We would like to thank ALL our loyal readers for your support while we have been away. In the next few weeks, you will see our stories being reposted here for all of you to read along with several NEW stories we've written while we've been away.

We appreciate all the kind messages we've received for our readers...we didn't realize how many of you were reading our stories, lol. It has brought HUGE smiles to us and we hope you'll continue to stick with us as we re-post some old favorites and hopefully new favorites. Thanks again!

CaineSpeedle & Speedfanatic05

Now for the good stuff!

**WARNING: STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT AND LANGUAGE! You Are Warned**

"In our endeavors to recall to memory something long forgotten, we often find ourselves upon the very verge of remembrance, without being able, in the end, to remember."

From "Ligeia" by Edgar Allan Poe

Waiting quietly as Christopher placed there orders, Calleigh looked around at the small town they had stopped in. Not a lot was there along this stretch of highway, two gas stations, a few hotels and a couple fast food places for the weary traveler. Looking back towards him as he paid the woman at the drive up window she bit her lip, wondering if she should try to run now. Looking back around again, she saw families as they got out, heading inside to eat, older couples making there way to their vehicles after getting there fill. All in all, she couldn't risk there lives should Christopher retaliate.

Feeling his hand on her arm, she looked back at him, and then down, seeing the drinks he was holding for her. Taking it, she looked back up at him, her voice staying soft, "Thank you."

He could see it in her eyes, the desire, the need to flee. They hadn't come to some mystical plane of understanding, she was thinking more and more about getting away from him, but he tried not to focus on that. For the moment, he had her and he was going to do what he could to keep her. Sighing heavily, he turned away from her, but asked, "Where were you a minute ago? You seemed miles away."

Placing her straw into her drink, Calleigh shrugged as she kept her eyes down on her drink, "Guess I'm feeling a little home sick…that's all. I miss a few of my friends…and my family."

Nodding as he got the food, he placed it between them and then moved the car and pulling over to park. His heart dropped at her admittance, the sadness echoing through him. He wasn't making her happy in the least bit. Staring out as his hands rested on the wheel, he sighed heavily, "I'm sorry. Maybe after we visit home, we can go back…But then…you'd want to leave me." Looking to her, he stared at her intently, "I can't lose you again, Evie. The last time…it nearly destroyed me."

For some reason that Calleigh didn't understand, tears filled her eyes and she looked at him, "But this is destroying me."

Her pain seared through him but he could not waver, "I can't let you go, Evie. I'll die before that happens, we'll both die before that happens." The air about them was heavy with his declaration and he allowed it for a moment before reaching back and pulling a thick book out, turning the pages. Finding what he wanted he smiled, "'Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.'" Beaming, he nodded to her, "You know, Poe, despite his proclivity for death, was a beautiful writer. He saw beauty…he saw beauty with unpolluted eyes. That's rare now."

Blinking slowly, Calleigh remembered some of the notes he'd written to her and breathed out, "But Poe also knew and wrote of death." Looking up at him, she asked, "Why did you send me all those notes with Poe quotes, Christopher? I want to understand why."

Frowning, he turned to her, "I thought you would enjoy the beauty of his words. Poe is misunderstood. His view of life was refined, simple. He saw beauty within everything, even death. Understanding Poe is to understand life." Her expression told of her refusal to understand and he sighed, turning back to face the wheel. Reaching for the keys he turned them and started the car, "I suppose you don't like that either. I must've been mistaken to think that you'd remember what we had. I was stupid to think that you'd love me."

Turning back and facing forward, Calleigh sighed and looked out the window, her mind trying to remember the information she had gathered at the seminars. Biting her bottom lip, she shrugged, "Love takes time, Christopher…it can't just come overnight or in a few days. I thought you'd understand."

His icy demeanor thawed and he glanced to see her melancholy, exhaling lightly. He didn't want her to feel depressed about being with him, but something inside of him snapped into place. Something told him that he was going to keep her and allow her the time to grow to love him.

Nodding slowly, he smiled again, "I do understand, I understand fully." Gesturing to the bag, he chuckled as he drove, "Go ahead and eat. You must be hungry."

"Yeah, I am. What about you? Do you want yours now?" she asked as she opened the bag up.

"No, I'm fine, you eat," he replied happily.

