Below the Radar
About a month after Horatio and Calleigh married, they had easily settled into life together. Horatio found that he worried less about her safety on the job, now that she was a sharpshooter for SWAT. Her team was not called upon very often, but when they were, she was out of harm's way being positioned above the action. On top of that, SWAT officers were the only ones who wore full body armor on every call out.
Ricardo had finally been apprehended after they issued an international BOLO. Horatio received a call one afternoon almost a week ago from a Colombian police inspector by the name of Jesus Araz with the news that they were in contact with American officials about extraditing the man back to Miami. With all the details worked out, Horatio and Frank were due to leave in the morning by chartered jet for Colombia to escort the fugitive back to face multiple murder, and attempted murder charges.
Pulling into the garage of their condo building a little later than usual, because of a late call-out, Horatio smiled when he noticed Calleigh's dark blue convertible Z4 BMW Roadster parked in her space, he thought as he parked beside it, I love it when she drives that car with the top down, her long blonde hair flowing in the wind...hmmm. My Avalon doesn't do her justice.
Closing the door behind him Horatio walked over to the foyer table and put his gun and badge away in the drawer of the table. He slipped out of his jacket and laid it on the bench as he started for the kitchen, following the delightful aroma that assaulted his nostrils. He now found it wonderful to come home, after so many years dreading it when his house was empty.
As he approached the kitchen doorway, Calleigh in her haste to greet him, literally ran right into him as she cleared the doorway.
"Whoa Sweetheart," Horatio chuckled as his arms wrapped around her.
Startled, Calleigh exclaimed, "HORATIO…I heard you come in and…" was all she managed before his lips pressed against hers, as his hands gently slid over her back and then lower, effectively silencing whatever else she'd planned to say.
Their lips parting just enough for him to whisper, "Whatever you're cooking…smells wonderful, will it keep for a while?"
She smiled as she raised her eyebrows, knowing full well what he was talking about before teasing, "That depends…what do you have in mind?"
Later, as they snuggled in bed, their breathing slowly returning to normal and feeling completely satiated, he whispered playfully,
"You need to stop tempting me, Beautiful."
Calleigh giggled as she responded, "Nothing wrong with dessert first…in fact, I insist we start every meal like this."
Her comment caused Horatio to laugh and roll over on his side as he propped up on an elbow to face her. With his free hand he lightly traced his finger from above her eyebrow then down the side of her face, stopping under her chin as his expression became serious.
"I love you so much Calleigh. I still can't figure out what you see in me, but I'm thankful, very thankful."
She replied softly, "Because you are a special man and I love you. You complete me." She then leaned in and gave him a long, lingering kiss and he could feel his body responding to her touch.
"Do you think our dinner will keep a little longer while I wash your back?" He asked with a voice rough with emotion as he nuzzled her neck and she could feel his growing erection against her abdomen.
She nodded that it would and a couple of minutes later, Horatio not only washed her back, he awakened a deep arousal in her body which shocked her because he had completely satisfied her in bed. Once again he took her to the height of another staggering orgasm.
Finishing the wonderful spaghetti and meatballs she'd made and the green salad that he'd contributed for their dinner, he glanced over at her and took her hand in his as his thumb massaged the back and said lovingly,
"What did I ever do to deserve you…you… are amazing."
Calleigh turned her hand over in his and squeezed, "You have it backwards…you're the amazing one. I've never felt so loved in my life." He leaned over and gave her a tender kiss.
"I'll help with the dishes, then maybe we can get in a walk on the beach before the storms hit." Horatio pushed back his chair and stood as he began gathering up the dirty dishes.
Later, as they walked, arms tightly around each other, along the water's edge, flashes of lightning could be seen on the horizon as storms were approaching the coast.
Horatio broke the silence while staring down the beach, "Frank and I are flying down to Colombia in the morning to pick up Ricardo. We will be back before dinner."
Calleigh knew they would be going once the legal paperwork had been completed between the two governments.
She looked up at his face as the wind disheveled his hair and she tightened her arm around his waist.
"Promise me you'll be careful?"
He stopped and looked down into her pleading eyes and replied, "Always Sweetheart – always."
A half a mile down the same beach, Frank and Alexx sat out on the balcony of her condo after dinner.
