FB, FW Chapter 7

Calleigh was getting really restless despite Eric trying to keep her calm, "what the hell is going on? Why did he want Horatio and Anna? I can't see the connection."
Hugh shuffled closer to Calleigh, "there has to be a case that they both worked on together. Remember what that man said? Something about proving his boys innocence."

Damien overheard their conversation, "Calleigh, can you remember any cases at all that they have worked together on?"

Calleigh thought long and hard to try and remember all of the cases that might have linked the two of them. Then it dawned on her, she remembered one case.

"There is only one case that they worked together on. That was when we were in London. Clavo Correllia. He was recently refused probation as he caused a riot in Miami Dade Correctional Facility."

"I remember that, there was an e-mail that went round the department in Chicago."
Hugh looked at Damien, "you're a cop as well?"

"Don't look so shocked Hugh, I'm a d*mn good one at that."

"If you're so good, how come they didn't take Calleigh as well as Horatio and Anna? She worked on the case with them."

For once Damien was speechless, "give me a few moments to think about that one. There has to be an explanation for it," he sat back down against the wall next to Natalia to think it over.

"Don't worry Cal, Horatio will be fine, you know he will. Knowing what he's like, he'll be thinking of a way to get him and Anna out safely," Eric tried to console Calleigh as much as he could. She knew Eric was right but she couldn't help but worry.

Alexx shuffled next to Hugh, "how are you doing honey?"

"This floor isn't doing my back any good, it's putting pressure on it causing pains to shoot up to my neck. I've not been able to sit on hard surfaces properly since the bank robbery. You see the bullet is still in my spine and if I sit in certain positions then it moves slightly against my nerves. It could be fatal if they remove it so the doctors said it was safer to leave it there. That's why there's a foam cushion on the seat of my chair."

Alexx suddenly stood up which startled the gang of men holding them there. Eric and Calleigh tried to get her to sit down but to no avail.

"Lady, sit down now!"

"Excuse me, but can you pass the cushion from the wheelchair? He needs it to support his back. You owe him that much."

"We owe him nothing, now sit down," the man held his gun towards Alexx' chest.

"You took away his lifeline by kicking him out of his chair and you should at least help him. He's in a lot of pain and seeing as he hasn't got his painkillers on him, he needs something else to help ease it. It could make his condition even worse and you'll be to blame."

The man lowered his gun and gestured to another of the men to get the cushion.
"I'll be watching you, very closely."

"Thank you. That wasn't so hard was it?"

"Don't push your luck lady."

Alexx went back to the others, "you are either brave or stupid. I'm banking on both," Damien was knocked out of his thoughts by this episode.

"Just shut up and help Eric lift Hugh up so I can slide this under him."

Damien did as he was told and helped lift Hugh up. They were being watched very closely by the gunmen.

When they had sorted Hugh out, Damien whispered towards the others, "I've had a thought as to why Calleigh didn't get taken as well."

He leaned in a bit closer so not to be heard by anyone else, "I hate to say this but I think Calleigh is being held as collateral. If Horatio doesn't do as he's told…"

Calleigh's face dropped, "I'll be shot!"

Everyone looked at Calleigh not knowing what to say to her.

The car stopped outside the lab. Tony turned towards Horatio and Anna.

"Right you two, no funny business when we get in there. All it takes is one phone call to my men and one of your guests or even the bride won't live to see tomorrow. Horatio, if anyone asks…"

"Leave it to me. But you can't go in there waving your gun around, they will all suspect something," Horatio was startled at the thought of anything happening to Calleigh and all of their guests.

"Hmm, you're right," Tony put his gun in the back of his waistband, "don't try anything stupid. Now get out!"

Horatio and Anna did as they were told. Tony got out of the car and put on his jacket. He walked behind Horatio and Anna and turned to call back to his chauffeur, "Joe, I will call when we're on our way back, make sure you have the car running for when we get here."

Joe acknowledged his boss.

As they arrived in the elevator, Tony walked between his hostages so that they couldn't make any kind of contact with each other. Horatio approached the reception desk.

"Hey, Horatio, how come you're here? Aren't you getting married today?"

"I am but I have some loose ends to tie up on a case, it can't wait. Matter of life or death."

Horatio picked up the signing in sheet, scribbled on it then led Tony and Anna into the lab. The receptionist looked at the sheet and noticed that Horatio hadn't actually signed in, he had written some codes down instead.

'Code 29, 38 with a gun and QRR'

She got out a book to translate. 29, hold up. 38, suspicious person with a gun. QRR, call for assistance. She looked towards where Horatio was walking with his two visitors and quickly picked up the phone.

Horatio led Anna and Tony into the lock-up.
"Okay Tony, what is it exactly you want us to do?"

Tony looked around agitated, "why was everyone looking at us?"

"Well, Horatio isn't supposed to be here as he's getting married today. So, the graveyard shift are probably wandering why he's at work when he's supposed to be out celebrating," the sarcasm in Anna's voice was very evident.

Tony sharply looked at her, "well if you lot had done your jobs properly, we wouldn't even be here."

"If Clavo had been a good boy then he wouldn't have ended up in jail," Anna's stubbornness wouldn't let her back down.

Suddenly, Tony took his gun out and pointed it straight at her head.