Chapter 1
Sunday August 15th, 2004
5:49 p.m.
Grissom's Office
"Hey Griss, you're here early," Catherine called as she spotted him in his office.
Looking up from the folder in front of him Grissom smiled slightly. "Paperwork. Sure you don't want to trade places?"
"Hell no, I do that enough when you're away on cases and such. Have fun and we'll see you in about an hour," she replied with a smirk before leaving.
Grissom shook his head before turning back to the paperwork. Closing his eyes he laid the folder down while he pulled his glasses off. He had the beginnings of a migraine already…
For the past few weeks they had been on the tracks of a serial rapist. Ironic enough the man had started just days after they had finally caught Todd Coombs and he was arrested. Although that particular case would always stand out in his memory, after all it wasn't everyday you found a Chimera.
Then the Night Stalker as Greg had dubbed him had struck. The first time, then the second, third, fourth, fifth…it seemed as if he had no pattern yet they had easily determined it was the same man. There was no visible pattern to his victims, nothing that tied them together other than the fact that they had been attacked by the same suspect. A suspect they could not catch. And now, just over two months later his victims totaled fifty-three. At least one a day, although for a few there had been two victims. There were no fingerprints to be found at any scene, other than the victims and friends and family members. But the suspect had left his DNA behind, DNA they had nothing to compare to. For now…
During the 'Night Stalker's' third week Sara had returned to work after a two week vacation he made her take. Well he had given her the option, take the vacation or he would have to suspend her for a week. She took the hint and left. And she had set to work on the case as well, although for the first few weeks she had been doing lab work, they were so behind it wasn't funny, and Greg needed the help desperately. Then three weeks before she had ended up paired with him when victim number thirty-seven came in. He couldn't help but notice she seemed to be a bit out of it when she had been doing her job, and yet he just figured she was trying to get back into her groove after so long not working a scene.
Groaning softly as his migraine sent a particularly painful stab towards his left temple Grissom closed the folder. Deciding that he would come back to that particular case in a few minutes he turned to the next file.
Picking it up he noticed an envelope underneath it. Frowning he picked the envelope up and set the file back down. There was no writing on it, so it hadn't come in the mail. And yet there was also no information showing that it was for him. Deciding to just take the plunge he flipped it over and opened it. Pulling out the sheet of paper inside he set the envelope down and unfolded the paper as he grabbed his glasses. Then he nearly dropped it in shock.
Why would Sara be leaving him a letter? He recognized her handwriting immediately, after a decade long friendship that included many letters exchanged, he knew her handwriting anywhere. Part of him suddenly feared she might be writing something in regards to their 'relationship'. It had been quite some time since she had made any move in approaching a relationship, and yet….
Closing his eyes he swallowed once before picking the paper back up. He wouldn't know anything until he read it.
Dear Gil,
God it's been forever since I called you that hasn't it? Well, you're probably wondering why I'm leaving you a letter. Especially considering everything that has happened during the past year…
I just want you to know, I'm sorry. I should have never pushed. In the end I destroyed the one thing I cherished most all these years, your friendship. You were my best friend, thank you for that.
But on to the reason for this letter. The folder under this, inside you will find the paperwork for my resignation. I don't regret a moment of the past four years, and I thank you for giving me the chance to make a difference here. To make the amazing friends that are a part of the team. And to be able to work with you. But I can't stay.
And no, it's not your fault. Don't think this has anything to do with giving Nick the promotion or anything else. I'm sure those rumors will fly around the lab soon enough when they learn I've left. But please know this isn't because of that. This is because of me. Because of things I need to deal with. I'm sorry for leaving now, in the middle of the case that has been haunting Vegas for the past few months. But I simply cannot stay. Tell everyone goodbye for me. I know that you will find someone to take my place, and that you will welcome him or her with open arms and treat her with the same kindness and respect that all of you gave me all those years ago when I was the new kid on the block.
God, I can hear Greg mentioning something about the singing group from the late eighties, early nineties…
Tell the others…tell them that they are an amazing group of people. And that I am honored to have known them, to have worked with them, and to have considered them friends, and in a part more. We were like a family, and I am forever grateful to have been a part of that. Thank you, to all of you.
Take care of yourself Griss, and the others. But take care of yourself more. They all have someone to watch over them, but your family is far away, and as much as you love your bugs, I don't think they can take care of you as much as another person could…
I'm so very sorry,
Sara
P.S. I pray I'm wrong, more than you and the others may know…Take a look at the Birchwood Rapist from Frisco back in 1999...Worst that could happen, I sent you down the wrong path on the other hand…
On the other hand I pray that I'm wrong…
Grissom stared at the letter in shock once he had finished reading. When his brain finally clicked back into function he dropped the letter as he hunted for the file that had been underneath the letter, praying that it wouldn't hold her resignation. When it did he fell back against his chair in even greater shock.
This could not be happening…she couldn't be gone…
How was he going to tell the others?
How was he going to convince himself?
