Chapter 21

Stella looks at Catherine. She looked drained and tired. She was tearing the kleenex in her hands into little pieces. Catherine told her the whole story from meeting Novak at the Highball to the interrogation room when they discovered he was the one that had kidnapped Nick. Catherine brushes tears away. She takes a deep breath.

" So is that all you can tell me about Novak ? "

" Yes. I had no choice I had to leave everyone. Why don't they have any information on Lindsey yet ? " Catherine was starting to get really worried.

" She'll be fine. Everyone is out there trying to find information on where she is. She'll be fine. Just worry about your baby. Do you know if its a girl or boy ? "

" A girl. "

" Congratulations. You seem excited. "

" I am. She's very precious to us. "

" You and Warrick seem happy. "

" We are now. It's taken us a long time to get here. I wonder where he is. He should be here now. I mean how long does it take to get a coffee. "

Just then a nurse walked in.

" I have a box for you Ms. Willows. Someone seems to care about you. It might cheer you up. "

Catherine looked at Stella. Then took the long stem box. Maybe it was a gift from Warrick. That's what was taking him so long. She opened the note and read it.

" Warrick's mine. He escaped the box once. Not again. "

Catherine started shaking and dropped the note and the box. Stella walked over to her.

" Catherine what is it ? "

" It's from Novak. Where's Warrick ? I want to see Warrick now. WARRICK !"

Catherine opened the box and saw single black rose. She screamed. She dropped the box and tried to get out of bed. Stella tried to hold her back.

" Catherine you need to stay in bed. Think about the baby. "

" Where's Warrick ? WARRICK ? "

A nurse came rushing in .

" What's the matter ? "

" Who dropped off this box ? "

" A gentle man wearing a suit. He said he was a friend of Ms. Willows. He just left. "

" I need you to call hospital security and stop that man. "

" I can't..."

" I'm a New York detective. This involves the kidnapping of a little girl. That man is behind it. Where's Mr. Brown ? "

" He left the building. He had to make a phone call so I sent him outside. "

The nurse gasped and rushed out.

Stella grabs her gun and rushes off. She rushes down the hallway and stops at the elevator. It wouldn't get down there in time. She ran and pushed open the stairway door. She pushed people out of the way and rushed down the stairs. She arrived outside of the door. She sees a silver 4 door hatchback leave the scene. The nurse rushes up beside her.

Stella pulls out her cell phone.

" Mac. It's Stella. Novak was here. "

" There ? "

" Yeah he was here. I think he might have Warrick. Warrick's gone. "

" O.k., Contain the scene. I'll be over there in a moment with Horatio. What direction did he go ? "

" I don't know. He went north I think. I think he's heading for the highway. "

" O.k. We'll send the black and whites out that way. "

Horatio looks at Mac.

" Novak was at the hospital."

" Catherine ? "

" He didn't get to her. Stella was there. He dropped off a letter. He says he has Warrick. Warrick left the hospital. There might be trace on the note. Then he left heading north towards NW 20th Street. Stella thinks that he might be heading to the highway. "

"O.k. I'll call the bird and get it up in the sky. "

Horatio pulls out his cell phone. He calls the police helicopter over the frequency.

" I need assistance. I need a bird in the sky over Interstate 368. We are looking for a 4 door silver hatchback. "

Tripp walked over.

" I have the information. It's a silver hatchback. Current owner is Joe Robbins. License DMR 002 He lives at 2413 NW 16th Ave. I've got a couple of black and whites headed over there to pick him up. He also works at Casa Blanca Fish market over on Macarthur Causeway. "

" Good. It's a silver hatchback license number DMR 002. I want you to follow it and find out where it goes." Horatio says over his cell phone.

" Lets get to the hospital. We need to collect the evidence. I also want to get the GPS on Warrick's cell phone. Eric ? "

" H. "

" Anything about the envelope you can tell me ? "

" Nothing just your standard heavy grade paper that you can find at most art stores. Nothing new. But I did find some biologicals attached to it. I have that in Trace right now.

