CHAPTER 34: ACCUSATIONS
As soon as Flavia had changed her shirt and washed her face with ice cold water she returned to Mrs. Price, asking her to help her with an identikit; the vampire agreed to the request, so the girl asked for an identikit expert. As soon as the plump African American woman was available, they started working on the wanted woman.
Meanwhile, Horatio was working on the gun found by Delko on the crime scene; he was examining DNA residues extracted by epithelial cells he had found stuck in the cart of the weapon, while Eric and Tim were working on fingerprints.
-Fingerprints don't match the wife. -, Tim informed Horatio, while looking at the inscription NO MATCH on the computer screen.
-That might confirm her version. -, the redhead stated, while retrieving the micro tube from the centrifuge.
-Hey guys, that's the identikit of the mysterious woman we're looking for. -, Calleigh exclaimed, entering the room with a piece of paper in her hand. Her colleagues drew closer to her, so that they could simultaneously look at the picture. The face displayed was that of a young woman, probably in her mid-twenties, with straight long blonde hair and grey eyes, thin lips and short straight nose.
-Seems harmless enough. I'd be more preoccupied with, say, a vampire. -, Tim commented.
-Flavia doesn't think so. -, Calleigh replied, looking at him.
-Speaking of Flavia, where is she now?-, Eric asked, curious.
-Why, she's with Alexx right now, she wanted to make sure her nose wasn't broken. -, the blonde shifted her attention towards Eric, smiling knowingly at him.
Eric was about to make a move towards the door, but Horatio's stern voice prevented him from doing so: -Are you planning on making a move on my sister, Delko?-
Eric's face flushed with embarrassment while Tim and Calleigh sniggered at him. Horatio made a point to stare at him sternly, making him squirm under the unwanted attention, but the Cuban relaxed as soon as a grin broke onto his boss's face.
-Go see how she's doing. We're all going to take a break. It's lunchtime already. -, Horatio told the younger man, who happily exited the room, followed by Calleigh's chuckle.
-And where did Miami never closes go?-, the blonde joked, smiling at her boss.
-But we are not closing, Ma'am, just waiting patiently while the computers do their magic. -, Horatio answered back, smiling himself. –Besides, I wouldn't want my C.S.I.s to pass out from lack of food, now would I?-, he added as an afterthought, positioning his right hand on the small of Calleigh's back to guide her to the break room. –You coming, Speed?-
*
It took the rest of that day to get an ID: Alice Ferguson, twenty-seven years old, mentally unstable. Arrested a couple of times for indecent exposure and attempted robbery, spent almost a whole year in a institute that helped people like her and where, by chance, Dr. Wesley Price worked. That was how they met.
The C.S.I.s speculated that the woman must have fallen in love with her kind doctor, slowly becoming obsessed with him.
The next day Horatio took Calleigh with him to the institute, hoping her soothing presence would make people ,especially patients, loosen their tongues. He was not disappointed. A young woman that suffered from a severe case of agoraphobia chatted with his blonde colleague for a long time, telling her of Alice's crush for the doctor, his polite refusals of her advances, him telling her he was in love with his wife, Sarah's crisis and her decision to leave that place so as to not see him anymore.
-But we know she did see him again, right?-, Horatio asked rhetorically once they returned to his Hummer.
-Yep. -, Calleigh replied, hands behind her back, waiting for instructions on their next step.
-Did she know where Sarah was planning on staying after her release?-, the redhead demanded, looking at his blonde colleague over the rim of his sunglasses.
-As a matter of fact, yeah, she had her suspicions. Alice told her about a small apartment her parents used to rent out, and that now should be vacant. -, Calleigh answered diligently.
-And she didn't happen to have the address, did she?-, Horatio pressed on, earning himself a playful glare from his colleague. –If you'd let me finish, I'd have told ya I got the address, all right. -, she drawled, her Southern accent thickening noticeably. Horatio looked down, smiling shyly with embarrassment, then murmured a fake contrite: -Sorry, Ma'am. –
-No offence taken. So, are we going snooping around?-, Calleigh replied with a smile and a little toss of her head. Horatio watched in fascination as the sun kissed her long straight golden locks, making them shine like the precious metal, the metal of gods. None of his thoughts transpired from his expression, however, as he promptly replied: -You bet. –
Calleigh's saucy grin, however, made him wonder if maybe he had waited a fraction of second too much before answering, or if maybe his face had indeed given his thoughts away.
She suspects, Caine.
