The Return

Chapter 5

Horatio passed through the back room of the establishment, weaving around stacked boxes coming to an opening, blocked by a curtain. His mind was totally focused on finding Calleigh, praying that she was alright. With his heart hammering in his chest, not knowing what he would find, he pushed the curtain open, his eyes frantically looking around the room. Then he observed Calleigh, on top of the back of a man with one of her knees on his back, pinning him to the floor, while threatening him if he tried to move as she snapped the last cuff around his wrist.

Relieved to find her alright, Horatio sagged against the wall as he let out a huge breath to release the built up tension. Frank passed him and jerked the man up off the floor for Calleigh and then escorted him, along with another, toward uniformed officers.

Pushing off the wall, Horatio walked toward Calleigh with her gun and badge in hand, his anger increasing with each step thinking about the risk she took coming in this place.

Holding the items out to her, his tone cool, lips tightened into a thin line, he leaned close and admonished, "Don't ever do that again."

Turning, he walked away joining Frank and the other officers at the front of the shop, leaving a bewildered Calleigh standing, holding her things with her mouth slightly agape.

Eric saw the exchange from across the room where he was securing another man to turn over to officers. After handing the man over, he walked over to Calleigh as she was placing her weapon back on her belt.

"You ok?"

Taking a deep breath before answering, she pushed her hair back from her face with one hand, careful not to reveal the hurt she felt from the sting of Horatio's displeasure, she forced a smile,

"Yeah I'm great, just great," her tone of voice somewhat sarcastic.

Eric raised his chin as his lips tightened and with a deeper voice replied, "It was a foolish thing you did Cal plus, you did it without his ok."

Angrily responding, "We might have had a hostage situation in here if we'd just barged in," nodding toward a still frightened young Cuban mother with two small children. "I was trying to eliminate that possibility."

Eric's voice now heavy with his own anger retorted, "So how often would a white, blonde-haired woman walk into a coffee shop – alone - in Little Havana? HUH!? You would have been so out-of-place if I hadn't come in with you and it would have aroused suspicion. You know, your move could have ruined the entire operation."

Calleigh countered sharply, "But it didn't. We got all the men involved and innocent people are safe." Before walking away she added, "If you don't mind, I've got work to do."

With that, she brushed past him and walked toward the back room to start digging out the bullets embedded in the walls. Eric watched her walk away and sighed heavily, shaking his head at her stubbornness before joining H and Frank.

One of the Hispanic captives sneered, "You don't realize what you've done Caine. You just signed your own death warrant."

Letting out a chuckle hearing the man's words, Horatio raised his head from looking down at the sunglasses in his hand, his expression suddenly becoming stern asked,

"Are you threatening a police officer? Because if that's your intent, you've just added another offense to what I'm sure will be a string of charges."

The man then shouted, "It's not a threat Caine… it's a fact." The officers then snatched the man's arms and shoved him out the door toward a waiting patrol car.

Frank glanced uneasily at Horatio after the man was gone and marveled at his friend's coolness.

"He might be right Horatio. This is a hotbed for The Corporation. No doubt we broke up a meeting between them and the Russians."

Shrugging off his friend's concern, Horatio walked outside to the gurney holding the man injured in the shooting as his injuries were being tended to by paramedics.

"What's his condition?" Horatio asked the closest paramedic.

"Bullet in the shoulder… we've got him stabilized for transport."

Horatio then made eye contact with the injured man asking, "Care to tell me what happened?"

The man only stared at the redhead. Horatio knew there was little chance of getting him to talk, but he knew when he got the man for interrogation, he might crack him with the lure of more lenient charges.

Horatio moved on to the patrol car where an officer was standing guard with Lutrova secured in the back. Lutrova saw the lieutenant and shouted,

"You got no right to arrest me. I did nothing! You hear me, nothing!"

Horatio never responded verbally, only gave the man a sarcastic smile. Then he turned and spoke to the officer, "Take him to process and put him in the upstairs lock-up, alone, until I get there. He's to see no one. No contact whatsoever."

"Yes Sir," the young officer responded as the second officer walked up to the driver's side to take their prisoner in.

Lutrova overheard the conversation and shouted from inside, "Hey, I have the right to a lawyer. YOU CAN'T KEEP ME FROM MY LAWYER!"

Horatio turned his back and walked away with Lutrova shouting obscenities directed toward Horatio until the car began moving away.

A little while later, all the bullets recovered, Calleigh walked out of the back room with her kit.

Stopping beside Frank, she asked, "Is Horatio still here?"

"No, he left a few minutes ago for the lab. Told me to tell you to ride back with Eric."

"Oh," she answered mutely. Well, it seems I did a good job of pissing Horatio off apparently.

