Ok, chapter four is up. Little bit longer than my last ones, hopefully all who read will enjoy! THANK YOU to those who reviewed, and to those who didn't growls Just kidding!

The smell of salt and sand reached Eric's nose before he even saw the ocean. He stepped out of his Hummer and was hit in the face with the tussling breeze from the shore.

This new development complex was one of the ritziest in Miami. Less than ten minutes from the white sand beaches. And all the houses had ocean views. All of them were at least two stories, some three. Eric checked the address again. The one he'd pulled up at was two stories. But, it had the best lot that he could see.

White concrete was lined with emerald green grass on both sides that made the front lawn. Two car garages were closed, and the front porch was well shaded. His instinct was to knock on the front door, but he wasn't here for that. He wanted undercover information. If anybody was home, than he needed to be unseen.

He stole around to the back, surprised that he didn't see security cameras. This was high end real estate here, why not secure it more? He found out how as he rounded the corner of the house.

Two massive German Shepards lay on the back porch, heads on their paws watching everything. As soon as they saw him, they leapt up to their feet and bared their hackles, snarling menacingly.

Eric checked to make sure he had his gun… loaded. He didn't want to know what those teeth would do. He was about to make a hasty retreat when someone called out.

"Down boys, down!"

It was female, and he knew instantly the voice. Jade!

She came out from the house and onto the wooden porch. At her command, the dogs sat down and she scratched each of them behind the ears. Two snaps of her fingers and they went around the front of the house.

"Well, well, what can I do for you?" Her tone was a smirking mischievous simper.

"My name is Eric Delko, Jade Riers," he said coldly. "And you might start by telling me why we found a body beside your car this morning."

It was split second descion that he made to confess why he was here. He couldn't get any information without it.

"Ah, Eric, well, I'm assuming you found my husband. That's what your boss, Lt. Horatio told me."

Eric's eyes widened. Horatio had already been on the phone with her? That meant he didn't have a lot of time before he had to get out of here. He needed to be well away from the house before Horatio and Ryan got here. It had taken him twenty minutes, but he'd been speeding. Giving up trying to calculate, he cut to the chase.

"Yes, as a matter of fact we did. Mind telling me anybody who'd want your husband dead? You, for instance," he added.

"Me?" Jade smirked. "No, I wouldn't want him dead. Think about it, Delko. He's my bank account. I can't get hired on my own. As much as it disgusts me, I needed him to keep the lifestyle I have."

She leaned against the porch railing, and Eric caught a glimpse of the smooth skin of her abdomen. He tried to block the memories of last night and continued with his questioning.

"Well, would anybody else wish your husband harm?"

"He's manager of a bank, Eric," she said with a belittling laugh that said he should have known that. "Who wouldn't want him dead? He's not the tax man, or the IRS, but when loans get called in, guess who dials?"

Eric processed that information slowly. Filing it away, he met Jade's eyes.

"Where were you, around five AM this morning?"

"You mean after I got done with you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes coldly. "Stop formalizing this, Eric," she purred, her gaze suddenly changing.

She crept off the porch and approached him. Her hips swayed, and her brilliant hair flashed in the Miami sunlight. Eric's heart raced.

"Mitch came looking for me. He found me in the car less then five minutes after you left. He pulled me out and asked what I'd been doing. I knew he'd been spying on me because he asked about you. He tried to make me answer to him, but I got away. I ran without taking the car. I checked myself into a hotel, figuring the first place Mitch would go would be home, and I didn't want to be there when he did. I stayed at the hotel all night. It was about seven o clock when I checked out and headed home. When I opened the door, Mitch wasn't here."

"And you didn't think it weird or strange when he didn't come back?"

"As long as he was away from me I didn't care." Jade rolled her eyes. "Mitch served his purpose for me. I needed him, and I got what I needed. Whatever he wanted to do was his business. Just as long as he didn't try and control me."

"And did he?"

"Oh yes," Jade's eyes gleamed brightly and she came even closer.

"Not like you, though," she purred, reaching a hand to him. He shied away, but she wrapped his shirt in her fists and pulled him close. "You let me be myself," she hissed in his ear, giving a bite as she did so.

"Get off me!" Eric snapped, roughly pushing her away.

"Awe, come on, now, you know you want it," Jade came at him again, but Eric side stepped her and spun around.

"What happened last night has nothing to do with what is happening now, Jade." Eric growled. "I'll be in touch."

Eric stormed away, climbed into the Hummer after he warily passed the dogs on the porch, and drove off.

Jade smiled as she watched him leave. She looked down to her hand and saw the metallic glint of Eric's cell phone.

