Four:

Ryan was surprised to learn that Holly wanted to meet with him.

He had doubted it had anything to do with Rick, but about her case. Which made sense.

But what didn't make sense to him was, well, why him? There were plenty of other people she could have spoken to about the case. Such as Calleigh, she probably knew more than Ryan did. Or even Eric; Ryan was sure he'd be a good person to talk to about this. But she had chosen Ryan. He wasn't sure why, but he guessed he'd find out.

It wasn't as if he could just tell her no, now could he? And he was sure Rick would get on his back if he had. Rick would probably go on another rant about how no one in the lab wants to actually help out with the case. Luckily, they would be meeting at the lab, and she wanted to speak to Ryan there. When she got there, she sat in the interrogation room and immediately started fidgeting.

She laughed and made a joke about how she felt like she was a bad guy from 'those crime shows'. Even though she joked around, Ryan had a feeling that she was very nervous. Which he guessed he could understand why but he didn't think she had any reason to be.

"Can I get you water or anything?" Ryan asked her. She shook her head no but she still reached her hand out for the glass of water that was already on the table. Ryan had brought it for her anyways, figuring he wouldn't have to get up to go get it later in case she asked. "So, you wanted to see me; assuming it's about your case?"

Holly gulped down the water and nodded. "Yeah, it's about the case."

"Is there something wrong? Or something else you remember about what happened?"

Holly nodded again. She put the now empty glass of water down but kept her hand gripped lightly around it. "So, the doctors told me there was no alcohol or drugs in my system but that can't be. I did drink that night. So when I told them that it was wrong, the doctor told me that he knew what he was doing and I must've been out of it because of the attack."

"Are you sure? The toxicology reports aren't usually wrong."

"Of course I'm sure. I remember Rick and I went back downstairs, he got a drink for me and I drank it. Then I wanted another one so I got that one myself and then afterwards, that was when I went up to use the bathroom. And then everything after that is just a blur." She said. She seemed sure that she had in fact been drinking that night. But what Ryan didn't understand was why hadn't Rick said anything?

Rick knew that it was deemed that Holly didn't have drugs or alcohol in her system. So since he was around her and knew for a fact that she had been drinking, why didn't he speak up? It just didn't make sense to him. "Holly, I know we've asked this a lot, but can you think of anybody who would want to hurt you?" He asked. "Anybody; it doesn't have to be a big reason. Maybe you cut someone off in traffic, or you talked badly about someone? Or a co-worker, even?" She had answered this many times. But she said she didn't know who would want to hurt her.

She shook her head. "No, no one comes to mind. My co-workers all love me. I never cut people off in traffic. And I definitely never talk badly about people. I'm just not like that. I don't see why anyone would want to hurt me."

"Maybe it's because of the way you act."

"Excuse me?" She seemed surprised. And Ryan too was surprised, he hadn't expected himself to say that. He shook his head quickly. "I didn't mean anything bad by it. I just meant that, well, you are pretty perfect. Like in every way of the word. Maybe someone is jealous of you? A sibling, or an ex maybe?"

Holly seemed to relax a little. She thought for a moment and then shrugged. "I ended on great terms with all my exes. And I don't have siblings. I don't see why anyone would be jealous of me. I'm just an average girl."

Average.

"Right, well then. Who knew you were coming to the party? You and Rick were originally supposed to be going out to dinner, right?"

"Yes, but he called and insisted on going to that party. I didn't tell anyone- well, except my dad of course. But he wanted to know where I was so he wouldn't be worried."

"Your dad. And may I ask his name?"

"Sure, his name's Red."

"Red?"

"Yeah, like the colour." She smiled. "I know it's weird, but his parents loved the name."

Ryan felt like his brain had stopped working for a moment and maybe his ears had shut down, too. "Red? So, is his last name Cline?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"You don't have the same last name as him." Ryan answered. "I have you listed as Holly Turner."

She shook her head. "No, I have my mother's last name. Why are you asking about my dad?"

"Does Rick know your father? Or maybe you talked about him?"

"No, I don't think we're that far in our relationship yet."

Ryan nodded. Red Cline. That was the same name that was registered as the guy who tried to sign Horatio's car out of the impound lot, and the same name listed under the phone number Ryan was instructed to call. He was surprised to learn that Red Cline was a real person. A person who was related to Holly. Who was now seeing Rick. This was way too much to be a coincidence.

Nothing was adding up anymore. Ryan was unsure of how to proceed. He was sure he looked dumb, just sitting there staring at Holly. "Excuse me for just a second."

"Sure, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, just give me a moment." Ryan told her. He left the room, shutting the door behind him and making his way down the hallway. He had bumped into Calleigh, who had jokingly asked Ryan where the fire was. But he just kept going past her and into Horatio's office where he had hoped the lieutenant would be. To Ryan's delight, Horatio was there. He was seemingly reading papers on his desk but he looked startled when Ryan burst through the door.

Horatio immediately stood and his head tilted to the left. "Ryan, is everything okay?"

