Chapter Fifty Four
Mike finally heard the SUV pull up. He walked to the door but no one got out or knocked. Not sure what to expect, he nodded to the FBI agent who moved to the window and pulled his own gun as he opened the door. He was relieved to see Alexis safe and sound asleep in the front seat. Keith slowly got out of the driver's side. "You look dead on your feet. I've got her son, can you grab her bags?" Mike gently lifted Alexis into his arms. When did she get so heavy? It suddenly hit him that she was all grown up. He had been watching over her for more than ten years and still thought of her as a little girl. Gently putting her down on the bed, he removed her baseball hat and sunglasses. He was stunned at just how much she looked like a younger Meredith. He hated Rick's ex-wife. She ignored Alexis as a child unless she wanted something from Rick. She used her looks to manipulate people; she even tried to use him more than once. Mike really hoped she hadn't passed that trait on to her daughter. Hearing Keith set down her luggage just inside the bedroom door, "Get some sleep in the room next door to her. We have a very busy day tomorrow...and Keith, thanks for all your help."
Agent Shaw finished all the reports and glanced at the time. Damn! She wanted to make it home before ten o'clock just once this week. At least they had found the weak link. One of the youngest men from the beach was claustrophobic. With a little more time in the small cell they put him in; she felt he would tell them everything he knew. She just hoped it would be helpful.
It was very late when Rick (Damn it she had to remember to even think of him as Alex now so she wouldn't call him Rick by mistake) shut down the boat's engine last night. He walked quietly past her, stopping by her bunk only for a moment before he stretched out, opening his porthole to let in any breeze. It was still so hot and muggy even hours after sunset. She was tempted to go over to his bunk but knew he was tired. She wanted him to just hold her. She also knew he was really missing Alexis and wanted to comfort him but before she got up his breathing changed to the deep even sound that told her he was already asleep. She was tired too and it had been a long day in the hot sun and on the water learning how to navigate the boat. Opening her own porthole, she felt a light cooling breeze and almost immediately joined him in sleep.
Kate woke alone and walked across the empty cabin to the kitchen, if you could call it that. Being a cop and living in New York City, all of her apartments had tiny kitchens, not that she ever really cooked. The galley consisted of a shelf holding water, a hot plate. One pan, two plastic plates, bowls, mugs, plus forks and spoons all hung on hooks. She poured some water from the gallon jug into the pan to make Alex his coffee. As the water slowly heated, she opened the cabinet trying to figure out what to have for breakfast. As she finished eating, she spooned some instant coffee into both mugs. Pouring the water, she grimaced at the taste, even adding some sugar didn't help much. Walking to the bridge with her captain's coffee, she secretly wished for a vanilla latte and a bear claw.
"Morning Mrs. Tracy, what a sweet and loving wife to bring your hard working husband a cup of coffee."
"You keep that up, hubby, and you'll be wearing this cup of coffee." She all but shoved the mug into his hands.
"Someone's grumpy this morning. Didn't sleep well? Did you eat anything?"
"I had a granola bar and the last banana but cereal without milk just didn't appeal."
"When we stop for fuel, you can get some groceries...which will probably be later today or early tomorrow. We've been hugging the Connecticut and Rhode Island coast. We will reach the Block Island Sound soon and later today we should sail into the Rhode Island Sound. Depending on how much fuel we have left, we will need to gas up in Newport or maybe New Bedford before we sail around Cape Cod.
"We are running out of gas so soon?"
"No but running the engine all day yesterday and today, we will start to run low. Unlike a car, fueling ports for boats aren't everywhere and if we do run out, we can't just get out and walk to a gas station or push or pull the boat to shore. Good news dear, once we dock as they fill us up, we can find someplace for breakfast. Come on, a chance to get off this boat just for a little while and have some coffee, real coffee. Please Beth, I know just how much you hate instant coffee."
"What gave me away?"
"The way your nose crinkles up as you take the first sip, it's rather obvious but kinda cute...and it's all my fault, I was the one that donated the espresso machine. Even my instant coffee is better than the slug you used to drink at the precinct."
Kate smiled at him and the memory. "OK, where are we and where are we going." Rick walked over and showed her the course to Point Judith. "Got it, now go get something to eat, oh captain, my captain."
He gave her ass a playful swat at her mocking tone before she sat down in his chair. "A little respect please, just remember dear, it's a long swim to shore." Rick walked towards the galley but his mind was on his family not food.
