COINCIDENCES

Chapter 1

Tuesday, the first day of April, 2014, dawned calm and sunny following a few days of stormy weather in Miami. Horatio had finished his breakfast and was almost ready to leave for work when he decided to open the lounge doors to let in the smell of the fresher air. It was still warm outside, but the sticky humid heat caused by the unsettled weather had now gone. They had air conditioning, but he much preferred pure fresh air. They only used it regularly in the height of summer, although it had been on a few times over the last few days. He stepped out on to the patio and enjoyed breathing the fresh air deep into his lungs, and as he stood there he gazed at his back yard appreciatively. Aileen enjoyed gardening and had taken on the job of tending to the plants in the bedding borders and patio plant pots, and she certainly seemed to have green fingers. The yard was a picture, and the storm winds, had done no damage, whatsoever, to the trees and shrubs in the back or front of the apartment. Then he smiled broadly as he remembered what the date was.

Returning to the kitchen and moving across to his wife standing at the sink, with her back to him, he wrapped his arms around her waist, and nuzzling his chin into her neck whispered, "Do you know what day it is today?"

Aileen gazing out of the window smiled; she knew; she would never forget.

She turned around in his arms so his hands were now resting in the hollow of her back and as she encircled her arms around his neck she gave him a soft smile and replied, "It was this day exactly two years ago that Cardinal Benedetti met you here in Miami, and on behalf of our mutual friends tricked you in to going to New York, and then we met and fell in love, and I bless them for that every day Horatio."

After kissing her fully on the mouth and placing his hands either side of her face he said, "I just wish I could have met you much earlier Sweetheart, because then I could have loved you longer."

Aileen choking on an intake of breath for a moment, recovered and with a lump in her throat said, "You say the sweetest things darling. I would have loved that, except in reality, we both know it could not have happened. But I am so happy we met when we did. I love you so very much Horatio."

Noticing she was looking a little pale Horatio asked, "Are you not feeling well Aileen? Is that headache still bothering you?" He had been a bit worried about her as Aileen suffered with headaches when storms were around. She could always tell when a storm was on the way because of this, and it can't have been easy for her with Hannah being off color.

"I'm fine; just a bit tired, it will pass, and the headache seems to have gone this morning, thank goodness. Hannah had me up several times in the night. She was grizzly and feverish, and in a lot of pain. I could feel a really sharp edge every time she bit hard on my finger as I tried to soothe her sore gums. Another tooth is close to breaking through, hopefully it will be today. She is biting really hard on her teething ring this morning."

"You should have let me take a turn with her; you know you can wake me anytime in the event she had not already woken me."

"I know Horatio but you sleeping well, is important, and I can rest through the day."

Looking across at his daughter sitting in her high chair, teething ring rammed in her mouth, dribble running down her chin, he muttered, "Poor little soul." Moving across to her he gently rubbed his thumbs over her very red hot cheeks, and as he did so she gave him a little smile, dropped the ring, and stretched her arms out to him which she did when she wanted him to pick her up, and he couldn't resist. As he lifted her up she placed a wet hand on his face and said, "Da-da." He grinned, he loved to hear her trying to say daddy. She had started talking to him this way a few days earlier, and he felt emotional hearing his daughter recognise him in this way. Everything his daughter did was a new and wondrous experience for him.

He gave her a big cuddle as he talked to her soothingly, "You will soon feel better Princess." Then she touched his nose; squeezed it, and chuckled as he shook his head at her laughing.

Aileen standing with her back now resting against the sink watched them, her heart bursting with love for both of them and thinking that Hannah could twist Horatio around her little fingers even at her age. She had in fact been able to do just that since the day she was born. She was ten months old now, had sat up at six months, just before last Christmas, and was crawling all over the place. She had never actually crawled on two knees but rather on one knee and one foot, and she was so quick, and kept them on their toes watching out for her. They had not forced her into a play pen as she had reacted badly to being penned in. The last few days she was noticeably stronger and actually took a few tentative steps if you held both her hands; their daughter was progressing fast. It would not be long before she was able to take her first few steps on her own.

She moved over to them with a damp tissue and wiped Horatio's smiling face where Hannah had touched him with her wet hands and then wiped Hannah's face and hands clean while she was still in his arms.

Ten minutes later Horatio placed Hannah back in her chair; gave her a kiss; then kissed Aileen and was just wondering where Tommy was as he always liked to say goodbye to all of them before he left each day, when he felt a tap on his back. "Dad there is a man at the front door, I saw him from the lounge window but I don't know who he is so didn't answer. And you have always told me not to answer the door to strangers."

