Chapter 7

Lights go down
It's dark
The jungle is your head
Can't rule your heart
I'm feeling so much stronger
Than I thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
it can't be bought
your mind can wander

"Vertigo", U2

Ronnie Jackson had met them at the police station when they arrived. "I sort of guessed you'd be here sometime today," he said.

"It's the best lead I've had," Horatio said, simply.

"I guessed," Ronnie replied. "Well, let me tell you what we've been doing," he said, leading the three of them into a large open bullpen. "We've been keeping our eyes open for this guy again. Seen him in two places, the post office and a self-store place outside of town. We got a better photograph, if you want to see it."

Horatio nodded. He glanced at Speed and Calleigh. Calleigh looked interested. Speed looked a bit pale. Ronnie handed him the photograph. It was much clearer and Horatio could see more similarities to Andrew Markham. He looked at Speed. "You want to see?" he asked. He was not going to push Speed if he didn't want to deal with this, but on the other hand, why else would he have wanted to come?

Speed held his hand out for the photograph. Calleigh watched him closely as he studied it. His face twitched into a not quite readable expression. "Maybe," he said, finally, handing it back to Horatio.

"Yeah?" Ronnie asked. Speed shrugged. "Well, that's probably enough to pick him up with."

"Do you have any idea where he might be staying?" Horatio asked.

"Not yet. We're working on it," Ronnie replied. Someone called for him across the room. "Hang on, I'll be right back."

Horatio nodded. Speed drifted away to a chair near the corner. Calleigh frowned after him, but let him go.

Ronnie returned a moment later and said, "The boss wants to get a warrant, so I'm going to go talk to the judge. We'll probably be back in an hour or so."

"All right," Horatio said.

"Make yourselves at home," Ronnie nodded as he left. Horatio nodded after him and wandered over to a map on the wall.

He studied it for a few moments until Calleigh came up and said quietly in Spanish "I'm going to go find us a hotel for the night. I asked Tim if he wanted to come and he wanted to stay here. Keep half an eye on him, all right? I made him take his medication, but he's a little strung out."

"Right," Horatio replied in kind, understanding that she had wanted a way of telling him something privately. He glanced over at Speed, who was sitting in a chair by the window and staring outside. "I'll call you before we do anything."

"Please," Calleigh said, nodding. She walked over and said something quietly to Speed before slipping out the door.

Horatio kept an eye on Speed, but he never moved. He decided to call and check in with Kara.

"No, we're all fine," she said, when he asked how they were doing. "How's things out there? Are you there yet?"

"We got here about an hour ago. We're waiting to see if they can get a warrant to pick our suspect up," he replied.

"Oh, good. So you think it's really the guy?"

"It seems possible, anyway. I'm not entirely certain yet," he said. "But I'm hoping we'll know more if we can get a warrant."

"Well, good. I'll keep you posted if anything interesting happens down here, but so far, we're just fine. We may even finish up the Blackman case before you get home, if the DNA results pan out the way they seem like they should," she said.

"Good. Let me know, ok?" he asked.

"Of course. Y'all be careful out there," she said.

"We will. Thanks, Kara," he said.

"Anytime," she said, before hanging up.

Ronnie came back into the station just then with the warrant. "We're in business. I've already radioed out to have everyone on the lookout, and I'm going to head out now. You going to come with?" he asked.

Horatio glanced at Speed. "I'll wait, if that's all right with you."

"No problem," Ronnie said. "If you want coffee or something, there's some in the break room down the hall. I'll call as soon as something happens."

"Thanks," Horatio nodded. He walked over to Speed, who looked up at him. "I'm going to get some coffee, do you want any?" Speed shook his head. "Do you want something else?" Horatio asked, remembering suddenly that Speed didn't drink coffee. Speed shook his head again. "All right." He walked down the hall and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"You're the lieutenant from Miami?" someone asked him. He turned and saw an older man standing in the doorway.

"Yes," Horatio nodded. "Horatio Caine." He walked over and offered his hand.

The man shook it. "Sam Mitchell. Glad we could help you folks out."

"I am too," Horatio said.

"Hopefully it won't take long to pick this guy up. Not that big of a town, really," Mitchell said.

"It seems like a nice town, though," Horatio said.

Mitchell laughed. "Oh, it's that. Not our best weather for visitors, but we hold our own."

"It is a bit cold, after Miami," Horatio admitted.

"Well, you Miami folks be real careful out on the roads. They're salted, but it's still probably not what you're used to."

"We noticed," Horatio smiled. "I've got some winter driving experience, and Detective Speedle grew up in New York, so we're doing pretty well."

"Oh, yeah, New York is worse than this. Good, then. I was hoping that at least one of you had seen ice before," Mitchell said. "Never can tell with people south of here."

"No, I wouldn't think so," Horatio said. "Thank you for the warning."

"No problem," Mitchell said, picking up his own coffee cup. "I'd better get back to the paperwork. I hope this is the guy you're looking for."

"Me too," Horatio answered. He carried the coffee back into the bullpen. Speed was still sitting by the window. Calleigh wasn't back yet. He went back to looking at the map, glancing over every so often to make sure Speed was still all right. Or as all right as he might be.

Twenty minutes later, Ronnie and another man came into the bullpen. "We got him. He's down in the interview room."

Horatio nodded and looked at Speed who was staring at them. "Give us a minute, Ronnie."

"Sure. It's down the hall and to the left," Ronnie said before walking out of the room, presumably down to the interview room.

He walked over to Speed and crouched down in front of him. "Speed, I really need you to come down and take a look."

Speed nodded. "I know."

"Just a moment. That's it. He'll never know you were here, if I can possibly help it," Horatio said.

Speed took a shaky breath that caught in the back of his throat, but nodded.

"Ok," Horatio said, standing back up. "Come on, I'll go with you." He led them down the hallway. Ronnie was standing outside of the door. "Is there a mirror?"

"Yeah," Ronnie said, gesturing towards the window. "He can't see us. Or hear us, unless we yell. It's pretty soundproofed."

Speed approached the window slowly. Horatio stood back and let the younger man look. Speed seemed transfixed before the window for a long time before turning abruptly and nodding. "I think so, yes," he whispered.

Horatio nodded. "Thank you." Speed nodded back and drifted back down the hall. "Do you need me?" Horatio asked Ronnie, watching Speed walk away.

Ronnie looked up and shook his head. "No, I think we're fine. I'll come get you if we do."

"All right. Thanks," Horatio said, turning to follow Speed. He felt relieved, now that they had someone in custody. Someone who might be the right person. But it was clear that his relief wasn't entirely shared.