Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:Miami in any shape or form – I am just borrowing for a little while and put them back when I am finished playing.
a/n – thanks for everyone who read and reviewed "A New Start for Mari" – this is a continuation of Mari's adventures with the Miami Crew.
a/n – also for readers information – words typed in "Italics" indicates that Mari is signing in ASL and words appearing in "Bold" text are text messages to and from Mari. Also Mari's character is loosely based on my hearing difficulties – like Mari – I wear hearing aids, lip-read and sign.
And the adventures continue….
Chapter 4 – Trashed cars and shots…
Soon there were police cars parked in front of Mari's house, with lights flashing and Horatio drove up to the curb and got out of his Hummer, walking up to where Dean and Mari were standing.
"Are you alright?"
"We're fine, but someone trashed Dean's car," replied Mari. "We didn't touch the car in case of possible evidence."
"Good, Ryan should be here shortly."
Mari looked past Horatio and said dryly. "He's here now."
Horatio looked at Ryan and said. "Glad that you could join us, Mr. Wolfe."
"H, and how are you doing Mari?"
"I'm hanging in there. Ryan, this is Dean Allan, the trashed car belongs to him. Dean, this is Ryan Wolfe, one of Horatio's CSIs."
"Sorry about your car, sir."
"Mr. Wolfe, please check the car for any trace or fingerprints. Dean informed me that the car has to be bumped to trip the alarm."
Ryan nodded, as he started snapping photographs of the car, as Horatio suggested that Dean, Mari and himself go inside the house to talk. Once inside Horatio requested that Dean and Mari backtrack on what they had did that afternoon, as he took notes.
They were interrupted when Ryan came into the house to report that he had found a handprint on the engine hood of Dean's car.
"Run it against AFIS first, and you get no matches then check the Florida Bar Association," requested Horatio.
"Will do boss," Ryan said before leaving.
"Mari, will you be okay tonight?"
"Yes I will, I'll set the security system. Thanks for coming Horatio."
"Good. Dean, do you want me to give you a drive home?"
"Mari, do you want me to stay with you awhile longer?"
"No, no. You go home with Horatio, its getting late, and I'll be fine '
"Okay, and I will still take your mother's journals, that is if you will want me to?"
"Maybe you better, with all that is going on. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yes and remember to call me if Det. Haywood contacts you," said Dean as he gave Mari a quick hug, as Horatio watched from the front door.
"Goodnight Dean and I'm sorry about your car. Goodnight Horatio," Mari locked the door behind the two men, setting the alarm, before getting ready for bed.
The next day in the lad, Ryan called Horatio and reported that the handprint came back to a lawyer named Owen Lucas. "Good work," Horatio snapped his phone shut, and went to track down Frank, who was sitting at his desk.
"Horatio, how is Mari doing? Any leads?"
"Mari is tough and we are all pulling for her. Let's bring Owen Lucas in for questioning."
"Who is Owen Lucas?"
"He is the Jessop's family lawyer, and he is the reason that the Jessops disowned Aaron and Mari. And he is also desperate for money," explained Horatio.
"I'll bring him in," promised Frank.
Horatio was checking with the rest of the team, getting reports and test results on other cases, when Frank came looking for Horatio.
"Horatio, that lawyer is in the wind. I sent officers to his law office to pick him up, but the secretary said that he didn't come in and didn't call. She has been trying to reach him, but he is not answering his cell phone."
"What about his house?"
"He is not at home either, his house has been seized by his creditors."
"Check with DMV and get the licence plate and description of his car and put out a "BOLO"," requested Horatio.
"Will do and I'll keep you posted."
Horatio flipped his cell phone open and texted Mari. "Mari, contact when you get this message, asap."
Mari was across town in her parent's house, looking thru the house trying to decide what she would do with the house and its contents, when her blackberry started vibrating. Mari frowned as she read Horatio's message.
"H, I got your message, what's up?" Mari texted back to Horatio. "I'm at my parent's house."
"Mari, stay at the house, do not let anyone inside. Owen Lucas is nowhere to be found. I am on my way," Horatio ordered – texting back.
"Okay," texted Mari.
Horatio then contact Tripp and requested that he get a court order to search Owen Lucas's house and property.
At the house, Mari double-checked to see if the doors were locked and that the security system was on. She continued to take inventory of her parent's belongings, when she was startled by her blackberry as she was concentrating on her list.
"Mari, I'm at the front door now, H," Mari read, she ran quickly to the front door, disarming the alarm and left Horatio inside.
"Mari, are you okay?" Horatio stepped inside the foyer, closing the door behind him.
"I'm fine, I want just going thru mom's and dad's stuff, reliving memories and trying to decide what to do about the house," Mari smiled sadly at Horatio. "So what about Owen Lucas?"
"He is missing, and he hasn't showed up at his office and he is not at home," explained Horatio.
"Do you think that he will try to harm me?"
Horatio started to answer, when his phone rang.
"Horatio, I'm at Lucas's house, and we found that SUV that rammed the Jessop's car. And we also found evident that he is obsessed with Mari," reported Frank.
"Okay, have all the evidence documented and take it back to the lab. And have patrol continue looking for Mr. Lucas," Horatio disconnected the call.
"So it was Owen who killed my parents?" questioned Mari.
"It certainly looks that way."
"So now what? Do I have to go into hiding or what?"
The doorbell rang and Horatio turned towards the sound. "Mari, stay here. While I see who is at the door." Horatio pulled out his gun, walking towards the door and looking thru the peephole. "It's Dean," holstering his gun.
"He was meeting me here."
Horatio opened the door and Dean started to walk into the house, when a shot rang out and Dean fell forward. Horatio quickly drew his gun and started looking for the shooter, but only heard screeching tires. Mari knelt beside Dean, applying pressure to Dean's wound. Horatio came back inside the house, calling dispatch for backup and an ambulance, before kneeling next to Dean and Mari.
TBC…..
