Secrets and Lies - by kyrdwyn and wykdwin

Sara Sidle was standing at the counter of Fletch's Diner, waiting for her to-go order, when she saw a familiar figure sitting in the corner. "It can't be," she muttered to herself. This is Las Vegas, not San Francisco. What would he be doing in a smoke filled diner two blocks from her crime lab and 11 hours from his office? Either he had a look-alike in Vegas - heaven help the ladies, or Sara was hallucinating. She walked down toward his booth, poised to turn if she was wrong. He turned his head to look out the window and Sara almost gasped.

"Captain Bridges, what the hell are you doing in Vegas?"

His head whipped around and he stared at Sara in surprise before letting a wide smile cross his face. "Sara Sidle, I heard you had moved to Vegas. Liked the night life better?"

Sara laughed. "Couldn't stand the rent in San Francisco. What about you? Lured here by a showgirl?"

He shook his head. "Nah, just here on vacation."

Sara laughed as she slid into the booth across from him. "Oh yeah, right. You and my current boss have the same idea of a vacation - letting someone else handle the high profile cases."

He laughed. "I think I need to meet your boss. Anyway, I’m really on vacation - I swear."

"And here I thought you were trying to break Cal Ripkin's record." A puzzled look crossed Sara's face. "Hey - Amy-Michelle said you were up for Chief of Police out there. What happened?"

Nash rolled his eyes. "You honestly think I'd take it? Paperwork, politics, getting blamed for everything the cops do? Yeah right."

Sara chuckled. "You'd rather have to deal with a dead body than a live one?"

"When it comes to work, yeah. After work, well……."

Sara smiled in reply, understanding what he hadn't said perfectly. She turned the conversation away from a discussion of their shared past and onto mutual friends in San Francisco. They leaned across the table toward each other, smiling intimately and laughing. To an outsider, it looked like they were more than just friends who hadn't seen each other in several years.

Lexi came out of the ladies room in the back of the diner and started back toward the table where Nash was waiting for her. She stopped a few feet away when she saw the unknown brunette sitting in her seat, Nash smiling at her. Lexi's eyes narrowed and she walked over to stand behind the brunette, one hand on her hip, glaring at Nash. He, however, didn't notice Lexi standing there. He was too busy laughing at something the brunette said. Lexi cleared her throat. Nash didn't notice, but the brunette glanced over her shoulder and flashed her to-go ticket at Lexi before turning back to Nash, obviously thinking Lexi was a waitress. Lexi arched an eyebrow.

"Excuse me, I believe you are in my seat," Lexi said loudly. Nash looked up at that, surprise crossing his face as he noticed Lexi standing behind Sara.

“I’m sorry?” Sara wondered why the waitress said that.

“Lexi, uh, hey,” Nash saw trouble brewing in her eyes. “This is Sara Sidle, she used to work CSI with the SFPD before coming to Vegas. Sara, this is Alexandra Lee, we’re on vacation. ”

“Ah, the showgirl,” Sara said low enough for Nash to hear. Unfortunately, Lexi’s hearing was too good. “Excuse me?” came her curt reply. When she turned her glare on the grinning Nash, he tried to cover his laughter with a cough.

“Lexi’s a singer, not a showgirl,” Nash tried to appease both ladies at once. Sara’s eyes twinkled at some inside joke that brought back, and she slid out of the booth.

With an attempt to relax her face muscles into some semblance of a smile, Lexi waited until Sara had stood up. Instead of focusing her anger on this stranger, she turned it on Nash, allowing the awkward silence to float for the moment. Luckily for both Nash and Sara, the waitress brought all three orders out, setting Sara’s to-go order on the table in front of her.

“Well,” Nash and Sara started at the same time, then laughed. He motioned for Sara to speak first, trying to over-ride Lexi’s obvious disapproval of this reunion. Sara looked hesitantly at Lexi, then spoke to Nash. “It was really nice to see you again. I’m glad you decided to finally take some vacation time. Tell the team I……” Just then Sara's beeper went off and she checked it. "All right! 419 - and it’s a decapitation!" She grinned. She handed Nash her business card. "Give me a call if you get a chance. Bye!" The brunette rushed out the door, forgetting her order in her haste to get to the scene.

Nash turned his head to watch Sara leave with an amused smile. Her adrenaline rush with corpses had been a standing joke between them. When Sara had gone, he turned back to Lex and his smile faded. He knew he was in trouble, and maybe that wasn’t the nicest greeting for Lexi to have returned to, but he couldn’t have helped it. “That was a……surprise,” he attempted.

