Autobot Angel

Chapter 10: Cold Case

Horatio eyed Special Agent Dave Turner calmly. "You provoked my CSI first, Agent Turner. As far as I'm concerned, if you want an apology from Detective Speedle, you should apologize first."

Turner sneered. "Apologize to some idiot who can't even clean his gun?"

Horatio's eyes narrowed. "Fine. You can apologize or leave. Your choice, Agent Turner."

"This should be an FBI matter anyway."

"Not anymore," Horatio replied. "CSI Speedle was attacked at the crime scene today; I presume by our suspect. Miami-Dade is not letting this drop. You can help us or stay out of our way."

"We have a witness?" Dave demanded.

"I'll have him with a sketch artist later today."

Horatio had expected Dave to glare at him, angry about not having control. Instead the other paled. "If this is the guy that killed Kim and probably Sarah, your detective is in danger, Lieutenant. He needs protection."

Horatio frowned. "Why do you say that?"

The other hesitated, battling with his dislike of Speed and his need to catch his sister's killer. "Bring your whole team in, Lieutenant. They need to hear this."

"My team can examine the case files."

"Not the same as a firsthand account."

Horatio thought for a moment. "Very well."

Prowl settled into place, watching Dave's team confer. The CSIs, including Alexx had filed in and now they were waiting for Dave to start the story.

Dave finally turned to the CSIs. "In light of today's events, my team will be working with the Miami-Dade crime lab to conclude the Sarah Turner investigation. Miami-Dade will be running point. My team has already agreed; there will be no attempts to take this investigation over. For the sake of my family, we just want this killer of the streets." Dave paused, gathering his thoughts. "This whole nightmare began for my family twenty-four years ago…"

--1984--

Dave grinned, catching the baseball in his mitt. "Tony, you're out!" the twelve year old yelled. Tony groaned.

John laughed. "Come on, Tony. Dave's been practicing."

"Dave! Five more minutes," a tall blond woman called. Dave sighed, looking over. Sarah and Kim were on the swings, laughing and whispering. His mother watched the three siblings from her position on a nearby bench.

The guys quickly confabbed. "Alright," John called. "Next catch or home run wins."

Before any cheers of agreement could sound, a big white van drove onto the park grounds. Dave whirled in time to see two men grab his sisters off the swings. He charged as his sisters screamed. Both of them were struggling, kicking and clawing at their attackers.

"Leave them alone!" Dave howled as he launched himself at the nearest man.

The other turned, backhanding Dave in the mouth. Dave hit the ground but scrambled up, lunging again. The man turned back toward Dave as his partner hauled the twins into the van. The punch caught Dave off guard. He tried to fight back but the other shoved him down. A kick connected with Dave's arm, making the teen scream in pain. The van pulled away as Dave struggled to get up.

"Sarah, Kim…" Dave passed out with sirens screaming in his ears.

--2008--

"The ransom demand arrived a few hours later. Six million for each sister. The FBI worked hard, searching everywhere for the twins but no luck." Dave looked down. "My father…he tried to bargain with them. Didn't want to pay that much for my sisters." Even twenty-four years later, they could see the pain in Dave's eyes. The agent cleared his throat. "My father ended up paying out seven million. The twins were found in a potato cellar behind an old farmhouse. Kim…" Tears formed. "Kim was dead and Sarah was screaming her name, over and over again."

Silence fell as everyone present grappled with the truth of Dave's statement. The raw pain evident in the agent's gaze and pose. Speedle looked down, not sure if he could have dealt with that. Anger at the kidnapper surged through him and he wanted nothing more than to put a bullet through this monster's heart.

"Man's inhumanity to man, as you humans say," Prowl said softly.

Speed looked over, glad Prowl had positioned himself close to Delko. 'Are Cybertronians any different?' his eyes asked.

"The Autobots would never do such a thing. But…the Decepticons, they have done much worse without even flinching."

Turner let out a sigh, bringing attention back to himself. "Everything else is in these files. If you need anything, my team will help. Please excuse me, I need some air." The agent moved toward the door, then turned. "One more thing."

The CSIs waited.

"Detective Speedle, I'm told you may have encountered our suspect."

"Yeah…"

"Then you will need protection." Speed opened his mouth but Dave held up a hand. "Our suspect plays for keeps, Speedle. You saw him, therefore you're a threat to him. He'll come after you, just like he came after my sister."

Speed glared, not liking where this was going.

Dave's gaze softened a bit. "I may not like you, but I don't need any more deaths on my watch. Neither does my team or for that matter, your team. Welcome to Witness Protection Detective."

"As if you need it," Prowl snorted. "That's what I'm here for."

Alexx and Speed hid their smiles. Prowl had a definite point. Dave left and Speed tipped his head toward the door. Prowl lifted a hand in acknowledgement and left, vanishing after the Fed. Alexx departed as well, returning to her domain. The rest of the CSIs headed for the case files. Over the next few hours, the team read through the old reports. Reports from the search, the negotiations, the farmhouse. Speed combed through the 'package' reports, trying to trace each item a bit further than it had already been taken. So far, he didn't have anything to work with. The Feds had been thorough, ruthlessly attacking every lead, every nibble of hope.

As midday rolled around, Horatio appeared, gesturing for Speed to follow him. The CSI rose, leaving the file to follow Horatio to another room. A sketch artist waited. Speed spent the rest of the day working with her to produce a composite sketch of their suspect. In spite of the danger, Speed hoped it was their suspect. Sarah was dead, but maybe catching her kidnapper and killer would bring a bit of peace to the Turner family, even if Dave was a jerk.

Prowl slipped in just as the artist finished the sketch. "Not bad. Just a shame I can't tap into a computer and give her an exact picture."

Speed leaned back and gave Prowl a smirk. Horatio entered, cutting off any further remarks. "Speed, until this blows over, you're staying with Delko."

"But H, what if this guy goes after Delko?" Speed protested.

"I'll find a way to protect your friends, Speed," Prowl promised.

Horatio sighed. "Speed, he offered. I see your point but it's going to be even more obvious if we put you up in a hotel."

Speed sighed and nodded. "What about my place?"

Horatio gave Speed a wan smile. "You and Delko can stop over there for a few things. Come right back here."

"That will throw our suspect off," Prowl put in before Speed could ask.

"Alright, H."

Speed pushed a few more clothes into his duffel bag. Delko was collecting a few personal items of Speed's in case their suspect trashed Speedle's apartment. Prowl was tense and patrolling, searching for even a hint of trouble. Speed sighed and zippered the duffel bag closed. "Delko, you done?"

"Almost."

Speed hefted the duffel. "Ready when you are buddy."

Glass shattered behind the CSI as Prowl appeared out of nowhere to haul Speed downward. Speed twisted and stared. The open lighter flickers and the carpet caught. The flames raced out and Speed finally realized why he'd smelt motor oil in the apartment.

"Speed!"

"Delko, get out of here!"

A/N: Another cliffhanger. Once again, I'll try to update soon. Next chapter: Fire! Please Read and Review.