Martha had not slept well. Martin was angry that she had not asked him to stay but eventually went home. She felt more comfortable once he left and after speaking to her granddaughter by phone, at least enough to retire to her bedroom. She so hated seeing the usually quiet and charming beach house turned into a war room by the FBI. At least all the stone faced agents stayed downstairs. Donning a caftan, she opened Alexis' door and smiled to see she had arrived safely but was very surprised to find her fully dressed. Gently smoothing some hair away from her face, Martha sat in the chair next to the bed needing to be close. She wanted to talk and perhaps comfort Alexis about "the plan" and her father absence before the FBI or Mike made her play some part in it. Unconsciously, she reached for and held her granddaughter's hand.
Still mostly asleep Alexis pulled her hand away mumbling, "Stop watching me sleep Dad, it's creepy. Go back to bed."
Martha smiled stood up leaning down to kiss the back of her head. "Sleep well, doll face, I have a feeling you'll need it."
Backing out of the room, she nearly screamed bumping into someone. "Keith? Good heavens, you scared me!"
"Sorry Mrs. Rogers, I just woke up and wanted to check on Alexis. Jet lag on top of everything else...I was worried."
"What time did you get here last night?"
"Around three maybe three thirty, I'm not exactly sure. Mike let me crash in one of the guest rooms, I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not! Mike told you helped my son get away. Thank you, Keith, for him and for me and for bringing Alexis here. She is still sleeping and you should be too. Now back to your room, go, go! I need more sleep and so do you." Martha held his shoulders for a moment and pressed a kiss to his cheek, then patted it. "Get some rest, dear!" She walked past him to her room.
Keith stood there for a moment. It had been so long since anyone had kissed him like that, not since his Nana died and that was more than fifteen years ago. He really should go downstairs and talk to Mike but touching his cheek he waited until Martha's bedroom door closed and he slowly opened the door to Alexis' room.
Agent Shaw was just about to start a pancake breakfast when her cell phone rang. "Shaw! All right, I am on my way!" She was disappointed that breakfast with her daughter would have to wait, again. At least she had a chance to spend some quality time with her husband last night.
Returning to her bedroom, she kissed him awake. He nodded silently understanding that she had to go into work early. "Good luck, Jordan and please be careful, honey."
Arriving at FBI headquarters within the hour, they directed her into the smallest interrogation room. She watched as a frantic and sweating suspect told an agent how he was recruited, who was paying him and demanding witness protection. Shaw's eyebrows rose as he named the man who hired him, who had put together the whole attack team, Lewis Roper. Roper was an infamous "problem solver" for many politicians and celebrities, he was hired to make damaging evidence and witnesses against his clients just disappear. Much as she wanted to go after that slimy son of a bitch herself, she knew it would be better to have Mike use this information to flush out Smith or maybe even "The Dragon". For now she needed to move her witness into a more open but secure jail and go talk to Mike. Unwilling to waste three hours driving to the Hamptons, she requisitioned a helicopter.
Mike got the message that Agent Shaw was on her way. He smiled when he got a report from the local sheriff that a few great white sharks had been spotted off Rocky Point Beach. That beach was less than three miles from the explosion site. He could not believe their good luck. Pouring another cup of coffee he continued to put out feelers to contact Mr. Smith.
Alexis felt like she was slowly surfacing from underwater. She tried to open her eyes but they would not co-operate and her arms and legs felt so heavy. Only her stomach seemed to be working, grumbling loudly wanting to be fed. Rolling onto her back, she pushed some hair from her face and managed to open one eye. "Dad?" Someone was sitting in the chair by her bed. She vaguely remembered someone watching over her through the night, damned jet lag. She felt like her brain was still in transit, sitting up she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"Well it's about time! Morning, Alexis."
"Keith?"
"You OK? You've been asleep for ten hours." He got up and handed her his cup of coffee which was still hot.
"My internal body clock is so messed up right now. It's almost time for lunch; my stomach wants breakfast but its dinner time in Italy."
"Want me to bring you up a tray? The FBI brought in donuts and some breakfast pastries. I can get some fresh coffee or tea, some fruit and maybe a yogurt."
"Yes, thank you, that would be great but take your time. I flew six hours and then slept in these clothes and I feel gross. While you get food, I'll hop in the shower. Hopefully, it will help me wake up...Keith, thank you." His heart skipped a beat as the sweet smile on her lips reached her eyes.
He had to get out of her room fast or...he wanted Alexis so badly right now his heart was pounding. He also knew today was going to be very hard for her. Mike wanted her to make a plea to the kidnappers, that she would pay anything to get her dad back alive. Later, he would leak the faked video to one of the hungrier reporters, proving that Rick Castle died in the boat explosion. It would all be an act but he had a horrible feeling that she'd pretend to hate him and he wouldn't see her again for a long time. Keith knew it was all an act and part of his job but he hated the thought of causing Alexis any pain...but even more to be forced away from her again now that he just got her back.