Lexi remained unamused. “Wow, this looks great, I know I’m starving,” he tried again. Her arms were firmly crossed, her gaze steady, “I’m not hungry.”

He stopped, his fork mid-way to his mouth. This couldn’t all be about Sara, could it? Nash put his fork down and reached across the table towards her. She didn’t flinch, but she didn’t respond either. “Come on Lex, you were starving when we got here.”

“I’ve suddenly lost my appetite,” she snapped, as she got up and left the diner.

* * * * *

Nash was getting good and pissed, he’d left the food and paid the tab, tracking Lexi to the nearest taxi stand. Still hungry, and getting angrier by the moment with his companion, he wasn’t sure what to do for fear of what he’d say to her. Lexi wasn’t talking, and when the cab pulled up, she closed the door on him and left. He spent about five minutes debating what to do, in most cases he’d let the woman go. Then he thought about what he would tell his friend Joe, if that were Joe’s wife Inger in the cab. He got in the next cab and followed her back to the hotel.

Lexi was surprised when the door opened and Nash came in. She’d just hung up with room service and knew the cart arriving would only start another row. Part of her felt bad for walking out on him, knowing he wouldn’t follow her, but another part felt vindicated. She’d had a lot of time to think in the cab, and had decided that she had been in the right. Nash stood by the door the whole time she was staring him down. “Are you going to tell me what the hell all of that was about?” he asked.

“Are you telling me you really want to get into that?” Lexi responded, forcing her voice to be cool and reserved.

“All I know is you said you were hungry, but didn’t want to go with your entourage. I suggested a diner, and things were fine. Then Sara shows up, and you get wonky on me.”

“So when I do it, I get wonky. When you do it, it’s concern?” Anger leaked into the words as she spat them in Nash’s face.

“When I do what?” Nash appeared confused for a moment. Realization crossed over his face, “You’re bringing up that incident with Robert aren’t you? That was concern. If he was so great at his job, why was I the one who continuously kept you out of trouble?”

“I seem to think I did pretty well for a few decades before I met you, and I never had a complaint about Robert’s performance. I only had trouble after you attacked him.”

“I attacked him? Lex, we’ve been over this a hundred times. He was telling me to stay away from you, I didn’t think it was any of his business, and told him so.”

“Nash, he leads my security team. He’s supposed to be concerned about me. It’s his job, it’s what I pay him to do.”

“Do you pay him to be in love with you?"

“You’re still convinced he’s in love with me? It’s been a month, and you two had to be separated on the plane ride down here yesterday.”

“So you think I’m jealous of Robert, so you got jealous of Sara?”

“I’m not jealous of Sara. I just don’t appreciate being referred to as ‘the showgirl.’”

“It was a joke, Lexi. She’d asked me if I had been lured down here by a showgirl. And in a way, I was.” He tried for humor, but failed miserably.

“So now I’m a showgirl?? If you wanted a showgirl, then why get so upset over Penthouse Magazine”

“I didn’t say I wanted a showgirl. But now that I think of that magazine spread, maybe you are a bit of a showgirl.”

“Then maybe you should go find your little Crime Scene Strumpet,” she slammed the door to the bedroom behind her.

This was definitely about more than Sara, Nash realized, this has been coming for a while. He had to blame himself partly, he usually reacted first and thought about it later, and he was not adjusting well to this new relationship. He’d been pacing around when someone knocked on the door. “Room Service,” a voice called out.

Shaking his head, he let the attendant in. Lexi came out in a silk dressing gown, smiling charmingly at the young man. “Could you put it in the other room?” she asked sweetly, motioning towards the bedroom. The young man did as told, and she stared down Nash, daring him to say something, until the waiter returned. “Thank you,” she called as the waiter closed the door.

“I thought you had lost your appetite,” Nash figured he knew what was hidden on that cart.

“It came back in the cab,” As she turned to face him, her gown gaped a bit. Nash had no response, other than a raised eyebrow. Silk and lace were visible, and he knew it was new.

“Men are so predictable, wear a teddy, it’ll shut them up.” She sighed and walked towards the bedroom.

“That’s new,” he was hoping that this meant she’d given up on the disagreement. She nodded, gave him a sly smile, and dropped the robe. “I bought it for you, for this trip.”

“Really?” He leaned against the back of the couch.

