Disclaimer: I don't own CSI:Miami in any shape or form – I am just borrowing for a little while and put them back when I am finished playing.

a/n – thanks for everyone who read and reviewed "A New Start for Mari" – this is a continuation of Mari's adventures with the Miami Crew.

a/n – also for readers information – words typed in "Italics" indicates that Mari is signing in ASL and words appearing in "Bold" text are text messages to and from Mari. Also Mari's character is loosely based on my hearing difficulties – like Mari – I wear hearing aids, lip-read and sign.

And the adventures continue….

Chapter 5 – Lies and new suspects…

"He's lying, Aaron had told me that he had overheard him talking with mom and dad, he was the one who kept harping on the fact that I was deaf and that I needed someone to look after me, that I couldn't be independent because of my hearing," Mari signed furiously.

"What is she saying?" demanded Owen from behind Horatio.

"You don't know ASL and you expected Mari to marry you," scoffed Frank.

"Why should I learn sign language, Mari can talk and lip-read," sneered Owen.

"It is called being considerate," said Horatio.

"He was only interested in me because of my parent's money and he also wanted a 'conversation piece' for his wife," Mari signed to Horatio. "Having a deaf wife would get people's sympathy, because of his political ambitions."

"Please Mari, let me finish questioning Owen, you go back to my office," Horatio replied silently, mouthing the words.

"Please let me stay, I can be his lie detector," begged Mari.

"Just watch and I will clarify any details with you later," Horatio said silently, and Mari nodded in agreement.

Horatio and Frank continued their questioning, making sure that Mari could see their faces. Outside in the hallway, Mari was watching when her blackberry started vibrating.

"Mari, Dean is awake and is asking for you," Mari read the text message from her minister.

"Is Det. Haywood still at the hospital?"

"No, he left the hospital shortly after you left. The doctor was looking for him, something about evidence."

"Tell Dean that I will be there shortly." Mari then caught Horatio's attention and signed. "What about Dean being shot? Did Owen shoot Dean?"

"Where were you this morning?" asked Horatio, turning back towards Owen.

"I was trying to get my house back."

"Do you own a gun?" asked Frank.

"No, I don't. I don't even know how to shoot one."

"So you didn't shoot Dean Allan this morning?" asked Horatio.

"What! No." Owen denied. Outside Mari held her blackberry up and gave Horatio's attention. "Excuse me," Horatio walked outside the room.

"Horatio, Det. Haywood left the hospital after we left without the bullet. The doctor was looking for him to give it to him," Mari reported.

Horatio flipped his phone open and called Ryan to request that he got to the hospital to collect the bullet, then take it to Calleigh in firearms.

"What about Det. Haywood?"

Horatio motioned Frank to join them in the hallway and requested that Frank contact Det. Haywood's supervisor regarding his location and to have him brought in for questioning.

"What about our mutual friend here?" asked Frank, indicating Owen.

"Let's charge him with conspiracy," said Horatio. "Office, take him please."

The three of them watched as Owen was handcuffed and escorted to a holding cell.

"Dean is awake and he is asking for me. I want to go to the hospital," requested Mari.

"Frank, does Haywood's supervisors have any idea what his 10-20 is?"

"They thought that he was at the hospital waiting for the bullet," Frank reported.

"So he is in the wind," commented Horatio.

"So what does that mean for me?"

"I want you to put a Kevlar vest on and I will escort you to the hospital." Horatio escorted Mari to equipment room and found a small Kevlar vest in supplies and helped Mari to adjust it properly, before she put her jacket back on over the vest. They went outside to his Hummer and Horatio started driving to the hospital, when Mari's blackberry vibrated.

Mari read the text message. "Horatio, we need to go to my house, the security alarm has been triggered."

Horatio made a u-turn and flipping on the lights and siren and within a short period of time, they were stopping in front of Mari's house, the driveway blocked by fire engines.

"My house is on fire," moaned Mari.

"Mari, I want you to stay in the Hummer and lock the doors. Do you have your gun with you today?"

"Yes, in my purse."

"I want you to keep it handy. I'm going to talk to the fire chief."

Mari watched as Horatio talked with the fire crew, as she removed her gun from her purse and clipped the holstered gun to her belt. Horatio returned to the Hummer and reported that fire had been confined to her bedroom and that it was out.

"When will this night end?"

"Soon I hope," replied Horatio gravely, then contacted Eric and requested that he and Natalia go to Mari's house to collect evidence once the fire marshal released the scene. Then contacted Calleigh to find out if Ryan had returned from the hospital with the bullet.

"I just received it, and I am starting to process it now," Calleigh reported.

"Good, check the database for Broward County first, also we need to check the firearm registry to see if Owen Lucas has any firearms registered to his name."

"Get Calleigh to check the registry under his father's name as well," suggested Mari. Which Horatio passed along to Calleigh.

Mari shifted in her seat and asked. "How do you stand to wear these Kevlar vests? They feel so bulky."

"Vests are a necessary evil sometimes."

"And do you really think that Haywood will try to kill me?"

"I'm not sure, but this case has been totally unpredictable from the get go."

At the hospital, Horatio and Mari walked down the hall towards I.C.U. and met with Dean's doctor. "Are you Mari?"

"Yes."

"Come with me, Dean has been asking for you," the doctor escorted Mari to Dean's bedside. "Two minutes."

Mari gazed at Dean, then around at the various monitors then back at Dean, seeing that he was awake.

"Hi, how are you feeling?" Mari whispered.

"Did anyone get the number of that truck?" Dean said weakly. "Thy have been giving me some great painkillers."

"The doctor says that you will be okay."

"I hope so, they are still not sure, my legs still feel numb. The doctors are waiting for the swelling to go down around the spinal cord."

"Oh Dean, I'm so sorry, it's because of me that you was shot."

"Hey, it's not your fault. You couldn't predict what Owen would do."

"We don't think that it was Owen who shot you. Horatio thinks that it was Det. Haywood. We don't fully understand his motives yet," Mari looked up as the nurse came into the room and indicated that Mari's time was up. "I have to go, they're kicking me out. I'll come back later," and Mari left I.C.U. and walked out into the hallway looking for Horatio.

TBC…..