Abrupt Crime Scene

[psychette]

The once quiet neighborhood is bustling with activity now. At first, it was an ambulance. Now there are a few police cars showing up. An officer is taping off the crime scene.

It's the courtyard of a hotel in Miami, one of those that was built to simulate being in Mexico. The courtyard is lined with brown flagstones, a decorative fountain in the middle. The hotel curves around the courtyard with a few staircases leading up to the various levels of rooms.

There's a man's silk tie on the ground near the body. He appears to be a janitor for this estate according to his name tag. There's two bullet holes in his side and one in his foot. A few shell cases on the ground as well near the wall.

The paramedics are working on getting a stretcher with Jackie on it into the ambulance.

ooc: if anyone else joins in csi-ish, horatio gets to take point on this case.

Comments

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

good thing the mun didn't use the ridiculously appropriate icon

Horatio frowns briefly at the damage to her neck but manages to give her a small smile at her concern. "Better now." He sits in the hospital chair and looks down at his feet. "Um...you can write it down if you'd like but I need to know what happened."

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

She nods a bit slower, realizing she has to make a statement and gets the pen and paper from the side table and writes.

I was visiting a friend at the hotel and was leaving when someone jumped me and started choking me. I tried to fight him off but he was a bit bigger and I couldn't call for help.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio's frown deepened as he read. "Okay." he said thoughtfully. "How about when you first arrived at the hotel. Do you remember anything or anyone that seemed out of place?"

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Jackie took a moment, as if she was a bit scared to be remembering this close encounter.

I passed that janitor on the stairs on the way in. Him and his girlfriend I think. They were carrying a big trunk.

*squeaky voice* ...he's...dead...isn't he?

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

"Yes, he is." Horatio said slowly. "But you're alright, and that's what matters. Okay?"

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

She nods slowly.

"I've...never seen..." Her voice is too quiet to continue so she scribbles next to her statement.

First time I've seen someone get shot before that wasn't in a movie.

I'm glad you're alright though.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

"I apologize if I scared you, Jackie." Horatio said sincerely. "But I'm fine, don't worry about me."

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

She takes a drink of water and gets out fairly clearly, "I'm better now...I have to stay overnight."

Suddenly, she's looking over Horatio's shoulder into the corridor with a surprised look. She points, her voice starting to fail again, "The...lady with...the janitor..."

Out by the nurses desk is a young lady asking which room Jackie is in.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio turned in time to catch the woman looking in their direction. "I'll be right back." he said quietly to Jackie, before standing to his feet. Slowly, he headed towards the nurses station.


(ooc: sorry, the internet has been acting funky)

No worries :)

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Jackie nodded, watching him go, a bit worried.

At the nurses station, the lady was saying, "...was hurt today and I drove all the way down here to see her. She's my sister after all, I mean, you'd do the same, right?" The nurse was nodding sympathetically but looked grateful when Horatio was coming towards them, she wasn't sure what to tell this woman.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio approached, and gave a quick nod to the nurse. This woman wasn't Jackie's sister, and while he could have confronted her about it, Horatio rather enjoyed catching people in their lies.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" he said, addressing the woman. "I'm Horatio Caine. You're looking for Jackie?"

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Ah, someone who might know more than this unhelpful nurse. "Yes, I am, do you know where she is? Nobody's been able to point me to her room..." she says with a hand on her hip and a slight scowl.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

He regarded her scowl with a tight smile. "Yes, well I can see how that could be a problem for you." He paused a moment to put his hands on his hips, exposing his gun and badge in the process. "But we're in the middle of an investigation. Giving out that kind of information could cause problems. You understand, don't you?"

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

The woman caught sight of the badge and proceeded to turn ten shades of pale. But she tried to cover it up by smoothing a lock of her hair away from her face. "Ah I see...yes I understand. Perhaps it would be better if I came back another time when she's feeling better...sorry to have troubled you." She grabbed her purse off the counter, turning to go to the elevators a bit hurriedly.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Horatio used the nurse's desk phone to reach the patrol car he knew was outside. He gave them her description, asked them to keep an eye on her and hung up.

Returning to Jackie's room, Horatio sat down in the chair again. "Um... I want to put an officer at the door until you can be discharged, okay?"

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Jackie nodded, more than a little creeped out that she'd been followed to the hospital of all places. In a raspy voice, she asked, "Wonder why...she wanted me...?"

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio frowned, not really wanting to say what he was about to. "For the same reason you were strangled today. They might have thought you saw something you weren't supposed to see."

"Tell me, what is your friend's name that you were visiting at the hotel?"

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Jackie took another sip of water before replying. "Sara...flew in from New York. I didn't...stay long. She was jet-lagged and wanted to sleep."

She's got a worried look, even if she's trying not to show it. "You mean, she might come back..." It's more of a statement than a question.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio nodded and made a mental note to check on a Sara staying at the hotel.

"It's...a possibility." he said softly. "That is why I want you protected."

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Jackie nods, coughing a bit from using her voice. "Thanks..." she gives him a smile.
The nurse comes in, fluffing her pillows and giving H the look that says, you should really let her rest now.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Understanding the look, Horatio stands to his feet. "If you remember anything else, just text me." On impulse, Horatio kisses the crown of Jackie's head and turns to walk away.

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

Jackie gives him a smile and settles down into the bed to rest.

Halfway to H's hummer in the parking lot, his cellphone rings. It's the two guys watching that lady's car. "She hasn't come out to her car yet, sir. It's been awhile, we thought we should check in..."

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly to the hospital. She was still inside. "Thank you gentlemen." he said into the phone before hanging up. He rushed back in the hospital, concerned for Jackie's safety.

[psychette10.livejournal.com]

The nurses were just switching shifts when he got to the floor Jackie was on. One of them looked up quizzically at Horatio from the desk, noting his badge.

Jackie's bed is empty in her room.

[lt-horatiocaine.livejournal.com]

Horatio swore under his breath and looked around as if Jackie would just show up out of nowhere. "You have a patient missing." he says to the curious nurse. "Jackie Spencer."

He called the patrol car outside and told them to stay put as he headed down to the security center. "Excuse me." he flashed his badge at the guard. "I need to see the security tape for the last twenty minutes."