*GASP* I've turned into Ann Donahue and took away Horatio's humanity and God-like powers!
...But we still have Speed and Tyler so I'm not half bad.
And uh, these next chapters will make sense, I swear. All you have to know is our heros don't age, but the children do. Easy as pie.
Where Has All The Time Gone, Growing Up And Getting Older
EIGHT YEARS LATER
Crime scene, Miami Beach
Horatio: Time of death, Alexx.
Alexx: Somewhere between 5 and 6 pm.
Horatio: Did he drift to shore?
Alexx: No water in the lungs, and the skin doesn't appear to be damp.
Horatio: So he was dumped out here.
Alexx: Killers see this place as a nice body dump.
Horatio: Yes the ocean carries them out to sea, and they are never heard of again.
Alexx: Well our victim stopped short of the water.
Speed: *snaps pictures*
Calleigh: *opens kit*
Delko: *walking along beach*
Horatio: Calleigh you find anything?
Calleigh: One spent cartridge.
Horatio: So he died out here.
Speed: Blood spatter confirms that.
Horatio: Calleigh what caliber was the bullet?
Calleigh: 9 mil.
Horatio: 9 mil...
Calleigh: It's a pretty common gun.
Horatio: Mhm.
Delko: Foot prints lead up to the edge of the beach. Two sets, both appear to be elongated.
Speed: Victim and killer were running.
Delko: Yeah.
Speed: So there was probably an altercation, right?
Delko: We'll know when we find the killer.
Speed: Yeah that helps.
Delko: *laughs*
Calleigh: *walks over* Hey boys can y'all help me out for a second?
Speed: With what?
Calleigh: I have to sift through the sand near the body.
Speed: We're processing out here.
Calleigh: Exactly, which is why I asked for y'alls help.
Speed: *narrows eyes*
Delko: *smirks* We'll help you out.
Calleigh: *smiles* Thank you. *walks away*
Speed: Eric we were processing out here.
Delko: It won't take that long.
Speed: *angry sigh*
Delko: You haven't refused her before.
Speed: Funny.
Delko: *laughs, walks away*
Speed: *shakes head*
Ballistics lab
Horatio: *places hands on hips* You identify the bullet?
Katie: *looks up from microscope* Just in time.
Horatio: Okay so what can you tell me?
Katie: Bullet was a nine millimeter with a right hand twist. No unique characteristics but I did find some erosion on the end of the bullet.
Horatio: Erosion?
Katie: Salt water.
Horatio: So the killer and victim were in the water.
Katie: Or at least near it when the gun was fired. Moisture gathers in the barrel of the gun, and when the bullet is fired, small drops of water remain on it, causing the bullet to erode.
Horatio: You run it through IBIS?
Katie: Yeah. *hands over paper*
Horatio: *looks down*
Katie: Issac Winters. He registered it last year for personal protection.
Horatio: Well he sure defended himself didn't he?
Katie: *nods*
Horatio: Thank you. *leaves*
Hall
Delko: Hey H, I tracked down Issac Winters at his real estate firm downtown.
Horatio: Bring him in.
Delko: His secretary said he didn't want to be disturbed.
Horatio: Disturb him Eric.
Delko: *smirks* Will do. *walks away*
Horatio: Speed.
Speed: *walks up* Blood matches the vic. My pictures of the shoe treads are a match to a Nike running shoe, and Bruno Paglis dress shoes.
Horatio: Dress shoes. Issac Winters works in a real estate firm.
Speed: We could get a warrant for his shoes.
Horatio: Okay work on that.
Speed: Sure. *walks away*
Stetler: *walks over* Horatio.
Horatio: *stops walking* I take it this isn't a social call.
Stetler: It never is.
Horatio: *takes off shades* I'm on a case, so make it quick.
Stetler: The Canadian Embassy in Columbia has located an American citizen, who doesn't belong there.
Horatio: And this affects the lab and it's staff, how exactly?
Stetler: A member of the CCIB wants to speak with you, regarding this citizen.
Horatio: Why would the Columbian Central Intelligence Bureau want to speak with me directly? I have no ties to Columbia.
Stetler: Her name's Megan and she's in your office.
Horatio: She flew here?
Stetler: She says it's urgent.
Horatio: Okay, thank you.
Stetler: Don't thank me just yet. You could have a political mess on your hands.
Horatio: Then I suggest you leave before it becomes your mess as well.
Stetler: *nods*
Horatio: *walks away*
Stetler: *looks around* Hey ladies.
Katie/Carly: *glare and walk past*
Stetler: ...I miss Kristin.
Horatio's office
Horatio: *walks in* I was told you needed to see me.
Megan: *stands* Lieutenant.
Horatio: What is this regarding?
Megan: I have one of your people.
Horatio: ...Which person?
Megan: Jessica, something..
Horatio: *blank stare*
Megan: You look surprised.
Horatio: ...She's been gone for eight years. We weren't able to find her, is she alright?
Megan: She's fine. Apparently they had her making drug deals for a while so that they wouldn't kill her. We arrested her.
Horatio: On what grounds?
Megan: Drug deals are still illegal in Columbia Lieutenant, despite the fact that they happen very often. I work for the Import/Export department at the Bureau. She was in my jurisdiction.
Horatio: And she explained everything.
