It was Monday morning and he was calmly waiting in concourse J for flight 7730 arriving from Chicago. He was wearing his black pinstripe suit and blue shirt. He looked down at his watched, 9:00 am. Her flight should land soon, he thought.
"Chicago Flight 7730, arriving on concourse J, gate 26," an automated voice announced came over the public address system.
He made is way over to the gate. He remembered when she came down to help with a couple of cases two years ago. He was very impressed with her skills as an investigator. He would have brought her on; however, he wasn't able to do so at the time. Now, with Ryan Wolfe gone, they needed another investigator. Therefore, he gave his friend, Lieutenant Michael O'Brien who headed up the Chicago Police Department crime lab a call a couple of weeks ago.
It was 10 am and his phone rang for tenth time that morning. Michael was starting to get irritated. He picked it up. "Yes, Miss Phillips?"
"There is a Lieutenant Horatio Caine calling from the Miami-Dade Crime lab for you on line one. Would you like me to take a message?"
"No, if Lieutenant Caine is calling me something's up." Michael told his receptionist. He pressed the line one button and paused for it to connect. "Hello?"
"Michael, its Horatio Caine," Horatio greeted.
"Hey, Horatio, it's been a while. How are things going down there?"
"Honestly, Mike, things could be better. I had to let one of my CSI's go."
"That's never a good thing. Is there anything I can do?" Mike asked.
"Actually, that's why I was calling. I've been looking for another trace analyst. Do you know anyone up there who would be interested?" Horatio asked, knowing there was.
"Do you need to ask that question? Detective Sheridan loved it when I sent her down there two years ago to help you out. It's her vacation spot. We don't even ask her where she's going anymore." Michael laughed.
"Yes, I usually run into her when she's down here. She is one of the best trace analysts and criminal psychologists that I've had the privilege of meeting. She was a tremendous help to us when she came down. She's become a good friend."
"I think she would be open to an interview. Would you like me to page her and see what she says?"
"Only if she's not out on a call," Horatio said, not wanting to distract her.
"No, she's in the lab today. It's been quiet around here lately." Michael said. "Let me put you on hold."
"Not a problem," Horatio answered.
After a few minutes, Michael came back on. "Horatio, are you there?"
"Yes, Mike,"
"Good, I've put you on speaker phone. Detective Sheridan is here." Michael explained. He nodded at Detective Sheridan.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Caine," she greeted, her light Irish accent flavoring her words.
Horatio smiled. "Good morning to you, Detective Sheridan."
"Down to business," Mike said. "Eryn, Horatio has an opening in his lab in Miami. Would you be interested in interviewing for the position and if asked to accept it, transfer to the Miami Dade PD?"
Eryn gave Mike a light smile, "Yes, I would."
"Okay, umm," Horatio began as he looked at the calendar. "Would two weeks from today be doable, Mike?"
Mike looked at Eryn. She nodded. "It shouldn't be a problem."
"Good, I'll make the arrangements and have all the information sent to you."
Eryn's cell phone vibrated. It was a call out. She looked at Mike. He nodded and she got up and walked out of the office.
"That'll work, Horatio. Thank you for giving Eryn this opportunity."
"She earned it, as far as I'm concerned, Mike. Could I speak with her privately?"
"Sorry, Horatio," Mike apologized. "She got a call out a second ago."
"I understand. Thank you Mike, again. I'll get the details to you as soon as I can."
The men finished their conversation. Mike hung up and smiled. He was going to miss her, but it was an opportunity he wasn't going to let her pass up.
She walked through the skyway and out into the concourse. She looked around slowly, scanning the crowd for the man she was looking for. There he is, she thought. She saw him standing off away from the main crowd, looking out the floor to ceiling windows, at the city to which he had given his blood. She easily made her way through crowd over to where he stood.
He looked up when felt someone walk up behind him. He saw her reflection in the window, dipped his head and smiled. He looked up again and turned around.
"Detective Eryn Alyssa Sheridan," he greeted, extending his hand to her.
She smiled as she took the offered hand. "Lieutenant Horatio Caine."
Eryn Sheridan was a spitfire to say the least. She had curly dark auburn hair, which she wore in corn rolls, green-hazel eyes, a light honey complexion and a splattering of freckles all over. She wore a pair of vintage boot-cut jeans, low-heeled black boots and a black shrug top, all of which showed off her hourglass figure, causing several patrons to turn their heads, admiring her. At 5'8" and 130 lbs, she seemed more like a model than a police officer. Then again, anyone messing with her would find out all too quickly, that she was all muscle.
