Below the Radar
Chapter 13
"What we gonna do now chief," one of Ricardo's men questioned anxiously. "The cops probably on their way and… Caine looks like he's dead… Emil killed him!"
Alexx squeezed her eyes tightly, praying the man was wrong. Horatio can't be dead… not after all he's been through.
"BE QUIET! I need to think," Ricardo snapped back.
Ricardo began pacing around the room like a caged animal. His men's eyes followed him with every step hoping he would come up with a plan.
Suddenly Ricardo stopped walking and spouted, "We go. We got to get out of here just in case the call was to a cop. If we don't move now, we'll be trapped. They'll call in SWAT sealing our fate. Look around and get whatever guns and money you find. We'll need it."
The men were so busy scouring the condo that they failed to notice Horatio's slight movement, but Alexx saw it. Thank you God… he's alive at least. She continued watching her friend as his movement increased.
The first sensation that flooded Horatio's gradual return to consciousness was pain, overwhelming pain. Every part of his body seemed affected. Feels like that proverbial Mack truck ran over me. As he became more alert, the memory of what had happened caused him to immediately stop his movement, concern about what may have happened to Alexx flooded his thoughts. I remember that animal hitting her. Oh God, please let her be ok.
Absent-mindedly, Horatio opened his eyes slowly to look at his surroundings, then squeezed them shut as he thought, who am I kidding, I couldn't see Ricardo if he was right in front of me. But then, he began blinking rapidly, something was different. His heart began pounding in his chest and he remembered the gun strapped to his lower right leg and reached for it. They didn't check me for a gun… why would a blind man have a gun? It's always just been second nature to have a backup.
Horatio's ears picked up the sound of Ricardo and his men rifling through his and Calleigh's things, hoping all the men remained occupied while he began moving gingerly, using the nearby table and chair to help him get on his feet.
The taxi pulled up under the entrance cover to Horatio and Calleigh's building and Frank climbed out of the back, stopping only to throw enough bills through the front passenger window to cover the fare and tip. As fast as he could walk with a cast on his foot, he reached the keypad which would give him access to the building. SWAT had not yet arrived he had noticed, but just as he raised his hand to enter the code a car screeched to a stop behind him. Turning around, not really surprised, he saw it was Calleigh.
She bailed out of her car and ran toward Frank.
"Calleigh… you shouldn't be here. Sweetheart your emotions are unstable making your involvement in this too dangerous."
Her eyes watered as she responded. "I have to be here Frank… Horatio is in trouble. Besides, I could say the same about you… Horatio's your best friend."
Frank tightened his lips at her remark and let out a deep breath before he answered,
"You're damn right about that…. Cal, I have reason to believe that Alexx may be up there too." He went on to briefly explain his conversation with Eric.
After hearing that her close friend was probably caught up in this nightmare too, Calleigh reached over and squeezed his arm.
"I know this is Ricardo," Calleigh then quickly countered "but we're going to get both Horatio and Alexx out alive… we have to. Where is Brian?"
"Eric sent Natalia over to his place. She's with him." Calleigh nodded her head.
"Good."
"Ok, so how're we going to approach this? Wait on the others to get here?"
"We don't have time to wait…" Calleigh entered the code that would unlock the electronically controlled front door. Thank goodness our condo is ocean-side so when the SWAT van pulls up, Ricardo won't see all the activity.
The large tan Hummer, close behind the SWAT van, turned into the drive leading to the condo building. Both vehicles stopped, blocking off the entrance to the front. Heavily armored men began pouring out of the van in the rain with Eric and Ryan joining them.
"That's Calleigh's car," Ryan exclaimed apprehensively.
Eric stared at the car and then swallowed hard. This is the last place she needs to be.
"It is," the Cuban agreed. Sucking in a deep breath, he looked up and saw Captain Taylor walking toward him.
"CSI Delko, glad you're here. I assume you know the entry code?"
"I do."
The captain stared at Calleigh's car then answered, "She disobeyed my orders." The man's lips tightened in a thin line. "Now she's put herself in grave danger by entering this building. I can't guarantee her safety."
