Yes, finally another chapter. ;D
Enjoy!
Side note: I thought about getting all forensically technical but because I was also doing Chemistry work while typing the chapter that didn't happen. So, I do apologize. But I did read it over and it sounds good without it.
Chapter 8 -- Helter SkelterWhen Eric and Calleigh got back to the lab after processing the rest of the scene they immediately got back to work. "You know... I seriously believe that the boyfriend had something to do with this..." Calleigh started in. As she moved to open one of the several boxes they'd brought with them. "I mean, he was abusive right? And she clearly had bruises- fresh bruises." She said. Knowing that it had to be the boyfriend, there wasn't any other explanation.
"Or... you know... could be the roommate, another friend we don't know about yet... tons of other people. You really should stop singling people out like that. Just because this guy's a creep doesn't mean he could have killed her." Delko answered. Knowing that Calleigh was set in her ways about things and while he partly agreed with her they had to look over the evidence to find out what happened and piece things together.
She looked at him. "Okay, Horatio..." She teased, grinning.
Eric looked at her with a raised eyebrow. But ignored what she'd said. Instead, he moved to get to work. "Speed's supposed to be tracking the guy down. He was saying that if he had to run after him he was going to clock him." He said, laughing. "Probably upset I'm not the one doing that... but that's what H sent him for."
Calleigh smiled. "Well, at least Horatio cares enough..." She finished, eventually drifting off into her own world as she got to work.
********
Horatio sighed. Knowing that he had things to do himself but he found that it was really hard to do. Mostly because his mind was elsewhere. He looked at the slip of paper that he'd put on his desk. It contained her phone number and the address of the apartment where she was living. Caine knew that if he went out there things would happen. Not that he was opposed to them, he just feared himself.
It'd been too long for him and he was afraid of making a fool of himself with her. But who wouldn't? She was absolutely... amazing.
He moved to stand near one of the glass walls that looked down on part of his lab. Knowing that he needed to work the Miller case, but as he knew that Eric, Calleigh and Speed were on it. Though, albeit, Tim hadn't wanted anything to do with the case as he had been currently working another one.
Horatio eventually moved to sit at his desk. Even though he had eyed the couch that sat in his office. Tempted to stretch out on it. But he knew that it wouldn't do much good if there were developments in the case. He needed to be awake. Hoping that Tim was able to track the boyfriend down.
**********
Speed sighed, looking to make sure that he had the right place before going to the front door. Knocking he could hear someone move inside, but wasn't thinking anything of it at first.
"Cooper Reed, Miami Dade CSI. I need to ask you a few questions." He stated. Though, having this feeling that the guy was getting ready to run. Tim was praying that this man would not do what he was beginning to think was going to happen. However, he found rather quickly that what he'd hope was not happening-- was happening.
He could hear the man escaping through the back. "d**n it..." He said under his breath. Quickly moving to get around to the back of the house. Though, not before alerting the officer that was with him about the situation. Looking for the man and finding that he was making a run for it. Speed had no choice but to follow- which, he clearly hated.
Chasing the man down, he began to gain ground with the guy. Knowing that he had to catch the guy as he was the only real lead on the killer that they had. Though, when the guy cleared a fence he knew there was a chance that he wouldn't. However, his body surprised him and he jumped over the fence. A few minutes later, he tackled the guy to the ground.
"Get the hell off me!" Cooper yelled, trying to fight the CSI.
Tim was catching his breath. Waiting for the officer to catch up with him. And when he had he let him cuff Cooper. "Because I had to chase your ass down, you're under arrest." He said, not happy at all.
Reed looked at him, but didn't say anything.
Speed walked back with the officer, and the boyfriend. This had not been the way he had wanted things to go down. He had expected to just asked the man a few questions about his girlfriend and where he was acouple of days ago. But now, regardless of the outcome the man was going to be sitting in a cell either way.
When he got back to the lab, he was exhausted. He'd still have to run the interrogation, but for right now he was going to let the boyfriend sit for awhile. Knowing that he had to get a few things before hand. Wanting to get some type of reaction out of the guy. Hunting down Horatio and finding him in his office.
"Hey H," He said.
Horatio looked at him. "Speed, tell me you have something." He said, knowing that the only reason the man would be there is if he had something.
Tim sighed. "Yeah, I got the guy. But not after having to chase him down beforehand. This guy just... feels guilty to me. I mean, why run if there's nothing to hide?"
Caine smiled slightly. Moving from behind his desk to head out of the room with Speedle. "Because he's most likely guilty, that's why." He answered.
When they got to the interrogation room, Horatio let Tim take the lead on it, as it was him who brought the boyfriend in. He stood off to the side, but he was paying attention.
