Missing

Missing

Kidnapping?

Chapter 1 - Kidnapping?

Calleigh Duquesne rolled over. She glanced at the luminous alarm clock by her bed. She watched as the time clicked from 6:59 to 7:00 and it started it's rhythmic beeping. With a groan, she dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. As the hot water and steam encased her, Calleigh turned her thoughts to her work. She was due at the crime lab for 9:00am where she had a homicide victim's case file to go over before the trial date next week. Sighing, she turned the shower off and stepped out. Dressing quickly, she grabbed a slice of toast and made her way to work. It was 8:00.

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As she arrived she saw the last of the nightshift filtering out. She shuddered, glad she worked dayshift. As she entered, she saw Eric Delko signing in.

"Hey Eric!" She smiled as she walked up to him. He returned her smile with an equally bright one of his own.

"Hey baby. How did you sleep?" He said. Calleigh grinned.

"Never better!" Eric gave her a smile and began to lean in, but at that point Horatio Caine entered the lobby and the pair sprang apart. Although it had been three months since Marisol's death, they felt it prudent to keep their relationship a secret for now. As Horatio made his way towards them, Ryan Wolfe popped up out of nowhere.

"Mister Wolfe." Horatio said as he joined the group.

"Have you picked up those assignments for me?" Ryan nodded and handed Horatio several slips of paper. Horatio examined them for a moment, then looked up at his expectant team.

"Alright then," He smiled.

"Calleigh and Eric, we have a kidnapping in Coconut Grove. I'd like you two to head over and start processing . Mister Wolfe and I have a homicide down at the Marina." The team nodded, both Calleigh and Eric working hard to conceal smiles.

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As the team parted ways, Eric and Calleigh headed to the garage to pick up one of the departmental Hummers. As they climbed in, Eric in the drivers seat, they smiled.

"Not often we get to work a case together." Eric said, starting the engine.

"No." Calleigh agreed, leaning over and giving him a peck on the cheek. Eric turned to her and their lips brushed for just a moment before they began to drive.

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Arriving at the scene, they immediately noticed there was only a small number of squad cars. They spotted Frank Tripp near the door of the house, talking to a middle-aged women. As they approached they caught snippets of the conversation…

"…Her cell phone is off. She's never done this before…."

Just then Tripp turned around and saw them.

"Ma'am, this is CSI's Calleigh Duquesne and Eric Delko. Their going to take a look around and see if they can find anything that might tell us where Gabrielle has gone." Calleigh and Eric nodded at the women who gave them a weak a smile. Tripp then pulled the pair aside.

"We may not have a kidnapping." He said in a low voice. Both Calleigh and Eric stared at him with wide eyes.

"What do you mean may not?" Eric asked in disbelief. Tripp sighed.

"Turns out the kid's a foster child. Ellie Lark" (He indicated the women by the door) "..swears she's never run off before, but…"

"But?" Eric asked, getting annoyed.

"Well come on, Delko!" Tripp exclaimed.

"Fifteen year old girl disappears in the middle of the night from a foster home? Just what you expect from a runaway".

Calleigh rolled her eyes.

"Not just that but there's a bag and a handful of clothes missing!" Tripp finished.

Delko threw him a look.

"Kidnappers are smart, Tripp. In the right situation if they make it look like a runaway, they can call in for a ransom before the cops get called."

Calleigh nodded.

"I'll go in and get started." She picked up her silver kit from the ground and made her way onto the house.

In the girl's room she saw several pictures, showing a small dark haired Hispanic girl. Some pictures also showed her with a blonde girl of about the same age. One of the photo frames bore a sticker saying 'Best Friends'. Calleigh smiled and made a mental note to ask Miss Lark about the second girl. She looked around. As she bent down to open her kit, she heard a creak of floorboards behind her, and a hand clamped itself over her mouth. She immediately reached for her gun, but a hand slapped hers away before jerking the gun from it's holster.

Calleigh stayed very still and thought quickly, her mind racing. She was now unarmed, but as of yet the owner of the hand clamped over her mouth had made no other move. Just then a low voice spoke.