Autobot Angel

Chapter Four: Bite of the Past

Prowl was standing in the break room when he heard a commotion outside. Speed turned and they both eyed the man talking to the receptionist. Prowl tilted his head. Granted, he didn't know everything about humans but this man reminded him of their victim.

"I'll check him out."

"Thanks."

Prowl strode out of the room, ignoring the door. He didn't need doors anymore. He still politely sidestepped the people walking down the hall. He was a gentlemech and Speed had remarked that Prowl's touch was a bit cold. The Autobot drew up to the argument, taking a moment to examine the newcomer further. The man's dark hair and eyes were very similar to the vic's.

"Listen, lady. I need to talk to the guy working Sarah Turner's case."

"If you would just take a seat, sir, I'll try to find the CSI in charge."

The male leaned forward. "How long? I have to talk to this guy."

The receptionist glared back at the man. "I'll see what I can do, sir."

Prowl turned and strode back down the hallway. He turned into the break room and paused. Eric Delko. The Autobot frowned. Their visitor would just have to wait.

Speed spotted Prowl over Delko's shoulder. The Autobot gave him a nod and settled in on the wall to wait. Tim looked back at Eric as the Cuban made a crack about the New York Yankees.

Tim's eyes narrowed. "I'm positive I didn't just hear you insult the greatest team in the country."

"Oh, come on Speed, they don't have anything on the Marlins."

Speed snickered. "Just keep thinkin' that, Wild Card."

Eric gave a dignified 'humph' and turned back to his sandwich. Speed grinned in triumph and rose, walking toward the door.

"That was amusing."

Speed just lifted an eyebrow, copying Prowl's favorite move. He walked down the hallway, waiting for Prowl to go on.

"I would guess that our new arrival is looking for you. He mentioned our victim by name and he appears to be a relative if I am one to judge the situation. He is also impatient. I suggest you talk to him before the receptionist has him thrown out."

Speed smirked, giving a barely perceptible nod. He stepped out, gaze landing on the pacing man in reception. The receptionist spotted Speed first and waved him over. As soon as he'd moved over to her, she leaned forward. "He's looking for the CSI heading the Turner case. Is that you Speedle?"

"Yep. I got him."

"Thanks, he's hanging around being a pain in the butt."

Speed kept back a smile and headed for the pacing visitor. Prowl moved so he was standing next to Speed as the CSI spoke. "Can I help you?"

The man looked up, eyes examining Speed from tip to toe. He frowned. "You're working my sister's murder?"

"Sarah Turner was your sister?" Speed inquired in a lazy drawl.

"Yes. I'm Dave Turner."

Speed gave Dave a nod. "Tim Speedle. Come on. We'll talk somewhere else."

Dave waited until he and Speedle were in the interview room before he spoke. "CSI, right?"

"Yep."

"Good. My office will need everything you've collected so far."

Speed turned, hiding his surprise and ignoring Prowl's snort of derision. "Who do you think you are to waltz in and take over a CSI matter?"

The other leaned forward, planting his palms on the table. "FBI."

"Doesn't matter. Your sister's not a Fed, we checked. She's a Miami citizen murdered in her home. That makes it my case, not yours."

"A point well made, except for the fact that she was in Witness Protection. That makes it my case."

Speed crossed his arms, surprised. "Witness Protection? For what?"

Dave snorted. "You honestly think I'm going to tell you that?"

"After all, he did such a wonderful job of protecting the girl."

Speed bit back a laugh. "If you think I'm going to let you stroll in and take my case with no apparent reason, you've got some serious nerve."

Dave glared. "She was my sister."

"So?"

"Prime reason why I shouldn't let you take this case. Now, why was she in Witness Protection?"

Dave sighed, giving in for the moment. "When she and my other sister were four, they were kidnapped. There was a ransom note but my father tried to bargain with the creeps. By the time Sarah and Kim were found, Kim was dead."

Speed's eyes narrowed. "They were twins?"

"Yeah. I'm eight years older."

"What about the kidnappers?"

Dave growled. "The FBI caught one of them but he was the sidekick. The dumb one who left evidence at the farmhouse where my sisters were held. The other guy got away with seven million dollars in ransom money. Sarah was put into Witness Protection when the creep started stalking her."

"How?"

Dave paced. "I can't tell you anything more. You can hand over the case now or I'll come back with a court order."

Tim's gaze was disdainful. "Then go get a court order. In the meantime, I'll be working on the investigation. But before you go, I might point out that you're the last person the Feds will assign to your sister's murder."

Prowl chuckled at the glare Dave gave Speed. The CSI was unmoved by the look.

Dave started to spin on his heel, then looked back. "If I drop this, will you let me work with you on the case?"

"As a source of information," Speed offered.

"I want in. I want my team working with your team."

Speed's eyes hardened. "First of all, I'm not the guy in charge of the lab. But I know what he would say. The answer's no. You can give me information about your sister's stalker and maybe smooth the way so I can look at the old evidence from the kidnapping but there is no way you're going to be on the front lines."

"He's not going to like that Speed," Prowl warned.

Dave's fists worked as Speed watched impassively. Finally the agent growled, "Fine. We'll play by your rules for now."

Speed didn't like the 'for now' part but he'd take what he could get. "How was your sister being stalked?"

Dave pulled a chair out and sagged into it. He ran a hand through his hair. "Every year, she'd get a 'package' for a special occasion. Something to remind her of the kidnapping and the fact that he's still out there. The FBI would check everything but this guy's smart. They never got anywhere with it. As she got older, it got worse. Witness Protection would move her every so often, trying to keep this guy from finding her but he'd always find a way. He'd find her again and start taunting her."

"When did you become part of her team?"

"After I finished at the academy. I didn't want to leave her alone. This weekend…I had to be at HQ. She said she'd be fine."

"What about your team?"

"Everything went wrong at once. Family emergency, a new package, meetings at FBI HQ…" Dave buried his face in his hands. "She was only alone for a night," he whispered.

Prowl tilted his head. "Go easy, Speed. He's hurting. Probably blaming himself for everything right now."

Speed gave Prowl a nod. "Any chance it was someone else?"

"No, the security at the house is too good for that."

Speed didn't like that. Feds could be jerks, but they were, for the most part, good at what they did. "I need everything you've got on this guy."

"He's probably at least three states away by now."

"Or he's waiting around to make sure we don't catch him," Speed retorted. "If you want me to catch your sister's killer, I need everything you've got."

Dave glared at Speed again, then stood and walked out. The door slammed behind the FBI agent. Speed sighed and looked over at Prowl.

"That went well."

"Nope."

"This guy is going to wish he'd never come to Miami."

Speed frowned. "He's avoided the FBI for years. What makes you think we can catch him?"

Prowl thought for a moment. "He didn't kill before now. He's left behind everything we need to find him. Besides, we don't have any baggage coming into this."

"I think we're going to need the whole lab in on this."

"Agreed."

Speed walked to the door and Prowl shifted to follow. The CSI looked back at the Autobot. "We'll find him."

"And he will pay."

A/N: No comments about the sports teams, please. I'm no sports fan. Looked on Wikipedia to come up with that little exchange. Anyway, looks like things are heating up. Next chapter: A surprising encounter. Please Read and Review.