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Post by lucymalta on Aug 21, 2009 8:40:50 GMT -10
Good news... Can post from my daughters computer...
Enjoy
Lucy
Chapter 34
Horatio slowly removed his sunglasses and put them down on his desk, looking at the two girls facing him. Kyra, initially upbeat at his entrance was now looking a little concerned at Horatio’s hesitation.
“I would like to help you Stacey, but I don’t know what the problem is.”
The teenager opened her mouth to speak, but Horatio raised his hand to stop her. “Technically, I should contact your parents, because you are a minor – and I am not allowed to interview you without the presence of a parent or guardian.”
Seeing her face turn pale and a touch of anger in her eyes directed at Kyra, Horatio continued, “However, there may be another way – I just need to make sure of the legal proceedings – then I can give you all the help you need.”
A look of relief crossed Stacey’s face and she caught hold of Kyra’s hand. Horatio was surprised at the dependence the older teen seemed to have on the younger considering the stories he had heard from her other friends.
“Maybe I can help…”
Glancing toward the door Horatio raised an eyebrow when he saw Mich leaning against the frame. Kyra swallowed, knowing that she was probably heading for trouble, but as Mich came into his office, Horatio could see that while she was annoyed with Kyra for missing school, she was also prepared to hear her daughter out.
Leaning back in his chair, Horatio gave a half smile, knowing that there was something going on in Mich’s head. The two girls looked up – a curious expression on their faces. Kyra was the first to speak.
“What do you mean mum?”
Mich smiled softly. “Horatio cannot talk to Stacey without her parents present, unless he has a reason to exclude them. At the moment he doesn’t have that reason… So Kyra, I am giving my permission for him to interview you in my presence…”
The girls’ eyes opened wide as they realised where Mich was heading, giving Horatio a quick glance she smiled, “Though I would like a lawyer present, just to be sure that the Lieutenant doesn’t overstep the mark.” Turning to Horatio she gave him a wink, “Do you think the Duke would be available at short notice?”
Horatio began to chuckle and picked up his phone, watched by a very bemused pair of teenagers.
&&
Kendall Duquesne was a man who admitted he’d had his problems, most of them coincided with the times when he hit the bottle. However, over the last few years he had managed to conquer the worst of his troubles and any time he started to slide, Calleigh would be on his case immediately. The result – the ‘Duke’ was holding a solid job with the DA’s office – and always available to help out the Crime Lab.
As he walked into the small interview room, he was a little bemused to see Horatio sitting opposite Mich and Kyra, an older teenager sitting to one side.
“Ok Horatio, I’m all ears on this one, Calleigh said it was a little complex…”
Horatio filled him in on the situation quickly, “So you see, if we discover that there may be a case to answer from the information that we get from Kyra – you’ll be able to guide me through the necessary legal procedure.”
The Duke chuckled, “and Miss Keaton will have all the help I can give her.”
Horatio waited while the attorney got settled and then looked at Kyra carefully. “Ok sweetie, I’m going to ask you questions, step by step, just answer them as well as you can.”
Kyra nodded, looking a little nervously at her mum. She had been in the PD once or twice and seen H interviewing suspects, and was now in that position herself.
Mich gave her a soft smile and gently took her hand, “Why don’t you tell us how you know Stacey – you don’t normally hang out together.”
Kyra relaxed slightly, “I met Stacey at my Saturday club about a month ago.”
“Saturday club?”
The young teen chuckled, “When mum and I first moved to Miami, I found it really difficult to talk to anyone, to make friends. Mum suggested that I talk to the school counsellor. She introduced me to a discussion group where I began to make friends.”
“The discussion group was great – there were only about eight of us and slowly we were able to talk about general things – trouble with schoolwork, that kind of thing. After a while, as we got to know each other better we began to talk about other things.”
“Donna’s parents were always fighting – it really got her down… I felt I was lucky, I’ve always been able to talk to mum. When the holidays came, the whole group said we would like to meet up every couple of weeks, we’d been able to help each other.”
