Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 1—Her Handsome Prince

"Upstrokes on the letter have been forcefully elongated, with heavier emphasis at the top of the primary letters. This indicates that the writer was under some form of emotional duress" she said expressionlessly into her black transcriber, never taking her eyes off the handwriting sample that Ryan Wolfe had given her. "Period. Paragraph. Conclusion. It is my finding that Richard Stevenson wrote his own suicide note. There is no indication that he was forced to do so. Period. Paragraph. Respectfully submitted, Emmalyn P Stockburne, Senior Cybertechnician, Miami-Dade Crime Lab, Employee ID number 239528. End of transcription." With that she clicked off her transcriber and tucked it into her lab coat pocket.

Cynthia Wells, the document tech, was on medical leave. Meanwhile, the City of Miami had found itself thrust onto the nationwide stage by hosting the VIP Gala. Members of the Senate, Congress, judges, attorneys, and the usual throng of attention-seekers had swarmed Miami for the week. As a result, the Miami-Dade Crime Police Department was now stretched almost to their breaking point in the name of politics. All available armed officers, to include CSI's, had been snatched up for anything from security detail to motorcade escort. Meanwhile, Senior Cybertechnician Emmie Stockburne now worked twelve-hour shifts, working in her other capacities, in order to take up the slack. Not only was she overseeing the computer lab at this point, but she also interpreted findings for handwriting and documents. It had been a while, but she was starting to get the hang of it again.

Emmie stood up from her chair, arched her back, and stretched her arms just as Horatio walked tiredly into the lab. She turned to him. "Hey Sir."

He looked around thoughtfully at the stacks of filing that needed to be done. She saw his wandering eyes. "Sorry about that. We'll do filing as soon as we can. I've pushed as much onto night shift as I can, and I think they're ready to infect my laptop."

He put up his hand. "That's okay." He sighed matter-of-factly. "Ready to play some politics?"

"They're not gonna let me get my work done, are they?"

"Of course not. Like it or not, you're a celebrity here."

She looked at the ceiling. "So no chance I can just be a normal human being and keep the caseload from getting away?"

"You're a Stockburne. That'll never happen. This is why you were handpicked. Want me to go with you?"

Emmie put up her hand. "No thanks, Sir. We're all busy. Although I admit I'm a little curious who my blind date is gonna be."

"You mean your official escort?"

"I was kidding. Believe me, I know what I'm up against." Emmie Stockburne tiredly peeled off her powder blue labcoat and looked at her watch. "Although between you and me, Sir, I sure wish you could be the one."

He smiled and looked down. "I'd enjoy that too, but I'll be on call here that weekend. With all those VIP's and officials, the Miami-Dade PD is gonna be on high alert until this is all over."

"I understand, Sir. Well, one more week of this, and then back to what passes for normal." She straightened her collar and fluffed her hair with her fingers. "Guess it's time go to find out who my mystery date is and smile for the cameras. See you later, Sir."

"For the next part of our meeting, there's the matter of the VIP Gala. First of all, as you know, Miss Emmalyn Stockburne, who works as the head of Cybertechnology here in the Crime Lab, has been chosen to represent the Miami-Dade PD. As a goodwill gesture, the Department has gone through a screening process to select a suitable escort for Miss Stockburne for that big night." The Commissioner turned his voice toward the back of the room where she had slipped in earlier. "Miss Stockburne, would you come up here, please? Ladies and gentlemen, Emmalyn Stockburne."

Emmie smiled and dipped her head in a slight bow, waving politely to the light applause as she walked up the aisle of the Miami-Dade auditorium. Despite her tiredness, she felt her temperature rise with anticipation as she stood at the wooden lectern next to the tall, commanding, uniformed man who was Miami-Dade's County's Police Commissioner.

He shook her hand cordially and smiled to her as he tipped his face toward the mike. She looked into his eyes somewhat nervously while holding her hands together.

"Miss Stockburne, first of all, congratulations on being chosen to represent our department at the VIP Gala. We know you'll do an excellent job. I have to say that when we opened up the opportunity for some lucky police officer to be your official escort, we had no idea you were so popular."

She smiled. "Neither did I, Sir."