" Good look I need you to get the GPS signal on Warrick Brown's cell phone. I need to know where he is now. "

" O.k. Mrs. Tobin told us that Novak was driving a..."

" 4 door silver hatchback car. We know that. "

" H ? " Eric looked at Horatio.

" Novak came to see Catherine. "

Sheldon Hawkes comes up.

" Boss I found out that the biologicals were blue green algae."

Mac's cell phone rings. It was Danny.

" Danny..."

" Mac, we think that Novak has Lindsey close to the water. Ms. Andrews said that she could hear a pinging on his phone. I think it might be a buoy. "

" Good Danny. Did you get a GPS on Novak's cell phone ? "

" It's just coming up now. He's heading east on Macarthur Causeway towards the water. "

" What was the address of that business that Joe Robbins works at ? "

" Casa Blanca Fish Market. It's at 1040 Macarthur Causeway. Novak's heading there. I want black and whites there incognito. I don't want to scare off Novak. I want to see where he goes. "

It was gridlock traffic. Warrick wasn't sure if he would get to the fish market in time.

" Come on move it. "

" Hey buddy I'm going as fast as I can. "

" There's an extra $100 in it for you if you can get me there. "

The cabbie looked at him and took the extra $100. He pulled out in front of a car who hit its horn on him and sped off.

Warrick arrived just outside of the Fish Market. It was nuts. There were merchants trying to sell every kind of fish from shark and marlin to tuna and mackerel. Warrick looked around. How was he supposed to find this guy in time. Warrick looked at his watch. He had 5 minutes. He had to find Lindsey. He's not sure what Catherine would do if she lost Lindsey.

" Get your fresh snapper here. Fresh red snapper here $6.00 a pound a steal. "

Warrick looked at the older man. He had on jeans, burgundy top and rubber apron. His gut was just barely hidden but the apron. He had a ring of white hair around his head and a green cap on it that said " Heads or Tails ".

" It's a real steal. I've got a deal for you. Just ask for the deal of the day. "

Warrick looked at the man and saw the name tag " Joe " on it. A big woman with bright red hair pushed in front of him. She was wearing a hideous purple dress with large orange flowers on it.

" I'll take two pounds of your snapper and make it snappy. Hah sometimes I kill myself. Come on like today. "

" Sorry ma'am but this gentleman was first. "

The lady looked at Warrick up and down and smiled.

" Sure sugar can go ahead of me. I'll just enjoy the view. "

Warrick couldn't believe that he had to deal with statements like this.

" Just hand me the fish. "

Warrick pulls out some cash.

" Ooh testy. Nothing to worry about honey. You've got all the time..."

Warrick looked at the lady and she got the point. The smile left her face and she left.

The fishmonger wraps up a pair of snapper in newspaper and adds them to a bag. Warrick hand's him some cash. The guy hands him a note with the change.

" He wants to meet you in the lounge at the Miami Yacht Club. It's just a across the road. "

Warrick looked at the guy.

Warrick arrived outside of the lounge. He was met by a hostess.

" Welcome sir to the Miami Yacht Club. We have wonderful specials today. "

" Just a glass of Jack Daniels at the bar please. "

The lady looked at him.

" Sure. "

Warrick walked over to the bar and sat down. The bartender poured him a glass.

" So business or pleasure ? "

" Business. Look I just want some peace and quiet. "

" Sure. "

Warrick looks around at the interior of the club. It was casual done. There were photos of The Annual Ocean Race between Miami and Nassau on the wall along with the cup. The room was done in crisp white and navy blue. There were different shots of Miami and surrounding area.

" Don't turn around. "

Warrick stops still. He recognizes Novak's voice.

" Would you like a drink sir ? "

" No he's not staying. " Warrick glares at the bartender.

" Alright get up slowly and walk away. Act like we are old buds. "

" I want to see Lindsey before I do anything more. "

" Then come with me. You'll see her in a couple of minutes. Don't do anything or else I'll call my associate..."

" I get the point. "

Warrick walked out with Novak to the 4 door silver hatchback. They drove off slowly.