Around the World Book Four

Escape to New England

Chapter 2

. . . . .

"This is my case."

Rick rubbed a hand over his face as he sat in a chair in Montgomery's office. Detective Jason Juddoo – and yes, he'd already taken a moment to laugh at the double initial – was purple in the face, arguing ineffectually with the Captain. And Rick knew it wasn't going to help because Montgomery put his faith in Kate, every time. Biased or unbiased, she was damned good at what she did.

Detective Mark Sookhold sat on the other side of the room, watching his partner pace and absently glancing over at Kate. He'd been the one to talk to the guy who'd found the body on his way home from a night shift. Captain Larry Neece sat in a chair in front of Montgomery's desk, his steady gaze focused on the irate detective as he ranted. Kate stood against the wall, leaning against it, not saying a word. Whether she wanted the case or not – and Rick would bet she most definitely did – it was quite obvious their murderer had some sort of fixation on her. They all knew that worked in Kate's favour of becoming lead. Heck, she'd already sent Ryan and Esposito out to do the ground work.

Detective Juddoo spun to his captain. "This is my case, Cap and I'll be damned if I let some media darling steal it away because of a freaking note!"

Though no one reacted to 'media darling', Rick saw both Montgomery and Kate tense. The media was a sore spot with them all and though he knew he was largely to blame for it, it wasn't like Kate didn't have her own fair share of fans. She'd been lead on more than a few high profile cases. Nevertheless, the tone with which Juddoo spat it out definitely made it sound like an insult.

"I get that, Juddoo," Neece said, pushing himself up, sensing his detective was winding down at least enough to talk to him. "But the guy asked for Beckett. You'd want the case if the letters were addressed to you."

"So I'll keep her in the loop," Juddoo argued. "That's no reason just to pass the lead to her."

Rick's eyebrow arched. There was something off with the way he'd said the words, something venomous. Still, he kept his mouth shut.

"It's done, Juddoo," Sookhold replied from his chair. He was much more of a soft-spoken man, though it was difficult to guess that from his build. Where Juddoo was average, Sookhold was massive. And Rick would bet he had a past in wrestling or boxing. At least that was the story he'd made up for the man upon being introduced. "The guy asks for Beckett, we give him Beckett. The last thing we want to do is have more bodies show up because we didn't follow the game plan."

"They're more than willing to let you be a part of the team," Neece added. "You work out of here with the Twelfth. You know that area better than anyone, Juddoo."

"No way," Juddoo snapped back. "I'm not just handing over this case! I caught it, it's mine."

Rick watched Kate close her eyes and breathe out an inaudible sigh. He could only imagine how she was feeling. The last time a serial killer had targeted her, she'd almost been killed in an explosion. She'd lost her apartment, her life… She wanted this case because the guy was obviously after her, and she wasn't about to let someone get hurt because of a stubborn cop.

Then Juddoo turned on Kate.

"And you! Who the hell do you think you are, parading onto my crime scene?" He got right up in her face. Kate refused to back down, just stared coolly. "Just because you're dating the Mayor's little puppy doesn't mean you can just take my case." He snorted. "As if you need any more publicity with you being plastered all over the society pages. Hell, it's probably why the guy picked you! The detective with the dark past and an assassinated mother. It's a freaking perfect storyline."

That sent the room scurrying. Sookhold jumped for Juddoo just as Kate pushed herself towards him. Rick was in front of her before she could take another step, not even sure himself how he'd managed to move that fast. He grasped her arms and squared his body.

"Kate, no."

Her nostrils were flaring. No one, no one, brought up her mother like that. Sure, Coonan's shooting had more than made the news, questioning the actions of the police, calling police brutality, but the reports had merely painted the picture of a woman who had saved a civilian's life. The brass had had no choice.

Juddoo, however, wasn't finished. "All she wants is the glory! She probably planted the damned letter!"

"Enough."

Montgomery's voice was ice and it stopped everyone dead. Juddoo stopped struggling against his partner's grip, and Kate stopped pushing against the solid wall of Rick's body. Neece stood beside him, the proverbial solid wall, both of them with wide stances and arms crossed over their chests.

"This is how it's going to work," Neece said, deadly calm. He liked Kate, the little he knew of her, and he knew she was good. He'd seen her case closure rate, he'd been there for the handful of awards she'd been graced with over the years. She and her team were a solid unit and though he envied Montgomery for his protogée, he was more than willing to put the case and the next potential victims first. "Juddoo, Beckett gets the lead." He held up his hand when Juddoo would have obviously argued. "Sookhold's right. The guy wants Beckett, we give him Beckett."

