Chapter 8

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," said the receptionist at the hotel, "but Mr. Wallace left early this morning for a flight." Horatio looked deep into her eyes, searching for a possible lie, but found none. She was telling the truth.

"What time did he check out?" he asked.

"About two hours ago."

Eric glanced at the clock on the wall. "H, we can still get there in time," he said. Already Horatio was moving toward the door.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They found Derek at Miami International, hauling his luggage off the trolley and fighting to keep his rifle in its case. The moment he heard the sirens of the police cars and saw the approaching Hummer, he immediately dropped his bags and rifle and stared running toward the plane, pushing people as he struggling up the stairway to get to the only remaining safety that he knew. But then he heard the voice of Lieutenant Caine call out:

"That's as far as you go, Derek."

He stopped, turned slowly around to see the tall red haired cop with his Hispanic friend at the bottom of the stairway, seen clearly through the parted crowds of people. Both men had their guns drawn and looked very, very pissed.

"I want you to put your hands behind your head," called out Horatio. "And come down from those stairs slowly. You make one false move and I'll blow your brains out."

Derek did what he was told, knowing that the jig was up by the look of defeat on his face. Horatio kept his gun trained on him, eyes never leaving him. When Derek reached them two officers grabbed him and handcuffed his hands behind his back.

"What the bloody hell is this?" Derek barked, glaring at Horatio.

"You're under arrest," said Horatio, "for the murder of Kyle Shannon."

Derek's mouth fell open as he continued to stare. "Murder?" he shouted. "You're accusing me of murder, Lieutenant, after Bethany already told you who shot down Wing Commander Shannon. And anyway…you can't arrest me, I'm a British citizen."

"We contacted your police force down there," said Eric. "And I don't think you'll get a hero's welcome once your ass gets transported back there."

Derek ignored him, instead choosing to focus all of his hatred, all his malice, on Horatio, who gazed back with a frosty stare of his own. "What makes you think that I killed Shannon?" he hissed.

"How about you stealing Tommy Mayberry's handgun for a start?" returned Horatio. "Your print just happens to be on it and around the trigger…meaning you shot at Kyle while he was flying. I must say, Derek, you're not really all that weak. But you most certainly aren't that clever. Tell me why you killed Kyle?" He ended the sentence bitingly, letting Derek know just how pissed off he was with him.

Derek snorted.

"Shannon thought he was so good," he snarled. "It was like watching a bloody peacock strut around whenever he walked by, he was so conceited and pompous. The squadron was better off without him but the Royal Air Force thought he was just too good to let go of. So I took care of him in my own way."

"By shooting him down at the air show," said Horatio icily.

"No, Lieutenant," corrected Derek coldly. "Not by shooting him down. I broke into Mayberry's locker before Shannon went to met you and then when you had gone and Kyle was inside the bomber ready to roll it out I shot at his fuel tank. Only took me one bullet but it worked. The bastard lost fuel and crashed."

Deep down in his heart Horatio wanted to strangle the man with all of his might but then he decided that karma would do that for him. "You made his wife a widow and his daughter fatherless," he said.

Derek grunted again and a sick, twisted smile curved his lips. "Maybe now they can move on," he said.

Horatio's stomach soured.

"Officers, put him in the car," he said. "And call Britain. Tell their law enforcement that we have Wing Commander Shannon's killer."

"Let's go," ordered one officer roughly and the two officers shepherded Derek, who was still smiling, to the awaiting police car.

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Bethany and Calleigh senior were cuddling baby Calleigh when Horatio approached them.

Bethany handed the baby to Calleigh and stood up, tears in her eyes. "Was it Derek?" she asked. Horatio only nodded and she began to cry softly. Horatio and Calleigh let her, for that was how they felt inside.

"I'm so sorry, Beth…" he began but she shook her head and then walked into his arms. She thanked him over and over again, her tears hot on his shoulder and for once Horatio didn't say, "There's no need". He just let her cry for Kyle and, quite possibly, the whole lab.