"There's our little gunfighter," Eric was quick to greet Ridley cheerfully as she finally arrived in the lab. He winced slightly at the glower Tim gave him from behind the young woman. "What too soon for jokes?"

Ridley smiled and murmured, "it's okay, gunfighter beats ghost girl although I still prefer Ridley."

"Ridley the gun fighting ghost girl of Miami," Eric enthused.

"She's not a circus act," Calleigh chided as she frowned at Eric before giving Ridley a bright smile. "Firstly, congratulations on saving Emily and those people in the mall and secondly," the blonde rested her hands on her wide hips and gave her friend a stern look, "never ever do it again. When I found out what happened, Ridley!" She shook her head before stepping up to her friend. "I'm only glad I didn't know while it was all happening!"

"I know," Ridley said quietly with an apologetic look, "it happened so fast, Emily just approached me and the next second people were shooting." She paled just a little and shrugged off the unpleasant memory. "Can I look at the latest case from Wonderland?"

"Wonderland Murders, now that has a ring to it," Eric mused.

"It's just perverse," Calleigh scorned as she led Ridley over to the photographs of the victims. "We didn't even realise how bad this one was until Alexx was dealing with them. Thought it was actually mundane for our guy," she gestured to the photo of the victims the way they had been found before tugging down the photographs showing them exposed on autopsy tables. "And we wondered where his writing was," she murmured dryly.

The pair were missing their eyes, hidden beneath their caps initially, Alexx had revealed that some of their hair had been shaved off and replaced by black feathers, both also had severe acid burns around their genitals, something they had suffered alive and the quotation had been carved into their stomachs, the message split in half, the beginning of it on one torso and the end on the other. It read- 'They stood so still that she quite forgot they were alive'.

"Alexx says they were drugged," Calleigh explained, "only minor traces of LCD but there was a poison that had them paralysed, she says they would have been under its influence for several hours and both...both suffered sexual abuse with an object through...well you can see." She gestured to the photographs that showed their bodies from behind, revealing more acid burns, severe bruising and cuts.

"Have they been identified yet?" Ridley queried calmly.

"No," the blonde answered, "can you explain the bird feathers? Is it relevant?"

"In the story Tweedledum and Tweedledee have a fear of a crow," Ridley answered bluntly, "it appears as a big black cloud, and it frightens them when they're about to battle with each other. The story though is Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, curious that he should move on to the sequel when...well when there are still so many characters in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to imitate."

"What do you mean?" Eric queried with interest just as Horatio entered the blue lit lab.

"Does he pick his victims to match the characters or does he see the characters in them?" Ridley queried aloud.

"Isn't that the same thing?" Eric asked with a confused look.

"No," Tim answered dryly as he finally tugged his pale blue lab coat off its coat hanger and headed over to his work station.

"Let me break it down," Ridley said calmly, "what if rather than looking for someone who resembles Alice he comes across someone and just happens to think she looks like Alice?"

"I still don't get it," Eric grumbled.

Ridley shrugged. "It's only a theory anyway, maybe he picks them another way."

"An interesting one," Horatio murmured. "I spoke with our ringmaster, Nina Balksom."

Calleigh and Ridley exchanged a small, amused smile at this. "I wonder why she's still in town," the blonde murmured innocently.

"I described our potential suspect to her but she says no one like Mr Rothdale Junior worked in the circus."

"He was there," Tim growled out fiercely.

"A man in a rabbit mask who may have bought a lot of LSD was there," Horatio corrected with a calm look, "and he may have no connection to our killings or Rothdale."

"He just shot me for the hell of it then?" Tim quipped sarcastically with an angry look.

"He was a drug user panicking at the sight of a cop or potentially any kind of criminal panicking for that matter," Horatio answered.

"Yes because any old criminal can shoot at me, it's that bloody easy," Tim grumbled as he purposely kept his stare down on his work.

"Speed that's not what I meant," Horatio said gently.

"Yes it is," Tim grumbled, "first a drug dealer at the circus, then another one in the bushes, just anyone with a gun really, hell mine doesn't work half the time anyway, right?" he quipped savagely.

