Chapter Two

After long, exhausting hours of evidence collection, the CSIs finally decided to head back to the lab. Once again, Sara was disappointed to not be able to talk to Catherine. The older woman's Denali was nowhere in sight and Sara wasn't entirely sure it had been there the moment when she had arrived. By all accounts, Catherine might have taken the day off. Sara remembered the frenzied preparations going on and that was one thing she was relieved to have escaped due to moving out temporarily.

The pressures of working and planning their wedding might have taken its toll on Catherine. Sara had admitted to being a complete stranger to the customs and procedures involved in a marriage. She could barely remember the last wedding ceremony she had attended. Thus, she had been spared much of the headache involved in the planning. But Catherine might have succumbed to the exhaustion and gotten sick.

Sara just wished that there was a way that she could talk to her lover. She couldn't entirely get rid of a nagging worry within her and she was starting to get nauseous because of that.

She couldn't take it anymore and kicking aside all her modesty, she walked up to Grissom. He was intently looking at some terracotta figures along the driveway. With his expression, it was hard to say whether he was admiring them or simply looking for clues the killer might have left behind.

"Hey Grissom?" She forced a casual smile.

"Sara, what do you see here?" He traced the outline of a cherub's nose with his finger.

"Um, am I supposed to be seeing anything unusual?" She frowned, confused.

"Look carefully."

She squinted hard and then finally saw what he wanted her to see. "There's a smudge in the polish here. As if someone had…"

"Cleaned this place very hard." He finished for her.

"Maybe wiped something off?"

"Maybe blood."

"Luminol." She smirked. She fished out the said substance from her kit and sprayed it on the sculpted cherubic face. The face instantly pimpled in glowing dots. A trickle, starting from the edge of the nose and going down to the corner of the childlike mouth, fluoresced.

"Our cherub has a nose bleed." Grissom quirked his eyebrow.

"A fight may have occurred here. Blood spattered on this statue." Sara then looked around. "This could have been the initial crime scene. The killer chased the victims, perhaps?"

"Possible." Grissom absently nodded. "You join the others back to the lab, I'll stay behind. I have to talk to the neighbors."

"Okay." Sara scuffled her shoes through the dirt. "Uh, do you know where Catherine is?"

"She's gone to interview Marjorie's ex husband." Grissom was already snapping on his gloves.

"Oh, so she was here?"

He regarded her strangely. "Yeah, is something wrong?"

"No, I just…" Sara splayed her hands. "Wanted to talk to her."

Her jaws almost dropped at the mischievous look on Grissom's face. Before he officially enrolled himself into the "Tease Sara" gang, she raised her index finger to stop him. "Don't even try to come up with anything."

"Alright." He smiled angelically.

She rolled her eyes and walked towards her Tahoe, muttering.


An olive-complexioned beauty, more likely to be seen on the covers of Vogue, sat cross legged by the glassed front desk. A tiny microphone lay embedded in the folds of her turtleneck. She regarded Sofia and Catherine with a cool expression, which didn't change when Sofia flashed out her PD badge.

"We like to speak to Dr. Callaghan, please." Sofia's smile was impersonal.

The receptionist didn't hesitate. Either she was used to having police visits or she was exceptionally trained at hiding her surprise. Catherine heard her exchange a few words into her mike.

"He would be right out. Meanwhile, you may take a seat." Saying this, she returned her attention to her desk computer.

Catherine walked into the main waiting area and took in the details of the squeaky white floors, the comfy leather couches and the soft wall lamps that gave the place a subdued look. Sofia casually flipped through some of the magazines stacked on the table. Reader's Digest and Times mainly dominated the pile. The issues never went further back than two days. Two local newspapers, that day's issue, also lay neatly in a corner. Two women and one man sat in the waiting area with as much space between them as possible. One of the women looked up and gave Catherine a warm smile which she returned. The man was trying hard to bury his interest in the crossword puzzle he was solving. However, he would peer from across the open page whenever he thought no one was looking.

