The Miseducation of Calleigh Duquense

Chapter 7

Defeated, Calleigh returned back to the firearms lab and sat down knowing that she had just made a very big mistake. Her outburst could've cost them the case, and she felt sick to her stomach thinking that Max would get away with this because of her. Taking off her lab coat, Calleigh stood and walked into the gun vault. She couldn't just sit and do nothing and let this eat at her. She had to move. She picked a 9mm similar to her own and popped in a clip. She grabbed her goggles and head phones and walked to the firing range. She stood shoulder width apart and steadied her gaze on the target before her. She exhaled and then pulled the trigger, feeling the anger drain out of her. After a moment , she stopped and collected herself. The door to the lab opened and she saw Alexx as she walked through the door with a smile on her face.

" What's got you in such a good mood, Alexx?" Calleigh asked , her accent strong.

" Got something from your friend. There were pieces of wood stuck in her anal cavity, whatever was used to sodomize her will have her blood on it. Find the weapon, you've found the killer."

" Alexx, I 've been put off the case. You can tell Tim , he's heading up the investigation now. I've been regulated to the sidelines for bad behavior."

" Okay," Alexx said as she turned. She stopped and faced Calleigh. Even though she still had sadness in her eyes , she had changed. " Calleigh, did you talk to Tim?"

" Yeah, but we did more than talk, if you know what I mean. Seems you are right about him." Calleigh said as she smiled brightly.

" Baby, when it comes to Timmy, I am never wrong. I'm glad you two worked things out. Well I'm off to find Timmy. Talk to you later?"

" Sure Alexx. Thanks for everything."

" No problem," Alexx returned as she walked back out the door. Calleigh sighed audibly and returned to the target. She emptied the clip and replaced the gun in the vault. There was nothing she could do here.

CD

Calleigh heard the phone ringing as she got out of the shower and she rushed to catch it. After leaving the lab, Calleigh decided to go and visit Olivia's parents. She talked to them for hours and assured them that Olivia's killers would be found and brought to justice. They hugged and kissed her and informed her that the family was coming in from Louisiana for the funeral. She was forced to tell them that the body couldn't be released until the case was solved. Tearfully, she vowed to them that this would be over with soon. Now in her home, Calleigh was feeling exhausted. Between losing Olivia and making up with Tim, she hadn't had time for herself.

" Hello?" Calleigh answered the phone as she wrapped the towel tightly around her.

Silence returned to her and she shook her head as she started to hang up. She then heard the floorboard creak behind her. Turning quickly, she saw him as he raised his hand and struck her sending her across the room. He closed the door and locked it. It was time that Calleigh Duquense was taught a lesson.

CD

" Did you see Calleigh when she left?" Tim asked Eric as he turned out the lights to the trace lab.

" No. Alexx said she talked to her shortly before noon. She said that she seemed okay."

" I want to include her so bad, but I was warned by H , not to. I think we are very close to cracking this," Tim said as he took out the keys of his bike. " Maybe the time away from this would be good for her."

" Yeah, you're right. She needs time to deal with her friend's death. Do you want to go out to get something to eat?" Eric asked as he searched for his own keys.

" Yeah, I just want to call Calleigh and check up on her."

He dialed her number and waited until he heard the rings. It rang six times before the machine picked up. He left a message and hung up the phone. He would give her a chance to breathe.

CD

Calleigh struggled to stay conscious as she felt the blood slide down the side of her face. She saw him as he put a gloved hand to her mouth and lifted her up off of the floor, leaving the towel behind her. He faced her with anger in his eyes and spoke through clenched teeth.

" I told you that you would regret what you did, Calleigh. You didn't believe me did you?" Max said as he slapped her across the face.

Calleigh remained calm and stopped struggling. She wasn't going to let him win this time. He took his hand away from her mouth and she gasped for air. He then stood apart from her to look at her. She felt filthy as he let his eyes travel up and down her body. She backed against the chair that was next to her vanity.

"Why, Max? Why did you kill her?"

" She stuck her nose where it wasn't supposed to be. If it wasn't for her, we'd still be together."

" You are delusional, Max. Olivia just put the screws to it, but it was over long before that," Calleigh said as she eyed the holster that she laid across her chair. She then returned her attention to him to make sure that he didn't notice her intentions.

" You never were bright, Calleigh. I've got a lesson for you. Olivia learned it just before I put a bullet in her head. We are going to go down that same road," Max said as he produced a small wooden stick.

Instantly, Calleigh thought about what Alexx had found earlier in the day. This was the weapon he used to violate her.

" Did you have to violate her like that, Max? What was it? You couldn't get it up to stick it to her?" Calleigh taunted.

" You know, Olivia talked too much, so I had to silence her . Can you imagine how much pain this little stick could cause with enough power behind it?"

" I believe you are going to tell me, right?" Calleigh said inching down slightly.

" You weren't this disrespectful when I had you. It's time you were taught manners," Max said swinging the stick. He connected with Calleigh's right hand and she fell to the floor clutching her hand.

He swung again and hit her on the leg. Calleigh turned over on her back and kicked him sending him across the room. Calleigh took this time to grab her gun out of the holster and point it at him as he rose. There was no fear in Calleigh's eyes and she steadied the gun as she tried to get up. She hobbled on the leg that he had hit , feeling theexcruciating pain as it shot up her hip. She was sure that he had fractured it. He advanced with the stick held high with madness written in his scowl.

" Max, don't do it. I'll shoot." Calleigh said feeling the numbing pain coming from her right hand. Her left hand shook as she lifted the gun to chest level.

" You won't . You're too pathetic to shoot. You could never do anything right. You were a stupid whore."

" Think what you want to Max, but I promise you if you come any closer, they'll be cartin' you out of here in a body bag."Calleigh warned.

" I've always had you under my thumb. You'll never get rid of me," Max replied as he rushed her. Calleigh pulled the trigger as he tackled her then she felt as the gun slipped out of her hand. She felt his blood as it gushed out of his chest. She turned over to crawl from under him, but he caught her from behind and slipped the stick under her chin. He sat on her back and applied pressure to her windpipe closing it. She felt her eyes roll in the back of her head as she struggled to stay in control of her fear. She felt for the gun and found it, wrapping her broken hand around the handle. She used it to hit him over the head and she felt the pressure subside as he slid off of her. She coughed and tried to get up. With tears in her eyes, she wrapped herself in the towel and called the police. She kept a close eye on him as she dialed the number to make sure he wouldn't get up.

" 911 what's your emergency?" the dispatcher said.

" Yes this is CSI Calleigh Duquense. I have an intruder in my house, I have subdued him and I am in need of medical assistance," Calleigh said calmly. Shehopped gingerly to the closet to grab her robe and put it on. She heard the dispatch as they routed the ambulance to her house.

" Ma'am, the ambulance is on the way. You hang in there okay?"

" Sure." Calleigh said as she sat on her bed. She was alive and Max was dead. A breath of relief escaped from her. The fear was obsolete.

TBC...

A/N: the epilogue is next...