The Return

Chapter 10

Eric stopped in the hallway long enough to sign off on a report presented to him by an officer before continuing on toward the interview room where Luther was waiting. Natalia met him in the hallway and they both entered the room. Nodding to the officer who stood guard over the prisoner, Eric then pulled out a chair directly across from the big man and sat down, Natalia did the same.

Luther smiled sarcastically at the pair of CSIs for a couple of minutes and then goaded, "Still think I'm going to tell you anything?"

Eric didn't bite. Horatio had trained him well on how to conduct effective interviews.

"I understand you have a court date coming up Monday." Luther didn't respond, but Eric continued, "I know the particular judge that is gonna hear your case. He's tough. Very few people who go before him come away with a favorable outcome."

"I'm just shaking in my boots," the big man smirked as he pretended to shiver.

Natalia smiled at Luther's reaction as she turned slightly in her chair to look at Eric who glanced in her direction as his lips formed a smile.

Eric then opened the folder he brought with him and exclaimed, "We picked up one of your fellow Russian operatives last night. He doesn't share the same loyalty towards the "Bratva" as you… in fact; he's filled us in on some of the details of shipments into and out of Miami. Also, he's willing to testify to your participation in a murder…"

"LGUN!" Luther shouted as he attempted to leap from the chair to get at Eric. The officer quickly stepped up and slammed the prisoner back down into the chair.

Still breathing hard, Luther snarled, "He's a liar… or you are!"

Eric just smiled as he leaned back in his chair, which further served to infuriate the Russian.

"Why take a chance?" Natalia spoke up. "It'd be to your benefit to counter by giving us the information we want."

Luther glared at her as he silently weighed his options while his breathing slowed to a more normal pace. Both Eric and Natalia watched, silently hoping their plan would work.

Finally Luther asked, "What is the information you want?"

Eric felt a glimmer of hope rising from deep inside as he answered, "Where can we find Deidra?"

Luther threw his head back as he let out a loud, malicious laugh that filled the small room. The laughter ended suddenly.

"You think I'm stupid? If I gave you even the smallest clue where she could be found… I wouldn't live to see the sunrise. NO! You're bluffing about having information on me…"

Suddenly, Eric's phone rang; he had forgotten to silence the ringer before coming into the interview. Getting to his feet as he pulled the phone from his pocket, he walked to the windows and answered. It was Frank. The news was not good.

Eric, while against checking on Calleigh's whereabouts in the beginning, was secretly glad Frank had taken the initiative to follow through. Otherwise, no one would have ever realized she was missing until it was too late.

Frank explained the situation he and Walter were facing.

"I've got a friend working for the FAA; got a call in for him now. When we are certain of the plane's destination, we'll follow. The chief has approved the trip – always knew he had a soft spot for Calleigh."

Who wouldn't? Eric thought.

"My bet is the plane went to Montana, I can only assume the Russians thought the same. Atlanta sounded like a rouse. We'll fly out of Tampa…" Frank's phone signaled an incoming call. "Hold on a minute..."

Frank switched to the incoming call and just as he suspected, his friend informed him that Montana was the plane's destination. It was a plus that it left from a small municipal airport making it easier to track, but that fact also helped the Russians. He and Walter had to find her before they did.

Frank came back to Eric and said, "Montana it is."

"God's Speed," Eric offered before disconnecting. But silently wondered why the Russians were interested in Calleigh. He shook his head in confusion.

Returning to the table, Eric picked up the folder and told Natalia that they were leaving.

With a worried face Luther spoke up, "Don't tell me the party's over… we just got started. You need to work on me some more… make me another deal or two…"

"Game's over Luther," Eric replied sternly, "You had your chance, now I have no need for you. I know where Deidra is. But, good luck on a long life in prison."

Luther, shocked for a moment by the policeman's words, quickly recovered and laughed, "Your prisons, they are soft. Russian prisons make man out of you."

Eric smiled and turned back replying, "That's funny – ours are known to make a woman out of you."

The smile left Luther's face instantly. Eric walked out of the room chuckling at the man's reaction, but his smile faded once out in the hallway. It was a front for the prisoner. Eric was more concerned than ever now, after hearing about Calleigh's abduction and that they were taking her to Montana. What was her kidnapper's purpose?

Calleigh slowly opened her eyes. Confused, she wondered. Where am I? What's that sound… then her eyes opened wide at the realization – jet engines! Almost simultaneously, she felt the vibration of the floor under her feet. Scanning her surroundings, she turned her head to the left, and found herself looking at a man, a total stranger just a few feet away.

"Well, seems someone is finally awake," the man said as he gave her a half-hearted smile.

Closing her eyes for just a second, she reopened them and realized there were two men sitting directly opposite, across a narrow aisle.

"What…" she almost croaked, her throat extremely dry.

Standing, the man who spoke up offered her a bottle of water.

"Here, this should help."

Calleigh took the bottle, but appeared obviously skeptical about trusting its content.

He read her mind. "It's not poison… just pure water."

Grasping the cap, well, it is on tight she thought. Opening the bottle, she took a long draw of the cool refreshing liquid. At least he doesn't have a Russian accent.

Feeling better, she began again.

"What business do you have with me?"

The two men looked at each other and smiled.

She added, "You do realize you committed a felony by kidnapping me. Someone's bound to have seen you." At least I hope so.

The men's laughter returned her wandering thoughts back to the present.

Then the other man who had been silent spoke up, "We're following orders. Your presence has been requested – we're just making the delivery."

Calleigh looked skeptically at the two men, but studied their faces so she could remember their characteristics if she survived.

Suddenly, she could feel the pressure of the plane banking to the right and descending in altitude.