*
And so they caught her. She was in a confused state when they entered the small apartment in downtown Miami and did not put up a struggle against the officer that cuffed her. After some questioning she finally confessed, then experienced a strong panic attack. Case closed.
-See? I told ya Mrs. Price didn't kill her husband. -, Flavia commented casually while walking to the parking lot along with her colleagues.
-Yes, you did, but in future, focus on the evidence more. -, her brother gently admonished her.
-Hey, evidence is okay for putting bad guys in jail, guts help you staying alive. That woman could have killed everyone in this building, but she didn't. That should count for something, right?-, the girl replied, shrugging.
-You're telling us everyone here was in danger? And you did nothing?-, Eric asked, bewildered.
-And what, pray tell, could I have done? I couldn't exactly guard her night and day, right? I made sure there was always an officer outside her cell, with a gun loaded with silver bullets, but if she really wanted to escape, she would have. End of the story. -, Flavia bit back, affronted.
-That's crazy. If she was dangerous, she shouldn't have stayed here. -, Eric kept saying. Flavia shook her head. –And where would we have put her? Vampires are dangerous, let's face it. We're in danger every single time we have to deal with them. It's risky, but we have to, right?-
-You should have warned us. -, Eric accused her, never losing his cool.
-What for? Worried C.S.I.s are bad C.S.I.s. -, Flavia replied. The team had reached the parking lot and everyone had stopped, for they wanted to see how the discussion was going to end. Horatio was ready to intervene should the need arise.
-You're not the judge of that. -, Eric bit back.
-Listen, I didn't want you to worry about that. After all, it's my job to take care of vampires and werewolves, I just wanted to lessen your burden. -, Flavia tried reasoning with him, but his mind was firmly set. He was as prejudiced against supernatural creatures as Frank was.
-Well, you've cut yourself some slack, don't you think? You leave the dirty job to some unknown officer and go play Buffy the Vampire Slayer somewhere else, right?-, now Eric's voice had raised noticeably. Horatio felt compelled to take a step towards the younger man, willing him to lower his tone. –Eric. -, he said warningly.
Eric turned towards the redheaded man, his eyes widening as if he had just realized he was present and had witnessed the whole exchange. That only seemed to fuel his anger.
-You have no right to protect her just because she's your precious little sister, Horatio. She didn't follow the procedure, endangered the whole building and provoked a road accident. And she doesn't even seem remotely guilty!-
The sound of Flavia's hand connecting with Eric's cheek resounded in the garage; Calleigh and Tim both held their breath, fearing an outburst on both parts.
-First of all, you have a problem with me, you talk with me, I'm no kid. Second, if you haven't already realized it, I saved your sorry ass this morning, the vampire tried to hypnotize you and almost succeeded because you forgot vampire standard procedure. -, Flavia started, eyes burning with fire. She was wild with rage.
-We weren't sure she was a vampire. -, Eric weakly protested. Flavia's glare could have incinerated him.
-You're not sure there's a fingerprint on a gun, you handle it barehanded, right?-, she bit back viciously. –Listen, and listen carefully, for I'll repeat it just this time: vampires are dangerous, because they're stronger, faster, tougher than you and often have special abilities. Some of them are completely crazy, especially the older ones and the newborns, others are normal people just like you and me, with feelings, emotions, do you understand me? Do you?-
Everyone felt compelled to nod, for she looked every and each of them square in the eyes, fire burning in her blue pools.
-Good. When I say a vampire is not a real threat, you believe me, and if I make a mistake rest reassured I'll get killed while trying to remedy. I'd better choose wisely, wouldn't you say?-, she finished, holding Eric's gaze for a long time.
-Come, Eric. I think Flavia is quite finished. -, Speed murmured, taking his colleague for the arm and dragging him towards his car.
Flavia turned to Calleigh and Horatio. –So, who's gonna give me a lift?-, she asked, faking a cheerfulness she didn't feel, a cheerfulness denied by her voice cracking with a suppressed sob. Horatio and Calleigh exchanged a worried look, before the blonde finally answered. –Come with me, I'll take you to my place. I'm gonna give you a taste of real Cajun food. Horatio, if you want to follow us…-
Horatio was grateful for Calleigh taking the lead, he was not very good when it came to personal relationships. Not his, and surely not hers. He was so worried for his little sister that he didn't have time to speculate about going to Calleigh's place, where he had never been before…
***CONTINUES***
Currently I'm in a "I hate Eric Delko" mood… have you noticed? grins….
So, what's gonna happen at Calleigh's? Fluffiness alert next chapter! R&R