KNOW THINE ENEMY

Chapter 2

Horatio dozed on the sofa. His grazes stung and his bruises – which seemed now to be all over his body – throbbed. Despite that, whatever painkiller he'd been given made him sleepy. He knew Eric would expect him to come up with some ideas, but his brain refused to co-operate. Any cop made enemies – it went with the territory – but almost none of the threats of vengeance meant anything. Most felons accepted that being caught was a risk they took and, oddly, very few took the police's actions personally. Of course, there were always exceptions…

Eric was soon back.

"Anything?" Horatio asked.

"Not really. Well, tire tracks – acceleration tracks… I might be able to confirm the vehicle. A tiny piece of plastic… It may be nothing to do with it. Oh, and your sunglasses – well broken. I hoped there'd be broken glass from the car or something. I'll take your jeans – there might be trace on them." He sat down. "How do you feel?"

"Just bruised. I'm okay."

"God, you were so lucky… I've been thinking… Could it have been random?"

"I hope not! You mean a random hit-and-run? In broad daylight? Very unlikely, I'd think."

"I'd agree, except… how did he know you'd be there? It's not as if you were on your way to work. Or your regular run. I mean, you weren't somewhere he'd expect you to be. Except it was near your home."

"Maybe he's been watching me."

"Has he though? Have you seen that vehicle around here?"

Horatio tried to concentrate. "I don't think so. It's restricted parking round here… Difficult place to watch. And I'd have noticed something that looked like a Fed-mobile. I'd be wondering what I'd done."

"Any neighbors got a similar car? Any in your parking garage?"

"You think I upset my neighbors that much?" Then Horatio shook his head slowly. "No. There are a couple of SUVs down there, but not black…"

"So, if it wasn't completely random, do you think someone just happened to see you on the street?"

"I don't know, Eric! None of it makes sense." He rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry. I'm not thinking clearly."

"Don't worry. You should rest."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to take what little I've got to the lab."

"It's Sunday."

"So?" Eric stood up. "Someone just tried to kill you. It's not waiting till Monday…" He went into the bedroom and returned with the discarded jeans and tee-shirt. "Do you want me to put an officer on the door?"

Horatio laughed. "No! This place is secure enough."

"All right. I'll see you later, okay?"

Horatio lay back and tried to sleep. Despite his battered weariness, he found himself going over recent cases in his mind. People he'd put in jail… No one stood out. The general resentment and bad-mouthing from the criminal classes rolled off him like water off a duck's back. But he was aware that some people were capable of nursing resentments for years, so 'recent' meant nothing. And… How did they know where he'd be on a Sunday morning? And why have a go at him in a public place, in full view of witnesses? None of it made sense, and it hardly seemed planned. He just hoped to God it wasn't some random act of a lunatic. Just what Miami needed…

He got painfully to his feet and limped as far as the bedroom, stretching out on the bed. It eased the discomfort, but he couldn't sleep. Eventually, he got up, hobbled to the bathroom and swallowed more painkillers. He made fresh coffee, and went onto the balcony, hoping the sun would revive him.

Picking up a notepad and pen, he wrote a list, struggling with a sore and bandaged hand:

Someone in jail, someone else doing the deed

Someone just released

Victim, perp not caught/found not guilty

Disgruntled employee

Acquaintance/neighbor

He gazed at the list, and murmured aloud, "So just about anyone."

He turned his thoughts to the timing and location of the attack. He had no set routine on a Sunday, so no one could know he'd be on the street. It wasn't worth making a list about that. Either he'd been watched, or it was luck. He put the pad to one side, and examined his leg. He thought the swelling was slightly less, but the limb was turning interesting shades of black and red. He tried to bend his knee, but couldn't. He was fed up, and hoped Eric would be back soon.

His colleague didn't return until early evening.

"I'm glad to see you," Horatio murmured. "I'm bored out of my mind."

"I've brought food. Nothing special…"

"Thanks." He realised he was quite hungry. "Tell me what you've found out."

"Eat this while it's hot…" Eric went to get plates and silverware.

"Don't keep me on tenterhooks…"

Eric sighed. "I haven't got anything much to tell you. The tracks could certainly match a GMC SUV, but there are literally hundreds in Florida. Do you know it was a Florida plate?"

"I don't know it wasn't. Let's stick with Florida."

"I narrowed it to black, tinted windows. Still well over a hundred."

"What about the plastic?"

"I think it's from a vehicle, presumably that vehicle. I think it's a bit of the light guard – which is why the light didn't break. It's got a couple of numbers on it, so I can check with GMC dealers tomorrow."

"But it doesn't get us the car…" Horatio muttered. "Nothing else?"

"Your jeans – lots of dirt and scuffing from the sidewalk… but it's clear where you were hit, and there's some mud."

"Useful mud?"

"Maybe. It's got traces of fertilizer in it. I'm going to try to narrow down a manufacturer… but it's not from Central Miami, that's for sure. So… farmland? Market gardening? Even then, it doesn't mean it didn't just drive through it." He sighed. "Sorry, H. Not much. Oh, and nothing from the BOLO. Actually, they've stopped four similar cars, but they're in the clear." He picked up the discarded notepad, and chuckled ruefully. "Well, this covers a fair proportion of the population."

"I know. I'm sorry I've ruined your Sunday."

"Oh, no problem." Eric hesitated. "We have to think how to protect you…"

"What?"

"Well, they failed, didn't they? So they'll try again…"

Horatio shrugged. "I'll have to take my chances. I can't work if I'm constantly looking over my shoulder."

"There are things we could do. You could wear body-armor, for example. I mean, you're okay here – as you said, the security on this place is quite tight. Although… it happened nearby, so they must know you live here… and…" Eric was thinking aloud. "…a sniper shot could reach here…"

"Hey, slow down! Think about it, Eric. Running someone down is crude and dirty. Possibly even unplanned. Snipers are the opposite end of the scale. The same person's not going to do both. And no, I'm not wearing body-armor. It's too hot and heavy. And, if someone really wants to shoot me, they can always go for a head shot."

"I knew you'd argue."

"What do you expect, Eric? You can't protect someone a hundred per cent. You know that."

"Well, at least you're here for the time being."

"I'll be in tomorrow."

"H, you can't walk!"

"I bet I can by then. But I can't shoot, so I'll probably stay in the lab. And I'd like to get Frank's take on this."

"Look, I'll come by tomorrow morning… See how you are. And please don't do anything crazy."

Horatio's eyebrows shot up. "Like?"

"Going out. Walking on that leg. Answering the door to anyone."

"Eric… Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"No, of course not. Sorry. I'm just worried."

"I know. Let's see what tomorrow brings. And thanks… for everything."

TBC