Closer

Sara strode into Trace to find Hodges looking at the doll as if it were some strange specimen that he wanted to find the secrets of. She got his attention as she leaned on the desk.

“Anything?”

“It’s a doll,” Hodges said, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. “A doll with dirt. I found some in the crevices.”

She did not want to know what crevices he found the dirt in, but asked instead, “Did you test the dirt?”

Hodges rolled his eyes, “Of course.”

He spun around in his chair, snatched up the paper from the printer and handed it to her.

“It’s actually sand,” he said as he placed the doll in an evidence bag. “Beach sand to be exact.”

Sara glanced at the results as she asked, “From where?”

“Not from any lake around here. We’re talking real beach sand, probably from California or Florida.”

Sara glanced at him, but said nothing. She thanked him and left the room. She searched for Greg and spotted him in the break room. She burst in, excitement bubbling over.

“The killer isn’t local,” she said, startling him. “Sorry.”

Greg smiled at her as she sat next to him. He wiped up the coffee spill he made and leaned back in his chair.

“What did Hodges say?”

“The doll had beach sand in it,” she told him. “A beach nowhere near Nevada. If there are similar murders out there we might get closer to nabbing him.”

“I’ll get right on it,” Greg said as he stood. He kissed her before he left the room.

Sara smiled after him, hoping they were on the right track.


~*~


Greg stared at the computer screen as he typed in the criteria for his search. All the victims had been blonde women who were strangled with an unknown weapon. He typed in “posed” to narrow the search even more.

“Let’s see what you come up with,” he whispered as he hit “enter.”

He leaned back in his chair as the computer went through its search. When it showed him the results, he leaned forward.

“Gotcha,” Greg whispered as he printed out the results.

He plucked the paper from the printer and raced to find Sara.

“Sara!” Greg shouted as he saw her heading downstairs.

She turned as he hurried toward her. Her eyes shimmered with interest, sending sparks traveling through his body. He smiled at her as he handed the paper to her.

“Similar murders happened in Miami,” he said as he followed her to the morgue.

“It’s still open,” he added.

Sara nodded, “We can call them and ask them to send us what they have. Let them know that the killer has moved.”

“They might do more than that,” Greg mentioned as they pushed open the door to the morgue. “They might send someone to help, considering the killer started there.”

“Right.”

Dr. Robbins pushed a body into a shelf and closed the door. He turned as Greg and Sara strode further into the room.

“Did you find what type of weapon was used?” Sara asked, getting down to business.

Robbins nodded and ambled toward his desk and picked up a folder. He handed it to her as he spoke.

“She was strangled from behind with a rope. She put up a fight. I found what might be fibers under her nails. I sent it to trace to be sure.”

Sara nodded, her expression thoughtful. She thanked the doctor and Greg followed her out.

“What are you thinking?” Greg asked as they went back upstairs.

“We now have an idea of weapon. He obviously takes it with him. If we can find out what type of rope…”

“We can learn if anyone bought that type of rope recently.”

“Finishing my sentences now?”

Greg laughed, “I’ll be reading your mind next.”

Sara smiled at him, sending waves of desire through him. He loved her smiles and her laughter. It filled him with joy and he could get drunk off it.

“We need to tell Grissom about Miami,” she mentioned as they strode down the hall.

“What about Miami?” Maxine’s voice stopped them.

Greg glanced at her, a concerned and almost worried expression on her face. He turned to Sara, who shrugged.

“We’re on a case that might have started in Miami.”

“What’s the case?”

“Blonde women have been strangled and left in a posed position,” Sara answered.

Maxine nodded and Greg swore he saw the wheels turning in her head. He wondered what she was thinking.

“You’re going to ask for their help?”

“Of course,” Greg said. “They might have something we don’t.”

“They might send someone.”

“We could use the help considering they probably know more about the case than we do.”

Maxine nodded then walked away. Greg glanced at Sara, wondering what that was all about.


~*~


Maxine Valera strode back into the DNA lab and dove into her task.

Miami, she thought as she opened an evidence bag. I thought I left it behind.

She had left the city of Miami after she had been let go. She couldn’t stay, knowing the one man she thought she could get close to had betrayed her. To get past that, she needed to leave.

Now someone might be coming here, she thought as she placed a tube in the machine. And with my luck they’ll send Ryan.

She didn’t think she would be able to face him. Not without blowing up at him.

What are the chances of it being? Maxine thought as the results printed out. Nah, I doubt they’d send him.