Purple
Ryan looked at himself in the mirror of Horatio's guest bathroom. He was wearing the black suit Jessica had bought him when they went to the Keys for the forensic conference. He paired it with a white button down shirt and a purple tie. His badge was affixed to the breast pocket and a black stripe placed across the center. It was like every other memorial service for any fallen officer.
Ryan entered the kitchen to find Horatio dressed almost identical with a black suit, white shirt, and purple tie. He was talking to Kyle who was clothed in his dress blues from the Army. He was wiping his eyes with a tissue, trying to stay strong. Ryan walked over and embraced the younger man, trying to comfort him. Ryan still didn't believe it was true, he knew Jessica wasn't dead, but after a week the case was forced to go cold and the search called off. Jessica Caine was officially proclaimed a missing person and the department insisted on holding a memorial service for her as a falling officer.
They rode in Horatio's A6 to the cemetery. Everything was already set up; there was a podium where the speakers would stand, a casket stand ready and waiting, several bouquets of flowers placed around the space used, a large headshot of Jessica in her Miami Dade uniform was placed next to the podium, and a trumpet quartet composed of Miami Dade patrol units was set up off to the side. They were warming up and tuning and preparing for their performance.
Rachael and Roger greeted Ryan when he walked up, hugging him and whispering words of condolence. Selena and Taylor hugged him and told Ryan they were sad Aunt Jessica was gone. More family members and Miami Dade employees began to show up. Soon there were so many people the funeral service had to bring in more chairs. Ryan looked around the mass of people. All the men were wearing purple ties and the women a purple hat.
Ryan walked with Rachael towards where she was sitting with Roger and her children but Horatio stopped him.
"No, you belong with me and Kyle in the front," he quietly said.
"Are you sure about that H?" Ryan asked, "I'm not family."
"Yes, I'm positive, bring Rachael and her family, too."
Ryan nodded his head and helped coral Rachael's children to the front. His Uncle Ron walked up to him and pulled him in for a rib scattering hug.
"I'm so sorry Ryan," he whispered.
Ryan felt his eyes tear up. "Thanks Uncle Ron."
The trumpet quartet began a prelude and Ryan immediately recognized it as a Bach chorale Jessica had loved. He couldn't remember the proper name for it in German but knew it translated to "Sleepers Awake" in English. Everyone stood and watched as the empty casket with a flag draped over it was carried in by several patrol units, one of them being Frank. Ryan watched as the casket was placed on the stand and each patrol saluted it. He could see the small tear that ran down Frank's cheek and he lowered his hand.
The minister began talking and Ryan wondered why they had picked a minister to speak. Jessica hadn't been particularly religious. Ryan figured it would have been more appropriate for a Judge or the Sheriff to speak, but figured it was a department standard to have a religious leader at a funeral.
Jesse Cardoza walked up to the podium, shuffling index cards in his hands. Ryan hadn't been paying attention but knew Jesse had been requested to give a eulogy at the memorial service. He looked around the mass of people nervously. He locked gazes with Ryan for a moment and then scratched his elbow. Ryan barely caught the sign Jesse gave him and smiled as Jesse signed "Cheat" at him.
"I was asked by the Sheriff to speech today on behalf of the MDPD Crime Lab," Jesse began, "He knew Jessica and I were partners in the Crime Lab and he often referred to us as 'Team Jesse.' Naturally I was honored and saddened to have the opportunity to speech about my best friend at her memorial service but I was clueless about what to say. So after many hours of consideration I have finally figured out what exactly Jessica would want me to say."
Jesse cleared his throat and held up an index card to read. "Hopscotch, butterflies, waffle iron, legos, Power Rangers, left shoe, Masters Degrees suck, decomp smells, and can I drive?"
The crowd burst into laughter. It was several minutes before the smiling Jesse Cardoza could speak again.
"Though none of that makes sense to any of one, or even me for that matter, that's just the kind of person Jessica Caine is. She's always keeping you guessing and wants to make sure you're on your toes at all times. She didn't think like other people. She lived life for a single moment and made sure every second counted. She would want people at her memorial laughing and celebrating her life, not mourning over the loss of her past.
"Jessica Caine was one tough customer," Jesse continued, "She never took shit from anyone but was willing to give as much as she could. I would say life with Jessica wasn't difficult but it wasn't particularly easy. Some days I swore she spoke in riddles like a sphinx and I praise her for her ability to out wit even the smartest of criminals.