Of Irish decent, Eryn's family came over during the Irish potato famine and settled in Chicago. She came from a long line of Irish police officers. Her great-grand father, grandfather and father were all officers in the Chicago PD. Her father was Alan Sheridan and her mother Alyssa, who was a doctor. Alan joined the Chicago PD when he was 21 and Alyssa was 21, in medical school. She met Alan through a mutual friend. They were married May 8, 1966. They had four children, Shannon, Brandon, Justin and Eryn.
Eryn had met Lieutenant Caine at different time when he would come up to see Mike. It wasn't until two years ago, that her friendship with him began to develop. Mike had asked her to go down to Miami after Horatio had called. Horatio asked Mike to send her down since Mike had his hands on one of the best criminal psychologist in the country. She spent two months in Miami, helping Horatio and his team track down a psychotic serial killer. The killer had a fascination with Dr. Hannibal Lecter from the movie Silence of the Lambs. After that, she made a point to take her vacation time in Miami.
"It's been a little while," Horatio said, smiling at the thirty-year-old detective.
"Only six months, Lieutenant," Eryn smiled, adjusting her carryon.
Horatio tilted his head to the side. "May I take that for you?"
She took the carryon off her shoulder and handed it to Horatio. He took the bag, but paused, noticing a light bruise on her collarbone near her shoulder. The strap must have covered it up, he thought.
"Eryn, where did that bruise come from?" He asked, wondering if she was alright.
"Ah, that thing," she replied. "The day you called about the interview, I got a call out to a scene."
"Mike said that you got called out," he confirmed.
"While we were processing the scene, a few members from two rival gangs were in the area and we got caught in the crossfire. I took a bullet, but the vest caught it. It looked a lot worse last week." Eryn explained.
"I'm glad to hear that you were alright."
As they began to walk to the baggage claim, the baggage from her flight began to come around the baggage carousel. She noticed her small suitcase coming around. She walked up to get it, but Horatio grabbed it first.
"Come on Horatio," Eryn said.
"You're going to have a busy enough day," he said, giving her a light smile.
He picked up her suitcase and they made their way over to the Enterprise Car Rental counter. They waited for the person in front of them to be done and Horatio stepped up.
"I have a reservation," he stated to clerk.
"May I have the name on the reservation?"
"Horatio Caine," he answered.
"Ah, yes, the car is ready for you, Mister Caine. I'll have the attendant bring the car up for you," the clerk said. "The return day is Saturday, June 22 by 7 pm."
"Thank you very much, ma'am," he said as the clerk handed him the keys to the car."
Horatio turned and handed the keys to Eryn. She took the keys and quickly picked her carryon before he could pick it up again. He looked at her and smiled. She's being feisty, he thought as they walked out of the door and waited for the car.
Eryn pulled her sunglasses out of her purse. They were wire frames with small oval driving lenses. She put them on and looked over at Horatio. She noticed that he had something on his mind, but didn't inquire. She pulled out her blackberry, texting Mike. Got to MIA in one piece have fun.
Horatio had already put his on. He had been watching her for a few minutes. He had known her for a while now, but always got the impression that she was watching over her shoulder. Almost as if, she was expecting someone to be there. However, to his credit, he never asked her about it. She'll tell me when she's ready, he thought.
A few minutes past and the attendant drove up in the car. It was a black pearl Hyundai Tiburon. Eryn's jaw dropped as she looked at Horatio. He bashfully looked down.
"Now I know the county did not pay for that, Horatio," Eryn commented as she walked around the car. "You know if I didn't have my BMW K 1200 S waiting for me at home, you might have arrest me for grand theft auto." She laughed.
Horatio couldn't help but join her. I could see her doing that too, he laughed to himself. She opened the trunk. Horatio put her suitcase in the trunk, as she handed the carryon to Horatio. He shut the trunk and walked up to the driver side door, opening it for Eryn.
He took her by the hand and helped her into the driver's seat. He closed the door, walked around to the passenger side and got in. Eryn synced her blackberry with the navigation system. She started the car and pulled out.
"Where the Hummer parked?" She asked.
"In the next lot, third row in, five spaces down from the front," he responded.
She found it easily and stopped by the vehicle. Horatio got out and came around to the driver side. Eryn brought down the window.
"Thank you," Horatio said. "Next stop is the lab. Do you remember the way?"
"Like I could forget," she said. "Where am I staying by the way?"
"The National Hotel," he said.
"Wow," she breathed out. "Horatio, you know I'll never be able to pay you back."
"Eryn," he said quietly. "You'll never have to."
She smiled at him, taking in his red hair and blue eyes. I don't think this man will ever cease to amaze me, she thought.
Horatio stood up, walked over to the Hummer, and paused before getting in. His cell phone vibrated as he saw Eryn pull away. Bet you lunch I get there first- E. Horatio smiled. Two can play at the game, he thought. He text Eryn back. You're on.