Monday 24th June. 16:45

Calleigh caught up with Horatio outside his office. He had just finished all of his interviews, and of course, Calleigh was curious as to who would be her replacement. Horatio smirked as he saw Calleigh.

"I haven't decided yet Cal." He smiled.

"Okay, but do you have any favorites?" She asked as she walked with him in the hallway.

"Yes, I'm down to two." Horatio said, "Amber Jensen and Lyle Carmody."

"Anyone of them who is a newbie?"

"Nope, they're both over 30 and have done this job for a few years." Horatio said, "I have to think some more about who to hire."

Calleigh nodded, "Alright, well as soon as you have decided I want to know, please."

"Of course." Horatio said and walked towards the men's room. Calleigh walked to her lab.

Horatio yawned as he came out of the men's room. Eric was waiting outside with a worried look.

"What's wrong?" Horatio asked.

"Why don't you tell me?"

"Eric." Horatio sighed.

"Horatio please. Just tell me if this is one of those times when you have nightmares?" Eric asked.

Both Horatio and Eric knew that there wasn't much Eric could do to help during one of those times. But Eric needed to know.

"Yeah, I guess it is." Horatio sighed, "I…"

Horatio suddenly lost focus and had to steady himself against the wall. Eric quickly grabbed his arms.

"Whoa, H!" He said.

Eric looked into Horatio's blue eyes with worry and Horatio looked back with a confused look. Suddenly everything had just started spinning for him.

"H, are you sick?" Eric asked.

"No, I um, I don't know what happened." Horatio said, "I'm fine."

"You call that fine?" Eric asked, "H, just relax in your office for a while okay?"

Horatio nodded and Eric followed him all the way to the office to make sure he was resting. He even stayed with him for a while, but as soon as Eric left, Horatio sat down at his desk and went right back to work.

-I-

18:30

Rick Stetler was lying in his cell. His cellmate was still eating dinner. Rick was in jail for drug- and women smuggling. Thanks to the FBI. He knew that he deserved to be there, but it didn't mean he liked it. He had to spend twenty years in jail. Twenty years! He missed the freedom he had once had. He even missed his job. He had spent about a year in prison now, but for him it seemed like he had already been there for ten years. Time passed so slowly. And since he was an ex-cop, he had been in trouble many times during the last year. Many of the convicts hated him, others just ignored him. But he had at least one person who saw him as some sort of friend. His cell mate John. John was a former drug addict and drug dealer, who had killed his own brother by mistake. He had been sent to jail because of the drugs and for manslaughter. Everyday and every night, Rick had to listen to John's cries for new drugs and his stories about the old-days. John was just 23 years old, what did he know about the old-days?

"Hey Ricky." John said as he climbed up to his bed, "How's it going?"

Rick shrugged. Like he always did. Rick had thought many times about killing himself, but his will to live was stronger. Sometimes he had hoped that maybe some of the many gang-members around the prison would beat him to death, but they didn't go that far.

"I heard Judge Ratner was killed today." John said, "Fucking bastard."

Judge Ratner had been at the same place as Rick. They had often gotten into intense arguments. Ratner had lived in a better cell than most inmates had, and been served better food. However, he was still a criminal, just like Rick.

"Did you know that he managed to get out?" Rick asked.

"Yeah, I heard that. I have no idea how he did it." John said.

"I do."

"Really? How?" John asked, if there was one thing John wanted more then anything else, it was freedom. Just like Rick. That's why Rick knew that he could trust him.

"The showers." Rick said, "He found a small hole, and made it bigger. It's hidden behind the towel-shelf."

"You're joking, Ricky."

"No! I'm not. I saw the hole myself." Rick said.

"So why didn't you leave?" John asked.

"Because I didn't trust Ratner to show me the way out. And I don't want to leave with him." Rick snorted, "You can come with me."

"The cops will find us in no-time." John sighed.

"No they won't. We'll find some new clothes and get the hell out of Florida." Rick said.

"Are you serious about this Ricky?"

"Of course I am." Rick said, "We're getting our freedom back."

"What if we get killed like Ratner?"

"Ratner messed with the wrong people." Rick said, "I heard that he wanted out so that he could kill Lt. Caine."

"Who the fuck is that?" John asked.

"The guy who locked him up." Rick said, "Anyway, Ratner was supposed to get something at Biscayne Bay. I suggest we go there first and then we leave."

"When was this meeting supposed to take place?" John asked.