Later at the lab, Horatio stepped out in the hallway from the interrogation room where he'd been grilling Lutrova for the past couple of hours – with no results. The man was not fazed about them recovering his DNA from the Johnson murder scene. I'm not surprised by his lack of reaction. Mafia types are natural cold-blooded killers. Their feelings of remorse replaced with loyalty and the need for self-preservation, along with their need to feed their power lust. An attorney had arrived, much to Horatio's displeasure so, he thought he'd leave.

Glancing at his watch, he was shocked that it was after lunch. Maybe I'll let Lutrova sit and mull over his options. I wish I could have held him longer before being forced to allow him contact with legal representation.

His mind then drifted to another situation, I need to go down to ballistics and check on Calleigh. I realize now that I was too harsh with her earlier. It's just what she did this morning… he pulled in a steadying breath as his fingers pinched the bridge of his nose… what she did this morning frightened me… the terrible risk she took.

As he approached the open door of the ballistics lab, he detected that she was talking to someone. Stopping just inside the door, he saw that she was on her cell phone with her back turned toward him. His interest picked up when he heard her angrily call out a name, Daniel Caine. Why would she be talking to my father? He shifted his weight on his feet and tilted his head to the side, his brow drawing together as he tucked his head, trying to understand what the conversation was about.

"I'll see you then," Calleigh exclaimed, then disconnected the call.

He stepped closer, calling out questioningly, "Calleigh…"

At that moment, his cell phone rang. Noticing the screen said FBI, he reluctantly answered.

"Caine"

Calleigh listened even though he was doing little talking. Finally he answered, "I'll be here."

After ending the call, he turned his attention back to Calleigh who had busied herself at her microscope and the test she was conducting, purposely ignoring him.

"Calleigh, we need to talk, but I don't have time right now. I'll call you after a while." He just stood watching her as she kept her attention on her work, never acknowledging him. Grimacing at her lack of response, he turned and walked out.

After he left, Calleigh sat back in her chair and rubbed her forehead with one hand as she felt her eyes beginning to water. Suck it up girl… let him know that you don't appreciate how he treated you. Maybe I should have played by his rules, but I knew we needed to get those men so we'd have a better chance of finding Ryan. Shrugging out of her lab coat, she picked up the keys to her car and walked out.

Horatio waited impatiently in his office for the FBI agents. Staring out the large window in his office he barely noticed the cars and people below, his thoughts were of Calleigh and that phone call. Then his eyes caught a familiar car driving out of the parking lot… Calleigh's.

Barely having time to consider where she might be going, his thoughts were interrupted by a knock at his door. Calling out for them to enter, Horatio nervously fingered the pair of sunglasses in his hands as he walked closer to the door.

After making the usual introductions, one of the agents began,

"Lieutenant, we need to ask you a few questions." The agents exchanged glances between them and the man continued. "Could you give us an explanation about why you met with a high-ranking mafia associate?"

Horatio looked down at the floor and smiled, his actions intriguing the agents. Slowly raising his head, tilting it to the side he answered looking the agent directly in the eye,

"If you know I met with an associate of the mafia, you're surely aware that the man is my father."

The man replied, "We do. What we want to know is the nature of your business with him."

Horatio's lips tightened, growing more agitated. He shifted his stance before answering,

"Gentlemen, a member of my team was kidnapped yesterday. Your department has been notified. If you've looked into the case at all, you'd know those in the Russian mafia are prime suspects. I'm following every lead, regardless of who may have the information that will help find him, including the FBI."

Calleigh arrived at the deserted cannery, located north of Miami Beach in a sea of deserted buildings, relics from a more prosperous time. The sun was bright now, but she thought about how creepy this place would be after dark. She leaned on her car as she stood waiting for the party she was meeting, her agitation building with each minute that passed by. It won't take me long to give this scum a piece of my mind. Horatio has never referred to his childhood with me, but Alexx told me enough years ago to know that his father abused him. Now this man suddenly reappears in Horatio's life, why? Is he here to help or…

The sound of an approaching car ended her thoughts. A Cadillac pulled up, stopping near her. The driver's door opened and a large man stepped out then opened the back door, motioning for her to enter.

Calleigh slowly walked over to the door and hesitated as she scowled at the driver, realizing he was probably the one who had injured Horatio. He gave her a cocky smile which instantly made her angry. Getting into the car, Daniel Caine patted the seat beside him for her to sit.

Allowing her to get settled he began, "Well, Miss Duquesne we meet again. May I ask the reason? Or, can I assume it has something to do with my son?" The elder Caine asked smugly.

The car began moving.

"Where are we going? You never said…"

"My dear lady, it's too dangerous for me to stay stationary in an area such as this; too many enemies I'm afraid. We can talk just fine while Luther drives us around your beautiful city."

Daniel Caine observed the beautiful woman's demeanor change into pure anger. He chuckled, now realizing this woman must have strong feelings for Horatio, or she wouldn't have come.

Calleigh started first, determined to get answers, "What's the real reason you've popped back into Horatio's life again?"

