Autobot Angel

Chapter Eight: Unexpected Encounter

Alexx led the way to Horatio's office, Speed and Prowl trailing like misbehaving students. The ME had a determined look, a look that said she wasn't going to stop for anyone or anything. Speed was silently praying that H would listen and that his fellow CSIs had found the scant evidence that Prowl had left behind. Alexx turned the corner and halted.

"Alexx?" Speed asked, looking around her. He stared at the spectacle in front of them. Dave and a gaggle of Fibbies in the reception area. They were carrying what looked like a dozen boxes of case files and Dave was loudly demanding to see Speedle.

Speed groaned and slipped past Alexx to confront the noisy Fed. "Dave, I think there're some tourists a few blocks away who can't hear you. Why dontcha speak up a bit."

Prowl snickered, then howled at the look on Dave's face. Alexx leaned against the wall, struggling to contain her own amusement. Speed looked back and gave them both a quick grin.

"Very funny, CSI Speedle. Now, perhaps you could do your job long enough to show my team to an available room?"

Dead silence fell. The watching cops eagerly craned to see the Fed get pounded. Speed turned, slow and quiet. The look in his eyes promised a long, painful death. "You're one to talk Dave," Speed hissed. "Why, you did such a good job looking after your sister, she wound up in the morgue."

Gasps rose from the audience. Dave's fists clenched. "Low, CSI Speedle, very low."

Speed gave the other a matching glare. "I do my job, Agent Turner. I find the lowlifes in this city with the evidence they leave behind. So find someone else to complain to. 'Til then, I've got work to do."

Prowl tensed, watching Agent Turner. The Fed was staring at Speed with an expression of loathing. "Don't turn your back, Speed. I don't know if I can help you here."

Alexx strode forward, heels clicking. She gave Turner a smoldering look. "The lab at the end of the hall is open. CSI Speedle and I have a team meeting to get to. I'm sure we'll see you later, Agent Turner."

Dave Turner glared at Speed a moment longer, then turned to his team. "Come on, let's let them get back to their jaywalkers."

Delko saw the look on Tim's face when the Fed made his jab. He knew his best friend. Even Alexx wouldn't be able to stop Speed's swing now. The Fed had taunted Speedy right where it would hurt and Fed was about to pay the price. Tim started forward, jaw set but…Delko frowned. He could see a glimmer of black and white, topped with a flash of red, right behind Speed. Tim halted as if someone was holding him back, talking fast to get the CSI to stand down. After a few long, tense moments, Speed stepped back, anger still clear but under control. What in the world was that? Delko wasn't even sure he'd seen it. The glimmer was gone, disappeared in a split second. The CSI shook his head. H had asked for the evidence from the house fight ASAP and Delko was heading up with a bit of a mystery for H.

Calleigh slipped past two whispering patrol officers, frowning. "Who was that jerk?"

Delko rubbed his head. "Dave Turner. Speed caught his sister's case. Looks like they don't like each other."

Calleigh's ponytail slid from side to side as she shook her head. "He shouldn't have said that to Speed."

"No kidding."

"Why didn't Tim hit him? It's not like he wasn't asking for it."

"I don't know Call."

The two CSIs walked up the stairs to Horatio's office. "What'd you get from the gun?" Delko asked.

Calleigh's frown grew deeper. "I'm not quite sure Delko. I want H's input."

"Sounds like my evidence," Delko remarked as he knocked on H's door.

"Enter."

The two CSIs walked into Horatio's office. Horatio stood at the window, looking down at the lab. Without turning he remarked, "So our friends from the FBI have arrived."

"One of 'em was taunting Speed, H," Delko reported.

Calleigh tsked. "Surprised he didn't end up with Speed's fist through his teeth. Implied that Speed was a slacker."

Horatio turned, disapproval showing. "I'll have a few words with him later. What do you two have?" Horatio asked, as he moved to his desk and sat.

"A mystery," Calleigh replied brightly.

"Enlighten me."

Calleigh laid out two photos, one of a gun, the other of a bullet. "I found the bullet lodged in the ceiling almost directly over the scuffle. That part is consistent with Speed's report. However, I didn't find Speed's prints on the gun. What I did find, right where I was looking for fingerprints, is paint. Scrapings, almost as if someone with dried paint on their hands grabbed the gun and fought with our suspect."

Horatio's eyes narrowed. "Go on."

"The paint is a regular gray tone. Doesn't match the gun's paint scheme. One other thing. I found it right where the fight took place. If I had been the one fighting our suspect and I managed to grab the gun and wrestle it away, I sure wouldn't just drop it. I would use it to force our suspect to surrender. Horatio, I can't figure out why Speed, or anyone, would just drop it."

Horatio gave a tight nod. "Delko."

"H, just about everything I found was consistent with Speed's story. Except I found a set of palm prints on the floor right by the scuffle and I've matched the prints to Speed. He wasn't the one fighting with our suspect but everything else fits. All but this." Delko laid out a photo of a paint scrape on the wall. "Looks like black and white paint, H. Like whatever hit, hit right where the paint scheme changed. It's right beside the fight. I think our mystery person left it there during the fight."

Horatio leaned forward and tapped his fingers together, thinking. "Then we have two major questions. Who was the third person? And why is Speedle lying about it?"

The two CSI's winced at the thought of their friend lying to Horatio. Eric hoped his best friend had a good explanation. Otherwise, H would have him for breakfast.

Speed squirmed unhappily. Alexx gave him a sympathetic look. "I know Timmy, I know."

"Let's get this over with. Oh, Speed?"

"Yeah?"

"If they stick you and Alexx in the nuthouse, I promise to break you out."

Both blinked at the ghost. "Oh, that's so comforting," Speed remarked. "The ghost that's gonna get us tossed into the nuthouse is gonna break us out."

Alexx laughed. "It'll be just fine, Timmy."

"After all," Prowl remarked thoughtfully, "You never know 'til you give it a try."

Alexx knocked on Horatio's door.

"Enter."

A/N: Yes, the attack of the evil cliffhanger. I promise I won't let you squirm for long. Is Speed in hot water? Will Turner get a much deserved punch? (Growl, growl, insulting MY Speedy. --eyes angry Speedle fans, grabs Speed and runs--) Anyway (--sounds of a fierce battle--) please read and review. Next chapter: The secret is out (maybe)