Here is chapter four as promised. I did warn you it would take a while, but I did manage to get it done. Just don't think you heard the last from me. There will be at least one more story to follow this, more like a sequel.
Chapter Four
Horatio held his position for a few more minutes just to make sure that there was no other threat. He finally relaxed after he heard an airboat leave the area. He carefully got up and took a closer look at Ginny. "Are you okay, Kiddo?" He saw her nod nervously, and then turned his attention to Calliegh. "Cal, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Horatio. It looks like we have another crime scene to process." Calliegh answered him. "Fortunately, I can do a lot more than the last two scenes." She had finished her statement, as soon as the bushes rustled behind them. Horatio, Calliegh, and the officer turned around with their weapons drawn.
Eric Delko and Ryan Wolfe emerged from the brushes with their weapons drawn. The two groups recognized each other, and they simultaneously lowered their guns. Eric spoke for Wolfe and himself. "Is everyone okay?" When the other party said they were okay, Eric continued, "What happened, H? Ryan and I came running when we heard the first gun shot."
Horatio told the two newcomers what had just happened. He then came to a decision. "Mr. Wolfe, please escort Ginny back to my office. Make sure she has things to keep her occupied. Ginny, is there anything that you wish to get?" He asked his niece. She had started to walk toward the athletic built man.
Ginny numbly turned around to face her uncle as she replied to him. "A couple of puzzle books should keep me occupied for a few hours, Uncle Horatio." She watched him nod his head and pull out his wallet. He opened it and retrieved a few bills. He then walked over and handed then to her. As he turned to walk away, she called him back. She started to feel again as she spoke, "Thanks. Uncle Horatio, I love you."
Horatio immediately turned back around and snatched Ginny up into his strong embrace. "I know you do, Squirt, and I love you right back. Now, so you think you can stay out of trouble for the rest of the day for me?" He saw her nod her head in answer to his question. "I should be there in a couple of hours. Just work on your puzzles until I get there, and then we'll call it a night. Okay?" Again, her head nodded in his shoulder. After he gave her one last bear hug, he placed her back on the ground and gave some specific instructions to Ryan. She was not to leave the other man's sight until he showed up. Deep down, Horatio knew that the danger his niece was in was not quite over yet.
An hour and a half later, Ginny was sitting behind her uncle's desk working on her puzzles. She failed to notice Ryan's shocked expression at how fast she had worked them. He sat in a chair facing her, and watched her work her way through one word find, one crossword puzzle, and now she is almost done with her last crossword puzzle book. This was how Horatio found them.
Ryan noticed his boss standing in the doorway, and he motioned he would like a word with him. Once out in the hallway, Ryan spoke, "H, did you know that Ginny was gifted? I mean we bought three puzzle books for her to work on, and in one hour and 15 minutes she finished two of them." He watched his boss smile showing his teeth.
Horatio then walked back into his office and right up to his niece. He stood watching her as she worked on her last puzzle for a moment. "Are you ready, Squirt? We'll stop somewhere and grab some supper." He spoke, making Ginny jump.
"Almost, Uncle Horatio. Give me a few more minutes to finish up this last puzzle, please." Ginny asked him. Horatio nodded his head in answer, and then sat back to watch her finish the puzzle and the book. He was very surprised to see how quickly she worked it.
Five minutes later, Ginny had picked up her uncle's desk and returned it to normal after she had finished her puzzle books. When everything has been put back into order, they headed out to the Hummer and home. On the way, Horatio stopped at a small diner he knew of for dinner. When the meals they ordered arrived, he just sat and watched his niece eat her chicken fried steak. He wanted to see if the incident in the wetlands earlier still had her shook up, and he still couldn't believe her amount of skill with patterns and puzzles. After they finished their meals, they headed back to the house for the night.
Horatio unlocked the front door, making a decision on sleeping arrangements. He gave Ginny a quick tour of the one story, three bedroom and one bath house before showing her to her room. "You can have this room, squirt. Later, you can decorate it any way you want. If for some reason you need me, I'm right across the hall." He pointed to the master bedroom. He also didn't voice his reason for putting her so close to him.
"Thanks, Uncle Horatio. For everything." Ginny gave her uncle a hug. She voiced her deepest fear that sieges her heart at finding her father dead in the kitchen. "I heard horrible things, Uncle Horatio, about Texas Foster Care. I just don't want you to send me there." She squeaked as she held back a sob.
Horatio kneeled down in front of her, and made her look at his face before answering. "Ginny, I want to make one thing absolutely clear. You are my niece, my flesh and blood. You should never have to fear anything with me around. Is that understood?" He watched her nod her head in answer. "Good, now we are both tired and it has been a long day for both of us. I suggest we get some sleep, because I know tomorrow will be just as exciting as today. Over breakfast, I'll tell you what that piece of gum and parking warning led to." Ginny gave him a good night hug and kiss in answer. She collected her things and went into the bedroom for what he hoped would be some rest. Ever since she has been his care, she has been sleeping restlessly. He, himself, however knew that his memories of finding his mother's burnt corpse would resurface, again.
