Slightly Condoned

Disclaimer: Don't own anything…

Rating: R  

Pairing: Eric/OC, Speed/Calleigh

Summary: Calleigh finally gets time to herself when Eric and Elisabeth go over to Leo Hunter's residence again, only to have him be cooperative and not in their favor.

Spoiler: Tinder Box, Body Count

A/N: A little birdie told me I need to freshen up the case, and that's exactly what I did in this chapter, of course I had to add a little of my own spice to it.

Dedication: To Katie and Jacqueline, without our late night talks and your advice I wouldn't be able to write half of this stuff. A thanks is in grave order!

***

Part 25- Half-hearted Intentions

Shortly after existing his boss's office, Speed received an urgent call from Delko.

" Hey man, where're you?" Eric voiced his concern, unable to withstand the curiosity inside him as well as Calleigh, or even Elisabeth.

Tim didn't give himself a chance to wonder about Delko's sudden interest in his whether-abouts, as he quickly replied, " The Lab, going over the repacked evidence on the Breedge case, you?" He asked lamely, just for the sake of small talk.

Obviously, Eric wasn't going to divulge any interesting information over the phone. He wasn't the type to kiss & tell so casually, especially when he had just rammed headfirst into a relationship, or whatever the hell it was, that tied him to Elisabeth.

Hadn't Calleigh interpreted it as a 'fuck fest'?

Tim cleared his mind mentally of any images that that phrase induced as he attempted to his best friend his full attention.

Eric continued as if Speed had never took his interest away from the conversation as he tried to convey his emotions to Tim,

" Man, you don't even wanna go there." Eric smirked, and Speed let out a small chuckle. Obviously anyone could detect by the cryptic communication between them, that they both knew what the other was wondering, and questioning internally.

" Don't I?" Speed countered, then added, " You did."

" True, but that's a different situation." Eric continued, a smile forming on his lips, as he watched Elisabeth work the electronic notebook on the table.

" Is it?" Tim trailed on as if he was oblivious to Delko's situation, and wanted to wheedle an answer out of the other man.

It was something Speed seemed to be doing a lot of lately. 

" Yeah, but I'll let you in on that later." Eric teased.

" Oh, Delko you wound me, however will I be able to sleep at night knowing you've got a secret your not sharing?" Tim progressed into the layout room, encountering one of the Lab Techs working the flawed videotapes.

He shared a silent greeting with the other man before returning to his conversation, or more like the verbal tug-o-war Eric and him were famous for playing.

Eric let out a full-blown laugh, attracting the attention of the lawyer situated beside him, he nodded to her knowingly, and Elisabeth rolled her eyes, casting her attention back at the computer.

" Get together to discuss that later." Delko said warningly, and then added, " Besides, I need you to do something else for me…for Liz." His voice took on a different octave of seriousness, implying that whatever his task for Tim would be, it'd be crucial to most likely the case.

" Oh well, for Liz, I might just consider." Speed smirked, and then took a seat beside the tech.

" Did you happen to save that document that had all the notes on the Gale case? Including the theory Liz came up with?" Delko asked.

" Uh, yea, why?"

" Kinda need to share it with the rest of the class, email it to me when you get the chance kay?"

" No problem, listen I gotta go, sorry to bail but I'll need to square everything away here, before I can come back to you."

" Take your time, your girlfriend skipped out too." Delko blurted out and Tim wasn't sure how to accept this new information.

" How so?"

Delko looked down, and saw Elisabeth giving him a disapproving glare, telling him that he was going down the wrong path with the conversation.

This however, wouldn't be able to help Eric now.

The cat was, so ironically, out of the hat.

" Yeah, but I'm sure it's nothing, needed to clear her head, running an errand for Liz, went to pick up some office supplies."

"At Mia's?" Tim asked, but he already knew and Eric realized he'd dug himself into a deeper hole then he bargained for.

" Is that a problem?"

" Ha, ha, don't patronize me, you know as well as I do, that that bitch hates me." Speed shook his head; suddenly unaware that he wasn't alone in the room and that most importantly Delko wouldn't be able to see his facial expression.

" Feeling's mutual buddy." Eric detected and Tim agreed, " Just a little unnerving, Calleigh at Mia's, our relationship on the rocks, lord knows what they're talking about."

" Trust me Speed, no wait, trust Calleigh, I don't think she's easily manipulated." Delko advised, but Speed sighed heavily, " Unless there's a college boy involved."

" Oh-kay, we're not discussing this here and now, my suggestion get over it."

" And my suggestion is don't sit by the computer, I'm gonna be a little busy, later."

And Delko didn't have a chance to say good-bye before Tim hung up.

***

Exactly an hour after Calleigh first raised her voice at Mia, she left the offices of Dayton & Kaytlin with a genuine smile on her face.

