Chapter Three
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run before I come undone.
Bring me to Life - Evanescence
"Suspect's moving towards Coconut Grove, we're in pursuit. Requesting back up. Repeat requesting back up." Delko screamed into the radio, as the Hummer lurched forward. Both hands on the wheel he manipulated the Hummer into swerving around the other cars on the freeway. I clung to my seat against the speed that was forcing me backwards. Adrenaline ran through me as we took a slip road and raced around a corner, forcing me to grasp my seat. The wind raked at my face and hair as Eric put his foot down. The car in front of us was ever out of sight for more than a few seconds. The man in front of us was Roberto Carlos. He was a high ranking member of the Mala Noche; he was also a murderer and a barefaced liar. After finding his DNA under the victim's fingernails, his finger prints on the murder weapon, and a piece of his weirdly patterned shirt in her mouth. There really was no doubt he was the killer. Unfortunately on arrival at his condo, he decided to take off hence the high speed chase that was now in progress. Unfortunately Roberto wasn't alone.
The sound of gun fire echoed through the already escalating noise of Miami as we followed closely behind the SUV. Instinctively I ducked, getting my own gun out of the holster. I moved up, checking the clip of my gun, and feeling pissed off.
"Mind if I return fire?" I asked Delko as I rammed the clip back into my gun and clicked the safety off.
"Just don't get hit." He warned me. I nodded as he began to accelerate again. I leaned out of the window of the Hummer attempting to take careful aim on the tires as we moved. The wind out here was ferocious due to the speed were moving, I was so glad I tied my hair back. The Hummer bumped, throwing my arms up for a second, knocking me off my aim, and making my heart race. Taking a deep breath, to ground myself, I pointed the gun at the right back tire of the SUV. I pulled the trigger and moved back into the car.
"You got the tire." Delko informed me as I slid back into the seat and looked ahead. He was right the SUV was skidding around the road. It began to slow to halt.
"You ready for this?" I asked glancing at Delko serious. In the background I could hear the sirens some where. They wouldn't get here in time. The original patrol car had fallen back a few miles ago. We weren't wearing vests but we were prepared. It was three on two, but hell were we prepared. Delko slammed his foot on the brake, driving it to an sharp stop. The SUV was also stopping. I opened the Hummer door slightly, catching Delko's nod as he did the same. I flung my door open, standing behind it and aiming my gun at the now still SUV, the doors were opening.
"Put your guns down! I repeat put your weapons down!" I heard my voice shout. A rain of gunfire answered my words. Some hitting the door of the Hummer. I let out a yelp as I felt a burning sensation flare up in my left leg. I bit down on my lip as my brain tried to rush ahead. I had to take these guys down, worry about the bullet later. I leaned out the window, seeing a head pop up, a gun following. I didn't even think. I pulled the trigger as I saw the man take aim. His head snapped back as my bullet struck home. At the same time I saw the man who'd been in the back of the SUV fall under Delko's fire. Next to me I heard Delko yelling something I couldn't hear over the second rain of gun fire.
I saw it far too late. The gun was already trained on me before I could raise my own weapon. I found myself frozen as Roberto's finger tightened on the trigger. In his eyes I saw victory. In mine he probably saw terror. Before I realized what was happening Roberto was on the ground writhing in pain. For a second I was momentarily surprised. I found myself staring at his body as he howled. I watched as Eric holstered his weapon and stepped out from behind the care. I moved to follow but an unnerving pain in my ankle reminded me of the injury. I frowned puzzled. It didn't feel painful enough for it to be what I imaged a gunshot wound felt like. Yet I was aware that something had caused it. I stopped, closing the Hummer door I leaned against it, my eyes going to my left leg.
I heard a car approaching, before it had even stopped I had my gun out, covering Eric.
"Eva?" I breathed a visible sign of relief as Horatio climbed out of the other Hummer. Several squad cars ground to a halt behind the Hummers. I returned to my original position against the Hummer.
"What's wrong with your foot?" he asked putting away his own gun and moving towards me.
"I'm not sure." I admitted openly.
"Here, let me take a look." He crouched in front of me as I held me leg out towards him. An ambulance pulled up nearby as Eric escorted Roberto towards it; I felt his eyes on me. I met his gaze, as he spat on the floor. Horatio stood up, my boot in his hand, I couldn't see behind his sunglasses but I did see the curve of his smile
"You were lucky." He told me. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"The padding in your boot saved you from worse damage. The bullet grazed your leg, it was pretty close." I let out a sigh of relief; he leaned over showing me the very apparent graze in my boot.