"Tomorrow night. But even if he won't show up. There might be something there to find." Rick smiled.

John nodded and shook hands with Rick. They had a deal.

"What else do you know about Ratner?" John asked, "About his death?"

"That he bled out. His killer wasn't supposed to let him die that way. It was supposed to be fast. But he screwed up." Rick said, lost in his thoughts.

"You're talking crazy man. It almost sounds as if you killed him." John chuckled.

"You have no idea what I know." Rick said quietly to himself.

-I-

Tuesday 25th June. 08:30

Frank was chasing down two escaped convicts together with ten other cops. The prison for men in Miami had recently discovered that two inmates had escaped. Frank wasn't happy about having to chase two guys, who's ID hadn't yet been discovered.

"Anyone who has seen them yet?" Frank asked into the radio.

"No, not yet." He got as a reply.

The officers had spotted the two men several times. But lost them after just a few minutes. The two convicts had stolen a motorcycle and were driving around in a big neighbor hood. And since they could easily driver through people's back yards, it made it difficult for the police to keep track of them. And the helicopter had also lost them a few times. However, now it seemed as if they had vanished. Frank stopped his car.

"They can't just disappear, we've got road blocks everywhere. They have to be here somewhere." Frank said to his two colleagues that were with him.

"Maybe they parked inside someone's garage?" One of the officers suggested.

"Good thinking. Let's check it out." Frank said and upholstered his weapon.

Since they had stopped just in front of a house, they decided to check that house first. The garage door was open and Frank checked behind the two big cars inside. No motorcycle.

"Empty." Frank sighed and moved onto the next house.

"MDPD!" Frank said as he heard some noise from the garage. Without hesitation, the motorcycle driver suddenly drove out of the garage, knocking Frank down on the ground and speeding down the road. The officers shot at the motorcycle but they didn't hit it. Frank got on his feet and ran towards the car. He managed to catch up with the motorcycle and drive closely behind it.

"Stop the vehicle!" Frank growled over his car microphone.

The convicts had to intentions on stopping. Instead, they turned left quickly and droved towards a big mall. They managed to slip through the roadblocks and drive all they way to the mall's garage house. Three stories of parking lots. It was pure hell for Frank and his fellow officers. Rick was the one driving the motorcycle. As soon as he stopped on the second parking lot store, he and John ran inside the mall. Looking for some clothes.

"We are so lucky!" John laughed as the two men stood in the elevator.

"We have to find some clothes." Rick said.

The elevator stopped on the third floor and as quickly as they could, without being spotted they found a store with men's clothes. They picked out some clothes that seemed boring, so that they wouldn't stand out in the crowd so much and then they changed quickly.

"Rick, how do we get out with these clothes?" John asked.

"Just run." Rick said.

Rick and John walked towards the entrance of the store and as soon as the clerk noticed them, they ran towards the stairs. Frank and the officers walked out of the elevator just in time to see Rick and John run towards the stairs. Rick was faster than John was, and had to pull him up the stairs.

"Come on John!" Rick growled and reached the roof.

John panted and sat down on the roof, while Rick tried to block the door. He looked all over the roof, but found nothing.

"We're going to get caught now, Ricky." John panted, "How the hell are we supposed to get off the roof?"

"We're going to climb down." Rick said and walked towards a small door. A door that led to the elevator shaft. He opened the door and started climbing down. John was quick to follow.

"What if the elevator comes up?" John asked.

"It's not going all the way up, so it won't crush us." Rick said, "Just jump on the roof if you have to."

As they started climbing down, Frank and the officers ran up the roof and started looking for Rick and John.

"Did you guys recognize one of the convicts?" Frank asked.

"Yes, we saw him."

"Rick Stetler. The bastard." Frank sighed.

Rick and John climbed faster as they could hear the officers talking. They gently stepped down on the elevator roof and then opened the small door on the roof to climb down inside the elevator. Then they went down to the first floor. As they stepped out on the first floor, they saw two officers at the entrance.

"How do we get out?" John asked.

"We create panic. That way, everybody will get out." Rick smirked and pushed the fire alarm button next to him. Everybody started moving out, which was almost 200 people. Rick and John managed to walk out with them, undetected.

-I-

10:15

Natalia and Calleigh were trying to track down Rick and John's movements by all the witness statements they had received over the last one and a half hour. Over 40 people had seen Rick and John, but every time officers had arrived at the places they had been spotted, Rick and John were long gone.

