Gabe walked into the bull pen tired and cranky and more than a little frustrated. He'd spent most of the day at the lab chasing down results and calling film manufacturers. He did have one piece of information, the store where their killer bought his film. Luckily the manufacturer had a lot number printed upon each package and on the film inside. The lot number could be put into a computer and that gave him the information he needed.
The only thing was, he already knew the man shopped at the store, for that is where Kaylee first ran into him.
Gabe needed to update the murder board and he needed to call the lab and see if the blood tests done on the scrap of material were back. He looked over at the empty desk before going to his office and was surprised to see that Kaylee wasn't there.
Neither was Campbell, he thought, staring over at Dean's desk. Where had the two of them run off to? Kaylee had better not have worked her wiles on Dean, gotten him to take her somewhere where she could do something stupid, like be out in public. Damn it!
Still fuming, he opened his office door and walked in, reaching out and snapping on the lights. He walked the few steps to his desk, sat down and picked up his phone and then sat there, staring at his couch and the small figure curled up in a ball upon it.
Kaylee looked so tiny, so fragile, asleep with her dark lashes lying like fragile wings against her pale cheeks. She had to be exhausted to be able to sleep so easily on that lumpy thing. He stood, shedding his coat and taking it over, covering her with it.
Gabe watched as she murmured and snuggled into the warmth of the material, smiling in her dreams as her hand smoothed across the fabric. She brought her legs up a little more, the skirt she'd put back on today rising along the line of her creamy thighs. Crouching next to her, he carefully pulled a strand of hair from her face, smoothing it away from her brow.
She was so beautiful. He couldn't help but think that and about how much he would like to kiss her lush lips, hold her in his arms, make love with her. His dreams last night had made that pretty clear to him. After she'd climbed in bed with him, he'd been hard pressed not to roll over and kiss her, especially knowing that she wouldn't be adverse to his advances.
But he hadn't, turning to his side to try and ease the temptation she represented. He'd faked sleep, listening for any sounds that would indicate someone breaking into the house. And then she'd fallen to sleep and turned, curling up against his back. He thought his heart would burst from his chest when her small hand had slipped over his side and slid to his chest, her fingers caressing his skin.
To stop them, he'd grabbed her hand, and then found himself holding it, finally falling asleep with her behind him.
He must have made some sound because she stirred, her eyes opening, blinking with the sleepy wonder of first waking. She stretched under his coat, smiling up at him. "Hi," she said, yawning widely.
"Hi yourself. I was wondering where you'd gotten to. I thought maybe you'd managed to con Dean into taking you someplace."
"No, and it wasn't from the lack of trying." She sat up still cuddling his jacket. "So have you found out anything new?"
"Well, we know the store where he got the film."
"Bushes, on Third Street? I'm right, aren't I?" Her hand reached out and grabbed his arm. "Why can't we go there? Let me see if I can spot him?"
"It might come to that. But not tonight. We're both tired and hungry. And I feel like my brain's fried. I think a good dinner and an early night will do both of us a world of good." He patted her hand, letting his rest upon hers. "I do have some good news for you. I rescued your bag and your purse from the lab. They're in my trunk."
Kaylee smiled. Just the thought of clean underwear and her own brush helped to make her feel good, until she thought about Tina again.
Gabe saw her smile and then saw the instant she started thinking of her friend as the smile disappeared as quickly as it came.
"I feel so guilty," she said, sighing and sitting back on the couch. "I'm free, and safe, and Tina is in the hands of that monster. Who knows what he's doing to her now?"
Gabe slipped up to sit next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Kaylee, you can't let yourself think that way. You've got to be strong for her and for you."
"It's just hard thinking any other way," she said, standing and handing him back his coat. "Were your ready to go?"
"Yeah, I've just got to outline to the captain what I found out today and then I'll be ready. Should only take a few minutes so don't go getting to comfortable on me." He rose and took his jacket, slipping it back over his broad shoulders. He picked up the files he'd brought in with him and left for the captain's office.
Kaylee slumped back on the couch, her mind on Tina. What was that monster doing to her?
* * * *
The wet cloth felt wonderful against her cheeks, Tina opened her eyes, staring at the man holding it.
"You need a good cleaning, little girl," he said, rinsing out the wash cloth in the small pan of hot soapy water he'd brought down stairs with him. "And then something to eat. I don't know how long you'll be my guest but you might as well be comfortable doing it."
Tina didn't answer, though he'd already removed the heavy gag he'd had buckled over her mouth. She felt a sting on her wrist as the warm cloth moved over the open cuts there, cuts made by the heavy zip ties that bound her to the chair she sat in.
"Those look painful. Hold on for a moment, sweet one, let me see if we can make you more comfortable."
