded curtly remembering Grissom had been speaking to a Sara on the phone in his hotel room.
A short silence followed the obviously tense meeting until Sara focussed on the other girl sitting by Lea's organized desk.
"And you are?"
"Lauren Albary, I live down the hall and I was friends with Julie Samson."
Sara attempted to get Grissom's attention but found he was busy taking in his new surroundings. He was engrossed in an article on the wall which Sara saw was from The Forensic Entomologist's Journal.
Taking that as her indication to ask the questions Grissom should have been she went closer to Lauren. Lea decided to edge her way to Grissom's side when she noticed him admiring her wall decoration.
Keeping one eye on Lea and Grissom, Sara spoke to Lauren. "So you have some information about Julie Samson?" She prompted the young girl.
"Yeah, well it could be nothing. It's just that I use to hear Julie having these arguments with someone in her room. It was such a common thing that the people who lived by her had bets going on what time the arguments would start."
"And did anyone see who she was arguing with?" Sara asked slightly distracted as she watched Lea lean in to Grissom's arm. She chuckled wondering if she had ever been that obvious around him.
It seemed the man had an inherent ability to make women around him turn into giggling flirts. And he had no idea he was doing it, which just added to his charms
"I saw her with this really pretty blonde girl once."
Grissom looked up sharply and locked eyes with Sara. Lauren wasn't aware she had said anything important until they both turned to her.
Grissom joined Sara by Lea's desk. "When was this?"
"Day before yesterday I think. It was down by the library and they seemed to be having some sort of disagreement. I didn't hear what they were talking about, I could just tell they weren't happy."
"Do you know who the girl was?" He pressed further and Lauren shook her head apologetically in response and got up from the desk.
"Lea, we better get going if we going to make that party." She said looking over to her friend.
"Wait there's a party tonight?" Grissom asked alarmed.
Brushing her dark hair slowly Lea approached him. "You're always welcome to come Dr Grissom. I think you'd enjoy it." She glanced over at Sara. "You might be able to come too Miss Sidle. It is Miss isn't it? I mean you're not married are you?" She added as an afterthought.
Sara stifled a grin, this girl really hated her and it made her laugh. "No, not married. I've got a real cute boyfriend though."
She caught Grissom's eye and he blushed profusely at her compliment. "That's not what I meant by asking you about the party Lea. Just make sure no-one plays love in the dark at this party."
Both girls laughed at his caution and he looked at Sara as if to ask 'what did I say wrong?'
"What do you know about that game?" Lea managed after almost choking on her giggles.
"More than you know." Sara answered quickly, Grissom picking up on her hidden meaning. "He knows what he's talking about. Just say no to the closet canoodling and everything will be ok."
TBC