Disclaimer: As always, I am, sadly, not the owner of anything or anyone from the CSI: Miami franchise... sits in corner and cries... XD
A/N: Luke Litano is the present day guy. The older guy is also Luke Litano, but the one from the future. So, try to bear with me. Whenever I mention Luke, it's the present day guy and his older version is will be referred to as the 'older guy' or something along those lines. This is because there are a lot more synonyms for 'old' than there are for 'young.' Well, anyways, enjoy! XD
Chapter 8:
Luke Litano was trying to make sense with what was going on. The older man was his exact mirror image save a few gray hairs. All he knew for sure was that the both shared a hate for Natalia Boa Vista. I don't have a twin and this guy… me… says he's…or is it I'm…from the future…whoa, this is getting too complicated to comprehend… How is this situation even possible?
As if reading his mind, the senior said, "I don't know how this happened, but we need to take advantage of it…and we need to kill Larry; he's too unreliable."
"Yeah, but he was so easy to manipulate." Probably because he wanted to fool around with some kid. What a perverted freak.
"That's true, but that also means that the police can easily manipulate him too." It was his testimony that got me…us…thrown in jail…I won't forget it. I'd rather be on the offensive side and end it before it begins.
"That's true." This is strange, but whatever helps get my revenge. Natalia can't get away with placing me in jail.
"Camera, 5 o'clock." The two men ducked beneath a security camera on the high ceiling as it slowly swung 270 degrees left and right. It was a high security area with many cameras and guards that they were, at the current moment, trying to avoid. Together, they had beaten the guard outside the visiting room unconscious. Luke took the man's pants and gun. He wanted to blend in a much as possible and therefore kept on his white tank top and discarded his, or rather Larry's, orange jumpsuit.
They had several more close calls, regarding the location of cameras and officers, but finally they exited the Miami-Dade Penitentiary. They tried, as much as was humanly possible, not to look conspicuous. When he felt they were safe enough and one with the crowd of busy Miami businesspeople and the like, Luke spoke up. "What's the plan? Cuz, mine was all Larry, and I was gonna have him take the fall."
"No, good," the older man said laconically.
"Yeah, you mentioned that before. Got any better ideas?" Cuz, I'd love to hear them. I'm past trying to make amends with Natalia, trying to make her love me. She still does, deep inside, but that's not enough. I want her dead. She makes me so angry.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Luke was yanked by his duplicate self into an alley and informed him of the revised plan of action.
"That's insane," a grin worked its way maliciously onto his face, "It just may work…how long will it take?"
"We need to be patient." Both were tired of waiting, especially the elder man. Larry messed up, now I can prevent it; his fancy of children will be his downfall. It got in the way last time, but this time, it'll be to our benefit. "We need to figure out where she works and lives. We need to figure out her routine. I-We were married to her, it should be simple, for the most part."
"Won't this take months or possibly even years?" Luke was anxious, he didn't have the foresight his older self had, but he wanted to get the job over with and move on.
"It won't. The two important things are where she lives and works. Everything else will fall right into place."
"That's good."
"You ready for this?" Even though he knew the response because he was basically asking himself, he asked anyway.
"As much as you are, I guess." They both smiled at the bad joke.
"Do you still have your old apartment?" It had been nearly a decade since he had last seen the place at the Cocoa Bean Apartment Complex. Now, I just live in a pit in the ground.
"Yeah, prepared rent-"
"Good for a year; yeah, I remember. It still has that large freezer chest in the basement, right?"
"How should I know? I haven't been there for the past couple of months. I would assume it's still there." Luke was getting a little antsy at the whole idea that his mirror image had come eight years from the future to 'save' him from a fate of extended jail-time. Luke was pretty vain and winced as he observed the grayish-white hairs speckled throughout his older self's hair.
"The first thing we need to do is go to your apartment. Sit, eat, drink, and relax a bit. Then we get to work." The older man laughed, "Where would we be without the Yellow Pages…and the Internet?"
Originally, they were going to eat something once they reached Luke's apartment: some moldy bread and curdled milk. Together, those would probably be more appetizing than the grayness of prison food, if you could call it food. They had, yet, another change in plans as the older man stopped suddenly at Your Corner Deli. "Hungry?"
"I'm okay. We have more important things-" His stomach betrayed him. "Okay, maybe just a little."
"Let's grab a bite here. We'll think straighter on a fuller stomach." He would rather have gone straight to the apartment, but he had seen someone somewhat familiar inside the deli. That man at the counter, the Hispanic-looking one. Back, home, isn't he Nat's husband? He sneered. Maybe I can get some information out of him. I don't think he knows about me-us…yet… He put on his sunglasses to somewhat disguise himself and proceeded to open the door. A little jingle rang to notify everyone inside that people had entered. The man by the counter glanced up for a split second before turning his attention back to locating some scrumptious chocolate bars.
