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Testing of the chocolate box and note had revealed nothing. There was nothing to be found, which in itself caused Horatio be become suspicious. Why would someone be so careful to leave prints behind when sending a gift to him? He had a gut feeling that something was going on, but couldn't figure out what. He thought long and hard about if he had recently met anyone weird or suspicious during a case and came to the conclusion that he hadn't. At least not that he knew of.
The next few days after receiving the gift went by fast as someone in Miami suddenly decided that it had been calm enough for the crime lab. They were finding dead young men all over town, all shot to death through the head. One body every 24 hours and it kept the team very busy. Their crime scenes were messy and quite filled with evidence, but it took time to analyze and they were constantly interrupted as a new body kept showing up.
It was the fourth day and the fourth body and Horatio was on his way to his medical examiner, Tom, in the morgue. Tom was in his usual happy mood and greeted Horatio with a smile.
"Ah, Horatio! I was just about to call you. Our killer finally messed up." Tom grinned.
"In what way?" Horatio asked.
"See this mark here?" Tom pointed at the neck of the victim, "This is a mark from a ring. It probably happened when the killer punched the victim in the throat."
"Good, it's shows clearly too." Horatio said, inwardly happy that they had a strong lead, "Have you photographed it?"
"Yes, sent it up to Walter." Tom smiled.
He continued telling Horatio about his findings, which proved to be very much like with the previous victims. Shot in the head, execution style. Killed instantly. Except this victim had fought back a little, thus his killer had been forced to punch him in the throat leaving behind a mark from a ring.
While listening to Tom, Horatio couldn't help but feel as if something was off in the morgue. He had a strange feeling of being watched and kept glancing around to see if anyone was watching him from the observation floor or through the door behind Tom.
"Horatio?" Tom asked after a while.
"Yes, sorry Tom."
"Are you alright?"
"Something is off. I got a gut feeling." Horatio said.
"After your gift? It does seem strange." Tom said, "Have you noticed anything weird lately?"
"No, but just now I felt as if I was being watched."
"Well, it's almost empty here today. We're actually running low on staff." Tom frowned.
"Probably just imagining things." Horatio shrugged.
He let Tom finish his presentation before heading back to the lab. He couldn't shake the feeling of having been watched and know that he thought back he was pretty sure he had been watched this morning as well. He realized he had to be more alert and knew that when he ended his shift today he would be taking another route home; just in case.
-I-
The following day Horatio was looking down at the fifth body and sighed. Frank Tripp walked up to him after interviewing some witnesses to the crime.
"Well, our guy is losing it. According to witnesses he just walked up to Justin Hammer here and shot him." Frank said, "He's never attacked in broad daylight before with people around."
"I think our killer feels time is running out." Horatio said, "Could be because he knows we are chasing him or because of something else."
"He does seem to be on some kind of a mission doesn't he." Frank agreed.
Just a few hours before they had caught their first break in the case. Calleigh had found out that all their victims had gone to the same class in high school and had been notorious for their pranks and bullying. Problem was that there were several other students that had fallen victim of their bullying so it didn't help narrow down the suspect pool very much.
"What have we got Tom?" Horatio asked, as the ME arrived and knelt down next to the body.
"Well, the obvious gun-shot to the head." Tom said, "Not much else as I can see and if the witnesses say he was shot before he could even react then I'm afraid we might not find much else. Any luck on the ring impression, yet?"
"Not yet, but Walter is working on it." Horatio said.
Just then Ryan and Calleigh arrived to process the scene and while Frank was briefing them on what they knew so far; Horatio looked around. Now he knew for certain he was being watched. He could feel it with every fiber in his body. Problem was that the crowd was big and he couldn't find anyone in particular looking directly towards him. And of course he was being watched by the crowd, but it hadn't never felt like this before. He knew that someone in the crowd was watching him a little extra.
"Frank, do you feel watched?" He asked.
"You mean besides from the idiots standing around watching our crime scene instead of going away?" Frank asked and looked around, "No. Do you?"
"I think so." Horatio muttered, "I just got this feeling."
"Must be related to your gift." Frank said, "It doesn't feel good, H. You should have protection."
"It would never be granted from the Chief because of a harmless gift and my feeling of being watched." Horatio said and then looked at Calleigh and Ryan, "Just keep your eyes open."
Ryan and Calleigh had heard the conversation and nodded to him. Ryan discretely photographed the crowd just in case they would need it. Horatio then left them to work and went with Frank to the victim's family to give the bad news.
That meeting proved helpful in other ways as well as the family of Justin Hammer knew of one boy in high school that had particularly hated Justin and his friends. That boy also happened to have a ring matching the imprint from victim number four's neck. Thus they had a name and within hours a home address.
Later that evening Horatio was finishing up the paperwork on the case. Their killer, Matthew Gates, had finally confessed after almost two hours of interrogation with Natalia and Calleigh. Horatio had sent his team home to get some well-deserved rest, but he himself could not relax and sought refuge in his office. Where he had been hiding for hours now.
"H?"
Horatio jumped only slightly and looked up to see a grinning Frank in the doorway.
"So you can get scared?" Frank asked.
"I wasn't."
"You jumped."
"You are imagining things, Francis." Horatio said, "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe you should sleep at my place tonight." Frank said, "It might be better if someone is really following you."
"It's just a hunch that I have."
"And when was the last time any of your hunches was wrong?" Frank asked and smiled when Horatio didn't answer, "I thought so."
"Frank, I can't not go home just because of this. I mean this could take weeks."
"Just one night." Frank said, "One night. When you say you feel like you're being watched it makes me nervous and it would ease my worries if just for tonight you stayed at my place. Besides, isn't your home-alarm broken?"
"Yeah, but the company is coming tomorrow to fix it." Horatio sighed and after a thinking for a moment he decided Frank was right, "Alright. One night Frank."
Frank smiled and gave his friend a pat on the shoulder. He knew Horatio preferred to sleep in his home, but at least for tonight he knew Horatio wouldn't be watched.
"How did you alarm system break by the way?" Frank asked, his voice had a hint of suspicion in it.
"Something chewed off one of the cables. Not to mention it was several years old." Horatio said and stood up, deciding he had had enough for tonight.
He grabbed his jacket and started walking out with Frank.
"Something chewed the cable or it was cut?" Frank asked.
"Chewed. I saw bite-marks." Horatio said, "I had been meaning to install an updated version for years, but something always got in the way."
"Well, at least tomorrow you know you will have a new alarm system at home and that will make me a bit more relieved." Frank said.
Horatio smiled. Frank always worried about him, but then again Frank was like a big brother to him so it wasn't a surprise. Frank used to say Horatio needed a big brother since he was always that to everyone else.
-I-
Once Horatio and Frank got to Frank's apartment they had already ordered pizza and were unaware of the figure watching from the car across the street. The rain was pouring down again so it would have been difficult for them to see anyone. However, the figure saw them clearly and angrily slammed the wheel of the car. Tonight was supposed to be that special night! And Frank Tripp had ruined it!
It would have been a perfect night since the redhead's alarm system was ruined! It would have to wait again. Putting the weapon back in the suitcase the figure in the car muttered angrily at Tripp before starting the car and driving off. Tomorrow might bring more luck...
To be continued