Two cups of semi bitter coffee and a commiserating discussion of passed relationships gone sour (no mention of Horatio whatsoever), Calleigh excused herself into Elisabeth's office and arranged a box of assorted supplies, not even glancing at the makeshift list in her possession.

After ward, she ended up with a box full with half her weight, and was tempted to take Mia up on her offer for a lift.

Even though both knew Eric's apartment wasn't on the way to the café that the lawyer made an appointment at for a business lunch. There was an awkward pause in their meeting, through the time between Calleigh's assembly for Elisabeth and her departure.

Mia had resumed her work, keeping a sharp eye out for when her friend would emerge out of the slightly smaller office while Calleigh lamented their good bye.

It seemed as if, and 'I'll see you soon', wasn't appropriate enough to end such an intense heart to heart, and yet that's exactly how they concluded it.

When Calleigh stepped out into the street, renewed with a slight sense of sorrow and yet self-completion, knowing that someone out there understood, comprehended and even sympathized her situation without implying any solution.

Well most of the time.

Today did not seem to be an example of Mia's higher moments even when the emotional angle never diminished in their conversation. The older woman tugged at a certain part of Calleigh's heart ever since Janet was killed.

Their bond formulated on similar pain and then extinguished further alliance from any one else.

Promises were made silently to help each other cope, and somehow, Calleigh managed to allow Tim to slip through the cracks of their agreement and weaken the one strong friendship she had going.

All Calleigh could think as she patted down the similar walkway was, " It never used to be like this."

Her blatant thoughts were interrupted by the ring of her cell phone, carrying the load for Elisabeth forced Calleigh to dump the box on the nearest bench, then fish the electronic gadget out of her pocket.

" Duquesne."

" Hey Duquesne."

" Eric stop it, you know this is how I usually answer." Calleigh rolled her eyes at her friend's teasing tone, and sat down right beside her container.

" Yeah, yeah." He took a moment to regroup, and allow the seriousness of the call kick in.

" Listen, Liz and I, we're gonna go see the ex-boy friend again, there're a few glitches in his story, and I'm suspicious."

Calleigh was about to answer when she heard in the background Elisabeth's voice accuse, " Hey, it was *my* idea!"

The blonde laughed slightly and added, " Thanks for letting me know, I'll be over at your place as soon as possible, I assume Tim sent you the report?" Calleigh guessed.

" Yeah, he did, and take your time I'll let the security guard know you'll be coming in."

" Eric, he knows me by name." Calleigh reminded him, having spent endless nights at his place anyway.

" True, well then you're all set I'm sure we'll be able to sum up an arrest warrant for Hunter."

" That'd be good, but you need to take him in for questioning first or he could charge you with misconduct." Calleigh cautioned, knowing full well from first hand experience how dreadful it felt to have a suspect get off on a technicality or worse, a wrong judgment call.

" Cal, I know, don't worry."

" It's my job." The blonde countered, and then hung up.

***


Situated behind the wheel of her Jetta again, Elisabeth turned to Eric and said, " I gotta get home first."

Then started the cabriolet, hoping and praying they wouldn't get stuck in traffic.

They had neither the resources nor the time to spare when it came to their suspect's personal life. Who knew where he could be right now.

Half way to Peru.

Despite her lack of optimism with the case, she still seemed to put a smile on her face as they maneuvered through the inconspicuous streets of the beachfront city.

" Why?" Delko asked, in reference to her earlier question.

" Hello, I can't go to some suspect's house dressed like a whore, when I need to be intimidating." Elisabeth informed him and Eric retaliated by slipping his hand on her smooth knee and adding huskily,

" I happen to think you're intimidating as it is."

Elisabeth glanced at him from the corner of her eye with a mock surprising grin, " Oh, baby, that's what every woman wants to hear, how did you know?" she reached up with one hand and pinched his cheek.

" Lucky guess." Eric smiled, and then reached up and kissed the hand that just caressed him.

The mood in the car significantly changed, and Elisabeth's grin disappeared, replaced by a look Eric could only identify with but never quite pinpoint the genesis of.

" You're a lucky guy." Elisabeth supplied, although she remained straight-faced.

Eric didn't reply, well not out loud anyway, " Why do I feel like my luck's about to run out…"

***

It was 12:30 and he had scheduled his last client an hour later.

He suited up, and grabbed his gym bag, about to transport it to the gray pickup in his makeshift driveway, of his makeshift dwelling when he saw two vaguely familiar figures come closer into view.

When Delko spotted Hunter loading his truck, he grabbed Elisabeth's hand and they hurriedly jay walked across the street to the dwelling of the personal trainer.

He looked a little pensive and even a tint of fright crossed his blues when Delko made eye contact with him.

Elisabeth rushed over beside him and whispered in his ear, " You think he might be trying to flee?" the enthusiasm in her voice made Eric smile wider.

