Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of CSI: Miami. Unfortunately. Am just borrowing and they will be returned undamaged and in their original packaging.
I Warned You
'What happened?' Calleigh asked.
'Why does Horatio want me here?' Ryan asked, ignoring the question. 'I was told to go home.'
'Answer the question, Ryan.'
'Answer mine first.'
'Please, Ryan. Then I will tell you everything I know. Horatio has only just told me and Eric what's been going on.' She had a feeling that Ryan was going to be too angry once he heard exactly what had been going on that he would not be in any frame of mind to answer her questions.
'All right.' He thought for a moment, collecting his thoughts. 'I left for work my usual time. I was driving down the road, it wasn't very busy. I had the right of way and I was just passing a red car pulling out of a car park. As I came up to the exit of the car park, the car accelerated towards my car. I saw it coming and braked. It caught the front of my car and then drove away.'
'You're certain?'
'Yes.'
'Can you describe him? The driver?'
'I only saw him for a moment, but he had a big build and longish blond hair. No distinguishing marks and he was wearing a blue shirt.' He paused. 'Call me crazy, Calleigh, but I'm certain he was trying to hit me.'
'Why?'
'Because there was a space for him to exit the car park before I reached it and he only pulled out as my car came up.'
She frowned suddenly as if she had thought of something. 'A blond man, you said? Longish hair?'
'Yes. Why?'
'I don't think you're crazy, Ryan. In fact, things are beginning to fall into place.'
'Why?' He frowned. 'This is all to do with why Horatio wanted to make sure I came here and didn't go home, isn't it? Come on Calleigh, you said you would explain.'
She braced herself for a furious outburst and told him everything that Horatio had told her and Eric and Alexx. All about Valera's crazy ex-boyfriend.
Ryan surprised her. All he said was, 'I see. This explains a lot, doesn't it.' He pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket. 'I almost forgot. This is the make of the car and I managed to remember half the license plate. I couldn't get all of it on account of how my eyes were filled with blood and I was seeing double at the moment I saw it.'
'I'll give it to Eric,' she said warily, watching him. 'Are you okay?'
'No. I'm not.' He got up. 'If you don't mind, I'm going to go and vent my anger. Seen anything breakable recently?' He didn't wait for her to answer but walked away along the corridor.
She went to see Eric. He had lifted some red paint transfer from Ryan car and was in the processing of running tests on it. He was delighted with the make and license plate she gave him and started to run that through the database.
It was a little later when Horatio came in and said to Eric, 'You get anything on the red paint?'
'Not much on the paint,' Eric admitted. 'But when Calleigh gave me the details Ryan managed to write down, I got something else. Narrowed the field down, but I'm still working on it.'
'Right. Try this name – Luke Stephenson.'
'That's Valera's ex-boyfriend, right?'
'Yes, it is.'
Eric typed it into the computer. 'Any reason you didn't mention this earlier?'
'I was distracted and forgot what she said his surname was.'
Eric smiled grimly. 'Here we are. Matches the make, model and the second half of the license plate. You think we got him?'
'I think we might.'
'Are we going to arrest him?'
'Not yet,' Horatio said. 'We need some evidence that will make sure he can't get off of the charge by saying it was an accident.'
'Okay,' Eric said.
'Is Ryan still at the hospital?' Horatio asked.
'No, he got here about half an hour ago, like you told him.' Eric paused and said, 'He asked me to tell you that he's sorry but he's broken most of the department coffee mugs. He called it anger management and says he'll pay for them.'
'Understandable. Just make sure he stays here, Eric. Until we catch this guy.'
Eric watched him. 'You've got some other lead?'
'Hopefully, Eric, I will soon have evidence about this man. Keep working. We need to have a good case against him.'
Valera stood outside Luke's flat, plucking up the courage to confront him. She was furious, more angry than she could remember being ever before.
She knocked, loudly, angrily.
He opened the door and treated her to a wonderful smile. 'Maxine!'
'I want to talk to you,' she said.
'Come on in,' he offered.
'No. Here's fine.'
'If you like. What's wrong?'
'You know what's wrong.'
'Tell me anyway.'
'You almost killed Ryan this morning,' she said flatly.
'Not for lack of trying,' Luke replied. 'He has good reflexes, I'll give him that. If he'd been a bit slower I would have got him. Still, if at first you don't succeed…'
'Just stop this,' she said desperately. 'It's over between him and me.'
'Only because you think that breaking up with him will make me stop,' he said. 'I love you. I'm going to be here until you realise you love me too.'
'Why involve Ryan?'
'Because you care about him.'
'You stop this or I report you,' she said. 'I'll have a restraining order taken out against you.'
He took a threatening step towards her. 'You think a restraining order can stop love? I love you. I'm not going anywhere. A restraining order won't keep me away from you.'
'You do remember where I work, don't you?' she said coldly.
'That hasn't helped you or Ryan Wolfe so far, has it?' he said smoothly. 'Just realise who you love, Maxine. If you keep refusing to see I'm the one, the only one, for you, then I will have to take further steps.'
'Steps?'
'It's clear to me this Ryan is clouding your judgement. With him out of the way, you'll be able to see I'm the man for you.'
'You're crazy if you think I'll ever come back to you.'
'You will,' he said confidently. 'You will.'
'You hurt Ryan anymore, you kill him, I will hate you forever.'
'I'll do what I have to. For us.'
'There is no us. Leave Ryan alone, Luke. Don't hurt him anymore.'
'I'll hurt him as much I need to if it will make you see sense,' he said.
'Keep away from me,' she warned. 'Him and me. Get that?'
'You'll be back,' he shouted after her as she walked away. 'You'll come back to me in the end!'
'Never,' she said without looking around. 'Never.'