Horatio didn't know what had woken him up. Whatever it was, he was glad it did, as he was just about to find her once more burnt to a crisp. He looked over to the digital clock on the nightstand to find it to be three in the morning. He heard the noise again that woke him up. He grabbed his gun and went across the hall to Ginny's room ready to defend her. He was shocked to find her tossing and turning, fighting an unknown attacker, and all the while softly screaming his name. She all of a sudden shouted at the top of her lungs, "NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! UNCLE HORATIO!"
Horatio watched her start to thrash about violently. He quickly set his weapon down out of her reach, and sat down next to her as she sat straight up in bed. She looked through him and began to attack. Restraining her, he gently shook her and sternly told her, "Ginny, its okay. You're having a nightmare, wake up. It's me, Uncle Horatio." He watched as her eyes slowly focused on him as she woke up. The second she realized what happened, she threw herself at him and hung on tight as she remembered her nightmare.
Ginny didn't notice her uncle's bare torso; all she wanted was someone to comfort her. She didn't even feel him wrap his arms around her shaking body. She started to feel better when he began to rub her back, restoring some feely to her. When she felt she would be fine she pulled away, noticing he had a pair of grey sweat pants and nothing else. Horatio asked if she wanted to talk about it, and she surprised him by telling him yes. "I dreamt that I just came back from my friend's sleep over early in the morning to find my dad the way he was on the kitchen floor. I turned right around and headed for the pay phone a few blocks away. I know there's someone or something chasing me. Right before I get to the phone, a pair of dark hands grabs me and pulls me away from my goal. They began to hurt me, but I just know if I can get to that phone, you will be there to make them stop. I just can't get there, Uncle Horatio. The hands won't let me."
Horatio gathered her into another hug. As he rubbed Ginny's back, he soothed her fears. "It is okay. You're safe, and nothing can harm you." He rocked her back and forth as she cried on him. He just kept soothing her by whispering it is okay, you're safe over and over to her.
After Ginny got her emotions under control, she asked her uncle a question without pulling out of his embrace. "Uncle Horatio, could you stay with me until I fall back asleep, please?" She didn't see him smile at her request, but she did feel him nod his head in answer. He began to lay back down with her still clinging to him.
After a few moments, Horatio could feel his niece fall back asleep. He decided not to move until she was really deep in sleep. Before that point had arrived, he fell asleep holding Ginny close. Next thing that happened, Horatio awoke to an annoying alarm clock coming from his room. He looked at his niece, who ended up curled into his side. He nudged her, "Ginny, Sweetheart, we need to get up."
Ginny's response was to whimper and curl up further into her uncle's side. 'I hope I don't have this much trouble form her when school starts.' Horatio thought, he looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. Fifteen minutes has past since the alarm went off. He quietly slipped out of bed and grabbed his weapon. He decided on a quick shower before attempting to wake her up once more.
Another fifteen minutes later, Horatio cut off the shower. He then got dressed and ready for work, before walking into Ginny's room for round two. The second he opened the door, he knew something was not right. Her bed was empty and her window was broken from the outside. He went into CSI mode and made a quick search of the house. Just to make sure that she was not hiding, but he had a terrible feeling that she was gone.
When he confirmed this to be so, Horatio pulled out his cell phone and called the office. Calliegh was the one that picked up the phone. "Cal, I need the team at my place on the double. Someone's taken Ginny." As he talked, he searched her room. He spied on envelope propped up on the bedside table with his name on it. "Hang on one second, Cal. I just found something that wasn't here when I got up earlier."
Horatio picked up the envelope, careful of not leaving his print on it in case his team can lift the bad guy's, and opened it. A photo and a lone, folded piece of paper fell out on to the table top. He picked up the paper and unfolded it, before reading it. Forgetting he was on the phone, he blew his Irish temper. "That bastard! Who in the HELL does he think he is!" He heard a sharp intake of breath in his ear.
"Horatio, what's wrong? What happened? Come on, talk to me." Calliegh's voice panicked in his ear. He was so fuming mad, he couldn't see straight. He just barely heard, "Horatio, I'm on my way. Don't do anything stupid." With that said Calliegh hung up the phone, and Horatio followed her. He took the Polaroid of Ginny still asleep in her bed and the note that came with it, and walked to the living room in shock and sat down on the couch to await Calliegh's arrival.
Half an hour later, the door bell rang. Working on automatic, Horatio got up and answered it. The second the door opened, Calliegh stormed in. She demanded, "Tell me what happened, Horatio?" She watched as he looked at her, and her heart broke into a million pieces at the pained look on his face as well as the despair in his eyes.