Eric furrowed his brow in concern as he replied softly, "I understand. Sargent Frank Tripp may be in there too. What's the plan Captain?"
Martha Goldberg had just pulled the casserole from the oven when Hiram walked in the kitchen.
"I can take that down to Horatio for you."
Martha turned around, "I'm taking it; I'd like to find out how he's doing, haven't seen him since he got home from the hospital." The elderly woman shook her head, "Poor man losing his sight… must be horrible."
Hiram stood in their door and watched as his wife walked down the hallway to the Caine's condo at the opposite end with her gift of food for the couple. Since her disease began progressing, he felt the need to watch her closer, just to make sure she didn't wander off.
Martha rang the doorbell and waited, knowing it would take Horatio a few extra minutes to answer the door.
One of Ricardo's men heard the doorbell and walked back out into the living room, looking at Alexx to make sure she was still tied to the chair and the tape was still secure over her mouth. He looked through the security peep-hole and saw an elderly woman holding a dish of food. Ricardo walked up behind his man and lowly asked as he checked his weapon,
"Cops?"
"Nah… just an old woman holding a dish of food. What do you want me to do?"
Ricardo thought for a moment then said,
"Answer the door, take the food and get rid of her. We don't have much time."
Still whispering the man questioned,
"Who am I going to tell her I am?"
Ricardo slapped the man on the side of the head and growled, "Make up something… dumbass."
Ricardo stepped out of sight behind the door as his man opened it, he was ready just in case this was a trick.
"Who are you… where is Horatio?" Martha asked startled by the strange man.
'"Uh, I'm from the hospital. Just came by to check on Mr. Caine."
Martha started to walk in, but the man stepped in her way as he said raising his hands to take the dish, "I'll give this to Mr. Caine."
"I would like to see him for just a moment, if it's alright. I'm his neighbor from down the hall and…" Martha suddenly stopped when she saw Horatio appear from behind a chair across the room looking as if he were in pain, noticing that he had a gun in his hand.
Martha screamed and began to back up, but the man grabbed her and pulled her inside, slamming the door behind her. Hiram began running as fast as he could, breathing heavily, toward the end of the hall calling out his wife's name.
The elevator door opened and Calleigh and Frank stepped out with their guns at the ready, not knowing what or who they might meet. Not finding anyone in the area, she quickly began running for the hallway leading to their condo as Frank walked as fast as he could in the ankle cast. As she rounded the corner, Calleigh saw Hiram Goldberg running toward her with a frightened look on his face and gasping for air. He abruptly stopped when he saw Calleigh and then Frank round the corner with guns drawn. Calleigh signaled for him to come to them silently.
When he reached the pair he began frantically recounting what had just happened.
"Somebody grabbed Martha… she's in your condo," he exclaimed while looking directly at Calleigh. "What's going on?"
In a low tone, Calleigh replied, "Mr. Goldberg, you need to take the elevator down to the lobby. Police officers will be down there. You need to tell them what happened. We'll help your wife."
"Please don't let anything happen to Martha…" the man pleaded.
Calleigh bit her lower lip noticing the fear displayed in the man's eyes, identifying with his reaction.
"She'll be alright. Now, please you need to go."
After Hiram left, Frank leaned over closer to Calleigh and whispered, "Another hostage, just what we needed."
Ricardo's man roughly manhandled Martha attempting to force her toward a chair, but she planted her feet and quickly let him know her displeasure. At the opposite end of the room, Alexx began struggling against her restraints to no avail as she kept her eyes on Horatio. Using the distraction, Horatio eased closer.
"You oaf… let go of me. What are the two of you doing in Horatio and Calleigh's home? What have you done to Horatio?"
The sound of a gun's hammer being pulled back caught Ricardo's attention causing him to immediately jerk his head to the side finding Horatio standing, albeit unsteadily, head tilted to the right holding a gun a gun at eye level pointed directly at him.
With a ragged voice Horatio ordered, "Let… her go."
Laughing, Ricardo exclaimed, "Well now, ain't this something… a blind man holding a gun on us. You might shoot this old lady Caine. Better put the gun down." Ricardo began walking toward the redhead as he goaded, "What you think you're gonna do with that gun anyhow?"