"Detective Curtis and Ms. Willows?" A male voice interrupted into their observations.

Sofia and Catherine tried to hide their shock when they faced Dr. Callaghan. His sandy hair was long and was tousled in a stylish way. He had on a loose, silky shirt fairly opened at the front to reveal a smooth, muscled chest. His legs were long and athletic beneath the dark slacks. Only the liberal sprinkling of grey on his temple and the laughter lines along the eyes belied his age. He was a startling contrast to every stereotypical psychiatrist.

"Dr. Callaghan, we have some questions regarding your ex-wife." Sofia explained.

He shrugged. "Sure, please come on into my office."

His "office" would have made a good picture for a luxurious penthouse. Ceiling-to-floor glass windows overlooked the Vegas skyline. Pale cream light emanated from the designer wall sconces.

Their feet sunk into the pearl-hued carpet as Dr. Callaghan ushered them in.

"So, how can I help you regarding Marjorie?" He flashed both women a charming smile.

"Firstly, Dr. Callaghan…" Sofia began.

"Ricky, please."

"Ricky." Sofia cleared her throat. "We need to inform you that your ex-wife is dead."

"What?" He doubled back in shock. He looked back and forth from Sofia to Catherine.

"We are very sorry." Catherine spoke.

"God, how did this happen?" Ricky ran a hand through his hair.

"She was found murdered." She replied.

"Murdered?" Ricky's tanned face blanched. "What are you talking about? Why would anyone want to murder Marjorie?"

"That is why we are here. We are hoping you could help us a little." Sofia said.

"I…" He moved around restlessly. "I haven't seen her for a long time. We weren't exactly friends after the divorce. I don't know how I can help."

"For starters, could you tell us why did you and Marjorie separate?" Catherine asked.

Ricky shrugged. "We were so different. She wanted a family and I… well, let's just say, I wasn't ready for it. We parted quite genially but we never really kept contact with each other."

"So, the divorce wasn't ugly, you mean?"

"Hell no!"

"How about her children?" Sofia leant forward.

"You mean those kids she adopted." Ricky almost scoffed. "I don't know much about them."

"So, you weren't close to them."

"Listen ladies, she took in those children after our divorce. At that stage, we had nothing to do with each others' lives." His grey eyes hardened. "And now I suppose you are going to ask me where I was during the time of the murder."

"What were you doing earlier this evening?" Catherine gave him a terse smile.

"As you can see, I work late hours. This is Vegas, which never sleeps until dawn." He smirked. "I was here with my patients the entire evening."

"Okay." Catherine traded a look with Sofia. "So, can you tell me anything about Marjorie? Anything at all."

"We were married for one year. She wanted to be a homemaker, not my wife." Ricky rolled up his sleeves nervously. "We loved each other in our own way. But I cannot say I knew her. She was beautiful, funny, and smart and I thought she would suit me, you know? But…" He shook his head. "Anyways, I'm probably not the best person you should ask."

"Well, we are done here. If you do remember anything else, here's my contact number." Sofia gave him her card. "Thank you for your time, Dr. Callaghan."


By the time Catherine and Sofia returned from questioning other of Marjorie's friends, shift was over. The weary technicians were dragging their feet to their cars. Some of them stopped to greet the two women. The rumbling in Catherine's stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten anything for several hours. She had an idea.

Excusing herself from Sofia, she jogged back inside the labs. Her cell phone was already in her hands by the time she stepped into the elevators.

After a brief talk with Grissom during which they exchanged whatever they had learnt about the case, she went straight towards the locker room. Loud voices and laughter could be heard flowing from there.

"Well, I can't decide between white and black." Nick was saying.

"Are you sure you guys don't have a color scheme of any kind?" Greg asked Sara.

She rolled her eyes. "Greg, the bridesmaids are wearing lavender. You want to try that color for your tuxedo?"

"White looks good with lavender." Everyone turned to find Catherine grinning by the doorway.

"Man, finally, a decision!" Nick threw his arms, dramatically.

