Chapter 11
Horatio was sitting in his office and signed up the reports of his colleagues.
"Ah, good to see you Horatio. I have several questions concerning the days before Christmas."
"Rick, what a pleasure to see you" Horatio lied. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I guess you know why I'm here."
"Give me a helping hand."
"Your conflict with Detective Hagen."
"Have a seat. I wouldn't call it a conflict. Am I the first one who gets interrogated?"
"No, you're not the first one. I have had a talk with Hagen before. And Detective Duquesne will be the next one on my list. So when you don't call it a conflict, how would you call it?"
"A conversation?" "Horatio be careful. Maybe he will screw you."
"Well to my knowledge, conversation has nothing to do with handcuffs, Horatio. So, would you be so kind, to tell me your sight of the story?"
"No problem. I was on my way to the firearms lab, when I heard two people arguing. I stopped and listened to the argument. I recognized the voices; they belonged to Detective Hagen and Detective Duquesne. More and more people arrived and listened to the argument. The argument seemed to get out of control and I decided to open the door and entered the room. I saw Detective Hagen who was striking out to slap Miss Duquesne."
"He didn't slap her?"
"No. I guess I hindered him."
"Heroical, Horatio, heroical" Stetler said deprecatingly.
"I'm not here to be stultified, Rick. Either you listen to me and stop these comments, or this interrogation is over. It's your choice." Horatio went angry, though he didn't want to.
"I guess you better calm down, Horatio. Or this will have a bad influence on your file" Stetler said with a superior look. "So where were we? You entered the room and then?"
"I asked them what was going on. I said to Miss Duquesne to come to me. She did that. I asked her to leave the room, because I wanted to talk with Hagen in private."
"She left the room?"
"Indeed. She left it and closed the door."
"So you were alone with Hagen?"
"I guess this implies the sentence she left the room."
"So there are no witnesses who can ratify your story?"
"Except if there are cameras in the room, no. Neither mine or Hagens'."
"What happened then?"
"We had a…conversation, no, we had an argument. Hagen was drunk, I could smell that. He went more and more angry and took several steps towards me, while he was shouting at me. I warned him several times to stop, but he didn't listen."
"Can anyone ratify that?"
"What? My warning? Yes, I said it in a loud voice, so that everybody could hear it."
"Hagen said you attacked him. What can you say about this reproach?"
"It's false. He was aggressive and took a step towards me. I couldn't calm him down, so I grabbed him by the arm and handcuffed him. I opened the door and asked the security to bring him behind bars. That's all."
"I hope that, for your own good."
"Rick, will you threaten me?"
"Me? Never, Horatio, never. But let me remind you of your file. It doesn't look good, if there would be an entry about violence against a police officer."
"Oh well, you know what you are talking about." Horatio said visibly annoyed.
"Can't follow you Horatio."
"Well, let me remind you of a black eye of a female police officer."
"For me, it looks like menace."
"It's not Rick. I just remind you of something, that's all." He looked at his watch. "Oh, I see, the interrogation is over. I have an appointment with Cal..Miss Duquesne. Sorry, that I have to leave you Stetler. I guess you find the way outside by your own?" He was on his way to leave the room.
"This is not my last word Horatio. Remember that. I don't let me threatened by you. This will have a sequel, I promise" he shouted after him. "And I know what will hurt you the most, Horatio." He smiled spitefully.
Horatio was about to answer something, but then he remembered the words of his mother. If you have to say nothing nice, be quiet. And that's what he did.
He went down the corridor and stopped at the firearms lab. He opened the door carefully. There she was. She was totally concentrated in comparing bullets; she didn't even notice that he stepped in. He stood behind her and embraced her.
"Hi handsome."
"How do you know it's me?" he asked confused.
"Your cologne" she smiled. "I would recognize it every time."
He kissed her neck. "Good to know that."
"What can I do for you?"
"Just needed your presence."
"Why that? What happened?"
"I was interrogated by Stetler. About Hagen, you know?"
"Yes, I do. I have an appointment with him at three o'clock. Can't await to see him" she said peeved.
"I can imagine that" he laughed, but then he said serious "be careful honey, he is up to no good, I think."
"I will tell him the truth and I know the truth, he won't trick me handsome."
"I know Cal, but you never can tell. I have to leave you."
"Now? Why?"
