Spring had descended on Miami like a Carnival in Rio. Flowers suddenly bloomed, people wore bright colors, and there was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for the approaching Spring Break. Business would get more customers, hotels would be full. Over sexed co-eds would flock the streets and fill the bars. Ornithologists would compare it to a migration, complete with mating dance, rituals, and the eventual abandonment for old, familiar environments. Miami would take weeks to clean, but being glutted with cash made for an easy wait. After Spring Break had ended it would only be a few months till summer and cruise season. From there, fall would progress and more tourists would arrive to the entertainment capital of Florida.
And it was Horatio Caine's job to keep them safe.
To most, he wouldn't have cut an imposing figure. A tall slender red head with a penchant for high end suits and an ever present pair of sunglasses, the Lieutenant was never one to intimidate. At first glance at least. But behind those darkened shades and deep blue eyes, lurked a cunning and protective mind. A necessity for any crime scene investigator. Horatio was a man that had witnessed the evils of mankind, and come out stronger. He was currently leaning against a Police Department Hummer, awaiting the rest of his team. They came trickling in, all waiting in the parking lot of Mel's Mermaid Lagoon.
There was blonde Calleigh Duquense, who could be as sweet as Southern iced tea, yet tell you exactly how fast a bullet was traveling when it entered a man's skull and what caliber it was just from a two second look. Behind her came Alexx Woods, their Medical Examiner. Her black hair pulled back into a high ponytail, soft brown skin covered hands that had been in more bodies than Horatio could remember.
Ryan Wolfe was next, a young patrol officer that Horatio had pulled off of the beat to come be a CSI. The young man was doing his best to emulate his boss, wearing the stylish suits that Horatio favored. Walking alongside him, scuba gear in hand, was Eric Delkotorsky, better known as Delko. The Cuban-Russian diver was the resident ladies man, aside from their vehicular expert. Bringing in the rear was Natalia Boa Vista, their newest member. While still learning the ropes, Natalia could do just about anything with biologicals.
His team was skilled in what they did, and he had picked them for just that reason. Every one of them knew that their job was to find justice for the victim. Their job was to give closure to loved ones, to find the cruel and merciless people who would take lives. They did that through science, through a thorough knowledge of the world around them and how it worked. They were analytical, tough, relentless.
And they were good at what they did.
"Horatio. I've got three for ya." Horatio snapped his eyes away from the team to Detective Frank Tripp. A balding Texan, he had settled in Miami to take care of an ailing mother had decided to call the place home. Horatio considered Frank to be his first wave, he'd go in, learn what he could, then report back. It also helped that the Texan was intimidating as hell. "You won't believe it."
"Frank, I think I will." Horatio smirked at his friend as he turned to look at the building. The parking lot led to a gated area, plexiglass walls riding about four feet in the air to form a circle. A set of stairs led below, and Frank gestured for him to follow. He quickly moved down the stairs, into a dining room of sorts. Horatio knew the Lagoon put on mermaid shows, almost a sort of underwater ballet, offering their customers dinner and a show. He remembered a little bit of trivia, that underwater photo shoots had been done here as well. Chairs had been stacked on tables, but Horatio didn't need them. He wasn't concerned with sitting down, but with the three young women floating in the water before him.
"Mermaids?" He muttered, looking at the women in the lagoon. The closest to him possessed a mane of fiery red hair, not unlike his own, that floated around her, stirring in the currents. Her only clothing was a bikini top, shells glued to it to make it look more natural. Her milky white skin tapered to the beginning of her waist, where a pattern of red, orange, and gold scales began. They flowed from her waist and wrapped around where her legs should have been before slimming down to a large, feathery, orange fin. She had been posed in a way that made her look like she was swimming, arms and tail posed.
"Right?" Frank grunted from behind him. Horatio's head turned as Ryan, Calleigh, and Natalia came down the stairs.
"Where's Eric?" He asked, looking up at the group.
"He'd getting ready to dive." Calleigh told him, before pulling out a pair of latex gloves.
