Detective Vega had dispatch pull up Lance Billings address. Mr. Billings lived in an affluent neighborhood not far from the advertising agency. Vega found the address with ease and pulled the car to stop in front of a two story home with a lawn of lush green grass. Shaking his head Vega got out of the car and made his way to the front door. He rang the bell once, waited a few seconds and then rang the bell once more. From deep within he heard someone shout that they were coming. Vega stepped back and waited.

"What?" Snapped a man in his early thirties as he opened the door impatiently.

"Are you Lance Billings?" Vega flipped his badge open and waited for the man to answer.

"Yes I am, what can I do for you?" Mr. Billings asked in a bored tone.

"Mr. Billings may I come in? I have some questions for you about a Lisa Martin." Mr. Billings stepped out of the Detective's way and motioned for him to come in. Vega noticed that the man was wearing flannel pajamas and a robe. He followed him into the living room and settled into an arm chair across from the couch.

"Did something happen to Lisa?" Mr. Billings asked in surprise.

"Yes, Miss Martin was found in her home last night, she has been murdered. I was just at your office and was informed that you had called in sick. I won't take much of your time; I just have a few questions for you." Vega flipped open his notebook and took out his pen before continuing.

"Achoo! Excuse me." Mr. Billings grabbed a tissue. He sighed. "Lisa was murdered? Do you have any leads or any suspects? What happened?" He asked wearily.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Mr. Billings we are investigating Lisa's death but we are unable to give out any information at this time. When did you last see Lisa?" The Detective asked.

"I saw her yesterday. I had sent her flowers. She...ah…apparently didn't appreciate the gesture and she came down to my office and let me have it." Mr. Billings blew his nose and shrugged.

"Where were you last night Mr. Billings?" Vega asked as he glanced up at Mr. Billings.

"Drinking in a bar just off the strip. Place called Domino Joe's. I was pissed about Lisa, she was going to go to Mr. Lewis about me hitting on her and I sat at the bar top until 12:00 drinking Martinis. I stumbled out and called a cab." He sighed once more and sat back on the couch.

"Is that why you called in sick today Mr. Billings?" Vega grinned slightly as he looked up from his note taking.

"Yeah, that and I came down with a cold. I also figured that if I didn't show up today that it might give Lisa enough time to cool off and maybe she would reconsider going to Lewis." He admitted sheepishly.

"Okay Mr. Billings, I'm going to leave you my card. Stay in town for me will you?" Vega dug out his business card and handed it to the man who was now sniffling.

"Detective…I am sorry to hear about Lisa, I really thought she was a great girl." He took Vega's card and sat on the end table before getting up to show the Detective out.

Vega nodded and made his way to the front door while pulling out his cell phone. He made his way to his car and dialed Warrick's number. He left a voice mail and then decided to check out Lance Billing's alibi while he was out.

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Nick, Warrick, and Greg had hit a dead end in the Lisa Martin case. Greg's stomach had started to growl shortly after they had met at 9 and it looked they were going to working straight up to their shift and through it without stopping. He didn't think his stomach would last that long. Finally giving in he decided to see if anyone else was as hungry as he was.

"So, who's up for lunch, my treat!" Greg asked as he leaned back in his chair in the break room.

"I could use a break and now that you mention I am starving." Warrick stood up and looked at Nick.

"Yeah me too. So, we're going?" Nick stood up and rolled his shoulders.

Greg grinned and replied, "There's a diner about 15 minutes from here that serves up some mean pancakes and since it's my treat, I say we go there."

"Alright, but I drive." Conceded Warrick as they headed out.

The three CSI's hit the parking lot and made their way to the truck. They didn't notice the blue Escort sitting across the street and they didn't see it pull into traffic behind them. Twenty minutes later the three were sitting in a corner booth trying to decide what to eat and ribbing each other about their lunch choices. Carl had parked the Escort across the street and had quietly made his way into the diner and sat behind in the booth next to the three. He pulled out a newspaper and appeared to be engrossed in the sports section. He was actually listening to their conversation, learning their names and gathering information on each CSI.

"Oh, hey, Vega left a voicemail, he talked to Lance Billings. Guy said he was at a bar off the Strip last night drowning his sorrows in Martinis and trying to figure out how to save his ass when Lisa Martin went to their boss about the sexual harassment." Warrick flipped his cell phone closed with Greg and Nick digested the new information.

"I take it Vega's headed over to the bar to check out Billing's alibi?" Nick asked as he sipped his ice tea.

