Watching
He watched. Jake had been stalking them for weeks now. Today he watched from a distance and through the window of a small Chinese restaurant.
For once that annoying chatterbox was not with them. In all the time he had been watching them from a distance they didn't see that kid didn't seem to have an 'off' button. He wondered how either of them didn't smack her in the mouth. And worse, Delko and Calleigh didn't seem to mind. They let her chatter on, even having conversations with her and smiling as she talked. Today it was just the two of them. Both appearing to have a good laugh at each other when they tried to use chopsticks.
Jake was right. The couple had no idea their every move was being watched. That Jake Berkley knew their daily routine and where Chloe's daycare was. Aunt B had Chloe out on another "excursion" as she called it. Most likely it was shopping. The parents had quickly realized it was no use to tell the older woman not to spoil their daughter so much. She would just wave her hand and say "that's what great-aunts are for." It was the same line of defense Eric's parents and Uncle Horatio used. And so far, Uncle Horatio topped everyone in spoiling Chloe. And Frank Tripp couldn't talk either.
Several weeks ago Horatio had babysat for them while they went out to a movie. Frank had come over to watch the baseball game with him. When Calleigh and Eric got home Chloe was sound asleep in her bed with cookie crumbs on her face. In her juice cup were the last drops of root beer. Calleigh had specifically told Horatio not to give Chloe any more cookies or soft drink because it were too close to her bedtime when they left.
"What's this?" She asked Horatio and Frank, holding up the cup.
Horatio paused for a moment then pointed to Frank.
"He gave her the root beer, I didn't!"
Eric had to turn his head he was laughing so hard as his big tough boss and big bad Detective Tripp turned into a six-year-olds.
"Oh right, Mr. She-can't-have-that-without-cookies! Don't think I won't flip on you since you turned me in!"
Regaining his breath Eric said "I may be only a level one CSI level 1 but you two are on my turf so I think can safely say for a Lieutenant and detective, neither of you are very good at covering your tracks. If you had to wipe her face and rinse the cup, like I would have done, you never would have been busted."
"Hey! I only let her have five! I could have let eat half the box like I usually do. And I only let her stay up 45 minutes late. For me, that's good!"
Ow! Eric thought. Calleigh did not need to know that.
Calleigh raised her eyebrows.
"This is the point where your attorney would tell you to shut up, H," Eric said.