The elder Caine smiled, taking note of her darkened eyes and probing gaze, he hesitated just a few moments before speaking which irritated Calleigh even more.

Daniel let out a sigh and turned his attention on the scenery from his view out the window.

Finally turning back to face her he asked, "You love him, don't you?"

The question took her by surprise. Of course I do, but should I admit it to him? What if he wants to cause Horatio trouble at the department by using the information? He couldn't do that… not in his position.

Calleigh tightened her lips before answering curtly, "I do… very much."

He shook his head smiling in understanding.

"I'll be honest, there are several reasons why I've contacted my son. One is a matter of life and death. Another, I guess, was the idea that I could try and explain what happened in our past while I'm still around to do so, but Horatio is not much of a forgiving man."

Calleigh then noticed the dark bruise on the man's chin for the first time and smiled. Horatio did get a good shot in.

Her expression changed from angry to questioning before anxiously asking, "A matter of life and death… concerning our missing CSI?" Her thoughts turned to Ryan.

Daniel grimaced, and considered for a moment how much he should tell her.

"No, well, he's in a perilous position alright, but I'm speaking of Horatio."

Calleigh felt the blood drain from her face. Horatio… What does this man know?

Taking a couple of minutes to recover from the statement, she weakly asked, "Horatio… what danger is he in?"

Horatio had just about had enough of the agent's inquisition about the connection he made with his father last night when his cell phone alerted him to a call. Pulling out the phone, he saw it was Lynn at the front desk.

Turning away from the other men he answered, "Yes Ma'am."

Nervously, Horatio swept his jacket back with his other hand before firmly planting it on his waist as he listened.

"Sorry to bother you Lieutenant, but a man just walked in and left a note for you. I'm sending the envelope up to you by an officer."

His mind began racing with thoughts of what the note could concern and after a minute he distractedly responded, "Um… thanks."

Placing his phone back in his coat pocket, Horatio didn't turn back to the agents right away prompting one to call out, "Lieutenant…"

The man's voice shook the redhead from his thoughts and he slowly turned back toward them.

"Gentlemen, I believe this meeting is over. I have no knowledge of any details on the activities of my father. My only interest is finding my CSI. If you have any information on my man's whereabouts, I'll listen, otherwise, we have nothing more to discuss," Horatio ended sharply.

A loud rapping at his door broke the tension between the agents and Horatio.

After Horatio called out for the young man to enter, the agents turned and walked to the door. The lead agent stopped and turned back,

"We will stop the mafia activity in Miami one way or another, Lieutenant. Don't get in our way."

Horatio glared at the agent, then thanked the officer and opened the envelope. It contained a picture of Ryan, apparently sleeping, his hands shackled in handcuffs, along with an address scrawled by hand on a piece of paper. Below the address was written,

I believe you're looking for this man.

He walked out of his office, descending the steps quickly then to the trace lab with the envelope and its contents and found Walter and Eric.

"Walter, check this for trace please," handing it over to the young man.

"On it H," the tall African-American answered then looked back up at his boss after noting the information and picture, "I hope this is for real."

So do I, Walter, so do I" Horatio answered.

Turning to Eric, Horatio quickly ordered, "Eric, call Natalia, we're going to check out that address," the Lieutenant already half-way to the door, started making a call to the SWAT commander. Eric fell in behind him calling Natalia.

Stopping long enough at reception, Horatio asked Lynn if she knew where Calleigh had gone, explaining that he'd been unable to get her to answer her cell. The young woman told him all she knew was that the CSI had checked out for an hour citing personal reasons.

Within a couple of minutes, the massive Hummer's tires squealed on the pavement as Horatio punched the accelerator, silently deciding that perhaps it was for the best that Calleigh wasn't with them. He worried that they might be walking into a trap. He'd already called Frank and the detective planned to meet them there since he and a couple of his men were already in North Miami.

"We going in behind SWAT?" Eric asked from the passenger side as Natalia anxiously waited in the back seat for their boss's answer.

"We're going in as primary. This has to be done quietly. SWAT will wait for my command."

As Calleigh drove back to the lab, she was still trying to comprehend what Daniel Caine had told her, worried more than ever about Horatio now. Checking her phone at a red-light, she saw his missed calls. Arriving at the lab, she stopped at the reception desk to look at the board and noticed everyone was out on a call except Walter.

Running up the stairs to the second floor, she opened the stairway door and ran to the trace lab where she saw Walter working. Shoving the door open she breathlessly called out,

"Where's the call-out?"

"Someone delivered this picture of Ryan and note to H," pointing to the items in front of him. "It gives the place where Ryan's supposedly being held up in Tarpon Springs."

Getting the address, she ran out of the lab, heading for her Hummer parked in the lab's garage. She had no idea what was about to happen.

TBC…

Happy Holidays to all of my readers and reviewers!