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Post by margaret1234 on Aug 14, 2009 3:58:23 GMT -10
Ahhhhh! Very nicely done Horatio. Imagination going into overdrive now.
Great chapter Lucy.
Margaret
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Post by NV Oracle on Aug 14, 2009 8:44:19 GMT -10
Yes, very nicely done, Horatio.
Is it me, or is it getting a little warm in here? LOL (The imagination is definitely going into hyperdrive.)
Terrific chapter, Lucy.
Your friend Oracle
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Post by lucymalta on Aug 14, 2009 8:57:15 GMT -10
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Post by pinkyster on Aug 14, 2009 9:42:52 GMT -10
Oh my, thank you Lucy! Glad to see Mich starting to accept Horatio's help.....
Jen
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Post by Dr. Anna McBreadle on Aug 14, 2009 11:47:45 GMT -10
the last two chaps up would have left enough for my imagination to chew on but after reading the extra chap on finfic, there was nothing left for my imagination to chew on! so Mich is letting Horatio in, so to speak, at least they're moving on! great chaps lucy! i'll have sweet dreams tonight! luv sam x
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Post by sanne on Aug 14, 2009 13:26:26 GMT -10
She let him in, they moved on.........that's pretty much the summery of these chaps........ Sandra
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Post by lucymalta on Aug 14, 2009 21:23:16 GMT -10
So... It seems that the problems of home are easing of for H.... But what about work...?
Lucy
Chapter 28
Horatio slammed the phone back into its cradle swearing to himself. Once again he was under pressure to come up with a solution to a problem. Stacey Keaton had been seen talking to friends that morning at Bicentennial Park and had told them she was happy where she was and not going home.
He didn’t know what to do, there was no evidence to suggest that Stacey was being held against her will, she certainly hadn’t been kidnapped and from her friends’ testimonies was acting normally – though many had admitted that she had never been as happy as this in the past.
A couple of FBI agents had tried to get into the Atalanta Foundation’s compound, but been rebuffed immediately, the woman at the door recognising them for what they were. The chief was under pressure from the girl’s parents to get her back and as a result Horatio was getting the flak.
“d**n.”
Mich looked up from where she was sitting, she had come to meet Horatio for lunch and walked into the office while he was talking on the phone.
“Something wrong?”
“We can’t get into the foundation to talk to Stacey Keaton. They won’t let us in, and the judge won’t give out a warrant without proof that she’s in danger.”
“What about when she meets up with her friends?”
Horatio shook his head, “We’ve tried. All she says is that she’s happy to be where she is and that she doesn’t want to go home. Same story all the time – almost word for word. The last time she threatened to sue the MDPD for harassment.”
“So leave her alone Horatio, if it’s what she wants. She’s happy and from what you’ve been able to tell me, going back home is not an option for her.”
Horatio sighed, “I wish I could Mich, but legally she should be with her parents – she’s still under age.”
Mich walked across the room and gently began to massage Horatio’s shoulders, feeling the knots in the muscles. “And her parents are putting on the pressure. Can’t they see for themselves that she’s happier where she is?”
Horatio pulled a face, “Her mother has backed off considerably since she saw the video that Stacey’s friend took on the weekend, admitted that Stacey looks fine, but the father…” He stopped and shook his head, “Forget it, I promised to take you to lunch and soon it will be too late.”
As he led Mich out of the door, she smiled, but inside she felt sad at her inability to help. Helping her with the problems of the past had drained Horatio and this case was not helping his stress level.
&&
Horatio glanced around at his team and sighed. Of the cases that were currently running, most seemed to be waiting on one set of results or another before further progress could be made. However he could see that from the looks on their faces that one case was bothering them all.
“What do we do about Stacey Keaton Horatio? Her father is seen nearly every day on the TV appealing for her to return home and blaming us for not getting her out.”
Eric gave Calleigh a soft smile, “Not a lot we can do Cal… we have no proof that she is in trouble so we can’t get a warrant and the girl won’t speak to us.”
As the two of them began a spirited discussion, which soon had Natalia and Ryan joining in, a thought jumped into Horatio’s mind.
“Just a moment. Have we collected all the information we need about Stacey?”
Eric turned, “I think so H, we’ve spoken to friends, family, teachers… We also spoke to people she worked with at the café where she worked on weekends.”
“What about her parents?”
Calleigh was confused, “Of course we spoke to them.”
Horatio smiled, “But what do we know about them?”
Natalia gasped, “Not a lot… You think we should check them out?”
Horatio nodded and turned for the door, “I do.”
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Post by sanne on Aug 14, 2009 21:29:14 GMT -10
So finally a break-through might be waiting around the corner....... Sandra
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Post by margaret1234 on Aug 15, 2009 2:20:27 GMT -10
First....great extra chapter Lucy.
Now this one......great to see Horatio back in his work environment.......and trust H to come up with the idea that the parents should be investigated. As Sandra, says....possible break through around the corner.
Margaret
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Post by Dr. Anna McBreadle on Aug 15, 2009 12:02:10 GMT -10
seems like stacey might be too scared to go home! i'm thinking something dodgy about the dad! hmmm we will see! great chap! luv sam x
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Post by NV Oracle on Aug 15, 2009 12:04:07 GMT -10
Yeah, that was a good idea. Check out the parents and make sure that everything is on the up and up. The dad is probably up to no good, which is why he's on the news all the time, bad mouthing the PD for not bringing his daughter home.
Great extra chapter, too, Lucy.
Can't wait to see what happens next.
