Title: Past and Present - Part 3
Author: Aeon Cole
Beta: posting this as I write it so no beta, all mistakes are my own
Rating: FRT
Warning: Slash
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Horatio/Speed
Series: Friends and Family
Word Count: 1915
Summary: Horatio and Tim get ready to celebrate their second anniversary as they investigate a murder at Michael's apartment complex. But not everything turns out the way they hope when Michael becomes ill.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
ooo
Thursday, July 17, 2003 2:00 P.M.
Alexx walked into the small café and sat down across from Arya. "Sorry I'm late. It's been a long morning."
Arya smiled. "Not a problem. I understand," she said. "Did you have any problems getting out?" Alexx shook her head. "Do the boys suspect anything?"
Alexx chuckled. "Honey, they're CSIs. Of course they suspect something. They just aren't sure what yet."
"Well at least everyone's kept quiet so far," Arya replied.
"So, how are the plans coming?"
"Good so far but I know Tim's going to protest not being able to do the cooking. I was hoping to get Michael to help with that but he's been so grumpy lately and now with Howie." Arya shrugged. "But Jeff volunteered his house and Tony's lining up some music. The only trick is going to be getting them over there on Saturday."
"Maybe we should give up on the idea of surprising them," Alexx suggested. "I mean, they already know something's up anyway."
"I know," Arya said. "But I'm going to try to keep it a secret for as long as possible."
ooo
Eric was staring at the computer screen. He'd run across this particular problem before. He picked up the phone in his lab and called Horatio. "H, I think we have a problem," he said. Five minutes later Horatio walked into the print lab.
"What's going on, Eric?" he asked.
Eric pointed to the screen. Horatio took a closer look and saw Howard Little's name next to his fingerprints. At the top of the page he saw a red flag with a phone number that had a 202 area code. He knew what that meant.
"That's a fed number," Horatio said shaking his head. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed it.
"Agent Barnes," a voice at the other end answered.
"Agent Barnes, this is Horatio Caine from the Miami-Dade crime lab. I think we have a problem."
ooo
About ten minutes later Horatio walked into the trace lab and found Speed working on Howard's clothes. Speed looked up and could tell from Horatio's face that something was wrong.
"What is it?" he asked.
"We, um, we have a problem with Mr. Little," Horatio answered carefully. "He was under federal protection."
Speed immediately stopped what he was doing and stood up. "What?!"
"He was a protected witness. I don't have all the details yet but the federal marshals should be here within the hour. They won't tell me anything more until they verify his identity."
Tim's mind immediately went to his father and he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Dad," he said when Michael answered. "Do me a favor and don't open your door for anybody. If anyone tries to get you to let them in, don't, then call me or Horatio immediately." He paused for a moment. "Look don't argue with me right now. Just trust me," he said then hung up.
"Don't worry," Horatio said and pulled him into a hug. "I already called the woman at the front desk and told her to be suspicious of anyone coming to see your father. She won't let anyone past who is not on the list of names I gave her and I told her to check id's as well."
"Yeah, but they could easily say they are there to see someone else. I should go over there, make sure he's ok," Tim said as he pulled back from Horatio's arms.
"Tim, relax. I've got officers at the building. Besides, there seems to be some tension between you and your father right now. Becoming all over protective isn't going to help things." He could see that Tim still looked skeptical so he said, "I'll go over and talk to him after I meet with the marshals. Maybe I can get him to stay with us until this blows over."
Tim sighed knowing Horatio was right. The tension between himself and his father, even though he had no idea what was causing it, would flare and Michael would resist his attempts to help. He nodded his agreement and sat down at the lab table.
"I just wish I knew why he was being like this," Tim said.
"Just relax. I'll have a talk with him," Horatio said. Tim glanced up at him and one side of Horatio's mouth quirked up. "Don't worry, I'll play nice."
Tim just chuckled and went back to his work.
ooo
Horatio waited patiently while the two federal marshals identified the body on the morgue table and whispered between themselves. After a few minutes they turned to Horatio.
"We need to talk, Lieutenant Caine," one of the men said.
Horatio lead them up to his office and shut the door. "Ok, you two want to tell me exactly what is going on now," Horatio said trying to be polite.
The marshals exchanged a glance. "The man you know as Howard Little has been working with us for the past two years. His real name is Terrence Cleveland. He was due to testify next month in the racketeering trial of New Jersey mob boss Anthony Maldonado."
Horatio looked back and forth between the two men. "What's the connection?"
"Cleveland was Maldonado's driver for twenty years," the other man answered. "He had intimate knowledge of Maldonado's comings and goings. His testimony was crucial to our case. We were actually getting ready to pick him up and take him to a safe house. We had just informed him yesterday to look out for a marshal to pick him up in the next day or two."