Sunday August 15th, 2004
7:05 p.m.
CSI Break Room
"Anyone seen Sara?" Nick asked as he entered the room to find Warrick and Catherine there. "I mean she's usually the first of us here and she's now five minutes late, of course Griss is too, but this is Sara…" he trailed off as he sat down.
"Actually I haven't. I was just thinking about that too," Warrick mused.
"Hey," Greg's perky voice spoke up as he came into the room and the other three just rolled their eyes. They loved the guy, they did. But since he had been putting in more time with them they had gotten to the point they wanted to find his caffeine source and destroy it. "So where's Grissom and Sara?" he continued as he sat down.
"We were just discussing that actually," Catherine replied as she glanced at Nick and Warrick. Then they heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat and looked up to find the boss standing in the doorway.
"Hey Griss, any sign of Sara?" Nick asked as Grissom moved further into the room. Catherine frowned as she noticed the look about him.
"Hey is something up?" she asked concerned.
Grissom smiled slightly before sighing. "Fifteen minutes ago I found a letter from Sara in my office, and her resignation."
"WHAT!"
Grimacing as they all yelled he raised a hand asking them to keep it down, his migraine had only gotten worse over the past minutes. "I'm not exactly sure of the whys as well guys, but I called Sara's place and she is gone."
"Damn," Warrick murmured as Greg looked at Grissom in shock.
"Why would she leave in the middle of a case? This case especially?"
"I don't know…" Gil replied honestly. "However…"
"However?" Catherine interrupted.
"Sara left a lead behind. I've contacted San Francisco and they are sending a CSI to help us out," he continued as he took a seat and slid a folder across the table. "This is all I was able to get in the short time, just articles and such. Starting in the spring of 1999, San Francisco was hit with a string of rapes, the Birchwood Rapist as he was called was never caught, and after victim thirty, he simply disappeared. The only evidence they had gathered was his DNA, which they had no match to. The CSI they are sending is bringing the DNA information as well as the rest of the information on the case."
"How did Sara leave you the lead?" Nick asked as they looked over the articles.
"In the letter she left. She also left a note for all of you," Grissom began as he took another piece of paper. He had thought it best for them to read the information themselves, so he had copied that part of the letter and slid it over to them as well.
Tell the others…tell them that they are an amazing group of people. And that I am honored to have known them, to have worked with them, and to have considered them friends, and in a part more. We were like a family, and I am forever grateful to have been a part of that. Thank you, to all of you.
The four looked up at him in confusion, as well as sadness. "She's truly gone then," Nick whispered as the truth started to settle over them all.
"Damn," Warrick murmured once more.
"You left the P.S. on here too." Catherine's voice spoke up as the other three turned to look at the bottom of the page.
P.S. I pray I'm wrong, more than you and the others may know…Take a look at the Birchwood Rapist from Frisco back in 1999...Worst that could happen, I sent you down the wrong path…on the other hand…
On the other hand I pray that I'm wrong…
"Was she involved in the investigation of the Birchwood Rapist?" Catherine asked after a moment.
"Yes, from what I understand the case was her's and her partner's from day one," Grissom replied with a nod. "But, as much as this is going to hit us all, we have other cases to investigate," he continued after a moment.
"And what do we do about this information?" Greg asked.
"We wait for the CSI to arrive from San Francisco. And pray that the Night Stalker doesn't strike again between now and then," Grissom replied honestly as he pulled out the assignments for the night. "All right then, Warrick burglary downtown, one injured. Catherine, you have Greg, DB," he explained as he handed them the slips.
"What about me?" Nick asked.
"We still have the last victim from last night," Grissom replied as he stood up and the others nodded before leaving. Glancing up at Nick he raised an eyebrow.
"Did Sara say why she left? It didn't have anything to do with the promotion or anything did it?" he asked after a moment.
"No Nick, it wasn't your fault, or any of our faults. She made that clear," Grissom assured him before he finished gathering up the papers he had brought.
Nick nodded before looking up at Griss. "So, on to finding our creep before he strikes again."
Grissom smiled before following Nick from the room.
Sunday August 15th, 2004
7:25 p.m.
Downtown Las Vegas
He still remembered the first day they met...She had been there to investigate him, and had interrupted him while trying to get the Judge's money...
Warrick was at the blackjack table playing six hands. "You're up 11 G's. Hit or stay?" the dealer asked.
"Stay. I want to talk to you," Glancing up at the woman he knew in a moment it was Sara Sidle.
A few minutes later found them sitting at a counter he was nursing a cup of coffee. Sara sat next to him.
"You were playing $100 on every spot. You have a system?" she had asked
"I'm counting cards," he admitted
"Isn't that illegal?"
"Not if you do the math in your head," he replied with a sort of half smirk
"You play anything else?"
"I bet sports from time to time."
"So...let me get this straight. You were assigned by Brass to shadow a trainee, a robbery comes up on M.L.K, and you go for coffee," she challenged
"An officer was there."