"I want pictures from every angle before the bodies are removed." Horatio told them, sending Natalia back up to tell Eric. He moved to the second body as Calleigh and Ryan both picked up cameras to photograph the women. The second mermaid was a young African-American girl, her tail a spiral of green that floated above the rock she was seated on. Her fingers combed through the mass of hair that danced around her, occasionally brushing the seaweed that had been wrapped around her breast and her neck. He slid his eyes over to the third one. A milky white veil of hair concealed her face, but her blue tail met with a pale body. Occasionally her hair would drift, revealing a pale breast that would vanish behind the hair. She was posed with her arms over her head, almost vertical in the water. The artificial reef behind her provided a backdrop, bright colors visible through the water.
It was beautiful, in an eerie and unsettling sort of way. It made Horatio want to stand and consider the women like they were a work of art. Ryan apparently felt the same, he'd take a picture and then stand back to examine them. Calleigh would do the same, awed by what she saw. Horatio saw a sudden patch of black appear in the water, forming into a recognizable shape as it got closer. Eric, clad in a wet suit and an air tank on his back, swam around the bodies, an underwater camera taking pictures. Satisfied that everything was being handled he turned to examine the room. With black tile and white walls, the room was a stark contrast to the variety of life in the lagoon. He moved from table to table, examining each for any sign of activity. His patience was rewarded when he found a piece of paper tucked under the edge of a chair. He pulled a pair of gloves from his pocket and gently removed the paper.
"What do you have?" Calleigh asked, standing beside him. "Looks like poetry." A few lines of poetry had been scratched out in a practiced calligraphy, and Horatio knew they were not written by some ballpoint pen, the writing was too slanted and well shaped. This writing would take practice to form, repeating letters endlessly to make it perfect.
"I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown."
Horatio read off the poem slowly, glancing to the lagoon. Eric was in the process of removing the bodies, a pair of scissors cutting something he couldn't see and the red head slowly floating up. Calleigh took the poem from him and read through it on her own.
"Well that's creepy." She muttered, "Mermaids, drowning. Think our killer left it for us?"
"Hmm." Horatio hummed, considering the situation. "You know how people pose models and dress them up to make them look like a picture?"
"Yeah, a tableau vivant. It means a living picture."
"Well, we have a tableau décès."
Laila Collins shifted her stance, mentally berating herself for setting up this meeting. She should have known better, but the money was alluring. She had worked with several companies for the upcoming Spring Break, but she hadn't considered this. And then they had called her, asking her to meet at a Japanese restaurant for lunch. She had arrived first, had ordered some edamame, and had amused herself with the salted soybeans until they arrived.
And who were they? The board of the Miss Spring Break competition. The board which included her oh-so perfect cousin AshLee Fontaine. She snapped open a soybean pod and crushed a few beans between her teeth. They should have been here fifteen minutes ago. A waitress made her way though the tables, leading a group of well dressed women. All wore sundresses, their hair up, and carried themselves with an air that only came from money and prestige being given from birth. It took an effort to not be ashamed her charcoal slacks and blazer. Her pearl necklace was fake, while the pearls that graced several members of the board neck's were real.
"Why Cousin Laila it has been way too long!" A perfectly feminine Southern voice rang out. A blonde in a baby blue dress stepped out from behind two of the board members. AshLee was perfect in a way that Laila could never see herself being. Her perfect blonde hair had been curled and secured with bobby pins that actually managed to hide themselves amongst her tresses. Her bright blue eyes were covered by thickly fringed lashes, and her makeup was perfect. She filled out the bodice of her dress while Laila had to content herself with minimal goods in the feminine department. The only thing Laila had on her cousin was her height. AshLee was petite, while Laila was lengthy. She tapped one foot, content that she would never have to learn how to balance on three inch heels like her cousin had to.
"Hello AshLee," Laila nodded. "Ladies, shall we." She gestured to the table, sending the five women to find their seats. A few plates of sushi that she had ordered earlier appeared, and Laila helped herself. She took a smug satisfaction in her chopstick ability as AshLee scooped a piece onto a fork.
"Well, if I may start Ms. Collins we are so glad to be able to meet with you." One of the older women said. "I'm Maybelle Jackson, and this is Brandi, Jennifer, and Rebecca. You already know AshLee of course." Maybelle tittered slightly. Laila had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes.
