Author note: Hi, I normally write csi las vegas stories, but this one came to me unexpectatly. I don't know anything of the city of Miami, so the neighbourhoods are completly my imagination, so are any of the other locations in this story. Except for Celesta Mahoney and her cat, which will make an appearance in one of the coming chapters, all csi characters are owned by CBS and thus not by me. Please tell me what you think of this story.

Celesta Mahoney

"Lieutenant Caine, I have someone who wants to speak with you." Horatio wondered who might want to say something to him. In this neighbourhood it was probably something hostile. The relationship between the police force and the inhabitants here was very strained, due to a complete mistrust of the other party, from both sides. Almost all people who lived in this neighbourhood were dark skinned, the problems were mostly caused by youngsters, who had joined some gang, primarily male. When a young Caucasian woman was brought to Horatio, he was surprised. He had not expected a woman, let alone a Caucasian female. She had copper coloured hair, long legs and arms, she had a pair of sunglasses in her hand and a sports bag in her other hand. The blazing sun lit up her hair, gibing it a golden hue, her stride was confident and she was tall, all in all a beautiful and intriguing picture. "Miss." Horatio spoke languidly, as a way of greeting.

"Are you the one in charge?" the woman said, looking him in the eye. As he answered Horatio turned his head away: "Yes, ma'am."

"Good, I am Celesta Mahoney, what is going on here?" Celesta extended her hand. Horatio turned to her fully and shook her hand: "Lieutenant Horatio Caine, there was a shooting."

"In the gym hall?"

"Yes." Horatio was reluctant to give information away to bystanders.

"Who has been shot?" Celesta's eyes displayed her concern.

"We don't know yet. Why did you want to speak to me?" Horatio asked, looking at the ground.

"I wanted to know what had happened and if I could still use the hall." Celesta explained looking at the man who refused to meet her eye.

"Why do you need the hall? Someone told me it is not in use anymore."

"I teach gymnastics here, two days in the week."

"Gymnastics?" that explained her slim figure and the sports bag.

"Yes." Celesta said defiantly.

"Do you live here?"

"No, I teach here, I live in another part of town. When can I resume using the hall?"

"Not today or in the next two weeks I'm sure."

"Damn it. Can I take a look? Maybe I recognise the victim." Celesta said. Horatio tipped his head and thoughtfully looked at the young woman.

"All right. The victim is here." Horatio led Celesta to the coroners van, where Alexx was getting ready to leave. "Alexx, can I take one more look at the victim?" the dark skinned woman turned: "Sure, Horatio." Horatio stepped to the side and motioned for Celesta to step forward. Alexx zipped open the body bag just far enough to show the face. Celesta looked down at the face, then lifted her head to Alexx: "Does he have a black tribal band tattoo on his left biceps?" Alexx peered in the bag and then nodded. Celesta sighed: "It's Nala's son, Kofu Sewrba. He hung around here often. He sometimes helped me set up. He is a sweet kid, didn't want to join any of the gangs around here."

"He wasn't one of your students?"

"No he played basketball. Nala's daughters do come to my classes. Nala will be here soon." Celesta looked around, scanning the crowd. "She's here." Horatio followed her sight: "Where?"

"Come on. I'll show you. "Celesta put her bag down and started to walk to the crowd. Horatio followed her.

"Nala." Before Celesta could say anything else, the youngest girl flung herself at Celesta, who put her arms around her. "He, Fiona, I need to talk to your mother." Celesta once more turned to the African American woman standing across from her. "Nala, there has been an accident. Lieutenant Caine would like to talk to you." Celesta indicated Horatio, confused Nala watched from Celesta to Horatio. "Could you follow me, so we can talk privately ma'am?" Nala nodded and turned to Celesta, who already read the question in her eyes. "I'm going to stay with Fiona and Serena. Don't worry." Celesta saw the two people walk off.

Half an hour later the crowd had thinned dramatically. Half the police vehicles had already left and Celesta had told the children who followed her lessons that for the next two weeks there would be no gymnastics in the hall. She finally saw Horatio and Nala come back. Nala was shaking, Celesta hugged her. "let's get you home Nala, where are your keys?" Nala rummaged around in her bag, producing a set of keys. Horatio walked with the four women to the car. At the car he said to Celesta that he would come by in an hour to talk to Nala once more. "I'll stay with her, so you'll see me there." Celesta said. Horatio nodded, got up and tapped the hood of the car. Celesta rolled up the window and drove off.

"He, H? Do you know who put this bag here?" Eric Delko called out pointing to a sports bag. Horatio called back: "Yeah, that is the sports bag of miss Mahoney."

"Who?" Eric had walked to Horatio.

"The lady, who helped identify the victim. I'll take the bag with me, I'm going to see her, when I'm going to talk to the mother."

"Okay, I'm going tot the lab, get started with the evidence." Eric walked to the Hummer.

Author note: Please review this, tell me what you think and whether I should continue.