A/N: The shows doesnt belong to me. I hope u enjoy.
"Morning Frank. What have we got here?" Horatio asked once he arrived at the scene.
"Male. No ID. No visible cause of death. But was definitely redressed." Frank replied.
"Why is that so?" Horatio asked while his CSI instincts kicked in and his eyes started roaming around the room.
"He's wearing clothes a few sizes bigger. No man would do that H."
"Hmm… Let's see what Dr. Lohman has to say about him then."
Horatio gasped when he saw the victim. The victim had looked particularly familiar to him. The hair, the fashion style and the built. The difference was only in the face. It wasn't someone he knew but the way the victim had been dressed, it jogged his memory somehow.
"What's wrong H?" Frank asked in curiosity when he heard Horatio gasped.
"He looked like someone I know. I don't mean the face although they do have a similar face structure but the way he's dressed, his eyes, his hair. Everything about him seems very familiar." Horatio replied. He tried to shrug the possibility of his suspicions but he couldn't. The victim reminded him of someone.
"H, everyone dresses like this when they have a meeting, formal events or whatever. Even you H. You're wearing suits even at work. What's so strange about it?" Frank mocked. Horatio rolled his eyes and went towards the Medical Examiner
"Dr. Loman, what can you tell me about the victim?" Horatio asked while his eyes wandered towards the body which had him reminded of someone he knew but couldn't figure out who.
"I don't know yet Horatio. But there is no visible wound on him. I need to cut him open to know more. But before I go, there's something I found in his left pocket." Dr. Loman explained while handing out the piece of white paper to Horatio.
Horatio unfolded the paper and all it was stated on the slip of paper was 'I love you Mac Taylor. Till we meet again'. Mac Taylor. The name had triggered his memory. Now he knew why this victim had looked very familiar. But he was confused himself. Now his suspicions have been confirmed.
Should I call him? Or should I not?
Horatio has been debating with himself on this. The Mac Taylor he knows lives in New York and this is Miami. Why would anyone do this? This case was taking a toll on Horatio. Horatio was in his office, trying to figure out what he should do.
"Horatio." Calleigh swung open his office door and found him rubbing his forehead and wincing.
"You okay? You don't look fine."
"Yeah I'm fine Cal. You got anything yet?"
"Yeah I did. I did a search on the victim and it turns out that he is Jeffrey Miller. Not Mac Taylor." Calleigh told him as she noticed that Horatio looked a little pale.
"H. You sure you okay? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine Cal. It's just that this case… it reminds me of someone I know."
"You mean Mac Taylor from the New York crime lab?" Horatio looked up instantaneously.
At that very moment, Frank came to Horatio's office to inform him that there has been another case with the same signature.
"You sure Frank?"
"Yeah H. He looked almost the same as the one we found earlier this morning. With the letter too H."
"Alright. Let's go." He huffed.
Horatio stood up and straightened himself before picking his jacket up from his chair and rushed out of his office along with Calleigh. He drove as fast as he could to reach his destination. He knew this was only a beginning. They might be dealing with a serial killer right now. He pressed on the accelerator and had reached his destination within minutes.
"This doesn't make sense." Horatio exclaimed.
"What doesn't make sense H?" Frank asked looking confused.
"The place. The first victim had lived in a luxurious place and this victim here lives in an apartment. It's not possible that they have crossed paths. They don't even live near to each other."
"We're still running on that H. Meanwhile, go in and look at the scene. The killer realized his mistake about the size of the clothes. He's getting used to this H."
Calleigh and Horatio went into the room to find the victim seated on the chair, being dressed up just like the first victim, except, this victim had a more fitting clothes. Everything else was the same. Horatio knew that he needed one more of this exact MO to declare it as a serial killing. Just then, Horatio found the letter on the night stand. Carefully, he picked the letter up and unfolded it.
"We belong together Mac Taylor. I love you."
This was getting too much. Horatio was starting to feel so sick. This was a case of an obsessive lover who probably had been dumped by the love of her life and couldn't accept the fact. Horatio ordered his team to comb the scene to look for any possible evidences the killer might have left behind although he knew that the possibility of it is slim, just like the first one. This killer was careful and knows what he/she is doing.
"Probably a pro." He thought to himself.
Horatio went back to the lab to process the letter himself. He hanged his coat and put on his labcoat, along with his gloves and started to dust the paper for any fingerprints. There was none. Just like the previous letter. He even tried to analyze the ink and paper type used. Nothing was unique. Anyone could have printed this letter. The ink and paper can be found at any of the printing shops. Horatio was getting very impatient as time passed by. He was stuck at nothing. He didn't like being stuck at nothing and having nothing to track the killer.
By the time he finished processing the letter, his shift was over for him and it's time for him to head home. He didn't want to go home until this cases was solved but there was nothing he could do. There was no suspect in custody or even any evidences that could link anyone to the murder. Horatio went to his office to grab his belongings when he received a call.
"Caine." He answered as pressed the ANSWER button.
"Horatio I need you to come down here."
"Alright I'll be there in a moment." Horatio replied as he put an end to the call and walked towards the morgue.
"So, what have you got?" Horatio asked his medical examiner.
"That was quick. Alright… the cause of death for the first victim matched the second victim. There was petechial hemorrhaging so we can conclude that there was asphyxiation. He was either smothered or strangled."