"Your best going to the ambulance and getting it checked out. I'll be around if you need me." I nodded in response and hobbled in the direction of the ambulance.
After enduring the steely gaze of Roberto Carlos and being subjected to what I can only describe to be death threats murmured in Spanish, I eventually dragged myself into the locker room, drained and needing a new pair of shoes. Good thing I kept my sneakers in my locker for when I was going home. Crawling into the Trace Lab I propped myself at my work station, organising the evidence envelopes in front of me in priority order.
"I heard you and Delko were in a shootout with some of the Mala Noche." Tim's voice penetrated the silence that echoed inside my brain. I looked up briefly; his eyes were focusing on the text book in front of him. He didn't look up.
"Three against two, we took them all down." I told him opening a sealed evidence envelope and taking out the tissue from it. It was smeared with orange, it didn't take a genius to figure out it was foundation.
There was silence between us. I knew what was really bothering him, I also knew he didn't want to show his concern for me at work. It was the agreement we had.
Without looking up, I ran the foundation through the database to figure out the brand.
"I'm ok." I said softly, answering the question that I knew was on his mind.
"The bullet grazed the bottom of my leg; my boot took most of the damage." I told him, glancing up at his prone figure. He was leaning over the desk on both hands. I knew that he had stopped reading.
"Good thing Delko had your back too." He said, still staring at the desk. Surprised but agreeable I replied simply replied.
"I know."
I felt his eyes on me. I rose my head to meet his gaze.
"Just be more careful next time." He said looking narrowing his eyes and looking down.
"I promise." I told him, taking the print out from the print and scanning it. He knew it came with the job, the death threats, the shootings, and the danger. That's why he was asking me to be more careful than for me to quit. He knew it would have been stupid to even attempt to say something like that to me, because we were too alike when it came to our jobs. They meant more to us than most things.
The door to the Trace Lab opened and I raised my eyes to find Paula the receptionist's eyes on me.
"Eva, there's someone here to see you."
The minute I stepped into the private room at the edge of reception I felt my heart jump in my throat before reacting.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked Lucas Marriott as he stood in front of me, in his expensive suit, his stormy eyes on my face. Lucas was physically big, over six feet. His greying hair, unfortunately looked good on him, his skin was tanned from one too many sun beds.
"Hello Eva, it's been along time." He spoke in a low voice taking a step towards me and stretching his hand out to shake mine. I crossed my arms over my chest, ignoring his outstretched hand.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him hoarsely. My glare not wavering.
"I like a woman who cuts to the chase." I could see where his son got his obnoxiousness from. He took something from his pocket and slammed it down on the table in front of me. Disbelief filled me as I realized that it was a brown bulky envelope.
"Is that what I think it is?" I asked grinding my teeth in order to stop myself reacting to the arrogance of this man.
"Eighteen Thousand up front, another thirty afterwards." He said crossing his own arms over his broad chest. I felt my temper rise to a dangerous point.
"What for?" I asked in a soft voice. I could feel myself ready to explode.
"For dropping the charges against my son." He said as a matter of fact. I shook my head, clenching my jaw tightly.
"After what your son did to me?" I started incredulously.
"Do you know what he did to me, Mr Marriott. Your son tried to rape me, he set up a fake crime scene, luring me there and then attacked me. He was going to keep me as he put it "his dirty little whore"." I retorted, my fists clenched as Marriott began to shake his head in disbelief. I snapped.
"If you don't believe me Mr Marriott then look at the evidence against your son. His blood and saliva on the floor in the room he attacked me, his fingerprints on the stash of heroin in the bottom of the wardrobe, his skin under my fingernails. For God's sake, the video tape of him trying to…to…violate me." I was yelling now, but I couldn't force myself to stop.
"Your son, destroyed part of my life, I've lived in fear for the last few months waiting for him to come after me again. I swear to you if he ever gets within seeing distance of me I am going to put a bullet in the pervert's brain." I rounded out the room and threw open the door leading to reception. I turned in the doorway, glancing at Lucas Marriott for the last time.
"And Mr Marriott?" I said exhaling. "I'll see you in court."
"So you're not stepping down from the trial?" Tim asked me from the position he'd take up next to me and my microscope. He was leaning over looking into it. I shook my head.
"No Way! Marriot deserves everything he gets." I told him. Tim pulled away from the microscope.
"Its polyester, kind of thing you see on sports jackets." He confirmed. His eyes meeting mine, he reached under the table squeezing my hand.
"I'll be there you know, at the trial." He told me. I let out a breath of relief.
"Thank you."