Cold Cases, Chapter 4
Emily worked long into the night, going through the diaries and prayer journals. She began to find a pattern in each of them. All of them talked about having marriage difficulties near the end of the journal. They all mentioned seeing a therapist named Michael, who had worked wonders with them. Michael had no last name. Emily scribbled down in her notes that she needed to find this Michael, and question the husbands again.
She also noted that all these women had attended different churches within the Miami Dade area.
She sighed as she began to go through the rolls of film Mrs. Mendell had provided as well as many files on discs and memory cards. Luckily, she had been well organized.
Emily had been mindlessly searching the files for over two hours when she saw a file that was labeled 'Me, Scott, And Mike after final therapy session.'
She opened the folder. It had one picture of Mr. and Mrs. Mendell and another man.
He was taller than Mr. Mendell with icy blue eyes and dirty blond, but neatly combed hair. He looked impeccably dressed in a suit and tie. She cut down the picture to only his face and printed it up.
She also began running the picture against all recorded criminals in the Miami-Dade area.
She was staring at the computer, feeling unconsciousness tugging at the edges of her awareness.
She had to stay awake…
Horatio walked into his office bright and early Wednesday morning. He felt good that morning. He had resolved some issues with Stetler and had solved the kidnapping turned murder case from the past few days.
His office phone rang almost the second he settled into his chair.
"Caine," he answered, maintaining his professionalism.
"Lieutenant Caine?" A worried voice said. "This is Mrs. Taylor, Emily's mom. I was just wondering if you've seen her?"
He sat up, immediately becoming worried. "No I haven't. Why do you ask?"
There was a slight pause and sigh from the other line. "I got a message from her last night saying she'd be home late from work. She wasn't here when I got up this morning and there's no sign in her room that she was ever home."
Horatio tensed more, leaning forward in his seat. "I'll check around the lab and call you back."
"Thank you Lieutenant Caine."
He hung up the phone and walked down to the Trace lab. She wasn't there. He checked the break room. She wasn't there either.
He felt his stomach tighten and his pulse speed up as he started to get worried.
He walked into the layout room and found it a mess. There were papers, photographs and boxes all over the place. Emily was slumped over a pile of papers in the middle of the mess, fast asleep.
He dialed her mother on his cell phone. "Mrs. Taylor. Yes, I found her. She fell asleep here. I'll take care of her. Okay. Bye."
He smiled; feeling relieved, and carefully lifted Emily into his arms. She looked like she needed the sleep, but she had to be uncomfortable. He set off for the break room.
Calleigh came out of the print lab to his right. She gave him a questioning look and fell into step beside him.
"Is she okay?" She asked, sending a pointed look at Emily's unconscious form.
"She's fine," Horatio answered. "Case of overwork."
Calleigh grinned. "You would know all about that."
Horatio glared at her playfully, knowing she was referring to his reputation as the resident workaholic.
He carefully laid Emily down on the break room couch and covered her with a blanket. He was surprised she was sleeping so soundly. The jostling she received from being carried only elicited a moan and some slight movement from her.
Calleigh leaned against the door with her arms crossed, a small smirk playing on her face. Horatio straightened and crossed the room.
"I think she's got even you beat out," Calleigh said, nodding to Emily's sleeping form.
Horatio glanced fondly at the girl he regarded as his daughter. "I think so too."
He grinned, slipped his arm around Calleigh's waist, and walked her back to the print lab.