Rick Castle hated going to the gas station near his publisher's office, but Alexis was hungry and the 6 year old had been patient enough. She had sat quietly and colored during his 4 hour meeting with Gina. It was suppose to only be a half hour meeting, but Gina had demanded he start a series with just one character. He had argued against it before he finally just gave in. He didn't like being confined to one character. The inspiration wasn't there to create a character that was complex enough to warrant the 4 books Gina was demanding. He had eventually given in because he wanted to take Alexis to the zoo like he promised.
Rick glanced at his watch as he stood in line, his other hand held Alexis's hand as she gazed in wonder at the whole isle just devoted to candy. He couldn't believe the amount of people in the line getting coffee. It really should not be taking this long. He stood on his toes trying to see what was going on at the register. He noticed that the cashier was being slow counting the change for the current customer. He glanced at his fellow customers and noticed most of them had cash out ready to pay.
"Daddy how much longer is it going to be? I want to see the elephants." Alexis asked as she tugged on her Dad's hand.
"I don't know pumpkin, but as soon as we get this little snack for the both of us we are going to go to the zoo. And I though you wanted to see Simba."
"Daddy, Simba is just a movie character, but I do want to see the lions too."
"And we will pumpkin. It will just be a bit longer okay." Rick said as Alexis nodded her head and went back to staring at the candy. Rick sighed and gazed out the window. His attention was drawn to a cop care pulling up. His eyebrows raised as a gorgeous woman got out of the passenger side of the vehicle. Her uniform looked crisp and clean, and she made a face as she adjusted her duty belt. Rick immediately assumed she was a rookie. It might even be her first day. She looked really young. If he hade to guess Rick would say she couldn't be older than 21. He watched as she gave a slight wave to the other office as he drove off. She entered the gas station and Rick averted his eyes as she gazed around the store. He didn't want her to think he was a creep if she caught him staring at her. He took a quick glance up and then watched her as she headed toward the back of the store were the soft drinks and coffee were. Rick lost sight of her when she stepped up to the coffee machine as the display for the chips blocked her from the rest of the store.
Rick was relieved to find that he was now two customers away in line from paying for Alexis's snack. He would have rather gotten a snack at the zoo, but Alexis was worried it might make the animals jealous. He tried to explain that the animals get their own food, but she had said they didn't get to get treats like she does. He loved that his little girl was so thoughtful and caring, so he went with it. He understood she was just a kid and he wanted her to remain like that for as long as possible. Which is why when he saw the young man in a hooded sweatshirt walk in and pull a gun on the cashier he pushed Alexis behind him and told her to close her eyes tight.
...
Kate sighed as she entered the gas station. She didn't understand why Royce couldn't drink the coffee at the deli he had gone to pick their lunch up, but she was not going to argue with her training office. It was her second week on the job and she did not want to get on her training officers bad side. She was filling up her cup when she heard yelling at the front of the store. She turned around and made her way down the small isle. She noticed most of the customers that had been in line were now on their knees. The only people in the store not on their knees were a gunman, the cashier, and a small child whose eyes were squeezed shut. Kate quickly realized she needed to draw her weapon. Her hands shook as she aimed the gun at the gunman who had his back to her with his gun pointing at the cashier. "NYPD! Put the gun down!" Kate yelled. Her voice was strong and confident, but inside she was freaking out. This was the first time she had pulled her gun and Royce was nowhere to be found. The gunman spun around and before she could react his gun was on her and he took a step forward. "Stop right there. Put the gun down." Kate barked. She cursed as he took another step forward." Sir, do not take another step. Put your gun down."
Before Kate could react the gunman had ripped the child from her fathers arm and put the gun to her head. "No you put your weapon down Officer, cause this baby has a light trigger pull and if you shoot me I'm taking the little girl down with me."
Kate cursed herself as she dropped the gun on the floor. She knew if anything happened to that little girl it was on her. She had screwed up big time. You were not supposed to let a perp approach their hostages.
"That's right officer now kick it to the opposite wall over there." Kate gave him a menacing look as she slowly kicked gun far away from anyone's reach. At this point a man who had been relatively close to the door made a run for it. The gunman turned and fired two round into the guys back.
"Daddy!" the little girl screamed as tears slowly fell down her face.
"Alexis, I'm right here. Just keep your eyes closed okay pumpkin." The man, Kate had assumed to be her father, said. Alexis nodded and Kate cursed herself for getting that little girl in trouble.
"Anybody else?" the gunman said smugly. "Alright, now you don't stop putting the money from the other register into the bag, and get the money form the safe in the back."
"I don't have the key or the code for the safe.," the cashier said as he stuffed cash into the perp's duffle bag."
Kate's eyes widened when she saw Royce's car pull up in front of the gas station. He immediately flipped on his lights, got out of the car, and pulled his weapon. Kate could see him radioing for back up.
"Who called the cops?" the gunman yelled as he jerked the little girl behind the counter.
"No one did. That is my partner he came to pick me up." Kate said.
"Shit!" the gunman yelled as more cop cars began to arrive.
"Sir, please put down your weapon down and come out with your hand behind you head." an office Kate did not recognize yelled through a bullhorn.
"No no no no! The gunman yelled as he kicked down a rack of magazines. This is not how this ends." He grabbed the duffle bag of cash and swung it over his shoulder and began to drag Alexis with him.
"Stop!" Kate yelled at him standing up. He aimed his gun at her and he raised he hands. "Look, I'm a cop and as soon as you step out there with that little girl they are going to shoot you. You killed someone already. It is over. They won't hesitate to shoot and the girl is not a good shield. Take me. I'm tall enough to hide behind, plus you'll have more leverage with an officer.
The perp nodded and shoved the little girl back to her father Kate took a step toward him and he grabbed her and spun her so she was facing the door. He put one arm around her neck and shoved the gun in her back. "At point blank range this Kevlar is not going to do you any good." he said as he made her walk out the front door. "Let me leave of I put a round through this officer's heart."
Kate glanced around at her fellow officers faces. She saw Royce motion upward slightly with his head. She looked up and saw a sniper of the roof of the building across the street. She knew this guy wasn't going anywhere, but the sniper needed a clean shot. She put her hand on her thigh and showed Royce five fingers then four. He nodded his head and she watched him countdown into his radio. When she saw him mouth zero she shoved her elbow into the perp's gut. She heard two shots go off and felt a burning pain on her back. Then everything was black.a
