Alex been busy for the past month getting closer to Kate and the new gig at Homeland Security. As Max promised not much changed but there was quite a lot of new paperwork required! Max was constantly sending a text to require him dropping in to Max's lair. Alex was sitting on Max's couch.

"So what have you got for me to sign this time?"

"Oh, not much just these requisition forms for your team overtime."

"Can you do that?"

"No, I can not! You are the senior agent! It is your responsibility! Man up!"

Alex grumbled under his breath.

"This is why I avoid bureaucracies!"

Max overhearing chided his reluctant colleague.

"Look, these people on your team are doing the job of surveillance that you need to take place. It would be a shame to not get them compensation just because you did not to want to sign the form!"

Alex knew each team member and felt he was letting them down.

"Ok, where are the forms I need to sign."

Max busily found the pieces of Paper on his desks and brought them out to the living room so Alex could sign them.

"So what is going on to the modifications I requested to Kate's apt?"

"The fire suppression devices are installed and can not be triggered accidentally"

"What about the blast shield?"

"The blast shield will be installed soon! It has been tricky getting in and out of her apt unnoticed."

"See that it gets done soon. The Old Man said we need to protect her. Protect her we will!"

In the past few months the assignment was going well. The threats to Kate were very few and normally the team picked up on them then neutralized them before anyone was aware. These were a great set of professionals. As the popularity of Nikki Heat had increased so had the nut jobs. Alex left Max's lair and headed home it had been a long day.

Alex got to his apt. In ran Buster! Jumped up on the Kitchen counter and started pawing in the air! Alex internally groaned.

"Of all days this is the one this assassin Cat chooses to strike?"

Buster still pawed the air. It looked like he was trying to get Alex's attention.

"Alexis! Come down here!"

Alexis came running down the stairs when she heard her father's voice.

"Oh is that not cute! Buster Pawing the air!"

Alexis picked up the cat and it started to purr. He squirmed out of her arms and again jumped on the counter pawing the air again. This time he added a growl and hiss when Alexis tried to pick him up.

Alex looked perplexed.

He is obviously trying to tell us something but what?

Then he noticed the blood on the cats paw.

Alexis decided to call Mrs. Carlson. She did not answer. Worried Alexis called the front office to see if Mrs. Carlson was in the building. She was but was not responding to her phone.

Alex thought something was wrong. Alex quickly checked his weapon and said to Alexis

"Something is wrong. Stay here with Buster."

Alexis nodded her head as Alex left the loft to go to Mrs. Carlson's door. The door was ajar. The place was a mess. It looked like whoever, was in there took a mighty beating. Alex pushed opened the door with Gun drawn. Mrs. Carlson was in the middle of the floor dead.

Alex swore! Holster his weapon. Flipped out his phone and called Kate.

"Kate, I need you to get the gang together and meet me at my building. There has been a murder. Mrs. Carlson is dead. Her place is a mess. Please hurry."

Two uniforms appeared 10 minutes later and started to secure the crime scene.

Ryan with Esposito were next to arrive.

"So Buster's Mom bit it?"

"Yeah, Bro but it looks like it was a hell of a fight!"

Lanie appeared and Esposito said

"Why are you here? This is Perlmutter's turn."

Alex's ears perked up when Esposito knew it was Lanie's time off.

"When I heard it was in Writer's boy apt complex I needed to see it for myself. So I switched shifts with him."

Kate chose that moment to appear. Asked Lanie the same question. Lanie just rolled her eyes and got to work. The crime scene was a bloody mess!

"I think I have a witness to this but you are not going to like it. It was Buster."

"What the Assassin Cat? Where is he?"

"He is with Alexis. You will need to get CSU up there to get all the trace off of him. He will not be the most cooperative of witnesses though."

The Boys nodded their heads in agreement.

So what do you have found Lanie?

"Well it looks like our victim was surprised and was first knocked on the head", Lanie showed the head wound, "But that is not what killed her. 5 gunshots to the body at very close range. I will recover the bullets for you later. It is consistent with a 9 mm possibly a glock but we will know more later."

Get CSU to sweep the place. Let's start knocking on doors. Somebody saw something!

A sweep of the building brought no result.

Alex wondered was it a robbery gone wrong? Mrs. Carlson was a bit batty but being murdered makes no sense.

The team wrapped up their prelim investigation and headed home for the night. Alex invited Kate up to the Loft so they can discuss motive and possible reasons for this so far senseless crime.

Entering the loft they were confronted by a yowling Buster. The CSU tech was trying to get him into the cage but was being unsuccessful.

Kate strode to the Tech and said

"You can not be afraid of him"

"Better said than done"

Alex muttered under his breath.

Kate rolled her eyes at Alex.

"Observe, open the door to the cage. Buster! In!"

Buster looked at Kate then jumped into the cage. The relieved tech latched the door.

Kate beamed with pride.

"That was amazing! How did you get him to obey?"

It was by the tone of voice. I conveyed no fear to the animal so it complied!

The CSU tech took Buster with him. Later he deposited the animal into Lanie's care.

Kate started to look around this was the first time she had been invited to his home. It showed style but not ostentatious. Yes it showed some touches of money but mostly it looked comfortable.

"Welcome the Chez Castle. Do you have a favorite beverage?Detective? I have quite a good selection of wines or if you prefer the harder stuff I can get that too."

"Castle, wine would be good enough."

So Alex busied himself with getting the wine and brought out two glasses. Expertly removed the cork letting the wine breathe then pouring into both glasses then set the bottle down. Alex handed Kate the glass brushing her hand with his as the glass was taken.

"So what about this case?"

"Mrs. Carlson was not chosen by random. Having a murder in a famous Author's apt building? No, this was to send a message. To Whom? I am not sure. Who knew of Mrs. Carlson's habits? The Doorman? He always knows what is going on in the building. Plus this is a closed access building with cameras on every level. One of them must have seen something."

Alex concluded. Kate swirled her wine in her glass as she was enthralled with Alex's story.

Yes, those are possibilities we need to explore. I think there is something else something undefined. If she was targeted. The perp must have known about the cat and how mean he is. But looking at the crime scene. It looks like he was surprised by the animal.

Alex winced more than once he was surprised by that animal but he was not going to let Kate know that.

Kate finished her wine and bid Alex good night.

Alex was worried what does this murder mean. Hopefully the tapes will give us clues.

Alexis had long gone to bed and Martha that is another question. If it is toward me. I think I need to get the team to look after Martha too.

Alex got on his phone then sent some text instructions for them to keep an eye on Martha too.

Satisfied with the response Alex went to bed.