A/N: See intro for the standard stuff. Hoep you enjoy and thnks for reading. Now really make my day and hit the little button at the bottom that says "submit a review". Thanks again.

Annabel heard the sound of muffled gunfire coming from the ballistics lab. She smiled slightly. At least someone was having fun. She waited a moment until she heard Calleigh call the all-clear, then poked her head through the door. Annabel swore she saw Calleigh jump just slightly. Calleigh turned fully around and gave Annabel a puzzled smile.

“I didn’t quite recognize you. Was wondering who had let the kid in.”

Annabel rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You know that’s far from true.” Annabel glanced down at her jeans. “I suppose though, I look a little incognito.”

“And a little out of place.” Calleigh cast a speculative glance. “Yelina made it in?”

Annabel took a deep breath and nodded. “I thought she needed a little privacy to talk to Ray Jr.”

“And?” Calleigh raised an eyebrow.

Annabel tilted her chin up. “And what?” Calleigh just flashed her an annoyed look. Annabel shrugged. “What? You expected some big battle royale or something?”

Calleigh turned and set the gun on the bench. “Well, you do seem to have retreated.”

“You mean turned tail and ran?”

Calleigh didn’t answer. “You’re supposed to be off, not lurking down here.”

“I decided to spend the rest of my day fishing,” countered Annabel leaning against the wall and crossing her arms. She glared defiantly at Calleigh’s back.

“This isn’t a bait shop.”

“Come on, Calleigh. I’ve abandoned my home. Don’t leave me at loose ends. I can’t just wander the streets of Miami.”

“Hey, I didn’t chase you out.”

“No, but you really can’t be expecting me to just be sitting on the beach all day.”

“You did say you were going fishing.”

“Ha. Ha.” Annabel stood up. “Please, Calleigh. Help me help Horatio.”

Calleigh started to dig the bullets out of the tank. “You’re the one who was worried about me being compelled to testify,” she pointed out.

Annabel sighed and looked down at the floor. “I know. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to drag anyone else into this.” Annabel looked up, gnawing on her lip. She took a couple of moments to line up her thoughts. “This is big, Calleigh. And deep. And messy.”

Calleigh glanced around. She pinned Annabel with a sharp, emerald stare. “I think I’ve kind of figured that out. Thanks.”

Annabel raked her fingers through her hair. “Horatio is willing to sacrifice himself and I…Well, I’ve signed on to follow,” she said quietly dropping her head. “He…I…we…” Annabel looked up, her stormy eyes unreadable. “No one else should have to go down with us.”

Calleigh grimaced slightly and shook her head. “Sometimes family is more than blood or marriage.”

A ghost of a smile lit Annabel’s features. “I’m too young to be your mother.”

Calleigh turned back to the workbench. “How about the evil stepmother then? Listen, let me finish up this. Then since I haven’t taken lunch yet…” She paused a minute. “And yes I am aware that is getting on closer to supper. Let me finish this and we can go grab a bite somewhere with some fresh air.” She turned and looked at Annabel. “Does that sound like a plan?”

“Definitely,” Annabel smiled. “Especially since I’m not really here.” She headed toward the door. “Give me a call when you’re free. I’ll bring the poisoned apples.” Annabel headed for the door. She turned back. “And Horatio isn’t old enough either.”

“No, but try telling him that.” Annabel nodded and headed out of the labs.

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Annabel was sitting at a picnic table watching the beachgoers when Calleigh came up. Annabel saw her out of the corner of her eye and swung around. Calleigh set a folder down on the table and opened the bag. She pulled out a salad. She looked over at Annabel’s cup.

“Not coffee?”

“Diet Coke.” She nodded at Calleigh’s salad. “Great salads, lousy cup of coffee.” Annabel flipped open the file folder. “So what am I looking at?”

Calleigh reached over and pulled out several photos. “These were sent over from Miami International. Anyone you recognize?”

