The New Recruits

Chapter 13

Raymond entered into the office in search of Maddison , but finding Maura Stetler there instead. He looked at the dark beauty and sighed deeply, remembering the brief fling that he had with her,it being filled with drama and lust. Their two personalities clashed , he being the calm, direct one, she being the feisty and overzealous. And,she being an IAB agent like her father, had furthered the bad blood between them. The specter of his late father was a shadow over their relationship, and it was ill fated to last , but yet he couldn't give her up easily. He threw her an uneasy smile as he closed the door.

" Maura, what are you doing here?" Raymond , " is there an investigation going on?"

" Ray, why is it that you always think the worse when I am around? I was looking for Maddison, is she around?" Maura returned as she smiled heavily.

" She's around here somewhere, Maura. You want me to leave her a message?" Ray asked as he glanced down at the floor.

" No, I'm sure I can find her. How are you doing?"

" Is this a personal or professional question?"

" Ray..."

" No, I don't want to be put in the same position I was in the last time."

" I was doing my job, Raymond."

" We were having dinner, Maura. You don't bring up an internal investigation as a part of light conversation then use it against them in court."

" He was dirty, Ray. I thought that you would want to see justice done," Maura said as she swung her hair behind her. Fury was building behind her dark eyes.

" It was bad form, Maura. What would you have asked if we were having sex?" Raymond said as the door opened. Maddison walked in with wide eyes.

" Can I help you, Maura?"

" Yes, I've got some questions about Jacinda Willison's performance," Maura replied as she eyed Raymond. Raymond walked over to the couch and sat down, out of ear shot.

" Well ,what do you want to know?"

" The new recruits are due for their thirty day evaluation in a couple of weeks and I thought that I would go ahead and start some preliminary questions."

Maddison looked at the file in her hand and then back to Maura. She really didn't want to get stuck talking to Maura. Thankfully, her cell phone rang. Maddison put a hand up to Maura then looked down. The caller ID read off a familiar address. As she clipped the phone on her pants, she glanced at Raymond, hearing his cell phone ring as well, then to Maura.

" Maura, I really would like to help you, but I've got pressing business. If you would excuse me," Maddison said as she opened the door to the office.

Maura closed her eyes and crossed her arms at her chest, " I really would like to get this started, Maddison. It would help clear up all the confusion..."

" Maura, really, it's important. I'm sure we could get back with each other."

" Alright, but I don't want to be put off any longer, Maddison."

" I assure that you won't be," Maddison said as she threw Raymond a despaired glance. Raymond caught it and got up. Maura walked out the door and Maddison closed it and stood with her back to the door.

" Hey , you got the callout?" Raymond asked as he clipped his phone back on his pants.

" Yeah, same address where we found Chaz. Isn't that place supposed to be sealed?" Maddison asked as she turned to look down in the lab. She saw the CSIs as they started to gather their kits. Maddison then moved into action. " Well I guess we better be getting to the scene."

Raymond chuckled lightly and opened the door for Maddison, then followed her out. There was something odd about this, and Raymond couldn't help but feel like something was happening.

TNR

" Jen tells me that this was the scene of Chaz's murder," Tim said as he sat next to Eric in the passenger side of the Hummer. RJ and Jacinda had returned to the lab after getting back from the hospital , and grabbed a ride with them.

" Yeah, it was and it's supposed to be sealed," Eric replied as he turned on to the street. A line of radio cars had formed at the curb prohibiting any onlookers from getting too close.

" Well, it looks unsealed," RJ said as the Hummer came to a stop. They all got out with their kits in hand and walked to the front yard. Frank Tripp noticed Tim and extended his hand out.

" Speedle, when did you get back?"

" Just this morning. What do we have?"

" A guy walking by says he noticed some commotion and then heard gunshots. He called us as soon as he looked into the home to see a body."

" The witness actually went up to the home?" Jacinda asked as she snapped the gloves on.

" Yeah, idiot thought that he could help. He could've gotten himself killed is what he doesn't know. Have you see Raymond? I called him almost fifteen minutes ago." Tripp replied as he glanced at his watch. He had better things to do than to sit at another crime scene at the same location.