"It's a pleasure." Laila said, sipping a small cup of sake. She noticed the other women had ordered tea or water, she was the only one with a drink. Well, I'll need a drink to get through this. "But shall we move on to the business? I have a few other clients on my plate already."
"Oh, of course. Now, what were asking is for you to oversee the Miss Spring Break pageants from beginning to end. The contestants are already entered but we need you expertise to help us inform the woefully misguided public." AshLee simpered. "And were willing to pay handsomely."
"Exactly what does your pageant cover?" Laila asked, raising her eyebrows. "Age range, competitions? If we can advertise to a specific interest group it's much better."
"Well, we have a teen division, a miss division, and our Spring Flowers division."
"Spring flower?"
"Children up to thirteen." AshLee explained. Laila took a gulp of sake at that. Child beauty pageant, Jesu Christo. And AshLee to boot. God I wish I wasn't here. She finished a couple of pieces of sushi before responding.
"Well, Maybelle, I will consider your offer." Laila said. "But for now, let's enjoy some food." Lunch passed in a relatively peaceful manner, and Laila successfully fended off AshLee's multiple attempts to get her to agree. When she stood to leave, Maybelle gave her a business card with a request to call them in the next few days. As a second thought she pulled out a Miss Spring Break handbook for Laila to leaf through. AshLee stood to walk out with her, her heels clacking as she followed Laila.
"Now, Laila I really hope we've put all that nastiness behind us." AshLee whined when they reached the parking lot. "You know Grandma Elise always put Gentry first." Laila narrowed her eyes at that. Gentry, Georgia, was where her mother was from. Elise had practically disowned her mother when Denice had run off with her father, Jeff Collins. No inheritance, no standing in Southern society, and Laila was basically considered a bastard to the rest of the family. Going to the annual family reunion had ceased when she was ten, after a huge fight between Denice and Elise. The next day they had flown back to Des Moines. It was obvious who the Fontaine family preferred to carry on the family legacy.
AshLee was the perfect little granddaughter. She married her high school sweetheart just as he graduated from college with a law degree. Jerome Bramlett III was one of the top attorneys in Atlanta, and AshLee was queen of the social scene. Laila personally thought that everything seemed a little to perfect in her life, that there had to be some dark secret hiding. She glanced out of the side of her eye at her cousin. "Yes, I know that. But you think Aunt Lisa might want to defend her sister."
"Now don't you make this about Lisa!" AshLee snapped. "Your mother was the one who ran off. My mother would never dream of doing anything like that!" Your mother also didn't do anything when it came out that your father was seeing a man on the side. There's nothing more awkward than sitting around a dining room table with your mother, father, and his boyfriend.
"You know what AshLee," Laila huffed. "I'm going. Tell Maybelle I'll call when I decide." Leaving her flustered cousin standing there, she got into her Mustang and drove off. I needed some serious girl time. She called up Sheri and asked if they could meet for coffee. Shortly she pulled up outside a Starbucks and was relieved to see Sheri's black haired head waiting for her. Sheri always dyed her hair a different color, for now it was black with aqua stripes. Sheri waved at her as she walked over.
"You would not believe the lunch I just had." Laila said as she sat down. She momentarily thought about getting a coffee, but decided she didn't really want anything but her friend's advice.
"Well, make it quick. I've got ten minutes before my break is over." Sheri laughed. Laila explained what had happened, Sheri nodding. "So, is it your cousin or the beauty pageant you're against? And isn't this the beauty pageant with the wet T-shirt contest?"
"Both. And yes. But only in their teen and miss divisions. Apparently it's worth extra points. But my cousin, I swear." Laila let her head drop back. "I mean, the last time I saw AshLee she shoved a snow-cone down my shirt and told me I'd always be flat as a board. Now she wants to be all goody-goody and simpering sweet. It makes me want to smack that smug little smile off her thirty-thousand dollar face."
"That's good. You hold all the power now." Sheri smiled. "I say take it. Take it, run with it, and show her how you're so much better than her now. I mean, what's she got that you don't have?" Sheri smirked. "Besides her D cups."
