A/N: Hi everyone. New chapter afoot. Thank you for the reviews, very much appreciated. I'm very happy to hear you are enjoying the story. Chapter 7 and 8 are already up on my Pat reon. If you would like some great content and advance chapters as well as some upcoming member's only fiction, hop along and join the amazing gang. Info in previous chapters or feel free to message me.
A huge thank you to my current supporters – Nat, Mrs Crabby, Dbackfan, Walkertangr, AliceC, ChristineS, DawnS, Jillian, IngridT, Tracer85, Nati and NancyB.
Massive thanks to calim for the great beta and advice :)
On we go….
Chapter 6
Accompanied by a squad car, Max drove the investigators to Goodsprings, pulling up outside the warehouse where their victim was found. As the group got out of the car, Sara joined her husband and they both looked around.
"Never thought we'd be back here," Sara said as they ducked under the crime tape.
"Me either," Grissom agreed as he checked his watch then nipped down on his lip.
"You okay," she asked quietly, noticing Catherine looking their way. Obviously she hadn't been quiet enough.
"Hmmm," he breathed. "Got a little distracted and forgot to take my… you know."
Mouth opening in realization that her husband had forgotten to take his medication, she was about to reassure him when Catherine interrupted.
"What are you two whispering about?"
"What room service might have to offer later," Grissom lied, smirking at his friend when her eyes narrowed at him.
Stopping at the door to the warehouse, both Sara and Grissom looked it over.
"I suppose this was open when the body was found?" he asked, noticing the door and frame were damaged no doubt to gain entry.
Max shook her head. "No. We had to bust in. The door had a padlock on it."
Frowning, Grissom turned to her. "So, who found the body if the door was locked?"
"A group of teenagers looking for somewhere to have their pot party," Catherine told him, pointing up towards the roof. "There's some old scaffold around the back. They climbed up and got through a hole."
"I guess their night ended on a low and not a high," Sara said, stepping to the side to get a look around the externals of the building. "Who owns the place?"
"Old guy," Catherine informed them as they headed inside. "Says it's been empty for years and he can't even remember the last time he set foot in it."
Pausing just inside the doorway, Grissom frowned.
Sara noticed. "What are you thinking?" she asked.
Sucking on his lip, Grissom looked around. There wasn't much inside. Some old cardboard boxes, metal shelving, a couple of ladders and odd bits of junk.
"That these kids ruined the big reveal for our killer."
Catherine looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"The body was found a day early. Millander's victims were always found on…"
"August 17th," she finished for him. "Your birthday."
Grissom nodded. "Exactly, and that was yesterday, not the day before. So," he continued, pointing to the door. "I'd suspect the body was brought here, the door was locked by our killer and then, somehow, we'd be made aware of what was waiting for us."
Sara pulled out a flashlight and turned it on. "I wonder how they intended to do that."
Max pointed across the warehouse. "I guess for now, we don't know. The tub was over there, we should move on with the task at hand and we can talk about this later."
The group moved across the warehouse, Sara and Max shining their lights on the floor in search of the marker they sought.
"Got it," Sara announced, crouching down and gesturing towards the spot.
Placing her kit down, Catherine slipped on gloves and took out a swab, swiping it over the arrow scrapped into the concrete.
"Probably won't tell us anything," she assumed, popping the top onto the swab. "But you never know."
Sara took the camera Catherine handed her and snapped a few shots of the etched arrow while Grissom pulled out the piece of paper he'd marked the directions on from his pocket. Looking around, he moved to stand next to the arrow as Sara stepped back.
"I can't say I'm seeing many places in here to hide a treasure chest," he deadpanned.
Looking at him as she flung the camera over her shoulder, Sara smirked. "I think we left your eyepatch in the car."
Her smile grew as he threw her an 'oh no you just didn't say that,' glance.
Clearing his throat, Grissom looked at Max. "Are we ready?"
"Go for it."
Nodding, Grissom read off the directions, using large paces as he followed them around the open space.
Sara watched her husband making lazy circles as he counted off his steps.
