Chapter 2 Don't Feed The Gators
Disclaimer: I do not lay claim to any of the characters as seen in CSI Miami, and my fic is written to be fun and enjoyable and not meant to offend the writers/creators of CSI Miami or the actors who play the different characters. I do ask that no one use my original character as she is my own creation. My fic is not to be posted anywhere else unless written permission is obtained from me.
Ten months earlier…
The screams were so loud that in any other instance they would be heard for miles. But the Glades had a reputation for swallowing up anything – especially loud cries for help. He was a useless cur according to Ron Saris – someone who served only as a weak link in the dealings Saris was becoming heavily involved in. It was time to cut him off, especially that information surfaced that this traitor was DEA. The gators had a free and easy meal thanks to it. However, Saris didn't count on one thing – an observer with a camera. He heard the shutter click several times after the murder took place, and with all his senses working to full capacity, he ran off in the direction flushing his prey from behind several large trees. Coming upon a gator with jaws agape – a large bird lying dead inside its jaws - Saris backed off figuring he had only imagined the camera clicks and that the animal was what flushed.
The call came in at exactly 8 AM – just as Lieutenant Horatio Caine walked through the front doors of Miami Dade Crime Lab. He was ready for another glorious day on the job – another day to protect the people of his city – to serve the public in keeping the streets crime free. Just as he was going to walk down the hallway to his office, his cell phone rang.
"Horatio."
It was Sergeant Frank Tripp asking for Caine's presence in the Glades.
"Frank, what's going on?"
"We got a good one here. A woman witnessed a murder and subsequent dumping of a body."
"Out in the Glades? What was she doing there alone?"
"She's with US Fish and Wildlife – doing some survey. She's got all the right permits from what I can see."
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Send your GPS coordinates."
Lieutenant Caine drove out to the scene and was met there by Detectives Delko, Salas, and Duquesne.
The body was really damaged – several large chunks taken out of it from the local gators.
"What do we have?" Caine asked.
"It's a real mess, Horatio," Alexx stated upon her initial examination. "Lots of flesh has been lost. COD may be difficult to determine if it was something beyond what the gators did."
Horatio slowly slipped on his shades.
"That's why they say 'don't feed the gators'," Horatio said.
"Where's the witness?" Horatio asked.
"She's by Eric's Hummer. She's pretty banged up – refusing medical attention, too. So, be warned," Tripp stated.
Horatio walked over. She was sitting in the front seat with Delko's jacket swung over her shoulders. Before saying a word, he could tell she was shaken up after witnessing what she had. Tilting his head, he kindly offered a gentlemanly smile before addressing her.
"Hi. I'm Lt. Horatio Caine from the Crime Lab. I understand you are injured."
"Nothing major. Just a few scratches from running like a banshee back to my truck."
"Here, let's take a look," he said.
He had her lift the towel Delko had given her to cover the wounds until a medic arrived to the scene. Horatio frowned seeing the severity of the deep cuts that ran down her shoulder and upper arm. Fresh blood was still pouring forth causing him to be alarmed.
"Oh, those definitely need medical attention. I'd like to get you to the hospital. Alexx..."
"I'll survive – really, I will. I'm used to Nature beating me up."
Horatio removed his shades, hooking them around his neck, and grabbed a clean towel from inside Alexx's van. He pressed it against her shoulder applying pressure to try to stop the bleeding.
"Horatio, what's up?" Alexx asked.
"There are several deep wounds over the left shoulder and upper arm," Horatio stated.
Alexx took a look. "This is going to need stitches, sugar. I don't even need to be a medic to know."
Horatio sat by Miss Dolante's side and glanced caringly into her eyes. He was enamored with her courage but not happy that she was refusing treatment.
"Sweetheart, I can patch this up, but I demand you go to the hospital and have this taken care of. With all the stuff in the Glades, you definitely could end up with an infection," Alexx ordered.
"Stitches. See, I knew it was bad," he said.
"It really isn't. I've suffered through worse. I'll manage this," Miss Dolante said.
"Why refuse treatment?"
"Lieutenant, are we going to sit here and argue about my damaged flesh or do you want to hear my story?"
Her words were sharp with just the right touch of sarcasm to draw a smile from him.
