Thanks TONS for all the great reviews! And I agree with all of you character death stories are rough! but I promise this one will have a bitter sweet ending. happy yet sad! for the millionth time I own nothing this is purely for your enjoyment, feel free to leave reviews! I don't mind a bit!
"Ryan, where's Horatio?" Valera asked sprinting down the hallway.
"He's about to address the press, why?" Ryan asked, taking in her panicked expression.
"I got something," she stated, following Ryan into the lab where Natalia was working evidence from the house. "I ran the skin from under Calleigh's finger nails, and most of it was Eric's," Valera stated.
"They were holding on to each other," Natalia breathed, her brow furrowing. "What does that have to do with anything, Eric wouldn't hurt Calleigh," Natalia defended.
"No, I know that but then I thought, if she came in contact with the killer before maybe I should break down the samples and see if she got some of her attackers skin too."
"And she did?" Ryan asked, his voice hopeful.
"Yeah, I got a hit on Aaron Madden," Valera said handing the paperwork to Ryan.
"Let's find him," Valera responded.
"Earlier today two police officers belonging to Miami-Dade's crime lab were called to collect evidence from an anonymous tip. Officers Calleigh Duquesne and Eric Delko responded to the call promptly with hopes of safely bring Brianna Montgomery home to her parents. Upon arrival the officers took heavy gunfire, seeking shelter behind the police issue hummer, where Officer Duquesne called for backup…."
The silver hummer pulled to a screeching halt in front of the rundown apartment building, followed by a fleet of green and white cop cars.
"Be careful," Ryan told Natalia before they both hopped out of the hummer, guns drawn.
"You too," She responded sadly.
The swarm of police officers descended on the rundown apartment building, they found the kidnapper sitting in his living room watching Horatio address the press. He wore his sunglasses; anyone who knew him it wasn't because of the sun but because of the weight he was carrying as he spoke before the mass of reporters.
"Where's Brianna?" Natalia yelled at the man, her gun poised at his head.
"I don't know who you're talking about," the grungy man responded, his voice scratchy.
"Tell us where she is or I swear to God I'll kill you right here," Ryan sneered through clenched teeth. The kidnapper glanced from Ryan to Natalia to Frank and back again before looking at the T.V.
"You knew that blonde bitch didn't you?" He asked laughing a little.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH WHERE IS THAT LITTLE GIRL!?" Frank screamed, never lacking candor. Madden jumped at the sound of Franks voice, growing uneasy as Frank inched forward, the barrel of his pistol only a few inches for Madden's forehead.
"She's on the roof," he sneered.
"Aaron Madden you're under arrest for the kidnapping of Brianna Montgomery and the Murder of a police officer," Ryan told the man as he holstered his gun and roughly pushed the man out of the chair he was sitting in.
"I'm goin' up there," Frank stated, turning and heading out with two uniform officers on his heels.
"Acting under the assumption the five year old girl was inside Ms. Duquesne entered through the back while Mr. Delko provided cover fire from the front. When Officer Delko entered the house he discovered that CSI Duquesne had been shot. News reports attributed the shot to CSI Delko; we now know however that the bullet lodged in Ms. Duquesne's abdomen was from her own gun, when the kidnappers turned it on her…"
Back at the lab, Natalia and Ryan emerged from the elevator, a small brunette girl clinging to Natalia's shoulder. Ryan watched as Nat placed the little girl in her mother's arms after three days of searching.
"I'm sorry about CSI Duquesne," the woman whispered, clinging to her daughter.
"Thank you," Nat responded, not trusting her voice to say more.
"She was a comfort to me when this whole thing started, I'm just sorry it had to turn out this way," She continued, running her hand over her daughter's thick hair.
"Your daughter is safe," Natalia almost whispered. "Calleigh would have considered this case a success, even if it meant losing her life."
The woman nodded her understanding before turning her attention back to her daughter.
"CSI: Calleigh Marie Duquesne passed away shortly after being shot, Officer Delko remained with her at the time of her death until the arrival of my team. Let me be clear that the news reports finding fault with Officer Delko are false. Recent evidence has led to the arrest of Aaron Madden, who will stand trial for the murder of a police officer. Furthermore the reports of Ms. Duquesne fighting off CSI Delko in an attempt to save her life are false, as are the reports of a hostile relationship between CSI's Delko and Duquesne. The two shared a loving and friendly relationship until she passed away in his arms earlier today…"
Ryan made his way through the halls of the lab, he was searching for Natalia. She had gone missing after they signed off on the paperwork from the kidnapping. Ryan stopped for a moment outside of the ballistics lab. Slowly he pulled the glass door opened and let himself in. He stood before the board of magnets. He knew what he would find, his eyes scanned downward until they rested on her name. C. Duquesne - On Duty. Ryan closed his eyes, knowing it would have to come down, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, he couldn't make that last piece of her go away, it was too soon. Tears escaped his eyes as he turned and looked throughout the lab.
His eyes scanned the firing range and the gun lock up and the table. When he heard a soft sniff he realized he wasn't alone in the lab. Walking forward he looked down into the firing range to find Natalia sitting on the floor, her knees drawn up to her chest. Ryan's heart broke that much more as he made his way around the concrete half wall and came to sit beside her.
"I didn't think anyone would see me here," she mumbled, her eyes closed, her head tipped back against the concrete wall.
"I don't know why I came in here," he responded, staring forward at the blank concrete wall.
"What did it for you?" She asked, turning to him realizing that he was crying too.
"They duty board, I don't have the heart to change it. You?" he asked.
"Her lab coat, it's just hanging there…waiting," she sobbed, tipping her head forward so that her face was covered in her hands. Ryan quietly reached out and wrapped his arm around her.
"I wasn't here when they lost Speedle; do you think it was like this?" She asked after a moment.
"I don't know," Ryan answered; doubting that losing anyone else could hurt this badly. They all were held captive by Calleigh's shining emerald eyes, her sweet southern drawl, and her constant positive attitude.
"CSI Duquesne has served as one of Miami's top criminalists and ballistics experts here in Miami since 1997. While serving here in Miami she has been influential in putting hundreds if not thousands of criminals behind bars. To refer to her as one of MDPD's finest would be a vast understatement. Ms. Duquesne was a vibrant, kind, caring, young lady with a huge heart and a strong desire to find the truth. She will always be loved, and missed by those who were privileged enough to know her. May she rest in peace."
Horatio turned and faces his team, all of them standing just a few feet behind him. Natalia had her hand on Eric's arm, hoping the soft comfort would somehow ease his pain.
"What do we do know?" Ryan asked, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
"Now Mr. Wolfe," Horatio responded, pulling his sunglasses off. "Now we go home, and tomorrow we come back and we do what we do best," Horatio told him, his eyes sincere.
"We do it for her," Eric agreed. Slowly, what was left of the team, Ryan Wolfe, Natalia Boa Vista, Eric Delko, and Horatio Caine turned and walked away for the police department. Each of them with heavy hearts.