A/N: Some of you figured out who is appearing from Sara's past! Enjoy!

In Search of Truth

Chapter 6

"Yes?"

There was no need for Sara to identify herself. She said, "I know who she is. Long story but Anna McCall is not her real name. I'll be there in fifteen minutes." She made another request before ending the call.

Sara moved along the hallway, passing people she did not notice, as she made her way back to the conference room where a small group surrounded Grissom. Upon entering the room, she leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.

A moment later, Grissom was beside her, taking her elbow and moving them away from the door.

"What's happened?" He asked, "You're white as a ghost."

Taking another deep breath, Sara said, "Anna McCall is Hannah West."

"Hannah West?" Grissom whispered, instantly remembering the young girl who had literally spun Sara in circles on two occasions. "Hannah West is working in the lab?"

"She killed at least once—probably twice—responsible for her brother's death—before she was fifteen years old. And was never charged for either. Now she's working in the lab." Sara leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "She's a genius, Gil. An evil genius."

Grissom's mind raced as he thought of the ways a twisted mind could destroy a crime lab. He had no doubt Sara was correct in identifying Hannah West; the girl had made a lasting and negative effect on Sara's life for years. He said, "Have you talked to Lahn? Are there any records from—from either case?"

"I called—said I be at the courthouse in fifteen minutes."

"I'll go with you."

Sara glanced at several people remaining in the room, saying, "What about…"

Grissom waved them off. He said, "I'll be back." Turning, he said the same, adding "Give me a couple of hours."

With that, he and Sara left the lab and drove to the courthouse in record time. While Grissom drove, Sara called the two judges and Ecklie, leaving messages for all three about new information.

Conrad Ecklie was waiting near the elevators; quickly, shaking hands with Grissom before an elevator opened. The look he gave to several others waiting for an elevator was enough to cause a cluster shift to the left as the doors slid close.

"Both judges are in court today," Ecklie said. "Tell me what you've found."

Sara was blunt. She said, "Anna McCall is Hannah West—remember Hannah? The twelve year old who stood up in court and claimed to have killed a girl in high school—the girl her brother was on trial for killing? Two years later—she and her brother were involved in a college student's death. Her brother committed suicide in a holding cell—and I've suspected for years Hannah killed the girl and pushed her brother into killing himself. And now she's working in the lab as a ballistic specialist." She'd spoken fast, clipped, her voice low and steady.

The elevator door opened; Grissom placed his hand on the door to hold it open.

Ecklie stood still, with mouth open, staring at Sara. He said, "She's in the crime lab?"

No one stepped out of the elevator as Sara said, "She is—we thought Anna McCall was the one moving evidence—it wasn't stolen, appears she moved things from one case file to another." Sara paused, shrugging, as she said, "If there is anyone who would be capable of this, a glance at a file and then able to erase all digital evidence of it as well, it would be Hannah West."

Moving out of the elevator, they headed to the conference where Lahn waited with his own news.

"Anna McCall's husband works security for MGM Grand—high tech stuff with computers and cameras."

Ecklie said, "We need to look at her employment record."

Lahn waved at a laptop, saying, "I've pulled it up."

Suddenly, Sara remembered she'd not introduced Grissom to Lahn. "Gil—Lahn. A true wizard on all things digitized."

The two men shook hands, Lakn saying, "I already know you, Dr. Grissom! I hope Sara told you she discovered the timing was off. Otherwise, we'd still be lost in a maze."

As he scrolled through the employment file of Anna McCall, Ecklie said, "Nothing is out of place—she—she has great qualifications."

Sara walked over to him, saying, "I'd have hired her—but now that I know she's Hannah, I'd say she set this up to look perfect for the position."

"How'd you know it's her? I mean, it's been years."

Pulling a second laptop in front of her, Sara tapped keys and pulled up one of the videos of Anna McCall. She said, "She looked familiar—vaguely—so today, I went to the lab to check her out." She pointed to the screen, saying, "She's got a new hair style and glasses—but when Hodges called my name today, she turned and a glimpse of her face was exactly the face of a twelve-year-old Hannah."

Letting out a long sigh, Ecklie said, "A glimpse? She looks like a twelve year old from a decade ago? Sara…"

Lahn interrupted, saying, "I've got the records for Marlon West coming—they were never sealed because he died."

"Hannah was never charged—she managed to muddle up the first case so it was thrown out. The second one—after Marlon died—was closed and Hannah had a breakdown. I—I lost track of her after that." Sara clicked several times and brought up a black and white newspaper photograph taken outside the courthouse.

A small, young girl stood with three others; she was looking up, her face exposed to the sun.

Pointing at each person, Sara said, "Marlon, Hannah, their parents."

Lahn touched keys, isolated Hannah's face, and, with several more strokes, moved it next to the photograph from Anna McCall's employment file. In another minute, he was comparing the two faces with facial recognition, lines appearing to match nose, eyes, chin.

"Well, look at that," whispered Grissom.

Ecklie asked, "How smart is this girl?" Leaning back in his chair, his hand raked across his face, pushing his glasses to his forehead.

"Prodigy—genius," Sara said. "She was teaching college chemistry when she was fourteen."

The four sat in silence for several minutes before Ecklie said, "Show me what you've found. This is a disaster."

Grissom had pulled a chair next to Sara, looking at the screen on the laptop. Quietly, he said, "Potential disaster, Conrad. A few cases have been dismissed—she's testing the system and so far, she's been lucky. The lab has been lucky. Now you know who's involved, she'll be stopped."

"I'll call Lou Vartann. He's chief now and keeps his mouth shut," Ecklie said; his hand continued to swipe across his face. "Does she have a grudge against you, Sara? The lab? What's her motive?"

Lahn, Grissom, and Sara had leaned away from the laptops yet all three continued to study the face on the screen.

Softly, Sara said, "It probably is a grudge—resentment for her brother dying in custody—that she's planned for years," she sighed, adding, "She's evil. She could have done anything—brilliant mind but bent toward evil."

Ecklie looked at Sara. He asked, "What do you want to do, Sara? You and Lahn found this—you've identified her."

Sara gave a hesitant smile before she shook her head and said, "I came to help, Conrad. From now on, it's you and Vartann—not me." She looked at Grissom, saying, "The bug guy can complete his seminars, but I'm out of here. I don't have to be in the room with this woman again."

Grissom smiled as his hand touched Sara's shoulder; a sense of relief reflected in his eyes.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Thank you for your kind comments! One more chapter of fluff and romance!