Pulling out the container with her food, she opened it, the small of the food making her stomach growl. A small smile formed and she blushed, "Excuse me…guess I was hungrier then I thought." Opening the plastic wear and then dipping the fork into the potato salad, she glanced over at him, "Can I ask when and what got you interested in Poe's writing? I mean, besides the romantic aspects."

Glad that they were back to talking and she was asking more questions, he answered easily, "Well, I am a literary professor. I studied him in graduate school, I gravitated towards him so easily, that it was almost like kismet. You used to love it when I quoted Poe- you said Shakespeare was too stuffy." Laughing lightly, he wiped his eyes and the smile faded slightly only for him to push it back up. "Your eyes lit when I would read Poe to you, when it was just us spending time together, no emails, phones…Just us."

Chewing the bite she'd taken, Calleigh swallowed and furrowed her brow and gathered more onto her fork, "Were we away from each other or something? Did I travel or did you?"

"We both led full lives, Evie. There was hardly a time where we were home at the same time. But when the stars aligned, we made good use of it. Sometimes, we made love, others, we just held each other, and then there were times where we read to each other. I happen to think that was the most intimate that we were." Gazing at the road, Christopher lost himself in a memory, his heart lifting. He loved spending time with her alone and he could tell that she, in turn, did so as well. Bringing himself back, he turned to her, "Did you like the Poe quotes?"

"Well…" she said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin, "Some of them I didn't understand. I think I was more worried about who was sending them. The initials threw me and I didn't know they were from you."

"I couldn't take credit for the brilliance of Poe. Although, I probably could've told you, but you would've took preventive measures. I wouldn't have had the chance with you." Running a hand through his hair, he wrinkled his brow, "I saw that some of your… friends were handling your gifts. You didn't want them?"

"They were really nice gifts…it's not that I didn't want them…they were scared someone was trying to hurt me, that's all. They're protective over me…like you are," she replied and looked over at him. "They didn't mean any harm in it though."

"I would never hurt you, Evie. I love you." Silence returned to him and he gripped the wheel, trying to reign in his anger. He was trying to pull a response out of her, one that would tell him that she was at least trying to find feelings. The continued silence, however, told him the entire story. She would never love him. His brow set narrowly and he clenched out, "Do you need anything else?"

Chewing slowly, Calleigh swallowed and looked over at him, "Just for you to be patient with me. I want to understand, Christopher." Taking a deep breath and looking down, she frowned slightly, "I want to get to know you more…learn you like you know me. I just don't want you to think that I don't care."

"I don't know what to think. I've done all I can to show you that I love you, and you…you haven't responded to it. Evelyn would've….she would've responded." He sped up slightly and held onto the wheel. "Evelyn would've known…"

"Christopher…I need to time to learn you better though. I haven't had that time, but we'll have it now. You've seen to that," Calleigh said in a calm, soft voice. Deciding to up the ante, she reached over, placing her hand onto his forearm, "Chris…don't count me out yet."

Flinching slightly, he eased his grip on the wheel and relaxed, staring at her hand. He wanted to believe her, he wanted to trust that she was trying, but he needed solid evidence. Closing his eyes, he then opened them slowly and spoke lightly, "Show me…"

Moving her hand down his arm to his hand, she covered his with hers and nodded, "Can you trust me then? I need that trust, Chris. If I was gonna run I would have back there, but I didn't…I didn't even try."

"You didn't try?" he asked as he arched his brow. "You wanted to run?"

"If I wanted to I would have," she said and squeezed his hand. "Chris…I want you to understand where I'm coming from. We have to learn each other better…I have to learn you, your likes, dislikes…everything. I'm starting from the beginning here, you have the advantage of already knowing about me."

"Learn each other," he repeated slowly as he breathed out heavily. He glanced to her and sighed, retaining his sights on the road ahead of him, "Don't make me regret placing my trust in you, Evie. It will not have a favoring result."

Nodding in understanding as he glanced at her, Calleigh gave him a small smile, "You won't regret it, I promise."

Christopher smiled as he drove, the idea of her making good on her promise. Even though he hoped for the best out of this, he also knew that there was a potential for all of this to go down the wrong way, and he was prepared for it.

