Chapter 5
After Belladonna's departure, the whole lab began to experience many bizarre things: Eric and Valera came up to Horatio with the report that they heard someone call their names in the DNA lab when they were the only ones in the room, Wolfe remained in the break room for an hour after stating that an unseen force pushed him playfully, and Calleigh thoroughly inspected the firearms lab after she heard a little girl laughing, but she found nothing. Horatio himself tried calling Belladonna after getting many of these statements but was bombarded with nothing but static when he knew that his cell phone was working fine.
The team was clearly frustrated with this phenomena and Eric finally came up to Horatio. "You don't think Belladonna cursed us, do you H?" he asked. "I mean, we can't seem to be getting anywhere because weird stuff keeps happening."
Horatio offered an encouraging smile. "She didn't," he said. "If anything, I'm assuming these spirits are here to protect us." Eric laughed.
"Try telling that to Wolfe," he said. "He refuses to leave the break room."
That was when Horatio's cell phone rang, and the ring tone was louder than usual. When Horatio answered it he was greeted by static so loud that even Eric could hear it. "Hello?" he literally shouted into phone.
"…she's in danger."
"Excuse me?" Horatio could tell the voice was female and a bit too low to be heard clearly. "Ma'am? Who's in danger? Ma'am?"
"Belladonna…"
Horatio's heart began pounding. "What about her?" he asked.
"…you must go to Belladonna…Caine…she's in danger."
The phone line went dead.
Horatio snapped the phone shut and looked at Eric. "We've got to go," he said in a tone of voice that impended no argument. Eric nodded and they headed for the elevator. Once in the Hummer Horatio drove like a madman toward Belladonna's home.
I don't understand, he thought. She has police protection. How is she in danger?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Belladonna's protection officer lay in a pool of blood right outside the front door. Eric checked his pulse. "He's gone H," he reported.
Horatio surveyed the outside of the house in horror. The front door had been knocked off its hinges and as they crept inside everything had been tossed around. "Signs of a struggle," remarked Eric.
Horatio called out softly, "Belladonna?"
No answer.
"Belladonna? It's Horatio. Where are you?"
Eric turned the corner into a hallway. He looked back. "H!" he called.
When Horatio joined him he was horrified to find Belladonna lying on the floor, her wrists slashed open. She was unconscious but Horatio saw by the slow way her side heaved that she was still breathing. He went to her and took her up into his arms.
Save her, Horatio, please. She's my daughter.
"Call for help, Eric," he ordered. "Quick!"
As Eric raced to a phone, Horatio sat on the floor, holding the inert body the woman he loved tightly in his arms, staunching the blood flow as best he could.
"Don't die on me, Belladonna; please don't die on me…"