"Okay Tommy let's go and see who it is then. I didn't hear the bell though, so perhaps whoever it was changed their mind."

Tommy was on school Spring Break holiday for the rest of the week, and Aileen knew he was up to mischief when he gave her a big grin before he followed his dad. Horatio opened the door and seeing no one there, turned round to look at Tommy just as he yelled out, "April Fool Dad."

Horatio pursed his lips trying hard not to smile but failed, and Tommy had a fit of giggles.

"Nice one Tommy," said Horatio as he ruffled his hair. "You caught me out easy, and I think I will be safer at work today in the circumstances," making his son laugh. Then Horatio gave him a hug and whispered in his ear, "Go easy on your mom with the tricks, she was up with Hannah last night and is tired."

"Okay Dad...just a small one, I promise."

Horatio nodded his head and then looking at his watch said, "Right family I really do have to leave now. Take care Aileen, try and get some rest today."

"Don't worry Horatio; I'm fine, just a bit lethargic, this stormy weather hasn't helped either. Stephanie is coming over with Mark for a couple of hours this afternoon. As the weather has changed to something like normal now, we will just sit outside and be lazy, while the boys play for a while."

Horatio was happy; Aileen and Stephanie had gradually become good friends over the last few months, both having ten year old sons who were the best of friends. It worked well for both of them, and Stephanie after all her troubles was a much happier person now.

On the drive into work Horatio noted the storm damage here and there was no worse than he had noticed the previous few days, and as he was driving along he was feeling a little guilty. Since Hannah had been moved to her cot in the nursery, and though he was normally a light sleeper he didn't hear her cry out as quick as Aileen did, so she always got up first to go and tend to their daughter. The few times he tried to get up ahead of her, Aileen insisted he stay where he was, saying he needed his sleep to stay alert for the next day. He knew that ever since the Saris business, she worried about his safety more than ever and wanted him to be fit for whatever he had to meet in his working day, and by getting up for their daughter she was making sure he had as much sleep as possible. She was quite strong willed at times when it came to what she thought was good for him and the family. Then he smiled, she was the love of his life and would have her no different, and what he told her this morning was so true. He did wish with all his heart he had known her longer. The last two years had been the happiest of his life.

Twenty minutes later, now 8:00 am, he arrived at the MDPD, parked his car and then strolled into the building just as Frank came up alongside him saying, "Good morning Horatio. You know what day it is today, don't you?"

"Yes Frank, I do indeed. Let's hope it is a quiet one this year." He smiled at Frank's back as he walked away. Frank had been a good friend to him this day two years earlier, and an already close friendship had grown even stronger. He just wished Frank had a good woman in his life, like he did. Frank was a good man; he could be a bit awkward at times, but always meant well, and since his acrimonious divorce from Melissa, he was in no hurry to get into another relationship. He knew that deep down Frank would like another woman in his life, but was finding it hard to take a step forward and trust again. He had been soured by the divorce. But he had a piece of luck recently as Melissa had now re married and Frank's financial burden of paying her alimony had been lifted from his shoulders. Melissa' new husband who was wealthy had magnanimously arranged through his lawyer for the divorce court to annul Frank's financial responsibility for the girls, and with no provisos' attached. Thus he was still able to see his three daughters by arrangement with Melissa at any time, and it was clear that his friend and colleague had a spring in his steps of late.

An hour later following a walk around the lab checking all was well everywhere, he stepped outside the building and stood at the top of the steps for a minute, surveying what was around him. A patrol car drew up and two officers alighted with two young lads who were now being frogmarched into the station. He nodded at the officers as they passed him, and thought, "So the day begins."

He was just on the point of turning to go back inside when he noted a cab draw up at the bottom of the steps, and raised his eyebrows when he saw who stepped out of the cab, and as he walked down the steps he muttered to himself, "Déjà Vu."

Then with a smile on his face he shook hands with Cardinal Benedetti. "It's good to see you Cardinal. But you do know I will never trust the clergy again on this particular day of the year," the smile on his face widening as he spoke.

"It's alright Horatio, just pure business for me this trip. It's our annual conference today and it falls to Miami to host the event again this year; Last year it was in New York. I have a bit of time before I need to arrive at the conference center so thought I would step by and say hello, hoping it is convenient."

"Come inside to my office then and join me with a coffee."

"Thank you; I would like that."