"Tim," Ridley protested as she looked over at him with worry. She knew he was as tormented sometimes as she was, last night he had been the one moaning in his sleep after all, not her and yet when she tried to broach the subject he just dismissed it and promised he was fine.

Tim glanced up at her as he became aware of the stares he had garnered. "Sorry," he apologised sincerely to Ridley, "I didn't mean to bring that up."

"It's alright," she murmured but Tim could see the fear dancing through her eyes and knew that it wasn't.

The dark haired male muttered a curse and resumed staring at his work deliberately.

Horatio vowed to himself to talk to the CSI in private before he turned back to the team. "Anyway, it's still possible Rothdale worked at the circus, we're just going on a description here, or he's maybe not our guy at all, although I think we're right with that one, Rothdale just fits it too well not to be our killer."

"Well I'm looking into the poison that killed our twins," Eric said, "it's not your run of the mill stuff, street name is Fatalis, and apparently its key ingredient is only found in South America."

"Well that's something," Horatio said with a glimmer of interest in his gaze. "Keep going with that Eric."

"Well I think he sees our victims, thinks they resemble characters in the books and then he starts following them and planning out their deaths. It's all so elaborately staged it must take work but look at their clothes, they all fit, so he must have picked his victims beforehand, so it's definitely pre-planned," Ridley murmured.

She looked to Horatio questioningly. "Estella van le Rael wasn't here long before she was killed, and she may have been trying to be incognito but she is a minor celebrity's daughter, I mean someone must have noticed something or..." Ridley trailed off with a thoughtful look before suddenly darting over to one of the computers and clicking through several documents.

"Rothdale's from here but no one knows where he's been for a while," the New Yorker said suddenly, "what if he spotted Estella in Vegas? It would explained the delayed reaction to the discovery of Imperfect Alice, I mean only the original killer could have known what we found in that attic, the body wasn't publicised for a while and even when information leaked out, probably from Snow White and family, there was nothing about the way the corpse looked with a teacup and a dead rabbit." She paused and looked over at Horatio confidently. "He learned about the police being in that house, knew what they could find and then he spotted a new Alice, stalked her for weeks and planned his murder, maybe I'm wrong, maybe it was more than her looks and being called Alice, maybe he learned about her intent to come to Miami or maybe that was a bonus."

"So you're saying, in theory, this guy spots his victims but takes his time planning and setting up their murder and the crime scene," Eric summed up, "which means he had to have been in Vegas because Estella was only in Miami for a short time, just a couple of days, which couldn't have been enough time for him to plan out her murder and get all the pieces together for it."

Ridley nodded.

"I guess we'd better contact Vegas then," Horatio said with a small smile, "and play nice with their team. Just maybe if we find out where Estella was spending her last few days there we might know more about our killer. Guys keep it up; I want this guy caught before we have another murder on our hands." The redhead exited out of the lab and hastened up to his office to make a phone call to Vegas.

"Well I've some bullets from a bad store robbery to attend to," Calleigh remarked chirpily as she followed after Horatio.

"I'm going to look into these twins," Ridley murmured as she hurried to join Calleigh, "maybe if we learn more about them we'll get a lead."

"Oh I know," the blonde said as she smiled over at her friend, "we should break together for lunch and do some catching up."

"Sure," Ridley agreed happily.

"For instance, I'm hearing rumours you have a new boyfriend," Calleigh commented innocently as she glanced over her shoulder to give Speed a mocking smile.

The dark haired CSI did not react as he was once again purposely studying his work. Ridley blushed faintly but gave no answer as she and Calleigh finally exited the lab.

"Are you okay Speed?" Eric was quick to pry once the women were gone.

"Fine," Tim grumbled to his evidence.

"Come on you can talk to me if you want to."

"I don't want to Delko," Tim said coolly. "I finally got discharged from the shrink; I'm not starting that shit again."