“Our counsellor suggested that we could find a suitable place and meet, but she wouldn’t be able to join us because of her commitments elsewhere. We had decided on the park, but then Horatio had those cases where girls were being beaten up and we became scared. That was when our counsellor suggested the Foundation where she worked.”
Horatio interrupted, “The Foundation?”
Kyra nodded, “The Atalanta Foundation – that’s where I met Stacey.”
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Post by Dr. Anna McBreadle on Aug 21, 2009 11:01:38 GMT -10
tell your daughter a big thank you from us! so Mich has found a way around the law to help Stacey. great to see Duke esp as he's on the straight and narrow, for now. let's hope they can get this sorted for Stacey's sake! BTW love the opening to this chap, i could just picture it clearly in my head! love it when Horatio does that with his shades! luv sam x
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Post by lucymalta on Aug 22, 2009 1:44:45 GMT -10
Hmm... So any more surprises in store? A long-ish one today as I may not be able to post tomorrow.... Family day out... Enjoy Lucy Chapter 35 Horatio sat back in his chair stunned by Kyra’s words, looking at Mich he saw that she was just as surprised. Nodding towards the door, he excused himself and Mich for a moment, and the two of them stepped outside. “I’m sorry Horatio, I didn’t know Kyra was meeting her friends at the foundation. Donna’s mum told me that the place was a retreat, she uses it herself when she needs to speak to someone – to get away from the stress of the real world...” “She never mentioned the name?’ Mich shook her head, “and I never connected the two – she told me the girls would be safe, men are not allowed inside, most of the women who live there have been victims of spousal abuse. I took her word for it, Kyra loves going, the group meet and talk – do activities together…” Horatio sighed, “All the time I needed to get information about the organisation – and it was right in front of me.” Mich became concerned, “I’m sorry Horatio, I didn’t connect the dots, this case could have been over so much more quickly for you.” He gave her a soft smile, “It’s not your fault sweetheart – you weren’t to know that Kyra was going to the Foundation with her club every Saturday – usually Donna’s mum came for her. Have you ever been there?” “No, but Kyra’s been saying I should go – she says I would love the gardens they have there, relax, read a book, do some stitching…” Horatio began to chuckle, “Like you have the time…” He became thoughtful for a moment, “You know, Kyra’s story confirms that Stacey has not been held against her will…” Mich nodded, “So not trapped by a cult as her father says – which means that there is a deeper reason why she turned to the Foundation for help.” “Then let’s dig a little deeper shall we.” As he was about to turn back into the room, Horatio paused, “You know Mich, if you ever need to talk to someone else…” Mich smiled softly, “Why would I go to the foundation when I have the perfect counsellor at home?” Giving Horatio a nudge, they returned to the room. && The smile on her mum’s face told Kyra that she had nothing to worry about, but she realised that she hadn’t yet given Horatio any information he could use to help Stacey. As he sat down, Kyra took a deep breath and began talking again. “One day when we were meeting, Donna got really upset – her parents had been fighting again and this time it was more serious. Donna saw her dad tell her mum to leave and not come back.” “Donna adores her dad – he’s a really nice guy, but she couldn’t understand why he was sending her mum away. She was telling us about it when Stacey walked by.” “She was surprised to see a group of us there and asked if she could join us, especially ‘cause there was no-one of her own age at the foundation. She told us that her mom and dad had split up and that her dad had re-married. She stayed with them for a while, but couldn’t get on with her step-mom so she came to live in Miami with her mum.” “A few months later, her mum met a really nice guy and re-married too, but after they were married he changed. Stacey told us that she left home because she was afraid.” Horatio asked Kyra to stop, seeing the look on Stacey’s face. The older teen had become pale and he realised that she had only told Kyra part of the story. He turned to Stacey and spoke softly, “Were you afraid that he was going to hurt you Stacey?” She nodded her answer and gave a worried look towards Kyra, confirming Horatio’s thoughts that the younger