Annabel glanced at the photos. She spotted Ray Jr. in a couple. “You mean besides the sweet-tempered kid camped out at Horatio’s place?” Annabel looked closer at the one photo. She tapped it. “Wait a minute. I talked to her. What was her name?” Annabel reached for her notebook. “Damn. Frank has my notes. Ama…Amalia…something. You’re gonna have to ask Frank.” Annabel took a long pull on her pop as she thought. “Came across her canvassing the neighborhood after the OD. She was evasive.” Annabel shook her head. “Everyone was evasive. Damn.” Annabel took another drink. “I wish I had my notebook. You’re gonna have to call Frank.” Annabel shook her head. “If you can find her, I want in.”

Calleigh shook her head. “You can’t.”

Annabel leaned in. “I really don’t care about procedure right now. I want my husband home. If something this woman knows finds Raymond, and gets Horatio back to Miami…” Annabel backed down. “How about if I just sit in the corner and keep my mouth shut?” Calleigh looked dubious. Annabel held up her hand. “Scout’s honor.”

“We’re you ever a scout?”

Annabel crossed her heart. “Want me to find the pictures?”

Calleigh still looked doubtful. “I’ll leave it up to Frank.”

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Annabel watched Amalia dos Santos shift in her chair. The woman was clearly very uncomfortable with being there. Annabel was very impressed with Frank’s ability to track the woman down. And almost as impressed with the fact that he got her to come in. Amalia glanced over at Annabel a couple of times, trying to figure out her role in the drama. Annabel kept her face blank, giving away nothing.

“Miss dos Santos, do you need an interpreter in here or can you understand English well enough?” asked Calleigh.

Amalia tossed her head and stuck her chin out. “I understand English just fine. I am not stupid.”

“Never said you were, ma’am,” countered Frank. Annabel suppressed a smile at the ‘jury’s still out on that one,’ she heard in his voice.

Amalia looked over at Annabel again. “What is she doing in here? She does not look like a police officer.”

Frank’s gaze didn’t waver from Amalia’s. “Detective Caine is consulting on this case, Miss dos Santos. She also interviewed you before.” The woman had paled noticeably and openly stared at Annabel now. Annabel’s lips twitched in a slightly feral grin. She quickly re-schooled her features into a blank slate again.

“I…I…don’t know why you have asked me here. I just chaperone students wanting to visit Miami from Brazil.”

“How many trips have you chaperoned?”

Amalia shrugged. “I go and meet several groups each month.”

Calleigh smiled with a brittle brightness. “So we have gathered Miss dos Santos. We were looking for some more information on a couple of boys you recently chaperoned.” She pulled out a school picture of Ray Jr. “How about this young man?” Amalia shrugged. Calleigh slid over a copy of the Miami International picture. “Here is a picture that’s only a few days old.” She pointed at the picture. “There he is…” She pointed at the picture again. “There you are, just behind him.” Calleigh pointed out a third figure. “Do you remember this young man?”

Amalia shrugged. “Maybe. I meet many young men.” She took a sip of water.

Frank leaned on the table. “Let’s cut to the chase, Miss dos Santos.” He fished an autopsy photo out of the folder and slid it over in front of Amalia. The woman made a choking noise. “That young man you don’t remember is on a slab in our morgue. He was gutted like a fish. And I’ll make a pretty sure bet that those fingerprints that you just provided us with will be a match to some of those where we found him.”

Amalia started shaking her head hard. “I do not know where the first young man is.” She broke into rapid fire Portuguese. “Somebody…Americano…came and took him. I do not know where he is. Please I had nothing to do with that other boy’s death. He got sick. They…they…”

“Miss dos Santos….” Annabel started. Both Frank and Calleigh shot her a warning look. Annabel ignored them. Annabel stood up and stepped to the table. Amalia visibly shrunk from her. Annabel tried to give the woman a soft, reassuring smile. “The first young man is safe.” Annabel ignored Frank’s surprised look. “What I…we need to know is about your associates? Can you give us some names?”

Amalia shook her head hard. “No…you do not understand. My family…”

Annabel leaned in. “I do understand. My family…”

“Annie…” warned Frank. Annabel ignored him.

Annabel took a deep breath and continued on. “Your family, Miss dos Santos, is very important to you, isn’t it?” Amalia nodded. “My family is very important to me too.”

“Annabel…” This time Calleigh tried to get her attention.

Annabel continued to ignore them. “Your associates…”

“Detective Caine. I need to consult with you a minute. Can we step outside?” Calleigh started for the door. When they got outside, she spun around. “What are you doing in there?” Blazing green eyes clashed with stormy gray. Annabel finally looked away.