"Okay man," Eric protested as he held up his hands in mock defence, "forget I said anything." He turned away from his friend and busied himself with his own work though his gaze remained concerned. He had the clothes of the twins but he had gotten little from them, there were at least three unknown prints on them, all now logged onto CODIS. Their outfits were simple, only the hats and dickie bows seemed odd although their plain outfits were matching, if they could identify them they might get a better idea as to whether their killer had dressed them entirely or not. Eric had looked into the clothes' origins anyway after Ridley's theory about the killer making the costumes, the trousers, tops and shoes seemed run of the mill clothes found in most retail stores and the dickie bows had several copies in costumes shops although Eric wasn't sure that they were exactly the same.

After a few minutes he moved to the trash they had lifted from the crime scene, hundreds of prints were on them sadly and even more partials, it made Eric wonder how many tramps had passed by the bodies before anyone had bothered to report them. Hoping that Speed had cooled off a little he remarked inquisitively, "so how's Ridley after what happened?"

"She's fine," Tim remarked amicably without looking up.

"That's good, and how are you and Ridley?"

Tim finally looked up at his friend catching his knowing grin. He shook his head even as a small spark of happiness crept into his gloomy brown eyed stare. "We're good Delko," he retorted dryly.

"Are you...official?" Eric pried as his grin widened.

"Are you...fifteen?" Tim answered sarcastically.

"Hey Detective Sanchez has been asking you know, he thinks she's cute."

"Well Detective Sanchez can go to hell, he might have better luck there," Tim retorted in his quiet, dry manner. "I asked Ridley to be my girlfriend yesterday," he confessed, "that's what you want to hear, right?"

Eric nodded happily. "Good, I'm happy for you both, you took enough time getting there."

"Yeah we did and I'm pretty determined to stay there," Tim added defensively as he folded his arms, "so Detective Sanchez and everyone else interested may just give up."

"And what about Carrie and Raquel?" Eric queried mischievously. "They're both keen on you."

Tim looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head with a look of scorn. "No chance, Ridley and I have been through a lot and you know what, I'll admit it, I love her and that's it."

"Good, you guys really are great together."

"Uh huh so what about you and Calleigh?" Tim pried with a teasing stare.

Eric had the grace to look embarrassed as he gave a small smile. "Yeah we'll get there," he said softly, "that night at the Beach Hut was special, there was definitely something there that night."

"I know you shared it on my couch," Tim reminded him flatly with a wilting stare.

Eric laughed. "How did you have time to notice that? You and Ridley disappeared to bed pretty quick."

"Yeah anyway, you should just ask Calleigh out, properly, I heard Detective Hagen is talking about doing the same."

Eric frowned. "Well maybe I will," he grumbled.

It was just after four when Horatio was finally able to confront Tim alone. The younger man was outside at the back smoking and looking at a collection of palm trees distastefully. He glanced over when he heard the glass door open and gave a brief, weary nod to his superior before looking back to the trees. It was a mild, calm afternoon, the sky was a clear, milky blue and the only sound in the air was the distant, ever present traffic of the city.

"Do you have a minute Speed?" Horatio queried calmly as he leaned against the brick wall and glanced over at the traces expert.

Tim contemplated a refusal, truthfully he had been expecting this conversation since his outburst earlier and he had been dreading it. He sighed, stubbed out his third cigarette and discarded it carelessly onto the ground, ignoring the frown Horatio gave. "Sure," he said in a tone that implied otherwise.

"Speed I meant no insult to you earlier, you are a talented agent and anyone else in your position would have gotten shot too, there is nothing you could have done to avoid that."

Tim flinched at the reminder and frowned before rubbing at his nose with his right hand. "I could have avoided the Cuban," he said gruffly, "I could have made the shot instead of you but I didn't, I froze and if not for you I would have been shot again." Ridley didn't know about that, no did except Horatio but Tim feared his recent failure would soon be discovered by Ridley as he was obviously betraying himself in his sleep judging by her queries about his nightmares.

"I know you were discharged from psychiatry but there's no shame in you going back Speed, post traumatic stress is a serious thing," Horatio retorted calmly as he pushed his sunglasses up the brow of his nose.