girl only knew a little, “Kyra, why don’t you step outside for a moment and wait for your mum in my office.” Turning to Duke, Horatio raised an eyebrow, “Any problems if we talk to Stacey now? Mich can stay to help.” Kendall smiled, “We’re a little close to the line Horatio, but I’m happy with the way things are going so far – I’ll stop you if I think we’re getting into a difficult area.” With Kyra out of the way, Stacey became a little more agitated until Mich gently took her hand, quietly she asked the question she knew Horatio wished to ask. “Why did you think he was going to hurt you?” “Because he hurts my mum.” Fear began to show on the young girls face and a tear slowly trickled down her cheek. “He says horrible things to make her cry, says she’s a bad mother to me.” “Has he ever hurt you Stacey?” The girl shook her head, but a strange look crossed her face, which all three adults noticed as she continued talking. “He was always really nice to me. He bought me presents, took me out for dinner with my friends and alone… He told me I was his ‘special girl’; we used to spend a lot of time together. At first I thought it was ok, but then…” She paused, “One evening I brought a guy home. He was only a friend, and we were helping each other with a project at school. Dad went crazy, said that he couldn’t come around any more, said that I wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend. He really scared me, made me promise never to date anyone.” “Why didn’t you tell anyone?” “He was so angry, I was afraid he would find out, so I stayed quiet.” Horatio glanced at Duke who nodded, giving Horatio permission to continue, “Is that why you left home Stacey?” The young girl shook her head and Horatio could see that she was getting upset, throwing a quick glance towards Mich he could see that she was becoming a little angry, but keeping it under control for Stacey’s sake. Taking a deep breath, Stacey tightened her grip on Mich’s hand, “I left… because… I’m going to have a baby…”
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Post by margaret1234 on Aug 22, 2009 2:37:26 GMT -10
Had to catch up with two chapters here....missed the posting of the first one. Had a feeling Stacey's problem was nothing to do with a cult but much closer to home. And how much closer to home could her problem possibly be. Poor Stacey.....what a mess the poor girl is in. MEN. Got a funny feeling MICH will do something about this problem.
Enjoy your family day out Lucy.
Margaret
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Post by pinkyster on Aug 22, 2009 2:41:51 GMT -10
That bastard! Sorry maybe I jumped the gun a bit, but somehow I don't think so. I bet Mich, Horatio and Duke are feeling the same way. So glad to see Stacey isn't in a cult. I had a feeling her step father was not on the up and up and so clean and innocent. I hope Horatio nails him to the wall....
Jen
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Post by Dr. Anna McBreadle on Aug 22, 2009 5:06:52 GMT -10
she's having a baby? i sure hope its not her step dads after taking advantage of her! i would personally pin him against the wall, with Horatio for back up of course! maybe thats why her step dad wanted her home so badly, he's afraid of what Stacey might say. as for Mich, i really do hope that the Wolf doesn't surface, for hers and Horatio's sake. they'd got so far! great chap! luv sam x
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Post by gonsy on Aug 22, 2009 5:51:10 GMT -10
Great chapters Lucy. The situation is getting hard...nasty thing. I'm sure that Horatio is going to give this bad guy what he deserves.
Gonsy
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Post by NV Oracle on Aug 22, 2009 12:28:20 GMT -10
Oh, no......No wonder Stacey's so conflicted. The question now is, who's the father? I'll bet dollars to donuts that it's good old Dad.
Hopefully Mich can keep a handle on the wolf. She had been doing so well.......
Great chapter, Lucy. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.
Your friend Oracle
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Post by deborah on Aug 23, 2009 11:21:14 GMT -10
For the step-fathers sake, I hope it is not his. But yes someone that squeaky clean is to good to be real. I sure hope they nail his a** to the wall. Put him where he belongs in a cell.
Deborah
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Post by lucymalta on Aug 24, 2009 4:21:06 GMT -10
So, we had a good 'family day' yesterday and it's time to update. So, what's happened here? and will Horatio get to the bottom of it?
