The man's face contorted, showing a mixture of various emotions: shock, rage, despair. After putting some space between them, Calleigh asked hesitantly,
"Sir, could you answer my question?" The man's features began to relax, his face now emotionless. Monotonously he answered,
"Those are my children. I mean…uh, well, that's my son Ian, and that's my wife's daughter Natalie."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Calleigh took her hand off her gun.
"Would you mind coming with me, so we can ask you a few questions? She asked
"My wife, she'll want to be there; she's still at the office," he muttered. Calleigh could see the shock wearing off, and the realization sinking in.
"I can contact your wife and send for a patrol officer to bring her in," she assured him. The man nodded and followed Calleigh to her hummer. She pulled out her phone and dialed Ryan's number.
"Ryan, I have a man in question. I'm taking him back to CSI."
"Sounds good, I'll catch you later," Ryan answered.
When they returned to the lab, Calleigh gave the man, Adam Brentford, over to Horatio for questioning. Adam's wife arrived and Horatio led them both into the interrogation room while Calleigh headed to autopsy to find out more on Ian and Natalie's murders, and to collect the bullet.
"Hey Tom, have anything new since this morning?"
"Well, I have your bullet Calleigh," he said handing her an evidence bag with the bullet shard inside.
"It turns out Natalie Hamilton and Ian Brentford were step siblings," Calleigh informed him.
"That makes sense," Tom replied.
"I figured, two murders around the same club, on the same night? Not likely. So, I ran their stomach contents and found the same appetizers served at the club that night, according to Ryan, in each of their stomachs."
"Hmm, older sister sneaking younger brother into the party maybe?" Calleigh raised an eyebrow. The M.E shrugged,
"Could be."
"Well, thanks Tom! I'm off to firearms." Outside, she met Ryan in the hallway, carrying an evidence bag.
"Hey Calleigh, I found a few casings inside the club Natalie was murdered. Natalie wasn't shot, so I thought they could be from whoever killed Ian, and that his body could have been dumped in the alley afterwards."
"Thanks Ryan, I'll let you know if I get a match," she held up the bullet Tom gave her. She took the casings and the bullet into her ballistics lab. She finished taking the photos and uploading them onto her computer and was now running them through IBIS. She had been on the go all morning, and now, sitting alone in firearms, her mind began to wander. She thought of Eric. This was only the second day back with him gone but she still felt the pain of being without him. She knew she was being ridiculous, she would see him after work, but she had never been this close with anyone else. Plus, she couldn't help but blame herself for him leaving CSI in the first place. If only she hadn't shot him…No! It wasn't her fault. That whole incident, was an accident.
"Who are you talking to Cal?" the voice came from behind her. She hadn't realized she was thinking aloud. She turned so quickly she nearly fell off her chair.
"Eric?!" she exclaimed. His name echoed through the quiet room. As he walked toward her she eyed the visitors pass he wore on his chest.
"What are you doing here?" She started to stand up, but Eric stopped her by putting his hands on her shoulders and moving her back into her seat.
"What…" she began.
"I have news," he smiled. Calleigh fidgeted in her seat.
"Good news," she said, seeing his expression.
"I missed you." He moved his hands from her shoulders, slowing bringing them down her arms, to her waist. Calleigh watched his fingers, her arms tingling wherever he touched her. When he stopped she looked into his face, biting her lip. He grabbed either side of her chair and began to push, rolling her and the chair until they stopped against the side of her desk. Calleigh's eyes glinted with intrigue.
"Eric? What is it?" He kept his hands on her chair.
"You have a big murder trial coming up. Well, Horatio called me and said he could use my help, since I was working at the time of that particular murder."
"Okay…" Calleigh couldn't hide her excitement, or her confusion.
"We got to talking, and I told him I'd made a mistake in leaving. That even though it had only been two days, I'd done all the thinking I need," he paused.
"I need to be with you Calleigh, its killing me not to be. This team, it's my life."
"Did Horatio…" she couldn't even finish her sentence, but Eric understood. He nodded.
"I'm back Calleigh, starting tomorrow." Her eyes welled with tears but she blinked them away. She reached up and hugged him. He pulled her up onto her feet.
"Eric, I'm so glad. I've missed working with you, but are you sure this is what you want" He linked his arms around her waist and stared at her.
"I've never been more sure of anything. Except maybe of how much I love you." He laughed. Calleigh's smile stretched ear to ear.
"I love you too," she whispered. When Eric kissed her, though, she reluctantly put her hands on his chest and pushed him away.
"Eric, we can't do this here." He didn't listen. He kissed her jaw line while she spoke. Between kisses he managed to answer.
"Cal, if you're worried about Rick again, don't be, because technically… I don't work here." He took her hand and placed it on his visitors pass; over his heart.
"Yet," he smiled and Calleigh laughed, letting him kiss her again, forgetting about the work she had to finish, about Rick, about everything.
• • •
Calleigh tried to think. What did they know about their victims? They were family; they had been at the same club the night they were murdered. Natalie was stabbed, Ian was shot. Neither weapon was found at the scene, meaning the killers (or killer) took them. There had to be something else, an X-factor they were missing, that linked these crimes together. This couldn't be a coincidence. Elbows on the table, she rubbed her eyes. She looked up, then, and saw Eric walking down the hall toward her. His visitors pass had been replaced by his badge, fastened to his hip. She stood, grinning as he entered the room and stood beside her.
"There's the Eric I remember. Good Afternoon, officer Delko," Calleigh giggled. Eric knew better than to greet her the way he wanted to.
"Hey Cal, how's your day been?"
"Fine, I guess," she sighed,
"I just wish we'd catch at break with this case, so we could put a killer behind bars." As if by chance, Tom came bursting through the lab door.
"Calleigh! I found something that just may break your case."
"Great, Tom, what is it? She walked around Eric to stand beside Tom. He handed her a folder.
"Natalie Hamilton was pregnant?" she looked up at Tom
"How long?"
"About eight weeks, and judging by the tearing and bruising I found, my guess is the sex wasn't consensual."
"You mean rape?" Eric added in.
"Exactly. I recovered biologicals and I've sent them to Ms. Boavista," Tom said, looking pleased with himself. He turned and headed back to autopsy. As he left Rick walked in, joining Calleigh and Eric where Tom had left them.
"Hello Mr. Delko. Nice to have you back again," Rick said, eying Eric's badge.
"Thanks Rick, it's nice to see you. It's been a while," Eric answered sarcastically.
Calleigh stood silently as the men spoke.
"I imagine Ms. Duquesne is happy to have you back," Rick smirked, looking Calleigh up and down out of the corner of his eye. Calleigh shifted uneasily.
"He's a good colleague, of course I'm glad to have him back," Calleigh answered for Eric, not taking her glaring gaze off Rick.
"Well, the reason I'm here, is to inform you that regarding your…situation, I believe it to be a conflict of interest for Mr. Delko to join the case at this time." Calleigh and Eric looked at each other. Rick smiled; pleased he had gotten some sort of reaction.
"If you would, please, Mr. Delko." He gestured to the door. Eric shook his head, but looked again at Calleigh.
"Don't worry about it Calleigh. We'll talk later." When Rick had looked at his watch, Eric winked at her. Calleigh blushed and went back to her notes and crime scene photos. When she noticed Rick hadn't left the room, she looked up.
"Was there something else I could do for you Rick?" He cocked his head slightly and continued to stare at her.
"Not now, Ms. Duquesne."