Chapter Two

The Crime Scene

Gil Grissom stood in the entranceway of the hotel lounge and surveyed the scene.

On one side of the room gathered a group of people, fifteen by Grissoms quick count, dressed casually, like tourists, or Vegas citizens out for what should have been a relaxing evening. Uniformed police officers milled within the group, taking statements and calming fears. The lone clapper from earlier tried earnestly to recall the evening, an officer stood by with a pen poised over his notepad, waiting patiently, but the wife with the pocketbook kept popping her head up over her husbands shoulder, amending and arguing with his statement.

In the far corner, a group of seven stood apart from the larger group, by distance and by dress. These seven, were all dressed head to toe monochromatically, resembling a human rainbow, punctuated at each end with a butler on one side and a maid on the other end, both studies in black. A quizzical look crossed Grissoms face as Jim Brass; captain of the Las Vegas Police Department sidled up next to him.

"Jim," Grissom began "what the hell is this?"

A smile crossed Brass' tired features. "You heard of those murder mystery dinner parties?"

Grissom cocked an eyebrow. He had indeed heard of them, and never could understand the appeal. He nodded once to answer the question.

"Well," Brass continued, "welcome to the Clue version." He pointed at the larger, tourist group, "The audience," his arm moved slightly, gesturing toward the group of seven "the actors," continuing around the room, his point finally landed near the fireplace, " the dead guy; the actor playing John Boddy, his real name was Fred Coast."

"Well, John Boddy was always the dead one in the game," Grissom began slowly; then eyed the group of actors "Jim, I don't remember a butler character in the game."

"Right," Brass consulted his notes "The butler is just for the purposes of tonight's little play. He greets the guests, does a little narration, and then essentially is out of it."

"Excuse me? Excuse me!" The woman in red shook off the grip of a uniformed officer and thundered across the room, her dress swishing with her strides, the boa still trailing behind her. "Are you in charge here?" She looked from Brass to Grissom and back again.

"I'm Captain Brass."

"Look," Scarlet said, "I really need to change clothes," she ran her hands over her hips "this damn thing is making me melt. Can I please go to my room?"

Grissom eyed the traces of blood on her glove and dress from where she'd smeared it. "No, I'm sorry, you can't leave room just yet."

Scarlet stuck her hands on her hips. "Look, this dress is hot and-" she began before Brass cut her off.

"Frankly Scarlet…" he didn't bother to finish and gave Grissom a slight grin when the CSI turned to look at him.

"We will be happy to relieve you of your dress," Grissom told her. She cocked an eyebrow at him. "We'll provide you with something to change into of course," Griss followed up hoping to ease Scarlet's annoyance.

"Hey Griss," Nick Stokes arrived, stopping next to his superior in the entranceway. Scarlet's attitude and posture immediately changed as she eyed the new arrival to their group. She smiled sweetly when he glanced at her.

"Nick," Grissom began, pointing toward the stain on the red dress "would you go out to the truck and find a pair of overalls for Miss Scarlet to change into please."

Nick nodded his head once, and was gone; Scarlet stretched her neck to watch him over Grissoms shoulder.

"Miss?" Grissom got her attention "If you'll just wait right here, CSI Stokes will be right back with something for you to change into."

"Sure," Scarlet said with a coy smile. "I'd wait anywhere for him."

Grissom and Brass exchanged wry glances, and Brass let out a light snort through his nose.

"Shall we go see Mr. Boddy's body?" Grissom asked, pleased with his play on words.

--

Nick felt Scarlets eyes on him as he crossed the lobby, and he unfolded and refolded the coveralls to hang over his arm just to be able to avoid eye contact. When he arrived back in the lounge, he set his field kit down and lifted the camera around his neck up to his eye and snapped Scarlets picture. Kneeling in front of his kit, he took out two swabs. Scanning the room, he caught the eye of Detective Sofia Curtis he waggled a finger at her, beckoning her to join them. "Hold out your hands for me please ma'am," he said to Scarlet as Sophia crossed the room.

Scarlet held out her hand like a princess, as if Nick was about to kiss it. With a slight unbelieving shake of his head, Nick took her wrist and turned her hand over, swabbing the trace of blood still on her skin. Uncapping the second swab, he quickly ran the cotton over the red stain on the dress. Taking out a pen, Nick made some notations on the plastic viles that housed each swab. "What's your name please ma'am?"

"Angela Lucas. But I'm thinking of changing it to Rio Maxmillian."

"L-u-c-a-s?" Nick asked, barely glancing up to see her nod, and he took a moment to write her name on each vile, then glanced up, finding her staring at him.

"Here you go ma'am," he handed her the coveralls and glanced around the room, spying a private bathroom just to his right. He pointed toward it "you can go in there to change. Detective Curtis will accompany you."

"You mean you're not coming in with me?" Scarlet batted her eyelashes at him.

"No ma'am," was all Nick said to her and handed Sophia a few large brown paper bags. "Thanks," he said to her.

Sofia nodded shortly, "No problem. Ma'am?"

With a deep sigh Scarlet passed the two of them sauntering into the restroom, Sofia closing the door behind them.

A moment after the door shut, Catherine and Greg walked into the lounge. Nick lifted his chin in greeting. "Hey guys. Griss is over there," he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, then went back to his notes, listening to Catherine chuckle lightly at the sight before her.

Nick was waiting patiently a few minutes later when Sofia opened the bathroom door quickly rolling her eyes as Scarlet huffed her way out of the bathroom.

Stopping in front of Nick, she pulled at the fabric at her hips. "Is this the best you could do?" The coveralls hung loosely on her, obviously to big and hiding her figure.

Nick nodded once, avoiding Sofia's amused glance "Yes ma'am, sorry."

Scarlet huffed again; hoping the heave of her breasts would change his mind. When it didn't work, she tried another tactic. "So I can go now, right?"

"No. You can't," Sofia spoke up. "Please rejoin your group, we'll take your statement shortly."

Scarlet set her mouth to an irritated grimace and stalked away.

Sofia shook her head, looking around the room and handed Nick the paper bag.

"Thanks," he told her again, writing Angela's name on the evidence tags.

"Rio Maxmillian?" Sofia repeated the possible stage name with amusement in her voice.

Nick grunted out a laugh through his nose, and moved his head closer to hers; speaking in a tone low enough only she could hear. "Sounds like a porn stars name, doesn't it?"

Sofia smiled slightly, "That would fit with the tattoo on her lower back." Nick lifted a questioning eyebrow. "It says 'Wanna Ride?'" She finished, answering his unspoken question.

Nick shook his head slowly and got back to work.