Title: The Stranger
By: greygoose70
Chapter Thirteen
It would probably be weeks before the car he stole was found. He ditched it deep in a wooded area about five miles from the Carlson place walked the rest of the way. Passing by the gas station he saw his Challenger sitting in the wash bay, he wondered if Brent was able to get it done. It was something he would worry about later. Continuing on toward the house he could see lights on. He was hoping everyone would be asleep, that he could sneak up the outer stairs, up to the second floor, enter through the broken window, retrieve his stuff and be gone without them knowing. He had to scrap that idea when he looked up and saw the window had already been boarded up.
With no other option he quietly entered through the back door, went through the kitchen toward the stairs. As he passed the entryway that led to the living room he saw Brent asleep in the recliner his shotgun laying across lap.
Brent must have sensed something for he was suddenly on his feet the shotgun pointed directly his way and shouting "who's there, is that you Jen?"
"No Brent, its me, Marlowe. Can you point that cannon in another direction?"
"Marlowe? You're suppose to be in the hospital, how'd you get here from Richmond?"
"Not important, just came to get my belongings. I'll worry about the Challenger . . ."
"The Challengers ready to go, Marlowe." Brent interrupted. "I got Goober to help me finish it."
"Thank you, I'll just get . . ."
"Already put it all in the trunk. So you leaving Baskerville for good?"
"We'll see," was the only answer he got. Marlowe handed him a slip of paper with a number on it, "what's this he asked?" Brent asked.
"My SAT phone number," Marlowe replied; "if you're ever in trouble or need my help, you call. That goes for Jen as well, okay."
"What goes for me as well," the two men heard the girl say from the doorway, as she entered.
"You ever need me for anything, you call me," Marlowe said authoritatively.
"Mar. . ." Brent started to say but was immediately interrupted.
"This is not over, Brent. Pierce is not done. Once he knows I'm gone he'll be right back to whatever his plan is, and I'm pretty sure it includes taking over this station. Now where are my keys?"
"On a hook by the door," Jen jumped in saying.
Ding, ding, ding…
"Ctrl-s, work saved," Castle mumbled. Still a bit early to start dinner he thought. I'll go see how Kate is doing.
Entering the living area he found her setting up reading. "How long you been awake?" He inquired setting down next to her. "About ten minutes or so," Kate answered laying her book down on the end table then turning back to him placed her arms around his neck and puled him into a kiss.
"What was that for?" He asked.
"For being the best husband ever," she replied, "and making pizza for dinner."
"Pepperoni," Lily's small voice yelled from the stairway.
"I was thinking more of a vegetarian pizza but we can put some pepperoni in it," Kate responded.
"Or we can make Lily a small pizza with just pepperoni," Rick commented.
"Lets go, make pizza" Lily regaled grabbing Ricks arm starting to pull him off the sofa. "Whoa there little one, whats the rush?"
"Hungry, want pizza."
"Yeah, these babies are hungry also, want pizza." Kate giggled giving his a peck on the cheek.
Following dinner and a group effort of kitchen cleaning, how they managed to get flour over every surface still amazed them, a game of Candy Land and a movie it was off to bed for everyone.
A clash of thunder awoke Kate from her sleep. A second clash brought a frightened three year old Lily rushing into their bedroom, leaping on to their bed landing right on her fathers chest. This of course instantly aroused him with a loud groan and a brief scolding from Kate telling her to be more careful.
"You okay Babe?"
"Yeah," he answered "Lily, you need to watch what you're doing, what if it had been mommy you landed on? You could have hurt the babies."
"I'm sorry Daddy. Sorry Mommy. Scared."
"We know baby but shaking one of us to get us awake is always better."
"Kay Mommy I remember."
Because of the rain it turned into an inside play day so they build a fort in the living room out of sofa and chair cushions and blankets. From there they watched cartoons and played board games. They fixed soup and sandwiches for lunch and when nap time came Kate and Lily snuggled in the fort and slept.
It took three days before Pierce showed up in his black Lincoln Continental, it was also Jen's eighteenth birthday. Whether that was a coincidence or not she never knew. What it was though was the day Pierce informed Brent Carlson he was taking over the gas station. That he would pay to have it up-graded, have any equipment repaired or replaced would even pay Brent a salary and Brent would agree to all of this if he wanted to keep his daughter safe from harm.
Brent had no choice but to agree to Pierce's terms, he couldn't let anything happen to Jen, she was all he had, she meant everything to him.
That evening he made a phone call.
TBC