Chapter 4

Nick arrived at the scene first and looked around at everyone that was gathered around. He wasn't a novice when it came to working scenes so he could tell that there were way to many unnecessary people around the area. He frowned and walked over to where Grissom was standing and motioned around him at the workers that were just standing around.

"Are we throwing a crime scene party that I didn't know about?" Nick asked with a sarcastic look.

"Nope. We just got word that they want to enforce a new task force when it comes to this killer. Most of these guys are new arrivals waiting for orders from their boss. The uniformed cops getting ready to lose their lunch are the first on scene. Before you head over to where the body is there is something you should know." Kathryn said taking off her sunglasses and looking him over.

"Oh yeah and what's that?" Nick asked taking his own sunglasses off to study her face.

"Your name is all over this one, literally." Kathryn said with a shrug of her shoulders. "It looks to me like he wanted to make sure you knew that this was your scene and that you were the only one supposed to work it."

"Just my name?" Nick asked referring to Krisalyn.

"No she is mentioned but it's mostly yours. If he sticks with his regular pattern than your name will be on the female victims and her name will be on the males." Kathryn said shrugging her shoulders again.

"Good to know, I think." Nick said rolling his eyes. "So the vic is a female, know anything else?"

"Not yet. There is no ID and it looks like she was taking from her bed so there wont be one until someone files a missing persons report." Kathryn said as they walked towards the vic.

Kathryn looked over to where they had just left a silently brooding Grissom. She knew there was a reason he hadn't addressed Nick when he had approached and it was why she had. She sighed and then grabbed up the remainder of her gear and saluted Nick.

"It's all yours and Krisalyn's when she arrives." Kathryn said smiling as she left the area.

Nick watched his colleagues enter their vehicle and leave him at the scene. He looked at all the officers around him and had to shake his head at his own haunting fears. He still remembered the time when he had been kidnapped from a scene and although this scene was completely different his fears were the same and very real. He set down his gear and replaced his sunglasses where they would shield his eyes. He had worked plenty of crime scenes on his own so he wasn't all that concerned about being there without another investigator, his only concern was the name that was imprinted on the woman's head. It had clearly been carved in, probably while she was still alive. It was his name that was marked in the woman's skin.

He looked downward into the socket where her eyes were supposed to be and gulped when he saw empty sockets. He had seen many gruesome crime scenes on this job but for some reason this one hit him hard, most likely because his name was written all over the place. Sighing he continued his first glance of the victim's body and groaned with displeasure as he realized his name was definitely all over the crime scene. It was mainly on the victim and it was enough to make even his own stomach lurch. Sighing again he pulled a pack of gum out of his pocket and popped a piece into his mouth to try and keep from losing some of meal he had managed to eat earlier.

He grinned as he watched the crime scene technician work the scene solo. He knew the other one was probably on her way but at least the bosses here in Vegas didn't have a notion that they could protect their people from him. They had probably learned from the other cities mistakes and were taking that into consideration. He laughed as he photographed the scenes before him and checked to make sure the video camera was videotaping the investigator working his scene. This was going to be his best work yet, he had a feeling.

Nick glanced up when he heard another vehicle approaching and sighed with displeasure as he saw Krisalyn slowly unfold herself from behind the wheel. A part of him was glad she was back on her feet after the last crime scene and another part of him was angry to see her. As much as he remembered being a target before he had a feeling this time was different and he didn't want any innocent women around him. Sighing yet again he felt disgusted with himself for trying to pretend like she wasn't a target herself.

"What took you so long?" He asked her gruffly.

"Why are you so cranky?" Krisalyn asked him taking her sunglasses off of her face and cocking an eyebrow.

"You're name isn't carved into an innocent woman's forehead." Nick said with another sigh.

"Ouch. Well do you want me to work the vic?" She asked trying to be helpful.

"No. I already started with her. Why don't you check the surrounding area for something." Nick suggested with a sigh.

Nick turned back to the victim and sucked in his breath. He had a feeling he was going to regret his decision to continue working with the victim.

He laughed as he watched them work the crime scene the way they were trained to. It was always good to know that things went the way you planned. He was going to have thank all his training in his past for getting him to this point. It was always nice to know that stupid people could train future serial killers without even realizing it. He laughed even louder as he watched his little puppets as he was ready to refer to them, work the scene as they were trained, following his trail. Boy he couldn't wait till the real fun started and it would start real soon.