Sometimes Tim detested those sunglasses, he felt it was a mask for Horatio, a way of hiding his emotions and a way of staring deeply at people and spying theirs without them realising. "I'm not going through that nonsense again," he grumbled. "I got shot, it happened, nothing can undo that, I got to live so let's just move on."

Horatio gave a small, tight smile at that as he turned round to face the dark haired man fully. "Speed who do you sound like?"

Tim's frown deepened and he bowed his head slightly. "It's not the same H, she went through a lot more, multiple times and after that shit with the cartel she still needs therapy."

"Speed I don't judge you for freezing up with the cartel but it's not a risk you can afford to take."

"It won't happen again," Tim growled out as he glowered at the lieutenant.

"I saw you bleeding out along with Ridley and it terrified me," Horatio said softly, "you're a good guy and I don't want to lose you."

Tim paled and clenched his fists slightly as he suppressed the memory. "Believe me I've no desire to die," he muttered. "I'll see about target practice or something with Calleigh," he relented.

"Good and if you need help please ask for it Speed, I don't want to lose you or Ridley to stubbornness or pride, neither of you is going to get dismissed, you will both always have your jobs here. If the two of you want time off-"

"H," Tim interrupted him with a wilting look, "Ridley has had enough time off, she's not going to take anymore, even if it's with me, especially not with this killer still on the loose, and I don't need any time, thanks."

"Alright, well in that case will you and Ridley accompany me to Vegas?"

Tim's brown eyes widened, he had definitely not been expecting that question. "Um..."

"I know it's Ridley's birthday in two days, we will be going after, three days after to be precise to look into Estella van Rael's last few days in sin city."

"And why me and Ridley?" Tim queried with a slight hint of suspicion in his voice. "Any trace evidence is going to be long gone."

"It was Ridley's theory that our killer found and followed Estella in Vegas so she should get to chase it up and I think if it's between you and Eric, Ridley would rather you."

Tim arched an eyebrow at that as he folded his arms and let Horatio see his suspicion on his face. "I thought you didn't approve of me and Ridley."

"Professionally you work well together," Horatio dodged Tim's remark carefully.

"Right, is there something I should know?" Tim demanded.

"Pack light, we won't be staying long," Horatio replied with a small smile before turning and heading back into the building.

Tim watched him go with a frown, still suspicious as to why Horatio had picked him and Ridley to accompany him to Vegas. Alright, Ridley did make sense, it was her theory after all and she was the detective of the group but Calleigh was Horatio's right hand and she was sociable and friendly, perfect for when trying to make a good impression in someone else's territory whilst Tim... Well he knew himself he wasn't exactly the first impressions guy. 'Is he trying to take us to something or from something?' he pondered as he finally headed back into the building. 'What could it be?'

Horatio headed upstairs to what was fondly known as the 'guns room' where Calleigh spent a good deal of her time testing out weapons trying to narrow them down to match a suspect's. He entered to spy her through a pane of bulletproof glass, earmuffs and glasses on as she confidently aimed a pistol into a jelly mould. The redhead waited patiently as she tested two other weapons out before tugging off the earmuffs and looking to a photograph of a bloody wound with a small smile of satisfaction. Sensing eyes on her she turned to give Horatio a smile before plucking off her safety glasses too.

The blonde joined her superior on the other side of the glass swiftly and quipped, "are you here about Ridley's birthday?"

Horatio tugged his shades off and pocketed them in his grey blazer. "Is there a plan?" he queried with polite interest.

"Well Eric's pushing for something Halloween, he's been asking Ridley about her birthdays, apparently in college she and her roommates had murder mystery birthday parties and ghost dos and they visited allegedly haunted houses, it sounds like she really was into that sort of thing."

"But?"

