Chapter 2: Chapter 2
(Note: Apologies for interrupting the story for a note - I dislike doing so because I know how distracting it can be. Still, I thought I should mention that this story takes place an indeterminate time after the death of Marisol and events in Brazil - but before the appearance of Kyle and Julia. Thus, Kyle and Julia do not exist in this story's timeline. Horatio is, perhaps, in his early fifties.)
HEARTLESS
Chapter Two - Minor Revelations
"Lieutenant Caine?" repeated the brunette. "How can I help you?"
Understanding that Catherine Kent was referring to the nature of his visit and not something more, Horatio gathered his thoughts. "I'd like you to take a look at this drawing. It's not very good, but maybe you'll notice something... maybe you've seen someone around here who looks like this guy. Witnesses saw him speaking to Theresa Lopez hours before she died."
Catherine took the drawing from Horatio and, studying it, slightly lowered her head. Horatio found himself staring at the soft hair curling about the nape of her neck, and experienced a moment of surprised delight when, lost in thought, she bit her pretty lower lip while concentrating on the paper in front of her. He suddenly wondered what it would be like to gently bite that sensitive flesh himself... to taste its sweetness. Bewildered by the direction his thoughts were taking, he mentally shook himself.
It had been some time since he'd last experienced such thoughts and it astonished him a bit. He didn't know this lady, and she wasn't really his type... not much like the women he'd been attracted to in the past. But there was something there... and he wasn't sure he liked it. Chemistry. Yes. Chemistry.
And chemistry, my friend, he warned himself, can be a bitch.
In spite of the good advice, his eyes scanned the graceful, slender form in front of him. Amused at the droll direction his thoughts were taking, he momentarily wondered if this woman he'd previously thought a nun had someone in her life. Now that he studied her more closely, he saw that the plain, black dress didn't quite conceal the nice figure hiding beneath it.
Catherine looked up. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant. This person doesn't look familiar to me at all."
"He was seen here, outside Saint Ignatius. I thought, perhaps, he'd come to the Kitchen... for a meal."
She looked again at the drawing. Finally, shaking her head, she returned it to Horatio. "Sorry - I can't recall him... but the drawing isn't all that good. The thing is, Lieutenant, he may have been here even though I don't recognize him. So many people come and go through the Kitchen and unless they are memorable - like Charlie - I have little recollection of them.
"Some that come here to eat are quiet, sullen; they have no desire for idle conversation. They're depressed. They want a meal. Afterward, if they have a place to sleep, they go to it. It's not like we take attendance or anything like that."
"Maybe you should," said Horatio, disappointed at the dead end.
She smiled understandingly. "I know... I'm not being much help, am I? But we're here to help the community... not police it. And if we did have a more structured system that tracked the people who used our service... well, the truth is, many of them would rather go hungry than have to sign in or do a roll call for some food.
"The only time we keep names is when we provide temporary work or refer certain people to employers. We have to in those cases. But, as I say, most folks come in sad, depressed, hungry... they don't do or say anything memorable that would make them stand out. They eat and then just drift out of here."
Horatio nodded. "Okay, point taken." He watched as her brows drew together and she bit that bottom lip again. "Catherine, is there something else?"
"It's probably nothing..."
"Let me be the judge of that."
"You said the man had been seen talking to Ms. Lopez outside the church?"
"Right."
"Well, it's probably nothing... but a few nights ago, I had stayed late to get through some of the Kitchen's paperwork... I guess it was after nine that I finally left the church. As I was leaving the building, I had an uneasy feeling. I felt someone was watching me, following me. But every time I turned around, there was no one there. Finally, I chalked it up to nerves and walked quickly on my way - and things were fine. But... it was creepy."
Horatio frowned. "Do you often leave the church at night... alone?"
"No, only occasionally."
"This isn't the best neighborhood, you realize. You should always walk with someone."
Catherine smiled. "Yes, you're right... but things sometimes happen that prevent that. Anyway, I can take care of myself."
"Perhaps Ms. Lopez thought the same."
Catherine's smile vanished. "Look, Lieutenant, I can't afford to be afraid of my neighborhood. These are my people... this is where I work, where I live. The people here... they know me, look out for me."
"You just told me that people come and go that you never recognize..."
Confused, Catherine paused. "Well, yes... but..."
Horatio waited.
"Okay, you got me," she said. "In the future, I guess I won't be leaving the building alone in the evenings."
"Good." One less thing to worry about, he thought.
Watching him, Catherine's eyes began to twinkle. "You know, I really can take care of myself. I've got some moves, Mister."
A smile appeared on Horatio's face. "Really? What sort of moves?"
"I took a self-defense class. I know a few basic moves... I think I could take somebody down who messed with me - at least long enough to get away from him. I learned a long time ago that a woman needs to know how to defend herself."
"Good for you... good for you. But don't let that go to your head - it's not wise to take chances.
"Do me a favor, keep this drawing. Take a close look at your people as they come in for meals. If anyone looks anything like the drawing, call me. If anyone acts strangely... looks strange... call me. And if you ever feel that someone is following you, definitely call me."