"It was a long process and a difficult decision for us to make. From over two hundred applications and interviews, we finally chose the officer would make a suitable escort for you on that big night. This gentleman would have the responsibility of representing both you as well as Miami. He will be your guide, your companion, and, if necessary, your shield and protector. He also understands the politics involved, as I'm sure you do. Above all, we tried to choose someone we knew you would feel comfortable with." The Commissioner then grinned. "And I can assure you he's better looking than I am!"

"Well, I don't know about that, Sir!" Emmie said as she smiled among the laughter from the audience. She breathed deeply as that moment neared.

"On top of that, we thought we'd surprise you by keeping his identity under wraps until this moment. I'm sure you've been wondering all morning now?"

She tilted her head with a smile. "Maybe a little bit, Sir. Lieutenant Caine has had me pretty busy."

"Now bear in mind. We've heard from over two hundred gentlemen from all areas of the Miami-Dade Police Department. This included patrol officers, crime scene investigators, and even some of the top Brass. It was a very difficult decision. I might add that the County will be providing VIP limousine service for you and your escort that evening, so even if the two of you don't hit it off, at least you'll have a TV set and free drinks."

The tall, poised computer tech pursed her lips and dipped her head in anticipation while still trying to look official. She quickly envisioned a rugged, handsome police officer in a medal-encrusted uniform escorting her in her flowing red ball gown. She would take his strong, confident arm, and he would lead her proudly. He would slow dance with her close to him. Maybe he would take her for a stroll in that flowery garden in the dark. Maybe he would hold her gloved hand and look into her eyes. Maybe he would even try to steal a kiss. She started to smile shyly.

The Commissioner now directed his attention toward the auditorium. "Without further delay, Miss Stockburne, I give you your official escort for the VIP Gala. From the Bureau of Internal Affairs, Sergeant Rick Stetler, would you come up here, please?"

In an instant, that shy, anticipating smile disappeared. For a moment it was as though someone had rammed a stake through her heart. Emmie caught her breath so she wouldn't utter a profanity or put her hand over her face in disappointment. Not while everyone was looking.

Oh, crap. How could they do this to me?

Amid applause from the auditorium, IAB sergeant Rick Stetler stepped up from the audience confidently with that smile of his, never taking his eyes off her. He stood next to her at the podium. "Emmie" he whispered, looking down at her. "Surprised?"

"You can't begin to imagine, Sir" she whispered sarcastically while maintaining that polite smile.

The Commissioner stood back and put his hands together to motion them into position. "Can we get a picture of the happy couple? Miss Stockburne, would you please get in close and take Sergeant Stetler's arm for the picture?"

Emmie managed to hold a gracious smile for the sea of flashbulbs as she stood next to her gloating escort and politely hooked her right hand under his elbow. He held his head up and smiled proudly as he stood uncomfortably close to her, reveling in his moment of glory. She'd rather break his arm, she thought.

"Who'd you suck up to, Sir?" she said to him through her teeth. He didn't answer.

Though she had been able to force a smile for the presentation, the computer tech walked sullenly for what seemed miles back to the computer lab. She glanced at the printed schedule the Commissioner had given her and huffed. The County required her to meet with Rick for private "grooming" sessions so that they would be properly prepared for this.

Horatio watched his senior computer tech walk angrily into the lab and snatch her lab coat off its hook.

"I take it you're not thrilled with the Department's choice?"

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Sir, any idea whose decision this was?"

"Why don't you tell me who they paired you with?"

She looked at him and smirked. "None other than our favorite IAB."

"Stetler?"

She narrowed her eyes and dug her nails into the back of her chair. "Applications and interview process? Bull crap! Oh, and it gets better. I have to spend a couple of hours a week with him getting ready for this thing. I apologize, Sir, but that was a huge letdown."

Her boss nodded empathetically. "We can discuss this later. Why don't you make some more of your field coffee? Frank just drank the last of it before he went out on security detail."

She smiled tiredly at the Lieutenant. "Sorry, Sir. I knew you were just trying to cheer me up."

He touched her desk as he walked out. "To be continued, Emmie. And try to get some of that filing done."