Chapter 10

At the hospital, Horatio was sat on the end of Natalia's bed. Danny stood with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall. Calleigh was sat on the same chair she was when Horatio had left the hospital earlier. Natalia was very relieved to hear that Damien was awake.

"Can I see him, please?"

"Natalia, I need you fill in some blanks for me. Dammo has told me what he remembers, which isn't very much. What happened?"

Natalia's eyes filled up with tears and started to roll down her cheeks, "we were on our way to the Majestic Theatre and I begged for him to take me to that club just so I could see it. Eventually he gave in and we walked to the theatre via the club. I wanted to stop for a photo and Damien said we'd better do it quickly as he was very nervous about the gang stood on the corner. One of the guys approached us, Damien pulled me closer to protect me. The guy asked us if we'd like a picture together in front of the club. I gave the camera to him and told him which button to press. We stood with our backs to the club as the guy went to take a picture. Next thing we know, we were attacked from behind and Damien went down. I tried to pull the men off him but I was struck by something across my forehead. I don't know what happened next as I was knocked out. The next thing I remember was a paramedic over me shouting to someone and a lot of people crowded round us. I couldn't see Damien anywhere. I feared the worse," Natalia's face was wet from the tears she had unintentionally let out, "it was my fault. I should never have begged him to go there. I should have listened to Damien."

Horatio looked at Natalia sympathetically, "you didn't know this was going to happen, it's not your fault, Dammo doesn't blame you at all and no-one else will either."

"Then why do I feel responsible?" Natalia blurted out then cried uncontrollably.

Horatio looked towards Danny and gestured him to go outside.

"Danny, can't you get any witnesses to confirm this?"

"No-one will come forward to witnessing anything, they're all too scared. This isn't the New York you grew up in Lieutenant, it's evolved and so have the gangsters."

Horatio paced the corridor running his hands through his hair in despair.

"I'm sorry Lieutenant but you of all people should know how these things work. No-one ever sees or hears anything."

Danny was interrupted by his phone ringing, "excuse me one minute," he walked away slightly from where Horatio was stood.

Horatio tried to figure out in his head what to do. He felt lost and didn't like the fact that he wasn't in control of this investigation. He wanted answers but couldn't find them, this frustrated him greatly. He was interrupted in his thoughts by Danny.

"Lieutenant, Mac may have something to run on but he wants you to stay away."

Horatio breathed a heavy sigh, "why doesn't that surprise me?"

"So you're going to stay here then? I'll keep you informed of what we find out."

"Make sure you do."

Danny walked towards the elevators and left for the lab. Horatio paced the corridor for a short while before leaving the building.

Mac was in Adam's AV lab with his team around him when Danny arrived.

"Hey Mac, what you got for us to run on?"

Adam brought up on the screen a virtual map of the strip club and the surrounding area.

"Myself and Adam have been trying to figure out if there are any other security cameras in the area that may have caught the attack, seeing as no-one will talk. There are no security cameras in close proximity to the strip club but there are some businesses that may have cameras pointed in the same direction as the crime scene," Mac pointed to a building opposite to the crime scene, "this liquor store may have cameras, Stella and Danny, can you two pay them a visit?" Stella and Danny nodded, "next door we have a grocery store, Lindsey and Sheldon, can you go there?" Lindsey and Sheldon nodded, "I will go with Flack to the strip club to see if we can find anyone who will talk, employees or customers. Maybe we can find the rest of this gang and a shoe that matches our print from Damien's clothes."

Everyone left to go to their designated destinations.