Chapter 2

'Why is Zoë always caught up in this?' He asked himself as he ran a hand through his hair. 'Because of me, that's why. She's always going to be in danger because of me! This could be a trap, I don't care, Zoë needs me even if I have to play into their hands.' Horatio thought to himself as he pulled up and quickly jumped out.

"Have we got anything?" Horatio said as he rushed over to the driver's side to find Ryan bagging the tranquiliser dart.

"No." Ryan said standing up placing his hands on his hips as Horatio did the same.

"Any sign of struggle?" Horatio questioned as he peered into the hummer.

"No, but we found this dart in the foot well. Zoë was driving so she probably pulled it out." Ryan said to try and give Horatio some comfort, but it didn't comfort him at all. He remembered when she pulled the dart out of her neck the last time.

"We'll find them H." Ryan said seeing the panic in Horatio's eyes whilst the rest of him seemed to remain calm. He was far from calm inside.

"I've got some paint transfer on the back." Walter said looking around the side of the hummer at them. Horatio quickly walked over followed by Ryan.

"It's black." Walter said.

"Yes, we can see that Walter." Horatio said, feeling his stress levels elevate. Ryan looked back on the road.

"It looks like she put the brakes on hard." Ryan said walking over to the tyre marks on the road.

"It could be because the car pulled out in front of her." Walter said as he walked over and photographed the tyre marks.

"Or because she wanted to give us something to go on." Ryan said looking back over to Horatio.

"Have you found her phone?" Horatio asked, looking over at Ryan.

"No, it's no-where to be found." Ryan said walking over to him.

"Did you check her handbag?" Horatio questioned.

"No" Ryan said realising he didn't.

"Then you haven't properly looked." Horatio said, annoyed as he opened the back door of the hummer and pulled her handbag out. He quickly looked through it and placed it back on the seat as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Is it not in there?" Ryan asked, seeing Horatio grow more stressed.

"No" Horatio said placing his hands back on his hips.

"What if she had it in her bra again? It could be on her." Ryan said remembering that she sometimes kept her phone there.

"Track it." Horatio said as he walked over to his hummer and tried to phone her phone again.

It went straight to answerphone and his phone then beeped with a text message.

'Time is running out, you need to find them quickly and efficiently before it's too late. The last two people on this Earth that you love are in danger and I'm watching it all. She needs you Caine, and he needs your protection from her. When you track them, take your closest companion. She's going to need him. Go alone or it'll turn out a bloodbath. Don't waste time.' Horatio's eyes widened when he read the text again.

"Mr Wolfe, give me an address!" Horatio said as he walked over to him as he stood at the AV hummer.

"I'm doing it H." He said stressed himself. An address popped up from where Zoë's phone was.

"We're going alone. Walter, get back to the lab and have this hummer picked up." Horatio said as he walked round to his hummer.

"But sir–" Walter began.

"Just do it Walter." He said as he jumped into his hummer with Ryan jumping in the other side.

"Why aren't we calling for back up?" Ryan questioned as Horatio quickly pulled off and handed Ryan his phone. Ryan quickly read the message.

"Do you have any idea who it could be?" Ryan questioned handing it back to him.

"It could be anyone, it's not Ratner's writing pattern, but I can't be sure." Horatio said as he put his sirens on to get through the traffic quickly.

"Where is this address anyway?" Ryan questioned, checking his gun out and making sure he had sufficient rounds.

"It's an old abandoned hotel." Horatio said as he quickly turned a corner.

"What if we're playing right in to their hands?" Ryan questioned fearing that this was all a set up.

"We are, but I cannot see her get hurt again. If you don't want to come along that's fine." Horatio said forcefully, pulling his sunglasses off.

"No, I'm coming along. I think we just need to be aware." Ryan said looking over to Horatio as he held on to the handle above the door.

They quickly pull up outside the hotel and get out, scanning the area with their eyes with their guns at the ready.

"Mr Wolfe, stay close." Horatio said as they edged their way into the entrance.

"Zoë, Eric!" Horatio yelled in hope of hearing a response.

"Zoë! Delko?!" Ryan shouted as they went through to the hall.

"That's Zoë's phone." Ryan said as Horatio bent down and picked it up, looking at it. He placed it in his pocket and held his gun up, looking around, both of them on high alert. They saw a gaping hole in the floor around 25 yards in front of them.

They quickly approached it, looking around. "Zoë! Eric?" Horatio yelled, hearing his voice echo around the large room.

They peered down the hole and saw both Zoë and Eric lying on the floor on the floor below. "Zoë! Eric!" Both Ryan and Horatio yelled and got no response from them.

"The stairs Mr Wolfe" Horatio said as he quickly made his way over to them.

They quickly ran down the stairs and out onto the floor below. They made their way out into the hall and looked around, keeping an eye on Zoë and Eric through the corner of their eyes. They saw a gun lying on Zoë's stomach and it confused the both of them.

"Caine! How nice of you to join us!" A booming voice was heard. They looked around and saw an average height man standing at the side of the room by an exit. He wore a light suit as he clasped his hands in front of him. Both Ryan and Horatio aimed at him with their guns.

"Ron Saris" Horatio growled.

"Wolfe… there we go, the greetings are out the way. It's always the hardest part of the conversation, don't you think?" He grinned.

Horatio kept his eyes on Ron as Ryan looked around, for anything suspicious. Horatio saw Zoë move a little as she let out a moan.

"What have you done to them?" Horatio asked as both of them began to walk over to Zoë and Eric after Ryan quietly told Horatio that he didn't think that there was anyone else there.

"You're going to find out pretty soon." Ron sneered as he tried to make an exit. Horatio fired his weapon at him but missed as he was off put by Zoë moving again.

"Zoë! Eric!" Horatio yelled as they began to make their way over to them. They saw Zoë lift her head and look over at them. She quickly sat up and picked up the gun as it fell between her legs.

"Zoë sweetheart, are you okay?" Horatio asked as he began to rush over to her.

"Back off!" She yelled as she picked up the gun.

"Zoë?" Both Ryan and Horatio called, seeing her raise the gun to aim at Horatio.

"Zoë, listen to me, it's Horatio." Horatio said calmly. They saw her swallow and slowly get up to her feet as she didn't take her eyes off the both of them.

"Stay back!" She warned as the both of them took another step closer. They quickly looked over at Eric and saw him slowly breathing.

"Zoë, put the gun down." Horatio asked calmly.

"Zoë, listen to me, put the gun down sweetheart." Horatio said tenderly, seeing her tense and scared.

"Zoë, it's Ryan. Put the gun down for us." Ryan said seeing her agitated and jumpy. She looked over at Ryan and moved the gun over to him. They tried to get closer again but she took a step back.

"Stay back! Please!" She cried.

"Zoë, listen to me. It's okay. It's Horatio, put the gun down sweetheart, you're okay." Horatio said softly. Zoë stumbled a little, finding it hard to keep her balance.

Eric shifted and let out a groan and Zoë turned to him and looked down, aiming the gun at him as she began to back off.

"Zoë!" Horatio yelled, realising what Ron meant by 'he needs your protection from her'. Horatio raised his gun with Ryan, seeing Zoë take aim at Eric. Both of their eyes widened as he saw her squeeze the trigger when Eric moved again. Their hearts skipped a beat as they had conflicts about what to do. Both of their fingers tightened on the trigger.

A gun shot resonated throughout the large hall and echoed.