Calleigh's smile faded slightly, trust Horatio to know there was a but. "But it's weird she never mentioned family to Eric or named many friends, she started talking about one year with Justin and Don, how Justin insisted they dressed up and went out to a fancy dress party in the city and how he had them ducking for apples and carving pumpkins before hand, then she got sad and trailed off but for a while she looked so happy Horatio. I mean I think Eric is on to something, that Ridley really did love embracing Halloween for her birthday but that was before that Suburban Legends killer and with Justin and Ruby, I don't know if now... I mean I've mentioned it to Speed how she doesn't talk about family but he just got moody and dismissed it and then I asked him about last year and he just got grumpy." Calleigh pouted slightly and shook her head. "He's an unhelpful ass sometimes."

"You probably have him wondering why Ridley's never talked about her family to him," Horatio pointed out softly. "Well it would be hard to avoid Halloween activities on Halloween," Horatio pointed out, "just take care of the theme. Ghosts are fine but-"

Calleigh held up a hand to silence her superior. "Speed's already warned me," she said wearily, "as if I didn't have sense," she added crossly. "Nothing that might prompt some bad memories, I got it. Well look it's in two days and I know you're not one for Halloween Horatio but it is Ridley's birthday, her first one without Ruby so I want everyone to make a big effort."

Horatio nodded in agreement and gave a flicker of a smile. "Okay Calleigh, you win, I'll be there."

"And bring Yelina," Calleigh made it sound like an order and was pleased to see Horatio's expression falter just a little as he struggled to conceal his embarrassment.

"Right, there was something else," the redhead confessed.

"Oh?" Calleigh looked at him curiously with her vibrant blue eyes.

"In five days I'm going to Vegas and I'm bringing Speed and Ridley with me, it'll just be for a couple of days at the most to find out about Estella van Rael's last movements there."

"Ah." Calleigh frowned and failed to conceal her annoyance. "Well have fun," she said chirpily, though it sounded forced.

"It's not personal Calleigh," Horatio said gently, "this is Ridley's theory."

"And Speedle?" the blonde queried bitingly as she folded her arms crossly. "He's not exactly mister PC, God Horatio he doesn't even dress professionally some days and he's forgetful, he forgot to charge my crime lamp, he lost the battery charger for his camera, hell he forgets to clean his gun!"

"Calleigh," Horatio chided with a scolding look as he filled with surprise. He hadn't realised how bad the animosity between the pair was getting, sure they both cared about each other but it was obvious that Calleigh considered Speed lucky rather than skilled sometimes and his apathy towards his work was grating, especially when he was actually damn good at his job. Then there were the issues with Megan Donner, the former day shift supervisor, she had had a close relationship with Speed and an indifference towards Calleigh. It made the redhead wonder sometimes if Calleigh and Speed would even bother having a friendship if not for Ridley and Eric, alright that was unfair, they did like each other but they definitely had a tension between them too.

"I'm sorry," the blonde said wearily as she touched her brow briefly, "I know I'm being unfair and I do care about him, when he got shot God I cried so much worrying about him but even so Horatio, why him? Why not me?"

"Because the cartel business isn't going away," Horatio confessed quietly with a frosty, serious gaze. "Look I don't want him or Ridley worrying about it right now, because you're right, Ridley deserves to finally have a good birthday so I don't want to mention this to them just yet. Look they intend to come after Ridley and to get to her they might go for Speed, I don't know."

"But...you're only going to Vegas for a couple of days," Calleigh commented numbly.

"There's a CIA agent there I intend to talk to," Horatio admitted, "I have...contacts who can help make this go away but until I can get in touch with them and make that happen I need Ridley out of Miami."

Calleigh frowned as her gaze filled with fear. "Can you make the cartel just leave Miami?" she queried cynically. "And can you do it in two days?"

"No," he answered calmly, "but I can hopefully negotiate with them in two days and come to an agreement that keeps Ridley safe. She had no idea what that girl was involved in when she helped her, Emily just grabbed her on the street, Ridley doesn't deserve the wrath of the cartel for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being stupidly brave."

Calleigh sighed and pursed her lips tightly together. "God Horatio is it ever going to stop?"

"It will," he assured, "hopefully in Vegas and they won't even have to be any the wiser."

"I hope you're right."

"Don't worry about it Calleigh, just focus on planning Ridley's birthday," he suggested with a small smile.