Sorry about not updating this sooner, I had another case of writers block and then got involved in getting ready to send my resume out... very nerve wracking... I'm pretty sure I'm over my writers block (knock on wood). Anyway Ch 12 is started and going well so far! I wanted to thank my loyal readers that read and review!
"Yeah, Horatio, you're almost there."
"Mr. Wolfe, tell me… where is he?" Horatio asked as he and other police officers and EMTs run up the abandoned stairs of an old apartment building.
"One more floor up and about seven doors down on the right."
"Thank you, Mr. Wolfe." Horatio hung up the phone and ran to where the locating device was transmitting from and where the thermal imaging device was showing a heat signature. "Eric, we are coming, hang in there!"
The Russians had stuck the locating device on Eric when they found it in with the money. They didn't bother telling MDPD where he was because the police would figure out where Eric was just by tracking the locating device. When Horatio got the sixth door he slowed down, along with the mass of people behind him. He crept up to the seventh door and all made their way in. The apartment was clear, except the room Horatio stood in. He bent down to the body on the floor and felt for a pulse. Not that he needed to the body was so badly beaten anyone could tell the person was dead. It was very hard to make a positive I.D. but the body was wearing the same clothes as Calleigh described, same skin tone, height and seemed to have the same scar on the back left side of his head. Right were Eric's was.
Dr. Tom Loman, the M.E. came in and declared the body as dead. He would get an I.D. match when they got the body back to the morgue. But to Horatio, he knew. Horatio face the window and looked out to sea. "You… you put up a good fight Eric… good man, don't worry… Calleigh…" He stopped and swallowed hard, "Calleigh will be well cared for."
The entire abandoned building was checked and cleared. No sign of the mob or the money. Natalia came into the room where Eric's body was found, she didn't know what to say, but the lieutenant beat her to it. "Ms Boa Vista, call your contact and tell him to put the chip on. We need to catch these men… for Eric."
"Chip? You mean you had that new tracking device put in?" He nodded. "I thought that was still in testing."
"It is, but its got to be tested on something."
"H," she started to say in a somber tone, "we'll get these guys right?"
"We'll…" he started to shift his weight, and stood in his signature stance. "We'll get them good."
In one of the empty interrogation rooms, away from the others in the lab, cameras where set up and files where on the table in front of her. She nervously rolled her lips and fidgeted with her hands. On the other side of the table sat a man that no one at the lab liked, especially Horatio's team.
"CSI Duquesne please state for the record what you were doing with CSI Delko before he was captured." Rick Stetler, head of IAB, said.
"As I've told you before, CSI Delko and I were running, you know when two best friends work out together, talk about other things other than work."
"No, before that, it has come to my attention that he was staying in your home, I'm sure you are well aware of the no fraternization rules."
"Of course, how can I forget? Yes, CSI Delko is staying at my house; he's sleeping on my couch so it's easier for the undercover police officers to watch us."
"Ms. Duquesne, we checked your house, the couch had no sheets on it and nothing in the washer and dryer, so I know he wasn't sleeping on your couch."
"Eric Delko is my best friend and a colleague. I would not dare jeopardize my future or his future."
"What happened when Mr. Delko was captured?"
"I don't know, I wasn't with him then."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, I had sprained my ankle and couldn't run anymore, so I walked back to my house, Eri- CSI Delko ran ahead of me."
"So, going back to the running, did you two frequently… run?"
Calleigh stared at Rick and narrowed her eyes, she knew he didn't mean the physical act of running. "CSI Delko and I have been working out together for many years, it's how we are able to do our jobs and chase down criminals if it gets to that point."
Stetler sat back in his chair and narrowed his gaze on her. "That's a new necklace; did CSI Delko give it to you?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business."
"Well I noticed it is very low, not like your other ones that are much shorter."
Calleigh wanted desperately to shift in her seat, but knew if she did, he would know he was on to her. "Rick, may I see my CSI please." Horatio interrupted as he entered the room as quiet as a mouse.
"Horatio, this interview is not over." Stetler said standing up and walking over to the other man and sizing him up.
"Actually… it is." With that Horatio walked out and Calleigh followed behind. Horatio led Calleigh into his office and shut the door. "Sit down ma'am." He said in a very somber tone. Calleigh cautiously took a seat; she searched his face for answers. "I believe that we found him," he started. He stood in his natural stance, hands on his hips, sideways and sunglasses in hand. He couldn't look at her just yet, he looked out at the street, with all the county vehicles coming and going.
"Horatio…" She said her voice small and full of emotion. He closed his eyes. He couldn't stand to see his second in command like this, shattered and broken. "Please tell me."
"Well, when we got to him, he uhh…" He stumbled over his words as he tried to keep it together for her, for him, for them, for himself. "When we got to him, he was barely recognizable, but the description you gave me of what he was wearing was…" He turned and looked at her. She turned her head away, but before she did he caught her face, scared, heartbroken, like the end of the world has just come. Her face was tear stained and she held in her sobs.
"Is he…" She couldn't finish, she didn't want the words to leave her mouth. Calleigh grabbed her necklace and pulled her engagement ring out; she clutched it in her hand, held it up to her lips and kissed it, holding on to the last piece of Eric she would have.
"Calleigh, I'm sorry."
Calleigh nodded as she burst into unbearable sobs.
Review please, I love all reviews, the good the bad and the ugly!!
