Much as I've enjoyed writing this story, all good things come to an end. Here's mine. Please review and tell me what you think.
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"What are the 'issues at hand then'?" asked Christine.
"Well, my dear, we are heading back to New York presently. But first I would like to know exactly how much of my plan the police have gained from my idiot son," John looked expectantly at Horatio.
"Everything,"
"How do you mean? They don't know where you are. You don't even know where you are,"
"I could guess,"
John grinned, and rubbed his hands together. It made him look like one of the cartoon villains on the programs Lily liked to watch in the mornings.
"By all means, do. There has been precious little amusement here the last few days,"
"In one of the old warehouses down by the dock,"
John started, and glared at Horatio.
"How did you know that?"
"You just told me,"
"I'm getting tired of messing around. I really don't have to keep you alive any longer,"
Silence. It stretched out uncomfortably. Christine, unable to bear it a second longer, said,
"So, Dad, you still haven't told me why I'm here,"
"You should have guessed by now, darling,"
"Nope, Still in the dark,"
John sighed.
"You always were exceptionally dim. Running away, getting married to that animal-,"
"I loved him," Christine felt white-hot rage run through her veins. When she had had to identify the body… Finding out he had been dumped in the river like rubbish… She would never be able to forgive her father for that. Not ever.
"Anyway," continued John as if he hadn't heard her, "A certain business associate of mine found out I had a beautiful daughter, and he wants his son to marry soon. He is a powerful man, and who am I to disobey him?"
More silence. Then, loudly from outside;
"POLICE! FREEZE!"
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Lily tried to run, but she was frozen to the spot. A rabbit caught in headlights. A hand closed around her wrist.
"Come on now, there's someone I think you'll like to meet. Your grandpa,"
"I-I don't have any-," What was the word they had used at the police station? "Relatives," That was it.
"You have more than you know, sweetie. In fact, I'm your uncle. Mommy never tell you about her brothers?"
Lily felt numb. This man was her uncle? But… he shot her Mommy! And if he was Lily's uncle, then he shot his own sister! What was he going to do to her?
Lily began to cry, as quietly as possible. But the man noticed anyway, and laughed.
"Don't worry, sweetie. You'll meet your grandpa, and who knows, your mommy might even be there. Then you're going for a little sleep with the fishes and some concrete,"
He seemed to find this even funnier.
Pleasenoehe'sgonnakillmepleasenoMommyhelpmeplease…
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Everything was in place. Calleigh stood in front of the warehouse, staring up at the window with the light on. She wanted to just go up there and shoot John Garrowy, but she knew it didn't work like that. Even so, she had one hand on her gun.
"We all set up?" she asked as Speed walked over and looked up at the half-closed curtains.
"Everyone's in position. I even cleaned my gun for the occasion,"
Calleigh grinned, and went to hide behind a crumbling brick wall. If someone started shooting, they were sitting ducks standing in the car park where the white van had been.
"Ok. Let's go," She waited a few seconds, then the whole place was lit up like a Christmas tree.
"POLICE! FREEZE!"
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It was a van. A blue one. Lily sat trembling in the back, as the man- no, his name was Ralph, he had told her that- was singing along to some music in the front seat. He seemed very happy.
They had made one stop-off during the journey, at a fast-food place where Ralph bought a hot dog. Now they were in a deserted car park, with the radio on and waiting till dark. That's what Ralph said.
Then she'd see her Mommy again and see her grandpa and then he was going to…
Lily wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there, as there was no light in the back of the truck. But after what seemed like days, Ralph started up the engine again.
At least she'd see her Mommy again, before…
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John spat out some very interesting words. Christine felt a surge of hope.
"Come on, we're leaving. And leaving the dead body of a cop for them to remember us by,"
Horatio didn't seem to notice the death threat, or promise.
"No use. They'll have this place surrounded,"
"You put too much trust in them. I doubt they'll have noticed the river way,"
Christine tried to keep her face looking terrified, but was cheering inside. Hadn't Horatio said one of his team was a scuba diver? They probably had found her father's escape route, 'secret exit' or not.
"Come on, we're going. And as for you…"
He pointed the gun at Horatio, and fired.