The Cardinal asked the cab driver to return in thirty minutes; then followed Horatio into the building and to his office, and exactly thirty minutes later he left a happy man having obtained the information he personally needed. He had heard from Father Downey how happy Horatio was now settled in his married life, and after their chat he could clearly see that for himself. His own heart was lightened now, as he had sometimes felt a little guilty at the length of time it had taken Horatio to reach the decision that he had done enough to atone for his father's death, and wished he had granted him absolution much earlier. He had served a penance for far too long, but he had hoped and prayed Horatio would have realised when he had done enough, but he had had to finally step in two years ago and tell him so. It had become clear to him that Horatio was never going to make that decision as he had needed to receive absolution from him directly. He was glad he had stepped by; Horatio was looking good and clearly in a happy place now. He was returning to New York straight after the conference otherwise he would have accepted Horatio's offer to join the family that evening. Maybe he could fit in seeing them later in the year went through his mind. Horatio had told him the family were coming to New York for a visit soon.

Once the Cardinal had departed, Frank who had seen him arrive and leave put his head around the door and asked with a chuckle in his throat, "Falling for another trick Horatio?"

Horatio shook his head and smiling replied, "Not this time Francis, the Cardinal was just paying a social visit. He is here for another conference. Can you believe it is two years since he last paid a visit to Miami? So much has happened since then."

"Anyway must get on with some paperwork now, so can you shut the door please Frank? I don't want to be disturbed for a while, I have to write up a report on Stephen's progress too date"

Opening his desk drawer Horatio withdrew Stephen Jenkins personnel file. It was six months ago, just prior to Michael and Maeve's wedding in New York that he had gone with his gut feeling and offered the officer a position as a CSI. He had been impressed with him at various stages throughout the whole Saris saga, and so far Stephen had not let him down in any way, quite the reverse. He was proving to be very flexible. He had initially asked Ryan to take him through the ropes which had turned out to be a good move, not only for Stephen but for Ryan as well. Ryan had taken his responsibility seriously and it reflected well on him. The rest of the team also worked well with him, he was easy to like, and it was obvious he was going to turn into a complete team player. But a team player he thought had the potential to become a good second in command, and eventually a team leader some time in the future. In between being out in the field, Stephen had already been taken through various forms of lab work by one or other of the team. He himself had taken him through a few steps and was impressed. Having expressed an interest in ballistics, he was currently spending some time with Calleigh. She had been happy to start teaching him all she knew, particularly as she was never going to work more than part time hours again, and she knew Stephen was clearly comfortable around guns. He trusted Calleigh to teach him well, she was the best ballistics expert he had ever worked with, and the reports she fed him about Stephen were excellent.

He wrote the progress report and then leant back in his chair with a sigh of satisfaction, a smug expression crossing his face. He prided himself on only ever taking on the best, and his instincts had not let him down where Stephen Jenkins was concerned.

A few minutes later he stood up and was about to take the file back to personnel, when there was a sharp rap on his office window; looking across he sighed heavily – FEDS, and two of them. "What the hell do they want?" he muttered under his breath, and shut his eyes momentarily in frustration. His lab was clean, and no one was under investigation for a single offence, unless, despite James Burton's assurance they would not be looking at him for any reason concerning Saris being taken down, they had changed their minds, although that would have been IAB's remit, and they had stayed well clear and it was a few months ago now anyway.

He was surprised there were two of them, Glen Cole and Dennis Sackheim; two agents he had not seen for some considerable time.

Glaring at them as they entered his office he tersely asked, "What can I do for you gentlemen? My lab is clean, as always, and I know of no reason for you to be here."

"Calm down Horatio," said Dennis Sackheim. "We know your lab and team are squeaky clean."

Horatio decided to sit down, and placing his arms on his desk and clasping his hands together he asked, "So why are you here?"

"We need your help Horatio, and it could be personal," said Dennis Sackheim, as he and Glen Cole pulled up chairs and sat down opposite him.

Horatio raised his eyebrows and waited for him to continue.

"We have had an agent working undercover now for close to three months, but Saturday night we found his dead body in a derelict old building on the edge of Little Havana. Whoever murdered him had used a knife on him Horatio; he had been butchered, and this is where we need your help. A woman, who had been severely beaten, was found alongside him, and at first we thought she was dead, but miraculously she is still alive, the paramedics felt a very weak pulse in her neck and rushed her to hospital immediately, although the consultant at the hospital over the weekend had doubts she would survive the trauma of her ordeal, she was very weak. We had hoped to talk to her yesterday but were unable to. However, we went to see her early this morning when the consultant called to let us know she was awake and aware of what was going on around her. When we explained who we were and that we needed to talk to her, she told us she will only talk to you as she knows and trusts you."

"Did she give you a name?"

"Yes, Horatio, her name is...

TBC