Chapter 3

Horatio stared up at the ceiling, watching the light coming in slowly soften to its gentle evening shades. The golden light segued into orange and then slowly faded into dark. He took a sip of water from the bottle and looked up to see Mr Gurung studying him.

"You're thoughts are of the young woman who was with us at dinner, yes?" He smiled when Horatio nodded. "My wife is a strong woman both her father and mine were Gurka's with the British army, as was I." He paused and a troubled look crossed his face. "It is for my children I worry, they are due home from school in England at the end of the week. I have always been there to greet them; I fear they will miss me, that they will fear I will never again be there to meet them."

Horatio nodded then turned to him. "You remember the woman with me? Well if I know my girl she's probably bullied and cajoled her way onto the investigation team. I want you to be sure that that she and the others will be working as hard as they can right now to make sure you will be there to see your kids."

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Calleigh leaned on the railing of her balcony. She clicked the phone in her hand shut with an annoyed huff and dropped it onto the table next to her. The fingerprint trace had turned up nothing on Ortega, but her gut was telling her he was involved. She turned around and stared up at the fading sunset. It was a glorious display of gold and orange, deepening to russet red, staining the few wisps of cloud like blood. She shuddered at the analogy and turned back to look out at the city lights coming on below her.

A breeze blew the hair back from her face revealing the trace of the tears that had tracked down her face earlier.

The family she had been assigned to had wanted nothing to do with the FBI. She had talked herself hoarse trying to persuade them otherwise. That along with the lack of sleep, and a headache ready to split her head open, had led Dennis to order home. The first thing she had seen as stepped through her front door was the lip-gloss she had used last night. Memories of brushing her fingers across his lips came rushing back and she had collapsed onto her couch unable to go further.

Now, two Tylenol and a good cry later, she felt a little better. She stifled a yawn and sat down at the table. She pulled her laptop towards her, called up Google, and began to type.

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Cathy Sewell looked at herself in the mirror; she smoothed a stray brunette hair back into place. She wanted to look her best for Jared. They had only been living together a short while and she felt strangely nervous. Walking over to the phone, she pressed the message button again.

"Hey babe I know I said I'd be away for a while, but I just got ta see ya. Jamie said he'd cover me for a couple of hours tonight. So I'll be home for seven...love ya babe."

She smiled and lit the candles on the dining table. Hearing a key turn in the lock, she straightened her dress and waited to surprise him.

Jared King shut the door behind him. He was tingling with anticipation. "Babe?" he called out.

She was standing by his dining table, looking incredible in a dark blue dress that covered only the bare essentials. The apartment smelled of fresh bread and garlic.

Jared congratulated himself on his luck; Cathy was one serious catch and a good cook too. "You look great," he said. "Food smells good."

She walked over and leaned up for a kiss, which he returned with fervour. When they finally broke for air, she smiled. "The food will keep." Shyly, she took his hand and led him in the direction of the bedroom.

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They were sitting on their couch, eating ice cream. Cathy was in her bathrobe, and Jared had got dressed again. He produced a necklace wrapped in a silk scarf. "Babe I know you like this stuff so I saved some cash and I got you this."

She unwrapped the necklace and gasped. "My god this must have cost a fortune!" She gave him a hard look. "Is this the real deal?"

"Babe course it is, got it from the main woman herself, Madeline what's her face."

"Engles."

"That's her. Try it on."

She crossed to the mirror she'd been using earlier and Jared fastened it around her neck. Garnets and diamonds sparkled in the candle light. It was beautiful. She twisted around in his arms and kissed him.

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes damp with tears.

"No problem babe, anything for you. But," he said stretching. "I gotta get going. Jaime said I better be back before shift change."

She sighed. "What are you guarding now?"

"Just some warehouse. See ya soon." He leaned down and kissed her again. He then headed to the door, shrugging his leather jacket on as he left.

Cathy went to the window and looked down on him, smiling, as he pulled out into traffic on his red Honda. It had been a perfect evening.

That was Jared's thought as he gunned his bike down the causeway. He slowed and pulled into an industrial estate passing a factory and several warehouses. He stopped switched of the engine and wheeled his bike quietly back into hiding. Then still grinning to himself he strolled back to where he should have been on guard. Happy thoughts dissipated rapidly when he saw Luka waiting for him. Not a word was uttered as he was shoved roughly back inside. They passed the mainly sleeping captives and a smug looking Jamie. Jared gave him a glare as he was pushed past. Jamie shrugged and smirked back.

As they reached the small office Luka had claimed as his own, Jared was lifted from his feet and thrown against the far wall. Stunned, he heard the door slam.

"Thinking with your dick again Jared?"

He was picked up and slammed against the wall again.

Luka invaded Jared's personal space. "You freaking idiot! You could have blown this whole thing for all of us!" he hissed. Luka grabbed hold of the front of Jared's jacket and heaved him over his desk, scattering maps, pens, laptop and phones. "You ever disobey me again I will cut it off and feed the rest of you to the sharks. Am I clear?"

Jared nodded, blood dripping down his forehead.

"Clean this mess up and get back out where you're supposed to be. You can pull a double!" Luka stormed out, leaving the door wide open.

Madeline nudged Horatio and whispered, "What do you suppose that was about?"

"Trouble in the ranks," he replied thoughtfully.