"Perfect husband, perfect two kids, house with a white picket fence. Enough money to buy anything she wants. Houses in Georgia, and a place over on Star Island. I mean, you name it she's got it. She had the perfect life."
"So? I bet her husband's bland as white bread. I wouldn't be surprised if her kids were into some nasty shit." Sheri's comment drew a couple looks from other customers. "Their neighbors are probably waiting for the South to rise again. And she lives in frickin' Georgia. That's punishment enough." Laila had to giggle a little at that.
"Alright, alright. Now I actually feel bad for her." Laila smiled. "How about this, I'll decide tomorrow."
"Good, and you'd better call me. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a portfolio due by two. Say hi to your boy toy for me." Sheri stood up, and Laila gave her a hug before both women went back to their cars. With her friend off to work, Laila figured that she should probably do hers as well. After all, the ads for Matador Tequila weren't going to review themselves. As she drove back to her apartment, she considered all the she and Sheri had been through. When Laila had hired on at her last job, Sheri had been one of the graphic designers. The two women had quickly become friends and hung out together outside of work whenever they could. Laila smiled when she thought of the last girl's night they had enjoyed. Sheri had convinced her to out to a bar, and then she had found some lifeguard who took her to a party while Laila was left alone. Not that she minded, after Sheri had left a large party had come in.
That was when she had met Horatio.
Years ago Horatio had been the lead detective when her friend Maria had been stabbed to death. He had been kind, had comforted her, and she had felt a connection to him. Just when she was summoning the courage to ask him on a date he had vanished. The police department told her he had transferred to New York. But then he had reappeared, head of the Miami-Dade Crime Lab. After a rather tumultuous beginning, their relationship had settled into one of care, comfort, and love. She hadn't been happier since. Horatio was amazing, kind and loving. While dating a police officer did come with some downsides, guards, late nights, worrying, she wouldn't have given their relationship up for anything.
Now instead of eating in front of the TV, alone, she could sit down and talk to him. They could discuss his work, which he was always vague about. Not that she minded, she knew if anything major was happening he would give her more information than she could handle. Especially if it involved her. And she would tell him about hers, how she dealt with her persnickety clients while she oversaw their advertisements. They would eat together, and then they would sleep together.
She smiled at these thoughts as she rode the elevator up. Her apartment, her little piece of paradise, was on the twentieth floor. It meant a long ride up, and when the elevator was busted an even longer climb, but it also meant an unrivaled view of the ocean. She set her purse down, and gently ran her fingertips over the picture on the entry table. While Laila had never known Raymond Caine personally, she knew Horatio still missed his brother. It had become a little ritual for her to rub the frame when she came home, like rubbing a statue for good luck. It didn't matter that the younger Caine, brown haired where his brother was red headed, had never met her. He was important to Horatio, and she could easily understand why he wanted to keep family close.
She grabbed her laptop from its charger and began to examine the tequila advertisements with a critical eye.
AshLee Fontaine could not believe how 'Loner' Laila had just cut her. Stupid bitch has too much of her damned father in her. AshLee ground her teeth as she drove her Mercedes-Benz back to the mansion Jerome had bought her for a fifth anniversary present. Jerome was so kind, even if he was away a lot. He couldn't even come down to see her latest project.
It was all Denice's fault.
If she had just done what she was supposed to then none of this would have happened. Denice was supposed to marry Robert O'Heely, a doctor for Christ's sake! Robert had been going out with Denice for awhile, but they were on a break when Denice went to that pageant. And her stupid sister had fallen for a dirt poor farmer. Three weeks later she had flown to Iowa, leaving a scandal the size of Texas in Gentry.
And then she had brought her little brat to the family reunion. Laila had hid behind her father the whole time until the boys had suggested going to the river and seeing what they could fish out of it. She had wandered down there, as had AshLee and Jerome. AshLee's three other brothers had run ahead. Her brothers had dubbed Laila the 'Loner' since she didn't have any siblings. AshLee stayed with Jerome though/ They had already been together even when they were nine. Jerome had found a catfish and had chased it around until he managed to get it caught between a log. He was holding his flapping prize up when Laila asked him if he was going to eat it.
