Author's Note: Alright, this one is very very short, and I apologize for that. It just didn't fit into the previous or the next chapter very well, so I gave it its own. I have to ramp up the suspense somehow, right!? As always, thank you for sticking with me so far, you have all been fantastic and I appreciate it so much. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and don't leave me now. It's about to get good!

Here's to chapter nine! Hurrah!

Grissom walked into the crime lab almost as if he were in a trance, clutching the bagged cloth close to his chest. As he passed the front desk, Judy, the frizzy haired receptionist, called out, "Doctor Grissom, you've received another package." She held it out to him, not realizing what lay within.

"Thanks Judy," he said hoarsely, heading straight to the layout room, suddenly much more focused.

OoOoOoOoO

Catherine had printed off the new email and went in search of her team. She found that they had relocated to the layout room, the new miniature sitting in front of them.

"Guys," she started to say, but was interrupted by Grissom rushing in behind her, slamming the box and bag on the table.

"Another miniature," he panted, leaning on the table to catch his breath. "And… and… a cloth. I think it has halothane on it. I found it in Sara's kitchen… Trace, now…"

Warrick picked it up and swept from the room, pausing at the door to say, "Already gone, Griss."

Catherine opened the new box, and extracted the improved miniature. "Why would he send us another one?" she asked slowly.

"I know why," Nick said, peering into the first box. "The first one doesn't have a body."

OoOoOoOoO

Warrick practically ran to the Trace lab, and shoved the bag under Hodges's nose. "Analyze that now," he commanded, causing Hodges to glare up at him.

"I'm kind of busy…"

"You're kind of busy?!" Warrick said incredulously.

"Yeah I am, so your trace, whatever it might be, is just going to have to wait until I get to it," Hodges replied with a haughty glare.

"Hodges!" Warrick shouted. "Are you fucking kidding me?! You know that Sara is missing?"

"Yes…"

"This was found in her apartment. It's all we've got to go on. Now process the damn thing before I come back in here and kick your skinny, white ass."

"Okay, okay," he said, pushing his current work away from him. "I'm processing!"

"Good." Warrick stormed out, headed back towards the layout room.

OoOoOoOoO

Archie stared at his computer screen, looking for his friend among the throngs of people. He hadn't seen her yet, but one man in particular had caught his attention. Picking up his cell from the desk, he dialed Catherine's phone.

"Yes?" Catherine answered irritably.

"Hey Cath, it's Archie."

"Did you find her?"

Grissom sat up, staring at Catherine for confirmation that the lab tech had finally spotted her among the throngs of people in the hotel.

"No, but there is a guy who looks pretty suspicious, and he keeps coming and going. He shows up about every half hour or so. I have the email times with me, and it looks like he's in the building at all the same corresponding times…"

"That's kind of a long shot, Arch," Catherine said warily.

"Yeah, I know. But I can't shake the feeling that he's important. Come check him out?"

"On our way," she promised, and hung up.

OoOoOoOoO

Looking for some way to escape, Sara was trudging around the room, trying to scope out every possible exit. She did not want to die here. I will not die here, she decided with finality. She wanted to go home, and she wanted Grissom to hold her, and she wanted pretend that this had never happened. But that comforting scenario seemed to be deteriorating quickly, and soon, all Sara could feel was the familiar desperation creeping back into her heart.

"Gil," she whispered a quiet prayer to her lover. "Please come find me. I love you."

OoOoOoOoO

Grissom and Catherine stood behind Archie as he walked them through the many sightings of the peculiar man. He'd been in and out many times – Grissom had stopped counting after five.

"What's the best shot you can get on this guy's face?" he asked the younger man, wanting to bring him in for questioning.

"This one here," Archie said, pulling up a ready-to-go profile picture. "Print it off?"

"Yes please."

He reached behind the monitor and pulled out an already-printed picture. "I'm way ahead of you, Griss. There you go."

Catherine gave him a beaming smile and retreated from the room, leaving Grissom with the tech. Grissom gave Archie a small smile before following Catherine out the door.

to be continued...