"Why does it feel like we're going around in circles?" she said drawing his attention. "We were so quick to jump on this and, for all we know, this loon is just playing with us."
Nipping on his lip, Grissom glanced down at the paper in his hands then looked back up, focusing on the wall. Tipping his head to the side for a moment, his eyes flicked back to the paper and back up again.
Automatically skimming her flashlight over the wall he was looking at, Sara found and held the light over the only thing that graced the crumbling wall – an old and battered frame surrounding a poster of Las Vegas at night.
"This is it," Grissom announced as he walked toward it, his gaze floating over the image.
Taking a fluorescent light from her kit, Catherine slipped on glasses and began inspecting the frame, the dirty looking glass and wall surrounding it.
"It looks really old," Sara said. "And it looks like it's been here for a long time."
"Well, I'm not seeing anything," Catherine told them, taking off the glasses.
Grissom rotated his finger through the air. "Can we get a look at the back?"
"Sure," she said carefully taking down the frame only to catch a glimpse of the wall behind it. "Well, I'll be."
Sara's eyes widened as Catherine moved out of the way to reveal a hole in the wall. She glanced at Grissom who was giving her the same look.
Max blinked, looking rather surprised. "Why am I expecting David Bowie to jump out of there spinning balls in his hand?"
"Can you grab me an evidence bag for this," Catherine asked, holding up the frame.
Sara was first to act, taking a large bag from the kit and holding it open so Catherine could drop the framed picture inside.
Catherine moved back to the wall, pointing her flashlight at the hole and slowly, she reached inside.
Everyone watched as Catherine reached further and further into the hole until she was leaning against the wall, almost her entire arm inside.
"Jesus. This is much deeper than it looks," she griped.
Standing on her tiptoes to reach even further, her eyes flickered as she looked at Grissom.
"Got something."
Pulling out her find, she turned around and held it up. Sara's eye twitched while Grissom slowly approached Catherine. His head kinking, he glanced down at the bloody lower arm and hand she held.
This was something they'd seen before.
Well, except for Max.
"Our vic wasn't missing an arm," she said, her nose screwing up a bit.
Grissom turned to look at her. "It's not real."
Max looked confused as Sara pinched her forehead.
"This is getting way too creepy," she said nervously.
"Oh, I think it's about to get even more creepy," Catherine replied, turning the arm around to reveal a message written on the underside.
Sara's eyes widened when seeing just one word scratched into the plastic. 'Grissom.'
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Across town
Pulling up close to the Erotica Boutique, a trio exited the vehicle and approached the store. Taking crime scene photos from a folder in her hand, Allie held one up and glanced around the area.
"We need to be as precise with this as we can," she said looking at Folsom. "Or we might not find what we're looking for."
Folsom and Serena leaned close to take a look at the shot, Josh raising a hand and pointing to the side of the store.
"The van was parked over there, and I'd say we should be able to line up where we need to start with that sign on the wall."
"I agree," Allie replied, looking at the flashing neon sign. "Let's go."
Heading over to the small car lot where the van was found, the group stopped as Allie did her best to line-up where the back wheel would have been.
"Do you want to do the measuring?" she asked Josh.
Nodding, she handed the directions to him and wait for him to start.
Doing as Grissom advised by using steps to count each directional point, the trio moved around the car lot until they arrived at the store door.
Frowning, Josh looked at his colleague. "Are you sure this is right? We have to go inside?"
Glancing back at the paper, Allie nodded. "That's what it says, and we've followed the instructions precisely."
Shrugging, he took ahold of the door and pulled. "Okay then."
Entering the store, the clerk behind the counter didn't seem to care and continued reading the magazine in his hand. Serena glanced at her colleagues as they stopped and then cleared her throat.
The clerk eventually looked up at Serena as he chewed his gum. Slowly, she placed her hands on her hips and gave him a smile.
"You guys again?" he moaned as his eyes rolled up and he tipped back his head. "My boss was pissed last time you were here and how much business we lost because of all the yellow tape everywhere. Now what?"
