Title: The Stranger

By: greygoose70

Chapter Ten

Rick opened his laptop and began typing.

Jen was just finishing cleaning up the dishes from lunch when she heard the honking. She pressed on the speaker button, spoke into the mike telling whoever was there she'd be right out.

Marlowe also heard the honking, he laid down the service manual he was reading, went to the window but without standing directly in front of it peered out to get a look see. He didn't like what he was seeing.

Closing his laptop Rick quietly made his way back up to their bedroom, crawled back into bed and snuggled in behind his wife wrapping his arm over where their two expected off-spring were nestled inside her.

Kate feeling his hand on her abdomen reached down and entwined her fingers with his. "I think one of them moved," she whispered. "Darn, and I wasn't here to witness it. I'm sorry." he whispered back.

"It's okay Babe, there will be many more times," she told him. (She had no idea how true that statement would end up being)

Next Day

Kate smelled coffee and heard someone knocking on the bedroom door, then a voice asking, "Mom, Dad, you guys descent?"

"Yeah Lexi. Come on in," She replied scooting up into a sitting position, her back resting against the headboard.

Rick feeling movement in the bed grumbled something inaudible. Kate shook him by the shoulder telling him to wake up they had company. He instantly reared his head, blinked his eyes a few times, finally being able to focus in on the two figures standing next to the bed. "Alexis. Paige. What are you doing here, what time is it?"

"It's after nine Dad and we're here to take Lily off your hands for the day, figuratively speaking."

"It going to be a swimming pool game day, Mr. Castle," Paige added, "girls only."

"Here's your and Moms breakfast," Lexi said sitting a tray down in his lap.

"Waffles, bacon with decaf coffee," Paige told them.

"We're going to get Lily. Dad you get to clean up the kitchen, Mom you can join us at the pool."

Kate began laughing when she saw the look on Ricks face as Lexi spelled out her instructions. That girl had her father wrapped around her little finger just as she knew Lily did. Rick would do anything for his girls, she wondered if it be the same with her and the boys.

"Babe," Kate said, "why don't you take the time to get more writing done. I'll be busy with the girls for at least part of the day and I know just two hours a day isn't enough for that creative mind of yours."

"Thank you for knowing me so well. Its only one of many reasons why I love you."

"Love you too Babe."

He didn't like what he was seeing. First thing, the car is a rental, he could make out the AVIS sticker on the license plate so it shouldn't need servicing. Second there are two of them, one standing in front of the car, the hood raised, the other in the back seat, passengers' side. The suit coat of the front man has a bulge on the left side meaning he's packing and he's right-handed. And Jen was headed right for him. . .no, this was not good.

Jen walked up to the man standing in front of the dark gray Ford four door sedan, asked him if there is a problem with the car. "Not if this is the Carlson station," he offered as an answer.

Jen was surprised that he knew the stations name, there wasn't any sign that proclaimed it as such. "Well, we have a long way to go, want to be sure fluids and everything are good. We were told this is the place to have that done."

"Where would like me to start?" she asked. "The oil is as good a place as any Jennifer," he replied.

Now she was really starting to panic. Knowing the name of the station was one thing but to know her name that was altogether different then seeing the butt end of a pistol under his jacket she realized their true purpose for being here.

"Is your father home?" The stranger asked, "and don't lie to me, you won't like the consequences."

"He's on his way to Somerset to see a specialist about his knee."

"How about this fellow named Marlowe, you know him? And again, don't lie to me."

"Yes sir, I know him," Jen stammered. She was scared. If they were here to kill Marlowe, they would undoubtedly kill her also as she was a witness.

"You do? That's good, is he here?

"Yes sir."

"Where?"

"In the house, in his room."

"That's where, exactly?"

"Up the stairs, around to the left."

"There's a door there, and a window?"

"Yes."

"You getting all this Sonny," the man said speaking somewhat louder so the man in the back could hear. "Yeah Jimmy," Sonny replied.

Oh god, Jen knew their names now she was sure they would kill her.

"Let's gas her up Jennifer," Jimmy said giving her a nudge toward the rear of the car where the gas tank was located. "What's he exactly doing in his room Jennifer?"

"Don't know exactly but probably laying down, maybe reading. He was carrying a book when I saw him head up."

"He wouldn't be sitting in a chair."

"There aren't any chairs it that room," Jen responded while she slipped the fuel nozzle into the tanks funnel, her hand shaking so much the two metals rattled against each other.

"So, he would have to be laying or sitting on the bed," Jimmy commented. "Where is the bed in relationship to the window?"

"Directly across from it."

"Good to know. Now does he have a weapon, a gun, a rifle, anything like that?"

"Not that I know of."

"What about the gun he used to kill that Wiley Grusome dude?

"Sheriff took it as evidence."

"Good. And you're sure about this?"

"Pretty sure. Sheriff searched his room, didn't find another one. He even took our guns."

Jimmy turned and spoke to Sonny low enough so that Jen couldn't hear. A minute or so later she saw Sonny reach into his bag and take out a pistol and screw something on the barrel. She watched as Sonny got out of the car, drape his coat over his left arm and hand which now held the pistol and march toward the stairs that led up to where Marlowe's room is located.

TBC