MIAMI'S HERO

Chapter 4

"Now will you take this seriously?" Frank leant on Horatio's desk, looking at the lustrous black and silver silk, spilling out of the unwrapped parcel.

"I suppose I have to. Have you seen the cake?"

"Yes. I had to stop your lot from eating it. You can't accept this stuff."

"I don't intend to." He stroked the silk. "Do I look like a kimono sort of guy?"

"Are they still called kimonos when they're for men? Anyway, don't change the subject. Is it anonymous again?"

"Not entirely - 'All my love, M'.

"Michelle."

Horatio looked up in surprise. "You know who it is?"

"Yes. So would you, if you'd taken it halfway seriously. Girl who was hanging round the lab, works in Tacchi's. Name's Michelle."

"Eric mentioned something…"

"And you ignored it, of course! This woman is seriously obsessed with you. At very least, you're open to all sorts of questions if you accept gifts."

"I'm not going to accept them! Hell, Frank, I've never even met her!"

Frank sighed. "Since when has that ever stopped the weirdos? Look, let me confirm it with the courier - I'm sure it is her, but let's get the proof - then I'll go and see her."

"Confirm it, by all means. But I should see her myself."

"Not a good idea, Horatio…"

"Frank, she obviously thinks she's got some sort of relationship with me… So I'm the best person to convince her she hasn't. Yes?"

Frank nodded reluctantly. "You might be right. But don't go near her yet, okay? Let me talk to the courier, and we'll take it from there. Tell your gang to get their lunch somewhere else for a couple of days." He turned to go. "And put that cake somewhere safe, before they eat the evidence. Happy Birthday, by the way."

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"I hate to admit it, Frank, but I'm not sure how to tackle this…" Horatio and Frank were in their usual spot for a private conversation, sitting on the wall outside the lab. "Do I call her in here?"

"Might be best. You can't really approach her in her workplace."

"She hasn't actually committed a crime, you know."

"Not yet, but she's inciting you to, by sending gifts. Anyway, these things escalate."

"I could see her outside somewhere… Can I really justify dragging her into a police facility?"

"Horatio, don't take this wrong, but you're being particularly dumb about this. You meet her outside, it's a date. What she wants. Do it in here, and it's an official warning, if you like."

"Seems harsh…"

"Oh, for God's sake! Do you want to put a stop to this or not?"

"Of course I do!"

"All right. Look, I'll call her in. We'll both see her. How does that sound?"

"You don't need to be there."

Frank sighed heavily. "I think I do. First, you have a tendency to go soft on attractive young women. And second, you should have a witness. Deal?"

Horatio grinned. "Okay. Anything to shut you up."

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"Horatio Caine… Wow…" The woman stared at him, across the table in the interrogation room. She appeared mesmerised. "Wow… Aren't you…"

Horatio raised his eyebrows. He was mildly intrigued, but somewhat relieved that he felt no attraction to Michelle Freeman whatsoever. She was attractive enough, but too young, and not his type.

"You're just like your picture…"

"Picture?"

"'Miami's Hero'. Wow…"

Horatio winced at the memory. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Not really."

"You've been sending me things."

"And following him," Frank added. He was leaning on the wall, ready to help his friend out, if the conversation got awkward, which it promised to do.

"I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I'd never do that." She looked from Horatio to Frank and back again.

"I can't accept gifts. It puts me in a compromising position." Horatio's tone was gentle. Too gentle, Frank thought.

"Why? I mean, it's not like I work here or anything."

"Michelle..." He changed tack. "You don't know me… Why would you think it's even appropriate?"

"I feel as if I know you."

"How? We've never met."

She looked down at her lap. "Well, I've seen you. On TV sometimes. And I've read all about you. I've got pictures. I just felt… a connection…" She looked up at him. "Sorry, I sound like a crazy teenager with a crush, I expect."

You sound like a complete whack job, Frank thought, realising that Horatio was going to have to be far tougher to get the message across.

Fortunately, Horatio seemed to think the same. "I'm going to be blunt. I don't want to hurt your feelings, but there is nothing between us. Nothing. Do you understand?"

She was silent.

"I can't accept any more gifts from you," he added.

It was as if she hadn't heard him. "Do you have a girlfriend? Is that it? I know you're a widower…"

Frank stepped forward. "Not your business, Missy. My colleague here is too much of a gentleman to say this, but you're pestering, harassing and stalking. It's offensive and it's against the law."

She stared at him. "I'm not… I'm not! You're being horrible."

"Well, it's how it appears. Now, we're not here to press charges, but we don't want to see you hanging around the lab, and we don't want any more communications - no gifts, no cakes, nothing. Are we clear?"

The tears welled up in her eyes. She stared at Frank, then at Horatio. Then she stood up and ran from the room.

Frank shrugged.

Horatio murmured, "That was a bit brutal."

"It needed saying. She's nuts. Reasoned argument wasn't going to work. I just hope she takes notice. I imagine she'll be embarrassed and disappear."

"I've still got a cake and a silk kimono…"

"I don't think I'd call her back. Eat the cake. Donate the kimono." He looked at his friend. "You okay?"

"I think so. It's a bit… disturbing…"

"Lots of crazy people out there, Horatio. Look, I didn't get a feeling she's dangerous, but you will stay alert, won't you? Just in case…"