"Yeah, said he'd call me when we he was finished. I'm still waiting on the footprint to come back. Did you get anything out of Trace Nick?" Warrick asked in a weary tone.

"Nope, just fibers from the Vic's clothes and the couch, but nothing from the perp." Nick replied as the waitress came by with their order.

The three began to eat and the talk soon turned to who Greg was trying to date in the lab, Warrick's marriage, and Nick's lack of a date. Carl listened intently to the banter and lighthearted conversation deciding that his best chance would be Nick. He ate his lunch silently, still pretending to read the newspaper as the three finished their meal and Greg paid the waitress for their meal. He waited until they had made it to the parking lot before paying for his meal and heading out to his car. Now that they had made his decision he would lie in wait for Nick to return home after his shift. He would stalk Nick for a few days, get a feel for his routine and then he would begin the game. Carl laughed and started the engine; he was going to enjoy this.

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The three CSI's returned to the lab and split up. Greg went through his interview notes and began checking work histories of the employees. Warrick received the results on the shoe print, a brand of work boot that was sold throughout the U.S. in just about every store imaginable. Nick went through his interview notes and also began to check the work records of the employees on his half of the list.

Warrick tracked Vega down in Brass's office and the three discussed Billing's and the elusive Brad. Brass had done some digging and had finally found Brad living in Austin, Texas and recently married. He and his new wife had moved to Austin only a month ago and he started a new job in an advertising firm there. He was saddened to learn of Lisa's death and wished Brass the best of luck in finding her killer. The longer they worked the case the more dead ends they seem to hit.

The shift wore on and with two hours left the three CSI's met in the break room to discuss where they were in the case. They exchanged theories, ideas, and finally they decided to call it a night. They would come back on their next shift after they had slept and approach the case with fresh eyes. The three parted ways and each made their way to their vehicle. Carl watched from across the street as Nick got into his SVU and headed out of the parking lot. Making sure to maintain some distance Carl pulled out and followed him as he made his way home. Soon Nick was pulling into his driveway and Carl drove past. Now that he knew where Nick lived he would go back to his hotel room and start the first letter. Then he would drop it off at the lab for Nick to find when he came in on his shift.

An hour later Nick was sleeping fitfully, dreaming about Lisa Martin calling out to him to help her. He woke with a start and realized it was a nightmare. He slowed his breathing and listened to his heart thumping in his ears. He groaned and then rolled over, waiting for sleep to take him. Finally he fell asleep and this time he didn't wake up until the alarm went off.

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The beeping of his alarm brought Nick back to reality and he rubbed sleep from his eyes. He got up and made his way to the shower, stripping as he went. He showered and shaved and made his way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and a banana. He dressed and headed into work 10 minutes early wondering if they would find a new lead in the Martin case. He met up with Warrick in the locker room and the two made their to the break room.

On the way, Julie, the night desk receptionist flagged him down, handing him a white envelope with his name scribbled across the front in black ink. He took it with him to the break room as he and Warrick plopped down around the table. Nick carefully opened the envelope and a small piece of white paper fell out. Nick began to silently read, his eyes becoming wide and his breathing ragged.

Warrick realized that Nick had been quiet for the past few minutes and that his breathing sounded different. He looked over and realized that Nick was trembling.

"Nick, man, you okay?" Warrick's voice was filled with concern as he watched Nick.

Nick swallowed and using the edge of the paper moved it in front of Warrick. He looked down and his eyes widened in surprise at the words on the page in front of him.

Dear Nick,

I want to play a game with you. The game is simple, I will leave you clues as to my identity and if you are smart enough to catch before I claim my next victim then you win! If you do not decipher my true identity then I will kill again and again until either you catch me or I move on. Are you ready to play?

Yours truly,

Carl

Warrick took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he looked up at Nick. Nick had grown pale as was staring at the tabletop.

"Nick, I'm going to get my kit and process this okay? Do you want some water or anything?" Warrick asked as he stood up.

"No, no, I'm fine. I'm going to get some air." Nick stood up and walked unsteadily out of the room, trying to even his breathing. He walked out to the parking lot and sat on one of the benches alongside the building, his knees weak and his beating rapidly.

Carl stood across the street, binoculars in hand as he watched Nick from afar. He smiled to himself as he watched Nick make his way outside and knew that he made the right choice when he had chosen Nick to play the game.

"This is going to so much fun Nick, just you wait." Carl whispered before making his way to his car. Now it was time to hunt, he would return later to see how Nick was holding up.