Tim moved to the table across from Reed. Sitting down. "So, where were you two nights ago?" He asked, knowing that he had to take his time with this. As he didn't want the whole thing to blow up on him.
"I was out with friends." He stated, not happy that he was sitting across from two cops.
Speed watched him, but didn't say anything. He didn't believe the man at all.
"Why what's going on?" Reed asked.
"Your girlfriend was found dead." Tim said. Trying to get a rise out of the man.
"What...? How?"
"She was beaten to death, Mr. Reed." Horatio interjected.
Cooper looked at Caine. "That's crazy! And... and you think I did it? You can go to hell if you think that. I would never hurt her. I loved her!" He snapped.
Tim moved to open the file folder that he had in front of him. Taking a few pictures out to show Reed just why he was there.
"You have priors for domestic violence..." Horatio answered.
"So? I had to slap her around acouple of times for cheating on me, show her who was boss." He admitted. Pushing the pictures back across the table without blinking an eye.
Speed watched the man, he seemed nervous. "That doesn't mean that you weren't capable of killing her. Is it?" He asked. Shoving the photos in front of Cooper. "Look at those... look at what you did. What did she do to you to deserve that?"
"What the hell? I told you I would never hurt her!"
Tim sighed. Moving to pull out the rest of the evidence that they had against the man. Thankfully, Calleigh and Eric had been able to pull through with finishing getting through the evidence from the scene. "Your prints are all over." He said.
"So? I was over there all of the time. This doesn't prove anything at all. You've got nothing on me." Cooper stated, harshly.
"Oh, in fact we do." Tim said, moving to get something else out of the folder that he had.
The man straightened up. Though, interested in what the cop had on him.
"This..." Speedle started. Showing the knife that they'd recovered from the scene-- which, had been conveniently washed and put among the rest of the set. "Proves that you killed her." He said, calmly. Watching the facial expressions on the man's face.
"I had no choice!" Reed snapped. "She... she was cheating on me with my best friend. What kind of woman does that?" He asked, looking from Tim to Horatio. Though, not sure that he'd receive an answer.
Horatio straighten up from the wall that he was leaning on. "So you beat her and then stabbed her? You're a real piece of work." He growled. Clearly not handling this case very well.
"Well, yeah... she had it coming. Besides, it wasn't like I don't have women on the side wanting to get with me... she was too clingy anyway."
Tim just looked at the man, moving to put things back into the folder that he had. Getting up from the table. As they were clearly done there. Watching as the officer that had been standing in the room moved to take the man away.
He looked at Horatio. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine," Caine answered. "Are you go to be heading home? I'm sure Lilly has something good for dinner." He said, knowing that Speed's wife was pretty good with cooking. As he'd been over at Tim's urging for dinner a couple of times.
Tim laughed. "And she keeps asking when you're going to come over again. You're the only one that will actually pay attention to her when she cooks. I kind of lost interest in that a few years ago."
Horatio smiled. "Maybe next week..." He suggested. Moving to head out of the interrogation room with Tim.
"I've got plans tonight, actually." He admitted. Looking at his watch. Surprised at the time they'd actually finished things.
Speed nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, H." He said. Leaving his boss standing there. As he had to get home himself. Knowing that his wife was expecting him.
Caine left PD and went back to his office. Needing to get the address to her place. When he picked up the piece of paper, he was tempted to call her first. But decided against it as it would be a surprise for her with him showing up at her door.
Heading out when he was sure that he was finished with work. He sat in the Hummer for a minute, knowing the address of her apartment. But it was as if he was having second thoughts about this, again.
However, after a few more minutes and another glance at the address, he headed off. It didn't take as long as he thought to get where he needed to be. Having expected the traffic to be hectic. Parking his Hummer, he moved to get out. Having memorized the apartment number, he took his time. Things were a little scary for him in a sense, but he knew he'd get through it just fine. He'd been the one to leave her and he was intent on showing her that he could be reliable again.
If she wanted nothing to do with him, he understood it. But he also knew that there was a chance she wanted him- which is what he was counting on.
When he got to her door, he sighed. Just staring at it, fiddling with his sunglasses a bit- a bad habit, that he couldn't seem to shake. Eventually, he knocked, able to hear her inside, and he waited-- patiently. Caine could hear his own heartbeat, not sure why it was that he was so nervous. Things would work themselves out, he knew and if this was meant to be then so be it.
The door opened and he looked at her, smiling softly. Things were certainly starting to look up for him, even if it didn't seem like it.
"Hey," She said, returning his smile. Moving out of the doorway so he could move into the apartment.