Horatio's answer was to hand her the picture and note. Taking it in the same manner that he did, Calliegh looked over the photo and handed it back. She then read the note:
Lieutenant Caine,
By now, you have already found out that your niece is missing. Of course, I'm the one who took her. I will permit you to involve your CSI team, but no one else. If you do, she will die. I decided to have a little fun. You see, I have attached a bomb to your niece. Next time I contact you, a three hour count down will begin. There are two ways it can explode: One, when the timer reaches zero. Two, if I decide to detonate it by remote control.
Until next time,
John Werner
The note was typed on a computer and printed out. Calliegh told Horatio, "Handsome, everything is going to be fine. We'll find her. YOU will find her, and this SON OF a BITCH will regret the day he met you." She cradled his head in between her hands to emphasize her statement.
That seamed to snap Horatio out his current mental state. "You're right, Cal. I will find her, and I know where to start. You can call Eric and Ryan; I'll get my kit and start processing her room. There better not be any other crime scenes today in Miami, Cal." Without waiting for her answer, he grabbed his kit and went to work.
Calliegh watched him gather his kit and head on back to Ginny's room, before using her cell phone to call the rest of the team and briefly told them the situation. Once that was done, she grabbed her kit and joined her boss in the room.
Meanwhile:
Ginny woke up and as her surroundings came into focus, she panicked. She was not in her bedroom at her uncle's house any longer. She also knew that she was not at the crime lab. For some unknown reason, she got a hold of herself, and began to analyze her situation. She was enclosed in a room with one door, and it was locked from the outside.
Her attention moved to the furnishings of the room. There was an old army surplus cot up against the wall that she woke up on. In the middle of the room was a good-sized table; on one side of the tabletop is a clear case. She walked over and took a closer look at the case; it was bolted down to the top. Taking a closer look inside, she saw a lot of wires all around a couple sticks of TNT. A big digital display sat right up front, and it read three hours. She noticed that it was not counting down yet, and relaxed somewhat.
Unexpectedly, the locked door creaked opened and revealed a man. One look at him and Ginny knew was dangerous. She began to commit his appearance to memory. His five foot two inch frame, sulk in eyes, blond hair, hazel colored eyes, and the ugly looking scar over his left eyebrow. "I can see you found my surprise for your uncle. Don't worry, I promise you won't feel much. Now, why don't we give your dear uncle a call." He gave her an evil smile as he handed her a cell phone.
As Ginny began to dial her uncle's phone number, she came up with a plan. She called his cell phone thinking that the number for this phone will show up on his display. From there, she hoped that he would be able to track her down. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her captor start to fiddle around with the case. As she counted the rings on the other side, she watched as the time began the countdown. Her heart pick up its pace as her uncle answered. "Uncle Horatio! Please come and get me! I'm in this room and there is this…" She didn't get to finish her statement, because her captor yanked the phone away from her. She sent daggers his way. 'How dare he cut off my line of communication with my uncle!'
"Lieutenant Caine, as you can see I did not harm your niece yet. Plus, as promised I have started the countdown on the bomb. You now have less than three hours to find her in one piece. After that, let's just say that I hope you're real good at jigsaw puzzles." The man curtly snapped into the phone, before turning it off. He turned and saw Ginny with a smug smile on her face. "What are you smiling at, you brat?"
"Nothing." Ginny replied to her captor. She watched as he gave a huff, and left the room. She didn't even flinch when he slammed the door and rammed the lock home. When she knew that she was truly alone, she broke down. She cried on the army cot until she couldn't cry no more. When that occurred she firmly told herself, "CAPER Ginny, remember CAPER." She then started to use it.
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Horatio was just about done dusting for prints on the window when his cell phone rang in his pocket. He took it out and read the number on the screen before answering. When he heard Ginny's voice, he immediately snapped to attention. He tried to calm her down, before the phone was transferred to John Werner. "Listen Werner, if you harm on single red hair on her head, I will hunt you down personally." He snarled into the phone. He listened to the other side, before the suspect had hung up. He then thought for a second before smiling for the first time since she was taken. He knew that Werner gave her the phone to dial, and she called his cell phone for the caller ID feature. "Mr. Wolfe, I want you to find the address for this number."
Ryan took down the number as his boss read it to him from his call log. He nodded his head before going to the other room to make the call. He and Eric just arrived not to long ago, and knew not to make the situation public. When he called up his long time friend in the phone company, he told a story that was believable at the same time not entirely true. His friend had gotten the information for him. He wrote it down and returned to Horatio. "I've got it! 43 Palm Glen Drive. Owner's name is Susan Blake. We met her yesterday afternoon in the wetlands." He volunteered to his boss.