Luke coughed and muttered through clenched teeth, "Maybe I should wait outside."
In the same manner, the response he received was, "Shut up and play it cool." In a louder voice, he ordered, "Grab a couple of beers." He, himself, walked leisurely up to the counter next to the previously mentioned man and glanced up at the choice of sandwiches. The cashier, who also was the one who prepared the sandwiches, was preoccupied for the moment. The older Litano turned to the man besides him and conversationally said, "I'm here on business from New York. I've never been to Miami before. Do you have any suggestions on what's the best sandwich to eat?" He stood in a relaxed, laid-back manner with his arms across his chest.
The other man laughed. Kind of random…but this day's been full of it… "It's pretty much like any deli…If you like tradition, get the turkey; if you don't, then get the habañero and chicken."
"I think I'll stick with tradition. Habañeros give me problems." Both men laughed. "I'm Larry, by the way."
"Eric." They shook hands.
"Actually, I'm also trying to locate someone in Miami for a friend of mine back in New York."
"And you need to figure out where to start?" I don't know how I'll be able to help…
"Yeah, something like that, I just don't really know where to go or who to ask."
"Who are you looking for?"
"Do you know a…" He fumbled in his pant's pockets and took out a random piece of paper, which he pretended to read off of, "…a N-Natalia…B-Boa Vista?" He frowned slightly to make it appear as if he had never heard of that name before. In the back, near the refrigerators, there was a mini crash as Luke dropped a can or two of beer.
Both men turned briefly to the sound and then turned back. Eric raised his eyebrows. Small world… "Yeah, I know her."
"Oh, really? That's perfect!" He laughed in fake shock. "Can you-" He was cut off by the shaking of Eric's head.
"I can't give away that kind of information without letting her know first…it's not 'confidential'… but I don't have her permission." He paid for his sandwiches, drinks, and chocolate.
"Oh, pity." It was worth a try.
"Sorry, man. Hope you have a good stay." The jingle sounded once again as he exited with his large paper bag inside of an even larger white plastic bag with the 'Thank You' printed repetitively in red ink. Larry, was it? Of course he wouldn't mention a last name…
Back inside the deli, the older man had ordered two turkey, lettuce, mayonnaise, and cheese heroes. Luke came from the back with two cases of Bud Light. He couldn't make out what the other man's expression read, on account of the dark sunglasses, but he assumed that he was being glared at. He was right.
"You dropped the can? Plan on getting us caught?" The older man hissed at Luke, so as not to draw attention to themselves, even they were alone in the delicatessen, save for the sandwich maker, who, as was stated before, doubled as the cashier.
"You… YOU...said her NAME!" They received a curious look from the cashier, as they paid for their meal. That silenced them until they returned outside.
"We need to be more careful and remain calm."
Luke scowled. "Let's just go to the apartment and figure-"
"No, we're following him." The older Luke pointed ahead towards Eric, who had just entered a yellow building, the Miami-Dade County Police Department/Crime Laboratory.
"Inside?"
"No, outside. Otherwise, you-we'll look too suspicious. You still have the old Jeep?" Well obviously…we are the same person. If I still have the Jeep, then he…I…hmm…he will still have it. This is complicated and mind-boggling.
A simple nod from Luke confirmed this. "The prison still has my keys though."
"Well then, it's a good thing that I have my set."
"Er…it's in the garage." Cocoa Bean Apartment Complex allowed their tenants to have free parking as long as they paid the annual rent.
"Alright, I'll go get the Jeep and you… you just lay low."
"What just stand around?"
"Well, stay in the shadows and wait… and try not to do anything… stupid."
"Yeah, well, you too..."
"Watch out for him… and her."
"What if they come right now…when you leave?"
"Then let me know when I come back."
"Let me have my share." Luke was referring to the sandwiches and drinks, which the older man relinquished temporarily. He took a sandwich and a beer and gave the bag back to himself. Whoa…that's a kind of odd thought.
"I'll be back soon, try not to stand out."
"Yeah, see ya. I'm preoccupied with my lunch. Doesn't look strange."
"Well, be aware."
"Yeah, I know, be on the lookout." The elder Litano nodded curtly before walking down the street and turning a corner, on his way to the garage. It wasn't too far of a distance from the crime lab.
Luke sat in the shade of a tree located close to the golden edifice and fixated his time with eating his food, while also keeping a sharp eye out for Eric and Natalia.
A/N: Just a reminder that Luke is like AU Nick... XD... lemme know what you thought... XD