"How's Brian enjoying beach life?"
Alexx laughed before replying, "Fine I suppose. Just like tonight, he's down there somewhere with friends from school." Her gaze turned distant as she thought about Brian and the trouble he was in a couple of months ago. "Is there a possibility that Brian will face charges now that Ricardo is returning to Miami?"
Frank took a long swig from his bottle of beer before answering.
"Hard to say Alexx, but I don't think so, especially with Horatio standing up for him. He just made bad choices when it came to friends. Hopefully he learned something from it."
"I think he has. He's home every night at a reasonable hour and tells me where he'll be while he's gone. In just a few months he'll be away at college and on his own. He received the notice that he's been accepted to Morehouse College today."
"Isn't that in Atlanta?"
Alexx took the last sip of her wine before answering.
"It is. I have mixed emotions about him being that far away, I'll miss him, but then I think, maybe it'll be better for him. You know, help put all of what's happened lately behind him. I just hope his connection with those thugs don't ruin his future."
Frank stood and held out his hand to her and said, "C'mon, let's take a walk down the beach."
Alexx smiled at his suggestion. "Sounds like a nice idea. I just hope we don't get rained on."
Once on the beach, Frank took Alexx's hand in his.
She looked up at the tall man and said, "You're a persistent cuss, I give you that."
Frank responded as he smiled, "Damn right I am," while giving her hand a light squeeze as they walked.
After a few minutes Alexx exclaimed, "Well, would you look who is coming."
Horatio and Calleigh recognized the couple walking toward them.
Horatio greeted their friends jovially, "Hey, what are you two doing out…don't you know it's about to rain?"
Right at that moment, a bolt of lightning pierced the sky and its jagged path traced down to the water's surface just several hundred feet offshore. Calleigh and Alexx screamed and began running back towards Alexx's condo building as Horatio and Frank ran after them trying to catch up.
Once inside the main hallway of the building, the four of them were heaving in air to bring their breathing under control while the storm raged outside with rain and wind pounding the building.
Horatio and Frank began to laugh between breaths as they looked at Calleigh and Alexx standing before them dripping wet, looking like drowned rats. Horatio quickly noticed the scowl that Calleigh shot his way and stepped closer to wrap his arms around her, making an effort to counter her obvious lack of humor about the situation, but she pushed him away.
"For your information, you're just as soaked as I am mister and I certainly don't want you dripping more on me."
Frank made a step toward Alexx and she backed up and declared, "We need some hot coffee in us before we get chilled. Let's go up to my place."
After enjoyable conversation and a couple of cups of decaf coffee apiece, Horatio commented,
"Thank you Alexx for your warm hospitality, but Calleigh and I need to be going. Five o'clock will come early."
"You and Calleigh are welcome anytime…you know that." Calleigh gave Alexx a hug and promised she'd see her soon.
Frank spoke up, "Yeah…um, you're right H. It's still raining – let me give y'all a ride home."
Horatio and Calleigh walked out into the hallway and waited on Frank, exchanging smiles as they watched Frank give Alexx a warm hug at the door and a kiss on the cheek.
Alexx whispered, "You be careful tomorrow Frank Tripp."
Frank smiled, "I'll call you and take you to dinner when we get back."
"Sounds like a good deal to me," Alexx responded as she returned his smile.
The next morning they were two hours into the flight aboard a twin-engine Gulfstream executive jet with a pilot and co-pilot headed for Barranquilla Colombia when Frank looked over at Horatio across the aisle. The redhead seemed lost in thought as he turned his wedding band around and around his finger. Frank decided to close his eyes and rest; they still had two hours to go before landing.
As Horatio stared out the window next to him, he fondly recalled the start of his and Calleigh's honeymoon.
The sun had just peeked over the horizon when I anchored the boat at my secret place. Calleigh woke when the engines shut down and opened her eyes as I eased down beside her on the long cushioned seat and announced our arrival. He smiled, I'll never forget the look on her face when she sat up and saw the tropical setting. Her statement made me laugh. It looks like we've arrived at 'Gilligan's Island'! It's gorgeous!
The Goldbergs had stocked the boat's kitchen and refrigerator with enough food for a week. They are two very special people to have let us use their beautiful boat for our little honeymoon. I think our gift for them after our return wasn't enough, but they seemed very pleased and happy that we enjoyed ourselves.