“Want to feel it?” There was a slightly wicked gleam in her dark eyes.

Nash smiled and stepped towards her. “Ah, no,” she held up a hand, and slipped out of the lingerie. Standing naked before him, she now held the silk ensemble in her hand. Her smile became more devilish, and he was relieved that she had decided to forgive him. “Do you want this?” she asked, hands out in front of her.

Nash nodded and took another step towards her. “Good,” she snapped and flung the teddy at him, “I hope you enjoy it!” And he saw the bedroom door slam, and the lock click. If he’d listened closely a moment later he could have heard the scotch hit the ice in her glass, but he was already on his way out the door.

* * * * *

When Sara got back to the crime lab, she stopped by the front desk for her messages. "There's someone here to see you, Miss Sidle. He said he was a friend of yours from San Francisco. He's in the break room with Mr. Stokes."

Sara thanked the receptionist absently, wondering what the hell Nash was doing in the break room. She hoped his lady friend hadn't been annoyed with him because of Sara. They were just friends. Well, now they were just friends.

Nash and Nick were sitting on the couches, the TV tuned to ESPN and Sports Center. Sara pulled open the doors and walked in, not noticed by either man. They were both blathering on about the 49er's new quarterback. Sara rolled her eyes.

"The Niners have sucked since they sacked Montana."

Both men turned. Sara walked forward, hands on her hips. "If you're on vacation, Captain Bridges, what are you doing in my crime lab?"

Nash shrugged sheepishly, glancing at Nick. Sara looked over at him as well.

"I, uh, think I'll go check with Greg on my case. Nice to meet you," Nick said on his way out. When he was gone, Sara sat down across from Nash.

"Well?"

"Can I crash at your place tonight?"

Sara sat back. "Jeez, Nash. What happened to Lexi? I thought you were here with her?"

"We had a fight."

"About me." Sara stated flatly.

"Among other things. It's a complicated relationship, Sara."

"When aren't your relationships complicated? Have you tried talking to her? Apologizing?"

"Yes, and it didn't work."

"So why not get a different room at the hotel? Or are you thinking you and Lexi are done for. 'Cause if you stay with me and she finds out, you're a dead man. And I don't feel like having to ID your body tonight."

He grinned. "Do you know how expensive Mandalay Bay is? Otherwise I would. Besides, is it so wrong to want to talk to an old friend?"

Sara sighed. The man knew how to push her buttons. He pretty much always had. She pulled her keys out of her pocket and pulled one off the ring, handing it to Nash. "Here. I don't get off work for a few more hours. My couch is a pullout. Drink all the beer in my fridge and I'll break your fingers, got it?"

He smiled as they both stood. Sara went over to the table and scribbled down directions to her apartment. She handed it to him and he kissed her cheek. "Thanks."

"I'm going to regret this, I know," Sara said as she watched him leave the room.

* * * * *

Kat sat waiting for Lexi at the Bay Side Buffet. Lexi was twenty minutes late, but Kat wasn’t worried. She was hoping her friend had just overslept. When Lexi dragged herself in, she looked rough. Kat gave her a little grin, “Couldn’t drag yourself out of bed?”

“Don’t start Kat,” Lexi practically snarled at her guitarist.

“Well, aren’t we a bloody ray of sunshine this morning?” Kat’s accent rang in Lexi’s ears.

Luckily the waitress came over and asked if Lexi would like some coffee. Lexi declined, requesting a mimosa instead. Kat gave her a sharp look; it was barely nine a.m. She studied the younger girl’s face, looking for the tell tale signs of one of Lexi’s drinking binges. They were there, faintly, but they were there. “I expected glowing face and happiness. Kissy faces as Cap tore himself away from you. What did he do spend all night at the craps table?” Kat’s comments dug at Lexi’s heart like a spoon.

Lexi was silent for a moment, before sighing. “If you must know, my whole plan for an evening of romantic bonding went to pot.”

“And you went to the bottle,” Kat’s disdain cut through her words.

“Kat...” Lexi said the name as if it were a warning.

The waitress sat the drink in front of Lexi and left quietly. She sensed something was not well at the table. After taking a long sip, Lexi looked at her friend. “Maybe I’m just trying to fight destiny. Maybe it’s just not meant to be,” she sighed.

Kat shoved a plate of fruit and croissants to the center of the table, “When you left us last night we were taking bets as to which chapel and when you two would elope. Of course, Robert didn’t join in. So what happened to take it down so fast?”

