"Eric may have rhythm, but I don't think he'd be a good salsa dancer." Natalia said, swirling across the dance floor with a guy named Benicio. They had stopped for lunch at a Spanish restaurant and were taking advantage of the live band in the middle of the day.
"Ryan would probably step all over my feet." Keats giggled as she was dipped backward by Luis, Benicio's second cousin.
Valera swayed close beside them, spinning around with Benicio's brother, Tejano. Benicio was an assistant manager of the restaurant and insisted they dance and enjoy themselves.
"I have a confession to make, K.J." Natalia murmured as they sat down at the bar, ordering Keats a humongous Raspberry-Lime Daiquiri.
"Go ahead." Keats said, glancing at Valera in case she knew what it was about.
"When I first met you…I was afraid that you were going to take Eric away from me. I was insanely jealous and I didn't give you a chance. I apologize for that." She said, sipping her Margarita.
Valera didn't like alcohol much so she volunteered to be the designated driver, happily satisfied with a virgin Pina Colada.
"I understand. There were a couple of times when I thought he was with the two of you. I heard he really liked you, Valera. And that he actually asked you on a date, Natalia. Plus, there were those rumors about Erica Sykes." Keats took a gulp from her daiquiri and coughed. It was quite strong.
"We've flirted a few times, but who hasn't flirted with Ryan?" Valera said jokingly.
"I only went out with him to get back at Eric. I had to find out through Ryan that we were broken up. I was so angry at Eric for that." Natalia fumed.
"Anyway, Erica should be the least of your worries. Ryan can't stand her." Valera said.
"For that matter, neither can we." Natalia quipped.
"You should be celebrating. It's your birthday! You can drink now, you're graduating and going to become a legitimate CSI…you even helped put Berkeley on trial. He's been a thorn in our sides for over a year." Valera told her, trying to inspire some high spirits within her comrades.
Keats was so lucky to have wonderful new friends and a wonderful life, but even then, she still thought of Patty.
Patty would have sent her a stripper or something for her birthday, or made a crank birthday phone call.
She allowed herself to be sad for only a second more, and then she took another drink, raising her glass to her two friends.
"Here's to putting that son-of-a-bitch in the hot seat." Natalia said.
"Here's to the newest member of Miami Dade's Crime Lab." Valera grinned. She said this a bit loudly, drawing attention from the men they had been dancing with.
Unfortunately, none of the women noticed them eavesdropping.
"Here's to…good friends…" Keats said with a smile.
"Man…a few months ago we wouldn't have been here together." Valera said after a moment of sentimental silence.
"Definitely not. We hated each other, and you thought Valera was a sanctimonious twit that dated your ex-husband." Keats told Natalia.
"I did not!" Natalia said with a laugh. It was partially true, granted, but none of that mattered anymore.
"Fine…fine." Keats waved her off cheerfully. Benicio led Natalia back on to the dance floor a short time later, and both Keats and Valera followed right behind her.
"There's something about a man that can dance." Valera murmured as Tejano held her close, moving his hips against hers to the beat of the music.
Keats danced with Luis, smiling and thinking to herself. Her thoughts consisted of wondering why she ever doubted Ryan and other similar things.
Erica Sykes was someone she'd never even met and someone Ryan had never spoken of.
What? Me worry?
"You and your friends are very pretty." Luis whispered in her ear.
"Thanks. Must be all the sunshine." She replied. She winced when Luis tightened his arm around her waist.
"You should come up to my room." He said. With that, he yanked her away from the crowd of people and pushed her through a door near the back of the restaurant.
"You work at Miami Dade. Under Horatio Caine, correct?" He asked her, pushing her into a back room. He made her sit on a steel chair facing him.
"What does it matter?" She asked, frightened at the prospect of being all alone in a back room with a man she didn't know.
"Have you ever heard of a man by the name of Clavo Cruz?" He asked, scratching his five o'clock shadow. Keats shook her head, not comprehending the danger she was in.
Natalia broke away from Benicio, racing after Keats as fast as she could manage. She felt Benicio shove her through the back room door and she tumbled to the ground.
"Natalia!" Keats cried. Tejano was the last person to show up, dragging Valera along with him. He closed and locked the door, turning to Benicio.
"Is she the only one who works at Miami Dade, or do you ladies work there as well?" Benicio asked them.
"What is this about?" Natalia asked.
"Never mind." Benicio muttered, proceeding to bind them with excessive amounts of duct tape.
What are we going to do? No one knows where we are and they won't even start looking for us until tomorrow.
"Don't worry. We won't harm you until we talk to Lt. Caine." Benicio said. Natalia did a double take.
"What does this have to do with Horatio Caine?" She asked.
"You'll find out soon enough." Benicio said. Luis and Tejano laughed as though he'd told a good joke.
The three women did not find them amusing.