Josh and Allie exchanged a look as Serena frowned at the man.
"Oh, we're sorry if someone's brutal murder right outside upset his bank balance," Josh said, just about growling.
The man dropped the magazine and held up a hand.
"Hey, look. I just work here. All I know is that when he's pissed, he takes it out on us."
"Maybe you should get a new job?" Allie suggested.
Smirking, the clerk sat back. "And miss out on all this luxury? At least the people that come in here respect their environment unlike out there."
"I'm so happy for you," Serena remarked sarcastically. "But we have a job to do and finding a killer is more important to us right now than…."
Shaking his head, the man sighed. "Fine," he said stopping her. "What do you need?"
Josh looked down at the directions in Allie's hand and then through the store ahead of him.
"We don't need you to do anything, and you don't have to close but we've got to look around. We'll holler if we need you."
Throwing Josh a mock smile, the clerk grabbed his magazine and started chewing again.
"Knock yourselves out. Just try not to break anything."
Allie's eyebrows hit the ceiling as her eyes passed over the array of sex toys on the rack closest to her.
"I think we'll avoid touching anything let alone breaking something."
Serena tapped the paper. "Come on, let's go while the store is empty."
With a nod, Josh continued to follow their route. They worked through the store and towards the back corner where they stopped.
He looked around. "Well, this is it. Apparently."
They all scanned the area. Just shelves of magazines and kinky outfits.
"Where exactly?" Serena asked. "Doctor Grissom said we'd have to be precise."
Brow pinching, Josh looked back down at the paper and then ahead of him and pointed.
"Right here…." And then his attention shifted upwards until his eyes stopped on something that certainly got his attention. "Um…."
The two ladies moved to each side of him, and both followed his gaze. There, sitting on top of a shelf filled with sex aids was a blow-up sex doll staring down at them, open mouth and looking rather startled.
Allie coughed. "Erm, okay."
Josh glanced at his girlfriend. "Can you ask our friend at the counter to come up here for a second?"
"Sure."
Scratching his cheek, he stepped a little closer to the shelf, looking up at the doll.
"What are you thinking?" Allie asked.
His head tipped her way but before he could answer, they heard the clerk behind them.
"Find something you like?" he joked.
"Funny," Josh retorted, pointing up at the doll. "Do you sell a lot of these?"
Frowning, the clerk studied the doll and then shook his head. "I… erm, don't know how that got there. That's not one of ours."
Mouth opening, Allie looked at him confused. "So, you didn't put this here?"
"Nope," he confirmed. "Our models are much newer. That thing looks old."
Folding her arms, Serena leaned against the shelf. "So how did it get here?"
The clerk shrugged. "I have no idea. I can't say I pay that much attention as long as it's not walking out the door without being paid for."
"Wait." Josh held up a hand. "Are you telling me someone placed a blown up, life size sex doll inside your store that isn't even part of your stock, and you didn't notice?"
"Hey man," the clerk began taking a step back. "I work the tills. I come in, take my spot, take the cash and go home. That's it. I don't give a shit what kind of kinks people want to get into. Plus, this corner is a blind spot. I couldn't see if someone was using that thing back here."
Rolling her eyes, Allie took the camera from her shoulder and began snapping shots of the doll.
"Thanks," Serena said. "That's all we need right now but don't let anyone back here until we're done, okay?"
"Whatever floats your boat," the clerk laughed as he backed away.
"Sometimes I just wonder if the world's population lives life with their eyes closed," Josh griped as Allie lowered the camera.
"Plausible deniability," she told him. "Don't see anything, got nothing to tell."
"Well, that won't help us. Ready to get this thing down?"
As she nodded, Josh reached up and took ahold of the doll, pulling it down with ease. As he stared at it, Allie's phone rang.
"It's Max," she said answering. "Hi, Boss."
"I've got you on speaker. How's it going? Have you found anything?"
"Yeah," Allie began as Josh placed the doll onto the floor. "But I'm not sure if you're going to believe me."