Standing in front of the gallery, Tim watched as the SUV pulled away and then approached the door. In what was a sure time saver, splitting up the knock and talks also assured that they were going to get some information that was usable, if they struck out at the aunt, there was still the artist. Knocking at the door, Tim glanced at his watch and then looked up in time to see the door opening, revealing a woman. Perusing her quickly, Tim arched a brow at her slim figure and smiled as his eyes finally settled on her face. For a second, he was awestruck at her pale blue eyes and dark hair that fell in waves around her, causing him to clear his throat roughly. At her confused expression, he finally broke his stare and averted his eyes, scratching his head lightly.

"Rebecca Miller?"

Looking at the scruffy looking man at her doorstep, Rebecca looked around him, seeing no one else with him and cocked a well manicured brow at him, "Who's asking?"

"Detective Tim Speedle, Miami Dade Police department. I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask you about someone. Do you have a moment?" Tim asked as he looked to her. Smiling more, he shook his head and pulled out his badge, "See, it's real. I'm not trying anything funny."

Looking at the badge, she shifted her weight and looked back up at him. Sighing, she then backed up, opening the door up more, "Alright…but you have five minutes. I'm in the middle of doing another piece for a show."

"Five minutes, alright," Tim said as he followed her in. Arching a brow at the sight of her shapely body , Tim sighed, "I wanted to ask you about Evelyn Larken, she helped you with a couple of your…ah…showings."

Sighing and lowered her head, Rebecca walked him into her studio where she was working and stopped, turning to him, "Evie was my best friend. When I found out she was killed…it was a great loss to me."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ms. Miller, but I was wondering if you could tell me a little about her husband, Christopher?"

Smiling, Rebecca walked over to the sculpture she was working on and sighed, "Ah…Chris. Handsome devil. Evie was lucky when she found him." Looking back over at him, she shrugged, "Otherwise I would have went after him myself."

Frowning slightly, Tim coughed roughly and shifted his weight. It irritated him that he was personified in such an admonishing light, but he was here to get information. "How would you characterize Christopher and Evelyn's marriage? Was he in any way abusive, violent towards her?"

"Chris?" Laughing, she shook her head, "Oh no. He worshiped the ground she walked on. He didn't even ever raise his voice to her. No, they were what some would consider the perfect couple."

"Really? So…have you heard from Christopher since Evelyn's death?" Tim had a hard time thinking of Christopher as complacent, having seen his brutality first hand and he sighed irritably, "Do you know what he's doing now?"

Shaking her head, she picked up some modeling clay, working it with her hands, "No. Last I heard he was in Miami still and working at some college there. He sent me a card last Christmas…other then that, I've been so busy I haven't had time to call." Looking back at him, she crinkled her brow, "Is he okay? Has something happened to him?"

"Yes, something has happened. He's suspected in kidnapping a fellow colleague of mine," Tim answered tersely, pulling out a photograph of Calleigh. Showing it to her, he emphasized, "He abducted her from Florida and we think he's heading here. Is there a reason why he would bring her back here?"

Looking at the photo, Rebecca's hands stilled and she shook her head, "My god…she…she looks like Evie." Putting the clay back down and wiping her hands off, she looked at him, "Kidnapping? Chris?" Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she sighed, "They met here…at one of my openings. They loved it here."

"Okay…can you tell me about the piece of property on the edge of the city limits? Did they live there for a while?"

Nodding her head, Rebecca breathed out, "Yeah…after they were married and all the way until they moved. They lived in I think Texas for a little bit, but not long and not exactly sure where. But…they wanted to raise a family here. They were planning on moving back when Evie died."

Feeling his heart jump, he frowned, "Christopher was bringing Evie back here to live? They were going to live here for the rest of their lives?"

"As far as I know…yes. She had gotten pregnant, which is what they'd been trying for. When she called and told me she was so excited. Chris had even taken a few days off work so they could spend time together…celebrating as she called it."

"Celebrating… that's cute," Tim replied as he shook his head. Having one more question, he smiled, "Tell me…what did Evie say about him? Did she ever have something to say about him?"

Smiling, Rebecca looked down and nodded, "Yeah…that he was the best men she'd ever found to be with. She never had a bad thing to say about Chris. The only thing she didn't like was when she had to be away from him when she had to travel. She said it felt as if a piece of her was missing. Evie thought they were soul mates."