" You don't get out much do you?" He hadn't suspected this from Hunter, but if he were attempting to leave than that would only strengthen their argument that he was hiding something.

" Hey, I'm a lawyer." She hissed back but Eric had no time for a rebuttal because the blonde stomped to them with almost fury in his eyes.

" What the hell are you doing back here?" Leo exclaimed, not keen on repeating the episode from yesterday.

" So you remember us, introductions aside, we're here because we would like to run something by you." Eric stretched the truth with the most plausible elastic and seeing the contempt written all over the other man's forehead Elisabeth stepped in.

" Mr. Hunter, what Dt. Delko is trying to say is that after reviewing the file on Ms. Gale's case I have come up with a theory we'd like you to read over and let us know it could be possible for it to have played out this way."

Her voice was gentle, not demanding, and perhaps a little friendly.

Both men seemed to be entranced by it, and this was probably what caused Elisabeth's triumph.

" We don't want to step on your property, or search your house or ask you any questions that you may not be comfortable with, so if you do comply do you mind following us to the Crime Lab?" she added, and got a raised look from Delko.

He hadn't thought of this before, and was pleasantly surprised that whilst his brain wasn't working, Elisabeth's wheels were turning incessantly.

It aroused him to no end, to know that she wasn't just beautiful but smart and shrewd as hell, and yet for some reason in his mind caution remained, because knowing his luck with women, she wouldn't stick.

She'd find someone, or something better and leave without a proper good bye, who knew what was swarming in her head right now.

Probably not thoughts of ever lasting companionship like Eric was speculating, and for a second he laughed ironically at his fresh sense of romance, and the craving for it.

Eric had returned back to life when Leo spoke after long moments of speculation.

" Alright, let me just cancel my appointments for the rest of the day." Then went inside.

Elisabeth turned to Eric with a gleeful look in her hazel eyes.

" We got him."

" Almost." Eric countered and waited for Hunter to rejoin them.

***

Tim was more than surprised to encounter his best friend on his way out of the break room, and not alone.

" Hey, what'd ya doing here?" Speed called after Delko's retrieving form.

" I could ask you the same thing, just talked to Gary, the lab guy, he said you came in about half an hour ago, you left earlier than that." Eric couldn't help but strengthen his interrogating skills by questioning his friend's whether-abouts.

Speedle didn't seem to mind although it looked as if he was deadpanned, as he answered, " Traffic, went home to change, you know the drill."

There was not even a hint of sheepishness in his voice, and that surprised both men, Tim couldn't help feeling strangely proud, but at the same time invisibly guilty for lying.

All he could hope for now is redemption from his friends when they found out the truth.

" Ummm okay." Eric agreed though he didn't look convinced, instead Speed added, " So what *are* you doing here?"

" Oh uh we just brought in the ex boy friend for questioning, you wanna come join in the festivities?" Eric half joked but Tim caught on very quickly, seeing as though they'd been planning this verbal game an awful lot lately.

" Depends on what the party favors are." Speed walked up to Delko as he smirked with a toothy smile, " Possibly an arrest warrant, maybe a confession. You game?"

Speed pretended to ponder the question and after a moment of pensiveness nodded, " Don't mind if I do."

***

His surroundings reminded him of a steel cage with a few assorted windows just for the hell of it.

The wide black screen he was seated opposite of, was probably a shaded window, or as he could remember accurately from the cop shows that seldom held his interest for more than five minutes at a time.

Trying to rid himself of thoughts about the awkwardness of the situation he placed himself in, Leo Hunter watched as the Detective, with whom he'd met twice in the last 24 hours, accompanied by a slightly shorter man with a straight faced look enter the 'conference' room.

The lawyer who was seated across from him at the time, flipping through a thin folder in front of her, greeted the two men professionally, although even with his limited skill and knowledge Hunter could tell that she was surprised to see the, yet to be introduced, man supervise her friend.

" Mr. Hunter, this is Tim Speedle, a colleague, he is also a part of the investigation so he'll be joining us." Delko introduced and Hunter nodded at Speed, who walked off to the side.

His usual place in the event that he had to overview a questioning.

Leo didn't give him a second glance as Eric's words registered in his mind.

" Investigation? What investigation, man you folks outta let it go. Amber died, we've buried her, must you reopen old wounds?" The personal trainer voiced his concern very bluntly, and no one seemed to mind, as long as he was telling the truth.

" Not even if we can find out who killed her?" Elisabeth was strangely curious as to why this man suddenly wanted nothing to do with this. He'd been cooperative, sure, but wouldn't he like to know who killed his girlfriend?

If she were in his shoes, she wouldn't mind this extra bit of knowledge.

" How credible are your sources Ms. Kaytlin?" Leo wondered.

