Yes, Horatio does seem pretty crabby doesn't he? I was trying not to use the words 'lost' and 'son' in this post, but it's like he lost a son. *snif*
Please Come Back Home
California, Sherrif's Department
Speed: *writing thing down*
Woman: *leans on wall* So you're the new guy?
Speed: *looks up* Yeah.
Woman: Did you always want to push around paper for a living?
Speed: And your name is?
Woman: Jody Campbell. I'm assuming you also have a name.
Speed: Tim Speedle.
Jody: Well now that we're on a first name basis, what are you doing?
Speed: Paperwork.
Jody: Why?
Speed: It's my job.
Jody: Well my job is to interrogate witnesses but here I am.
Speed: Then go do your job.
Jody: *laughs* Whoa, a paper-pusher with an attitude. Nice.
Speed: Is there something you needed, or do you always do this to the new guys?
Jody: *sips coffee* Some of them are girls.
Speed: Funny.
Jody: Hmmm...Nice tan, breathable cotton button down shirt, and not much for shaving. Georgia?
Speed: Florida.
Jody: *smiles* And yet your attitude screams New York.
Speed: *leans back on chair* If you're done observing me, you have witnesses to interrogate.
Jody: Well right now IAB's having a go at my superiors so I'm stuck out here.
Speed: What did they do, shoot each other in the hallway?
Jody: It was an officer involved shooting yeah, but they didn't shoot each other in the hall. My partner took one to the vest yesterday in the field.
Speed: Is he okay?
Jody: His ego's a little bruised but he'll get over it. So uh, what did they call you?
Speed: What do you mean?
Jody: Oh come on. Your pant loop has wear and tear on it, suggesting you wore a badge for a long period of time and there happens to be a tan line where you would wear gloves. So I'm thinking...Crime scene unit?
Speed: That's perceptive.
Jody: So what did they call you, Speedy Gonzales?
Speed: *smirks* Not quite. My friends called me Speed.
Jody: How'd you pick that one up?
Speed: Long story.
Jody: Well I'd love to hear it sometime. You want to go out for a beer with me and the guys tonight after work?
Speed: I thought detectives don't frateranize with paper-pushers.
Jody: Once a cop always a cop.
Speed: ...I appreciate the offer but I've got some unpacking to do tonight.
Jody: Your loss. Well I'll see you later if I have any paperwork for you to fill out.
Speed: That's cute.
Jody: *smiles* Someone has to do it. *leaves*
Speed: *shakes head*
Miami Wildlife Park
Calleigh: Have you ever been to this zoo Eric?
Delko: When I was nine. Why?
Calleigh: So...Were you that kid that fell into the Chimpanzee Pit?
Delko: ...Maybe.
Calleigh: *laughs*
Delko: There's a reason they put bars on these exibits.
Calleigh: I guess you learned your lesson.
Delko: *rolls eyes*
Calleigh: Hey let's ask this guy over here. Excuse me? Excuse me can we speak to you for a second?
Guy: Yeah what do you want?
Calleigh: We're looking for this man. Have you see him? His name is Juan Valdez.
Guy: Yeah he works here.
Calleigh: Is he working now?
Guy: He didn't clock in yesterday or today.
Calleigh: Do you know where he is?
Guy: No. Why would the cops be looking for him anyway?
Calleigh: It's part of an ongoing investigation.
Delko: Those are some interesting leaves caught in the cuff of your pants. Care to explain that?
Guy: *looks down* ...I work in a zoo. *looks back up* Leaves could have come from anywhere.
Delko: Except they didn't. Those are rubber tree leaves.
Guy: So? We have rubber trees here.
Calleigh: *smiles* And that's why you're going to take a little ride with us.
Interview Room
Horatio: *frowns* Juan, Valdez.
Guy: What about him?
Horatio: Where is he and don't lie to me.
Guy: I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him in two days. Why don't you guys go look for him?
Horatio: Okay here's how this works. I ask the questions and *puts down folder* You give the answers.
Guy: *looks at folder* They're leaves.
Horatio: Taken from your pant cuffs.
Guy: So?
Horatio: So where were you two days ago?
Guy: At work. That's probably how the leaves got there in the first place.
Horatio: Which part of the zoo do you work in?
Guy: The tiger pit.
Horatio: You see, this is where the evidence starts to contradict your story. My team checked the entire facility and the only place where there are rubber trees, are in the bird exibits, not the tiger pit.
Guy: ...Okay look, Juan works in the amazon exibit. He asked if I could take his shift two nights ago.
Horatio: Why?
Guy: I don't know. He said something about not being back for a while.
Horatio: Did he say where he was going?
Guy: No.
Horatio: I find that hard to believe.
Guy: Well believe it because that's all he told me. I swear to you, if I knew I would tell you.
Horatio: *looks up*
Calleigh, standing outside interview room
Horatio: Okay sit tight. *leaves*
Outside interview room
Horatio: Talk to me.
Calleigh: His alibi checks out. He was at the zoo two nights ago cleaning out the amazon exibit. He's innocent.
Horatio: *places hands on hips* Well mister Valdez isn't, and we have yet to find him.
Calleigh: Why would he take Alexx?
Horatio: Opportunity. He runs into the next building holding a gun and bleeding everywhere.
Calleigh: Wrong place, right time. So he has no reason to keep her alive.
Horatio: The question is, what was he doing in the lab, and what did he want?
Calleigh: Well whatever it was, he didn't get it.
Horatio: But he did get our Medical Examiner, and that's going to be our motivation. *walks away*
Calleigh: *sigh*
TBC........
