MS Chapter 4

"Alexx, have you done the post on the latest victim yet?"

She looked up and looked at the red head stood in front of her.

"Of course Horatio. When have I ever let you down?"

Horatio smiled, "that is very true, Alexx. At the scene I noticed that the third vic looked very similar to Kate Grace."

"I noticed that as well so I ran a D.N.A test against each other, and guess what? They're twin sisters. This baby girl is called Kay Grace. Both nineteen years old with their whole lives ahead of them. What is this world coming to Horatio? They were just babies."

"I know Alexx. Don't worry; we do have a suspect in hospital. Do you know the cause of death?"

"Gun shot wound to the neck. It went through her jugular. She didn't suffer like her sister did. I also found epiphylls in her finger nails. I've sent them to D.N.A."

"Did you retrieve a bullet?"

"No, it was a through and through."

"So, Eric should find a bullet for Calleigh to compare to the other bullets."

"Mhm, speaking of Calleigh, what's with her? And please don't say anything about salsa classes; I know there's something more to it than salsa. You can't pull the wool over my eyes."

Horatio chuckled, "I can see that, Alexx."

Just then, his phone rang, it was Calleigh.

"Okay Calleigh, I'll be there right away."

Horatio hung up and looked at Alexx, "speak of the devil; both her and Ryan have got something about the missing Kimber. Apparently, Rick won't be happy about it."

"He's never happy about anything Horatio."

Horatio smiled, he knew this all too well. He thanked Alexx and left the morgue feeling very relieved. He knew it was only a matter of time before Alexx found out.

When Horatio arrived at the print lab, Calleigh and Ryan were waiting for him. He'd have preferred just Calleigh to be waiting for him but beggars can't be choosers.

"So, what have you found?"

"Well, there were two sets of prints on the lid of the evidence box. The first set obviously belongs to Ryan but the second set…"

Ryan turned the screen round so Horatio could see it. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"I'll get Frank to bring him in. Then we'll see what he has to say for himself this time."

Natalia didn't feel comfortable processing an unconscious man. A dead person she didn't mind as she knew that she wasn't going to get any nasty surprises. This was different; this man was alive and could wake up at any time. She worked as quickly as she could before he stirred. She only had to take his D.N.A from him when he stirred. He fumbled about to get his oxygen mask off.

"Water," he whispered.

Natalia poured him a glass of water and took it over to him.
"Sir, just sip it. You're dehydrated so just sip it."

The man did as he was told. Natalia had got her D.N.A on the glass so she didn't have to swab his mouth.

"I'm Natalia Boa Vista; I work for the Miami Dade crime lab. I just want to ask you a few questions, if that's okay."

The man nodded.

"Can you tell me who you are?"

"Steve," the man answered.

"Well Steve, can you tell me what you were doing in the Everglades?"

Steve thought hard, "I don't know, I just remember blood and heat. I just don't know."

Natalia knew she had to change her tactics, "do you know Kate and Kay Grace and Craig Dreyfus?"

"Yeah, Kay is Craig's girlfriend. Kate is Kay's twin sister. Why, has something happened to them?"

"They were all shot near to where my boss found you."

"I don't know anything about that."

"Well, the evidence says otherwise."

Steve started to get agitated, "w…what evidence?"

"The footprints that lead from where the car was dumped, with Kay in it, and from where Craig and Kate were shot to where you were found. How do you explain that?"

"There must have been someone else there with us."

"Don't think so, there were only one set of footprints that led from the car and no-one else was found in the car except Kay with a hole in her neck. And then there is the question about the stolen electricals in the trunk."

"They had nothing to do with me. Craig though it would be a good idea to break into houses whilst the owners were away. He knew he'd be able to sell them. He said that he would get a few grand for them. Before you ask, no I don't know where he stole them from, I didn't ask. The girls knew nothing about them."

"I take it he wouldn't share the profits with you?"

"Am I a suspect?"

"You are the only survivor so at the moment, yes."

"In that case, I won't say anything else until my lawyer gets here."

"And when he does, I'll be waiting."

Natalia left the room to be greeted by one of the nurses who handed her a paper bag with Steve's belongings in.

"There is a gun in there so be careful," warned the nurse.

"Okay, thank you. Oh by the way, when his lawyer arrives can you contact me please?" Natalia handed over a card to the nurse.

"Sure thing."

"Thank you." Natalia took the bag of belongings back to the lab for analysis.

Back at the lab, Horatio was waiting for Frank to bring in the suspect when Stetler approached him.

"Rick, I take you heard I was questioning one of our own?"

"Yeah and I don't like it, if this leaks out to the press, we're done for."

"I won't tell them if you don't."

"It's not funny Horatio," Stetler scowled.

Just then, Frank arrived with the suspect.