Horatio narrowed his eyes as he answered firmly, "This…." His finger pulled the trigger.
Ricardo's eyes widened with shock, slowly lowering his head to look at his chest. Focusing blankly on the growing red spot in the center of his chest before raising his head, for a brief second, his eyes locked with Horatio's before falling to the floor. Horatio immediately shot and killed two of the other men before they could fire, as the third man escaped out the door.
In the hallway, Calleigh, only a few feet from the door of the condo heard the first shot. She felt her heart stop and then she screamed as two more shots followed,
"HORATIO!"
Frank protectively stepped in front of her when the door of the condo flung open and a young man ran toward them. Coming face to face with the big detective and his gun leveled ready to fire, the man raised his hands begging for mercy as he kneeled down on the floor.
Heavily armored SWAT officers stormed the hallway from both directions and entered the condo with Calleigh on their heels. As the team began checking the other rooms, you could hear "clear" being shouted back to the others.
Calleigh stood frozen in place as she looked around their living room noticing three dead men and then saw Horatio standing over one of the bodies with a gun in his hand that was hanging loosely by his side looking as if he could pass out at any moment.
Horatio, scowling at the man lying at his feet, bleeding out, roughly whispered,
"Payback for Johnny Harrison, his mother Fannie and her sister Shante, Ricardo… as they say", pausing and raising his eyebrows… "is a bitch."
"Caine…" Ricardo whispered between gasps of breath that forced more blood from his mouth, "Go… to hell."
Horatio smiled, ignoring the painful cut on his lip replied, "You first."
Then Ricardo exhaled for the last time.
Frank saw Horatio was standing, so he went to Alexx first to free her and make sure she was alright.
Gently removing the tape from her mouth, his anger growing while lightly fingering the contusion on her cheek,
"Sweetheart… are you alright?"
Alexx's response was to wrap her freed arms around him and hold tight as she whispered in a quivering voice,
"I'm ok… scared." She grew quiet for a minute just relishing the feeling of security being held in his strong embrace. Finally leaning back enough to see his face she added, "I need to check on Horatio."
Martha Goldberg was anxiously mumbling while walking in a state of shock toward Horatio. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace to calm the upset woman and softly assured,
"Everything's alright Mrs. Goldberg. It's over."
Horatio looked up, his eyes locking with Calleigh's, his slight smile caused her to inhale sharply as her hand flew to her mouth. Is it possible? Did something happen to help him regain his sight? How could he have shot these men otherwise?
Calleigh quickly walked toward him, her heart pounding forcefully against her chest as she took in his appearance. Fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, a noticeable dark bruise very evident on his chin told her that he'd endured a beating at the hands of Ricardo. His shirt torn and his hair disheveled, his breathing noticeably labored, but his eyes… they were different.
"Hi Sweetheart," he whispered over the top of Martha's head.
At that moment, Hiram Goldberg broke free of the officer keeping him from entering the condo and he rushed over to Martha with tears welled in his eyes as he guided her from Horatio, leading her to a chair, wanting to make sure she was not injured.
Calleigh moved closer to Horatio, stretched out her hand and softly cupped his face.
Her voice shaky she whispered, "You got them…" Hesitantly she then asked, "You couldn't have done this without your sight… can you…?"
Horatio tilted his head slightly ignoring the pain as he took her hand and kissed it before answering,
"I can't tell you how much I've missed looking into your beautiful green eyes…"
He leaned in and kissed her lips amid warm salty tears that were now cascading down her cheeks and wrapped his arms around her as the kiss deepened. Overcome with emotion, Calleigh wrapped her arms around his waist causing him to instantly break their kiss and involuntarily groan from the pressure of her embrace on his injured side.
Panic that he'd been seriously injured caused Calleigh to immediately drop her arms from his waist, and place her hands on his arms after feeling his body tense.
"Handsome… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have squeezed you. You're injured," her voice trailed off as she sniffed back her tears.
Managing to steady his breathing, he answered, "I'm ok Sweetheart… just sore."
Calleigh knew he was hurting, but trying his best not to upset her further.
"I'll be the judge of that," Alexx barked as she quickly moved beside Horatio. "Frank, help me get him to the couch."
