New chapter, guys! Enjoy. ;D
Chapter 7 -- Getting OffHoratio held on to her for the most part, it felt good. But he knew that he was at work and things had to be done. He didn't want her to go, either. But she really couldn't stay as she wasn't an employee there. When he was sure that she was going to be okay, he pulled back to look at her. Brushing a bit of hair out of her face.
"Sweetie, I have to get back to work. I'm going to get those charges dropped for you first thing. So, I want you to sit tight until an officer is sent to let you go." He said. Moving to get up out of the chair then.
Laci looked at him. "Great." She answered. Just glad that she didn't seem to be in too much trouble. Though, she knew perfectly well that this had wasted time for some of the officer's involved.
He smiled. "I'd suggest dinner, or something. But I know that you probably have a lot of other things to do and there's no telling when I'd be out of here."
"I could cook for you, if you like." She suggested. Jumping at that fact, even if she knew that there was a chance that he wouldn't be able to show up. He was a cop and she respected that.
Horatio grinned. "That would be nice." He answered.
"Shall I write down my address and phone number for you then?" She asked, watching him nod, she took a pen and something to write on out of her purse. Quickly writing down her address and her phone number. Laci smiled at him. Wanting to know how long they were going to keep this up, not knowing eachother's names. As the whole mess here could have been avoided. But she didn't dare ask.
He took the piece of paper that she offered, looking at it and finding that it was an address in the higher class of Miami's population. Though, he knew better then to think that she would be living in something a lot less. As he knew that her sister and brother in-law, who worked in the lab most likely insured that she had a nice place to stay. "Your father pay for this apartment?" He asked, curious.
Laci laughed. "Yes, he did. I don't see why it matters all that much. Or is it because he was also paying John under the table to 'protect' me? Well, you can see how far that got. And before you ask, he did pay for the apartment in New York. Doesn't want his daughter to be living in some broken down apartment."
"And your sister?"
She looked at him, but knew that he had talked to Lilly constantly also. "Well, when she decided to start dating Tim, our father didn't exactly approve of him. He was not worth much as my father said. Even if his parents own a resturant in New York. What mattered was money and reputation. When she married him things just got worse from there. That's why they moved here and as far as I know he's still working as a --" Laci started but was cut off.
"A cop." He finished, for her.
"Yeah... a cop. How did you...?" She questioned. Not really used to being cut off like that.
He smirked. "Oh, I just... let's just say I've had to work with him at a few crime scenes." He answered.
"Oh, I see." She commented.
Caine stood there for a moment more before moving to head out of the room as he had to get her out of the mess that she was in.
"Wait..." She started, moving to get out of the chair that she'd been sitting in to get to him. Touching his hand softly, "Thank you... you didn't have to do this at all." She said, moving to kiss his cheek, softly.
He felt himself blush, slightly. Looking at her. "What are you trying to do?" He asked. Not afraid of her at all- in fact, his feelings for her were quite the opposite.
"Nothing..." She answered, grinning and winking at him. Letting her hand brush his as she moved away from him to sit back down in the chair.
Horatio stood there for a moment before leaving in search of Tripp. Knowing that he'd find him in the bullpen.
*****
When Horatio found Tripp the man was at his desk. Most likely getting through all of the paperwork that he had to do. Heading over to the man's desk, he was quiet, even though he was afraid that he couldn't talk the man out of the charges-- he was going to try.
Frank noticed Horatio after a minute. "Horatio, what are you here for?" He asked. As he noticed that he didn't see the Lieutenant here much at all.
"Actually... I am..." He answered.
The Detective raised an eyebrow.
"The shoplifter that one of the officers picked up. I'd like to see those charges dropped." Caine continued.
Tripp looked at him. "You know I can't do that. If I do it for her then I'd have to do it for every low life that came in here for theft and that's not right." He explained.
Horatio shifted abit. "She's got no priors, has never gotten so much as a speeding ticket. If she gets this put on her record, she's ruined."
"So? She stole something. The least she'd get is probation... maybe community service. If she got the right judge, maybe even a slap on the wrist." Tripp countered. "What is this woman to you, Horatio?"
He looked away for a moment. Not wanting to answer the question that the Detective had asked. "Will you just see what you can do?" He questioned.
"I'll see about getting the charges dropped for you, I suppose. Either that, or maybe the paperwork will get lost-- things do that sometimes." Tripp answered, moving to throw away the paper he'd been working on that had been related to the case. "Let her know she's free to go, then."
Horatio smirked. "Thank you, Frank." He said, before leaving. Knowing that was taken care of. When he got back to the lab he informed the officer that had been watching the woman to let her know that she was free to go.
He would have but he had to get back to work. Knowing that there were things that had to be done, like tracking down the boyfriend of Sheri Miller.