"I'm not sure." Ryan answered. "Holly's here and one, she told me that she was drinking alcohol that night, despite what the toxicology reports say. Meaning that either she's lying about drinking or Rick hid the fact that she was to us. Or maybe even the doctors are hiding it. And two, she told me her dad was the only one who knew she was showing up to the party Calleigh threw for you."

"Well then, I'll send someone to look into the reports again, and we'll have to speak to her father."

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, well, she told me her dad's name was Red Cline. I'm not sure if you remember but-."

"Of course I remember." Horatio told him. "And how exactly is she involved with Rick? What do we know about her?"

"I have no idea. Rick never told me anything about how they met. And as far as I know, her records are clean. She's never even had a speeding ticket."

"We'll have to speak to Rick then. Would you like to do that?"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, sure." He started walking out, but then he stopped when he remembered the conversation he'd just had with Dave just a few days ago. Dave told Ryan it would be best if Ryan avoided Rick's office and well, being alone with him. He said that he should send messages to him. "Actually, maybe you could talk to Rick instead?"

"Why?"

"I just don't think I should be the one to." Ryan answered.

Horatio seemed puzzled but ultimately, he just said sure.

Ryan quickly made his way back to the interrogation room. He saw Holly sitting there, just as calm as ever. He realized Horatio hadn't given him much instruction on how to proceed with Holly. He didn't know whether or not he was supposed to ask her more questions about her father or maybe for more information about that night. Or if he should just keep his mouth shut and dismiss her. As if sensing his distress, Horatio was behind Ryan. He put his hand on Ryan's shoulder, startling him. "I'll talk to her."

"But Rick-"

"I shouldn't be the one to talk to him."

"Why not?"

"I don't like him." Horatio answered. And that was true. Horatio didn't like Rick and Rick didn't like Horatio. That was a known fact; everyone knew that. But maybe things were different now and Horatio just really didn't like Rick. Ryan just nodded his head, and Horatio removed his hand from his shoulder and went into the room with Holly. Even though the door had been shut behind him, Ryan could still hear Holly's excited voice ring out. "Hi lieutenant!" She said, very happily.

Ryan thought that was strange. Just moments earlier she was acting as if she were shy and timid. But the moment she saw Horatio she seemed so happy. Excited, even. And really who was excited when talking about them being attacked in an interrogation room?

Ryan reluctantly got into the elevators to make his way up to the IAB department. He ignored the way the people in the lab looked at him as he yet again went to Rick's department. He kept his head down and waited for the doors to close, which felt like eternity.

When Ryan made it to Rick's office, he didn't bother knocking first. It was like Rick wasn't ever surprised to see Ryan in there lately. A year ago, if Ryan had stepped foot on the IAB floor, people would lose their shit. Rick would be shocked and would probably have thought that something was up and that Ryan was there to yell at him for some reason. But now that wasn't the case anymore.

Rick just greeted Ryan and told him to come in, though he was already in the room.

"I was just getting ready to go down there to take Holly home." Rick said, as he started stuffing things into a leather black bag. "What's going on? How'd it go?"

"It went alright. Listen Rick, would you mind coming down with me to answer a few questions?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well it's just that something has happened that sort of affirms Holly's case and Horatio's." Ryan answered. "And I would like to talk to you about it."

Rick had stopped putting things in his bag. He leaned back in his chair and then crossed his arms. "Why would you need to talk to me? Holly has told you everything right?"

"She has told us some things that, well-."

"Make you want to question me?" Rick asked, finishing what he knew Ryan was thinking. Then Rick smiled and shook his head. "I can see it's not that serious seeing as I am not in custody right now. But to answer your question, yes, I do mind. So I'm not going to let you interrogate me."

Ryan was caught off guard. He had thought Rick would agree to talking with Ryan. It wasn't a big deal, at least not to Ryan. He just wanted to ask Rick a few questions. He didn't expect him to get so defensive and to just flat out say no. Ryan hesitated a moment before speaking again. "Can I ask why? If you've done nothing wrong, you shouldn't have a problem with it."

"Do you think I've done something wrong?"

"Well I didn't but you declining is making me question that."

Rick closed his bag. Then he stood up and shrugged. "I guess that's a risk I have to take." He answered. "Well, I gotta go; Holly and I have things to do tonight."

Rick gave Ryan a smile and then walked by him. He turned off the light, while Ryan was still in the room and left. Ryan waited a moment before leaving after Rick. He certainly didn't want to be in an elevator with Rick right now, even if it was for only 30 seconds, maximum. But the whole situation was just rubbing Ryan the wrong way.

It was just weird that Rick and Holly were seeing each other, and she just so happened to have a father by the same name as the guy who was listed as trying to get Horatio's car out of the impound lot. And also the same guy who's phone number was registered the time he had to call Horatio. It couldn't be a coincidence. And then the fact that this Red Cline guy was involved with Julia and Ron somehow, and then Holly was hurt. Then the hospital reports were wrong. The only thing that seemed to make any sense was that somehow Rick was involved. But Ryan didn't want to believe that. Not after all that Rick had done to help him and Horatio.

But it was definitely something to speak with Horatio about.