This is a short chapter. But it has some action in it.
As Marisol's due date approached Horatio experienced an increasing level of anxiety. Most of this he put down to approaching fatherhood, and concern for Marisol's health. But he was not one to leave much to chance.
And he noticed that his team seemed to be feeling the same. He realized that none of the call outs he was responding to were far from the lab or from home. He wondered how Eric and Calleigh were orchestrating this sudden downturn in the need for him to be in far flung corners of the county, but decided he would accept it as long as the solve rate didn't drop. Then, when Marisol's due date was only a week off, he took a paternity leave, using years of stored up vacation time. He would teleconference if he was needed, but he wanted to stay close to home.
The next morning, very early, Horatio's eyes snapped open. He had a second to wonder why he was awake in the pre-dawn darkness, and then his phone buzzed again. He snatched up, lest it wake Marisol, who at 8 months and 3 weeks pregnant found sleep a precious commodity. He saw Eric's name on the screen.
"Horatio, here" he answered.
"H, I'm sorry to bug you," replied Eric, his voice sounding strained. "Is Mari alright?"
"Yes, Eric, she's asleep, right here," replied Horatio. A sense of unease settled on him. "Why do you ask?"
Marisol interjected, "Not anymore!"
"What's happened, Eric?" asked Horatio, getting up and moving toward the door of their room.
"We had a body drop, and Calleigh and I are at the crime scene. The vic, H, she…looks a lot like Mari, even down to the clothes." responded Eric. "I just had to check, you know?"
Horatio ran his hand over his face, and shook out the cobwebs of sleep. "I understand, Eric. Do me a favor, send me a picture, would you? I'll be at the lab shortly."
Marisol groaned, even as Eric said, "On its way, H." Horatio snapped the phone shut and went back to the bed.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, it looks like I might have to go in for a while," said Horatio, apologetically. "Do you think your mom can come over and stay with you for a while?" His phone vibrated, and he looked down at the image on the screen. Eric was right, the victim resembled Marisol disturbingly. He knew he had seen that halter top on Marisol months ago. Sleep evaporated, and instantly Horatio was completely awake and alert.
"She was coming by at about 8 anyway, Horatio," mumbled Marisol sleepily. "What is it?" she asked. Technically Horatio was on leave, and only an unusual circumstance should draw him from the house.
"It looks like a strange case," he equivocated. "Eric wants me to take a look." In her current state he didn't want to distress her, so he refrained from mentioning any details. He went to the closet and dressed, adding one extra thing to his usual wardrobe.
At that moment, his phone vibrated again. He glanced down at the screen. It was Natalia. With a sense of foreboding he answered. "Yes, Natalia?"
"Horatio, we have an odd case here. I was called to a body drop. The victim, Horatio, she looks a lot like Marisol. I swear I've seen her wear the dress the victim has on, back before she was expecting," answered Natalia. She was working alone, as Ryan was technically fired, a situation that Horatio regretted, but he needed to be able to trust his CSI's, and Ryan had lied to his face. It would take a lot to get Horatio to allow him back on the team.
"Send me a picture, Natalia, right now," insisted Horatio, every instinct firing off.
"Ok, Horatio, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence," Natalia tried to sound reassuring.
"Not when it is the second body in ten minutes," snapped Horatio. "I'll see you at the lab!"
He turned to the bed, dreading what he had to do. "Sweetheart, you need to wake up." Waking a sleepy Marisol was not easy. He sat down next to her and stroked her arm. "I'm sorry, Marisol, but you're going to have to wake up and get dressed. I need you to come with me."
His phone buzzed and he looked at another image of a young, dark haired woman, wearing a white halter dress, eerily reminiscent of the dress Marisol had worn to the justice of the peace, the day they had married.
"Now, Mari," insisted Horatio in a tone of command Marisol had never heard, but knew instinctively to obey. She clambered from the bed and headed straight to the restroom.
"What's happening?" she asked groggily.
"There have been a couple of disturbing cases, and I want to you awake," he answered. "Get dressed, and I'll make you a cup of tea." He turned to the closet and dressed quickly, adding one thing to his usual wardrobe. He went to the kitchen and put water on for tea and coffee. Then he made a couple of phone calls.
"Jessop, here," answered officer Jessop. "It's early, Lieutenant, what's up?"
"Jessop, I need you at my place, as soon as possible. We may need to put the backup plan into play," responded Horatio.
"Asap, LT," responded Jessop. "I'll be there." Horatio had asked Jessop a month previously if he would be willing to be a body guard, if needed, for Marisol. The past months had been ordinary business for the Crime Scene Lab, but Horatio, on guard after the first attempt on Marisol's life, was leaving nothing to chance.
Then Horatio made a call he had hoped he wouldn't have to make, but that he had prepared for nonetheless.
"Hernandez," answered the groggy voice. "Lieutenant, I hope you have a good reason for waking me."
"Captain," replied Horatio. "I'm afraid that event we discussed a few weeks back looks like it is taking place. We have two victims, and I am on my way to the lab, with my wife, in the next few minutes."