"When I was told Jessica Caine had committed suicide I promptly looked at my boss and told him he was full of shit." The crowd laughed again and Horatio smiled and shook his head. "But yet the evidence was there, everything led us back to suicide. I couldn't believe, I didn't believe, and I won't believe it. I don't believe Jessica Caine is dead. I believe she's out there somewhere, laughing at the fact that we all fell for her little joke. In fact I wouldn't put it past her to be here right now, maybe even inside that casket, waiting for the chance to jump out and surprise us all."
Jesse sighed and looked at the mass of people staring at him. "But she's not. Jessica Caine is gone. She's gone but she will never be forgotten. She'll be back someday to tell us all how she did it but until then we have to go along with her little game and pretend she's never coming back. But I won't believe. I know my best friend is out there somewhere, just waiting for us to find her.
"So here's to Dr. Jessica Caine, the best damn hide and go seek player ever!" Jesse declared. He pulled the black band off his badge and tossed it into the air. The wind kicked up at that exact moment and carried it off in the breeze. He smiled and a small tear ran down his cheek as he watched it fly away. "Because that's how she would want to be remembered."
The rest of the memorial service played out as it was planned. The minister continued his rambling, trying to maintain the somber feeling after Jesse's energetic speech, but the crowd continued to buzz because of Jesse's words.
The twenty-one gun salute finished the whole thing. A single member of the trumpet quartet played Taps as the patrol units folded the flag on top of the casket. The somber feeling returned as Frank carried the flag over to Horatio. He handed it to Horatio and quietly whispered "I'm so sorry Horatio."
Horatio held the flag against his chest and inhaled deeply. A single tear ran down his cheek as he turned and handed it to Kyle. Kyle began crying again as he held the flag tight against his chest. He handed it back to his father who turned and held it out for Ryan. Ryan looked at Horatio with a questioning look.
"She was as much mine as she was yours," Horatio whispered.
Ryan took the flag with shaking hands. He pressed it against his chest and inhaled deeply. He began crying again as it suddenly all became too real again. Jessica was gone and he was never going to see her again.
The memorial service ended with a procession of Bach's "Fugue in G Minor" by the trumpet quartet. Ryan smiled, knowing it was Jessica's favorite Bach piece.
Ryan stood with Horatio and Kyle, thanking guests for their hospitality and condolences. A member of the trumpet quartet walked up and shook each of their hands with a gloved one of her own.
"I'm terribly sorry for your loss Lieutenant," she said in a small voice, "It's a true tragedy what happened to your daughter."
"Thank you Officer…" Horatio said, his voice trialing off.
"Smith, sir," she said in her tiny voice, "Officer Holly Smith."
"Yes, thank you Officer Smith, I appreciate your kind words." Horatio said with a warm smile. "If you don't mind me asking but is there something wrong with your eyes?"
Holly Smith nodded her head. "Retinal infection," she said adjusting the sunglasses on her face, "Normally I wouldn't be caught dead wearing sunglasses during a performance but the sunlight is killing my eyes."
She turned towards Ryan and offered him a small smile. "Officer Wolfe, I admire your courage and I'm terribly sorry for your loss."
Ryan nodded his head. "Thank you Smith," he quietly muttered. He watched the young woman walk away and lost sight of her in the crowd.
Ryan's phone rang and he looked at the unfamiliar number on the screen. "This is Wolfe," he said as he answered it. "So good to see you again Mr. Wolfe," a female voice said on the other end. Ryan felt his heart stop and his blood run cold as he recognized the voice. "Jessica," he whispered.
"I told you Mr. Wolfe, my name's Holly Smith," the voice said again, "Or at least for now it is."
The line clicked and a dial tone rang out. Ryan began frantically looking around the cemetery. He stopped when he saw a black Porsche sitting about thirty feet away, the young patrol unit with the trumpet standing next to it.
She stared at him and smiled. Suddenly Ryan recognized the car. He had seen it sitting in the street outside Jessica's apartment complex the day they were called out to her condo. Then he had seen it sitting in the MDPD parking lot and Eric had mentioned seeing one by Club 191 when the bomb went off. He said the passenger had tried to climb from the car but the driver took off before they could get the door open.
Ryan took a few steps closer. He watched her walk around to the passenger side and stopped as she opened the door. She pulled her gloves off one at a time, revealing red patches swirled into her skin. She removed her hat and tossed it into the car, blonde hair falling around her shoulders. She removed her sunglasses and rubbed a towel the driver had handed her on her face. More red patches of skin appeared as the thick make up was washed from her face. Her eyes remained closed but when she opened them Ryan could see the blue even from thirty feet away.