Enjoy
Lucy
Chapter 36
Horatio took a long sip of his coffee, Kendall Duquesne matching him. The two of them had stepped out of the interview room to talk, leaving Mich with the teenager. Teenage pregnancy was nothing new to either man, but Horatio was not convinced that Stacey was telling them the complete truth.
“What do you think?”
Duke pulled a face, “I can say that she has a reason for not wanting her parents to know that she’s here Horatio, but as yet, there is nothing that can stop me from sending her home to be with them.”
“Certainly her step father has caused her to become fearful – especially due to the emotional abuse inflicted on her mother, but…”
“Apart from giving her a good telling off and a warning, he hasn’t touched her.” Horatio sighed, “I don’t get it, I still think there’s more than meets the eye here, but I can’t see it.”
“Maybe it’s because you don’t have the full story Horatio.”
Mich walked into the break room and Horatio could see she was fighting hard to control her emotions, “Where’s Stacey?”
“In your office with Kyra, being watched carefully by Paula.” Mich’s tone of voice was hard, but as he watched, she began to calm herself. “Bring in this man Horatio, then lock him up and throw away the key…”
Kendall was mystified, “What did she tell you Mich?”
Mich swallowed and answered slowly, keeping a tight rein on her anger. “When she told us how ‘nice’ her step-father was, she didn’t go into details… Nor did she tell us why he gave her lots of presents…”
Taking a deep breath, she told the two men what she had been able to find out. “It seems that he married her mother to gain access to Stacey… She claims he’s the father of her baby…”
Kendall grimaced, “If she’s telling the truth, I’ll throw away the key myself… After I’ve thrown a few ’gators in with him for company.” He left quietly to find a desk where he would make a few calls.
Horatio’s face was impassive, though his eyes had turned steel grey in anger. Opening his cell, he called Eric and Natalia who had been following a lead on another case. “You guys done? Good. On your way back, pick up Mr and Mrs Keaton would you, tell them we have some news about their daughter…”
Fighting his anger, he caught hold of Mich, drawing her close when he could feel her shaking with her own rage and marvelled at how she was fighting it. “Thank you for your help sweetheart.”
Mich sighed, Horatio’s words calming her further, “I’m glad I could Horatio, what’s going to happen now?”
Horatio’s head dropped, “Now we get Stacey checked out properly, make sure that her claims are true and if they are… Duke and I are going to bring the full weight of the law on this man. He’s going to recommend that she receives counselling along with her mother – if her mother knows nothing, we’ll find that out in due course.”
“I’d like you and Kyra to leave as soon as you can, so neither parent sees you.”
Mich nodded, “I need to have a word with our young lady…” Seeing Horatio’s concerned look, she chuckled softly, the last of her anger dying away, “She will find out that missing school is not acceptable – no matter what the reason. So she’ll be grounded for the rest of the week – though I think tonight, I might just be cooking up some lasagne…”
It was Horatio’s turn to chuckle, Mich’s lasagne was one of Kyra’s favourites and he was sure the message would get through. Truth be said, at the mention of lasagne, he was going to make sure he was home on time too.
Mich caught his eye, a cheeky grin on her face, “I thought that might cheer you up a little.”
Horatio smiled back, “Just a little, you know, I might just bring something home myself.”
“Oh? Care to share?”
“Nope, You’ll have to wait and see… A special treat for my girls.”
Escorting Mich and Kyra to the lift, Horatio gave them a happy goodbye, before returning to his office, planning on how he could make his move to catch Carl Keaton unawares.
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Post by pinkyster on Aug 24, 2009 5:45:39 GMT -10
Great chapter, so that bastard did what I think he did. Glad to see Mich keeping it under control although I wouldn't blamed her if she did let go. Especially on him. I new Kyra wasn't out of the woods . Hmmm Lasagna, so what does Horatio have planned for his girls LOL. Now I am curious if Stacey is telling the truth and what will Mr & Mrs. Keaton have to say for themselves? Jen
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Post by gonsy on Aug 24, 2009 6:23:40 GMT -10
Good chapter Lucy! I think the girl is saying the truth so...I'm curious about the parents reaction.