"Good work, Mr. Wolfe. I want you and Eric to head back to the lab, and finish up on the paperwork on both cases." Horatio received acknowledgement from both younger men, he then turned his attention to Calliegh. "Cal, I want you to come with me. I might need you for back up." He was running out of the house and into the hummer. He hardly noticed Calliegh right on his heels.
Calliegh just barely managed to jump into the front passenger seat before Horatio floored the large vehicle. She knew that the address was about a two hour and forty-five minute drive, if they obeyed the speed laws. She nervously looked at the speedometer and silently smiled to herself. They were going to make it fifteen minutes sooner.
Two and a half hours later:
Horatio skidded into the proper driveway, and ran toward the door of the house. He found the door to be unlocked, no doubt for his arrival. He motioned for Callliegh to follow him and provide cover as he drew his own weapon at the ready. He entered, having no doubt that Calliegh is right behind him. They began to search the residence for Ginny, and Horatio began to form a plan on how to capture Werner once again. In the back bedroom, they found him sitting comfortably with a smug smile on his face. Pointing his gun in the man's direction, Horatio growled "Where is she, Werner?"
John Werner's smile got bigger for a long moment, before he answered Horatio. "Oh, she's around here somewhere. But if you wait a few more minutes, she'll be everywhere." Horatio just wanted to beat that smugness out of him; instead he walked up to the monster that held his niece's life in his hands. As he approached, the bastard held up an object that he knew all too well. "Careful, Lieutenant. You don't want my finger to slip, do you?"
Horatio stopped and looked at his wrist watch. He cursed out loud; he had less than five minutes to find Ginny and disarm the bomb. He called Calliegh and told her, "If he moves his finger over that button, feel free to shoot him." He saw her head nod, before leaving the room. They had checked the entire house and there was no sign of his niece. He took a few precious seconds to think, before it hit him. The basement, she was in the basement. He double timed it to the nearest and only entrance, and then shot off the lock. He then entered the doorway.
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Ginny heard a gun shot, and then jumped up and ran the cot, from where she was watching the count down of the last moments of her life, to huddle in the corner. She was relieved to see her uncle come running into the room. "Uncle Horatio! There's a bomb on the table top!" She got up and walked half way there, and then pointed at it.
Horatio saw the Ginny was fine for now, and then he turned his full attention to the bomb. He used his elbow to break the clear case the enclosed it, and then took a closer look at it. He then thought out loud to himself, "It's a simple, but complex bomb." He began to locate the proper wire that needed to be disconnected to disarm it. He was oblivious to everything else but him and the bomb.
Ginny was watching the display, and she got worried when it reached a minute and continued counting. "Hurry, please, Uncle Horatio. It says we have less than a minute." She heard him give his usual 'Mmmm', just before he pulled a wire out. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as the display stopped at ten seconds until detonation.
Horatio had narrowed his choices down two wires. He picked one and closed his eyes, hoping he chose right as he pulled it out. When he felt nothing happened, he knew he chose the right one. He opened his eyes and looked at the display, before he gave a victorious smile. 'Man, am I good! Only ten seconds to spare!' He boasted to himself. He then turned his attention on Ginny. "Come here, Ginny." He opened his arms to give her a much needed hug.
Ginny stepped into his protective embrace, and let him hold her for a few minutes. As the adrenalin began to seep from her system, she had just one, okay make that two, questions for her uncle. She pulled back slightly so that she could look at his face when he answered her. "Uncle Horatio, where did you learn how to disable a bomb?" She tried to keep a straight face for her next question, and failed. "And what took you so long?"
Horatio laughed for the first time that day at her second question. "I used to be a member of the Miami-Dade Bomb Squad, Kiddo. That is where I learned how to defuse a bomb. As for your other question, I would've been here sooner if I could've located a chopper. Oh and by the way, you did well by calling me on my cell phone instead of the land line. If you did it the other way around, I would be picking pieces of you up right now." He suddenly remembered Werner and his temporary guard. "Let's go downstairs and call for back up." He wanted Calliegh to see for herself that everything was okay.
When Calliegh saw them in one piece, she placed her entire focus on the one responsible for the mess. She stayed that way until the others got there and placed Werner back into custody. As the trio was leaving, Horatio told his niece what he had planned on telling her that morning over breakfast. "Remind me when you're a little older to get you an intern position at the lab as a CSI. You were right on the money with that kid in the park. One of his so called friends had it in for him." As Ginny got in the hummer, she thought that nobody at school would ever believe that.
The End
Next time, Ginny finds a dead body of a fellow female student in the school restroom. All the evidence points to her. Can she and Horatio clear her before it is too late?
Sorry folks, but you're going have to wait a while for that one. I'm working on another television show fanfic at the moment. So just sit tight and I'll get to it as soon as I can.