Chapter 2
"Wakey Wakey," Ron called and jerked Rick from a fitful sleep. He was given a sandwich and coffee for his breakfast. He was also given a pair of jeans and a black shirt to change into. "Hurry up," Ron barked and pulled Rick out to the Jeep.
"What do you want me to do?" Rick asked as they pulled away from the building.
"First, we are going to wait for some money, and then I will take you where I want you." Ron said. Rick recognized the area; they were about two blocks from the bank.
"You can't be serious, you'll be caught." Rick snorted.
"I'm not doing the robbing, they are," Ron said as a few men appeared then disappeared around the corner.
"Just don't kill anyone," Rick sighed.
"No promises there," Ron said. They waited in silence until a few gunshots rang out and the bank's alarms went off. One of the men tossed a bag into the back hatch and the two went back to the building. Rick knew the treads left would be able to help the CSIs find them and dreaded being drug back to jail.
Stetler and Saris stowed the money inside, and Rick knew it was a bad idea. This place was going to be found.
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Just another day in Miami, Horatio thought as he observed the scene before him. Glass littered the floor along with some blood and splintered wood. Two bodies had been wheeled out and Tom was examining a third. Bullet holes riddled the wall and brick in the back. He slowly and carefully picked his way around as Eric, Calliegh and Ryan processed.
It was probably a professional hit, the robbers were in one minute and gone the next. They got away with over 300 grand so far, money was still being counted. Not much had been left behind by the robbers either and he was willing to bet the guns weren't registered or in IBIS.
Horatio made his way outside to look for tread marks, or guns. Sure enough there were plenty of fresh tire marks and he waited for his CSIs and backup before proceeding.
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Stetler breathed in the stale odor of the old building and heard and rumble of a Hummer approaching.
"I told you," Rick said.
"You are on your own, here," Ron said and handed him a phone. "My number is in there call me if you make it."
"Roger that," Rick said sarcastically and went down the stairs. He knew he only had minutes and sprinted down to the bottom floor. His feet echoed off the cement and made and gave the place an eerie feel. Stetler stopped and could only hear the loud beating of his heart. He saw something move in the corner of his eye, and the police academy training kicked in. He dove for the middle of the floor where there was a man hole.
Moving the cover inside, he lowered himself into the suffocating air of the sewer system. Rick slid it back over his head and his feet landed in about an inch of water by the main stream of the sewer. He had to steady himself on the slimy wall as a wave of nausea flowed through his body. Regaining his composure the former IAB lieutenant made his way underneath the city.
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"I swear someone was down there." Ryan said as he rejoined Horatio back upstairs.
"Why do you say that?" H asked.
"I don't know, just a feeling but I couldn't find anyone."
"Why don't we go check it out some more? I think Eric and Jesse have everything covered up here." Horatio said and led the way back down to the parking garage.
The two men walked down onto the cold cement and shone flashlights around the complex. The air was cold and clammy and stung their lungs.
"How long has this place been vacant?" Ryan asked and examined marks on the floor.
"I think five years. But it obviously has been used by unsavory characters." the red head moved over to an empty office and shone his light inside before moving on.
"Damn, I missed this," Ryan said and looked at the manhole's askew cover.
"What is it?" Horatio asked from across the floor.
"Manhole."
"I think you should go get some muck boots."
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Rick hauled himself up out of the sewer two hours later in the downtown area. He looked at the phone for a moment and leaned against a wall before calling the only number in the phone. His fingers tapping against the metal of a dumpster was the only sound.
"You made it?" Ron asked from the other end of the line.
"Obviously." Rick scoffed. "Now what do you want?" he listened as Ron gave him an address and what he wanted done. "You are playing with fire."
"No, you are. Call me when you have it done." Saris said and hung up. Rick sighed and pressed the end button on the phone. He pocketed it before finding his bearings and walking through the city.
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Ryan worked on trying to fingerprint the cover after walking around through the sewer for a few hours. He was having no luck with the amount of dirt and other substances he didn't want to think about that coated the metal.