Horatio rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone while the other two men looked on puzzled. "Calleigh, go back to Little's apartment and sweep the place for listening devices. Oh, and don't say anything to Tim about this. I don't want to worry him."
The marshals glared at Horatio. "We sweep that place regularly, Lieutenant."
"Yeah, when was the last time?" Horatio shot back.
"A week ago," the marshal replied.
"Well, that's given someone a week to plant a bug. If there are any in that apartment my people will find them. Now if you'll excuse me, I have something I have to take care of."
He turned to leave the room when one of the marshals stopped him. "This is a federal matter, Lieutenant. We have jurisdiction."
"You'll share jurisdiction with my team," Horatio responded. "This is still our case," he said and strode out of the room.
ooo
After stopping at the Trace lab, Horatio headed for his Hummer. He needed to talk Michael into leaving his apartment for a while. There's no telling whether or not the same people who killed Howard would be after him as well. They had spent a lot of time together and someone may think that Howard had told Michael something he shouldn't have.
He pulled up to the building and flashed his id to the woman at the desk. "Has anyone else asked for Mr. Speedle today?" The woman shook her head. "Good," Horatio said and he headed for the elevator.
Before he went to Michael's he stopped at Howard's to speak with Calleigh. "Have you found anything?" he asked.
Calleigh held up a length of wire with a tiny microphone dangling from it. "There was one in the phone and one in the ceiling light fixture," she said.
"This man was a federally protected witness," Horatio explained. "That phone call he got yesterday was from the federal marshals telling him they were coming to pick him up and take him to a safe house. He was to expect them within two days."
"So the hit man knew exactly how to get in and when, great," Calleigh said.
"Look, I'm going to try to talk Michael into coming with me but I would like you to sweep his place for bugs first."
Calleigh followed him to Michael's apartment. She was about to knock when Horatio said, "Wait." He pulled out his phone and dialed Michael's number. When Michael answered he said, "It's Horatio. I'm at your door."
A few moments later the door opened and Michael stepped aside to let them in. "You mind telling what's going on," the older man griped.
"In just a moment, I promise," Horatio said then he nodded to Calleigh.
She swept the detector around the room. It began beeping loudly as she passed a table lamp. She reached up into the lamp and pulled a wire free. Michael was about to say something when Horatio held his hand up silencing him. Calleigh continued around the room before settling on the phone. She pulled another bug from there then declared the place clean.
"Can I talk now?" Michael asked somewhat exasperated.
"Yes, sorry," Horatio replied.
"Good. Now what the hell is going on?" he asked.
Calleigh bagged the bugs and said, "I'll leave you two alone." And she headed out of the apartment.
"Howard Little wasn't who he said he was. He was in the witness protection program," Horatio explained. This took Michael completely by surprise and he sat back on the sofa. Horatio could tell he was taken aback by this information. "His real name was Terrance Cleveland and he was due to testify in court next month in the trial of a New Jersey mob boss."
Michael was shaking his head. "Are you sure?"
Horatio nodded. "Afraid so. Two federal marshals came by to identify him today." He paused for a moment to allow what he'd just said to sink in for Michael. "Look, Michael, you're not safe here." Michael looked up at him a bit more surprised. "I want to take you back to our house until this whole thing is settled. But I need to clear the air about something first."
Michael was still in shock but something in Horatio's tone got his attention. "What?" he asked.
"I need to know exactly what it is that is going on between you and Tim and Arya right now. You have everybody very concerned and if you are going to come stay with us I don't want any tension between you and Tim."
Michael remained silent for a few moment then he said, "I expect you already know what Ary's planning for your anniversary."
"We have a pretty good idea, but we're not letting her know that."
Michael smirked. "I figured. Well I was going to wait until after to say anything but I'll tell you if you promise not to say anything to them until after. I don't want to ruin this for them."
Horatio said, "That all depends on what you tell me. Tim and I don't keep secrets from each other." Michael proceeded to tell him what he'd been told by the doctor. "Did he say how long you have?"
"No, just that they're going to monitor things for now. But the pain in my legs is getting worse. It's getting difficult to walk sometimes and I get these headaches," Michael said. "I guess I've just been trying to keep Tim and Ary at arms length so they don't find out."
Horatio nodded. "Ok, you have my silence until after this weekend. But after that you are going to tell them or I will." Michael agreed. "Good. Now let's get some things packed and get you out of here."
"What about Oscar?" Michael asked.
"I guess it's about time to see how he gets along with Cloe," Horatio said.
TBC