"I'm not hurt bad Alexx," at first brushing her attention off until another gripping pain in his side told him otherwise.
The doctor just huffed in response as Frank guided his friend over to the couch and helped him lie down so Alexx could check him.
Eric quietly stepped up beside Calleigh and softly asking with a concerned voice,
"Is he going to be alright?"
Wiping the tears from her face with her hand and drawing in a breath to steady her voice she looked up at her colleague and responded with a faint smile,
"He can see again, Eric."
"WHAT!" Eric enthusiastically replied as he stepped back, "CAL really… he has his sight back…?"
Ryan stopped gathering ID from the dead men and looked up toward his friends when he heard Eric's exclamation and grinned. We're going to be ok… H will be back.
Shaking her head yes, an elated Eric pulled her into a tight hug, but after a few seconds he realized what he had done and quickly dropped his arms from around her.
"Thank God Calleigh," he exclaimed as he cleared his throat and then turned his attention to Alexx and Horatio.
Alexx straightened and stood up from seeing about Horatio, her watery eyes landing on Calleigh standing just a few feet away, motioning for her friend to come to her husband.
The two women drew each other into a fiercely tight hug and neither could stop the tears.
Finally Alexx whispered, "Our prayers have been answered Sugar… I think he's going to be just fine. I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes, but Horatio needs to go to the hospital for a scan just to make sure."
The next morning, Calleigh gradually felt herself drifting out of the fog of sleep as she rolled over on her back and stretched. Her eyes gradually opened and blinked a few times before focusing on her surroundings that suddenly she realized were not familiar. She sat up with a start holding her breath until she heard Horatio's soft velvet voice say,
"Good morning Sweetheart."
Turning to her left, she saw Horatio lying on his back beside her smiling lovingly up at her as her bewilderment faded into a smile in return.
Letting out her breath in a deep sigh, she lowered herself down on the bed, propping up on an elbow allowing her to be face to face with him.
"Umm… good morning Handsome. How are you feeling?"
Horatio grinned, "Sore. It'll get better."
She leaned in and gave him a warm, loving morning kiss on the lips. Pulling back slightly, after their lips parted she whispered,
"You know, Alexx wanted to keep you in the hospital last night… maybe you should have listened."
"Uh-uh," Horatio quickly responded, "I wanted to be with you… to hold you… to look at you. I've got a lot of time to make up for. Besides, she just said it was a deep bruise on my side."
Calleigh smiled.
"Oh Sweetheart… your smile is what I've missed. Just beautiful."
He pushed her hair back behind her ear then his finger lightly trailed across her cheek, coming to rest on her lips as he gave her his tender, boyish smile in return.
"I can't wait to get home. Hopefully, they'll finish cleaning our condo today," he said before pulling her head down for another kiss. This time the kiss was deeper.
The moment was interrupted by a knock on their door.
Horatio grinned, "You better answer that. We need to eat."
Calleigh smiled as her face screwed up in puzzlement, "You've ordered breakfast?"
"I did. Figured you'd be hungry when you woke up." He grinned as he added, "I just hoped you'd be awake by now."
Calleigh laughed and stood up, slipping on a robe as the doorbell rang again.
After greeting her with wishes for a good morning, the bellman rolled the cart to the sitting area of their suite. Calleigh realized she had no money with her and began to apologize to the young man.
"Oh no… everything is covered by the Miami Police Department ma'am. You don't need to worry about a thing."
The man bid them a good day and left. Calleigh turned around to walk back to the bed and saw that Horatio was sitting up.
"Hey, need some help?"
"Thanks, I can manage… just slow."
Horatio eased up on his feet, his leg that was in the cast was sore, but thankfully the bones were not damaged from yesterday. The doctors did have to recast his leg though; the impact with the wall caused it to crack. The wrist checked alright as well. The brace kept it protected.
As they sat together on the love seat with their breakfast before them, Calleigh finished cutting up Horatio's sausage, put the utensils down and leaned over and kissed his cheek softly.
"I love you," she whispered.
Horatio responded with a smile, "I'm glad you do because I love you Sweetheart."
TBC…