"So, you felt safe to leave? Do you know the policies and procedures for clearing a scene?"
"Yes," he answered not liking her questioning, she was questioning his job, and he knew his job.
"Then, why'd you leave? I mean, what was so important that you had to rush out of there?"
"I told you. I went for coffee," he tried not to snap.
"Was that before or after you made your bets? Sunday...Vegas...NFL football...guy like you...come on, you trying to tell me that you didn't make a little pit stop?"
He had chosen to remain silent in that moment.
"Look at me," she ordered but he didn't "Did you log on...tell dispatch where you were going?"
"Do you know how many times I've been left alone at a crime scene when I was a rookie?" he snapped. Enough was enough.
"Yeah, well, this time is different."
"Yeah, why's that?" he asked not believing her
"Holly Gribbs died on the operating table twenty minutes ago."
He looked at her, completely shocked before he looked away as it set in.
Well, to say he had been stunned would be putting it lightly...And things only got better from there...
Yeah right...
For a while there it seemed she was always in his business...
Sara was cutting the window out of the wall when Warrick walked up to her and put his bag down.
"Damn! Taking the whole window," he stated before she shut off the saw and looked at him.
"Grissom reinstated you."
"And you have a problem with that," he countered.
"Let me guess. Grissom gets you to dime yourself off and now you both feel better? You're supposed to be in court. Instead, you're placing bets for a cheap thrill to satisfy nothing."
"Hey!" he began...she had gone too far with that one. "This has nothing to do with you. So are we going to work together...or not?"
"I'm already working," she replied before turning around and starting the saw. Warrick just sighed.
The case was no walk in the park that was the truth...
Sara smiled after Warrick had broken the glass with the bat. "Not bad. I'm impressed."
"Yeah, passed up a chance to play semipro ball. Went to college instead," he replied as she picked up a sliver of glass and passed it to him.
"I meant the Haeckel marks. Should tell us what we need to know," she replied as she put the glass under the scope and compared it with the glass at the crime scene. "This is the glass you line-drived."
"That's the glass you "sawzalled," he countered
"Right angles face the same direction. Take a look," she continued as she stepped aside.
Warrick looked at her. "Oh, now I'm worthy?"
"Just take a damn look," she snapped before he finally looked through the scope.
Later they were checking the glass found on the gun against the window glass. "One, two, three," Warrick spoke before they dropped the pieces of glass in two different containers. "Left one is from the broken window the other one is from the gun, both dropping at an identical rate. Glass is from the same source."
"So, Kenny broke the window from the inside using the butt of the gun," Sara concluded
"My theory...the brother was the executor of the parents' estate. He controlled the family money."
"Sounds like more than a theory," Sara countered
"I called the county clerk. With the brother out of the way, Kenny is the sole beneficiary. Slam that jail door," he continued before looking over at Sara "Makes you reconsider, doesn't it?"
"I never said you weren't a good CSI," she replied knowing what he was referring to, before walking away.
She was standing with Jason when he walked into the hallway. "Hey, Jas, how you doing?"
"Better. Hey, thanks for busting me loose. My mom said she'll pay you back."
"No, you'll pay me back, Shorty. Just don't be pulling any more fire alarms."
"Oh, I won't"
"Gets you more attention than you want," Warrick continued
"I know."
"You still working on those moves I showed you?"
"Yeah, every day after school," Jason agreed and they sparred for a moment.
"How about that? How about that right there? Good."
"Hey, I got to go. My mom's waiting for me."
"Hey, come here," Warrick said as he leaned over and put his hand around Jason's shoulders to speak confidentially to him. "Apologize to your mom, all right? Let her know she can trust you."
"Yeah."
"All right?"
"Bye, Warrick. Uh...see you next week," Jason said after a moment.
"See you next week, jaws," Warrick replied before Jason left.
"So you went to the casino to win bail money," Sara spoke softly
"He needed my help. I didn't win anything, Sara. You're a CSI. You saw me enter a casino. Did you see me place a bet?" he asked
"You want to tell me you didn't?"
"I don't have to tell you anything," Warrick replied before sighing. "Look, I went there to collect a debt that was owed to me," he explained before pausing. "We're supposed to be working together. Next time, just try talking to me instead of going around behind my back," he added before turning and leaving.
Well...things sorta got better after that...It wasn't until the case that she was sure could prove Spontaneous Combustion...After that things got a bit easier...
"Interesting voice mail you left me," Sara spoke up as she walked up to him.
"What's that?" he asked
"Meet me behind CSI and bring a cotton nightgown. I'd wear it for you but, uh, I prefer pajamas," she replied.
"Really? It was actually for my girlfriend here…" he explained as he uncovered the cloth around a pig. "Miss Piggy."
Sara grimaced and took a step backward. "We're experimenting on a pig again?"
"Yeah," he replied as he put the pig in the rocking chair similar to the one at the Winston's house.
