Mind of a Fanatic
Chapter 5
Stetler stepped off the elevator and strode down the corridor headed for Horatio's office, casually glancing through the glass walls of the individual labs as he passed them. He slowed his pace; working IAB meant developing a highly tuned subterfuge radar. Something was going on. For now, he wanted to find Horatio. He had a few hard questions to ask him and first thing in the morning was always the best time; most people couldn't lie worth a damn before ten o'clock
He took the stairs to Horatio's office two at a time. Pushing the door open without knocking he barked. "Caine, I need to speak with Ms. Duquesne about her behavior on that crime scene yesterday. I've heard she isn't in Firearms. Where is she?"
"Not now, Rick. We're all a bit busy at the moment; so if you'll take yourself out of here and come back later, it would be greatly appreciated." Horatio said automatically reading a file, not really hearing what was just said. He was riding the outer edge of exhaustion after pulling an all-nighter chasing leads on Dupree. None of the team had gone home; they all were dead on their feet, but completely determined to get to Calleigh before Dupree did anything more to her.
"I said that I need to speak with Ms. Duquesne about her behavior at the crime scene yesterday." Rick took the file from Horatio's hands. "Where is she?"
"Damned if I know." Horatio slumped exhaustedly in his chair. "She was taken last night around 6:45. The guy has a history with her; she put him away, now he's out with revenge on his mind. He abducts and tortures his victims."
Rick leaned on Horatio's desk, concerned. "How much of a warning did you get about this?"
"Not much. Calleigh got a call yesterday morning and brought it to my attention. We did what we could, but it wasn't enough. He has her," Horatio said, guilt coloring his words. "So unless you want to roll up your sleeves and help, I suggest you leave and let us work on finding her.
"This team shouldn't be working the investigation. It's too personal." Stetler stated without much conviction. He knew Horatio and the loyalty he showed his team all too well.
"That's exactly why this team is working the investigation Rick. She's not some random vic with a toe tag down in the morgue." Horatio rose from his chair and put his hands on his hips. "She's a member of this team; we will move heaven and earth to find her. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a job to do."
Horatio brushed past Stetler and exited his office.
"Cooper," Horatio strode into the AV lab. "What do you have for me?"
"It took me all night, but I think I have a lead," Cooper said with a yawn. "Calleigh uncovered yesterday that Dupree bought a '92 Bronco in Louisiana; they would still have the temporary plates. You need a permanent address to get the other ones. I already had Eric put a BOLO out on those plates. The dealership said he bought it under the name of "Father Peters". That's the first time he's used the alias; so Calleigh set me on tracking down Father Peters. I didn't have any luck with it until this morning; the good father next shows up at a U-Haul rental where he rented a truck and paid cash, mentioning that he has to move a mission to Miami."
"So we have stated intent. That's premeditation," Horatio said, feeling a little satisfied. "Continue, please."
"So, our Father Peters picks up whatever he has in storage at a Public Storage facility; I was about to call them and check into it. At this point he drops off the grid until he hits Ocala. I need to find out what happened there. He finally turns up in Miami about a month ago, buying some wood working tools at a Home Depot near the Glades." Dan looked up at Horatio. "Just how sick is this guy?"
"He won't kill her," Horatio said gravely. "But he can do a great deal of damage; we need to find her before it becomes permanent."
Calleigh came to with her arms still tied behind her. Opening her eyes, she levered herself into an upright position. Her back, chest and shoulders throbbed with every beat of her heart. She wondered briefly how much damage had been done already.
"Oh God," she groaned.
"That you should call upon God is good, Penitent. As The Way says: Don't miss a chance to "give in". It's hard-but how pleasing in the eyes of God," Dupree said from across the room. "Now that you've had your little rest, we can continue our catechism. I hope you'll be more co-operative this time." Dupree used the crank to pull her up again as he had before.
Okay, this was getting old … "You know this is pointless, Dupree." The slap across her face came like lightning, once again shocking her.
"FATHER Dupree, Penitent." He said forcefully. "I am an ordained Catholic priest and will not be addressed in the familiar! Now, we will begin on the Symbolum Apostolorum. Repeat it to me in the language of Our Lord-"
"You've learned Aramaic while I was out?" Calleigh asked sweetly, spitting blood from her split lip. "Well, then you're a quicker study than I thought."
He lifted her and dropped her. "In Latin, you heathen," he growled.
"I don't know Latin and I don't know Aramaic; I've told you that. I speak precisely two languages; English and Spanish." Calleigh grunted in pain; raising her head defiantly. "I don't know why you can't get that through your thick skull."
The tension suddenly lessened and her arms came down. Though relieved, Calleigh was immediately suspicious. Okay, what's he doing now?
In a friendly tone, Dupree asked, "Penitent, do you know a womans' place in the world?"
"Of course I do," Calleigh said, covertly rolling her shoulders to relieve the pain.
"Tell me then, what you think it is."
Dammit, he talked me into a corner. Oh well, might as well plunge ahead. "As a child of the ERA; anyplace she wants to be whether it is in the bedroom or the boardroom. Anywhere where she can do good and make this world a better and safer place to be." Calleigh said confidently. "That's why I became a criminalist."
"Do you not think it would be better for you to be a wife and mother and keep the home?" Dupree asked, eyes glittering darkly.
"Well, that hasn't happened, now has it?" She replied, trying to gauge his mood. Was he trying to understand her or lull her into a false sense of security? "Why are you asking me this?"
"To see how far you've strayed from God's Will." He pulled her arms up behind her again, and was rewarded with a small groan of pain. "You have strayed far, Penitent. There is much atonement needed."
"Listen, this isn't the Middle Ages anymore," Calleigh gasped. "The Church doesn't have that kind of power it had over peoples' lives. People make their own decisions without running to a priest for advice all the time."
"Heretic; stop your Satanic lies!" Dupree pulled her up until she dangled over the floor.
"They're not lies; women live on their own; they work outside the home and no one stops them." She broke off as he dropped her a little; gasping for breath as her shoulders screamed in agony. "Dammit; listen to me!"
Dupree slapped her face, making her swing a little. "No swearing!"
"Well, that got your attention, didn't it?" Calleigh shot back in an effort to keep her voice from wavering from the pain. "Hell, if I had known sooner-"
She broke off as a blow landed in her midsection and a bright flare of pain erupted. Do not cry. You will not cry. "What…did…you-"
"Cursing." He dropped her to the floor and left her there.