Trouble with Friends

Chapter 16

After a few more dances, Horatio and Calleigh decided they'd end their special night by returning to their cottage and enjoy a walk on the beach, taking advantage of the late spring full moon.

Pulling up to the cottage, Horatio opened his door and quickly walked around to Calleigh's door and offered his hand to help her out.

"Thank you Handsome," and then she began taking her heels off, one at a time. Horatio slipped off his shoes and they began walking toward the water, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Tonight has been magical," she held her hand out as they walked, still admiring her ring as the moonlight made the stone shimmer. Horatio smiled looking down at her hand.

"I have to agree Sweetheart…it's been a night I've wanted to share with you for so long," he breathed into her ear before leaning in and kissing her cheek.

Still holding his hand, Calleigh suddenly pulled out of his embrace and teased, "Bet I can beat you to the water!" She let go of his hand and took off in a sprint, giggling as she turned her head back to see if Horatio would take her up on a little fun.

"Hey, no fair," he shouted, "you got a head start," his lips turned up in a grin as he started jogging after her.

Reaching the water at about the same time, Horatio wrapped his arms around her and playfully growled, "Let's save some energy for later."

Giggling Calleigh responded, "You mean you've recovered from last night?"

"I think I can muster enough strength to please you," he softly answered, his lips almost touching hers before he initiated a searing kiss, which Calleigh returned.

Leaving her lips, he began assaulting her neck with tantalizing kisses, slowly moving to her collarbone.

Between kisses he asked, "Could…we…enjoy...the moonlight from inside? I feel…my strength…returning."

Breathless from his tender touch she answered, "I…believe…oh, Horatio," she gasped as his tongue teased the soft spot at the bottom of her neck, "I'd…love to."

Scooping her up into his arms, Calleigh leaned her head against his shoulder and softly kissed his neck as he carried her to the cottage.

Eric arrived at the lab Sunday morning anxious to get a head start on the paperwork still lying on Horatio's desk so Calleigh wouldn't have to tackle it the next morning. While he worked, he couldn't keep his mind off the fact that Horatio and Calleigh's relationship seemed to have moved to a higher level. Well, you had your chance Delko, but you blew it. She's always just considered me a good friend and if I'd just admit it, I think, deep down I've always known it was Horatio she loved.

A couple of hours later, shaken from his thoughts by his cell phone vibrating, he reached for it where it laid on top of the desk.

Not recognizing the number he answered, "CSI Delko."

"Delko, this is Westcock in the Miami FBI office."

Eric sat back in the chair, as his heart quickly felt lighter hoping the agent had good news for them. "Calling with good news, I hope?"

"If you're talking about Miller, I'm afraid not, but I'm calling to tell you about some information I just received that concerns some known Haitian mafia operatives connected to him. We've gotten word that they are moving on a target today down in Key Largo. It could be about a shipment." The information stunned Eric into silence and caused him to immediately sit up straight.

Westcock heard nothing on the other end of the connection. "Delko…you still there?"

Eric's heart began frantically racing. "You're sure about this?" he asked with a raised voice as he jumped up from the chair and quickly began walking to the door leading out into the hallway. He added, "I don't think it's a shipment they're moving on. Lieutenant Caine is in Key Largo, due to return to Miami today." The CSI ran down the stairs toward the DNA lab where Ryan and Natalia were working.

Now it was Westcock who was silent. "I'll try to get some agents to the area, but it will take a couple of hours."

"Thanks. I need to call Horatio and give them a heads up. Call me back when you know something," he asked the agent before ending the call.

"Eric," Natalia said as she heard the last sentence of his phone conversation as he entered the lab. "What's going on?"

Eric punched the speed dial number for Horatio as he answered, "FBI has info that some Haitian operatives are on their way to Key Largo…and that's where H and Calleigh are."

"Oh no," Natalia gasped. Ryan's face reflected grave concern with the news.

Suddenly Eric screamed, "DAMN IT H!" he then pushed another button, this one would connect him to Calleigh. Looking at his startled colleagues he explained, "H has his phone turned off." Frustration at receiving the recording that the party was not available, Eric kicked the stool over in front of him.

"Neither one of them have their phone turned on."

"We've got to get down there," Natalia said as she hurriedly began taking off her lab coat.

"I'll call the sheriff's office there and alert them." As the call was ringing Eric instructed, "Call Tripp and get Walter. Tell them to meet us at the Hummers."

The call connected, "This is CSI Eric Delko with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's office…"

Horatio and Calleigh walked to their car with their bags and she commented, "I hate to leave, it's so beautiful here."

He smiled, "I know, I feel the same way, but I promise we'll come back again."

After leaving the cottage, they stopped at a breakfast/lunch place that was family owned. It was popular with locals for unusual seafood breakfast dishes served through the afternoon. He'd always made a point to eat here every time he had brought his nephew, Ray, Jr. down on their fishing trips.

As they walked in the door an elderly woman greeted them. "Lieutenant Caine," she smiled as walked up to him and threw her arms around his neck. Calleigh smiled as she watched the warm greeting. "It's been too long."