"I have another appointment. And you have to go to see Stetler."
"Another appointment? With who?"
"Sorry, can't tell you. I love you Calleigh. Bye."
"I love.." but he was already away. "Another appointment? Why didn't he tell me? Strange. Uh, it's almost three o'clock, I have to go." She stood up without knowing what was coming up to her.
She knocked on the door.
"Come in, please. Oh, Detective Duquesne, three o'clock on the tick."
"Mr. Stetler, what can I do for you?"
"At first, you can have a seat, Miss Duquesne." She sat down. "Second, do you want something to drink?"
"Coffee, if it's no trouble to you."
"It's no trouble at all." He stood up and gave her a cup of coffee.
"Thank you."
"Hope you had nice holidays?" he smiled charmingly.
"Yes" Calleigh replied suspicious.
"Glad to hear that. I'm really sorry that I have to inconvenience you with this conversation. I know you have a lot of work to do."
"No problem, Mister Stetler" Calleigh said confused. "Who the hell is that? Why is he so friendly?"
"Ok, let's start. I have already talked to Detective Hagen and Lieutenant Caine and both told me two really different types of stories. Hope you can provide clarification."
"I'll try to do my best, Mr. Stetler."
"Where were you on this day?"
"I was in the firearms lab, comparing bullets."
"You were alone?"
"Yes. Until Detective Hagen stepped in."
"Do you know why he stepped in?"
"He wanted to talk with me."
"About what?"
"About our former so-called relationship."
"Ok. And this conversation turned into an argument. Why?"
"He harassed me."
"He touched you?"
"Yes and I shouted at him. I guess this was audible in the whole corridor."
"I'm sorry Miss Duquesne, but I have to ask these questions."
"I know."
"Did he slap you?"
"No he didn't, he was hindered by Lieutenant Caine. He saved me."
"Yes, this is one of Lieutenant Caine favourite hobbies. Saving women."
"What?"
"Nothing, Miss Duquesne. Please, go on."
"Ok. Hor.. Lieutenant Caine asked me to leave the room and to close the door."
"You did that?"
"Indeed."
"So he was alone with Detective Hagen? What was his purpose?"
"Yes, he was alone with him. He said to me that he would like to talk in private with him."
"Do you think that Lieutenant Caine is a violent person?"
"Never."
"So, you left the room. What happened then?"
"Me and my colleagues stood outside the room and heard the argument between Hagen and Lt. Caine. Well, we heard Hagens' voice the most. Lt. Caines' voice was quiet."
"So you had no choice to listen to his words?"
"Well we heard his warning. And then we heard a scream."
"Who screamed?"
"Hagen."
"Caine hit him." This wasn't a question.
"No he didn't. He would never hit him."
"I'm concerned about your impartiality, Miss Duquesne. Would you please describe your relation to Lt. Caine."
"My relation to Lt. Caine? I guess you know the answer already. All in all, this is none of your business, Mr. Stetler.
"No it's not, but I know that a relationship between colleagues can influence point of views. Horatio knows what I'm talking about." He smiled.
"What do you mean? "Will he fool me? Horatio had no relationship. That's what he told me."
"Well, I mean that he… I'm sure he told you, or not?"
"Oh, you mean that. Sure he told me about that. I have no idea."
"I thought as much. I would have wondered, if he hadn't told you" he smiled. She has no idea. That's not good Horatio, that's not good… for you." You know, it wasn't easy all the time, with Horatio and Yelina."
"Aren't you a couple?"
"No, we.. ehm she broke up some time ago. I had no chance against my competition."
"Your competition?"
"Horatio. I never had a chance. But what do I tell you? I mean you know the story."
"Well, of course I know it, but I just know one sight of the story. Maybe you have another one." She tried to be confident, but in reality she was sick. "What the hell is he talking about? Horatio and Yelina? No chance. They have a deep relationship."
"When you call it like that, Calleigh. I mean she loved him and he loved her. I think this is a real deep relationship, but you don't have to be afraid, I mean now you're his girlfriend…. and she has me, oh no sorry, she broke up. I've forgotten that."
"He loved her? She loved him? That's not true, he would have told me. Or not? Maybe that's the reason why he wouldn't talk to her. Oh Calleigh, Stetler wants to fool you. That's nonsense."
tbc
A/N Thanks to all of you who sent me these wonderful reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please tell me.