Sara swallowed. "You know, I-I-I haven't eaten meat since Grissom used one to estimate postmortem insect growth."
"Well, I tried for human volunteers, but no takers," Warrick replied with a smile.
"What are you going to do, exactly?" she asked after a moment before Warrick took the nightgown from her and started dressing the pig.
"What are we going to do? We're disproving the existence of spontaneous human combustion," he explained before she smiled.
"You do not give up."
"Well, we're recreating the death of Nadine Winston, right? She was wearing a cotton nightgown - thank you - and she had a half a pack of smokes on her end table, which means she was probably smoking a cigarette."
"If she burned herself with the cigarette, she would've woken up, not burned up," Sara countered.
"Best part: Toxicology sample came back. Nadine had a high concentration of seconal in her blood."
"Sleeping pills," Sara realized
"Enough to knock out a horse," he countered with a grin as he finished dressing the pig. "All right," he continued as he took out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth before starting to pat himself looking for matches.
"Care for a light?" Sara asked with a smile as she took a lighter from her jacket pocket and lit his cigarette. Smiling he made sure it was lit, and then placed it on the edge of "Miss Piggy's" nightdress. "Now what?" she asked when he was done.
"We wait," he replied as the cigarette started to burn the nightdress.
Hours later they were playing chess next to the smoking chair. Warrick took a sip from his mug while Sara made her move.
"I just got back to the lab, saw the smoke. What's up?" Grissom asked as he walked over to them.
"We're just working the case," Sara replied
"Yeah, we're disproving spontaneous human combustion. We dressed the pig up in a cotton dress and torched it with a cigarette."
"And what happened?" Grissom asked after Warrick's explanation.
"The pig's been reduced to ash. The fat acted like candle wax; burned hot, slow and intense," Warrick explained as Grissom looked down at the chessboard and made the next move. Warrick slowed down his explanation when he noticed that Grissom wasn't that interested in it.
"Nothing spontaneous about it," Warrick finished
"You both knew that there'd be a scientific explanation for the human torch though, right?" Grissom asked as Sara remained silent and looked down at the board. Warrick quickly covered.
"Of course," Sara looked up at him as he glanced up at her also. Then Grissom piped up.
"Did you find the wick?" Grissom walked around Sara towards the chair.
"The wick?" Sara asked
"The what?" Warrick echoed.
"A piece of fabric that's scorched but not completely burned...like possibly from the nightgown," Grissom explained as he picked up a piece of unburned fabric stuck in the chair.
"We found the same thing at the crime scene," Sara realized
"It's called the wick effect. It's like an inside-out candle. The fabric acts like a wick, and the body burns inward explaining the high temperatures, which destroy the bone. The fabric ends up scorched, but not completely burned," Grissom explained as he turned to look at them.
"You knew about the ashes? Why didn't you say something when you gave us the case?" Sara asked
"Well, in science we learn through experimentation, right? Sometimes we need to see it to believe it. You guys did a nice job. Now you have to clean it up," Grissom replied as he put the piece of cloth down and walked away. Sara moved to stand in front of Warrick.
"Well, I would've looked like an idiot. Thanks for covering."
"Well, you can show your appreciation by, uh, cleaning up," he replied with a smile as she scrunched up her face, and then smiled.
"Done."
Things had gotten easier after that...So many other memories floated through his brain, but he didn't have the time to think about them. Stopping the car he turned off the engine and grabbed his kit. He had a burglary to investigate...
Sunday August 15th, 2004
7:15 p.m.
Las Vegas ; on the road to Summerlin
She still remembered the first time she saw Sara...
"Do you know where I can find Catherine Willows?" Sara asked as she walked into the room to find Catherine working on the laptop.
"She's out in the field," Catherine replied without looking up. Sara stopped and looked down at the piece of paper in her hand. And Catherine finally looked up at her. "Let me guess...Sara Sidle?"
"I know who I am. I think you're a little confused," Sara replied with a smile.
"If you think you're taking my case...forget it."
Sara sighed before turning and shutting the door. "Look, we can stand here and argue...or...we can get out there and find out who did this to Holly Gribbs," she began "Two sharp women are better than one."
Catherine considered it for a moment, then turned and grabbed the evidence bag next to her. She held it up as she spoke. "Pager," taking it out of the bag she continued. "Found at the crime scene."
Sara walked around the table to look at what Catherine was working on. "Where'd you get the pager nest?"
"Grissom. He won it on e-bay."
"They're great for tracing if you can rely on the suspect's honesty."
"Uh...Desmond Tutu."
"See what I mean? Don't feel bad. My last four traces came back Eminem," Sara smiled. "…so...look, you seem to have everything under control here," she paused. "Where can I find Warrick Brown?"
"Try one of the casinos on Blue Diamond Road," Sara nodded before slowly heading for the door. "Oh, I'll page you with any information," Catherine continued as she held the pager up. Sara smiled before leaving the room.
She had been surprised when Sara suggested they work together...thrilled the other woman wasn't trying to take her case, but surprised...and after a moment, she had agreed...