"Yes, yes I'm sure you will," she purred, slipping inside the house.

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Horatio's eyes were hidden by sunglasses as he slowly climbed out of the car with Ryan. He'd been using his shades more often lately. Ever since Speed's death; the recurrent nightmare was always fresh in his mind.

Speed's death, coupled with Charlie's run away flight didn't make things easy. Despite the letter she'd left him, he worried for her constantly Many times, he was ready to pick the phone up and call for a search to find her a bring her back. But he would ball his hands into fists and resist the temptation until it became swept up into the whirlwind that was his life. Case after case, victim after victim. He had to move on.

"What do you make of the address, Mr. Wolfe?" he asked his companion.

"Ritzy, high end, and yet…" he stopped when he heard dogs growling. The German Shepards were on their feet, lips drawn back and ears pinned down, forming menacing snarls in their throats.

"I'm assuming you were going to say and yet little security?" Horatio asked loosening his gun in his holster.

"I was, but I'll rethink that," Ryan muttered. "Where's the house's owner?"

"Apparently in a parking lot," came a cold voice.

Horatio spun around and took in the sight of a slinky, flesh revealing female. Her top was much like a bikini top, revealing all of her well muscled stomach, but wrapped against her hips was a long flowing skirt, with a slit in the side up her thigh. Her hair caught the sun and flashed flaming red, catching Ryan's eyes. He roved his gaze down her briefly before remembering himself.

"I take it you are the late Mrs. Riers?" Horatio said, taking off his sunglasses off and meeting the red head's emerald gaze.

"I am," she said, leaning on the railing of the porch, stroking the dogs to quiet them down.

"You don't look too grieved to hear the news of your husband's death," Ryan said, raising his eyebrows.

Jade gave a small chuckle. She saw the boy's eyes roving over her. He'd be as easy to snare as Eric if she chose to, but with the Lieutenant standing there, she'd be a bigger fool than her husband.

"My husband had many enemies. Being the manager of a bank, it didn't exactly make him popular."

"Who was he unpopular with, Ma'am?" Horatio asked quietly. His eyes were taking in the property, looking for anything unusual or out of place, but saw nothing amiss.

"Ask anybody whom he collected loans on. Or anybody who had their collateral taken. He wasn't exactly friendly with them either. Only the ones who had enough money or power to influence his own job did he respect."

Ryan's eyes caught a gleaming shine and he saw a small bracelet on Jade's wrists.

"Are those real diamonds?" he asked, coming closer.

Jade smiled and held out her hand so Ryan could examine it. "Real diamonds, real jade stones."

"Expensive tastes," Horatio noted.

"My husband bought it for me. An anniversary present from a year ago."

Ryan examined the bracelet more closely. The stones were lined up, one alternating to the other. The cut was equiset and finely done. Yet the stones themselves seemed of poor quality. The diamonds were cloudy inside. What had made the flash were actually the crystal backings and sides that the jewels were set into.

"Where was it your husband bought this?" Ryan asked, looking up at Jade.

"Corman Jewelers." She glanced at Horatio, and then Ryan. "Why?"

"How much did you pay for this?"

"Quite a pretty penny. Five thousand." Jade said firmly.

"Seems awful shoddy work to pay five grand for," Ryan murmured. "Do you mind if I have this?" he asked, indicating to the bracelet.

"No."

Ryan reached a hand out to take the bracelet. The clasp came undone easily, and he slid it off Jade's wrist. Jade's emerald eyes nearly glowed as his fingers briefly touched her skin. Ryan failed to notice, but Horatio didn't.

As Ryan walked away to bag the bracelet in the Hummer, Horatio approached Jade. "What was your relationship with your husband like, Mrs. Riers?" he asked.

Jade gave a soft, rueful laugh.

"Mitch was a control freak. Not in the OCD manner, but he couldn't have anybody making him look like a fool or the object of a joke. He tried to control me, and I went out of my way to annoy him because of it."

"Yes, I did a little digging, and found you've lacked fidelity in your relationship. Poor way to repay your husband for what he's given you." Blue eyes wandered to the house and the view of the sea behind them.

"As I said, Lieutenant. I will not be controlled. Not by anyone or anything."

"The law is a leash for all of us, Mrs. Riers." He eyed the dogs briefly. "We'll be back if we need anything else."

Horatio left her standing there and walked back to the Hummer.

"What do you make of Mrs. Riers?" Horatio asked Ryan.

"Certainly doesn't seem like the grieving widow, does she?"

"No, and its our job to find out why." Horatio finished his sentence, and slipped on his shades.