Truth

Chapter 12

Canada they soon learned, didn't have TSA like the United States did. However, that didn't mean they didn't get screened since their flight was headed for Miami, so yes, they got screened. Only Canada called it CATSA or Canadian Air Transportation Safety Authority. All flights to the United States had this.

With just carry-on bags traveling through the concourse was a lot easier. That was until Kate spotted a coffee shop and stopped and breathed in the aroma of coffee.

"Sorry, you still can't have any, it'll make you sick. You can get sick in Costa Rica, they make excellent coffee. Come on, I think I see Chinese food." Rick put an arm around her and drew her away from the coffee shop.

If they wanted to call white rice with their choice of chicken next to it in a white plastic take-out container Chinese food, then it was Chinese food. Still everyone including Kate ate all of it.

They left at 2:22 pm and were scheduled to arrive in Miami at 8:19 pm. "I thought we were flying out tomorrow and hotel here?" Rick asked Alexis quietly.

"I made a change. It's the same difference and it's still under our real names. I thought maybe some sun in Miami would be better than snow and ice in Montreal." Actually Alexis didn't want to get trapped here because of weather and miss the cruise ship.

###V##][##V###

They each had a different seat naturally, however, they were also all in different aisles. No one got to sit next to the other. This was followed by a 66 minute layover in Charlotte that had them walking very quickly since Kate couldn't run just yet as she soon learned the hard way.

The flight from Charlotte to Miami was the same and they were running late as their plane in Charlotte left 30 minutes behind schedule so it was after 9:00 pm by the time they landed and later still by the time they reached their hotel using a private shuttle service.

"The Guild Downtown Miami." Rick stepped out as did Alexis and Martha. Jim and Kate were in the shuttle behind them.

Alexis defended her choice of hotels. "It's just over half a mile from the port. We could almost walk it if we had to. It got 9.3 out of 10 for a rating and it wasn't expensive. And we only need the one room. All of them are apartments, complete with a kitchen that we won't be using. I got us a three bedroom unit. Couldn't do that in Montreal," Alexis added.

"WOW!" Kate walked straight to the two walls of windows that went from floor to ceiling. They had an excellent view of downtown Miami from up here.

The kitchen did indeed have everything. Sink, dishwasher, oven and range, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and coffee maker. Each of the three bedrooms had a king-sized bed and the sofa was a sleeper.

Martha and Alexis took one room. Jim and Rick took another while Kate took the third. Rick caught Kate gazing at the coffee maker again. "Kate, stay away from that thing."

###V##][##V###

Breakfast was hot and there was a shuttle for them to take to reach the dock to take their cruise.

They had to stop at a table first and get tags for all of their bags including their carry-ons. Their bags would be delivered to their staterooms for them.

Next came check-in to get their room number and passenger card that they would need to get on and off the ship as well as unlock their door. This included having their picture taken.

"Welcome to the Norwegian Pearl." They went up a pair of escalators then ramps to reach the boarding area.

Martha and Alexis got one room. Rick and Kate got another while Jim was left alone in his room. Each room could only hold two people. Alexis gave Rick a dirty look when she found out that Kate was going to be in his room but she held her tongue.

Since they didn't have any luggage on them, Rick said, "Spread out, go where you wish," and encouraged them. Just like that everyone except Rick and Kate went in different directions. It was time to explore this ship and see just what it had.

###V##][##V###

They found tomorrow's itinerary in their respective cabins once they reached them. They left at 5:00 pm and sailed for two days before they stopped at Cartagena, Colombia. It also listed all of tomorrow's activities and at what time they took place.

There were seven different locations that offered complimentary dining as well as three locations that would cost you extra. Tennis and basketball, Spa, two pools, and four hot tubs, and a casino.

"Spa!" Kate enthused. She had cash in her diplomatic pouch.

"Casino," Rick countered. He had cash in his diplomatic pouch as well.

"With odds that are terrible, Castle. You might as well throw your money overboard. Besides it doesn't open until we're out of US waters." If Castle wanted to throw his money away she would let him but he was being foolish.

The mandatory evacuation drill was first before anyone could eat anything. The various bars, however, were open as was the pool and hot tubs.

Rick talked everyone into their one and only shore excursion they were going to have a chance to attend. A tour of Cartagena followed by a Folklore show that was filled with dancing. It was only $59 per adult so it was inexpensive.

They still had two days of sailing before that.

Kate had her cash so she selected seventy-five minutes of deep muscle massage. Naturally she got questioned about her wound on her side. "Heart surgery almost three months ago. Just ignore that area, it'll be fine."

###V##][##V###

A very soft and pliable Kate found Rick at the blackjack table and put her hands on his shoulders and kissed his head. She bent down to his ear. "Winning or losing?" She had definitely won.

Rick chuckled. "Both actually." He turned his head. "Wow, what did you do?" She was going to have to do whatever it was more often. She looked relaxed and gorgeous. Even more so now.

"I spent my money on a massage instead of throwing it overboard like you're doing," Kate teased him.