Lexi made a face. “We were having a good time until....”

Kat waited, finally asking, “Until?”

Lexi sighed, tearing a croissant into tiny pieces. Over two more mimosa’s she poured out the whole story. From Nash suggesting a diner he knew of, to her waking up this morning and he was gone. She tried to keep emotions out of it, tried to keep a level head, but when the tears started, she couldn’t stop.

Kat ushered her friend out of the restaurant, and up to her room. While she finished packing, Lex collapsed across the bed. “What should I do Kat? I’ve made a mess of everything.”

“Sounds to me, that you weren’t alone. If Nash isn’t telling you anything, it doesn’t make it any better.” Kat sighed, and sat down next to Lex. “Maybe you need to confront him about Sara. Ask him if they were more than friends. That way you know. And it may help you to know where the two of you stand.”

“What if he doesn’t come back?”

“Then baby, you’re young and beautiful and single in Las Vegas for four more fun-filled days and nights. Take advantage.”

* * * * *

Sara was exhausted when she got home to her apartment in the early dawn hours. She wasn't done with her case but Grissom had sent her home because she had pulled two doubles this week and he was worried about her health.

Flipping through her key ring, Sara frowned. Her apartment key was not on the ring. She stared at the ring for a second, trying to think of why her key would be missing. Then she remembered - Nash had asked to stay at her place after he'd apparently fought with his girlfriend.

Trying her doorknob, she wasn't surprised to find it locked. She pounded on it, and in response heard a loud thud - like a body had hit the floor. Nash probably hadn't figured out her pullout couch.

"Nash? It's Sara."

She heard the click of the locks and then Nash was standing in her doorway, his slacks and shirt rumpled and his eyes bleary. "Morning sunshine," she said.

"Yeah. Morning," he said, stepping back. Sara took in the jacket tossed over her kitchen table and the beer cans on the table next to the couch. "I left a few cans, don't worry."

Sara laughed. "Okay." She watched him as he put his gun back into the holster. "Afraid Lexi sent someone after you?"

"Habit."

Sara shook her head and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. "Want one?"

Nash raised an eyebrow. "It's 6 AM Sara. A little early for a beer, wouldn't you say?"

She sighed as she popped it open. "Bad crime scene. My 419 was a 12 year old girl."

Nash winced. "Sexual assault?"

"No, thank goodness. But decapitated, some mutilation. It was brutal. No remorse, no mercy." She took a long swig of her beer. "I've been on the job long enough that I shouldn't be surprised anymore. But I am."

She flopped down on her couch. "Okay, so what's with you and Lexi? I mean, it's not like you and I were arranging an assignation or anything."

"Lexi wasn't happy about being called a showgirl."

"Yeah, I'm sorry - I didn't know she'd hear me."

"Lexi takes things a little seriously."

Sara looked at him. "She was probably wondering if there was anything between us. Which there was, but not now." She smiled.

"Yeah, there was," he smiled. "You ever regret it?"

"Sleeping with you or walking out on you?"

"Either."

"Don't regret either. It was good sex, but we weren't going anywhere."

"True."

"Seems like you and Lexi have something a little more going. Don't screw it up, Nash." Sara stood, finishing her beer. She went over to a drawer and pulled something out, tossing it at Nash. "Just in case. I'm going to bed. 'Night!"

Nash looked down at the key in his hand. He laughed silently when he saw the SFPD key chain attached to it.

* * * * *

Kat was waiting for a cab to the airport, having left Lexi somewhat cheered up and playing the slots. She was a few people back in the queue when she saw Nash get out of a cab. He looked rough, like he might have slept in his clothes. “Bridges,” she called out without thinking.

He turned, and mentally groaned. Kat must know about the fight, why else would she call out to him. He walked over, trying not to make eye contact. Nash waited, knowing she would say what she wanted to, and then dismiss him.

“I don’t want to know where you’re coming from, and I don’t care. You know my opinion of you, and I’m still waiting for you to prove me wrong. Obviously, your little rendezvous with your old girlfriend last night didn’t help change my mind.” Nash started to protest, but she held up a hand and cut him off. “I don’t care for your side. You know where my loyalty lies. And she’s inside in the casino. If you are here to talk to her, you’ll find her at the slots. Her favorite is the code-breaker ones. I suggest you tell her the truth, and work it out. If you don’t plan on taking her seriously, then tell her. Don’t drag her on. Just remember, even though she seems crazy right now, and quite moody, it’s almost the end of January.”

