Stalker

Chapter Three

The next day, Greg strode into the locked room and found Sara sitting on the bench. She held a piece of paper in her hands which were shaking.

Concern flowed through him as he stepped toward her.

“What’s wrong?” Greg asked, startling her.

She stared at him as she crumbled the paper in her hand. Her eyes held fear and his concern grew. He sat beside her and placed a hand on her arm.

“I’m fine,” she said, averting her eyes.

“What did it say to cause your hands to shake like that?”

Sara shook her head and stood. She glanced at him, the fear gone. He knew then she wasn’t going to tell him.

“I’m fine,” she said again and left.

Greg sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Whatever it was had scared her, which was a feet in itself. He had to find out what and fine a way to help her.

Whether she likes it or not, he thought as he opened his locker.


~*~

Sara went into the break room and poured herself a cup of coffee. It was her second cup, but after the note she received, she figured she needed it.

She sat in a chair and took a long drink, wishing it was something stronger. She set the mug down and ran a hand through her hair. She took a shuddering breath to calm herself. She closed her eyes as tears stung them.

“You’re not fine,” Greg’s voice caused her to jump.

Sara quickly wiped her eyes and gave him a smile she knew was weak. She couldn’t fool him for much longer, but she would try. He would go out of his way to help her to the point of smothering her. She didn’t need that.

“I’m fine, Greg. You don’t need to worry.”

He stepped into the room and sat beside her. He stared at her and she saw in his dark eyes how worried he was. She sighed and looked into her mug.

“I can’t help, but worry, Sara,” he said softly. “Especially when you won’t tell me.”

“I don’t want to scare you.”

When Greg didn’t say anything she looked up and froze. He stared at her as if she had told him she poured coffee all over his favorite CD. She wished she hadn’t said anything.

“Scare me?” Greg asked when he found his voice. “What do you mean?”

“I can handle it, Greg.”

He shook her head, knowing otherwise. Something frightened her and her stubbornness prevented her from saying anything. He wasn’t going to let her do this. If she thought it would scare him then she needed help.

“Tell me, Sara. I don’t want something to happen to you. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I could have helped.”

Sara sighed and glanced into her mug. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. She returned it and gazed at him.

“I think I’m being stalked.”

Greg went cold at her admission. She was right, he was scared. For her. To know someone was after her, would hurt her at the slightest provocation scared him.


“Have you told Brass? Grissom?”

Sara shook her head.

Figures, he thought. Always trying to do things herself.

“He hasn’t tried anything.”

“But he will,” Greg said, hoping the fear he felt didn’t register in his voice.

Sara nodded and he placed a hand on her shoulder. He gave it a squeeze wanting to take her in his arms and keep her there.

“We can stop him, Sara,” he offered. “Let us help.”

“You need to stop sticking your nose into other people’s business.”

Greg laughed, “Isn’t that our job?”

Sara smiled. He felt better knowing he had made her smile. He knew it was up to her to go to Brass about the stalker. He couldn’t force her. She had a habit of digging in her heels when that happened.

“Grissom’s waiting on us,” she said as she stood. “We might get an easy assignment this time.”

“I could use an easy one,” he agreed, following her out of the room.

They stepped into the briefing room and sat at the table. Nick was across from them, drumming his fingers on the table.

Grissom came into the room, closing the door behind him. He glanced at them as he shuffled papers and cleared his throat. He stood at the head of the table as he read off the assignments.

“There’s a burglary on Pine Street. Sara, you and Greg can take this one. Nick, you and I have a double homicide.”

Sara took the paper and led Greg out of the room and toward the lockers. They grabbed their kits and headed for an SUV.

The drive to the scene was quiet as Sara thought of what Greg said. She knew he was right, but she was apprehensive. What if getting the police involved made things worse? She didn’t think she could handle it then.

She looked at Greg, who stared out the window. He obviously was worried about her and already thinking of some way to help her. She smiled slightly at the thought. It comforted her, knowing he was there for her. He probably always would be.

Sara pulled into the driveway of the house and turned off the engine. They climbed out of the SUV, grabbed their kits, and headed up the drive.

Detective Vega stood at the door waiting for them. He nodded and flipped open his notepad.

“Family was out eating dinner about 7:30. They came home at nine to find the door busted in and several items missing. Jewelry, DVD player, and a computer.”

“They didn’t take the movies?” Greg asked.

“Wasn’t much to take. Said they just bought the player a week ago. Only had three movies to play on it.”

Greg nodded and followed Sara into the living room. He looked around, taking everything in.

The living room was open and airy with a high ceiling and French doors leading out to a patio. A white plush sofa sat in the middle of an entertainment center. They sky blue carpet looked new and closely matched the walls.

He looked at the entertainment center and sat a space where the DVD player might have gone. On one side of the space were the three DVDs. He took several pictures while Sara processed the damaged door.

His thoughts went to Sara as he dusted the center. He couldn’t stop worrying about her. He wanted to do whatever he could to help, but he knew she wouldn’t let him.


“I’m heading upstairs,” Greg called as he closed his kit and stood.

She nodded as she finished with the door.

“I’ll join you,” she said as she picked up her kit.

Greg led her up the stairs. They came to a hallway flanked by three doors.

“I’ll take the master bedroom,” Sara said as she headed down the hall.

He stepped into the daughter’s bedroom. Purple and pink was the color theme in the room. A bookshelf was against the wall opposite him with the single bed beside it.

He strode over to the bookshelf and saw two jewelry boxes on the third shelf. He took pictures then carefully opened one of them.

No jewelry, Greg thought as he check the other. Empty.

He dusted the boxes, lifting several prints. They would need to print the family in order to remove them as suspects.

“Most of the jewelry in the master is gone,” Sara said behind him. “They completely trashed the room in there.”

“Jewelry’s gone in here, too,” he said as he turned around. “No mess, though.”

“Let’s see about the missing computer and head back to the lab.”

Greg nodded and followed her back downstairs.


~*~


They were back at the lab in an hour. They dropped of their evidence and headed into the break room.


Sara sat at the table as Greg poured both of them a cup of coffee. He set a mug before her and sat beside her. He heard her sigh and he looked at her. There were dark circles under her eyes and she appeared tired. He wondered if she was getting any sleep.

He took a sip of coffee and leaned back in his chair. He watched as she nursed her drink. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her and didn’t want to try. He didn’t know if it was from worry or attraction.

“You’re staring again,” Sara said without looking up.

Caught off guard, Greg said the only thing that came to mind.

“I’m still worried about you.”

Sara looked at him t hen and he caught a spark of annoyance in her eyes. It disappeared quickly and she sighed.

“I knew I shouldn’t have told you.”

Greg placed a hand on her shoulder as he stared into her eyes. He didn’t see anger in them and he was grateful for that.

“You needed to tell someone,” he said softly. “You don’t need to go through this alone, Sara. You shouldn’t.”

He let his eyes roam over her face and an urge to kiss her came over him. His pulse quickened and he leaned closer to her. Her eyes fluttered closed as he brought her face to his.

A throat being cleared had them flying apart and staring at the door. Nick stood in the doorway, an envelope in his hand. He smirked at them as he came toward them.

“This came for you,” he said, handing the white envelope to Sara.

Sara took it and Greg saw her hand tremble slightly. She stared at it as Nick left the room. He saw her name on the envelope. The words were typed.


“We can see what kind of printer was used,” he offered, guessing it was another note from the stalker. “Track him down that way.”

Sara shook her head and opened the envelope. He glanced at what was written and froze.

“Stay away from him, Sara. I’m watching you.”