"Soul mates, huh?" Listening to the devotion that was Christopher's former life, he had started to feel for him. What was resounding was that he loved his wife, and would do anything for her, and his lapse in judgment and his action of taking Calleigh was simply a response to the hole the death of his wife caused. Looking to Rebecca, he smiled lightly, "Well, I think that about covers it, I can't thank you enough, Ms. Miller."

"Officer…Christopher really is a good man. He was devoted to Evie. For him to have taken this woman…all I can say is he more then likely won't hurt her. He'll treat her as he did Evie…like a goddess." Taking in a deep breath, Rebecca looked around, seeing a picture she had of her now gone friend and smiled some, "Evie might be gone…but his love for her isn't…probably never will be."

"And now we have to use that to get our colleague back," Tim responded darkly. Catching her slight wince, he shook his head, hating that it was coming down to this, "He's kidnapped a police officer, murdered six of my friends and an innocent bystander…As good as his intentions are, Ms. Miller, he's going to have to pay the price. I just hope it's not with his life."

Running a hand through her hair, Rebecca looked away and shook her head. Biting her bottom lip, she looked back to him, "If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. Who knows, maybe he'd listen to me."

"I don't think that anything is going to help him now. He's crossed the line, Ms. Miller." Checking his watch, he nodded and then exhaled, "I think my five minutes is up. Thank you for your time."

Watching as he headed towards the door, Rebecca cocked a brow and called out, "Hey officer…"

Stopping and turning around, Tim answered, "Yeah?"

Smiling some, she walked slowly towards him, "I uh…I was wondering. Have you ever done any posing or modeling?"

"Posing or modeling?" Glancing past her through to the studio, Tim arched a brow, "Ah…no."

Smirking, she stopped near him, her eyes moving up and down his body. "Shame…you have a really nice body…granted, it looks better without the scruff…but all in all, very nice. You'd look great in oils or chalk pastels."

"Chalk and pastels, huh?" Tim chuckled and shook his head, "I bet that you say that to all the unsuspecting detectives. " Smirking, he licked his lips, "Maybe another time."

Running a finger over his shoulder and she walked slowly behind him, she raised a brow, "Are you sure? It pays a grand…and all you have to do is…pose so to speak." Coming around to his other side, she smiled at him, "You and Carmen would look so hot together."

Tim stepped forward and laughed, averting his eyes downward, "Alright, I'll bite, who's Carmen?"

Going over to the small white box on the wall, Rebecca pushed a button and spoke sweetly, "Carmen, dear…would you please come to the studio."

Smiling as she walked back to him, Rebecca took him in one more time with her eyes, "She'll be here in a little bit." Taking a position in front of him, she shrugged, "Just think, couple hours of your time, posing with a beautiful woman…and you get paid for it. How hard is that?"

Admitting that the deal was enticing, Tim sighed and shook his head, "As good as that sounds, I'll have to decline, I'm on the clock. But who knows what the future brings." At her expression, Tim smirked, "I'm just visiting, maybe I can…" Hearing the horn outside, he sighed and shrugged his shoulders, "I've got to get going. Thanks for your time."

Walking with him, she got a card off the table as they passed by it. When he got to the door and opened it, she smiled, "Officer…" Holding it out to him, she nodded to him, "If you get some free time before you leave…call me and we'll set something up for you."

Coming into the foyer, Carmen smiled as she strode over in her white string bikini and heels, seeing Rebecca with a handsome guy. Biting her lips, she spoke softly, "Rebecca, you wanted to see me?"

Eyeing whom he was assuming was Carmen, Tim's mouth dropped, the sound of the angry horn becoming simple back ground noise. Continuing to stare the horn brought him out of his stupor and he nodded, "Alright…um…I'll…give you a call later."

Finally able to pull his eyes away from Carmen, he smiled faintly and nodded, turning away and heading for the door. Getting outside, he glared at the SUV and exhaled heavily, speaking irritably as the window came down to reveal Horatio, "You two have the greatest timing on Earth."

"She giving you problems there, Speed?" Horatio asked as the back door opened and Tim climbed in.

Coming out and standing there with Carmen as Tim got into the vehicle, Rebecca pursed her lips and then spoke softly, "Carmen…I think you just might have made him reconsider coming back…which is good."

Looking over at the women as they emerged, Horatio nodded to them and then put up his window, "Never mind…I can see why you're moody now."

Glancing over across Horatio, Catherine caught the women and chuckled, "Hey, isn't that Carmen Fields?"