Then after they heard about Holly...she had that insane call with Sara there...
Catherine was in the break room trying to accept the truth when Sara walked in.
"Mind if I get a soda?"
She looked at Sara, puzzled by the request, until Sara indicated the refrigerator behind her. "Oh, yeah. Sorry," she answered before moving.
"You want one?" Sara had asked as she held out the soda can.
"Is there anything in there with alcohol?"
"Root beer."
"No," Catherine answered before they heard a pager and both women reached for their pagers. And the beeping continued. Catherine had grabbed the bagged pager first then checked it. "Oh...God." After that she had scrambled to get her phone out as Sara handed her the pager. Dialing she set the pager down.
Sara smiled "What are you going to say? "Hi, I'm a Criminalist. I was in the neighborhood... "
"Shh. It's ringing," Catherine hushed her before the guy answered.
"Hello."
"Uh, hey."
"Who's this? I just dialed my own damn beeper."
"Uh-uh. It's my beeper now. I found it," Catherine replied as she leaned back in her chair.
"It ain't your beeper, girl. It's mine." Beside Catherine Sara had sat down and was listening intently as the creep, Cooper, continued. "I do a lot of business on that beeper."
"What kind of business?" Catherine asked
"You know - slinging a little something-something."
"Oh, a little something-something. Or maybe a little bling- bling?"
"So what you know about some bling-bling?"
"Well, invite me over to your crib, baby and you might find out."
"It's on. Three Aces Motel, Room 202."
"Three Aces Motel, Room 202," Catherine repeated as Sara wrote it down.
"See you soon." Cooper answered after Catherine had sighed. Smiling she hung up before turning to Sara.
"Did I just do that?"
"What's a "bling-bling"?" Sara asked
"Got me," Catherine admitted before Sara stood up.
She still wondered what 'Bling-Bling' was...
"Catherine?"
Glancing over at Greg, Catherine shook her head softly, clearing her head of the thoughts that were roaming around in it. "Sorry."
"That's okay," Greg replied with a shrug before turning to look out his own window. So the first time he met Sara hadn't been that interesting...
But he still remembered the time she had been called in from vacation...she was so damn ticked at everything and everyone...
And of course he had been so chipper...
"What up, G?" Nick asked as he walked into the lab to find Greg sitting in his chair, music up, and swinging around, completely hyped up as the music blared in his lab.
"You're awake. I hate you," Sara grumbled
"A couple of glasses of merlot. Rack of lamb on my day off. I slept like a baby yesterday. You look horrible," he continued with a smirk as she glared at him.
"Thanks, Greg," Greg nodded at Nick.
"Don't look at me. I've got 'Sunshine' all night," Nick replied glancing over at Sara who glared at him. She definitely caught exactly who he was calling 'Sunshine' and Greg had to hide a grin. "Check for DNA in the sexual assault kit and the fingernail, please." Nick continued
"Everything has to be in CODIS ASAP," Sara continued
"Oh, is that all? I want to know who's going to authorize my overtime?" Greg challenged
"Suck it up, Greg. You're well-rested," Sara snapped lightly as she walked away from the room. Greg looked over at Nick who didn't say anything.
"You want a valium for her?" he asked with a smile
"I heard that," Sara snapped from outside the room. Nick smiled at Greg before turning to follow the irate woman out of the lab.
Greg shook his head before turning to work.
Man was she pissed that night...luckily he had never seen her like that again...
Probably a better thing for his safety than for her piece of mind...or anyone else's piece of mind in the lab...
"Greg?" Catherine's voice called him back from his own thoughts and he turned to look at her.
"Sorry."
"That's okay," she answered with a grin. Shaking his head he looked back and realized they had reached their scene.
"So, another day of fun?"
"Always," Catherine smiled as she stepped out of the car.
Sunday August 15th, 2004
7:23 p.m.
CSI Lab
He still remembered the first case they worked on together...
Sara was looking at the doorframe in the Garris house when he arrived. Immediately he turned to see what she was looking at, until she turned around.
"...you're standing in my crime scene."
"No," he replied as he held up the disk "You're in mine," he smiled and turned to walk out of the house.
"You're doing audio? I wanted that," Sara answered, her envy obvious.
"I outrank you," he answered
"Technicality. Who did Grissom handpick to work here?" she replied before he chuckled dryly.
"Keep telling yourself that."
Then there was that time he caught her singing...
"One way or another, I'm going to see you," Sara sung softly before humming the next few bars. "One day, maybe next week, I'm going to meet you, meet you, I will..."
He stopped working on the jeans to look up and listen to Sara. "Hey, Sara, did anyone ever tell you, you have a pretty good singing voice?"
"If you like chalk on a board," she retorted
"Come on. I've heard you around here. People never tell you that?" he asked as she turned around and looked at him.
"It's a-a habit. I don't even realize I'm doing it. Did you get that belt loop from the crime scene lined up yet?" she asked changing the subject.
