Thanks to everyone who reviewed. As usual, please R+R!
Okay... I cracked. I wasn't planning to add this chapter for a few days but all the wonderful reviews persuaded me to (hint, hint). The days of daily updates are over now, unfortunately. Life and a lack of ideas are getting in the way. I should be updating again soon, though.
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The worst part of living at Aunty Annie's house was the after-dinner games of Monopoly. Uncle Rob didn't get back from work until after they had all eaten, and he was very big on spending 'quality time' with his only son. The only problem was he didn't know how to go about it. So, after a few minutes of one-sided conversation about football or a film, Aunty Annie always dug out their ancient and only board game and suggests that we all play, won't that be fun? Lily was roped in as well.
"It's my turn now, isn't it?"
"No dear, it's Lily first. You know that," Lily rolled. Double six. She moved her counter twelve spaces to Pall Mall, which she owned.
"Roll again, dear!" No-one had called her dear before she came to Aunty Annie's. It still felt a bit weird. A five and a two. Marlborough street.
"Do you want to buy it?" asked Uncle Rob. Lily shook her head. She was nearly out of money already.
Kevin seized the dice. "My go!"
A three and a… one. Go to jail.
"That's not fair!" Kevin glared at the board. "I always go to jail!"
"Now dear, calm down, I'm sure you'll be out before you know it. It's my turn now, isn't it?"
Kevin smacked the centre of the board, making the cards and pieces fly everywhere. Aunty Annie called after him but he stomped off to his room.
Lily was helping Uncle Rob pick up Monopoly pieces (Aunty Annie had gone after Kevin) when the doorbell rang.
"Who could that be at this time of night?" Uncle Rob got up and left the living room. Lily heard him open the door, and then,
"I'm sorry; we don't want whatever you're selling. Goodbye," The door didn't shut though. After a few seconds Lily heard Uncle Rob apologize to someone.
"Hi," Uncle Rob came back with a man that looked familiar. He sat down on the sofa and politely refused a cup of coffee.
"I'm Speed, I'm from CSI," He leaned forward slightly. "I need to ask you a few more questions, is that ok?" Lily nodded.
"What happened to Mr Caine?"
"He's a bit busy at the moment, so it's just me. Did your mom have many friends?"
Lily thought about it. Her mommy had worked a lot, and she always came home as quickly as possible, she had said, so she could spend as much time as possible with her little girl.
"I don't think so. There was an old lady who lived next door who looked after me sometimes,"
"Ok. Now, that man you saw in your house, did he look at all familiar? In any way?"
"No," Lily shuddered. She didn't like thinking about that man.
"Thanks Lily," When Uncle Rob came in a minute later Speed was gone.
"Who was that? What did he want?"
"He's going to find my mom,"
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Drip… drip… drip…
A red pool was steadily growing on the ground underneath the body. Her lifeless eyes were wide open, staring at the sunset. She was slung over a low wall separating the beach from the pavement, two enormous gunshot wounds in her chest. The blood was running down her arms and dripping onto the sand, staining it.
Calleigh peered at the pavement next to the wall, searching for bullet casings. The bullets were probably still stuck in the victim's chest.
"Looks like a drive by," She turned. Horatio was leaning over the body, examining the ragged holes in her chest.
"Whatever it was, it would have to be a pretty big gun to do that sort of damage," Calleigh saw something sparkle in the gutter. Bingo.
She was carefully digging out the casing when another police car arrived on the scene. Hagen climbed out, and went over to Horatio, speaking to him quietly. Whatever he was saying, Horatio didn't seem too pleased to hear it. Calleigh ignored them, concentrating on retrieving the casing undamaged.
"Calleigh," Horatio's conversation with Hagen must have finished. "Does this lady look familiar to you?"
Calleigh looked properly for the first time at the victim's face. Short dark hair, wide blue eyes, razor sharp cheekbones… then it hit her.
"Oh no,"
"Yeah. Seems this one just got worse,"
It was Grace Chambers, part-time model and fiancé of the Miami mayor's son. Suddenly there were a lot more suspects with much bigger motives.
"Get this body to Alexx. Calleigh, have you got everything?" Calleigh nodded. "Good. We've got to go back and check how the Hamlyn case is progressing,"
Two hours later Alexx had met, sympathised with, and prepared for autopsy Grace Chambers.
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"Horatio," It was Hagen again. Calleigh wondered if he'd ever leave this case alone. No, probably not.
"Can I have a word? I heard you were planning to do some more work on the Hamlyn kidnapping,"
They both went into Horatio's office. Calleigh was torn between going to see Eric and waiting around for Horatio, so she started off down the corridor walking very slowly, wondering idly what they were talking about.
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"What do you want? I'm a bit busy at the moment,"
"Exactly. I hope you are going to give the murder of Grace your full attention,"
"I have other cases to run,"
"But you do understand how important this is, Lieutenant? This department could go up in the world if we solve this quickly,"
"And there is also a girl who has been shot,"
"That is regrettable, yes, but the implications…"
"I have work to do. If there's anything else…"
"Seriously, Horatio, the shooting is your main concern right now. Leave the Hamlyn case,"
"Ms. Hamlyn might still be alive. Grace Chambers certainly isn't,"
"Then get someone else to work on it,"
"Eric and Speed are, right now. And I have to go see what they've got for me,"
"Goobye,"
The sound of a door slamming.
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Horatio walked into the room, but Eric barely noticed. Calleigh was already staring at the screen, her mouth hanging open slightly.
"Come on, Eric. Have you got anything good?"
"The best," Eric replied, trying to keep the smugness out of his voice.
"So? What is it?"
"Come over here and see for yourself,"