Nash closed his eyes. He hadn’t thought of that, Lexi’s parents had both died at the end of January. He nodded at Kat in understanding. “And Bridges,” she finished as she stepped towards her waiting cab. “You hurt her anymore than she already is, and I will be on the next plane back down here.”

* * * * *

Nash found Lexi right where Kat had said she’d be. He approached her from the side, knowing that she saw him, but kept her gaze on the machine in front of her. “Lex?” he stopped a foot away from her.

She pulled the handle again before responding. “Nash.”

“Sara Sidle and I worked together when she was in Frisco. We also got together outside of work. I don’t want to get into it, and I don’t think it’s relevant. There’s more than that causing this, and I’m sorry.”

She pulled the handle again, and turned to say something to him. Then a bell went off -- she’d just won the jackpot. Lexi had cracked the code. But while people around her turned to look, she was frozen. Nash insisted that his past was the past, and should stay there. But, when it was her past, it was all-access pass, and that just didn’t seem fair. She wanted the truth, and if Nash wouldn’t give it to her, she’d have to get it another way.

* * * * *

Jana Stevens walked into her reception area to meet her three o'clock appointment. The private investigator thought the woman's name - Alexandra Lee - sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it. Not that it mattered. If it was important, Ms. Lee would tell Jana.

"Ms. Lee? I'm Jana Stevens."

Lexi turned around to face the head of Stevens Investigations. According to Robert, who'd done the initial inquiries, this firm was the best and most reputable in Las Vegas. According to the security guys at the hotel, who used this firm, rumor had it that Jana Stevens had faced down the Las Vegas police and crime lab several years ago on a murder investigation where a client of hers had been involved. Looking at Jana Stevens, Lexi could believe the rumors. Lexi was also happy that the office and the woman looked like the business was very prosperous. The last thing Lex wanted was this all over the tabloids.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Stevens." Lex shook Jana's hand.

"Why don't we talk in my office?" Jana said, gesturing for Lexi to precede her.

Inside the office, Jana gestured to the couches, rather than the more formal desk area. Ms. Lee hadn't specified why she needed a private investigator, but Jana suspected this was a personal matter. She always handled personal matters in the couch area - less intimidating to her clients.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

Lexi looked up. "You wouldn't happen to have scotch, would you?"

"I have Glenlivet. Is that okay?"

"Perfect. On the rocks, please."

Jana poured Lexi her drink and brought it over, sitting down on the other couch after handing it to her. "How can I help you, Ms. Lee?"

Lexi took a sip of her drink. "I need background information on someone."

Jana nodded. "We handle background investigations all the time. Is there any particular information you are looking for? Criminal history, drug use, past lovers?"

"General background, but information on a certain person who may or may not be a past lover."

Jana stayed silent as Lexi took another sip, waiting for her to continue.

"Ms. Stevens, before I go any further, I should tell you that I chose you because I was told you were the most discreet private investigator in Las Vegas. I'm in the entertainment business and I don't want word of this investigation being leaked to the tabloids."

Jana nodded, not offended by Lexi's speech. "I perfectly understand. Each contract I sign with my clients includes a confidentiality clause. If I or any of my staff break that clause, we're automatically liable."

Lexi was relieved. "The person I want investigated is a CSI here in Las Vegas. Her name is Sara Sidle. Specifically, I want to know about her activities in San Francisco, and her connection to a San Francisco police captain named Nash Bridges."

Jana had gone still at the mention of the CSI unit in Vegas, and then Sara. She sighed, seeing all the problems this investigation might cause. If Gil found out…….well, he would be furious.

"Ms. Lee, before I take this case, you need to know that I was a CSI here in Las Vegas several years ago, and while I didn't work with Ms. Sidle, I do know her and have close ties to other members of the unit."

That bit of information caught Lexi off guard. Damn, she thought, figures that would be my luck. But Nash’s comment of “it isn’t relevant” still rang in her ears. The hell it wasn’t. Her decision made, her features hardened and she looked at Ms. Stevens. “I admit in most cases that information might sway me to look elsewhere. But from what I hear you are the best I’m gonna find. So let me ask you Ms. Stevens, is that going to cause you to have a conflict of interest?”

Jana thought for a moment. Since it was Sara's activities in San Francisco Ms. Lee was interested in, there shouldn't be a conflict of interest.