"Yeah. Yeah. Take a look," he stepped aside to let Sara look through the magnifying glass.
"Fits like a glove."
"Okay, let's go tell the boss," he agreed as she moved back to her table.
"You go. I have something to do first."
"Hey, if you go near that Thorpe kid..." Nick said worriedly as she turned around to look at him.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying..." he continued concerned, he wasn't going to back down.
"It's something else. Promise," she replied with a smile letting him know she appreciated his concern. Gathering her things she left the room as he watched her.
He had never mentioned it again. Probably should have though...
Now he'd never have the chance...
"Hey you two, what's up?" Brass asked as he walked into the lab where Grissom and Nick were working.
"Sara's gone," Nick replied softly.
"What?" Jim asked shocked.
"She's resigned," Grissom answered with a sigh.
"Damn," Jim murmured, damn the girl was gone? It seemed like only yesterday that he met her. And yes, sure he remembered the first time he met her. But his first real memory that came to mind would be that day the four of them, Nick, Sara, Catherine, and himself; had lunch...back when she was still eating meat...
"Who picked this place?" Nick asked as they were sitting in the booth.
"Me. I thought it would be nice," Catherine replied.
"Okay, you can pick up the tab," Jim countered. " Let's keep talking about motive."
"Let's. I don't think a forged signature is a slam dunk for murder."
"Hey, did anyone tell Grissom where we were having lunch?" Nick asked after Catherine's comment.
"Yeah, dispatch left a message," Sara replied
"Maybe he thought it was the Sheriff, and blew it off," Jim suggested as everyone continued eating.
"This Chilean Sea Bass is wonderful," Sara spoke up
"So is this," Catherine agreed about her meal.
"Okay, you got your missing widow. Her bloody tooth found in her own bedroom which is currently occupied by two moes," Sara continued
"Moes. I'm rubbing off on you," Jim spoke up with a smirk before taking a forkful of her fish and eating it.
"No, you're not, and stay out of my sea bass," Sara snapped lightly
"Oh, that is good. One of our moes has six names that we know of including Chad Matthews." Nick continued shaking his head at their antics
"Right, right, and we've got a cuff link with the initials C.M. found in the bottom of the pool along with a floating showgirl," Catherine continued
"Who was sleeping with six men rolled into one - Patrick Haynes," Sara added
"Okay, Patrick Haynes," Nick spoke as he thought.
"Or whoever," Jim countered as he wiped his mouth.
"Whoever. He commits a murder ten years ago. Why give up your DNA so easily?" Nick replied as he drank his coffee
"Exactly. I mean, you know, you can change your name. You can't change your blueprint." Catherine agreed
"Right on."
Sara smiled at Nick's response. "Risk versus reward. You sleep with someone; you kill 'em, the heat's on. You flee, or, you roll the dice and maybe you get your cookie."
"What's the cookie?" Nick asked
"The cheese, brother. Maybe that 1.6 mil they raised at the charity event that night," Jim replied shaking his head.
"The Hayneses controlled Portia Richmond's bank account including the Burn Center Account but they had to stick around for the cheques to clear," Catherine continued
"So why kill Lacey Duvall?" Sara asked
"Excellent question."
"I don't know, but if Lacey Duvall hadn't been murdered Patrick Haynes reinvents himself becomes another Skippy in another state, $1.6 mil richer," Jim spoke up after Catherine's latest comment.
"Wait, wait. Time out, now. I had half a Caesar and a coffee. How's my end 20 bucks?" Nick asked as he looked at the check.
"You want to go Dutch, Nick?" Sara asked with a smile
"Excellent idea, Sara. You're catching on. I'd love to," Nick replied with a smile of his own as everyone started throwing their money into the pot in the center of the table as Catherine looked over the cheque.
"Uh, Brass, cough it up," Catherine began "Cover Nick's, too. He had that tiramisu."
Jim groaned. "I hate going out to lunch with you CSIs. You notice everything."
Okay so maybe he shouldn't have stolen from everyone's plates...but hey, that's how he was, is...they're used to it by now...don't even make him pay...as often...
Next memory with Sara would have to be that case on the plane...she was so defensive about her character...
They were all gathered in the plane as Grissom went over information and they carried dummies that would represent the passengers.
"Okay, Vicki Mercer and Carl Finn. I believe are in the bathroom," Grissom began as Warrick and Catherine carried their dummies into the plane and towards the bathroom.
"Mile high club."
"If you ask me, it's their spouses that are the dummies," Catherine replied in response to Warrick's comment
"Emily Behrle is in 3F," Grissom continued as Nick put his dummy in 3F. "Preston Cash, 1A."
Brass raised his dummy. "Tony Candlewell, dead guy?" he asked
"Right there, 3C. And for now, he's alive until he's dead," Jim rolled his eyes before setting the dummy in the seat, and then turned to Grissom. "So, you want to tell us what we're doing here?"