"So, there isn't any strangulation mark… pretty sure it's smothered then. Anything else out of the ordinary?"
"Yeah. There was a puncture mark on the neck. I've already sent the tox sample up. Still waiting for the results."
"Alright. If there's anything else, call me." Horatio said while walking out of the morgue silently.
"Will…" Dr. Loman looked up and realized that Horatio was already gone. He always wondered how Horatio could just walk out of a room without having anyone notice his movement. Horatio was slick.
Horatio went back to his office to grab his belongings but he had decided to just stay in the office to finish up his pile of paperwork. He couldn't bring himself to go home when the killer hasn't yet been brought to justice.
'Should I or should I not call him? What if it's not related to him? I'm only going to make him panic and scared for no reason. But the name, the style, the dressings.. it was all so uncanny.' This thought has been running through his mind since morning. He wants to call the New York Crime Lab to maybe ask for Mac Taylor. Maybe he could help with the investigation? But Horatio wasn't sure if this is a good idea. There are so many Mac Taylors out there. But again, Horatio thought, what if this Mac Taylor had been the reason why men are being targeted and killed to be dressed just like him. Horatio was in a dilemma.
There was a knock on the door that brought Horatio back to reality. It was Calleigh with her 1000-watt smile. The smile that has always soothed his soul and brighten up his day.
"Hey Cal. Come in. Anything you've got?"
"I'd thought you'd be here. Yeah. Got something. Did a background check on both the vics. One thing for sure, I doubt they even crossed paths. Jeffrey Miller, the first victim was a lawyer. However, the second victim, Jake Roberts, was a high school teacher. They even lived opposites of each other."
"Any similarities between them?" Horatio asked while rubbing his temple. This case was getting to him.
"No. I can't find the similarities yet."
"Alright. Keep digging and keep me on the loop."
"You okay H? You seemed so…troubled. Care to share?" Calleigh asked in full concern.
"No. I'm okay. Just a little tired. This case is getting to me."
"It's about Mac Taylor isn't it? Why don't you give him a call?"
"I don't know Cal. What if it's not him?"
"What if it is him? Come on H. No harm giving him a call. No loss cause." Calleigh encouraged Horatio to give Mac a call. She was right. No loss cause giving Mac a call.
Horatio gave Mac a call as were told by Calleigh. He thought Calleigh might be right. Calleigh stayed with him while he made the call. He had explained everything about the cases to Mac and had Calleigh send the crime scene photos over to the New York Crime Lab.
"You'll be expecting me soon Horatio. I'm taking the next flight out to Miami." Said Mac Taylor on the other end of the line.
Immediately after, Horatio put an end to the call and told Calleigh to go home to get some rest because they'll be expecting Mac early in the morning. Since Calleigh was his Second-in-Command, he would bring Calleigh along to fetch Mac.
"Come on Cal. I'll send you home and I'll pick you up tomorrow morning to fetch Mac at the airport. It'll be easier that way and you can brief Mac on the spot too." Calleigh couldn't argue. Horatio was being logical and practical.
"Alright. I'll go grab my stuff and meet you at the car."
The ride home was quiet. Horatio felt awkward for a moment and didn't know what to say to Calleigh; apart from work related issues. He felt that way until Calleigh had broken the silence. He felt so much relieved that Calleigh had broken the silence.
"So, how are you doing H?" Calleigh asked casually.
"uuuhhh.. I'm doing okay I guess. You see me at work don't you." Horatio was getting squirmy.
"I don't mean that H. I meant… nevermind. Forget I asked."
"hmm… you mean my private life?"
"That is if you want to share. Don't feel obligated. I was…err… just trying to be friendly…"
"Friendly… that's…nice. But we have been friends haven't we?"
"Yes. But I think I missed the friendship we had years ago. You know what, forget it. I'm just rambling. I'm just too tired. This case is indeed making me blabber nonsense." Calleigh chuckled at that.
Horatio was stunned and speechless but he decided to let it go. He didn't think now is the right time. But after a few minutes, he decided to say something and when he turned to look at Calleigh, she was already fast asleep. So peacefully. Horatio looked at her and smiled. He missed her.
'STOP IT CAINE! GET A HANG OF YOURSELF! YOU'RE HER BOSS!' Horatio thought to himself.
Upon reaching at Calleigh's apartment, he woke her up and went to the passenger side to open the door for her. He walked Calleigh to the door, ensuring that she gets home safely.
"Thank you for sending me home. You didn't have to."
"My pleasure Ma'am. I'll pick you up at 6. Mac's flight is touching down at around 7. According to him that is."
Alright. I'll see you then. Thank you." Calleigh said and gave Horatio a peck on his cheek which made him blushed. He was glad that it was rather dark that Calleigh couldn't see the blush on his pale skin.
Horatio turned to make his way back to the hummer. He can still feel the soft, warm feeling of her lips on his cheek. He wanted more. He wanted more than a kiss on the cheek.
"Calleigh…hold up." Horatio said as he stepped closer to her. He could feel his heart beating fast.
"Yes? Is there anything you need?" Calleigh asked, curious. She could literally feel Horatio's warm breathe on her skin now. Horatio was so close to her.
TBC? R&R
thanks for reading :)