Road of Change

Chapter 1

As soon as Horatio shut the condo's door behind him, the empty quietness washed over him like a tidal wave. He collapsed in a chair near the windows that faced toward the water and wondered what he was going to do for four days without Calleigh. After all the years of being single, it surprised him that the silence actually bothered him, but as he looked around the large open room it only reinforced just how much Calleigh had become a part of his life. He smiled.

Pushing out of the chair he said out loud, "Well Caine… you can't just sit around here, do something."

Pausing, he laughed and shook his head in disbelief and thought, She's been gone a total of five minutes and now I'm talking to myself. Knowing he needed to do something, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed a familiar number.

Eric was concentrating on evidence in the trace lab about a recent troubling case. Reading through the reports at first glance, it appeared an open and shut case. A woman jumped from the twentieth floor of the Parisian Hotel in Miami Beach last night. But after having gone over the evidence for the second time, gathered by the night shift, he noticed subtle discrepancies that made him question the suicide conclusion. Things didn't add up in his mind and he began leaning toward something more sinister - homicide.

Glancing up for a moment to collect his thoughts, his lips curled up into a broad smile when he saw who was approaching. Sliding off his stool, Eric quickly made his way to the door and stepped out in the hallway, warmly greeting the man walking toward him,

"Hey H, this is a surprise. I thought you were not due back until next week. Stopping by for a visit?"

Horatio glanced down at the floor as he chuckled before focusing on the questioning face of his brother-in-law.

"Thought maybe I could relieve you of some paperwork, but you may not need any help…"

Eric's face brightened, unable to stop the loud sigh of relief before quickly responding, "NO, I mean yes… yes, I could use your help. You know how I hate that part of this job."

Understanding his point, Horatio reached out and patted Eric's shoulder. "I know. Don't worry with it. I can at least handle that for you."

"So, does the chief know you're here?"

"He does. I talked with him this morning. He approved me for desk duty only. Have to pass the physical Wednesday before I can return to the field."

Eric hesitated a moment before asking, "H, would you mind looking at some evidence? We have a presumable jumper, but…" suddenly there was a shout from the elevators.

"Hey H…" Ryan called out jovially as he approached the pair, "Great to see you. Tired of bachelor life already?"

Walter, who was with Ryan, rolled his eyes at his colleague's question.

"Hey H," Walter greeted, "don't mind him… he lost what tact he had at birth," cutting his eyes toward Ryan and making a face as a child would do before swatting the back of his friend's head.

Horatio laughed as he tucked his head while fingering the sunglasses in his hands, "I've actually missed the friendly banter between you guys. Just thought I'd come in and help with paperwork."

"That's great to hear," Ryan responded, "Maybe Eric will finally be in a better humor…" Eric shot him a stern look. "What…" Ryan grinned back as he stuck his chin out, "you know you've been like a bear when there's a load of paperwork to do."

"Don't you have work to do Wolfe?" Eric asked sternly.

Ryan and Walter looked at each other and then walked toward the DNA lab leaving a stern-faced Eric and an amused Horatio standing in the hallway.

Clearing his throat as he changed his expression to a more serious one Horatio asked softly,

"You have some evidence you want me to look at?"

Alexx took the first exit for Tallahassee and turned off the side street into the large gas/convenient store just off the interstate.

"We need fuel for the car and for us ladies. A little walking around won't hurt either. Get our blood circulating."

"And don't forget coffee," Calleigh added.

As they walked toward the store, Natalia laughed and said, "I feel like I'm in that old movie Thelma and Louise."

Calleigh giggled, "Only we're not gonna have to kill anybody… at least I hope not." They all laughed.

The three were oblivious to the heads that turned in their direction. Workers from a nearby industrial construction site were on their lunch break seated at the table nearest the counter. A tall dark-haired man with a few days stubble on his face stood and sauntered over stopping next to Calleigh.

"Well now, hey there pretty lady. How 'bout you and your friends joining us at our table?"

Calleigh pasted a smile on her face and politely declined. The encounter caused Alexx and Natalia, who were standing a few feet away, to stiffen with noticeable displeasure etched on their faces. Moving a few steps away from the man toward her friends, Calleigh felt the tight grip on her arm as the man reached out and stopped her.

