Revelations
Chapter 4
Satisfied that Alexx would be alright with rest and a little time, Horatio left her hospital room after the painkiller had taken effect causing her to drift off to sleep. As he slipped out the door, he met Frank in the hallway returning with a couple of cups of coffee. Horatio accepted the cup Frank held out to him and then responded,
"Thanks for the coffee my friend, but I'm leaving for the lab and hopefully find a lead as to who did this and why. Alexx is resting; the doctor just left and he assured me she will be fine."
"Uh, ok…I think I'll just hang around here for a while. You know, whoever did this, might show up here."
Horatio smiled, "See you later then."
Lara walked into the break room and smiled. Seems Horatio likes to get an early start. Quietly walking over to the coffee pot, so as not to wake the Lieutenant, she poured herself a mug of the dark, steaming hot liquid before making her way to the couch where he was resting his head against the back. Easing down close beside him, she lightly touched his knee causing him to bolt upright. The movement startled the Latino woman and she almost lost her grip on her mug of coffee.
Horatio moaned as his hand pressed on his right side and for a moment, Lara wondered what was wrong. She reached over and placed her hand on his left arm and with a hint of embarrassment evident in her voice she asked,
"Oh Horatio…I'm so sorry to have startled you. Are you ok?"
Calleigh approached the door to the break room and instantly stopped at the sight of Lara and Horatio on the couch. Anger immediately flowed through her as her fists clenched…that little vixen…brazenly going after Horatio in the lab! Well, we'll just see about this.
Calleigh pushed the door open hard and silently marched to the coffee pot, deliberately keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead, purposely avoiding Lara and Horatio.
Lara turned around and called out, "Oh, good morning Calleigh. Horatio and I were just enjoying a cup of coffee before shift begins."
With her cup in hand, Calleigh turned and acknowledged the woman coldly as she snapped, "That's obvious, please don't let me interrupt," then exited the room.
Horatio called out, "Calleigh…" but the blonde CSI didn't even hesitate and continued out the door.
He hung his head, still holding his side with his left hand, while bringing his right hand up to his forehead as he propped his elbow on his knee. I need to go explain that this isn't what it looks like.
Horatio abruptly moved and stood, "I need to go. Enjoy your coffee Lara. By the way, I'm calling a meeting of the team at ten in the conference room. We need to look at and compare evidence results in the case so far and discuss what we need to do beyond this point." Lara watched with disappointment as Horatio left her.
He walked over and poured another mug of coffee to take with him before walking out. His intended first stop, before going to his office, would be the ballistics lab. Calleigh needs to know what happened at Alexx's and I need to see if I can find out what just happened here; why she would act like this. Then he smiled, could she be jealous?
He had only walked a short distance down the hall when he heard someone call him from the opposite end of the hallway, "Lieutenant…"
Horatio stopped and waited for the officer to catch up to him. "What can I do for you Roberts?"
The undercover officer held up a folder in his hand as he asked, "Is there somewhere private we can talk?"
Horatio studied the officer and answered, "My office." Both men turned and walked toward the stairs leading to Horatio's office. Once inside and the door closed behind them, Horatio walked around and sat down behind his desk after motioning the man toward a chair to the side as he sat his coffee down.
"I have some evidence here that I wanted you to see first before anyone else," Roberts announced as he pulled photos from inside the folder and placed them on the desk in front of Horatio. "I think you'll recognize someone in the picture with Ricardo."
Horatio picked the photograph up off his desk and stared in disbelief at who the camera had caught. I can't believe this. Horatio dropped the picture back on his desk as his lips thinned and he closed his eyes before placing both hands on his forehead, with his elbows on the desktop as he cupped his face while staring down at the evidence.
"You can see why I thought you should be the first to view this evidence."
Horatio softly cursed. "His mother doesn't need this now." Looking up into the sympathetic eyes of the officer, Horatio inquired, "Can I keep these for a while?"
"Sure, but I wouldn't hold them too long…you know how that might be perceived in court." Roberts hesitated after he stood. "I'll let myself out." The man walked to the door and looked back at before exiting, leaving Horatio deep in thought.
Horatio leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. I'm going to need to be careful how I handle this situation. Finally making up his mind to go directly to the source, he walked out of his office and headed to his Hummer parked outside. Calleigh will just have to wait…I need answers about this new evidence and I need them now. Pushing a speed dial button on his phone, he connected with Ryan.
"Mr. Wolfe, would you please tell Lara that the meeting I planned to hold this morning is delayed. Something concerning our case has come up and I'm going to be in the field following up on it."
"Sure H. I'll find her as soon as we hang up."
"Thanks."
After the call ended, Ryan looked puzzled. I wonder why H called me instead of Calleigh. Then a smile broke out on the young CSI's face, but hey, this is certainly one favor I don't mind doing at all!
Horatio knocked on the hospital room's door and waited a moment before entering. To his surprise, he heard Alexx's voice telling him to come in.