Everyone gathered around to listen to the explanation. "The physical evidence that Sara, Nick, and I collected is contradicting the anecdotal statements that you, Catherine, and Warrick got and my money's on the physical evidence."
"So is mine. These passengers are lying," Catherine agreed
"I mean, if this was an arson case, we'd burn down an empty house to prove our theory, right? Well, in this case we're going to recreate the flight from...1630 hours on. You are in 4B," Grissom continued as he handed Jim a card with a name on it.
Jim looked down and read, "Lou."
"Lou, the angry businessman. How about that?" Catherine spoke up with a smile.
"I want to be Shannon," Sara spoke up as Grissom handed her the card. "Good."
"The stewardess."
"Excuse me, it's "Flight Attendant"," Sara snapped lightly towards Warrick. Jim mentally fought a few snickers. Feisty one, that one Grissom had brought in.
"Catherine, the doctor, 3E," Grissom continued as he handed her the card.
"Single mom. What an imagination you have," she answered rolling her eyes.
"Max and Marlene, 2E and F. You two are married. Who wants to wear the pants?" Grissom continued turning to Nick and Warrick.
"CSI-3 seniority, "Sweetie"," Nick answered before snatching the card from Grissom. Warrick reached over for his own card.
"Yeah, whatever. You're henpecked anyway," Warrick answered
"Let me guess, you're the computer geek," Sara spoke up
"In the interest of clarity, yes. Nate in 2C," Grissom answered before taking a seat. The broken seat fell backward before Warrick snickered at the sight. Grissom just glared at the younger man. "Okay, look, it's going to be sunrise in ten minutes. We're going to have to do a run, Lola, run and play this in literal time. Up until the point that Captain Murdle escorted the dead guy back to his seat the events are substantiated by the flight log and the eyewitness statements unless anybody knows something different."
"What time was that?" Catherine asked
"1632 hours. Exactly 33 minutes before they landed in Vegas. One minute later, the plane hit turbulence."
Jim spoke up after Grissom. "And, according to the Flight Attendant that's when our stiff lost it and started hammering his call button."
"So, I walk over..." Sara began "...try to calm the guy down, but he won't quit."
"Well, we know he's suffering from encephalitis. He's probably sweating and fighting back a migraine," Grissom spoke up.
"I know what my guy's doing in my seat, Lou. He's getting ticked off," Jim added
"Yeah, but Candlewell is ticking off Nate in 2C even worse. I mean, this guy is perseverating. Uncontrollably kicking at the seat."
"That's when he winds up and breaks your seat," Jim continued for Grissom
"So, I get up, spin around...confront the guy."
"Now, Lou, in 4B, said he was the peacemaker," Warrick spoke up.
"Peacemaker, my ass," Jim replied as he reached for the pocket in front of him and pulled out the alcohol bottles. "He's got three empties in the pouch. Seat reeks of whiskey. The guy probably spilled Lou's drink."
Catherine was impressed. "Very good."
"I was boss at CSI once. For a reason," Jim answered before taking a breath and standing up, getting into character. "Anyway, Lou gets up. He's angry. He takes a swipe at the guy. After knocking a few back at 33,000 feet you know, probably misses. And what does he get for his trouble?"
"A CD swipe across the chops," Warrick answered
"Right. So he falls back...well...maybe Lou...spills his own drink," Jim continued
"By this time, Candlewell's got to be out of his seat, right?" Grissom spoke up as he stood and grabbed the dummy.
"If I'm Max, I want no part of this," Nick spoke up "Plus, I don't have an aisle seat."
"Yeah, but you're lucky. Your wife is going to make sure that you get in the playing field," Jim answered
Warrick turned to Nick. "Yeah, go ahead, honey. Save my life."
"Right. Max gets up...slides across Marlene. Excuse me, 'Buttercup'," Nick answered as Grissom continues, still holding the dummy.
"Candlewell's moving up and down the aisle by now."
"I come over confront the dead guy. Then what?" he asked turning around "Who talked to 2F? To Max?"
Jim answered from his seat. "I did. Max told the dead guy to sit down. He turned, he shoved Max into the food cart." As he talked Grissom pushes Nick with the dummy's hand "...Max landed on the ground," he continued.
"Warrick…I mean, 'Marlene'…that's when you got up and grabbed the broken wine neck," Sara spoke up finally.
Warrick got up and grabbed the bottle. "Saved Nick's butt, as usual."
"There's a bottle of wine on the floor," Grissom continued "You slash at Candlewell..."
"Then he swipes him across the hand. Hence the defensive wound," Jim added getting into this, it was actually quite fun.
"Now our guy's bleeding. He turns and heads for the cockpit," Grissom took the Dummy and acted out what happened. "Bang, bang. He wants in the cockpit...but the door is locked. Captain Murdle gets on the horn calls first class twice. No answer. Why?"
