A/N Okay, Chapter 18...Sorry for the UNBELIEVABLY long wait!! I hope it's gonna get juicy...I don't really know where it's gonna go seeing as I just write whatever comes to mind...  3 love you guys...Please REVIEW!!!!!!

SPECIAL THANKS TO SARA0989!!!!

-csi-addicted

Chapter 18

Those five words sent shivers of fear and anticipation down his spine.

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The team was sitting around the conference table, sombre expressions on their exhausted, stressed, haggard faces.

"It's been 3 days, H," Ryan said miserably, "the first 24 hours are crucial and we have already passed two times that."

Eric slammed his fists down against the conference tale.

"So what do you want to do, Wolfe? Give up? This is Calleigh you're talking about! Not just another victim whose case you might let go cold!" Eric fumed frustrated, unleashing his pent up anger at his colleague.

"You're not the only person who gives a damn Eric! We all do! I'm just voicing the facts!" Ryan responded getting in Eric's face.

Horatio cleared his throat and gave them his now-is-not-the time look.

"Sorry, H," they chorused, mumbling their sheepish apology.

"It's alright gentlemen. We are all on edge. The actual reason I called you here is to update you on the situation. We now have a suspect in custody, who was identified using the leftover footage from the inside and outside security cameras," he informed them, eyes tightening and fists clenching imperceptibly with the last statement.

"Well?"

"Who?" Alexx asked.

"Stetler."

The team's eyes widened incredulously.

"It's Hagen," Eric murmured.

"Stetler, not Hagen," Alexx reminded.

"No. If Stetler cares enough to get involved either it's an inside job, or he's getting something in return. Calleigh had problems with Hagen. My guess is that after the incident, Hagen went to Stetler to complain about Calleigh which is what set off the interrogations. Damn it! The interrogation was the perfect cover for the kidnapping!" Eric explained, mentally hitting himself for not coming to the conclusion sooner.

Horatio's gut clenched as he desperately tried to stem the instinctive need to play Devil's advocate and rebut his younger colleague.

"Eric," he started softly, his eyes conveying a warmth that could only be expressed through the whirls of blue.

"We have no evidence to suggest Hagen was involved with Calleigh's disappearance. He has motive but there is no proof."

"Have we interrogated Stetler yet?" Alexx asked cautiously.

"Not exactly."

"Let me try, H! I can flip him! Easy!" Eric cried.

"You're too close to this Eric," Horatio negated.

"We are ALL too close, Horatio, she is a member of our team!" Alexx murmured.

"Let's see what I can get, alright?" Horatio pleaded quietly, begging Eric silently to let it go.

"You know Horatio, he's like a dog with a bone."

"Well he needs to learn how to let go." (Wet Foot, Dry Foot)

The words flashed randomly across Eric's mind before he sighed softly and conceded.

"Ryan, what about this blood trail?"

"I found gravitational blood droplets leading from the back door to a spot on the curb. There were faint skid marks heading north," Ryan informed the group.

"The triangulation on Calleigh's phone coordinates said she was headed north but we don't know how far."

The group sat at the conference table, re-examining evidence, brainstorming and bouncing ideas off each other. It wasn't until around 1:30 AM when inspiration hit them like a bolt of lightning. Scrambling off to their individual labs they worked around the clock, determined to discover the mistake that every criminal makes. The coffee pot ran dry, the hands spun around the clock and gears turned in the minds of the unwavering CSIs.

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Her stomach protested loudly as she was rolled off the uncomfortable bed and smacked onto the floor. She hadn't eaten in four days and drank only tepid water from a metal dish inside her room. Hagen stormed in and kicked the precious bowl from under her trembling hands.

The anticipation of what would follow twisted her gut into pretzels, though the fear of the unknown had long dissipated.

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The group had resumed their stance around the conference table. Horatio sat at the head, followed by Eric on the right side and the lonely seat where Calleigh usually sat. Alexx and Ryan sat further with Alexx beside Eric. The placement unintentionally represented their positions in the team. Calleigh was the highest ranking officer after Speedle and she was also the closest to Horatio, personally. She had worked with him for longest, long enough to gain his trust, long enough to access some of his deepest secrets. Eric was next followed by Alexx and Ryan was the furthest away.

All the CSIs pulled out their evidence, surprising themselves with the amount of it. The interrogations, tire tracks, cell phone records, credit card receipts all fell together to create a single puzzle that would reveal what they wanted most. They had the knowledge and were about to use it.

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The sirens were turned off and the only sound heard was the quiet rustling of the Hummer's tires trudging through the dry grass. They pulled up slowly to the side, wary eyes of the crocodiles staring unblinking through the hazy fog and murky water. Guns drawn, steadily held ready for action, walking with trepidation on the balls of their feet in anticipation of resistance. The slam of a heavy door rung out among the silence, shattering the eerie stillness.

Peering out amongst the brush, Ryan, Eric, and Horatio kept the shack in clear view and the flash of black entering the door. Moving into position the three darted out in front of the structure, in attacking position. They were not prepared for the sight that followed next.

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And neither was she.

A/N Okay...So...What do yall think?? Reviews are love!! Special thanks to sara