Horatio took a card from his jacket pocket and placed it on her desk. "Here's my office number. Don't be afraid to use it."
He walked toward the door and suddenly stopped. Slowly, he turned around and walked back. Looking into her eyes, he raised his brows, surprised at himself, and shrugged.
He leaned over and picked up a pen laying on her desk, and wrote something else on the card, and then straightened up. "I put my cell number on the back - don't be afraid to use that either... day or night."
Abruptly, he turned toward the door of the office and left.
After a moment, Catherine picked up the card. Horatio Caine... what an odd name. Odd man. Perhaps it was his work that made him so intense, so focused. And grim.
Still, there had been a moment or two when she caught a bit of amusement dancing behind those serious eyes, and a wryness that she found appealing.
Briefly, she wondered what it would feel like to have those intense eyes focused on her for reasons other than police business. She shook the thought away, laughing at herself. He thought I was a nun! Not a very flattering judgment.
Placing the card back on the desk, she pulled from her drawer a small compact mirror and looked critically at her reflection. Well, you're no glamour girl for sure... nice cheekbones... and a little lipstick and eye makeup would help. It had been a long time since she cared enough to think about makeup... the last time had been...
Her mind unwillingly drifted back to another man she had once cared enough to dress up for - and how she came to need those classes in self-defense. Shuddering, she pushed the thought back into the recesses of her mind. It was ancient history; no need to go there.
Her slender fingers pushed back the short, soft waves from her large blue eyes. People always told her she had beautiful eyes. She wondered if he noticed...
Suddenly irritated with herself, she shoved the small mirror back into her desk. Get a grip! You're acting like an infatuated sixteen year old... and, no doubt, he's forgotten what you look like already. If he even noticed...
Disgusted, she faced her laptop and again began tallying up the day's food inventory. Softly, in the background, she heard the mewling of one of the dreaming kittens and the sweet, gentle sound soothed her. After several minutes, she forgot about the handsome lieutenant - and the card laying on her desk.
Leaving the church, Horatio slid his sunglasses on and walked the several blocks to where the murder had occurred. His team had pretty much cleared away all evidence of the crime and were back at the lab. He looked around the dingy alley, surrounded by boarded up houses and some sort of abandoned building... a diner maybe.
He looked at his watch. Seven o'clock and starting to get dark. Won't need the sunglasses much longer, he mused.
"Horatio," called a familiar voice.
"Calleigh... you're still here. Why aren't you back at the lab?"
"Just looking around," said the pretty blond, "talking to some of the people in the neighborhood."
"Find out anything?"
"Not much, I'm afraid. Neighborhoods like these... well, the people aren't real talkative. They're afraid of getting involved. Everyone gets a convenient sort of amnesia."
Horatio sighed. "Yes... well. Perhaps Tom will have something for us."
"This is big time creepy, Horatio. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it... no sign of the heart that was removed..."
"Which means our twisted friend may still have it. But why?"
"Souvenir? Fetish?"
"Maybe. Or perhaps he's part of a cult... and this involves some sort of religious rite..."
"Satanic?"
"I hope not, but can't rule it out."
Calleigh shivered. "You know, I once thought of being a kindergarten teacher."
Horatio glanced at her, surprise evident on his face. "Really?"
"Mm... but, much as I like kids, I thought I might get bored after a while. Times like this, though... well, a little boredom doesn't sound so bad."
Horatio grinned. "Come on, let's get back to the lab." They started walking away from the crime scene. "You! A kindergarten teacher! You'd have missed all those lovely weapons in the vault at CSI."
"I suppose that's true. Did you find out anything at the soup kitchen? Anyone seen our guy?"
"No... seems they get too many people coming and going to pay much attention. I left a drawing there... hopefully, they'll start looking more closely at their diners.
"Interesting woman running the place, though..."
"Catherine Kent?"
Startled, Horatio glanced at her. "You know her name?"
"Sure. Didn't you?"
"No - not until today. How do you know her?"
"Well, I don't know 'know' her; I only know about her. You've heard of the Kent family right? Old money... lawyers."
Horatio thought. "Kent, Barton & Craig - those lawyers?"
"The very ones," smiled Calleigh. "That firm is seventy-five years old, with offices throughout the South. Pretty conservative; mainstream. The first Mr. Kent started the firm, and then partnered with Barton & Craig. Apparently, there's a lot of marrying between the families of the partners, and a lot of the children have gone into the firm. Catherine Kent is the 'wonky' family member."
"'Wonky?' In what way?"
"Didn't go into the practice of law - although she graduated from Harvard Law School. It was expected that she'd join her granddaddy's firm. Instead, she became a do-gooder - a real social engineer, from what I hear. Family isn't real happy with her. She's very well off - in addition to money on her father's side, her mother was an heiress of some sort - coffee, I think. Anyway, this was in the Miami gossip magazines. Surprised you didn't know."
"There's a lot I don't know, apparently."
Calleigh grinned. "Guess you won't be making fun of my interest in gossip from now on, hey, boss?"
TBC