In moments , the Hummer screeched to a halt and Maddison and Raymond got out. They both wore dark sunglasses and resembled their uncle.

"Tripp, what do we have?" Maddison asked as she approached the group.

" One body, male, about twenty three, in there," Tripp said as he pointed to the house.

" So we are here again. Any idea as to who this is?" Raymond asked as he stood with his hands on his hips.

" None. Waiting for Alexx to get here, so she can clear the scene," Tripp responded.

" Well we can do a preliminary search around the house," Maddison said as she turned her attention to her team. " RJ, you and Eric go around back and see if there is anything out of the ordinary. Tim you and Jacinda stay out front and look for any possible trace."

They nodded then began their assignments. In a short while, Alexx arrived in the coroner's van. She greeted them and then proceeded to the door cautiously. As soon as the patrol opened the door, Alexx saw the body and immediately got to work. It took her no time to give a preliminary analysis.

" Your guy was shot point blank in the back of the head," Alexx said as she turned the head to the back. " This looks familiar."

" How so Alexx?" Maddison asked as she knelt on her haunches.

" Same as the body Jacinda pulled out of the harbor this morning. Stippling, powder burns, the whole lot. Looks like same trajectory as the floater as well. There is no exit wound, so the bullet is still in there."

" So we have a serial?"

" Maybe," Alexx said as she felt the pockets. She pulled a wallet out that still had his id and his money in it. She handed the wallet over to Maddison, who then showed it to Raymond.

" Look familiar to you, Ray?"

Raymond looked at the picture on the id and searched his mind. Then it instantly came to him, " The janitor at the hospital."

"Exactly. Now I'm to wonder how he got all the way out to Liberty City..."

" Maddison, I have something else," Alexx said pulling out a small tape recorder. She handed that to Maddison as well and watched her as she looked it over.

" It has a tape."

" There's a note too," Alexx said as she produced the paper. Raymond put on a pair of gloves and took the paper from Alexx.

" It says to push play," Raymond said as he read the brief note.

Maddison shrugged and pushed the play button. The sound came out tinny, but she was certain that she heard groaning.

I see that the great CSIs of Miami have found our dearly departed janitor. But he is just a pawn, I have the king of all pieces in my possession and I got a deal for you. Release my brother, Ramon Cruz, and I will return your precious Horatio Caine to you. Don't and you will be finding his body parts for years to come. Oh , and just in case , you don't think that this is some lame ass joke, I got something you should see. It's not here, but it is at a familiar place. Go to 415 S one hundred and twenty third and you'll see that I 'm not playing.

Maddison glanced at Raymond and saw the color drain from his face as he heard his mother's address.

" Raymond, we've got to get to your mother's house," Maddison said as she clicked the tape recorder off. She glanced at Alexx who had stopped what she was doing when she heard the message.

Then all of a sudden , all of their cell phones went off at the same time. Maddison hesitantly grabbed her cell, not wanting to see the evitable. Raymond read off the address of the call out and felt the tears as they stung in his eyes.

"C'mon Ray, we gotta go," Maddison said as she walked to the door. " Alexx, where's Jarrett?"

" He's probably still at the morgue. Why?"

" Call him to come finish this. I want you to come with us," Maddison said as she put her glasses on her face. Alexx picked up her cell and dialed the morgue just as Tim entered through the door and noticed the demeanor.

" What's going on? I just got a callout on my cell. Oddly, it looks just like Yelina's address."

" We are going. Grab Eric, Speed. RJ and Jacinda can finish here," Maddison replied as she glanced at Raymond , who was still in a state of shock.

" Jarrett's on his way," Alexx reported as she stood up. " You think RJ and Jacinda can hold down the fort until he gets here?"

" They are going to have to , Alexx. We gotta go."

Tim nodded and walked out the door . Outside, Eric was already heading for the Hummer as Tim explained to RJ and Jacinda what was happening. When he was finished, he joined Raymond, Alexx and Maddison as they got into the Hummer. Maddison floored the hulking vehicle and raced through the streets of Miami, afraid of what she would find.

TBC...