"Shannon's vapor-locked," Sara answered
"He can't get in the cockpit. What's next?" Grissom began as he looked around then stretched the dummy's hand towards the door. "He heads for the exit door. Blood underneath the latch handle shows that Candlewell tried to open it. And, if he gets the door open, they all die."
"Now it's a whole new ball game. It's every man for himself," Jim spoke up as he headed for the front.
"Oh, yeah," Nick agreed as he followed. "This is when they really get scared."
"And, according to Preston, Max and Lou they got to Candlewell first," Warrick added
"The struggle ensued. Max and Lou slammed into Preston...and, at some point, Candlewell goes down. Now it's a free-for-all," Grissom continued. Sara was watching from the sidelines, and not really participating. She walked closer as they continued.
"And my shoes end up on his back," Catherine spoke up
"Mine, too," Nick agreed
"Ditto," Jim had added.
"He's messing with my man, so I get my licks in," Warrick continued
"Nate's knuckles were bruised...so he was in on it."
"We're in close quarters, so there's elbows flying everywhere," Jim continued after Grissom
"That's probably how the doctor got her black eye."
"Right," Jim agreed with Catherine.
"Hey, guys!" Sara spoke up as she spotted something. "If you jump a guy at the exit, he dies at the exit."
Grissom stood up as he realized what Sara was saying. Everyone else backed away from the toy dummy.
"Yeah," Jim began "And our guy..." he continued as he picked up the dummy and carried it towards Sara. "...was found five feet away...with his head towards coach," he finished as he put the dummy on the ground.
"He tried to get away."
"But they didn't let him," Warrick agreed with Nick
Catherine spoke up with a slight frown. "And, at this point we're not individuals anymore, we're a mob. And you can't perform CPR on a man's back. Dr. Behrle had to have rolled him over...probably just to cover for herself."
"That makes us all murderers."
That had been an interesting thought...that they were all murderers...God, so many things had happened since then...numerous cases came to mind. The time he talked to Sara about her drinking...and her 'cough drops'...and now she was gone? Damn someone had to be playing a trick on him.
"Jim?"
Looking up at Grissom he shrugged slightly. "Sorry, lost in thought. So anything from the Doc about our new girl?" he continued focusing on the case at hand rather than their missing CSI.
"Was just about to go down there..." Grissom trailed off as he stood. "Nick?"
"I'll stay here," Nick replied before going back to the things in front of him. Grissom nodded before leaving the room, Brass following behind him.
"So, what's going on?" Jim asked as they walked.
Grissom sighed softly before beginning to fill the man in.
Sunday August 15th, 2004
7:41 p.m.
CSI Forensic Autopsy
"I called her place, she didn't answer. Talked to her manager, she left two days ago," Grissom explained as he and Jim walked into the room.
"Our girl did?" Al asked hearing the tail end of the conversation.
"Huh?" Jim asked looking up. "Oh, sorry Al. No we're talking about Sara."
"Sara's gone?" Al asked in shock.
"Yeah, she resigned," Jim replied softly.
"Wow," Al murmured as he sat back down. Heavens, he still remembered the first autopsy they had together...
He was doing the autopsy of the woman they found in the mountains...the bug woman as a few of the others called her. Grissom and Sara walked in and he looked up at them. "Your young woman from the mountains."
"Do we know who she is yet?" Grissom had asked
"I gave her prints to homicide for ID. There's the blanket she was wrapped in. Whoever she is, last day on earth was not pleasant. .38 caliber gun, flush to the scalp. Shot clean through, right to left. Bullet out the other side," he explained as Sara leaned in close and looked at the wound.
"Stellate pattern and beveled wound confirms the proximity of barrel to scalp. No question this was an intimate killing."
"Full of sound and fury signifying...what, Doc?"
He turned and walked off to the side after Grissom's question. Walking over to the view box he continued. "I took these," he spoke as he turned it on.
"Let's see what we have. Fracture to the nasal bone, orbital bone, mandibular...all facial fractures," Sara spoke up and it finally clicked in his brain.
"Typical for battered women."
"These aren't fresh, are they?" she asked turning to look at him
"The old fracture lines indicate this woman was in a long-term abusive relationship," he explained as she turned back to the x-rays.
"Any idea how long she's been dead?"
Shaking his head in answer to her question he mentally sighed. "The elements really got to her. Grissom and his insects are going to have to figure that one out." Turning around he saw Grissom picking up a bug from the body. "Have we lost you, Grissom?"
"The worms go in the worms go out...the worms play pinochle on your snout," Grissom muttered
Shakespeare again?" Sara asked
"An old nursery rhyme," Grissom answered
"A very special insect, Dr. Seuss?" Robbins asked with a smile
"A muscid fly, typical only in urban areas."
"But you found her in the mountains," Robbins answered as Grissom merely smiled.
"Al?"
"What? Oh, sorry," Al apologized as he rose. "Our new girl, nothing unusual," he began turning back to the young woman on the slab and pushing memories of Sara to the back of his mind.
"Who didn't see that coming," Jim asked with a sigh.