I like Obi-Wan too
Hunter
thanks for the compliments
chaostheory
The patrol officer raised the yellow crime scene tape allowing Horatio and Yelina to duck under and enter the crime scene located in a back alley.
“Alexx, what do we have here?” Horatio asked.
“Single gunshot to the head. I would say it killed him instantly but I’d know more at post,” the medical examiner said.
Horatio looked at the dead Hispanic man slumped over the wheel. “Do we have an ID on the vic?” he asked.
Alexx reached into the dead man’s back pocket and pulled out a wallet. Horatio pulled out a pair of latex gloves and slipped them on. He took the wallet from Alexx. Opening the wallet he counted a couple of hundred dollar bills.
“We can rule out robbery,” Yelina said.
He pulled out the victim’s driver’s license. “Luis Dominguez.”
“See if you can find out more about our vic ok sweetheart?” Horatio said as he closed the wallet and slipped it into a brown envelope.
“Sure baby.” Yelina replied without missing a beat. She turned and walked towards her squad car.
Horatio turned back to Alexx who had a grin on her face. “I never thought I’d ever hear anyone call you that.”
Horatio smiled, “She’s probably the only one who can get away with it.”
“Um-hm… well you better get started taking some crime scene photos, I need to get this body back to the morgue before it gets cold.”
“I’m on it, “ Ryan said. He had just arrived at the crime scene.
Horatio circled the black Chervolet. “I don’t see any shell casing on the ground.”
“So that puts our shooter inside the car.” Ryan said as he continued to snap pictures.
Horatio removed his sunglasses and ducked into the passenger side of the car. “Found a casing,” he said lifting it up into the sunlight. “Looks like a 9mm.” He sealed it into another brown envelope and handed it to Ryan.
“I’m done here, we’ll have to carry on back at the lab.” Ryan said.
Horatio bowed his head and slipped his sunglasses back on. “You take the body and the shell casing, I’ll take the car.”
“Ok H.”
-------------------------------------
Yelina walked into the lab. Horatio was busy dusting the car from the crime scene for prints. The scene reminded her of the time Anthony blew through Miami. She had been helping Horatio process a car that time. She remembered asking about the cut on his forehead, the smell of his cologne and being so close to him she had to fight the urge to kiss him. That was when they were still dancing round in circles with each other. She was grateful things had changed for the better between them since then.
“Luis Dominguez,” Yelina said as she approached Horatio.
Horatio turned waiting to see what she had to say.
“Our vic’s no boy scout. He has been charged for robbery, possession and dealing in arms and drugs.”
“So Luis isn’t short on enemies.” Horatio pointed out. “I found packets of white powder in the glove compartment. I sent it to trace, it should come back positive for cocaine.”
“Found anything to help us ID our shooter?” Yelina asked.
“Just some partials and smudges, nothing that would help,” Horatio regarded the car.
“So we’ve hit a dead end?”
“There’s no such thing,” he replied as he ducked into the passenger side of the car. “What do we have here?” he emerged with a small white object between his gloved fingers.
Yelina smiled. Horatio’s dogged determination was one of the things she liked among many others about her boyfriend. “Looks like a human tooth,” she said. “Alexx didn’t mention our vic missing any teeth at the post.”
“It could belong to our shooter. The vic may have punched him during a struggle. I’ll send this to the DNA lab, maybe we’ll get a match on CODIS.” Horatio said. “But that’ll take some time.”
“What about the crack in the glass?” Yelina pointed at the cracked passenger side window.
“The shooter may have hit his head on the glass when the vic hit him.” Horatio suggested.
“Which means he’s out there with a missing tooth and one really bad headache.” Yelina said. “I’ll check with the hospital ERs, maybe he checked himself in to get treatment.”
“Do that please,” Horatio said.
------------------------------------
An hour later Yelina found Horatio standing in one of the lab hallways, talking to Ryan.
“Thank you Mr Wolfe,” Horatio said as Ryan walked off.
“Hey,” Yelina greeted Horatio.
“Hey yourself." Horatio was obviously happy to see her. "You look like you have something to tell me.”
Yelina smiled. “I called the ERs. Tthere’s only one person with injuries that fit our shooter. Jason Howard, checked himself into Dade Memorial with a missing tooth and multiple lacerations to the head. They stitched him up and let him go home.”
“Got an address?” Horaito asked.
“I’m on my way there now,” Yelina replied.
“I’ll drive.”
-------------------------------------
The address led them to a shady part of Miami.
“635, apartment’s on the second floor,” Yelina pointed out as they ascended the stairs.
They stood outside the door. Horatio spoke softly, “He could be armed and dangerous, so stay sharp.” He rested his hand on the gun holstered to his right side.
Yelina nodded. She knocked on the door, “Miami-Dade police...”