Chap 5.. PLEASE PLEASE review

Chapter Five: Beatings and Headaches

Carlton Benson wasn't happy about being brought to the lab. He was even less happy, when Nick, Horatio, and Brass asked him how his hair, had gotten on a crime scene. He, of course, denied having ever seen the victims, though he didn't have an alibi for the nights the children were murdered.

"Nine kids, Mr. Benson, five here in Vegas." Nick was losing his temper, "And your hair on the most recent body, and your bootprints on all the scenes. Either you killed them, or you were there when they were killed, which is it?"

"Look, I wasn't there, okay?"

"That' s not what the evidence is saying, Mr. Benson," said Horatio, calmly, "The evidence is telling us thatyou were. Why did you come here, from Miami, last week?"

"I came with my girlfriend," said Benson, "She wanted to be manager of club here, for her boss."

"What club," Nick asked.

"I dunno, something to do with hearts or something."

"And what is this girl's name?" Horatio wanted to know.

"Katrina Welker."

--------------------------

Sara was preceding to beat the crap out of a dummy, with the heart staff that Catherine had brought her. With a light dust of chalk on it, she was able to tell what kind of patterns it would leave on a body. So far, it was looking like a match to the bruise patterns on the vics. She already had all she needed, really, but she wanted to get rid of some of her frustration. Like Grissom, she hated cases that involved kids. It was even worse that another could be killed at any time. So, she beat away on the dummy, and it was helping at least. She realized that she still didn't have photos to prove her findings, so she had no choice but to take a break for a momentto do so.

She didn't bother to start beating the dummy again. She was too worn out. Instead, she took the camera, intent on uploading the photos, and comparing them to the autopsy photos, to see if the patterns matched. She was interupted by Horatio.

"Sara, have you seen Catherine, Sofia, or Warrick anywhere?"

"Um, Sofia's checking the alibis of all the girls from that club, Warrick is in the break room, with a headache, and Catherine is... Right behind you."

Horatio turned, and saw that indeed, Catherine was right behind him. "Looking for me?" Cath asked, with a smile. She looked at Sara, "Have fun beating the shit out of the dummy?"

Sara nodded, as Horatio said, "Yes actually. Does the name Katrina Welker ring any bells?"

"That's the club manager for Queen of Hearts... How did you know her name?"

"Mr. Benson claims that Miss Welker is his girlfriend, whom recently moved here from Miami."

"Well, if I believed in coincidences," said Sara, "I'd say that was a big one."

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Sara, she touched that," Catherine pointed at the object in Sara's hands, "See if you can lift prints off of it...Run them against the ones off that oil bottle... I'm going to talk to Katrina again."

"Who're you taking with you?" Sara asked.

"Who's free?"

"Not sure, but I would really suggest that you don't ask Warrick. He was complaining to me about a killer headache earlier, when he stopped by with my camera."

"Right... Well, Horatio, You up for a trip with me and Brass?"

"Why not." said Horatio with a nod.

---------------------------------------------

After she parted from Horatio, and Catherine, Sara printed the staff, then sent her findings to be compared to the ones from the oil bottle, then she went to work on the photos. She noticed something odd, in one of the autopsy photos. A slight bit of green on one of the vics arms. She waved to Grissom, as he and Calleigh were going by, carrying the bags of clothes. They came here way when they saw her.

"Yes, Dear?" said Grissom.

"What's this on this kid's arm?"

"Already checked it out, it was a bad spot in the photo. Nothing on the body."

Sara didn't know wether to be annoyed at him, for seemingly knowing everything, or pleased that it turned out to be nothing. "Have I told you lately how much I hate it when you know the answer to everything?"

"Your fault, not mine," he said. Calleigh laughed, as she and Grissom turned to leave.

"Don't forget," said Calleigh over her shoulder, "You've got a mini-him to raise."

"Don't remind me, please." Sara retorted, and went back to the photos, though the wore a smile. All it took was a small banter, or funny conversation with anyone in the lab to allow her a smile. That was something that Grissom was responsible for. He'd finally given in, and her life had been a whole lot better for the past twelve years. So had his, she was sure. Her pregnancy with Summer had been a rocky part, as both were nervous about what was going to happen. But, they'd waited it out, and things had gotten back to normal eventually... Well maybe they hadn't. Since normal for the both of them had been to go home after work, and enjoy the days alone, then go back to work, and act as if nothing was going on. Harder to do when you had a baby girl, that both worried about. Okay, so in another eight, maybe nine years, Things will be back to normal... Sara thought, as she confirmed that the pattern was exactly the same, Summer goes off to college, and Griss and I get to enjoy the peace.

