Chapter 2
The check-in took a bit of time due to the line-up but the small Miami group quickly made it through and were soon on their way to their individual rooms. Savannah and Horatio were sharing a room out of convenience and Calleigh was close by. While they were at the desk, Horatio inquired about his friends and was told they had checked in. He would give Mac a ring once they had settled in to their rooms.
One of the things Savannah did as soon as they were in their rooms was set up her laptop. She was worried about her friend, Lucy, her friend in Alabama, as she hadn't heard from Lucy in a while and she was worried about her; she had expressed this concern to Horatio, especially as Lucy's last e-mail had warned her about Andrew Jackson, an old boyfriend with a very nasty temper. The sheriff department in Ladonia suspected him of the murder of another young woman but it was not a charge they could prove.
"Anything?" Horatio asked, watching as Savannah navigated through her e-mail.
"Nada. Got a bad feeling at the back of my mind about this," she admitted. "I'm seriously considering the merits of calling Sheriff Donaling, seeing if maybe he knows what's going on."
"It wouldn't hurt," he said, knowing she would worry and fret over her friend until she knew the young woman was safe.
She nodded. "I'll give him a call when we get back to Miami, just in case I'm wrong about Lucy."
"Fair enough," he said. "Now, next question, are you hungry?"
She grinned at him as she shut her laptop down. "When am I not?" she quipped.
"In that case, shall I call Mac, see what he's up to and invite him to join us?"
"You'd better; I'm curious about this guy," Savannah said, heading for the washroom to tidy up and change into something a little less travel-worn.
Before he could do that, Horatio's cell rang and the caller i.d. told him it was Catherine Willows.
"Horatio," he said, answering the call.
"Hey there, you make it in okay?" came a familiar female voice. He smiled.
"I did, thank you," he replied. "We're at Caesars Palace and just about to go get something to eat."
"Don't you dare think about trying to get something to eat at that place," Catherine said firmly. "It'll cost you an arm and a leg and I know a place in Vegas that is wonderful without the price tag."
"Sounds good."
"Tell you what; I'm in the area, so how about if I meet you in the lobby?"
"I can do that, but I should caution you, Catherine, I'm not alone. I'm with two others, one of whom you've met, and I know of three other officers who are staying here and one of whom I was just about to call and find out about dinner," he said.
"Haul 'em down there; the more the merrier," Catherine said easily. "Besides, I'm not alone either. Night-shift will be starting in two hours and that means we're all awake by now. Should make for an interesting dinner."
"That it should. Meet you in the lobby in ten?"
"Make it fifteen, so I can scream at the other guys," she replied.
"Done." He hit the off button on his cell, punched another button, scrolled through his contact information and speed-dialled another number.
"Taylor."
"Mac, it's Horatio. We're at Caesars Palace and about to go get something to eat with someone I know in Vegas. Care to join us?"
"Sounds good. When and where?"
"In the lobby in fifteen."
"I'll let Sheldon and Flack know."
As Horatio hung up, Savannah emerged from the washroom in clean dress jeans, lilac polo shirt, and light-weight blazer. She had been wearing one of her more comfortable suits before but that was wrinkled and travel-worn due to the flight and trip from Miami to Las Vegas. She had also brushed her hair and re-touched her make-up.
He explained the plan to her and her face lit up. "Sounds like fun," she said. "Calleigh know yet?"
"just about to let her know," he said, reaching for the phone beside the bed which would connect him to Calleigh's room. She picked up at the second ring and he quickly explained the plan, to which she promised to meet them in the hallway so they could ride the elevator down together.
As he concluded the call and made use of the washroom himself, Savannah took the opportunity to check out the view from their room. Their room had two single beds, couch, a table and two chairs, washroom, and room-size coffee pot with complimentary coffee and tea packets. They also had a decent view of Las Vegas and Savannah took the opportunity to snap a few photos.
"Ready?" Horatio asked, joining her. He had changed his shirt, combed his hair, and removed the travel dust from his face.
"Let me grab my purse and I will be," she said, doing so. Her purse, as always, contained a small artist notebook and a tin containing a basic charcoal pencil set; she never left home without them, having learned early on that her artistic urge could strike anytime, anywhere. "Mind you, once we've eaten, I don't think I'm going to be up too late; I don't know about you but I'm wiped."
He smiled as he locked the door behind them and joined Calleigh at the elevator bays. "Same here, especially since we need to be up at a decent time tomorrow. Mind you, while we're here, I expect you to behave and learn as much as you can; we're here to learn, not play," he said. It was the humour in his eyes that took the sting out of his words.
"Awww, Daaaaaaad," Savannah moaned comically. "You're no fun."
Calleigh grinned at the banter between them. "Picking on your dad again?" she teased. She too had cleaned up and changed her clothes a bit, looking a little less rumpled and a little more presentable.
"Who's picking on who?" Savannah shot back, grinning. "I wanna have fun and this old... goat... won't let me."
"Old goat?" Horatio repeated, his eyebrows going up at the gentle insult. Savannah just grinned at him and so did Calleigh. "I may be an old goat, young lady, but I am more than capable of handling you."
The banter continued as they entered the elevator and rode down to the lobby. Waiting for them were three men Horatio recognized as Detective Mac Taylor, Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, and Detective Don Flack.
Flack's eyes shot up when he saw them approaching. He recognized Horatio, having met the lieutenant before, but didn't recognize the two blonde women on either side of him, both of whom he thought were attractive.
"Damn," he quipped. "How the heck do you do it?"
"Do what?" Horatio asked, puzzled but amused, seeing the grin on his face.
"You're not even in Vegas for twenty-four hours and you've already got two beautiful women with you!" Flack quipped, grinning as he watched the younger woman blush and the older woman smile brightly at him. "I never get that lucky!"
