So I got an idea for motive from a friend, it's so like what Miami writers would do. Thanks Jo!
"You guys again? No, look I told you a thousand times that I don't know what happened!"
"Sir, I'm sorry but…" SLAM!
A sigh grumbled though her mouth as Calleigh stared at the door incredulously. She suddenly knew how it felt to have it slammed rudely in her face. The day was still young but how long would it possibly take to get a statement after eight houses along the street were visited.
She turned on her heels and headed down the path to the sidewalk where a hummer pulled up beside her. Her eyes met Eric's though the open window.
"I take it that you haven't found a lead yet," he concluded, "hop in."
He focused on her droopy face as he came in slowly closing the door. He switched his glance to the wheel before she caught it.
"I knocked on every door possible," she started, "not every response was what I hoped for." She looked into his calm face hopelessly.
"Did you find a person at every house?"
"No, there was one that was empty. The owner wasn't there yesterday either."
"Well, Calleigh I'm sorry…"
"No, I'm sorry, because until today I didn't remember how ashamed I felt to have a door slammed in my face and I'm sorry - it was a stupid thing to do." She referred to her actions last night before the cathartic moment.
Eric considered her apology and smiled, "It's okay, Cal., forget it. We're cool."
Her own smiled illuminated from her face causing him to marvel at her even more than before. But suddenly her eyes noticed something outside.
"Did you question that guy?" he asked following her eyes.
"No, I haven't seen…" she jumped through the door before finishing and ran across the road to catch him. "Sir!"
The balding man peeped over his shoulder then continued to jog along. His muscles in his toned legs forced him into a faster movement, a challenge for her heels.
"C'mon, Sir I just need a few minutes of your time!"
"I don't know anything!" he shouted back.
"Did you see, anything strange at the Russell's house yesterday?"
"The Russell's?" he asked surprised then slowed to a stop.
"Yes," she gasped, "and would you happen to be the home owner on 1304?"
"Yeah, I went out yesterday to a little get together at my sister's house."
"That early?" she asked suspiciously.
"Mhm, I had to help her set up and you know…" he scratched his arm, "I hope you don't think that I killed that woman… but, on my early jog I happened to see a man putting something into his uh, trunk. Trust me it didn't look like it could've been a body, but…"
"It could have. Can you describe this man for me?"
"I only saw him from behind, uh he had on a suit. I mean the body or whatever it was wrapped in blue sheets I think, but there was no blood."
"What about the car?" she continued.
"Oh, a white Mercedes, one of the new ones. I wish I could help with the license plate but, that's it."
"Thank you, so much," Calleigh turned to run to the hummer gleaming, then she realized it was right behind her.
"So?" Eric asked as she climbed in.
"We got a lead!"
Eric couldn't help but smile at her sudden uplifted spirit, devoid of all her doubt. He shook his head at her forcing the seat belt into place then ordering 'let's go!'. Within minutes he got patrol on the search for this new white Mercedes and they trusted the police system to do its job.
ECECECECECECECEC
"Calm down," he laughed. Calleigh's hand clenched the door handle so firmly that it got paler than paper.
"Yeah, sorry," she pressed her lips together to hide an incoming smile at her hand peeling off of the door.
The day had taken a turn for the best for the first time that week for her. All her emotions tumbled inside her, just because they got a slight lead… at least it was something. Eric kept a close eye on her trying to steady herself in the seat almost like facing a child knowing they were going to get an ice-cream cone. All he wanted was to gaze at her even more.
"What?" she asked incredulously and obviously shocked that he saw her in this state.
"Oh, nothing," he watched the road to make a turn.
"Hey, aren't we going back to the lab? Why'd you make that turn?"
"You'll see," he peeked on her surprised face, "eventually."
Soon he led her unto a barren road which held an ancient building that when it was compared with the sky looked like an oversized cabin or something of the sort.
Her green eyes never ceased staring at it until a sign came into view. Eric took side glances at her waiting for the infamous smile he knew her for. The words 'Children's Home' were all she caught before she faced him with the most elation he had ever seen her with in weeks.
"Eric…" his name floated out of her mouth. He pulled up to the side of the place.
"I'll wait out here… go on."
"But, what about the case, I…?" she stuttered.
"Don't worry about it," he stroked her cheek ever so gently, "Ryan, Natalia and Walter are there."
"Okay," she gave in to his thoughtfulness and was left speechless. Calleigh opened the door swiftly for its size but he grabbed her side reminding her of her gun. With one tug he pulled the holster from her pants and she hurried along.
An elderly woman with short, graying blonde hair sat at the front desk busying herself with the day's newspaper. Calleigh couldn't help but notice the 'old time' setting in the place: wooden floors, and old fashioned, burgundy colored couches and curtains to match it.
"Why hello there, I'm Clarinda, welcome," she stood folding the paper on the desk.
"Hi, I'm Calleigh," she cleared her throat nervously.
"What a beautiful young lady," she marveled aloud, "well I usually don't recommend single mothers to adopt, especially if you're looking for an older child… but I know you young people nowadays want babies…"
"Um no, I'm not here to adopt," she smiled shyly, "I'm actually a police officer." Calleigh fumbled over her pants for her badge a showed it.
"Oh, well don't arrest me, officer," she laughed, "the place is in tip-top shape and I treat the children with care."
"I won't… um, I was wondering if I could see one of the children here. I don't know the name, but he was brought back here recently…"
"Oh, Bradley… sure, sure," she waved Calleigh over to a door beside the desk.
Clarinda led her into a bigger room: a mix between a play-room and an eating room with toys and tables.
"Pardon me, ma'am, but where are they?" Calleigh wondered aloud.
"They're around back with Lisa playing, and this is our little baby room…"
A younger lady in her late twenties was seen placing a sleeping baby girl into one of the four cribs. She wore a white uniform like a nurse's and stood three inches taller than her.
"This is Claire, my granddaughter. She takes care of the babies as you can see."
After they greeted she immediately noticed little blonde haired Bradley fast asleep in the crib to the end of the room. His hair fluffed upon his dear little head and those sky blue eyes of his hidden beneath tired lids…