Your friend Oracle
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Post by lucymalta on Aug 15, 2009 22:01:23 GMT -10
So... maybe a step forwards in the case... Horatio's mind is focused on the job it seems.... But how is Mich doing?
Enjoy
Lucy
Chapter 29
That evening Horatio was surprised to see Dino waiting for him at the house. “Something wrong?”
Dino pulled a face as Horatio offered him a beer, “Gaby’s got some crazy idea about how we can help you out. I’m not happy about it, seems a little risky for my liking. Mich said we could wait here for you – she’ll soon be in.”
Horatio was curious, “What does Gaby want to do?”
A soft voice came from the doorway, “You need someone on the inside Horatio – I’m volunteering.”
Gaby glided into the kitchen from the living room, ignoring Dino’s muttered comments and sat down in the offered chair. Calmly she looked at Horatio and explained her plan. How she would join the group herself and try to become friends with Stacey and find out what was going on.
As she finished her short explanation Dino paused, he had been pacing around the room as she spoke, highlighting his nervousness. Horatio watched him carefully, noting that the younger man was not happy with Gaby’s suggestion.
“Gaby, you haven’t done anything like this before. I don’t think you should go in. You don’t know what you’ll find.” Dino’s concern was evident from the look on his face and Gaby’s face showed annoyance in return. Horatio gave a slight smile when he realised that he would have reacted in the same way if Mich had made a similar suggestion.
She was about to reply when another voice, cold and lifeless came from the outside door. “He’s right Gaby. You don’t know what you are letting yourself in for. Horatio has very little knowledge about the organisation, one wrong move and you could find yourself trapped inside, without any help.”
Mich stepped in and Horatio saw how she was concerned for the Argentinian. “Gaby, if this is a cult, you don’t have the training to fight against the techniques they might use to draw you in.”
Gaby resisted, “I can look after myself Mich.”
The older woman gave her a hard look, “Physically, I don’t doubt it… But Mentally? Emotionally? That I would challenge you on. You’re taking a big risk Gaby – and not only with your own life.”
Mich continued softly, “Is it worth risking everything you have? Everything you have worked for?” She placed her hand gently on Dino’s shoulder who had sat down at the table opposite Gaby. “Gaby, you have always worked as part of a team, working alone is different – very different.”
“Your mind will play tricks on you, your emotions too. When you start to get into trouble, you’ll convince yourself that you can handle it, instead of getting out. Before you know it, you’ll get caught and then you’ve had it. No way of getting out, no way of sending the information that the others need.”
Gaby remained stubborn, “Did you ever get caught when you worked alone?”
Mich turned to her and spoke quietly, “Almost… and I had the training.” She moved to Gaby’s side, whispering in her ear. Gaby turned pale making the two men wonder what Mich was saying. After a moment the older woman stood up, “I thought so… Don’t risk it Gaby, life’s not worth it.”
Without saying another word, Mich left the room.
&&
Horatio sighed. Looking out through the window he saw the trailer leaving, taking away another client. In the last couple of weeks Mich had lost two clients, this was the third. Kate and Nicki were becoming worried, Mich’s drive and determination seemed to have completely disappeared.
Dino and Gaby had returned to New York the week before, promising to keep in touch. Dino had called a few days later, his voice happy and up-beat, informing Horatio that Gaby was expecting twins.
“How did Mich know? It was what made Gaby back down when she offered to go after Stacey.”
Horatio had to admit that he hadn’t a clue. He himself had become worried about Mich, her character seemed to have done a complete 180, giving in to Kyra when her eldest had asked to go out with friends one evening. Horatio had been the one to pin the twelve year old to a few rules.
Glancing across to the arena, he saw that Kate was taking the novices lesson and frowned. This was usually Mich’s class, they had reached a ‘critical’ point in their training – the time when many would choose between riding for leisure or for competition. Mich felt great responsibility to her novices, so why was she leaving the class to Kate?
It wasn’t that Kate didn’t have the ability, but it did show how much Mich had changed. Now quiet and introverted, she talked often about the barn and her thoughts and feelings, but didn’t seem worried about the clients she was losing. Training with her own horses had dialled down – Mich saying that she had been pushing a little hard.
In the last competition, Mich had placed 8th with Storm – her lowest placing this season with him. She had shrugged her shoulders, accepting the defeat. It was not like her at all.
Suddenly Horatio realised what was happening, in an effort to rid herself of her alter-ego, Mich was rejecting all character traits that the Wolf possessed. Her quieter, softer side had come to the fore and though Horatio was happy that the anger and frustration had gone, he also didn’t like what had replaced it.
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Post by sanne on Aug 15, 2009 23:17:49 GMT -10
Glad Mich could talk Gaby out of it. But I do hope there will be a solution to the problem and the team will be able to solve the case and find out what's going on with Stacey. Mich needs to find balance in her life again. And she will, eventually, but it takes time Sandra
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Post by margaret1234 on Aug 16, 2009 2:58:59 GMT -10
Mmm.....so Mich has changed too much now has she? We can never win MICH. I expect Horatio will think of something to help you. It was nice of Gaby to offer to help Horatio re the Stacey situation, but a good thing Mich realised she was pregnant. If Mich needs to come back to life a bit, why doesn't she go in, after all she keeps saying she is trained. Or, would this job bring her too far back to her old ways. A happy medium is not going to be easy. Great chapter Lucy.
Margaret
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Post by Dr. Anna McBreadle on Aug 16, 2009 4:07:01 GMT -10
so how did Mich know Gaby was pregnant?? im curious! so she's lost her 'get-up-and-go', lets see how Horatio can fix this before the business goes under! great chap! luv sam x
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