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At least twenty police officers were gathered at the bottom of the warehouse stairs, waiting to go up. At an order from one of the others, they ran up the stairs, Calleigh following close behind. Earlier they had been checking the water side of the building, and Eric had found a recently done-up exit that boats had probably gone out of when this place was in business. They had two police boats waiting there now in case someone tried to use it.
One floor… two floors… this was the one with the light on. Calleigh could hear muffled voices from a room down the corridor.
They ran over to the door and prepared to burst it open…
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"Nearly there!" called Ralph cheerfully over his shoulder.
Lily was huddled up against the wall, her legs pulled up to her chest. The knees of her jeans were damp from tears, and she was shaking all over.
I'msosorryMommyAuntieAnnieMrCaineCalleighEricSpeedIloveyouMommy
"Here we are, sweetie! Take a good look, 'cos it's gonna be the last place you ever see!"
Ralph stopped the car, opened the driver's door… and stared down the barrel of a really, really big gun.
"Police! Freeze!"
Someone opened the back.
"Lily?" A light- from a torch?- shone around, then fell on her. She couldn't see who held it, they were in the dark. "Are you okay?"
She was pulled out of the back by the person. It was dark, but the car park and big place next to it was all lit up. Lily could see the person who found her.
"Speed?"
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Click.
John stared at his gun, then pulled the trigger again. Click. Click.
"One of my CSIs has the same problem," said Horatio conversationally. "He didn't clean his gun either. He got shot once. He was wearing a bullet-proof vest though. And you aren't,"
The footsteps of the police running up the stairs were getting closer and closer… John stared blankly at his gun, then grabbed Christine and tried to run. Now that it was obvious his gun didn't work, she wasn't sure she wanted to go though. She grabbed the doorframe and held on.
"What! Come-," John growled in frustration, the let her go. "I'll kill you for this, Mary. I'll hunt you down and kill you!"
He ran out. After a few seconds, the police burst in, followed by Calleigh.
"Horatio! You're all right!" She turned to Christine. "Mrs Hamlyn, right? Nice to meet you, ma'am,"
"Lovely to meet you too. You must be Calleigh Duquesne. Call me Christine," It was a bit odd, exchanging formal greetings in the middle of a room where they had been held hostage and the walls smeared with blood, but it seemed perfectly natural to Christine.
"Calleigh," she replied. The radio hanging off her belt beeped.
"Calleigh?" It was Speed.
"Yeah?"
"Guy turned up in a van. Had a shaved head, tattoos. Lily was in the back. Looks like she was going to meet her grandpa,"
Calleigh went to tell Christine, but she had heard everything.
And was already halfway down the stairs.
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John could hear splashing. Just a… just a rat or something. Of course.
He waded through a bit more of the muck. This was unsavoury, but necessary. He had absolutely no desire to be caught by the authorities at THIS stage of the game. He had been doing this too long.
He had had this exit done up a few months before, just in case something like this occurred. Of course, the loss of Mary was regrettable, but she wasn't going to live much longer anyway. As soon as he was back in New York he would have someone sent to kill her and the daughter, whatever her name was.
There. He could see the dim lights ahead, and after a few more careful steps groping around he felt the smooth wood of a boat. He found the side, and tried to haul himself in.
Something grabbed his ankle and pulled. He fell back and into the water, swallowing a mouthful of dirty water. He came up coughing, and reached for the boat again. The thing grabbed his wrist. He tried to pull away, but the grip tightened.
"John Garroway?"
"Who's asking?" He coughed and spat out water. Who else would even think of coming down here?
"You're under arrest,"
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It was very nearly pandemonium in the car park. There was an ambulance which had just arrived, despite Horatio's protests that he was all right. Several policemen were 'escorting' a dripping wet John Garroway to a police van next to the one his son was in, shouting about where were his rights and when was he going to get a lawyer?
Calleigh and Speed were talking to Horatio. Eric was as wet as John and had several towels wrapped round him, but was making his way through the crowds of people to the ambulance as well. A couple of news crews had arrived, but were being held at bay by Hagen, who had arrived as the raid started.
In the middle of this, with everyone standing at a respectful distance, Christine stood with Lily in her arms, tears dampening her daughter's hair. Lily was hugging her Mommy back, just as hard.
"Oh god… Lily… I'll never leave you again, I promise. Not ever,"