Calleigh turned, speaking firmly she growled, "Take your hand off of me… now."

"Hey now, no need to get upset," he replied with a sarcastic smile as he slowly removed his hand from her arm. "I just asked you nicely if you'd like a little company."

"And I said no thanks."

Still grinning, the man shot back in a lower voice, "Maybe you'd rather have company tonight… I could…"

Calleigh abruptly shoved her badge in the man's face and pulled her jacket back to reveal her Colt .45 secured in the holster on her hip.

"Think not, but I can arrange some for you in the local lockup… now back off."

The man raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and took a couple of steps back.

"Whoa… I don't want no trouble lady."

In a light, high-pitched tone, conveying her next words in a sarcastic manner, Calleigh smiled and responded,

"Well then, I suggest you learn a new method for approaching women."

As they walked out of the store, Alexx commented,

"Great job putting that bastard in his place Sugar."

Calleigh smiled, "It's funny how some men are so intimidated by a big gun on a small woman."

A few hours later, Horatio removed his glasses before leaning back in his chair behind the desk in his office and closing his eyes for a moment. I forgot how tiring paperwork could be. At least it's kept me busy and my mind off of the thought of Calleigh driving down a dark highway.

A loud knock on the open door jarred him from his thoughts and after opening his eyes, he found Frank Tripp standing before him.

"H… heard you were in the office. Thought you weren't supposed to be back 'til next week."

Horatio sat up straight, resting his weight on his forearms as he leaned forward on the desk. Chuckling he replied,

"Had to find something to occupy my time. Couldn't just sit around the condo for the next few days."

"I hear ya. Care to join me for some dinner? It'll be a while yet before we hear from the girls with the message that they arrived at their hotel."

Horatio looked down at the cleared off desk before standing, "Sure. It is late."

As they sat at a table in a beach-side restaurant, one not on the tourist circuit, Horatio was enjoying an after dinner coffee while Frank nursed another beer.

"You know, I've kinda gotten used to Alexx being around…"

Horatio's lips turned up into a faint smile. "About that… how is everything?"

Frank smiled, "Couldn't be better."

The twinkle in the big man's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Horatio. I think he is thoroughly smitten and rightly so. Alexx is a fine person.

Leaning back on the sofa, having tired of watching the replay of an earlier local newscast, Horatio glanced down at his cell phone laying next to him, anticipating Calleigh's call. He and Frank had left the restaurant a couple of hours before, with Frank needing to get home and rest since he had an early shift the next morning. Horatio couldn't rest until he heard from Calleigh. The uneasy feeling he'd had about them going on this trip had returned as he sat in the dimly lit living room.

An hour later, it was nearing midnight. Horatio paced back and forth in the living room running a hand through his tousled red hair for what seemed like the thousandth time. Still wearing his suit from the day, his thoughts laced with growing concern. Why hasn't she called? They're an hour behind Miami time… should have arrived at their hotel a couple of hours ago. I'll call the hotel… they probably just haven't had time to get settled.

After speaking to one of the clerks at the check-in desk, Horatio's arm gradually lowered the phone from his ear as he stared blankly out the window toward the beach, his cheek twitching nervously. The clerk told him that no one had checked in yet using the names Horatio gave.

Calleigh heard Natalia softly calling her name. Confused, she couldn't understand why Natalia didn't just walk over to her, instead of calling out. Over and over Natalia called to her in hopes of confirming her friend was alright. Alexx was still unconscious and Natalia herself felt as if she could once again slip back into darkness, but she shook her head desperately seeking an answer from Calleigh.

Natalia replayed the last thing she could recall before the impact. They were less than a mile from their hotel, chatting excitedly about the fun they were going to have when they stopped for a red-light. The light changed and Natalia remembered pulling out into the intersection when they felt a hard jolt in the rear of the car. They made sure each one was alright before opening the doors and stepping out to check the damage and quickly discovered that a panel van had rammed them from behind.

The next thing she knew was waking up in a cool, damp, dark place, finding herself in handcuffs attached to a metal rail while resting on her back against a concrete wall.

TBC…

I apologize for the delay in starting this next installment. I hope everyone enjoys!