As he walked in, he smiled. Relieved that he saw Alexx propped up against pillows in the bed with a large bandage on the side of her head smiling. Frank was sitting in a chair close to the side.
"Hey Alexx…you're looking a lot better than earlier this morning," Horatio softly said as he leaned over and lightly kissed her cheek, keenly aware of Frank's eyes following him.
Horatio couldn't help teasing Frank, so he turned toward the big detective and asked, "Any desperadoes show up since I've been gone Francis?"
Frank scrunched his face up as a child would do in response to the tease before verbally confirming, "Not so far, but you never know." Horatio smiled broadly.
"How are you feeling Sweetheart?" Horatio asked as he squeezed Alexx's hand.
Alexx chuckled softly and answered, "A lot better than I would have if you hadn't pushed me to the floor…thank you Horatio. Did you get hurt?"
"Only a few scratches, no big deal."
"Um-hum," Alexx responded, "Then explain why I saw a paramedic sewing up a wound on your side?"
Horatio chuckled as he looked down and then back up into her dark brown eyes, "It's nothing Alexx I'm fine." Changing the subject Horatio asked, "Did Brian go to school today?" Noticing the young man was not in the room.
Alexx shifted to get more comfortable, the pain in her head beginning to return since the painkillers had begun wearing off.
"He went to one class to take that test, and then he was going by our house to pick me up a change of clothes. Why do you ask?"
Horatio glanced over at the window, taking in a deep breath before he turned back to Alexx as he answered, "I need…I need to ask him a few questions. That's all."
Alexx, stunned by his statement hesitantly asked, "What sort of questions Horatio?"
Horatio looked down at the folder in his hand, and then straightened his stance, nervously pushing his coat back as he placed his left hand momentarily on his badge. Frank could sense Horatio was reluctant to tell Alexx what was behind his reason to question Brian, and so could Alexx.
Horatio finally responded, "Just…just routine questions Alexx. I want to find out who did this to you and damaged your house this morning. Brian might be able to give us some clues."
Alexx quickly replied, "Horatio, my son does not associate with people who would do anything like this."
Horatio nodded his head before commenting, "I would like to think not, but I need to rule out that possibility."
Calleigh sat at the microscope in the ballistics lab struggling to maintain her focus on the bullets brought in from the shooting at Alexx's house. If I hadn't been such an idiot, running out of the break room as I did, I'm sure Horatio would have told me about what happened last night. She sat back and covered her face with both hands, fighting the urge to allow the tears that welled in her eyes to spill out. I read the police report. It said both Alexx and Horatio had been hurt in the drive-by shooting…
As soon as I finish with these, I'm going to call Alexx at the hospital then, find Horatio and apologize for my behavior. She wiped the tears from her eyes before returning her attention to her comparisons.
Upstairs in the evidence lab, Lara was finishing her last fingerprinting tests on the bullets from the drive-by at the Wood's residence before they would be taken to the ballistics lab. Seems Calleigh might have feelings for our Lieutenant, judging by her reaction this morning. Well, I have news for her – she's had her chance…I'll show him what a REAL woman can do for him. Lara smiled, this could get very interesting!
As Horatio drove towards Alexx's house, his phone vibrated in his coat pocket. He pulled it out while stopped at a traffic light and answered.
"Lieutenant Caine," the caller began, "we…uh, we've lost Ricardo. I don't know how in the hell he did it, but he's gone. He must have made us."
Horatio stared at the traffic for a few seconds, his mind racing. Who would Ricardo suspect gave him up? Then the sudden realization hit him hard, there were two possibilities – BRIAN and FANNIE HARRISON!
Horatio ended the call with the undercover officer and then quickly called patrol to cover Fannie and her sister Shante, while he made a U-turn and turned on the Hummer's lights and sirens as he pushed the large vehicle to its limits towards Alexx's house. He quickly managed to place a call to the school and found that Brian had left.
The next call he made as he weaved through the heavy traffic was to Calleigh. She answered on the second ring,
"Horatio…where are you?" She could hear the roar of an engine in the background with a siren blaring.
"Calleigh, I need back-up at Alexx's house. I'm on my way there now. Officers lost Ricardo and I feel he's going after who he thinks could have put the police on him and I don't have time to explain now, but Brian Woods is a possibility along with Ms. Harrison. I've already got officers covering her and her sister."
As Calleigh ran down the hall, she stuck her head in the DNA lab and moved her phone from her mouth shouting, "Let's roll. Horatio needs back-up at Alexx's."
Ryan, Natalia and Walter quickly shrugged out of their lab coats and followed Calleigh to their Hummers, while Lara stayed in the lab. She could not take part in field work, having not yet earned firearm certification.
As Calleigh and the others started running toward the Hummers she pleaded, "We're on our way Horatio. Wait until we get there. Please don't go in alone."
"I'm almost there; see you in a few minutes Sweetheart."
TBC…