"She said her name was Carmen, why?" Tim asked as he arched a brow. He peered through the window at the two ladies and sighed, heavily, "You know that woman?"

Starting to drive off, Catherine glanced at Tim in the rearview, "She one of the top new models around Vegas…everyone knows her and of her. A lot of the art she poses for are in the nude…she's very popular."

"In…the….nude?" Tim asked as he looked back at the now dwindling sight of the two. He exasperated in frustration and then remembered that he had her card in her hand, "Maybe when we get some free time, I'll give her a call back."

Cocking a brow and looking over at Horatio, Catherine then looked back at Tim in the mirror, "Just exactly what did you two talk about in there?"

Gathering himself, he cleared his throat, "Well, I got some insight on Larken- he loved his wife undeniably, and he's taken Calleigh to finish what he started with her. He just wants to live with her happily ever after. It's sad, really."

"Why do you say that, Speed? He's killed, kidnapped, destroyed property…all for a delusion of recreating his dead wife," Horatio stated as he looked out at the passing landscape.

"A dead wife that meant the world to him. His devotion….it's astounding." Realizing that the cab had gotten silent, he amended, "Of course, what he's done, he's gotta pay for it, but honestly, Horatio…If you were in his shoes, and you lost what you deem was the love of your life, wouldn't you break with reality?"

"I've been to that point, Speed and by letting friends and work keep me going, I didn't go there," Horatio replied as he thought about Marisol.

"As true as that is, H, this guy has no one to buffer his loss. It's just him, his grief and his fractured mind. It doesn't make what he did right, but it does make it understandable." Tim shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, "He killed six of my friends- I am looking for justice. It's just sad that it has to be because of his sorrow."

Looking through the rearview, Catherine nodded in agreement before setting her eyes back on the road. Looking towards a passing car, she sighed, "Well, at least that lead you went to panned out. Ours, well…the lady is in a convalescent home. She had four strokes and had no idea who we were asking about, much less being able to talk."

"So she was a bust?" Tim asked as he looked between the two. A smirk rose and he chuckled lightly as he sat back, "Good idea then to split up the knock and talks. But I don't see where any of this information has helped us. I mean, we already knew of Larken's obvious love for his wife."

"It at least gave us some type of background though on him. Was there any type of violence that Mrs. Miller mentioned to you?" Horatio asked as he turned and looked back at Tim.

"None, none whatsoever. He's totally devoted to Evelyn, basically worshipped the ground that she walked on." Tim turned to look out of the window and spoke softer, "The violence is a direct correlation to him trying to protect Evelyn, or Calleigh in this instance."

Thinking for a moment, Horatio raised a brow, "In which he could be calling Calleigh Evelyn now…which will make him even more dangerous."

"Yes, because he won't differentiate. Calleigh's now Evelyn as far as he is concerned and his main priority is to protect Evelyn. If Calleigh ceases to be Evelyn in his eyes…"

"Let's just hope she's playing along with him, Speed and will continue too until we get to her," Horatio replied, not wanting to think about the other outcome.

"Let's hope," Tim responded wearily. "Calleigh's going to have to toe the line with him and frankly, I don't know if she can keep it up."

Smirking, Horatio looked back at Tim more, "Calleigh's resourceful. She'll come up with something to keep him occupied that won't endanger her."

"Resourceful. I think I remember Calleigh's definition of resourceful."Tim laughed lowly as he shook his head and then sighed, "Yes…I think she may be able to pull this out."

Raising a brow and tilting her head some, Catherine glanced at them, "And just think, when you get her back, she'll have one hell of an insight into the mind of a mad man."

Tim traded looks with Horatio and exhaled heavily, "I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole. Good luck on that, H."

Pondering over it, Horatio nodded, "Catherine is right though. With what information Calleigh gathers, it could go to saying another life out there."

Tim also gave that idea some thought and conceded, "You're right, what she learns from this experience is going to make a big difference. But you have to ask yourself, H, will she be able to apply it? Will she be able to cope with it?"

Raising a brow, Horatio nodded, "She'll have all the support she'll need. We'll see to that, Speed…I'll see to it."

Tim nodded and then retained his focus on the window again losing himself in his thoughts. The future for Calleigh was unknown, but he knew that they would all face whatever was coming together.