Megan: Yeah. She also said she found someone else that belongs in Miami and wanted me to take her along.
Horatio: Where is Jessica now?
Megan: The Canadian Embassy in Florida.
Horatio: So if she's an American citizen, why didn't you hand her over to our feds?
Megan: They weren't interested in dealing with her.
Horatio: Not interested...
Megan: Pardon my bluntness but, the American government has more pressing issues than one American citizen in a country that has nothing to do with national security.
Horatio: Okay. Can I speak with her?
Megan: You can.
Horatio: Okay thank you. I'd like to take one of my CSIs along as well.
Megan: Sure.
Canadian Embassy, Miami
Horatio: Jess?
Jess: *runs over* THANK GOD! *hugs Horatio*
Horatio: I take it you're alright.
Jess: I just spent the last eight years keeping Columbian hands off my ass and escaping terrorists with really big guns and mean attitudes.
Horatio: And you're alright?
Jess: I'm fine now.
Horatio: Who took you?
Jess: Marco Fuente. They killed him when I escaped.
Delko: Tough break.
Jess: ERIC! *hugs Delko*
Delko: OW.
Jess: OH MY GOD YOU ARE A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES! *hugs tighter*
Delko: *smiles* I missed you too.
Jess: *sigh* Oh it's great to be back.
Delko: So what happened over there?
Jess: Well when I first got there, they wanted me to do all this stuff. You know, cartel drugs for them into other countries or they were going to blow my head off. So I did that for a while. Then I found my opportunity to escape and managed to rent a small place with another girl. She's quite a bit younger than me.
Delko: And you've been trying to get away from these guys for this long?
Jess: Oh yeah I'm planning my own book.
Delko: I can't wait to read it.
Jess: Good.
Horatio: So you managed to evade them.
Jess: I'm kind of wanted there.
Horatio: Wanted?
Jess: 2 million American dollars on my head. Pretty cool huh? *smiles*
Delko: *laughs*
Horatio: Well they can't find you here.
Jess: Yeah.
Delko: So this other girl, you know her pretty well?
Jess: Well she doesn't like me very much and we only learned to tolerate each other but yeah I know her pretty well.
Horatio: And you brought her here.
Jess: I didn't want her facing the same stuff that I did. And she wasn't exactly eager to come here.
Horatio: And she's American.
Jess: Yeah.
Horatio: Okay.
Jess: You know, the entire time, I was thinking she reminded me of someone and I couldn't figure out who it was and then it came to me.
Delko: ....And?
Jess: She reminded me of Speed.
Delko: *laughs*
Jess: No I'm serious.
Delko: ...Oh.
Jess: So I got to thinking and did some math and I THINK she's Lori.
Horatio: *lifts brows*
Delko: *blank stare*
Jess: She's almost 14.
Horatio: What did she say her name was?
Jess: Well she said her name was Lori.
Delko: No kidding.
Jess: But I think she's our Lori.
Horatio: Okay wait a second, slow down. You found her in Columbia.
Jess: Yeah.
Horatio: And now she's here.
Jess: Yeah.
Horatio: Well we're going to need a DNA test to confirm it's her. We'll get her back to PD for processing.
Jess: Can I come with?
Horatio: Of course.
Jess: *hugs Horatio*
Horatio: *smiles*
Jess: I am SO glad you didn't retire.
Horatio: I'm a long way from that.
Jess: Good.
Megan: I'll go get our little spit fire and send her to the police department.
Delko: Should I tell Speed and Katie?
Horatio: Not yet. I don't want to get their hopes up.
Delko: H, she's American, her name is Lori, and she fits the right age. I'm pretty sure it's her.
Horatio: We'll verify that first and then we'll let them know.
Delko: Okay.
Horatio: Take Jess back with you, I'll go with Lori's escort.
Delko: No problem.
Horatio: Thank you Eric.
Jess/Eric leave
Megan: You know the girl?
Horatio: I won't know until we get a DNA sample from her.
Megan: Would you like to see her?
Horatio: I would.
Megan: This way.
Holding cell
Horatio: *walks in*
Lori: *spits*
Horatio: *backs up, places hands on hips* I'm Horatio Caine.
Lori: *frowning*
Horatio: *looks at Megan*
Megan: You should answer his questions.
Lori: Kiss my ass.
Horatio: *takes off shades, places them on table* You seem like a mature young lady.
Lori: Funny.
Horatio: Do you remember living in Miami?
Lori: No. I want to go back now.
Megan: She claims she's always lived there.
Lori: I have.
Horatio: Do you remember your parents?
Lori: I don't have parents.
Horatio: So who took care of you?
Lori: That's none of your business, cop.
Horatio: What were you doing in Columbia?
Lori: TAKE ME BACK! *throws Horatio's shades*
Megan: We arrested her on a prostitution charge. Jessica convinced me to bring her here with her. She says they knew each other.
Horatio: Okay. Let's get her processed.
Megan: I'll drive her myself to your police department.
Horatio: Thank you.
Megan: Guards.
Guard1: *grabs Lori*
Lori: LET GO!
Guard2: Come on kid.
Lori: TAKE ME BACK HOME!
Guard1: Move it.
Lori: NO! *kicks guard*
Guard2: *grabs Lori*
Lori: *screaming*
Horatio: I'll see you back at PD.
Megan: *nods*
TBC...........