Disclaimer: This is solely for the enjoyment of the readership. There is no intent to infringe on characters owned by CBS.
Rating: PG
Sharpshooter – 7
Calleigh's alarm rang at the usual 5:30 a.m. She groaned and reached for its snooze button. Just a few more moments of sleep... Foxy stood up on the bed, stretched and yawned, then curled back up for a catnap of her own. Again the alarm prodded Calleigh. She slipped out from under the blanket and staggered toward the toothbrush and shower. By six, she had pulled her hair back into a ponytail and was looking through her closet. Foxy remained asleep on the bed. Calleigh selected her white suit and tan top to wear. Confidently, she put the empty holster back on her belt next to her Miami-Dade PD badge. This would be over soon, and she'd be back at work where she belonged, that is after she ran by Jackson to tell Horatio that all was back to normal.
The Shooting Review Board consisted of the Deputy Chief of Police, the Operations Battalion Commander, Horatio's boss, and representatives from both the Mayor's office and country administration. After riots, it was decided to put some civilians on the board to provide yet another safe guard for the public.
She sat outside the conference room bolt upright, waiting her turn to tell what had happened. Alexx had gone first. Eric had just presented his testimony on the bullets that had been recovered. Tim was in telling the members about the scene and more analysis. Calleigh was to follow Tim. She was hoping things would be wrapped up by lunchtime so she could eat at the hospital with Horatio and then get back to work. She began to tap her fingers on the file folder in her lap when Tim came out. He gave her a little hug for luck just as Alexx and Eric had done in sequence before this. Calleigh heard her name called.
She rose and headed into the large, paneled room. The high ceilings gave the room an even more impressive tone. The seating was arranged in such a way as to make the whole proceedings feel adversarial rather than investigative. Calleigh had been involved in an officer shooting in New Orleans in which she had killed a man. The perp had been involved in five rapes in the city in the period of two weeks. He had charged her with a knife. As it turned out, that was the same knife he'd used to "decorate" his victims. In fact, she was cited for valor. She was exonerated during the process. It was a justified shooting. Calleigh had not been through one here in Miami. This was quite a different scene, and now she began to feel apprehensive for the first time. Horatio had been through boards before, and she wished he were here now.
She was sworn in and seated across from the Mayor's representative. Mrs. Judson just glowered at Calleigh. That made Calleigh feel even more uncomfortable. She wondered if it was supposed to be that way. Did they put one person up to it? Was this a head game or the real thing? She could not be sure.
The Deputy began, "Detective, can you tell us in your own words what occurred last Thursday at approximately ten in the morning?"
"Certainly sir," she began. "Lieutenant Caine, my supervisor and I were scheduled for rifle quals out on the range. We picked up the required gear and drove toward the range at Homestead Air Force Base. We turned off Dixie Highway onto 134th Street and were going through a rundown neighborhood when we heard a shooting in progress. The Lieutenant placed the call for back-up, gave them the standard warning, and they began to fire on him."
"Go on," Mrs. Judson sounded demanding.
"I saw upwards of a dozen heavily armed men exchanging fire with one another. I think we had stumbled on either an armed robbery, gang shoot out, or a drug deal gone bad."
"I live down there. It's a nice neighborhood. Why would you say that," now Mrs. Judson was even more demanding.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I truly am. I referred to it as rundown because of all the graffiti and out of work men loitering on the corners," Calleigh offered.
"Continue, Detective," commanded the Deputy Chief.
"I feared for both my partner's life and my life. So I took out the rifles and loaded them. I felt it was our only option given the machine gun fire that we drew," Calleigh started again.
"And she was absolutely correct in her assessment, too," a raspy voice spoke up from the back of the room.
Horatio, left arm in a sling, stood at the open doors. He walked slowly forward and sat down next to Calleigh at the table. She could hear his labored breathing. Calleigh was sure that he was not here under doctor's supervision. What she had not figured out was how he managed it.
"If you are going to grill my partner, then you grill me at the same time," he said with an air of authority.
"Only correction I'd offer is that there were a dozen and half of them. There was another group in the store front," Horatio continued. "Detective Duquesne acted within her scope of duty."
"Then explain how seven citizens, my constituents, are in the morgue?" demanded Mrs. Judson.
"They fired on us, ma'am. Detective Duquesne was simply protecting herself and me. By the time she took the first shot at them, I was already on the ground. Her actions saved my life then and later when she applied first aid," he continued. He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. "Here is an affidavit from the surgeon and emergency room physician stating such."
Calleigh was in awe.
"So you are saying that this was a justified shooting?" Mrs. Judson wanted to know.
"In my best judgment, yes, it was. There were no alternatives. Either we got involved or the shooters would have slaughtered civilian bystanders. There were at least eight women and children out on the street when it went down," Horatio narrated.
Horatio went on the offensive, "May I ask if any bystanders were injured as a result of Detective Duquesne's actions? No, there were only men with guns who ended up in the morgue. And that was only because they continued to fire on us."
"I stopped firing the moment they surrendered their weapons," Calleigh picked up the story.
"Why did you shoot off their faces?" Mrs. Judson demanded. "I call that criminal!"
"They were wearing body armor, and I was firing standard training rounds not sniper ammunition. The last thing I had on my mind that morning was taking someone's life. Now I'm reminded every day that I killed four men. That's the part of this job that is absolutely the worst," Calleigh came back. "But they left me no choice."
Her statement rang through the room…"they left me no choice."
The Deputy dismissed them but not before counseling Horatio not to ever break in on another inquiry. He'd announce their findings by tomorrow. Calleigh and Horatio just looked at one another. It was over almost as quickly as it had begun.
On the way out, Horatio indicated, "I'd say things are going to go your way. Your last comment pretty well summed up the whole incident. Well done, Calleigh, well done."
They headed down the corridor for the elevator, and ultimately toward the door.
"Why thank you, sir," she began, "Now you want to tell me how you got here. I have your wallet, remember. And I distinctly remember that you also had no clothes at the hospital either. Does Dr. Garza know you're here?"
"Nope, only you and Alexx," he said as he took her hand gently. "When I heard who was going to sit on the board, I knew I had to get here come hell or high water. I was not about to let that woman hang you out to dry."
Alexx came around the corner out of the shadows near the elevator and spoke to Horatio, "Honey, we've got to get you back to the hospital before they come looking for you and then for me."
The elevator was empty when the three got on.
Calleigh just looked at the two conspirators with deep affection, "You two are the best friends a body would want for!"
Alexx turned aside as Horatio took Calleigh into his arms, "I hope I am more than just a friend," as he kissed her with all the desire a sick man could muster.
