A/N-Been busy with work and going out of town, but I got a new chapter and another in the works.


Chapter 15

Nick sat in front of the computer screen, waiting for it to run through all the different types of tire treads until it found a match. Sara came in, offering a fresh cup of Starbucks coffee she picked up on the way back to the lab.

"Ahh, thanks! You must have read my mind." Nick smiled at Sara as she handed off the cup to him.

"Got any matches yet," Sara asked as she peered over Nick's shoulder. "No, nothing yet. Grissom is working on the security camera videos from the parking garage. I think that is our best bet of identifying the vehicle for sure."

Nick looked at Sara more seriously now. "So how is our boy holding up?" Sara pulled up a chair next to Nick.

"He's holding up okay considering but where I am concerned is who he thinks is responsible for this."

"Who is that?"

"Aaron James. Greg seems to think he did this for payback." Nick looked thoughtfully about it for a moment and then looking at Sara, he said, "He could be right."

Sara was surprised to hear Nick agree with Greg's thoughts. Seeing Sara's expression he decided to explain. "Greg has already said he spotted Aaron several times when he was with Eve. What is to say that he has not been planning this for a while? I think we really owe Greg to look into him."

Sara frowned. "Okay but we should watch ourselves on it since I am sure if the Under-sheriff gets wind of this he might not be happy, seeing as the city has already dealt with much publicity with the Demetrius James case. You know him and bad PR."

"Yeah I do. We will make sure to follow where the evidence leads us, as always."

"Okay, I am going to check with Grissom to see how the video tapes are going?" Sara walked into the audio/visual lab and saw Catherine standing next to Archie and Grissom who was viewing the videos.

"Hey Catherine," Sara said as she stepped in the doorway.

"Hi Sara. I heard about Greg's girlfriend and what happened. I came in here to check with Grissom to see if he had any leads yet."

Grissom looked to Sara. "So how is Greg holding up?"

Sara leaned against the doorframe. "He looks stressed, but overall I think he is dealing with it pretty good."

"Did you bring up to him taking time off?"

"Yes, he said he would let you know soon."

"Good. Anyway it looks like out driver did not realize there was a camera in the parking garage."

Grissom pointed to a Caprice parked in a spot on level one of the garage. "It seems all the managers at the hotel have reserved spots on level one of the parking garage, so that means Eve Dunn parked in the same spot everyday. The suspect would have been able to realize this if they had been stalking her or knew her. This has been identified as her car at the beginning of her shift."

Archie fast-forwarded the tape a few hours. "See this car over here," he said as he pointed to the corner of the screen at a black car. "You can barely make out someone sitting in the car. As you fast forward in time, the person remains in the car."

Sara was now also watching over his shoulder. Archie sped up time until 2:05 am. He paused it to where on the right side of the screen they could barely see Eve walking to her car. As she crossed the parking garage to get to her car, the black sedan sitting in the corner came pulling out of it's spot, heading towards Eve. They could see Eve start to turn towards the direction of the car coming at her. Then the car plowed into her, flipping her onto the hood and then flying over the top of the car as it kept going. The car drove away as her body landed back onto the garage floor. A few seconds later a man could be seen running up to her body and checking on her, then getting out his cell phone. Archie paused the video at that point.

Sara, Grissom, and Catherine all looked at each other, their faces grim. No matter how many times they saw dead bodies or crimes being committed, it would still disturb them.

"She was purposely picked out. It was definitely not random," Sara said, now beginning to wonder more and more about Aaron James.

Grissom nodded. Then looked at Archie and asked, "Can you zoom in and try to get a look at the driver of the car?"

Archie nodded and rewound the tape. He paused on the part where the car was still in the parking spot. He started zooming in on the car, onto the driver. The focus was blurry. He tried clearing it up more, but all they could see of the driver was that whoever it was wore a ball cap and had their head bent down.

"Archie focus on the cap and the clothing," Grissom told him. Archie came in close on the cap and they identified it was a New York Yankees cap. The suspect wore a black jacket that was zipped up all the way to the neck.

"Well you can tell the suspect is a black person by the neck skin coloration, but can't he sure of what sex they are. Archie, go slow through where the car hits our victim."

Archie worked with the video while the others watched and processed what they saw. The driver had been smart enough to keep his/her face shielded from view from the video, plus it could not be cleared enough to make a visual. But they were able to make out the make of car. It was obviously premeditated by whoever did it.

Grissom and Sara headed back over to where Nick was staring at his computer screen. He looked up and saw them come in. "Hey, I got a possible make on the car."

Sara smiled at him. "We already ID-d the car. It is a Ford Taurus with no license plates on it."

He looked at Sara, slightly dejected. "Did you see who was driving the car?"

Sara knew where he was heading with this, but Grissom answered instead.

"The individual was mostly hiding his or her face, but we could tell they were black skinned."

Nick looked at Sara sternly, then looking to Grissom. "There is someone we might have to talk to about this eventually. It's Aaron James, brother of Demetrius James."

Grissom's brows perked up. "And you are coming to this conclusion because?"

Sara gave Nick a sour expression, but he went on to tell Grissom all about how Greg had seen Aaron on several occasions and how he had approached him during his trails.

Grissom remained quiet for a few seconds, processing everything he just found out. Finally, he expressed his thoughts on the new news.
"I agree we have to keep him in mind while going through the evidence we come across, but we do not question him until we have something that can link him to this for sure."

Sara and Nick both agreed on that. Grissom then left them to continue working on what they had so far.

After their extended shift had ended and Grissom sent Nick and Sara home, Nick decided to pay Greg a visit at the Hospital.

He looked in the window first to the room and saw Eve all hooked up to machines. Then he noticed Greg sitting in a chair off to the side, looking exhaustedly at Eve.

Nick quietly stepped into the room, quietly knocking on the door. Greg turned around and saw his co-worker and friend come in. Nick came in and looked closer at Eve. He remembered the vibrant woman he met and seeing her now felt his heart go out to Greg.

"How's the case coming along," Greg asked while feigning a yawn. "Sorry man." Greg apologized.

"Hey no need. We are all beat, but I think you look worse for the wear." Greg frowned at him.

Nick nodded his head toward Eve. "So how is she doing?" Greg's eyes fell upon her sadly.

"No change. She's still in critical condition. Doctor was just in here checking on her." Greg looked wearily at Nick. "The case," he asked again.

"Oh yeah. Sorry. Well we know what kind of car the suspect drove. It was a Ford Taurus. The suspect was in the garage for a few hours just sitting in wait for Eve to leave, it looked like." Nick paused for a moment before revealing the next bit of information as he could already see Greg's expression changing.

"We also know that the suspect was black skinned. We do not know if they were male or female. They covered their face up really well."

Greg's eyes narrowed at Nick. "Did Sara tell you I think Aaron James did this? She had her doubts, but more than ever I am convinced of it."

"Yes, she did and I actually brought it up to Grissom and he says we will definitely keep him in mind while processing the evidence." Greg looked pleased. "Good… good. I am glad you're supporting my theory on this, Nick."

Nick smiled at Greg. "Hey I know how crazy stalkers can get. I do not take it lightly. This guy has already threatened you verbally, who says he won't take it further."

"Thanks, I know that's my feeling on it." Greg turned away to look sadly at Eve. "I swear if he did this to her to get to me, I will make sure he is put away for life."

Nick placed a hand on Greg's shoulder. "We all will make sure of it."