The New Recruits: Out of Time

Chapter 1

Maddison caught up to Raymond as he stood at the edge of his mother's yard. He stared out into the distance unable to wrap his mind around what he had just seen. Maddison walked hesitantly towards him, not really knowing what to say to him. She remembered how he was there for her when her own mother had died, and she resolved herself just to be there for him. If he wanted to talk, she would listen.

She stood behind him for a moment before he addressed her, lost in her own thoughts. A dilemma had arose. Where was Horatio?

" Was there anything in the house that could tell us who did this?" Raymond said almost in a whisper with his back to her.

" Speed found another letter, and Eric found Horatio's cell, but other than that, there's nothing," Maddison replied with sorrow in her voice.

Raymond turned to her, revealing the debilitating pain in his eyes. Not only had he lost his mother, but his uncle was also missing. Before he spoke, the Gurney appeared at th door and Raymond saw the sheet covered body that was his late mother.

" I want to be at the post, Maddie."

" Ray, I don't think that will be a good idea. I can give you the report afterwards."

"Maddie, I wasn't asking for your permission. I'm going to be at the post. I have to know what she went through."

" Ray..." Maddison said as she placed a comforting hand on his forearm.

" No, Maddison. I'm coming and that's final," Raymond returned with an edge. His eyes continued to follow the Gurney as it was loaded onto the coroner's van. As the van pulled away from the home, Maddison saw as the tears flowed from his eyes and felt her own as they invaded then slid down her cheeks.

TNR

The evening had been somber in the crime lab as everyone went about their individual assignments. None of them wanted to think about it, but it was difficult. Yelina had been a solid detective when she was still on active duty and she was very personable as well. The atmosphere was charged with the desire to work the evidence and find the one responsible for this.

Even though RJ , Jacinda , and Jen had grown up around Yelina they found themselves on the outside looking in when it came down to processing the evidence from the scene. Their parents had kicked them out of the lab and hunkered down and got to work, leaving the new recruits nowhere to go. So instead of going home , they chose to hang out in the break room in case they were needed.

" Has anyone seen Raymond?" Jacinda asked as they sat down on the couch and turned the television on. The news was on and a story was running about Yelina's death.

"We are here at the scene of the gruesome discovery of Retired Detective Yelina Salas. Her body was found late this afternoon after a witness reported suspicious activity going on in the vicinity of her home. Detective Salas had served honorably with the Miami Dade police department for more than twenty years. If you can remember Chuck, Detective Salas was the widow of Detective Raymond C. Caine, Sr who was found murdered in the spring of 2001 after an undercover drug bust gone wrong. Detective Salas' only remaining relative is her son, Detective Raymond Caine, Jr. Investigation is still pending at this time. For channel fourteen eyewitness news, I'm Marty Richards."

RJ sighed at the report and turned to his colleagues. It was hard to think of one of them in Raymond's position, but from what he had experienced in the past weeks, he realized that in a blink of an eye, that this could happen to them.

" I haven't seen him since the Liberty City callout," RJ said .

" I couldn't imagine losing my mom like that," Jen said as she sipped on a bottle of water.

RJ started to answer when his cell rang. He looked at the caller id and sighed heavily as he flipped it up.

" Mom, it's alright. Dad's still breathing and I'm here," RJ said slightly sarcastically as Jacinda smirked at him.

" Robert , don't get sarcastic with me, not at a time like this," Robin replied fearfully. " I can't get your father on his cell phone. He probably has that blasted thing turned off."

" Mom relax, he's in the trace lab," RJ said as he rolled his eyes. " You know that he turns off his cell when he works."

" Can you get him to a phone? I have to talk to him."

" Mom,..."

" Robert James Speedle, I want you to get your father on the phone," Robin ordered.

" Alright , I'll walk down to the trace lab and get him. Satisfied?"

" I'll be satisfied when I see him, and you too. I want you to stay over tonight."

"Mom, your kidding right? I have my own place," RJ said as he got up. He glanced to Jacinda who waved him on. RJ then turned and walked out of the break room .

" No. I want you where I can see you, RJ. There is a maniac going around killing police officers. Horatio is missing..."

" Mom, please, turn off the news," RJ pleaded. He knew how worked up she got when she heard news about cops and he knew the source of all of that anxiety as well. He rounded the corner and saw his father bobbing his head to the music that streamed out of his head phones as he prepared samples from the evidence in the case. RJ opened the door and walked in and touched his shoulder. He had learned early in life that you didn't sneak up on Tim Speedle. Tim took off the head phones and put his instruments down and RJ put his hand over the phone as his mother continued to talk, " Dad, it's mom. She's gonna have a coronary if you don't talk to her."

Tim took the phone out of RJ's hand and exhaled heavily, " Robin, I'm fine , the boy's fine and stop watching the news."

" Timothy, I want you home," Robin said with relief as she heard her husband's voice, " I'm so worried about you."

" There's no need for you to be worried, honey. Everything's fine, I'm almost finished here for the night anyway," Tim said as he softened his tone.

" Your first day back, and you have to deal with Yelina's death. Are you okay?"

" I'm fine," Tim lied. In reality he wanted nothing more than to be in her arms, but he knew he had to do his part.

" How's Raymond taking it?"

" I don't know, I haven't seen him since this afternoon," Tim replied as he turned to eye the report that was coming out of the printer. " We can talk about this when I get home. And let RJ go home, Robin. He's a grown man now."

RJ smirked at his father in amazement. No matter what, RJ always thought that his father had ESP.

"I'll think about it, Timothy. Please hurry and come home," Robin said with finality.

" I will, babe. I love you," Tim replied as he gave the phone back to RJ.

" Mom, I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow," RJ said quickly. He then flipped the phone down and watched as his father resumed his work. " If you are not home with in twenty minutes, she's gonna call again, Dad. Please turn on your cell."

"I'll be finish by then," Tim said as he mouthed the words to the song that was stuck in his head. " Weren't you told to go home and hour ago?"

" Yeah, but I figured that I would hang around in the break room in case you guys needed any help. You all practically kicked us out of the lab."

" We just wanted to make sure that the evidence was processed. It's a personal case, RJ."

RJ nodded his head slightly, knowing the motives behind their actions. He then shifted his weight oddly causing his father to smirk .

" RJ, go home. We've got everything under control," Tim said as he grabbed the report.

" What about mom? She says that I have to spend the night at home under her watchful eye."

" Don't worry about it. I can take care of her," Tim said as he shot his son a killer smile. " Now go home. Believe me, you are going to need the rest."

RJ smiled back at his father and walked out of the lab, heading back to the break room. He would hang out for a little longer, just in case.

TBC...

A/N: Love it? Hate it? Lemme know...