Calleigh stood outside the house that had now been turned into a crime scene, she brushed the errant locks of brilliant blonde hair that had fallen over her face, still in a daze from the horrific discovery she and Eric had just bore witness to.
She had bolted from the house, the need for fresh air all-consuming. The feel of the scorching Miami sun did nothing to soothe her worried mind, Horatio had been taken and she had no idea where. The Malucci's had at least a thirty minute head-start on them, if not more, her mind began to run through scenarios of where they could have gone within that time. Putting a BOLO out would be futile, they had no idea what kind of vehicle had been used in the abduction, Walter had run the plates on the blue SUV that had followed her to the lab a few days previously and it had come up registered as stolen and had yet to be found. The criminologist in her knew it had likely been abandoned and torched by now, the Malucci's were smart and resourceful and knew better than to use the same vehicle more than once.
"Hey, Calleigh. We got here as soon as we could, what do you need us to do?"
Ryan's soft voice shook her from her reverie as he looked at her with concern, "You ok?"
Standing with her hands on her hips, badge and gun on full display unconsciously mimicking the image of their leader, Calleigh finally answered, "Eric's inside, he's started processing the house. We…uh…..we didn't observe protocol when we went in, some of the evidence might be compromised."
Ryan picked up his case and motioned for Walter to follow him into the house, "We've got this covered if you want to head back to the lab," he suggested as he walked past her.
Calleigh nodded her thanks and strode over to the M.E who was crouching down next to one of the deceased officers. Tom Loman looked up and gave her a tight smile, "Just doing a cursory examination, Miss Duquesne," he said by way of explanation. "Cause of death on all four officers appears the same, single gunshot wound to the head." He saw her flinch slightly at his clinical assessment of the bodies lying in her driveway, "Death was pretty much instantaneous, none of them suffered. I'm just waiting on transport to take the bodies back to the morgue."
She took a moment to clear her throat and regain her composure, "See to it that they get treated with respect, Tom."
His first reaction was to be affronted by her remark, Tom Loman took his job as Chief Medical Examiner of the Miami Dade Police Department very seriously and had always thought that he had gone about his work in a courteous and professional manner; he would not take kindly to someone sullying his good name. He gazed up at Calleigh intending to shoot back an acerbic retort until the meaning of her words sank in. Although he did not understand it, he was aware of the strong bond between police officers, maybe it had something to do with the fact that these people risked their lives on an almost daily basis to protect the citizens of the great city of Miami. He imagined that the relationships between officers were built on a high level of trust and respect and that for all intents and purposes they were all brothers and sisters-in-arms.
Tom knew that it was all too easy to become jaded by the job that he was asked to do, to see dead bodies day in and day out became second nature to him and as time rolled by he found himself becoming more detached from the victims that ended up on his table. Years of seeing what the worst of humanity was capable of had hardened his emotional responses; it was the only way that he had survived so long in his profession. To pity or to grieve for those unlucky enough to find themselves a resident in his morgue would serve no purpose to the victim, their family or the officers working the case and attempting to bring justice to those left behind. His job was to view the evidence of the autopsies he carried out in a clinical and scientific manner, to provide the people working the case with the information they needed to catch the perpetrator and bring them to justice.
Tom knew what Calleigh had meant, she had asked him to treat the fallen officers as people and not merely case numbers, he nodded his head in agreement and resumed his inspection of the body at his feet.
Calleigh looked up and saw Frank Tripp bustling towards her, "I came straight from the station, we have Fuentes back there, we've put him on ice for the moment."
She nodded her head although her thoughts were elsewhere which didn't escape the notice of the gruff Texan. "Uniforms are canvassing the area for witnesses; if anything comes up I'll let you know. Are you ok, Calleigh?"
What a stupid question, she thought; of course I'm not ok! She bit her tongue and resumed her business-like demeanour; to fall apart now would not do Horatio any good. "I have a lot on my mind, Frank. I'm going to head back to the lab and co-ordinate things from there, I'd like you to sit in on the interview with Fuentes if you don't mind."
"Sure thing, Cal. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than rattling that ape's cage. I'll organise the troops here and meet you back at the station within the hour."
Eric stood in the corner of the lounge as he watched his colleagues work, Ryan was studiously taking photos of the crime scene whilst sending furtive glances the Cuban's way. Walter Simmons had hunched down and was in the process of bagging the rope and fabric used to bind Andy, intent on taking it back to the lab for further analysis. The two of them treated the scene as if they would any other, observing protocol by photographing and document every detail before disturbing the scene, something he and Calleigh had failed to do. Their concern for the welfare of Horatio and his former partner overrode their basic training as they frantically searched for the men, what if they had destroyed or compromised a piece of evidence that would lead them to the whereabouts of Horatio? His heart sank when he thought of his brother-in-law, what if their hasty actions meant they wouldn't find him until it was too late?
Walter's voice brought him back to the present, "We found a broken photo frame in the kitchen, looks like it's been smashed and the photo removed." The bulky black man lifted up the sealed evidence bags to show his colleague.
Eric couldn't prevent the gasp that escaped his mouth as he instantly recognised the wooden frame; he'd seen it a hundred times or more. It was the frame that took pride of place on Horatio's desk, the only decorative piece in what was a spartanly furnished office. Walter looked at him with some concern but he shrugged it off, "Get all of this stuff back to the lab ASAP and get it analysed. This takes top priority, you find anything you let me or Calleigh know, understand?"
Eric pulled the Hummer up in the MDPD parking lot and killed the engine; he stole a glance at Calleigh who had said nothing for the entirety of the journey. He spoke softly, trying to gently nudge her from her daydream, "We're back."
She nodded tightly in response and bit her lower lip as she left the vehicle whilst Eric walked round to meet her. She looked into Eric's eyes and saw the same level of fear that must have been reflected in her own. Suddenly she felt herself being pulled towards him and engulfed in a fierce hug, Eric clung on to her as if the end of the world were imminent, "Let it out, Calleigh," he commanded as he ran soothing hands up and down her back.
His embrace felt good and brought back memories of a time when they were more than friends, time had dampened the passion between them but the strong bond of love and affection still remained. It would have been so easy, so simple to cling to him and cry for Horatio, it would provide a temporary relief but would do nothing to lessen the severity of the situation that faced them. She pulled herself away and steeled her courage, "Now's not the time, Eric. We have to find him," she said with much more conviction than she felt.
Calleigh had resumed the mask of professionalism by the time they made it back to their department with Eric following a few paces behind. He chewed on his bottom lip as he watched her march towards Horatio's office only to be stopped by the receptionist.
"Officer Duquesne, there's a visitor here for Lieutenant Caine. I wasn't sure what to say, they're waiting in his office for you," the receptionist said nervously, wary of the fierce look on the normally friendly visage of the department's ballistics expert.
She found her thoughts running wild as she beckoned Eric to follow her, her senses on high alert. Who had come to visit Horatio and what did they want? She knew Mandy was smart enough not to let a complete stranger enter the department, what if it was Agent Collins coming to gloat?
Eric nodded at her as they stood outside Horatio's office, the door was closed and the blinds were pulled down providing no clues as to who was inside. Taking a deep breath and a final look at her colleague she opened the door quickly, her eyes registering her shock at the room's current inhabitant.