"Well since you're so relaxed, how about a trip to the hot tub?" Rick queried.

Kate thought it over. Her wounds were all closed up so she could and had been taking showers of late. It was just that her chest had this nasty scar and she had another one that was even bigger on her side.

"I'll pass." She wasn't willing to show off either of those to anyone but Castle.

###V##][##V###

Their two days at sea seemed to pass very quickly. The ship's shops, though, had things that they needed and hadn't brought with them so that was helpful.

Now, however, they were a sight as they were the only ones getting off the ship with all of their luggage. None of the ships crew stopped them even if they did get looks.

Once outside they needed taxis to get to the hotel Alexis had set up in Colon, Panama.

###V##][##V###

"Hotel Sand Diamond," Alexis announced. "This is where we disappear." Fifteen floors tall, it was a white building with brilliant blue windows. It looked really nice.

The rooms, two of them, were much smaller than the ones in Miami. They also needed to crack open their diplomatic pouch to use their new passports and their new names to check in with.

Both rooms were identical. They both had twin full-size beds. Rick and Jim got one room while the woman got the other.

Richard Castle aka Darian Ramos Agular

Jim Beckett aka Jarod Guzman Rosario

Kate Becket aka Tracy Arya Rosario

Alexis Castle aka Nicolle Emely Agular

Martha Rodgers aka Daniela Ericka Diaz

Alexis knocked and got lucky when her dad opened the door. "Come with me, Dad, you're first." Alexis took his arm and pulled him into their room.

Rick saw his mother, Kate, and four open suitcases. There was also a small round table with two chairs just like their room. "Sit down, Richard," Martha said.

"What's going on?" He didn't remember anything about this part whatever this part was.

"You're popular, Dad. Your photograph is on every book you've ever written. If we're going to disappear you need to change. We'll make it more permanent once we make it to the house but for now this will have to do," Alexis informed him.

While being told he was popular did go straight to his head and enlarge his ego, he also knew that was the downside of him trying to disappear. One little facial recognition program would spot him in a nanosecond.

"I may be an actress but I've learned a trick or two in my time," Martha told everyone. She began taking makeup out of a suitcase. This wasn't over the counter stuff, this was stage makeup. Once Martha was done with him he was going to look different.

"Close your eyes, Richard," Martha told him. "Close them, I said! Some of this stuff can sting."

Kate and Alexis were actually standing side by side as they watched Martha change Rick into Darian or at least someone else.

"One last thing." Martha dabbed on some stage glue, put his wig on him, and adjusted it until it was right. "There, all done." Martha stood back and looked him over. "I wouldn't recognize him if I hadn't done it myself."

"Amazing, Castle. I mean Agular." The new names were going to take some getting used to. Kate was sure she was going to slip up several times before she could say it regularly.

"You're next, Katherine, have a seat." Martha got out more jars of makeup.

"Why, Martha?" Hiding Castle she understood but why her?

"Someone wants you dead, Detective. You need to disappear almost more than Dad does," Alexis remarked. Kate also noticed that Alexis had been calling her detective and not Kate. And that she was saying it in a tone that suggested that she didn't much like her.

###V##][##V###

Kate got the same treatment and a long bleached blonde wig was attached to her head.

"All done. Go get Jim next, dear," Martha told Alexis.

Jim walked in to find two strange people in the open bathroom looking at themselves in the mirror. He hadn't seen either of them before in his life.

"Have a seat, Jim, I'll be right with you," Martha said.

"What's going on? And who are those two?" Rick and Kate had exited the bathroom.

"We have new names but a facial recognition program would spot us in a second," Alexis said. "So, Jim, meet Darian Ramos Agular and Tracy Arya Rosario. Otherwise known as my dad and your daughter."

"Wow!" He was sure he would recognize his own daughter anywhere, but save for the clothes that he was just now picking up on he didn't recognize her.

Kate just stood there and grinned. She didn't even recognize herself.

They all watched as Jim got the same treatment and got a wig glued to his head.

"You're next, dear. That long orange hair has to go," Martha advised her. "You'll be in danger if you don't."

Alexis knew it was coming. Jordan had insisted on them changing their appearance at least until they reached their new home. Then they just needed to remember to put on their wigs whenever they went into the city. Still Alexis moaned as she sat down.

Thanks to Alexis's naturally pale complexion she didn't get nearly as much makeup otherwise her hands, neck, and any other exposed surface would give her away. She did, however, get a long jet black wig to wear.

Martha did herself and ended up with shortish brown hair. It left all of them standing there looking at each other. "Not bad even if I do say so myself." Martha was proud of her work.

"Two things, well maybe three things. Sleep on your back tonight if you can. When you shower do not get your face wet and do not wash your face. Let me put on your lipstick in the morning and if necessary, do any touch-up. If you sweat don't wipe, just dab and do it carefully," Martha cautioned them.

Rick/Darian cleared his throat. "Uh, that's five things, Mother." Martha/Daniela glared at him for that stupid remark.