"Jessica," he muttered.
She smiled at him, waved, and climbed into the car. It slowly started driving away. Ryan suddenly ran towards it, not really sure what he was doing. The driver kicked up the speed and sped out of the cemetery. Ryan ran after the car. He knew he wouldn't be able to catch it no matter how fast he ran. But he needed to see her again. He needed to see she was really alive.
The Porsche pulled out onto the street and was out of sight before Ryan even reached the gate. He stood there panting and staring at the place it had previously occupied. Horatio ran up beside him and placed his hand on Ryan's shoulder. Ryan looked at him and shook his head.
"It was really her, wasn't it H?" Ryan asked.
"Yes."
"It was all part of the plan wasn't it?"
"Yes." Ryan turned and looked into Horatio's eyes, the same ones as the woman he loved.
"She knew it would all play out like this, didn't she?"
Horatio looked at Ryan long and hard. "She sure did."
"I'm in love with an evil genius, aren't I?"
Horatio smiled at Ryan and chuckled at the joke. "Well, she at least knows how to fake her own death. Twice now."
"She must get that from her father." Ryan smiled at Horatio.
"She left you something." Horatio said, reaching into a pocket on the inside of his jacket. "She told me to give it to you after she left." He held out an envelope with Ryan's name on it.
Ryan looked it over carefully before he tore it open. Inside was a letter written on a piece of paper torn from a legal pad. It was written in purple ink in the familiar cursive handwriting Ryan knew so well.
My Dearest Ryan,
If you're reading this that means my case has gone cold and the memorial service is done. That was me that you just saw driving away in the cemetery. I'm sorry it had to end this way. I wanted to tell you what I was going to do or take you with me but it was too much of a risk. I needed everyone to think that I was dead, and unfortunately this included you. I feared that if I told you then you wouldn't be able to play the part of the suffering boyfriend and could possibly be convicted for my murder if you slipped up about some detail of my death.
If it becomes national news that I'm dead then the Crip Kings will finally end their search for me. I can't keep risking everyone's life that I love. James will stop at nothing to make my life hell though he's no longer in this world. If he truly believes I'm dead then I hope he'll leave you and Horatio alone.
I'm sorry I have to leave you, but I promise this won't be the last you see of me. I'll always be with you Ryan. You are truly the other half of my soul that I've been searching for all these years. I'll miss you more than words can express, but someday we'll be together again, maybe not in this life but another.
I love you pumpkin and I always will.
Dr. Jessica Elizabeth Stone Caine
Ryan smiled and looked at Horatio. "I can't believe it, she knew this is how everything was going to work out this whole time."
Horatio chuckled at Ryan. "Yes, Jessica has a way of knowing what will happen in the end. She gets that from her mother, I think."
They looked back in the direction of the car, now no longer visible.
"H," Ryan began, "Can I ask you something?"
"Well, you already did, but I'll permit another question." Horatio looked at Ryan. The young man was clearly nervous.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with Jessica. I know I do. She isn't like anyone I've ever met before. Every time I see her my stomach twists and my heart beats harder and then slower. I hate being away from her. I love her so much that it pains me to see her go, but I know she needs to get away from Miami for awhile." Ryan looked into Horatio's eyes, watching them penetrate his soul, "Horatio, please, can I marry Jessica?"
Horatio smiled and clapped his hand on Ryan's shoulder. He looked at the one man who had brought his only daughter true joy in life from a past of sorrow.
"Ryan Wolfe, there is nothing in this world that I love more than my children, and I would love for you to become my son. Yes, if you promise to protect her for the rest of your lives you may have my daughter as your wife."
Ryan's face lit up in a full, open mouth grin. He placed his hands on his head and started laughing.
"Oh my god, H! Thank you so much! You have no clue how much this means to me!"
Horatio chuckled at the younger man's extreme shock. He could see just how much Ryan loved Jessica in that moment. "You know, I might not know, but I think I can take a pretty good guess."
Horatio embraced the younger man in a hug. The two stood there for a moment. Horatio could feel the tears forming in Ryan's eyes and knew his own were soon to come.
"I must ask, Mr. Wolfe," Horatio said as they stepped back from each other, "How do you know my daughter's coming back to Miami?"
Ryan smiled at him and looked into the distance where the car had been. "I just do."