Chapter Sixteen

1x16 – Evidence of Things Unseen

Disclaimer: Neither the CSI: Miami Universe nor any of the Characters in the CSI: Miami Universe belongs to me. No profit is made from this story on my part. No copyright infringement is intended.

As he walked down the narrow hall under the dim red lighting, Horatio was aware of the fact that he was being ridiculously sentimental. Amy Cannon hadn’t been an innocent angel just waiting for a White Knight to ride in and save her from the cruel world. Everything Frank had said about her at the marina had been technically true.

Stripper. Junkie. Whore.

But that didn’t mean that her life had been meaningless, without value. She had still been a human being. Her life had still mattered, she had still deserved Justice.

His duty to her was done, he had found her killer and brought him to face Justice; there was nothing more he could do for her. She was beyond his reach now, he knew that.

And yet, here he was, standing in her old booth as the shutter flew up.

His gesture was most likely futile: $200 probably wasn’t enough money to change someone’s life. In fact, if this woman shared Amy’s vices, it would barely be enough money to pay for a good fix. But it was what he had.

And there was still a chance that she would be able to change her life for the better. Not all strippers were junkies – some were just doing the best that they could to support their families and survive another day.

And if not, if she just spent the money on drugs and booze instead of something meaningful, well…at least he had tried.

“What about tomorrow?”

Amy didn’t have any tomorrows left, but this girl still did. Hopefully, they would be brighter for her than today had been. The business card he had tucked into the money should help with that, if she didn’t just throw it away. The Florida Women’s Foundation was proof that there were still some people in the world who genuinely wanted to make a difference. They would help her, if only she would let them.

“Tomorrow is what you make of it.”

Author’s Note: The Florida Women’s Foundation does not exist in real life, or if it does, has nothing to do with the Foundation mentioned here. I just made it up.