Chapter 2
Rescue Mission
Calleigh looked like death warmed over when she came into work the next morning.
She had stayed up all night waiting for Horatio to come home. He never did. She had called him a dozen times, leaving a dozen messages telling him to at least call her back. He never called. By some miracle she hoped that he had spent the night in his office but when she came in this morning, his office was locked and he was no where to be found. Her stomach churned in worry, making her feel as miserable as she looked.
"Girl, you look like you just walked out of one of my coolers." Alexx commented as Calleigh entered the break room.
"I feel like it too." The blonde headed straight to the coffee pot, desperate for the caffeine jolt.
"How's Horatio doing?" Alexx asked carefully.
"When I know, you'll know." Alexx looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "He never came home last night." Calleigh explained as she carried her mug over to the table and sat down across from her friend.
"But you talked to him right?"
"Oh we talked…. If you can call it that." She sipped her coffee. As soon as it hit her stomach, she decided against it and pushed it away.
"He's taking it bad isn't he?" The medical examiner winced.
"Bad doesn't begin to describe it. He's not himself. He's closed off, defensive…mean, even to the extent of being physically violent." Alexx's eyes widened. "I'm fine. He just grabbed my wrists. He'd never hurt me. He's just……unstable right now." At least, she hoped it was just for right now.
"Where's he now?"
"Hell if I know." Calleigh shrugged. "Last night he said he wanted to be alone, to clear his head. I thought he'd drive around for awhile and then come home . I tried calling him but he's not answering. It scares me. I don't know what he's capable of." She sighed, defeated. "I need to find him but I don't even know where to look." Alexx took a long sip of tea before answering.
"Maybe you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. Just do your job." Calleigh looked at the medical examiner as it clicked into place.
"You're a genius Alexx Woods." She jumped out of her seat and hugged her friend before hurrying into the lab.
"It's up to you now honey."
The A/V lab was unoccupied when Calleigh entered and she preferred it that way. People would be asking questions soon enough, she didn't need to speed the process up any.
She tried his cell phone first but it was off, rendering the GPS useless. Not easily discouraged, she tried the low jack on the Hummer. All police vehicles were equipped with them and she knew he'd be close to it, at least she hoped. An address popped up almost immediately.
"Hialeah? What the hell are you doing out there Handsome?" She said to no one in particular as she quickly wrote down the address. On her way out, she ran into Speed.
"Whoa, what's up?" He held her arm as she passed.
"I gotta go. I'll explain later." She removed herself form his grasp.
"What's so important?" He called out after her as she ran off into the waiting elevator.
"Rescue mission." She called back as the elevator doors separated them.
Calleigh rested her head against the back of the car. Adrenaline was pulsing through her giving her a rush better than caffeine. She knew where he was; half the battle was already won.