"OK, is there anything you can tell me before I have Detective Salas take you to Dade Memorial?"
"Still demanding my going to the hospital," she said snidely. "You think I didn't catch that, huh?"
Horatio smiled again. She was tough and didn't miss a trick. He didn't sense any anger or aggression but an unusual playfulness he wasn't accustomed to dealing with. His only rationale was that she was still in shock over what she saw and this was a defensive mechanism for coping. Either way, she was doing her best to cooperate.
"You know what – I'd really like it if you got checked out and we can talk later. But, if you do have anything you can tell me now, that will be appreciated."
"I suppose the best thing is to give you my camera's flash card. What I saw is all on there," she said as she tried to pop the card from out of the camera. "Dang it, it's stuck."
"If I may take possession of your camera, I can have the tech staff retrieve the card."
She nervously handed it to him.
"Please take care of it. This equipment cost me a lot of money and I really need it back."
"Not a problem, Miss." He waved Detective Salas over. "Yelina, take Miss…"
"Dolante – Sara Dolante," she replied.
"… Miss Dolante, to Dade Memorial. Have them bill the Crime Lab. I'll take care of it myself later on," Horatio stated.
"Not a problem, Horatio. And Horatio, do be careful."
"I always am." He leaned in close to Yelina speaking softly – "And Yelina, make sure she stays put."
"Excuse me?" Sara asked. "Stay put?"
Horatio looked to the lady. He liked her spunk – she was full of vim and vigor for certain and wouldn't take anything laying down.
"I would like you to stay there – rest up until I arrive. We can talk more later. Ok?"
Horatio's smile and request was too much to refuse. Sara smiled back knowing he was right – she did need medical help, but she was too stubborn to listen many times. She nodded her head silently agreeing to comply with his wishes, hopped off the Hummer, and walked to join Yelina.
Sara received several stitches closing the worst of her wounds. She figured she must have run up too hard against a broken tree branch as she was trying to escape. On behalf of the county of Miami Dade, Sara was completely checked out for any other injuries she might have sustained. And much to her chagrin, she was stuck in a hospital room by order of Lieutenant Caine. She would have preferred to go home – to the little research house she was staying in – down by the beach secluded away from the busy part of Miami. The ocean was her savior – the sounds and smells would bring peace to her – peace from the horrible scenes she had just born witness to. Death – murder – so cruel and unfathomable – mindless killing she saw no reason for. Death was a natural part of life – but not like this.
He spoke with the doctor on staff who filled him in on Sara's condition – that she was fine outside of the stitches she did need. Horatio heard a familiar male voice speaking with the head nurse – that of Rick Stetler. Backing off, he wondered what Stetler was doing there.
After several long stress filled moments, Rick excused himself coming face to face with his nemesis.
"Horatio."
"Rick. What are you doing here?"
"Checking up on your handy work."
"My handy work? I thought she was a witness to a crime who was injured while trying to escape."
"She is. Just wanted to find out why you are having her care billed to the Crime Lab."
Horatio thought to himself "How the heck did he find out so quickly?"
"Rick, I'll be transferring it to my tab when I return to the office."
"Yeah, ok. Just make sure the bill doesn't end up in Accounts Payable."
"Not a problem, Rick."
The tension was so thick it could be sliced with a knife. As Rick left, Horatio returned his attention to the reason why he was there – to check up on his witness. Parting the dividing sheet, he peered inside seeing Miss Dolante trying to focus on reading a book. The expression on her face was of great concern – he could see there was incredible sensitivity behind the tough exterior.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked with a low kind voice.
"I'm fine. Hated sitting here after they mended me."
"Sorry for that."
"I guess it wasn't so bad – at least I get to talk to you again."
There was the hook and Horatio was going to take it. Pulling up a chair, he sat down. Hunching over, he peaked at the cover of the book she was reading.
"Hum… 'Humpback Whales," he read.
"Yeah. My favorites of the cetaceans."
"Interesting read?"
"It is to me. Somehow, I would guess you'd be into the latest crime novels."
"Non-fiction though. I like to stay up to date on the latest forensic technologies."
She giggled softly.
"When are you going to release me from this prison?" she begged.
"Well, you are free to go after we have a little chat."