"It shouldn't. But I had to tell you so that you could decide. I don't like to deceive my clients. It's bad for business."

"Glad to hear it," Lexi smiled. "I'm not in town long. Only four more days. I'll pay you triple your rate if you can get me the information I want within 36 hours."

"I can't guarantee anything," Jana warned. "That is a narrow time frame, but I can start right away."

"That's what I wanted to hear." Lexi sat down her glass, and extended her hand. "Consider yourself hired."

* * * * *

On his way to work, Nick stopped to fill up his car. When he went in to pay the attendant, he noticed the girl at the counter. She was leaned over, writing something on a magazine page. The guy working the convenience counter saw him, and asked if he could help him. “Gas on pump 3, $15 worth,” Nick said handing the guy his money.

The brunette straightened up, and capped her pen. She smiled at the two men, and handed the counter guy his magazine. “Here you go, Bradley,” she said.

Nick glanced at the book she was holding. Penthouse, and it was a picture of her. “Thanks Miss Lee,” the young man grinned. “My friends would never have believed this.”

“And thank you for buying me a Coke,” she winked and turned to leave. Nick was stunned, taking his change, he went out the door after her. “You’re Lexi Lee?” he said to her.

She stopped and turned to face him. “That’s what they tell me,” her smiled seemed strained to him.

“I just wanted to say, that I’m a big fan of your work.”

Lexi’s eyes narrowed as she looked the gentleman over. He had an accent, Southern, she figured him to be a tourist. “Of which work?” she asked. “My music, or my recent modeling stint?”

Nick thought for a moment, before smiling at her. “Both.”

Her eyebrow arched, so this guy had heard of her music too. Nash popped into her head for a moment. But who knew where Nash was, the last she saw him he was shooting craps at the hotel casino, but that had been earlier that afternoon. Then she thought of Sara. Two can play this game she thought. “I like your accent, which part of the south are you from?”

“Texas, ma’am,” he replied.

“Really?” Her eyebrow arched. “We have that in common.”

They stood there regarding one another across the three feet of space between them. Nick was still amazed that she was standing there talking to him. He could imagine the look on Warrick’s face when he told him. Then he heard Warrick asking him if he’d gotten anything more than a two-minute conversation, and laughing when he said no. Feeling bold, Nick broadened his smile and asked, “I know this is bold, but it’s about five o’clock. Would you like to get some dinner?”

She had originally planned to have dinner with Nash, but the reservations were made when they’d checked in yesterday. He probably wouldn’t even show, and besides, that reservation wasn’t until eight. “I don’t know. How can I be sure you’re not some crazed psychopath?”

“I work for the Las Vegas Police Department, Criminalistics.” He showed her his ID Card. “I may be a psychopath, but I’m not too crazed.”

Lexi looked at the ID, Nick Stokes, Crime Scene Investigator. She had to smile. Nash may not respond to anger, but he does respond to competition. Nick had to work with Sara, or at least know her, which pretty much guaranteed that Nash would find out. Lexi, this may be one of the stupidest things you ever do, but it might just do the trick, she thought. “Well Nick, you are from Texas. That might cover the crazed. But I am hungry, you wouldn’t happen to know of a good ol’ fashioned diner? I love diner food.”

* * * * *

Lexi made sure she picked a booth at the opposite end of where she sat the other night. She smiled at him across the table, she’d figured he would bring her to Fletch’s. He pulled a pink rose from inside his jacket and handed it to her. “Oh,” she was touched by the gesture, “This is so nice. You didn’t have to do this.”

“Tell me when else am I going to have the chance to win over a beautiful superstar such as yourself?” Nick smiled at her.

“I’m betting you do a lot. You just aren’t aware of it.”

He looked down and changed the subject. “I wanted to attend your concert last night, but I had to work. I’m sure you were a hit.”

“As long as I’m on stage I seem to do pretty well,” she laughed. “It’s once I come off it that scares me.”

“So you decided to stay and take a vacation? Lucky for me.”

He was sweet, and she hadn’t had flattery like this in a while. “Something like that.”

“I bet it’s beautiful in L.A. this time of year.”

“It is, but it could be snowing for all I know. I live San Fran, not L.A.” she confessed.

“There must be a convention, I just met a guy from San Francisco last night,” Nick told her.

“Last night?” It couldn’t have been Nash, could it?

“He’s a friend of one of my co-workers, apparently here on some romantic rendezvous. Only they got in a fight, and he crashed with Sara instead.” Nick said.

