Chapter 10
The girls arrived in Rio three hours later. Yelena was waiting in the terminal when the plane landed. Tanya and Shannon met up with her and introduced themselves. After gathering their suitcases from the carousel Yelena drove them back to her beautiful house in the city.
The girls thanked her over and over again until she sent them to bed.
"You two look like you'll drop at any second," Yelena laughed and saw them to their rooms. Tanya look the worst out of the two, she was thinner than usual and had bags under her eyes from hours upon hours of driving. She sank into the cotton sheets with a sigh of contentment and drifted off to sleep.
It took the CSIs a week to drive back to Miami. The story of the chase was soon eaten up by the media and the girls were celebrities to most of the US. Martha and her family stared at the TV in astonishment and the kids were thrilled they had given a home to escapees. Some of the footage captured by the Hummer's camera was also broadcasted, and the Jeep jumping the train tracks was a favorite. Tanya and Shannon saw some of these clips and laughed about it. They even saw some footage of the Brazil authorities laughing about the two girls eluding professional police officers. People in the US were told if they saw the girls to alert local authorities.
Eric and Ryan shared knowing smiles but kept them from the rest of the team. A few days after arriving back they went to a small bar and waited on a third conspirator in sending the girls to Rio. The tall brunette weaved his way through tables and joined the two other men in the booth.
"I guess everything went well then?" he asked and ordered a beer.
"Smooth as silk," Eric said.
"When are you going to see them?" Ryan asked.
"This weekend actually," the brunette said.
"Good, and we need you to ask them something," Eric said.
"About what?"
"For some reason they gave up and we want to know why," Eric said.
"Yeah I heard that on the news, Caine was proud of himself wasn't he?" the man chuckled.
"Yes he was but now we're on the hot seat for them getting loose again. You might be brought into it," Ryan said.
"What does IAB have to do with it?" Rick asked as their beers arrived.
"Don't ask us," Eric chuckled and they all drank a little.
"Did they ever find the injection sites?" Rick asked.
"Yes but they just thought it was a mosquito bite thank God," Eric said.
"Thank goodness for mosquitoes then," Rick chuckled. They sat on silence for a minute.
"It was all worth it you know? Now they aren't in a dingy foster home in jail or in the ground," Ryan said.
"I was sure Tanya was going to put a few rounds in H for a moment when we arrested them," Eric chuckled.
"I can't believe she didn't," Ryan agreed.
"Does she have a record?" Rick asked.
"A few fines and she used to sneak out a lot," Eric said.
"What was she fined for?" Rick asked.
"Fighting two times actually," Ryan said.
"Wow," Rick said simply. They talked a little more before leaving.
The girls settled in nicely with Yelena and Ray Jr. They would start school in a month and try to find a small job. Rick flew in that weekend and the girls met him and learned of his involvement with getting them there.
He stayed the weekend then went back to Miami, no one the wiser.
Soon six months went by; Tanya turned 16 in August and was given a large party from all of her friends in Brazil. One weekend Rick and the two girls relaxed in the living room and talked about school and their respective jobs. Shannon had found work at a small coffee shop and Tanya rented out boats. She had begun to take an interest in cars as well.
Someone knocked on the door around noon and Rick went to check it. He then ran into the living room and mouthed 'hide!' the girls jumped up and crammed into a closet.
Rick answered the door.
"Good afternoon Horatio," Rick said politely.
"Hi Rick, where is Yelena?" Horatio asked, not at all happy to see him.
"She's out shopping. Do you need something?" Rick asked.
"I need to see Yelena, can I come in?" Horatio asked.
"Um, sure." Rick said uncertainly and hoped the girls could stick it out.