It had been a good day for the Miami Crime Lab. They had solved a case that had frustrated them for more than a year and now finally Horatio Caine and his team had been able to put the man known as the Death Bringer behind bars. It had been a long four days leading up to his arrest and Horatio ordered his people to go home and get some well deserved rest.
One shot rang out and he fell bonelessly to the ground felled immediately by the bullet that entered his chest, ripping though his muscles and grazing his heart. He jerked slightly, his fingers moving spasmodically as his body started to register that something was not right. He could feel nothing, he tried to focus his eyes on something but could not, his mind was racing taking him through all his regrets, images of his wife, his son and the woman that he loved ran through his thoughts. Then he was overwhelmed by the black emptiness of oblivion.
One shot rang out; his team who had followed him out to the parking area ducked behind cars taking cover from the bullets that they were sure would follow. Frightened screams filled the air and chaos reigned for a few seconds as each tried to take stock of their situations. They had drawn their guns in readiness to return fire at their assailant. After what seemed like an eternity Eric rose from his position behind one of Miami Dade's police vehicles sweeping his eyes around the parking area. No shot rang out, nothing but silence filled the crisp Miami morning air. At first he did not see his best friend lying prone on the hard tarmac of the parking area. Calleigh DuCane rose and keeping her gun at the ready also surveyed the area. Ryan Wolfe too rose from his position looking around him, he saw Eric and Calleigh and then his eyes settled on the outstretched leg of a body lying behind one of the Crime Lab's Hummers. His brain registered that he had not seen Horatio and he started to run towards the unidentified leg his mind dreading what he was going to find.
"Horatio…" Calleigh called out after she had taken stock of everybody and missed only him.
Both she and Eric saw Ryan running in the direction of Horatio's Hummer. Both were filled with a dreadful numbing fear and they both raced after Ryan. It took only seconds for them to reach the Hummer whose big frame had hidden the limp and lifeless body of Horatio Caine. A large pool of crimson blood was forming under him and spreading itself out on the shimmering surface of the parking lot. Eric fell to his knees beside his friends' body gently reaching out to feel for a pulse knowing he was not going find one. Calleigh was in shock, she stared at Horatio's body unable to get herself to believe what her eyes were telling her. Eric withdrew his hand, his face telling both Ryan and Calleigh that they had lost their boss to the snipers bullet. Eric sat back on his knees unable to move or draw his eyes away from the corpse.
"I'm sorry H" Eric whispered as tears silently rolled down his face.