**Before starting chapter seven, I think I should mention that Hallandale Apartments and ECOS inc. are both real places in Florida, but all the characters that I place there are totally fictional, whether they're the CSIs or the minor characters. Another thing is, I have absolutely no idea how late or how long people work at ECOS inc., but it was just a random company that I chose for the story. So, all that fun stuff aside, enjoy chapter seven!**

Chapter Seven: Check it Out

Horatio and Robin pulled up to a towering, white apartment building. The colored lights of nearby police cars alternately flickered, staining the walls with flashes of blue and red. The curious murmur of the gathering crowd followed the pair as they stepped inside the still-open main door.

After a hasty tread up a few flights of stairs, they reached the crime scene--room 68. Horatio was the first to step inside, checking out the surroundings. Noticing that Alexx was crouched near the body, he approached her.

"Oh, Horatio, glad you're here," she said as she looked up at him. "Meet Jennifer Lewis…poor thing was found face-down on the sofa."

She had dark brown, nearly black hair, and was dressed only in an oversized t-shirt--most likely belonging to her boyfriend.

Speed stepped in from the bedroom. His voice was tired, "Hey. Horatio, you might wanna have a chat with Jason Burgh. He's in the other room."

"The boyfriend?" he asked, standing.

Speed nodded, "Yeah."

As Horatio stepped into the bedroom, Speed went up to Robin, "How's it goin? The case, I mean."

"You tell me," she said, looking down at Jennifer, then back at Speed. "Actually, I think we've got a possible motive. You know the heart-shaped cuts? Well, there's a good likelihood that he's using it as some sort of label…and maybe whatever part of the person he puts makeup on is the part that he likes the most."

Speed shook his head, "God, how disgusting is that…"

"Never see the same thing twice," she said quietly, trying to lift his spirits a little.

He walked back to Alexx, "So, what've ya got?"

"After noticing signs of rigor mortis, I processed an abdominal stab to get more details--liver temperature showed to be 91.8 degrees. So if her body temperature was normal, then the time of death would be roughly about…eleven o'clock," Alexx said, realizing that the time was remaining consistent.

"Alright, so we definitely need to pay attention to this. Find a connection or something," Robin thought out loud, excusing herself to go talk with Horatio.

She stepped through the modern-styled kitchen, then into an open lounge room. Once there, Robin tapped lightly on the closed bedroom door.

She looked at the man sitting beside Horatio--his face was like stone, shocked at such an unexpected event. The suit he was wearing was no longer tidy, and his appearance now eerie and unpleasant.

Robin spoke quietly, "Horatio, could I see you for a second?"

He nodded to Burgh, "Excuse me, I'll be right back."

Horatio stepped out, closing the door behind him, "Yeah? What do you need?"

"Um, Alexx just processed Miss Lewis's time of death…it was eleven o'clock."

"Okay, so that means we've got to start keeping a lookout around that time…and we're going to need some help. I want you to go talk to Mr. Speedle over there and tell him to give Calleigh Duquesne a call. This case is gunna need all the support we can get," Horatio instructed.

"Sure…What's the scoop on Jason Burgh?"

"Says he was at work the entire time. Didn't know anything had happened until he got home…you can't hear a silenced gunshot," Horatio started. "We just need to get an alibi, y'know--check with a few co-workers who also stayed late, see if he was actually there."

Robin nodded, "I'll go and check it out."

Horatio was about to step back inside, when Robin momentarily stopped him, "Oh, wait a sec'. I wanted to tell you something real quick…about earlier today. I just…"

Horatio interrupted her with a light smile, "Let's get this case over with first…don't worry about it."

Robin returned the smile, looking over her shoulder as she backtracked, "Thanks, Horatio…"

She went back into the room where Alexx and Speed were still closely examining the body, addressing him, "Speed, Horatio said for you to call a…Calleigh Duquesne? Says we should start posting people on a sort of lookout, and that we needed more help."

He pulled out a cell phone from his pocket, "No prob."

"Great, I've gotta go check out Mr. Burgh's alibi--see if its feasible or not."

Robin chuckled when noticing Speed, with the cell phone pressed against his ear, mouthing 'have fun!' as she stepped out.

* * * * *

ECOS inc., Boca Raton, FL

After almost an hour drive from Miami, Robin reached Jason Burgh's workplace. Stretching her arms above her head, she approached the entrance. She went up a few floors, searching for Burgh's office.

"Excuse me…Brian Schul?" Robin asked a man sitting in front of a computer.

"Yes Miss? Can I help you with something?" he asked politely as he looked up at her.

"My name is Robin Elde--I'm investigating a murder case and I'll need to ask you a few questions," she introduced, pulling out a small pad of paper.

His eyes widened, losing the calm feeling from just seconds before. Schul stood up, his height slightly taller than Robin, "A murder? What are you talking about? Who was it?"

"I need to know if Jason Burgh was in his office around eleven o'clock tonight," Robin said.

"Jason Burgh…oh yeah, he was here. Did he have something to do with it?" Schul asked obviously.

"I'm sorry, I can't reveal any other information. Was there anyone else in the office to verify that he was still here at that time?"

"Sure, you can ask Kim Chow. She went into his office a few times tonight."

Robin smiled, "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Schul."

* * * * *

Back at the crime scene (Hallandale Apartments)

"Hey guys, heard you needed my help," Calleigh Duquesne said casually as she strode into the brightly lit apartment.

"Calleigh, hi," Speed said, going up to her. "So, you caught up on the details yet?"

"Speed, you underestimate me!" she said with her sweet southern accent. Calleigh then looked around, "So, where's Horatio?"

"H? He's waiting for Robin to come back with the details on Burgh's alibi."

"Robin?" Calleigh's face was inquisitive.

Speed chuckled, "Guess you missed one of the major details. Robin's one of Horatio's 'old friends'. She's helping out on the case."

Horatio then walked through the kitchen and into the main room, "Good, Calleigh, you made it…alright, you guys ready to head back to the lab and start on that evidence?"

"Yeah. What about Robin?" Speed asked.

He stood with his hands resting on his hips, "Just called. Alibi checks out, so once again, we're left with close to nothing."

Calleigh commented, "Guess we really gotta get crackin'."

**There ya go! I know it was just a short spot right now, but Calleigh's finally in the story! I already started the next chapter, and it pretty much just includes Speed and Calleigh. I think they'd make a cute couple too, so I'm making them a little more flirtatious. Chapter eight will be up shortly!**