8. THIS IS WRONG.
Speedle and Alexx passed the visitor's centre and headed north straight away. The road was muddy due to the high water, but the Hummer didn't have any trouble with the path.
Shortly after, they reached the parking lot belonging to the camp site. Speed parked the car and they both reached for their kits before jumping out.
"Grab a blanket," Alexx ordered. "Let's hope we need it."
Searching the muddy path for any leads, they walked up to the camp site. Soon, the first cabins came into view, some to the right and some to the left.
It was as if nothing but their trudging through the wet grass and paths disturbed the silence.
Alexx was just about to ask something, when Speed raised his hand. "Shh."
They both stopped for a while, and listened. "Somebody is crying?" Alexx asked in surprise.
"That way." Speed didn't waste any time and led the way in the direction of the sound they heard.
It led them straight to another cabin. On the veranda sat a young man, with his knees drawn up and his head buried in his arms. He appeared unaware of the approach of the two CSI investigators.
"Hello," Alexx started gently, trying not to scare the man off.
Lifting his head, the young man looked up, startled by the greeting. His eyes widened. "This is all wrong," he muttered.
Speed frowned and stepped forward. "You're Ned Sante, aren't you?" His voice was sharp, the fear for the welfare of his boss overwhelming him. The urge to jump on the student and shake him was almost too much to control.
"Speed..." Alexx's soft voice withheld him from doing anything stupid.
"He was right..." Ned stammered. "It is wrong."
Alexx stepped forward and sat down next to the younger man, and put a comforting hand around his shoulders. "What's wrong, honey? You're not making any sense."
"He controls us..." Ned's eyes were wide, confused and held a lot of anguish. "God, I hate myself."
"Ned," Alexx said, keeping her voice soft and gentle. "We're here 'cause we are looking for Lieutenant Caine. He is missing and we are very worried about him. Do you know where he is?"
"No right..." Ned said only. "He had no right. He was right."
"Who was right?" Alexx asked, sending a silent warning to Speed to keep quiet.
"The Lieutenant was. He said that the Professor was still controlling us."
"Okay... When have you seen Lieutenant Caine last, Ned? It is very important that we find him. We are most concerned about his welfare."
Ned nervously looked over his shoulder, his eyes wild. "I think he's dead... Oh God what have we done?"
"Where is he?" Speed couldn't control his emotions any longer. He then strode past the two sitting on the veranda and, after finding the door open, burst inside.
Alexx rolled her eyes, then turned her attention back to the student. "Honey, can you take us to him? Please?"
As if in shock, the student got up. His eyes seemed to be staring into nothing. Slowly, he started walking, turning left around the cabin.
Throwing one look over her shoulder to see what Speed was up to, Alexx followed the kid.
They'd barely reached the back of the cabin when Speed caught up with them. He was literally radiating anger and rage, as he silently showed Alexx what he'd found.
Horatio's favorite blue shirt and the jacket of his suit.
Alexx winced. Throwing one good look at her partner she realized now was not the time to tell him he shouldn't have picked up the evidence. It was evident that Speed was too worried and too furious to think straight at the moment.
The only thing now that mattered was finding out what had happened to their boss. Dealing with the rest was something that would have to wait until later.
They didn't have to wait for long.
There was a bit of a more open space, and then the trees weren't blocking their view any longer.
Ned simply crashed to his haunches and started rocking, hugging his arms around his chest. He was humming something but the crime scene investigators weren't paying attention.
Speed's eyes widened at the scene in front of him.
Alexx closed her eyes in despair. "Oh, God."