“Sara?” Lexi’s eyes narrowed out of reflex.

“She’s my co-worker. Apparently this guy is an old friend of hers, she used to work in San Francisco.”

“So, he’s here with someone else, gets into a fight, and runs to Sara? What about the other girl? The one he came here with?”

“I don’t know. I just talked to him about football really. I guess she stayed at the hotel.”

“Sounds like a real jerk to me, running out on one girl to go be with another. Especially if he flew down here from Frisco with her.”

“I didn’t really think of it at all, let alone like that. I guess you’re right, in a way. I can see how that would be a jerkish thing to do.”

* * * * *

Lexi waited until eight thirty before she ordered her dinner. At nine twenty Nash arrived. She didn’t say anything as he sat down. “I’ve been waiting for you in the room since seven thirty,” his words were sharp.

“I went for a walk before dinner,” she replied.

“You ordered champagne?” he looked at her glass. “And opened it already,” he noted as he picked up the now empty bottle. “Would you like a little food with your booze, Lex?” He really wished she’d get rid of that final crutch of hers. “You could’ve at least waited for me before ordering dinner.”

“Gee Nash, I didn’t realize that cop time worked on vacation too. I figured since this was not a work day, then maybe you wouldn’t be late. Guess I was wrong.”

“I think you’ve had enough to drink,” he informed her taking the glass from her hand.

“And I think that I paid for it, so I’ll drink what I want.” She knew that would cut him to the bone, since he was uncomfortable with their income difference.

“Trying to be the poster child for Rock’n’Roll? Drugs, Sex, and Alcohol...I can see it printed in Playboy now, with some new shots of you, maybe in the mountains this time.”

Lexi’s eyes narrowed. She’d had about enough of this, “Considering I haven’t touched drugs in nearly five years, and we haven’t had sex in quite awhile, I gotta have something to maintain the image and keep me amused, now give me back my damn drink.”

He found the animosity in her words hard to take. Glaring back at her, he drank the last of her champagne. He placed the empty glass in her hand and walked out.

* * * * *

An exhausted and pensive Jana opened the door to her condo and dropped her overnight bag onto the tile in the foyer, cursing redeye flights. She and Yvonne, one of her other investigators, had been on a plane to San Francisco within hours of Alexandra Lee signing the contract, spending the night in the city before getting on a early morning flight back. Yvonne's cousin worked for the SFPD crime lab - a fortuitous coincidence for Stevens Investigations. Connor remembered Sara - and knew Nash. Jana smiled grimly. Yvonne had been right - buy Connor a good steak and a few glasses of good whiskey and he would tell you anything you wanted to know. In this case, a little more than Jana really wanted to know about Sara Sidle.

Frowning at the fact that her dogs hadn't greeted her, Jana headed upstairs. She had called Gil from her office before she left, asked him to take care of Scintilla and Evidence while she was away. He doubted he would have taken them to his house - they would have wreaked havoc.

She searched the main living floor upstairs, and then headed up to the bedroom. Everyone once in a while they would pout when she went away for too long. But that wasn't the case this time.

Tilly and Evie were lying on her bed, curled up along Gil's back. He was sprawled in her bed, his head resting on one hand, his other arm stretched out. He looked exhausted. She remembered seeing something in the Journal-Review about a decapitated child murder. Gil was probably working the case.

Jana leaned against the doorjamb, her arms crossed. She debated waking him up and asking him the questions that had been on her mind since dinner last night. But he looked too peaceful to disturb. She envied him that right now. She’d gotten nauseous and dizzy from imagining answers to those questions.

She shut her eyes tightly and bit her lip. He'd lied to her. Maybe it hadn't been intentional, maybe he'd forgotten - but it hurt that she'd found out about something that he should have told her.

Tilly began barking softly in her sleep, and Jana opened her eyes. Gil stirred, his hand reaching back to pet Tilly. Jana crossed the room to sit on the edge of the bed and pulled off her boots. Evie woke up and began to bark loudly, waking up Tilly and Gil. Jana reassured her dogs before lying back on the bed, not bothering to undress. Gil laid an arm across her body.

"How was San Francisco?" he asked quietly.

"It was there. I got most of what I needed."

"You know Sara used to work in San Francisco. She might be able to help you out."

Jana shook her head. "I don't think Sara will be able to help me with what else I need to find out.”

"Mmm," Gil's eyes were closed. Jana could tell he was already back asleep. She turned her head to look at him.