"No I'm not going to eat it, you stupid girl." Jerome had replied, watching as the fish tried to breathe.
"Then don't kill it!" Laila had yelled. "Let it go!" When it became apparent that Jerome was not going to listen to her she had run over, ignoring how the river water dirtied her dress and punched him. The catfish had flown back into the water, zipping away before it could be caught again. Jerome and Laila had gone down in a flurry of splashing water and fists. AshLee had screamed at them to stop, but it only stopped when Jerome had started crying. AshLee had run back and brought Jerome's mother, Lisa, and Denice to the river. Jeff had followed, unaware that the Southern rule was that the mother deals with the children while the father enjoys the party.
"She h-h-h-hit me!" Jerome sobbed, holding his stomach. He had suffered a nosebleed and a split lip.
"He was going to kill a fish!" Laila accused, rubbing at the scrape above her eye.
"Who cares about a stupid fish?" Jerome yelled.
"Grandpa Ron says you shouldn't kill anything you aren't going to eat!"
"Your Grandpa's name isn't Ron!"
"My other Grandpa! Grandpa Hubert doesn't fish, stupid!" At that point Jeff had stepped in, grabbing Laila's wrist. Her parents had taken her away, Jerome and his mother following them. AshLee had just looked at her mother.
"Did I do good?" She asked, looking at her clean dress.
"Yes, you did very good." Lisa had said. "You don't want to be like Laila."
"I don't like her. She hits."
"Exactly, she's not a lady. You are." Her mother had patted her head and taken her back to the party. Jerome was sulking in a corner, and Jeff was standing with Laila off to the side. Laila looked like she was explaining what had happened.
"Alright, now I understand." AshLee could just hear Jeff over the sound of other people talking. She inched forward. "But you can't solve everything by fighting, even if what you were fighting for was right."
"I tried though! I told him to put the fish down but he called me stupid. I didn't want the fish to die unless it was going to be dinner. Grandpa says that you shouldn't do that."
"And Grandpa is right."
"I know, I tried to tell him." Laila rubbed her nose. "I'm just happy the fish got away."
"Just avoid Jerome okay? We might be leaving early." Jeff told her, and AshLee watched as he picked her up and hugged her. Her own Dad didn't even do that, he would just mess up her hair and tell her to go play. AshLee couldn't quite remember what had happened later that night but she had heard about it later. Grandma Elise had told Denice that she wasn't raising her daughter right, and that she didn't know what she was even doing in her marriage. Denice had merely stayed silent and had flown home the next day. Laila and Jeff were gone, and AshLee was left with Jerome. Denice had only come back when Grandpa Hubert had died, bringing Laila with her.
The shy little tomboy had grown into an awkward nerd that she and Jerome loved to torture. When they saw Laila in the local convenience store she had shoved her slushie down her shirt and made fun of her for having small breasts. Just typical high school fun. Laila had run out crying, wiping tears out from underneath her glasses. She and Jerome had gotten a chocolate bar and had told all their friends about her. How she had a face like a pizza, those ugly brown eyes, her freakish legs. Laila had avoided them religiously after that, always reading some bulky fantasy book. She was the social outcast, the lowest of the low.
And now she was acting like she was so important. AshLee quickly dialed Maybelle's number on her cell.
"Hello AshLee!" Maybelle's voice was happy, and AshLee had to roll her eyes.
"Hi Maybelle, listen are we really sure we want Laila to be doing this? I mean, did you see her today? She didn't even wear a dress. Laila is completely unsuitable for the pageant, she would just drag it through the mud."
"AshLee, I know you have your differences, but she comes highly recommended. You know the pageant is on its last legs, we need to reinvent it. Otherwise a tradition of fifty years will die in our hands!" AshLee merely said goodbye and hung up. If there was one thing Southern society would never let go of, it was tradition.
AN: And we now have our third part of the series! I want to welcome all of my returning readers and all newcomers! I hope you enjoy my story and will leave your reviews to let me know if you do!