"Hey." Greg's smile broadened as he shifted his gaze from Catherine to Sara.

Sara threw her fiancée a warm smile but she quickly looked away. She could have sworn that everyone in the locker room had stopped whatever they were doing and were staring their way. She felt like an idiot who was blushing hotly.

"I was thinking…" Nick began when Greg nudged him sharply. He ignored it. "So, as I was saying…" Greg poked him with his elbows once again.

"What?" Nick glared at him.

"Um, Nick, don't you think you have someplace to go?" Greg was making gestures with his eyes.

"Go? No, dude. I don't have to meet that wedding manager until later this afternoon." Nick replied.

"Nick!" The lab rat whispered through his teeth. "We have to go!" He slightly cocked his head towards Catherine and then Sara. "You get it? We have to go."

"Oh?" Nick was frowning when it slowly dawned upon him. "Oh!"

"Yeah. Oh."

"Uh, right, I just remembered I…err, yes, I had to walk my dog."

"Have a nice walk, Nicky." Catherine leant against the wall, amused. "See you later, Greg."

"Bye guys." Sara ducked her head inside her locker to cover up her chuckle.

"Bye ladies." They scuffled out as fast as possible.

As if following their cue, the others had left the room too. Once they were alone, Catherine walked towards Sara's bent form. She snaked a hand around the woman's slender waist. She could hear the sharp intake of breath. Before she could react, Sara had turned and wrapped her arms around Catherine.

"Sara?" Catherine was a little taken aback. She ran her hand in slow circles on the brunette's back.

"I tried calling you, Cath. I couldn't reach you." Sara's voice sounded strangely hoarse.

Catherine pulled away enough to get a look at the woman's face. "Baby, you sound upset. Is everything ok?"

"Yes. No. I mean…" Sara took a deep breath. "I was missing you."

The blonde placed both her hands in the soft hollows of Sara's neck. "I was missing you too. But you sure that's all?"

"You think missing you is a small thing?" Sara smirked. "It's driving me crazy."

"And I recall you being the one who so graciously moved out." Catherine faked a cross expression. "So, quit complaining."

"I didn't think it would be so hard." Sara moved closer until their noses rubbed against each other. "Any chance we can just elope and get it done with?"

She laughed. "Patience, my dear, is virtue."

"Not in this case, it's not."

Catherine brushed her lips against Sara's. "I would like nothing more than to make you mine right now. But remember you said you wanted to do this for Lindsay and all our friends?"

Sara sighed against her face. "Yes, I remember. And I was kidding, anyways. You think I'll give up the chance to see you in a wedding dress? Not in a million years."

"Neither would I." A devious grin spread in the Willows fashion. "And just picture Sam and Jim giving us away."

"Not to mention Lindsay and Nancy as the elite maids of honor."

"Brenda and Jeremy carrying our rings."

"Nick with Wendy. Greg with your friend, Stacy." Sara's smile just grew wider.

"And Grissom in his tuxedo, opening up the ceremony with his speech."

"Okay, thanks for the wrench."

Catherine hugged her closer as she bubbled in laughter. "Hey, we both decided upon Gil, remember?"

"Just hope he doesn't start off by waxing poetic about one of his bugs."

"So would you prefer to be the lady bug or the queen bee?" She lowered her voice seductively.

"Erotic." Sara grimaced. She curled a strand from Catherine's hair around her finger. "Cath, all this seems so surreal at times."

"It's very much real, babe."

"And is it okay to admit I'm a little nervous?"

Catherine covered her lover's hands in her own. "It's absolutely okay to be nervous."

Figments of Sara's earlier nightmare flashed in front of her. She mentally shook them away. She needed to stop being so quivery. She was getting married, not preparing for battle.

"So, are you hungry?" Catherine was asking.

"Famished." Sara replied.

"Let's have breakfast together." Catherine squeezed her fingers. "I have just the place in mind."

Sara smiled. "Breakfast with you? Sounds lovely."