"Hello Anna," Horatio greeted as he returned the hug. "Where's Dennis? You got him working this morning?"

The woman laughed and replied, "He's filling in back in the kitchen…short of help today." The woman's eyes then fell on the beautiful blonde standing close by. "Hello," Anna offered.

Horatio put his arm around Calleigh and smiled, "Anna, I'd like you to meet Calleigh, my fiancée."

The older woman shrieked loudly, "FIANCEE?" She opened her arms and drew Calleigh into a hug as Horatio stood grinning watching the two women.

Anna let go of a surprised Calleigh and lightly placed her hand on the young lady's cheek. "So beautiful…you love him, yes?"

Calleigh smiled and answered, "Very much."

Anna looked at them both and took each of their hands and joined them, "You take care of each other and be happy. I wish you a lifetime of love."

"Thank you Anna," Horatio replied. And Calleigh said the same.

"I put you at our best table…looking over the water. Come." She abruptly turned and led the couple to their table.

Placing the menus down in front of each of them she said, "You order anything you wish…on the house."

Horatio began protesting, but was quickly stopped. "I hear no more from you; it will be our wedding gift to you. Enjoy," she smiled happily with her hands resting on the couple's shoulders. There was some commotion behind her and she quickly turned and began shouting orders to one of the waiters.

Horatio, still chuckling at Calleigh's incredulous expression began, "I should have warned you, Anna and Dennis are Greek and are very demonstrative with their emotions. They moved here just twenty years ago from Greece and opened the restaurant."

"I think she's beautiful and she loves you so, she has good taste," responding with a big smile as she reached and squeezed his hand.

Having finished a large breakfast that consisted of conch burritos, a seafood frittata with hash browns and a pot of coffee. they began talking about taking a stroll down the beach to let their food settle before driving back to Miami, when Anna approached their table.

"You need more food Lieutenant…you too skinny, must put on weight."

Horatio threw up his hands and pleaded, "Can't eat another bite Anna. It was all delicious as usual."

"It was wonderful Anna," Calleigh added. "I wish I had known about your place before now, but you have me hooked. Next time we're down, you can count on seeing us!"

"You be good to her Lieutenant…she's very nice."

Horatio smiled warmly and took Calleigh's hand in his and commented, "She sure is."

Anna walked back to the kitchen to check on orders for other tables and Horatio took out his billfold. Calleigh smiled as Horatio took out a twenty-dollar bill and left it on the table, knowing Anna wouldn't see it until after they left.

After hugs and kisses and promises they'd be back soon, Horatio and Calleigh walked out of the restaurant, slipped off their shoes and began walking down the beach, wrapped in each other's arms, unaware that four men in a van were closely observing the couple. Anna watched from the porch as the couple walked away, wiping an errant tear from her eyes, happy that the handsome Lieutenant had found such a lovely woman.

After they had walked for some time, Horatio glanced at his watch and saw that it was after one in the afternoon and reluctantly whispered, "We should start heading back Sweetheart."

They stopped walking and Calleigh took one last look down the beautiful beach and replied, "I know." She looked up into his warm gaze and added, "This whole weekend has been like a dream…I don't want it to end."

Horatio hugged her to his side and said, "I know…it has, but it's just the beginning of a lifetime together…nothing's ending." He searched her eyes and leaned down and gave her a long kiss. Breaking the kiss they stood with their arms around each other enjoying the moment.

"Can't this pile of junk go any faster?" Frank barked at Eric who was driving the Hummer.

"I'm on ninety-five now Tripp. As you can see, there's a lot of traffic on this highway," Eric replied in a frustrated voice.

Walter, Ryan and Natalia were on the back seat. Eric had spoken with the lead investigator in the Sherriff's office in Key Largo before they had left and assured the CSI that a unit would go to the resort and stay with Horatio and Calleigh until they arrived.

As the team was on the way to their destination, the investigator had called and told Eric that the couple had already checked out and left. He said they would begin canvassing the area to try and find them, but this time of the year there were a lot of extra people on the island.

Eric was trying to remember places in Key Largo he'd heard Horatio talking about from taking Ray, Jr. fishing and after a little time, he thought about "Anna's Place".

When they were about ten minutes from the center of Key Largo Eric blurted out, "This time of the day, I bet they stopped at a restaurant I've heard Horatio mention – Anna's Place."

"Yeah, but where is it Delko?" Frank asked in exasperation.

Natalia spoke up, "I know where it is. Horatio told me about it one time and every time I come down, I have to eat there. When you get in the city limits, take a right on Ventura. It's about a mile off the highway on Ocean Avenue where we'll take a left."

As Horatio and Calleigh walked toward their car, focused on each other, they never heard the two men approaching from behind. A strong, thick arm suddenly wrapped around Horatio's neck pulling him back and he struggled to get free of the grasp, but almost instantly felt the darkness overtake him. The last thing on his mind was Calleigh.

TBC…