"Do you think Rick has something to do with Ratner's death?" Natalia asked.

"I don't know. Maybe, it doesn't seem to be a coincidence that he would escape now. Just as Ratner has been found dead." Calleigh said, "But I wonder why he dragged John Gray with him."

"Well, they were both sent to jail for drug dealing." Natalia said, "Maybe Rick needs John to get back in business."

"But I don't think Rick wants to get back in business."

"We have to find him and ask him." Natalia sighed, "Do you know why H looks so tired all the time?"

"No. I don't." Calleigh said, although Eric had told her what it might be, she didn't know for sure. And she had promised not to say anything.

"I'm worried. I think we all are." Natalia said.

"I think Eric keeps an eye on Horatio though." Calleigh said.

Natalia nodded. Her phone rang and she answered it. Another person had seen Rick, but not John.

"Okay, Rick was just spotted at East Perrine." Natalia said and put a little needle on the big map in front of her.

Calleigh suddenly realized where Rick was going.

"Oh my God! He's on his way to Biscayne Bay!" She said, "He knows Ratner was going there and now he's on his way there to meet this Michelle person that Ratner was supposed to meat."

"You're right! So we should send all officers to Biscayne Bay."

"But Biscayne Bay is in the ocean, the meeting could take place on land or in the ocean." Calleigh sighed.

"We could still be there and see if we find him." Natalia said and Calleigh nodded, "Why would he dumb John though?"

Calleigh shrugged, "Maybe they just parted ways. They may not need each other anymore."

"Alright, to we're going to Biscayne Bay." Natalia smiled.

-I-

11:00

Frank and Ryan were walking down a street at East Perrine. Rick hadn't been spotted since the last phone call to Natalia. However, they were sure that he was hiding somewhere close.

"It's hot today." Ryan sighed, "But it's good for you though. You get to spend your birthday in the sun."

Frank sighed and glared at Ryan.

"It may still rain in two days." He said.

"What's so bad about being 50?" Ryan asked.

"I'm old!"

"You're not old… well, not very old." Ryan smiled, "I see age as something good."

"Why?" Frank asked.

"It means you have survived this far. 50 years, Frank. You have walked on this earth for 50 years. You have experienced a lot of things. Made both good and bad mistakes." Ryan said, "I think those things are good."

"You won't say that when you reach 50." Frank muttered, "Here it is."

Rick had been spotted standing near a phone booth. Ryan had his kit with him and started printing.

"Was he inside the booth as well?" He asked.

"No, according to the witness, he was just standing outside for a couple of minutes." Frank said.

Ryan nodded, "He may have touched the glass then."

"I have to give him some credit though. He is good at hiding." Frank sighed.

"Yeah, have you put up police protection for H?" Ryan asked.

"No, why would I?"

"Rick has always hated H, just like Ratner did." Ryan shrugged, "Maybe he is after H."

"Then why would he be here?" Frank asked, "And besides he blames the FBI for sending him to jail. H is safe."

"Have we spotted him yet?" Horatio's said from behind Frank.

Both Frank and Ryan jumped in fear and sighed in relief when they saw the red head.

"You didn't have to scare us." Frank said.

Horatio chuckled softly, "So, have we spotted him yet?"

"No, he vanished." Frank sighed, "But if I see him, I'm going to shoot the bastard."

"Why?" Ryan asked.

Frank pointed at his pants. He had black marks from a wheel on them. Apparently, Rick had driven over Frank's leg as he escaped from the garage. It hadn't hurt very much and Frank wasn't injured, but he had to walk around with the mark, which made people wonder of course, what he had been up to.

Ryan laughed as he saw the mark.

"Very funny, Wolfe." Frank muttered, "At least I don't' believe it Santeria."

Ryan stopped laughing when Frank reminded him of the time he had believe a curse was a part of a case. He had believe that a little box had been the source of the curse, and the little box was still missing somewhere outside of America, together with the killer.

"Gentlemen." Horatio said, "Any prints Ryan?"

"Yeah, I got some." Ryan said and lifted the prints of the booth.

A man in a grey suite walked towards the officers. They understood that he was an attorney right away.

"Lt. Caine?" He asked and walked towards Horatio.

"Yes."

"I'm Jim Roberts." Jim said and handed Horatio a letter, "You have been called a witness in NY."

"A witness to what?" Horatio asked.

"The murder of your parents."

TBC…

AN: Please review!