“I’m sorry, Calleigh. It’s just…”

“Nothing. It’s just nothing. You cannot compromise our investigation here to get the information you need for Horatio.”

Annabel sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll just sit…”

“No. No, you won’t. I cannot let you back in there. Go home, Annabel. You can’t do anything here.” Calleigh went to enter the interrogation room again. She looked back at Annabel and sadly shook her head. Annabel stood staring at the room for bit and then stomped off.

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Annabel parked her car. She had been driving around since the blow-up with Calleigh. She finally looked up and focused on her surroundings. Biscayne Bay National Park. Annabel leaned her head on the steering wheel. “Of course,” she mumbled. She closed her eyes, trying to conjure a picture of a smiling Horatio, not the tired one she saw leaving for Brazil. What a fine pair we make. As if on cue, Annabel’s phone rang. Annabel took a deep breath and answered it.

“Calleigh called and told you what and idiot I was.”

Horatio was silent for a few moments on the other end. “No. I was wondering if Yelina had gotten there. What happened with Calleigh?”

Annabel closed her eyes and raked her fingers through her hair. “I’m sorry. I should have called you. Yelina got in hours ago. Last I knew she was back at your place talking with Ray Jr.”

“And you were at the office?”

Annabel sighed. “Yes. Making a fool of myself. Being terribly unprofessional.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t the case, Bella.”

“Umm. Yes, that pretty much was it. I tried to bully information out of a witness.”

“You would never bully someone, Bella.” Annabel frowned. She swore she could almost hear a smile in Horatio’s voice.

“Glad you have time to be amused, Horatio,” she huffed. “We found the woman who had been herding the mules.”

There was a couple of heartbeats pause. “And?” he said quietly.

Annabel cringed. Things had almost been normal. Good job, Annabel. “And nothing. I lost my temper and Calleigh bounced me out. She accused me of trying to compromise the Miami investigation to get information for you.”

“Were you?”

Annabel didn’t answer right away. “Yes,” she finally admitted grudgingly.

“You can’t do that, Bella.”

“This is the closest we’ve gotten. Unless you’ve done better.”

“No. But you can’t…”

“Thanks. Calleigh has already pointed that out,” growled Annabel. There was silence. “I’m sorry.” Annabel raked her fingers through her hair again.

“I love you.”

Annabel shook her head in disbelief. “Why? Because I’m an idiot?”

“Yes. But Bella, please don’t get yourself into anymore trouble.”

“You stay out of trouble too. Did you call for some reason?”

“I just needed to feel grounded again.”

“The Great Horatio Caine needs to feel grounded?” teased Annabel.

“Bella…”

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t very nice. I’m afraid I’m not feeling very nice at the moment.” Annabel’s phone beeped. She held it away and frowned at the number it was registering. “It’s Calleigh.”

“Don’t…”

“Too late, Horatio. I’ll talk to you later. Okay?”

“Stay out of trouble.”

“Too late for that too. I love you.” Annabel rung off Horatio and answered Calleigh’s call.

“Manuel Silva,” was all she said then hung up. Annabel sat for a minute. She dialed Calleigh’s number, but got not answer. She dialed back Horatio.

“I didn’t expect a call so soon.”

“Manuel Silva.”

“What?”

“That’s all she said. Manuel Silva.”

“That doesn’t mean anything to you?”

“No. How about you?”

“No. Let’s see if Artur knows anything about a Manuel Silva.”

“I’ll go home and check with Ray Jr. Not that I think I get anywhere.”

“Not very talkative?”

“Oh, your nephew and I have been having long, stimulating conversations the whole time. He’s a very sweet, biddable young man.”

“Annabel, he’s….”

“Been through a lot? He needs to join the club. I promise not to bully him too hard. After all he’s family.”

“Annabel…”

Annabel sighed as she turned her car on. “Relax. He is family. I won’t be too hard on him. I just don’t think the name will ring any bells. If they were smart they’ll have kept their names out of it. Good luck at your end.”

“Thank you, Bella.” He clicked off his phone.

Annabel pulled out of the parking place. I’ll try and be nice. But if he knows something that will get you home…

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