"Stetler is still unaccounted for," Eric told him after wandering down to the garage.
"I bet he's half way across the country by now, what a coward," Ryan scoffed.
"You never know. Are you having any luck with that?" Eric asked, changing the subject.
"No. Did you get anything from the money?"
"No, we did get epithelials off the bag. But CODIS came up empty."
"This is not a good day. What about all of the rooms?"
"Natalia, Calliegh, Walter and Jesse are out there right now. Some parts of the floor aren't safe and they need building inspectors to clear it."
"Why don't we join them, this is hopeless." Ryan sighed and put the cover in a heavy evidence bag.
"Alright, it will give us something to do."
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Rick walked through a quiet neighborhood, and tried to stay out of sight of any suspicious eyes. He searched for a specific address and walked up to the front door. No one was home, so he searched for a key. He found it under a flower pot and smiled.
"Will anyone ever learn?" he mumbled and opened the door. Shutting and locking it behind him, Rick surveyed the living room. Various pictures lined shelves around the room along with flowers.
The next thing that came to his attention was the condition his clothes were in. the sewer water had splashed up onto his legs and left dark stains. He wrinkled his nose and found the laundry room. Rick tossed his dirty clothes into the washer before taking a shower.
Feeling refreshed, he searched through the house for a gun. Unfortunately they were all locked up tight, and he didn't want to fiddle with the locks. After his clothes were dry, Rick found something to eat and waited. He hid in the shadows next to the door when a car pulled into the driveway.
The lock on the door clicked as the key was turned and swung inside. Calliegh was tired from a long day and didn't see Rick as he pinned her to the door. He held her as she valiantly struggled against his grip but tired after a few minutes.
"What do you want?" she snarled.
"Just hear me out," Rick said and cuffed her with her own handcuffs. He took her gun and put it in his back pocket before forcing her to the couch. Rick put her on the couch then sat in a rocking chair.
"Is that you Rick?" Calliegh asked, his facial hair altering his appearance.
"Unfortunately."
"What is this about?"
"First of all, I didn't do any murdering or stealing of my own free will. Ron Saris wanted me to catch you and he is the one that blackmailed me into all of that shit."
"Why didn't you tell anyone this before?"
"If I would have ratted him out I would be a dead man. Besides, that excuse rarely goes over in court; even with troubled teens," Rick added, thinking of Kyle. He dialed Ron's number and told him he had Calliegh and was told he would be there in twenty minutes.
"You aren't going to let him take me are you?" Calliegh asked.
"I'm thinking about it. I don't want to go back to jail if I let you go. It's something to think about." Rick said and looked out the window for a moment.
"If you let me go there would be no reason for you to be charged with anything else."
"It doesn't matter; I'll die in jail anyway. Although if you get hurt it will weigh on my conscience." He said and glanced at the window as a jeep pulled up. He unlocked Calliegh's handcuffs and gave her the gun back.
"Thank you," she said and disappeared out the back door. Rick looked around for a moment then laid on the floor. He felt air flow across his skin as the door opened. Ron cursed and kicked him.
"What are you doing you moron?" Ron spat.
"She got me over the head," Rick said and held the back of his head.
"How can someone of your size be taken down by a woman?" Ron asked and kicked him in the shin.
"That's not necessary." Rick winced in pain. He noticed Saris had a split lip and a few bruises.
"Let's get the hell out of here; the cops will be here any second." Ron said and glanced outside before they trotted out to the jeep. Stetler glanced in the backseat and looked at an unconscious figure as he sat inside.
"God no," he said under his breath and touched Kyle Harmon's neck to see if he was alive. He breathed a sigh of relief when there was a pulse. "What are you doing with him?"
"He will be collateral."
"For what?"
"I want out of the country and the mafia wants him."
"So you are just going to sacrifice a kid for your own reasons?"
"How else am I going to do it? And what do you care?"
"Never mind," Rick muttered and looked out the window.