Gonsy
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Post by Dr. Anna McBreadle on Aug 24, 2009 8:25:26 GMT -10
i knew it! her step father is the father to Stacey's unborn child! i'll help Duke with the gators, no problems there! now i'm wondering if Stacey's step dad is a known paedophile living under an assumed name! just a thought, esp when i read the bit about him marrying her mum to be closer to Stacey, makes me wander!
as for the lasagne, yes please, me and alisha love lasagne. alisha also loves my lasagne, i make exactly the way my mum does (she taught me). so what is Horatio's little surprize for his girls?? can't be wine or champagne otherwise it wouldn't be for Kyra as well! hmmm maybe a special dessert?!?!?! great chap! luv sam x
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Post by NV Oracle on Aug 24, 2009 8:36:05 GMT -10
What ever he has planned for his girls, I'm sure they will enjoy it. Also glad to see that Kyra isn't getting punished too severly. LOL.
I wouldn't want to be Mr Keaton right about now, that's for sure. To have both of those men made at me, and Mich, too? Is not going to be pretty that's for sure.
Great chapter, Lucy. Glad to here that you had a good time with your family. Will be interesting to see what happens next. (I think the fireworks are going to be spectacular.)
Your friend Oracle
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Post by lucymalta on Aug 25, 2009 10:52:52 GMT -10
yes, I know.... I'm really late..... But.. it was just one of those days.....
Enjoy
Lucy
Chapter 37
Horatio sighed as he turned off the ignition of his car. Leaning back in the chair he noted the time – a little after 10 pm. So much for being home on time and he hadn’t managed to get anything either…
As he walked into the house, he could hear some music playing softly, but knew that both Amber and Kyra would be in bed. As he was debating whether to grab a drink before going to find Mich, she walked into the kitchen, a sad look in her eyes.
He rejected the drink immediately to give her a hug, “Sorry I’m late, I know I said I would be home earlier…”
Mich held him tightly, “It’s ok… I thought Stacey’s dad was giving you some trouble when Eric called Kate to say he would be late.”
“I should have called you.”
“And stop in the middle of an interrogation? You would have lost any advantage you had by giving him space to think.” She pulled away slightly looking intently at his face, “Did you at least manage to nail him?”
Horatio gave a tired smile, “Eventually – but he’s currently under arrest and being charged with abusing Stacey’s mother. Until the DNA results are in, we cannot charge him with anything related to Stacey.”
Mich nodded her understanding, “He said, she said… Does he know that Stacey is pregnant?”
“Yes. His reaction was that of a concerned and slightly angry father…”
“Wow, he’s really covering his tracks and being careful.”
Horatio nodded, “That’s why we had to get something from her mum, nothing concrete to hold him. However, when we told her what we knew and what Stacey had told us, she admitted to being suspicious about his relationship with Stacey – but never actually saw or heard anything.”
“She never came forward before because she was too afraid. Mind you, she’s now talking all sorts of dire actions, the least of which is divorce…”
Mich chuckled, “and Stacey?”
“Is going to stay at the foundation for now, until her dad is put away, she’s afraid to return home. Her mother is going to visit her there and Duke will be meeting her at his office when they need to discuss things.”
“A satisfactory ending to the case…”
Horatio nodded, “Except for the fact I’m home later than I wanted to be.”
Mich raised her hand to his cheek, “There are times when duty comes first Horatio, but don’t worry, I didn’t let the girls eat all the lasagne, there’s still some left for you.
Giving him a soft kiss, she turned away to get the pasta out of the oven where it was being kept warm. Horatio took off his jacket and sat down slowly, a soft smile on his face. Only a couple of months ago, Mich would have given him hell for being home late, but her emotions this evening and the way she had controlled her anger that afternoon had shown that her life as the Lone Wolf was firmly where it belonged – in the past.
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