"You want in, that's fine," Montgomery added, his voice still cutting and sharp. "But you do it under Beckett's orders." Then he stepped around the desk. "I won't have to accusing my detective of crap. You want to work on this case, you cooperate. You don't cooperate, get the hell out and stay out of my precinct."

It was obvious to everyone that the meeting was over. Captain Neece stepped forward, setting a solid hand on Juddoo's shoulder and guiding him out. The detective was still mumbling and grumbling and Rick moved to orient himself between the detective and the door lest he lunge at Kate. Sookhold shook hands with Montgomery, then turned to Kate.

"Sorry 'bout him," he said, holding out his hand. Kate stepped around Rick and took it with a small, pained smile. "Whatever he chooses, I want in." His eyes went dark. "She was a good girl, Detective. She'd come around the station sometimes, fishing for a story. She wanted the big times."

Kate's smile softened to a more genuine expression of sympathy. "I'm sorry."

He blew out a breath. "Yeah. Look, I'm sorry he said those things, kay? Jase… he's got a chip on his shoulder. Been doing this job a long time and all."

Kate nodded. "I'll call you if something breaks. We'll need the back up." She didn't know that for sure, but Rick recognized an olive branch when it was offered.

Sookhold nodded, then departed.

"Beckett," Montgomery spoke up, his voice grim. "You get grief. You come to me."

Rick recognized the dark tone. There was obviously something else at play, something the Captain wasn't saying. Kate just nodded and nudged his shoulder to get him moving.

"Okay, he wants to play a game?" Rick asked as they stepped out of the Captain's office. If he was honest, the scene in Montgomery's office had spooked him a little. It wasn't that he wasn't sure Kate could take care of herself – okay, yes he was a little more overprotective since her shooting, regardless of the number of perps she'd taken down in the last six months of being back on the job – more that it baffled him how someone could want a case so much so as to fight about it. They were the Blue Wall, the profession that stood up for each other no matter what. In-fighting just didn't make sense to him.

She shook her head. "It's more than that," she said quietly, absently tucking strands of hair behind her ear. "There's more than that."

"And why do they always have to leave notes?"

Now she shot him a wry look. He winked and she smiled, aware he was merely trying to lighten her load. It was one of the reasons she loved him. She blew out a breath as she shuffled papers, then stepped up to her blank murder board. He sat and watched as she filled it in, trying not to smile as she murmured to herself. When she was finished, they both sat on the edge of her desk.

"What's the link? Why me? And why bring up Bobby Mann? That case was years ago."

She was chewing her lip, thinking carefully and he resisted the urge to smile. Sometimes, even when the world around her was so deadly serious, she was just adorable. And she'd kill him if he ever told her. He focused his gaze back on the board, his hand absently coming up to rub at her lower back. Overt displays of affection were against the rules except in absolutely dire circumstances, but little things were allowed. And she leaned into the touch.

"They were both talk show hosts," Rick offered after a moment.

"But Mann was famous, well-established. Why go after a woman just starting out?"

"Maybe it's the names," Rick replied with a shrug. "Carroll, Mann, Beckett… double last letter."

She pursed her lips and shot him a glance that was more disbelief than annoyance. "Seriously?"

"What? I'm good with language."

She blushed. He grinned.

"Maybe," Kate started again, leaning forward and bracing one hand on the desk. "She was working on something someone didn't want anyone to know about."

Rick tilted his head to the side. "Classic motive, but then why the letter game?"

"To throw us off?"

Rick wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Too simple."

"Rick," Kate said patiently, "How many times do I have to remind you, sometimes, it's just that simple."

Still, he could tell by her eyes that she didn't truly believe that. Not at all. He squeezed her elbow. She blew out a breath.

"You okay?" It was a stupid question. She was shaken by what had happened in Montgomery's office and he could tell.

"Yeah," she responded, "As good as can be." Then her phone chirped. "Text from Lanie."

"Well then," Rick said, standing and taking her hand. "Let's go see what the pretty doctor wants."


I was going wait, I was, really, because I really don't want you guys to get used to quick updates only to disappoint you later and I'd really wanted to get the next chapter of my Criminal Minds done first, but then... excitement is sometimes too much to argue with. And last night's ep made me squeal and feel better about the coming season, avoidance of the big issues aside.

A big thanks to those who reviewed in the last 24 hours. It's always exciting to wake up to 10 reviews in the inbox!