TWO

The rest of the team headed out to their cases. Nick and Glyn walked toward his Tahoe. "So, Glyn, you from Vegas or did you just move here?"

"Moved from Texas. I used to be in Dallas but when I saw a job posting for Vegas, I just couldn't pass it up. This is the best...and some of the cases I've read about coming from here….well, the do get interesting."

Nick laughed as the climbed into the vehicle. "I grew up in Texas. Sometimes I really miss it but this is a great team to work with and Gris is a great boss." He started the car and they headed out of the lot.

"Really? I thought I heard a little Texas twang in your voice. What part?"

"Around Dallas before I moved here. My dad is a judge. Kinda wanted to make my own name, ya know?"

"Yeah, I can see that. You say Gris...is that what ya'll call him? ….Gris, is a great boss? I kinda got the feeling he wasn't too happy to see me tonight."

"Well, yeah we mostly call him Gris, although Cath calls him Gil a lot too. Sometimes it's Grissom. He's actually got a PhD but he'll never call your attention to it. He only uses the Dr. Gil Grissom in court or when he really needs to sound authoritative. Anyway, his mood has nothing to do with you. It's just who you are replacing that bothers him."

"Who am I replacing?"

"Sara. They knew each other a long time and ….well….she was killed about a month ago and we didn't find out how much he cared for her 'til the end….I mean, well….they were more than just friends, if yaw know what I mean. He took it pretty hard. He's never been a guy to have a lot of people in his life and to lose someone that was that close….well; he's having a hard time. He'll get better. But he's always kinda quirky anyway, so you have to learn when to take him seriously and when he's just being weird. He's a great guy though. Once you get to know him a little better you'll see what I mean."

They parked at the Oasis and started in. "I hate Bobbitts," moaned Nick. Glyn couldn't help but smile. Thus was one team member with which she was going to enjoy working.

The room was on the third floor. Entering the room, the CSIs observed blood everywhere. Splatter coated the walls and the bed. A pool of blood had formed in the carpet where the vic had fallen. The paramedics were at work, trying to control the bleeding and prepare him for transport. Jim Brass waited by the window. Nick led the way toward the veteran cop, followed by Glyn.

"Jim Brass," Nick nodded toward Glyn, "this is our new CSI, "Glyn Rees."

Jim nodded in her direction as she acknowledged him. "Henderson...yeah I was there but they called me in on this one and O'Reilly is out there. We got a guy with a missing part. Housekeeping found him. Paramedics have been working on him and it looks like the guy might have a chance. If you find his, well, you know….thing, put it on ice and send it to the hospital ASAP. Vic's name is Sam Foxx …..Tourist from Iowa. I gotta get out of here for a minute…..a little too much reality here, ya know what I mean? I'll go interview the housekeeper see what else I can dig up." He stepped around the medics and headed to the door, stopping just inside. "I just hope it's not a slice and dice." he grimaced. "Hurts me to even say it." And he was gone.

The paramedics had the vic loaded and wheeled him out of the room and Nick and Glyn had it to themselves. Nick looked at his new partner, "Well, Glyn….let's get started. Guess we'll start with prints and spatter. Which do you want?"

"I'll start with the prints," she replied as she opened her kit and found what she needed to start.

The two worked their way around the room, collecting evidence and examining everything.

As Glyn made her way around the room, when she began to notice a pattern of blood drops in the carpet. "Hey Nick, come look at this…." She kneeled next to the spots. Nick walked over to check it out. "Look at that pattern….looks like the perp must have held the vic's penis and shaken it….like this," she said as she held her hand in the air shaking its imaginary contents up and down.

"Yeah," Nick agreed. Looking around he spotted an odd pattern on the wall. Moving closer he continued, "Looks like it was thrown against the wall here….see these marks on the wall. Looks like the general shape, don't you think?"

"I'm not sure this guy's going to want it back," said Glyn. "I mean, it'll be in pretty bad shape if we find it."

"It's probably too late to reattach by now anyway." Nick grimaced. He moved into the bathroom. "Hey Glyn….see if Brass is still with the maid. Find out how many towels she kept stocked in here."

Glyn stepped into the hallway and spotted Brass and the housekeeper down the hall. "Brass, we need to know how many towels?"He looked up in her direction and nodded. He turned again to the maid and continued his questioning.

Glyn stepped back into the room and continued her search. Nick stepped out of the bathroom, looking around. "Didn't Brass say he's a tourist?"

"Yeah."

"Seem like he's traveling light to you?"

"Yeah, just a small bag ….may a couple days worth of clothes."

"Yeah, not many toiletries either," Nick added.

Brass poked his head in the doorway, "Maid said she stocked three towels, two hand towels, and four wash cloths yesterday. I'm headed to the hospital to check on the vic."

"What's with the number of towels, Nick?"

"Well, there's only one towel in there now. I'm wondering if the perp didn't wrap it up and take it with him….or her, I guess." Nick winced as he thought about it.

"Does seem more like a woman's crime." acknowledged Glyn.

Nick and Glyn finished the room, packed their gear and evidence and headed out. "Homicide must be having a slow day," Nick commented.

"Why do you say that? Not that it's a bad thing, I would think."

"Well, Brass is homicide. Usually when he's on the scene, somebody died."

"Well, with the blood loss it might be the case. You seem to know him pretty well?"

"Yeah, he's been around ever since I've been here."

"Not originally though….I thought I detected an accent from New York...or New Jersey, maybe?"

"New Jersey. You good with accents…..figuring out where people are from, I mean?"

"It's a game I like to play. For fun, mostly. I just like to study people and try to figure them out. Then find out how much I got right."

"Yeah? I know somebody else kinda like that," Nick said as he thought of Grissom.