"It won't be long now… we'll be landing soon. Then you can take your grievances up with our boss."

The plane landed and taxied into an open hanger. The cavernous building created a deafening echo of the plane's engines as they wound down. Before entering the building, Calleigh noticed the landscape outside the window – mountainous with snow on the ground. Well, we've definitely crossed state lines, that is, if we're even still in the U.S.

At the lodge, he sat on a couch in the large, rustic decorated room staring into the fire. This is one big mess. How do I explain what happened? He closed his eyes and lightly ran a couple of fingers back and forth nervously across his forehead as if the gesture might relieve the building tension. Even I would find it hard to believe. Raising his left arm, he looked once more at the time on his watch. It won't be long now. His lips formed a slight smile.

Calleigh stared out the vehicle's window at the tall fir trees, their limbs hanging low from the weight of the snow as they lined the narrow, winding mountainous road. Her eyes kept searching for a sign of any type, but the road was not marked. With the cloudy sky and heavy falling snow, she couldn't even tell which direction they were heading. Her mind kept screaming that the further away from any type of civilization, the less chance she had of surviving in this wilderness, even if she seized an opportunity to escape. After what she thought had been almost an hour, they crossed one set of mountains only to have another looming ahead.

Walter turned to Frank in the seat next to him and exclaimed, "Your friend at the FAA was positive the private jet took a westerly course to Montana?"

Frank's pent-up frustration, anger and concern over the situation tinged his response to the young man.

"For no less than the hundredth time, yes he was positive after tracking the plane's flight path. Now, will you let me get some rest? I'd suggest you do the same."

Ignoring the detective's hostility, Walter continued in a lowered voice, "I still don't understand why anyone would be interested in taking Calleigh. And why take her to Montana?" He shook his head from side to side. "You know we're gonna freeze our ass off out in those mountains! We're beach guys… warm sun, sand. I don't do snow. Plus, I'll probably be the only black man out there."

Frank's only response was to shift in his seat, adjust the pillow under his head and let out an exasperated huff. They had three more hours before the large commercial jet touched down in Butte, Montana. It was as close as they could get to Kalispell. They were renting a car and making the two and a-half hour drive, maybe three after landing. Pretending to sleep, Frank silently considered what needed to be done once they arrived. Walter's right; they needed warm clothing, creating a look that would allow them to fit in with other people once they got there. We'll have to find an outfitting place in Butte.

Then other considerations entered his mind. I wonder how far ahead the Russians are of us? And how are they travelling out there? Driving or flying? Pushing the concerns from his thoughts after a few minutes, he gradually felt himself drifting off into sleep.

After what Calleigh estimated was another forty minutes, the large four-wheel drive Range Rover came to a closed gate. The snow was really coming down now… creating a white fog like appearance. The driver got out of the vehicle and quickly unlocked the gate and then pushed the panels open allowing the vehicle to enter. Once through, he stopped on the other side and repeated the process, making sure the gate was locked behind them. As the vehicle slowly maneuvered through the deep snow, Calleigh's senses were now on high alert.

What she estimated as a little more than a mile from when they passed the gate, a large ski-lodge type building came into view ahead. This area doesn't appear as if it's had many visitors. Usually, there would be people all around a place like this… instead, it looks deserted. I might have a chance to break away once we stop, but where would I go? I wouldn't last long in these conditions considering the way I'm dressed.

He watched the vehicle approach from an upstairs window, careful not to stand too close to the opening so he couldn't be seen by the SUV's occupants. It stopped in front of the building and he waited with anticipation for the passengers to exit. He smiled as the blond stepped out and looked around. She's thinking of how she can escape. There's not any way.

The men ushered Calleigh into the building fairly quickly, one holding each arm. She detested being manhandled, but at the moment, she had no other choice. Her curiosity was growing as she contemplated who wanted her brought to this desolate place.

Once inside, her eyes picked up on every detail of her surroundings. Noticing the interior was decorated as if it were a ski lodge. It looked like ones seen in travel brochures. Animal skins hung on the wood-planked walls, a pair of snow skis propped in a corner on the opposite side of the entry hallway. Western-themed framed art lined the hallway. She looked down, the large rug under her feet depicted buffalo grazing on a prairie.

Turning to the men who had brought her she asked, "OK, so where is your boss?"

Taking her arm, one of them replied, "In due time. First, someone wants to talk with you."

He ushered her almost forcibly through the open doors into the large room that contained a large fireplace that was ablaze with a roaring fire. She then watched the man shut the doors and walk out, leaving her to take in her surroundings.

Then after a minute, she heard a man's voice call her name. It was a very familiar voice, but one that she knew couldn't be.

"Calleigh…" he said again.

No! It can't possibly be. My mind is playing tricks… it's because of my apprehension.

Finally able to move, she turned slowly to find out for herself that this wasn't real… it couldn't be. Then her eyes widened as they fell on the man. Her mouth dropped open, but she couldn't make a sound. Shock overwhelmed her.

"Calleigh," he said softer this time, tilting his head giving her an apprehensive smile.

I know this is a great shock, but I had to let her know.

Calleigh walked awkwardly toward him.

"Horatio… but…"

Stopping just inches from him, she raised her hand and touched his cheek softly, allowing her fingers to trail down to his jaw. He's alive! Then her shock turned to anger, sudden deep anger towards the man she thought was dead.

He watched as her face instantly revealed the abrupt change and before he could react, she struck like a coiled cobra.

Calleigh's hand swiftly flew toward his face and the impact with his cheek resounded through the large high-ceiling room. His head jerked to one side almost causing him to lose his balance.

"HOW DARE YOU!" she hissed as her body shook with rage.

TBC…