Summary: Set during 3XK. Beckett and Esposito rush to the hotel after realizing who the real Triple Killer is.
Too Late for This to End Well
Tires squealed as the police car turned from the station parking lot into the street. Kate's foot pressed the gas pedal all the way to the floor, but even then it was too slow. Stoplights meant nothing. Cars in front of her parted like an urban Red Sea.
Beside her, Esposito held his gun in his lap, his fingers taut over the metal. His jaw ticked-it did that when he clenched his teeth. A quick glance at the speedometer, and then Esposito resumed his intent gaze on the road before them.
4 miles. The hotel was four miles away; they would be there in under 5 minutes. It wasn't that long, really, except that whatever had happened there had already gone down. They were already too late.
No words passed between the two detectives. Platitudes were useless to a fellow cop. The sirens blaring above them filled the silence.
They were the first to pull into the hotel parking lot. Dozens of police cars followed. Kate slammed on the brakes; by the time Esposito got out of the vehicle, Kate was halfway up the stairs. She waited at the door for him, for the rest of their back up.
The partners gave each other a quick nod before she kicked down the door, behind which whatever had befallen the other half of their team awaited them.