"So what's next, Alexis?" Rick/ Darian knew for now Alexis was in charge.

"We have a flight to Panama City tomorrow morning where we change planes for a flight to San Jose and check into our hotel. I got us an extended stay hotel for a week that can be increased weekly if needed. I have no idea how long it will take to do the paperwork to buy the house. We have a deposit on it so they can't sell it out from under us, but I don't know," Alexis/Nicolle responded. "And my name is Nicolle, Dad, not Alexis. Keep that up and we're going to get caught."

"Sorry." This might be harder than he thought.

"I'm going to screw up eventually. For me his name is Castle, not…not…whatever his name is now." Kate didn't even remember it any longer.

They spent the next half an hour calling each other their new names to at least try to remember them even if they did screw up once in a while. Now they were looking for dinner and the hotel had a restaurant so they didn't have to go far.

###V##][##V###

One quick flight to Panama City followed by changing concourses to get to their next flight and an even longer flight to San Jose, Costa Rica and they had two taxis taking them to the hotel Alexis had picked out.

"I've got two rooms. One has two bedrooms and one only has one bedroom. Both have a kitchen so we can cook. Nine hundred ninety-two square feet and 882 square feet. Just for one week but we should be able to extend that as required. If not we'll go somewhere else," Alexis explained as they all stood there looking at it with all of their luggage.

Rick spread his arms out. "Welcome to San Jose, Costa Rica," he commented and walked inside.

###V##][##V###

Just like Alexis had told them they had two rooms. Rick and Kate took the one bedroom while the others took the two bedroom. Martha and Alexis would share the king-size bed while Jim got the double bed.

In ether case the decor was the same. Light brown leather sofa and matching love seat. The two bedroom had a full-size kitchen so all the cooking would take place in that room. The kitchen was a little outdated but it had everything they needed and if they needed more plates or something they could just steal from the other room.

###V##][##V###

Alexis/Nicolle had her laptop open and everyone was in the two bedroom unit since it was the largest and could seat everyone easily. "First things first. We need cars. Now, to buy cars in Costa Rica isn't as simple as it sounds. For one, most of these places don't speak English and we have obstacles to overcome, so what we need first is a lawyer and I have his address here." Alexis/Nicolle wrote it down.

"Now cars. Imported cars are the most desirable and a select few will actually have mechanics easily available. In town the roads are paved so any car will do. Get outside of town, especially during the rainy season, and an SUV will be mandatory.

"So Toyota and Subaru are at the top of my list. Just don't expect any big cars like in the States to be sold here. Little cars and little SUVs rule. A Toyota Corolla, Subaru Outback, or Forester are about as big as it gets here. Sorry, Dad, no exotics. Even if you found one there's no one here who could work on it," Rick/Darian was told, assuming he had any ideas.

"Toyota and Subaru will work fine." Rick/Darian wasn't that picky. Not way out here anyway.

"Then let's go find our lawyer and go find some cars." Alexis/Nicolle closed her laptop and brought it with her.

###V##][##V###

It took them all day. They needed the lawyer anyway since everyone but Martha needed an International drivers license to even drive the thing. Let alone insurance. Thankfully paying with cash made everything much easier.

They now had two Subarus. One was an XV, dark gray in color with a black interior. The other was an Outback, Tungsten metallic in color with black interior. Both were automatics.

Rick/Darian had nearly choked on the price. Cars were expensive in Costa Rica. Forty-five thousand for the XV and fifty-eight thousand for the Outback.

Next came groceries so they could start cooking. Rick/Darian drove the Outback while Kate/Tracy drove the XV. Mostly because the XV had the Sport Eyesight package which made it more expensive. Kate/Tracy didn't trust him with it. Naturally Rick/Darian pouted but didn't get his way. Even if it was his money buying them.

###V##][##V###

Rick/Darian found Kate/Tracy sitting naked on their bed when he emerged from the bathroom. "Over here, Castle." Kate shook her head in frustration. "Agular." Even with practice she couldn't get it right.

Once he was within range she took a hold of him and proceeded to give him a blow job. She might not be ready yet, but he certainly was.

###V##][##V###

Rick/Darian was cooking in the two bedroom unit since that was where all the food was from yesterday so they could all eat breakfast.

"So where do we go today?" Rick/Darian queried since Alexis/Nicolle was still in charge and might be for a while yet.

"Next we see John Ordoñez. He's the listing agent for the house we have a deposit on in Santa Ana which is a little west of here. Maybe 20 to 25 minutes depending on traffic. Good thing I bought that International upgrade to the GPS units. Though the cars themselves have navigation. But we couldn't count on that," Alexis/Nicolle told them.

"How big is it again?" Jim/Jarod inquired since he wasn't sure. So much had happened of late. He would do it again to save his daughter. He still had no idea how he was going to thank Rick/Darian for this. He was saving all their lives.

"Six bedrooms, five full bathrooms at 16,140 square feet. More than big enough for any of us to get lost in." Alexis/Nicolle certainly hoped so anyway.