Sara wouldn't know why you lied to me about sleeping with her.

* * * * *

By 5 pm that evening, a little over 24 hours after Alexandra Lee had come to her office, Jana was knocking on Ms. Lee's suite door at Mandalay Bay. Her report on Sara Sidle and Captain Bridges was in a sealed manila envelope tucked under her arm.

She heard someone approach the door. There was a pause before it opened and Alexandra Lee stood there in jeans, a t-shirt, and cowboy boots. Jana repressed a smile at seeing her favorite outfit on the brunette.

"Ms. Lee, I have the information you requested." She pulled out the envelope and held it out to her.

Lexi raised an eyebrow. Jana Stevens was very good if she had gotten it done this quick. "Please, come in."

Jana entered the suite, noticing the empty bottles on top of the bar. She offered the envelope to Lexi again, who took it and motioned for Jana to sit down.

"What did you find?" Lexi asked, pouring herself self a drink and offering one to Jana, who shook her head as she sat down.

"Sara Sidle joined the San Francisco crime lab right out of college. She had a solid work record while there. She worked on several cases with Captain Bridges over the years she was there. According to my source, they had an affair for several months about two years before she transferred to Las Vegas."

"How intimate was this affair?" Lexi asked quietly.

"According to the source, it was just a physical relationship. It ended fairly abruptly. I can't confirm this, but the rumors say Ms. Sidle walked out on Captain Bridges. Neither of them seemed devastated by the end of the relationship. They still worked together amicably. Ms. Sidle had a few other relationships while she was in San Francisco, and was very highly regarded as a CSI.

"She came to Las Vegas at the request of Gil Grissom, the supervisor of the night shift in the crime lab, whom she was friends with, to do an internal investigation into the death of another criminalist. She ended up transferring onto that shift. She's been here since then.

"As far as I'm able to determine, she's not had any contact with Captain Bridges since moving to Las Vegas, though she does keep in contact with several colleagues from the crime lab." Jana paused. "From what I've been able to determine, the meeting at Fletch's Diner that you told me about was pure coincidence. Ms. Sidle had just finished a case and had run to the diner for a bite to eat. As for where Captain Bridges spent the night before last, I haven't been able to discover that. I do know that he did speak with Ms. Sidle at the crime lab later that evening."

Jana shifted in her seat, watching her client, who was pouring herself another drink.

"All of this information is in the report I gave you. If you would like, I can dig deeper into either of their backgrounds, and I will continue my efforts to discover Captain Bridges whereabouts on the night in question."

Lexi took a sip of her drink, her mind still on what Jana had found out. “I already know where he was,” she stared past Jana. “Nash spent the night at Sara’s after he went to her at the lab.” She paused, and rubbed her eyes. “Don’t close my file yet, let me read your report. If I feel satisfied, I’ll let you move on to your next client.”

Jana stood up and prepared to leave.

"Ms. Stevens, after you admitted to your close ties to the crime lab, I did a little investigating of my own. You left the lab under very trying circumstances, from what I heard."

Jana nodded, wondering where Lexi was going with this.

"And you are currently romantically involved with Gil Grissom, the supervisor who brought Sara into Las Vegas, correct?"

"Yes."

Lexi nodded. "Very close ties to the lab indeed. I can appreciate how hard it must have been for you to investigate this when it hit so close to home. Thank you."

"You're welcome. When you make your decision, should you have any questions about the report, or need the services of a private investigator, please don't hesitate to contact me."

Jana left the suite. Lexi stood at the windows, drinking, leaving the report on the table. She'd seen the pain in Jana's eyes when she had mentioned Sara being a friend of Gil Grissom's. Lexi would have bet her next platinum record on that friendship involving a bedroom, and Gil Grissom hadn't told Jana that he'd once slept with someone he now worked with. What was with these men, she wondered, and what was it about this Sara?

* * * * *

It was a late night in the crime lab. The decapitated child of Sara's case had finally been identified. Her name was Justine Charles, missing from her home in San Francisco for the past two weeks.

Sara sighed as she dialed her own home number. She hoped Nash was there. She had told Grissom a friend of hers from the SFPD was in town, and he asked her to find him. Hopefully, Nash was still at her place.

Her answering machine picked up. "Nash, it's Sara. Pick up if you're there."

A click. "Sara, what's up?"

"Vacation's over, bubba. That decapitated body of mine was a missing child out of San Francisco. My boss would like you to come down and consult."