"Damn, Caine," gruffly replied his superior. "I'm sorry this is happening. What can I do to help?"
"If you could release Officer Jessop and Detective Tripp from other duty, sir, that would be extremely helpful," said Horatio.
"They're yours for the duration," answered the Captain. "I'll be at Central, if you need me."
"Thank you, sir," responded Horatio. He hung up the phone, and finished preparing Mari's tea. He got his weapon and badge from his gun safe and clipped them to his belt. He turned and found Marisol waiting, dressed in comfortable but serviceable clothes, hair tied back and light makeup on.
"What's going on, Horatio?" she asked. Horatio knew he would have to explain something to her, but disliked upsetting her. He uncharacteristically hesitated.
"Ok, now I'm worried," she said. "Just tell me."
"Marisol, two women were murdered, and dressed to look like you," answered Horatio. He stepped over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I have to assume it is some sort of attack on us. We're going to the Lab, with Officer Jessop riding shotgun. Bring something to do, as I don't know how long you'll be there."
"Oh, Horatio, that's awful," she stammered. "How, how were they killed? What makes you think they look like me?"
"We don't know much yet, but they were both wearing clothing similar to yours. I am not leaving you here," said Horatio. "Get your go bag, too."
While Marisol got her things, Horatio checked the front yard and then the cameras he had in front of the garage and at the side of the house. He was alarmed to see a car blocking the end of the drive. He ran back to the master bedroom and grabbed Marisol by the arm.
"Come on, Mari, we're out of time," he said, propelling her toward the rear of the master closet.
"Wait, what," asked Marisol. When she saw where he was pushing her to, she began to protest. "No, Horatio, not the panic room!"
"Yes, you know the drill," responded Horatio. He struggled to keep his voice even. "In you go, use the laptop to watch the cameras. Don't come out till either I or someone we know comes for you. Jessop will be here soon, to back me up. Do me a favor, call Eric and Frank." As he spoke he went to the shoe rack at the back of the closet and pushed firmly on the right side. The whole rack turned on a spindle, and created an opening into a hidden closet, about 4 feet wide and 6 feet long. There was a bench built into one end, with a soft pillow for a seat and a laptop plugged into the wall. The whole thing was concealed into the wall of the adjoining room, which now was rather small looking. They called it the office, as there was no closet now on that side.
He kissed her fiercely, and she clung to him. "Be safe," she begged. Then a funny look passed over her face, but was quickly gone.
"I always am," he responded, trying to reassure her. "This won't be long, Jessop is on the way." He watched her go to the bench seat, then swung the door shut. Then he moved the clothes on the closet rod back in front of the shoes, and slid the closet door shut.
He sprinted back into the kitchen and checked the cameras. There were now two men in black clothes and balaclavas approaching the far corner of the garage. Horatio watched as he opened his gun safe and grabbed his spare clip, which he dropped in his pocket. The men split up, one going to the side of the house, one coming around the front. Horatio took a stand in the dining area, where he could see the front and side doors.
In the panic room Marisol had turned on the laptop and while it booted was calling Eric.
"Delko," he briefly answered.
"Eric, Eric," gasped Marisol.
"Mari, what's wrong," shouted Eric.
"I don't know, but Horatio put me in the panic room," she whispered. "I'm waiting on the cameras to boot up. He said there were two women killed last night, and asked me to get ready, but suddenly he changed his mind and said we were out of time. Jessop is on his way, but Horatio said to call you and Frank." The computer at her side chirped. She clicked on the camera app.
"Eric, there are two men, dressed in black, one at the front door, one coming down the side of the house. They have guns," she got out. Just then another contraction, stronger than she felt before ran over her. It was over quickly, and she really hoped it was just the adrenaline. She didn't mention it to Eric, surely there was time.
She heard Eric ordering whoever he was with to call Frank and call in an "Officer needs assistance" to Horatio's. He wanted to keep Marisol on the phone.
Back in the kitchen, Horatio realized that the man at the front door was struggling to force it open, he couldn't know how much he and Eric had reinforced the door and the lock. The assailant left the door and stepped toward the window. Horatio smiled grimly, he would need a armor piercing rounds to get through the special glass. Horatio turned his attention to the narrow side door, which is where the first attack would come now.
Marisol watched in horror as the man on the side of the house carefully looked through the space between the blinds and the edge of the door to see if anyone was in the kitchen. Apparently, he saw Horatio, as he flattened himself against the wall. Then he used the stock of his shotgun to break the kitchen door window and whipping the shotgun around, he fired into the kitchen. He was immediately flung back by an unseen force. Marisol screamed, "Horatio!"
In the dining room, Horatio had seen the shadow at the window, so was prepared when the glass shattered. The speed with which the ensuing shotgun blast came at him was startling, but he managed to get a shot off. All he saw was the muzzle flash of the shotgun, then he felt a tremendous kick to his chest and was flung back. His head connected with the edge of the dining table, and everything went black. His last conscious thought was of Marisol, and a mental command to stay in the room.