She smiled at that thought. Once Summer was out of the house, Sara knew she would miss her. Summer may have been closer to her father than she was anyone else, but it didn't mean she loved her mother any less, nor that Sara loved her any less. Funny how it worked out really. Grissom was the one who had been less than overjoyed while Sara had been pregnant, yet now you would have never guessed it. Two peas in a pod She thought, picking up all the photos, She got an equal amount of looks from both of us, but interest-wise, and even personality -wise, sometimes, she's just like Grissom. Maybe the next one will be more like me. She exited the lab with a smirk, wondering what Grissom would say to that idea. Not that he had much say in it, anyway.

----------------------------------------

Warrick swallowed several asprins and sat at the break room table, head resting on his arms.

"You okay, Uncle Warrick?" and inquisitive voice asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay, Kiddo," he practically groaned, "Just a headache."

"Had any caffine tonight?"

"No, why? Been taking painkillers."

"Try some coffee, or a soda. If painkillers don't work, try straight up caffine."

"I know I shouldn't ask, but how'd you know that?"

"I'm ten. I cause plenty of headaches, so I get to see how to get rid of them." Warrick looked up at the girl, whom was wearing an innocent grin.

"You're too smart for your own good, you know that?"

"Mama says it every day," she replied solemly, "Daddy just says I'm too much like him. Though he does add that if I ever become a CSI, it'll be a dark day for the lab...Something about no sleep, like mama, and hyped up on coffee... I think he's sure that I won't change a bit... "

Warrick allowed himself a laugh, then shooed her away. No more talking for him. He was going to enjoy some peace and qu-

"Warrick!"

Ready to hurt someone, Warrick looked up to see Nick. "What?"

"You seen Sara anywhere?"

"Last I saw she was beating some dummy into the ground."

Nick didn't even say thanks. He just rushed off to find Sara. Warrick half expected someone else to come disturb him, but thankfully, he was left in peace. He drifted off into his own little world of thoughts and memories. The headache was starting to go away now, so maybe the painkillers had finally kicked-... Nevermind, it wasn't getting better. He was just going to sleep. He forced himself awake, and got to his feet, to fetch himself a cup of coffee. Maybe the kid had been right. She appearently knew what he was thinking, from the way Summer was smirking, when he looked at her. He ignored the look that so clearly demanded a response, and sat back down, and drank the whole steaming cup at once. His tongue and throat hated him for it, but at least it gave him the wake-up call that he needed.

Tongue and throat still burning, he went to see what was going on with the case. After all, he'd been out of the loop for an hour. Alot could happen in an hour.

---------------------------

"Why are you here again, Mrs. Brown?" Katrina Welker sighed, boredly.

"Your boyfriend, Carlton Benson," Catherine replied, not an ounce of accusation in her voice, but the way she moved said every thing.

Horatio was keeping silent. This was Catherine and Jim's town. They knew how to handle people here. But then, wasn't this woman from Miami? Maybe he'd speak his mind should the opprotunity arise. For now he would stay silent. He just watched the exchange. While Catherine's voice was friendly, her eyes however, were narrowed, and cold. It was obvious that she didn't trust this woman. Not that he could blame her. This woman had recently moved to Vegas, and the time fit the time of their murders, and the woman obviously had something to hide. She was keeping her hand over her left arm. He saw her dab a tissue to her lower lip, that came away bloody. She tossed the balled up tissue towards the trash can, and missed. He waited until Catherine had finished questioning Katrina, then intentionally knocked Catherine's keys out of her hand, making them land close to where the tissue had. Catherine gave him an odd look, and he flicked his eyes towards her keys. She looked, and saw why he'd caused the problem.

She knelt, and Horatio spoke to Katrina, to distract her. The tissue was in plain sight, so they didn't need a warrant, but it would be best that Katrina didn't know what they were up to. "Excuse me, Miss Welker, " He said, making sure her eyes were drawn to him, "But when exactly did you move here?"

"A week ago, I guess... I'm still working on unpacking things..."

"And you worked in the Queen of Hearts in Miami as well, to, right?"

"Yes," she replied curtly.

By then, Catherine was standing up again, "We really need to be going... Thank you for your time, Miss Welker."

The three visitors left the club manager alone, and got on their way to the lab. "Nice move back there, by the way," said Catherine, to Horatio, "Very sneaky."

"Little too obvious, if you ask me," Brass chimed in with a chuckle, "But I don't think she actually caught on."

"Hallelujah for unobservant people," Horatio replied.

----------------------

Since the girl who normally did fingerprint matches was out sick that day, Sara found herself saddled with making print comparisons as well. She had lost track of the fact that she was singing at some point, and was getting louder. That was what led Nick right to her. She was bent over a table, comparing fingerprints, and singing the Three Doors Down song "Here Without You".

"Sara? You know, you're singing again."

She snapped up, and looked at him, "Oh, Hey Nick. Sorry. I got a match on this print though... Catherine's Club Manager's prints match the ones on that bottle of ours."

That was when the explosion began.

---------------------