Chapter 5:

One week into the second case Sara got called to a robbery at the BIG FISH & BURGER JOINT. It was the second such robbery at a fast food joint.

"What the hell is going on?" Sara asked Brass after she got out of her car, "This is just like the cold ones we just closed."

"I'm sure this is just a coincidence," Brass said.

"I don't believe in them," Sara said.

"Look Sara," Brass said, "These type of establishments are easy targets. Not much security and the kids that work there are way to scared to do anything and you know what that means. The more scared they are the less they see."

Sara shook her head and finished processing the scene.

Later that evening Gil and Sara were talking over dinner.

"I read about the robbery at the BIG FISH & BURGER JOINT," Gil said.

"Something's been bugging me," Sara said, standing as she started to clear the table, "Everything is just the same as the ones that we just closed."

"You say anything to anyone?" Gil asked.

"I said something to Jim and to Conrad," Sara said, "But they both seen to think that it is just a coincidence but I don't believe in them."

Gil smiled, "Easy targets, bad witnesses blah..blah."

"Yep," Sara said smiling.

Gil glanced at the clock, "How about you sleep on it. It's bed time."

Sara took his hand and followed him to the bedroom. Gil sat on the bed, opened the drawer of his bedside table and popped a pill.

"One of those days?" Sara said, stating the obvious.

Gil kissed her and lay down. Sara snuggled close to him and lay her head on his shoulder.

"Night love," she said.

"Night," he said, kissing her head.

The pills in the bedside stand were the stronger ones, the ones that knocked him out in just a short time.

In just a matter of minutes Sara could hear her husbands even breathing. Sara tried to sleep but couldn't, the new string of robberies had her confused. The class had solved the old ones so this couldn't be the same person. Maybe Jim right? Sara turned to her side and pushed her back against Gil, snuggling tight against him. In his sleep, Gil wrapped her in his arms. This seemed to calm her and soon Sara fell asleep.

The next morning Sara seemed extra quiet.

"Something wrong?" Gil asked.

"No," she answered, "Well it's just this case. I know everyone thinks I'm nuts."

Gil pulled her to him, "Your not nuts, a little crazy but not nuts."

Sara slapped at him, "Get yourself out of here. I need to get to work."

Gil kissed her, "I love you. See you this evening."

On here way to the lab Sara's phone rang, it was D.B., "Met Nick at 607 Chestnut Street, a B&E."

"Family is on vacation," Nick told her, "The pool boy noticed that the window on the back door was broken and called 911. Brass and his team cleared the house."

Sara grabbed her kit and went inside. While she was processing something seemed vaguely familiar, then it hit her. Two days ago she answered a similar call.

"People break into empty houses all the time," Nick said when she mentioned it to him.

"I know," Sara said.

Later at the lab Sara was sitting at the computer when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning she seen her husband.

"Hey," she said, not stopping what she was doing, "What's up."

"We had a lunch date," he reminded her.

"I'm sorry," she said, logging off the computer.

"What is it?" Gil asked, "You seem a million miles away."
"I got called to a case this morning," Sara told him, "The odd thing about it is that I worked one just like it three days ago. I thought it looked familiar so I went into the archives and guess what?"

"You found an old one," Gil said.

"Yes. Two years ago Greg worked a series of B&E's. All the families were on vacation. The same blue painters tape was on the backdoor windows to keep them from shattering and the same stuff was taken," she said.

"I remember reading about that," Gil said, "Only computers and televisions and small electronics were taken and none ever showed up at the pawn shops."

"Just like the robberies the break-ins stopped after three weeks, no one was ever charged and it case went cold," Sara said, "I know that fast food restaurants and empty houses are easy targets. But it's just odd that after two or three years they pick up again."

"I agree," Gil said, "They are easy targets but the fact that all the details are identical to the old ones is odd. How about I talk to D. B. with you, I have to see Doc anyway."

After lunch Gil went to see D.B. with Sara.