Darkness and Light

Greg entered the building of CSI headquarters, his thoughts on the note he’d received. It worried him more than frightened him. How had she found him? Was she going to show herself and when?

He shook his head as he dropped off the print to Jacqui. He headed down the hall, his thoughts turning to Sara. He had to tell her about Kristine. He didn’t want her to be a target, but he also didn’t want her to worry.

He strode into the break room and found Sara at the table, nursing a cup of coffee. He sighed, knowing it was now or never, though he wished he had more time to prepare.

Greg sat across from her, getting her attention. She smiled at him then frowned when he didn’t return it.

“What’s wrong?” Sara asked, her brows furrowed. “Tough case?”

Greg shook his head as he took her hand in his. He took a deep breath and plunged in.

“I don’t want you to worry,” he said softly. “Someone from my past is after me.”

Sara’s eyes narrowed, but she squeezed his hand, urging him to continue.

“Who, Greg?”

“An old girlfriend I had in college. Her name is Kristine Williams.”

“What happened?” Sara asked as she moved closer to him.

He stared at the table, letting her nearness soothe him. He closed his eyes as her presence washed over him, calming him. He took another breath as he continued.

“I wanted to call it off,” he said. “She became angry, even threatened to kill herself if I didn’t stay with her.

“She was also the jealous type. She hated it when I talked or even looked at another girl. It got to the point where she didn’t let me even have female friends.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sara whispered as she stroked his hair.

He didn’t want to relive the awful memories, but he had to tell her everything. He wanted her to know what she was up against. She needed to know the danger they were both in.

“She actually attacked me once,” he continued, his gaze back on Sara. “I came home late one night, cause I wanted some time to myself. She thought I was cheating on her. She didn’t give me time to explain, just hit me.

“We made a mess of the living room of the apartment we shared. I didn’t want to hurt her, but she tried to kill me. She didn’t call the police knowing she would have to explain my injuries as well.”

Greg shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. He breathed deeply to calm himself. It had been years since that moment, but all the emotions he had felt came rushing back. Once he had himself under control, he looked at Sara and saw the shock in her eyes. He smiled softly and took her hand in his. He touched her face with a finger, wanting to feel her skin.

“I left the next day. I didn’t tell her where I was going and packed only what I needed. I didn’t want her to know I left, didn’t want her to find me.”

“You need to tell the police, Greg,” Sara said, her hands on his shoulders. “She’ll hurt you when she finds you, cause you left her.”

Greg laughed, wanting to kiss her. “This is a switch. Didn’t I tell you the same thing not too long ago?”

Sara smiled at him, but her eyes were filled with concern.

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Greg. I mean it.”

“I know,” he whispered as he took her face in his hands. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

A wave of desire rushed through him, but he pulled away before he could take it further. He glanced at Sara, taking in her desire filled eyes.

“I’ll be careful,” he told her as he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.

Sara closed her eyes and sighed. His arousal grew and he forced himself to stand. He turned away, heading toward the coffee maker. He poured himself a cup and took a sip.

“Are you all right?” Sara asked, her voice concerned.

“I’m fine,” he answered. “What I want to do to you right now isn’t a good idea.”

Sara smiled, shaking her head. She stood, strode over to him and placed a hand on his chest. Her touch sent electricity coursing through him, causing him to nearly drop his cup.

“We can pick it up later tonight,” she whispered in his ear.

“Definitely later,” his voice thick with longing.

She smiled at him and left the room.

If only she knew I was close to forgetting where I was and make love to her right now, Greg thought as he watched her leave.

Wanting to take his mind off things, Greg placed the cup in the sink and headed down to the morgue to learn what Dr. Robbins found.


~*~

Greg entered the morgue as Robbins was finishing up on Mrs. Peterson.

“What did you find?” Greg asked as he strode over to the doc.

“A bullet,” Robbins answered as he handed over a small bowl, the bullet inside.

“It killed her instantly,” Robbins continued as he set the bowl on the instrument tray and finished sewing up the victim.

“Thanks,” Greg said as he used tweezers to place the bullet in a small bag. He left the morgue and headed toward ballistics.

“Got something for you,” he said to Bobby as he stepped into the lab.

“You shouldn’t have,” Bobby said as he turned away from the microscope.

“It came out of a victim in a robbery gone wrong,” Greg said as he handed the evidence over.

Bobby stared at the bullet for a moment then nodded.

“I’ll page you.”

Greg nodded then left the lab. He made his way to the print lab to see what Jacqui had come up with when he was stopped by a secretary.

“This came for you,” she said, handing him an envelope.

A sense of dread came over him as he took the envelope. He stared at it, his heart pounding. He pictured Kristine waltzing into the building, smiling as she dropped off her note before leaving.

He headed toward the break room as he ripped into the envelope. He needed to sit, get himself under control before he snapped.

He sat in a chair as he pulled the folded piece of paper out of its covering. He unfolded it then stared at it as the words made their way into his brain.

“You will be mine.”