Breathe

Chapter8

Calleigh could barely contain herself as she floated through the doors of the CSI building. Not since Tim's death , had she felt so alive and free of the burden that his demise had brought her. She felt the hints of a long forgotten smile as it spread across her face inciting stares from all she passed by. She didn't care, she felt wonderful.

Passing Paula, Calleigh intoned a very chipper hello to her, and Paula glanced up at her with a look of confusion first , then a softer look, pleased to see that the old Calleigh was back.

" So , what's got you happy this afternoon?" Paula asked as she un clipped a message for her.

" I had a wonderful lunch," Calleigh replied as she took the tiny piece of paper and unfolded it. She read the words slowly, her smile diminishing as quickly as it came. She was to go directly to IAB as soon as she came into the lab. " Paula, what time was this message taken?"

" Um, about an hour ago. I didn't take it, but it was marked priority, so I went on ahead and put a time stamp on it. You got a big case you working on?"

Calleigh shook her head and closed her eyes. She knew exactly what this was about. Trying to abate the feeling of stupidity that was rising in her, she searched deep inside of her and pulled out her all too familiar plaster smile.

" No, it's nothing," Calleigh said as she grabbed her bag. " Thanks , Paula."

Paula waved after her, watching as the joyful gait had slipped away from her as she reached the bank of elevators.

TS

Eric pushed open the doors to the QD lab and waited for Horatio to enter before grabbing Cynthia's attention. She turned , slightly startled by their silent entrance and finished up on her analysis. She flicked the projector , and instantly, a record of one of Speed's old evidence reports flashed on the screen.

"Okay, you'll noticed on the right there's Detective Speedle's evidence report with his full signature," Cynthia said before clicking the slide again, " Now, I compared it first with the sample you gave me from the log and this is what I came up with."

Eric and Horatio stood and watched the talented tech as she began to explain in detail what they were looking at.

" You see the strokes in the T and the S , how wild they are, they are the exact same in pressure points and curvature on both samples. Now , I compared it with the sample that you gave me of Trent Spaulding's handwriting, and this is what happened," Cynthia said as she clicked the slide again. The revelation shocked both men as they stared at the screen " At first, I thought that I was seeing things, but I scanned it again, and it came out the exact way. Again, the T and the S are wild and have the exact same pressure points and curvature. Whoever signed into that book, has achieved a feat. I have never seen someone who had two forms of similar handwriting."

"So , your conclusion?" Horatio asked as he put his hands on his hips and glanced at the floor.

" My conclusion is either the guy is a spot on forger, or Tim Speedle is walking around here somewhere. But I gotta tell you Lieutenant, I've never seen a perfect forgery yet," Cynthia said confidently.

Horatio let a pained smile flash up on his face as he took in what Cynthia was telling him. Speed signed himself into the building? Horatio fought to understand this. It was not logical ,once someone was dead, that was it. But the evidence just proved to him that it was a very good possibility , that he was among them. The conflict that Horatio struggled with was evident to both Cynthia and Eric as they let there eyes hang on to his slouching frame. He kept his gaze on the floor as they nervously turned back to the writing that was literally on the wall. Tim Speedle was back.

TS

Tim walked into the apartment, filled with happiness . He had waited for so long to be able to hold his wife again, and now he saw that he had a real chance of connecting once more. He whistled a tune, something he never did while he was alive ,and glanced in the mirror that hung in the foyer. It had taken Tim some time to get used to the new face that he was sporting, but he had finally accepted the change. He was amazed at how much Trent resembled him, even down to the brown eyes. It really didn't matter to Tim, he knew what counted was what was on the inside.

Tim ascended the stairs of the spacious apartment lost in thought. He wondered how his daughter would react to him, and in turn how he would react to her. This was someone that he had looked forward to seeing, but never getting the chance. He was sure that he was going to melt. Reaching the top of the stairs, he opened the door to the closet and then closed it. Standing behind the door was Tony. Again, he didn't look very happy.

" You just don't listen ,do you?" Tony asked almost angrily. The demeanor shook Tim to the core, he had never seen Tony get upset.

" What did I do now?" Tim asked as he walked into the master bedroom.

" Sometimes, you need to stop and pay attention. You went to the lab today, didn't you?"

" Yes, I did. I went to see my wife," Tim shot back. He was growing tired of this.

" Did you happen to notice what you signed?"

" The visitor's log, like any normal person would do. Where are you going with this, Tony?"

" You signed your name, Timothy."

" Of course I did. I signed it ' Trent Spaulding'."

Tony dropped his head , then instantly focused back on to Tim. He had been careless. " No Timothy, you signed it 'Timothy Speedle'."

Tim tried to recall the exact moment that this took place, only remembering the his hurry to get to Calleigh.

" Your friends put their skills to work and had your signature analyzed. They know," Tony said with finality.

" Okay, so they know," Tim replied with venom in his voice.

" This whole thing relies on being able to rejoin life inconspicuously. You obviously don't know the meaning of that."

" I wanted my family back, Tony. And I was willing to do anything to get them," Tim said as he raised his voice .

"Even if it costs your life, again.?" Tony asked quietly.

" What are you saying?"

" You were warned, Timothy..."

"Tony,..."

"It's done..."

"What's done? I don't understand what you are talking about," Tim said as he got the most awful feeling in his stomach.

" Just be ready this time, Timothy, to crossover. There are no more chances," Tony said mournfully.

" What are you talking about, Tony?"

" We do not know the time nor place," Tony said as he started to walk out of the room. In an instant, Tony was gone.

Tim slumped onto the bed, trying to comprehend what was going on. Had he just sealed his fate once more?

TS

Calleigh knocked on the door to Stetler's office and held her breath. Rarely did she get nervous, but now , standing at this door, knowing full well what could happen to her, she was petrified. In all of her years being a CSI, Calleigh prided herself on being a top notch criminalist that took her job and the rules that came with that job, seriously. She had never been late to work, and she could only recall not being at work only twice; when Tim was killed and Cammi came into the world. She relished this job and now she was in danger of losing it, all because of a simple oversight.

Calleigh knocked on the door again, and this time the door opened swiftly, startling Calleigh. She smiled hastily as Stetler showed her in and gestured for her to have a seat.

" Detective Speedle, as you know, we did a random drug test this past week, and I was astounded at the results of your particular test," Stetler said as he moved fluidly to his desk. He was in his domain now, and his confidence showed. " We as law enforcement officials have got to set the bar high for our community. We can't do that , if one of ours is doing the very thing that every decent citizen abhors."

" I can explain everything," Calleigh said as she nervously shook her leg.

" I'm sure you can," Stetler said as he nodded to the door. Calleigh turned to see a prim woman, with a severe bun and glasses as she stepped in the room. " Agent Monroe will take you to the next room where , you will be questioned."

At that precise moment, Calleigh's phone rang at her side .She glanced up at Stetler and motioned to grab it, but not before Agent Monroe was at her side.

" You won't be needing this," Monroe said as she slipped the phone off of the petite southerner's belt. " I'll need you to take off your side arm and your badge as well."

Calleigh looked between them both as she did what she was told, " Am I being charged with something? 'Cause this suspiciously feels like an interrogation."

" We are just going to talk, for the moment," Stetler said as he opened a folder then looked up at her. " But I must say, Detective, this does not look good for you."

" If you will, Detective," Monroe gestured to the door.

" I want my union rep," Calleigh returned as she turned and walked out o f the room, quickly.

" He's on his way." Stetler replied as he walked behind them.

Calleigh walked slowly down the hall hearing her voice echoing through her mind, Breathe. Just breathe Calleigh, everything's going to be alright...

TBC...