"OK. What can I do for you?"
"When you are feeling up to it, I would like you to show me where you took your photos. It would save us some time in having to extrapolate from your images."
"No problemo. If it's ok, I'd like a little time home to chill. I did pen some of the things I saw – I know how important it is to record details so they don't end up mixed in the mire."
"That's good." He glanced at the notepad she held up for him.
"I find my best field notes are taken with the camera instead of with the pen."
Her voice was steady and seemingly calm, but there was a scared look in her eyes.
"It won't upset you to return to the scene, will it?" he asked with concern.
"Lieutenant, I have seen plenty of blood spilled in my years of research – obviously including my own," she replied snidely.
"But, murder is totally different."
Yes, he was right and he knew he was right when she became silent drifting off into deep thought. The Lieutenant figured the shock of seeing a murder was starting to set in. There was nothing fun about murder – even for those accustomed to seeing it every day as the Lieutenant was – and the lady got an eyeful through the lens of her camera. He was certain those grisly scenes of violence seeing someone brutally shot had to have affected her in ways she didn't want him to know of. She had been a witness to death in Nature – killing for survival – food – territory – mating rights. The violence of humans went beyond this – the sick twisted acts of killing that he swore to serve justice on. He was a master at reading people and her sensitivity was registering in those golden brown eyes. All he could think to do was offer her a comforting smile silently telling her it would be alright. Seeing the gentleness in this man's face, she couldn't help but mirror his expression. He swept his fingers around the curve of her chin.
"Well, my CSIs are collecting evidence now. So, you can rest up here, if you like."
"No way! I'm outta here!" She leapt to her feet and began putting her belongings together. "Not that I don't appreciate your kindness, Lieutenant, but I gotta get out of here. And, I insist you transfer that bill to me – US Fish and Wildlife will take care of it."
"Certainly. Can I give you a ride home?"
"Nope. I can manage. I'm quite used to taking care of myself."
He was positive her rush to leave solidified his theory on what she really was feeling.
"How do you intend on getting home?" he asked.
She stopped short.
"Dang it – another senior moment. My truck is still in the Glades."
"Why don't I take you home and have your truck brought to you?"
"Lieutenant, if it's ok, you can take me to my truck and I'll be on my way. We can meet up later. I need some time alone – no doctors or nurses – just me and the ocean."
"OK."
The drive back to the crime scene did send shivers up her back. Her silence as they approached was enough for Horatio to know she was not ready to relive what she had seen – not yet anyway, and despite her attempts to seem unaffected and brave, she was scared. What worried him most was getting accurate details about the crime, and with her agitated state, that wasn't going to happen. He assisted her into her Toyota Tacoma.
"You sure you will manage?" he asked.
"Absolutely."
He shot her a funny look not believing her as she started the truck.
"OK, well, this sucks. I don't get to hang my hand out the window."
Horatio snickered softly.
"What? Oh, I get it – you think just because my arm's in a sling that I'll be another crazy woman on the road. I'll have you know I've done this a bazillion times before."
Horatio refused to believe her. Perhaps it was his undying desire to want to help those in need.
"Oh, and Lieutenant, thanks."
Well, at least she was courteous enough to remember to address her gratitude.
"I'll catch up with you in a few hours," he said.
"Yeah. Guess we should get better acquainted."
He shifted his weight while resting his hands comfortably on his hips exposing his gun and badges as his black blazer was swept back.
"I'll be joining your team next week."
He cocked his head curiously.
"I'm the new technician."
"My apologies. I guess I didn't see that memo yet."
"Does this situation remove me from having the job?"
"Well, it might - depending on your involvement in this case."
"Dang it. I really need the cash until my grant comes in."
He stepped over to her truck leaning on the driver's side door offering a gentle smile.
"I don't want you to worry about that. You take care and I'll be in touch."
Before she left, he gave her one last look and smiled as she drove off.
He turned his attention to his team mates, who were busy collecting as much evidence as they could find. Eric photographed while Calleigh bagged and tagged and cast several nice sets of tire tracks. Once the body was shipped to the morgue and the area cleared, Horatio and his team returned to the lab to begin sorting and processing what was collected.
TBC
Author's Note - To Petra, thank you for your inspirations