" That's really none of your concern." Eric pointed out as politely as possible.

" Actually I'll be the judge of that, you brought me in here to interrogate me didn't you?" it suddenly dawned to Leo, although he didn't want to believe that the same people who helped obtain justice for victims could lead him on so.

Eric and Elisabeth exchanged long worried glances, neither sure what to say.

But it was Speedle who inadvertently broke the ice, " Mr. Hunter, it's our job to rule out any one, and mind you but my skills as a police officer tell me your less than candid with us. So we were bound by the law and our own consciences to bring you in."

Tim stepped forward, very well aware that for the three other people in the room, especially Eric, he was acting slightly out of character.

Partially, he was doing so, consciously, because he was that tired of the two-day case that he couldn't think he could muster an unfound result.

So if this guy was hiding something, Speed hoped to God he'd tell them soon.

" Mr. Speedle, are you implying that I poisoned my girlfriend?" Leo asked defensively and Tim took a moment to ponder on his question.

" No, not really, because there would be a lot of missing gaps in that theory, however, the thesis that my colleague has thought up has it's own disadvantages, though not as much, so please read it over and let us know if you suspect the same occurred." Speed turned the file around so it faced the man in question then slid it to him.

Leo looked hesitantly at the dark brown folder, and then reached up to open it, but clenched his fist, still deciding if he should walk into this trap…and he was dead set on the fact that it was one.

Elisabeth gave Tim a trivial glance and then looked at Leo, " It would benefit you Mr. Hunter. Help you clear your name." She did so while she nudged the file deeper to his end of the table and the personal trainer pensively opened it.

A few silent moments settled the stifling mood in the room, while the three investigators continued to watch as Hunter skimmed over the file neatly prepared by the ADA.

Another five minutes flashed by and Leo looked up with an amused expression on his face.

He slipped the document back into the folder and then elicited a straight-faced chuckle.

Eric and Tim exchanged tranquil, skeptic looks as he did so because each investigator chalked it up to being nervous, which meant that some part of the memo had to be truth.

Elisabeth's attention remained fixated on the man in front of her, she too had great suspicions in his behavior and thought for a moment that perhaps her own theory had some credibility in it, but then quickly erased that possibility.

Reminding herself once more that this was only being used as ploy to get him to either confess or divulge any information to fill in the gaps of the implausible case.

" You, you actually think that Amber somehow magically knew to seek out Council Woman Escalante just in time to take her last breath and accuse her of something Council Woman had no way of doing?" The man asked incredulously, not wanting to piss of any cops but at the same time hesitant to believe this theory.

" So, you're going to ignore the other evidence. The fact that her brother died because of the bill that was revoked about three weeks after ward. A bill that caused another three men to die. You don't think that's enough motive?" Elisabeth questioned forcefully.

Leo looked her straight in the eye, as he said, "No No I don't."

Elisabeth knotted her eyebrows in response, about to voice her evident disappointment with not being concurred, but before she could even formulate a reply Tim cut in again.

" So what do *you* think happened to your ex girlfriend Mr. Hunter?"

Leo looked surprised at being asked this question and Eric once again sent Tim a questionable look.

" I, I, I don't know there are a lot of possibilities you know. She could've seen the Council Woman dining at Mono as she was taking a walk and decided to have a little confrontation." It was evident to everyone else in the room that either Leo Hunter was an awesome actor or he was just as clueless.

Shaking his head visibly Tim contained his frustration long enough to reply, " But she was poisoned Mr. Hunter, do you have any idea who could've done it, any one who had a grudge against Amber?"

Leo once again looked deadpanned but took a moment to recover as he supplied, " I really don't know. Amber and I, we weren't in a long term relationship, I don't even know why you guys are referring to her as my girlfriend, a couple of nights spent together is not considered a relationship in my book."

" Phone records would beg to differ." Eric cut in, and for the first time since the conversation began Leo met his gaze again.

" I spoke with her on the phone yes, this still has no relevance to the case Dt. Delko."

" Oh but it does." Delko retaliated and then leaned lower.

" You were the last person to see Ms. Gale alive, before her snake poisoning and that puts you in a compromising position."

" Are you accusing me again Mr. Delko?" Hunter folded his arms over his chest defensively.

" Oh of course not." Eric forced a smile, " Just a friendly reminder."

" Thank you, but I'd like to be going if there are no more questions."

" We'll keep in touch, and please, don't leave town." Delko exchanged parting words and left the room, secure in knowing that his friends would take care of the rest.

Eric didn't know whether it was his stress factor or the rest of the events in his life that proved his patience to be short lived, but he wasn't about to get into shit with any one for getting physical with a suspect.

And as he felt the oncoming symptoms of a headache surface in his skull, Delko knew he was dangerously close to self-combusting…

TBC…