It was paradise. My beautiful Calleigh and I, completely alone, rocking with the waves as we explored each other's bodies and made love. Even exploring the island during the day was fun. She's a very unusual woman, her delight at me finding an orange corn snake and wrapping him around my arm surprised me, but she quickly informed me that growing up in the bayous of Louisiana she was very familiar with snakes. Thinking of that incident caused him to chuckle. She couldn't wait to hold it even!
Our life together after the honeymoon has been more than I could have ever dreamed of. I still desperately miss her at work, but oh, how I do enjoy going home now knowing she'll be there.
The plane's bouncing caused by turbulence, brought Horatio's thoughts back to the present. Glancing across at Frank, who gripped the seat's armrest so tight that his hands were white, he chuckled as he assured,
"Just some turbulence my friend."
"I know what it is… doesn't mean I have to like it."
After a few minutes, the air turned smoother and Frank asked,
"What brought Delko back… I thought he'd left for good."
Horatio stared out the window at the broken cloud cover below.
"So did I. Told me, he didn't fit in at LAPD that MPD is where he realized he belongs. I would imagine it'd be hard to fit in out there. He also concluded, while he was gone, that running from the memories of what happened to Speed and Marisol, then the confusion of finding out about his father… never go away; regardless of location." I'm not going to tell Frank, but I suspect Calleigh was part of why he left as well.
The pilot announced over the intercom, "We'll be landing in Barranquilla in about thirty minutes."
"Time to rock and roll and get Ricardo's ass back to Miami," Frank barked.
After landing, Horatio and Frank exited the plane and they were greeted by several local authorities waiting on the tarmac. Handshakes and introductions preceded the signing of paperwork. Finally a large SUV arrived and two officers pulled Ricardo Jimmerson out in leg irons and shackles and then handed him over to Horatio and Frank.
Frank checked Ricardo's restraints after they boarded the plane and had the murderer settled in a seat facing Horatio and himself. Once their prisoner was secure, Horatio walked to the door of the cockpit and informed the pilots they were ready to go.
The jet took off and turned toward the northeast, headed back to Miami. For over two hours, Ricardo was quiet and that was fine with Horatio and Frank, but after that, the badgering began, Horatio suspected that the man's rant was due to nerves and the fact that they were getting closer to Miami.
Another hour passed in relative peace, after Frank gagged Ricardo, and before long, the pilot announced they were about forty-five minutes out of Miami, beginning to reduce altitude to prepare for approach into Miami International. Horatio unlatched his seatbelt so he could check Ricardo's restraints, just to make sure before they landed. He was almost finished when there was a loud bang on the right side in the rear and then the plane lurched to the left, slamming Horatio into the seats and wall of the fuselage.
Momentarily dazed from the impact, he began struggling to get on his knees, but it was proving difficult. The plane had taken on a roller coaster movement and dipping from one side to another. Alarms were screaming from the cockpit and he could hear the pilot shouting about an emergency and co-ordinates. He looked over at Frank, still strapped in his seat and holding on for dear life.
Realizing they were going down, Horatio unclipped his gun and stuffed it in the back pocket of the seat in front of him. He sure didn't want Ricardo surviving and getting it. There was nothing he could do about Frank's. He then wrapped his left arm around the bolted down leg of the seat and grasped his wrist with his right hand and hung on. Always remember that I love you Calleigh.
The impact was tremendous and for a split second afterward, before everything went black, Horatio couldn't tell if it was ground or water the plane hit. The plane's outer skin began tearing and breaking as it slid for a quarter of a mile through brush, tall grass and water.
Finally coming to a stop with the nose rammed into a tree, the fire that had ignited in one of the engines at the tail of the aircraft, quickly began to lose its strength as the flames touched the water that the section was resting in. The fuselage groaned as the twisted metal expanded and contracted and inside, wires and insulation hung from the ceiling as small pieces of the lighter material from the interior drifted in the air. Oxygen masks dangled from their open compartments above the area of the seats. One or two seats were still in place, but the rest were in a pile at the forward section of the cabin against the cockpit wall.
Three men lay in various positions inside the wreckage. None was moving….
TBC…