Just kidding! I managed another chapter at the library. I hope it was worth it.


He really is ruggedly handsome.

She's spent the better part of three days watching him. It's amazing what kind of equipment you can pick up from Police Surplus, especially if you are, or rather have been, a real cop. Sure it costs money, but she has plenty of that from her Father's life insurance policy. The settlement the hospital offered her after the accident for the her undiagnosed head injury simply added to it. Next to that, her pension from the police department seems paltry, but even that would have been enough to live off of, if she had wanted.

Now she had more money than she knows what to do with, but no job, no family, no sense of purpose.

The only thing that matters anymore is the man currently held captive in her basement.

She's been planning this for over a year. She's done her research, hatched the perfect scheme, and now he's here, he's really here.

Everything is going according to plan.

It's a little frightening what you can pull off with enough dough.

The book says three days, that's the optimum interval. So she watches him. He worried her a little when he'd shut down, but that was probably due more to the side effects of the ecstasy than anything else. It's ironic that a drug by that name actually ends up causing depression, at least in the short term. He should be fine in time, as soon as his body replenishes the neurotransmitters, he should be right as rain.

Once she lets him go, that is.

He certainly has a lot of energy for a man his age. He fidgets. Even while eating, he bounces his foot or taps his fingers against the table. She wonders what's going on behind those gorgeous blue eyes of his. She wishes she could gaze into them when she ... she shakes her head. No sense in wishing for things she can't have. She's too broken, and this is only temporary.

Still, a girl can dream, can't she?

She spends most of a day running down to the city to pick up her special order. The whole ride back to the cabin is spent in a state of controlled panic. There's no way he could have escaped, she's locked all three doors, but she doesn't breathe easy until she opens her laptop and sees him sleeping peacefully in the bed. He's lying on his stomach, mouth open, his bandaged arms gripping the pillow. The dressing is fresh, he's obviously found the first aid kit she left him in the bathroom. She feels bad about hurting him. The leather should help. If they're lucky, she won't have to hold him longer than a month or two.

Her alarm goes off. It's time for another injection. She measures out the liquid and slides it into her flesh.

She had better get some sleep herself, they've got a big day tomorrow.


He's already up when she wakes, doing some odd form of exercise that she's never seen before. It looks like some weird form of yoga mixed with Bruce-Lee style kung fu as preformed by someone who has never actually practiced either.

What a goofball.

She showers and shaves her legs. Scrubs her teeth and runs her hand through her short hair. They'd shaved it for the surgery and she'd found it so convenient that she'd kept the pixie style. She gathers her supplies and makes her way to the basement, locking the upper door behind her.

Can't be too careful.

It's likely that she'll have to stun him again. Regrettable, the last thing she wants to do is damage his amazing body. To her surprise, he follows her orders, making his way to the bed in just his boxers. She feels herself getting wet. The night vision camera is well worth the extra she paid.

He looks nervous, which is understandable. Maybe she should reassure him, make sure he knows that he's in no danger. She should have done that first thing, but she was so excited just to have him that she must have forgotten.

He flinches when she opens the door, squinting to catch a glimpse but she's too careful, the hallway is dark.

He catches her off guard when he speaks. "Long time no see," he jokes, grinning at his own wit.

She waits to answer him, taking care to secure the door. When she's certain it's locked, she turns back to him. "So you decided to cooperate?" she asks.

He shrugs, still unaware that she can see him. "Seemed like the safest option, all things considered," he says. She waits him out and he adds, "I'm not a big fan of pain."

"As long as you do as I say, you won't get hurt," she tells him, hoping that's enough. "Put your hands above your head."

"You could at least say please," he mumbles, but complies nevertheless. She secures his wrists with the new restraints.

"Ooh, leather! Honey, you shouldn't have." Maybe she should have grabbed a gag as well.

"Open your mouth," she orders, and he does so after an almost imperceptible hesitation. His adam's apple bobs as he swallows what she gives him. She leaves his eyes 'til last, for sentimentalities' sake more than anything. He tenses, but doesn't fight.

She prepares to leave in order to give the drugs time to take effect, but he stops her with a question. "Hey, what did you give me there? I'm just curious because I have some allergies and I'm concerned."

"You were fine last time," she snaps without thinking. He's really starting to piss her off.

"Still, one can never be too careful," he quips, even having the gall to grin at her.

"Don't worry about it. In a few minutes, Castle, you won't even care."

She brings up the lights, not keen on doing this while sporting night goggles.

A short time later he pipes up again, "You have me at a disadvantage."

"Just one?"

He grins. "Well, at least one. You seem to know who I am, but I don't even know your name." He pauses, considering his next words carefully. "I'm not asking for your social security number, but a first name might be nice."

The ballooning of his boxers indicates that the drugs are beginning to work. He shifts uncomfortably, possibly in an attempt to find some relief. Lucky for him, she's willing to provide it. He shakes as she removes his last piece of clothing, exposing him fully to her. He's right, she does owe him at least one name...

"You can call me Kate," she whispers as she begins her seduction.

He yells it when he comes inside her.