- I can't believe I agreed to this, Castle," Beckett paused in front of the mirror with a skeptical pucker. - The way I look now, I look like a frivolous and very available person, and my actions today should be considered the height of recklessness. And why the hell did I let myself be talked into dressing like that!
- This inn belongs to the triads, Kate, and without this masquerade we wouldn't have had the slightest chance of getting here," Castle walked up to her and gently put his arm around Beckett's shoulders and drew her gently to him. - And don't beat yourself up or hate yourself, because you look stunning! None of the guards suspected you were a cop, and that's what we wanted, wasn't it?
With a vague shrug of the shoulders, but still unsure, she nonchalantly broke free of his embrace to take a closer look at her reflection. In front of the mirror stood a different Beckett, unlike herself, with garish, even garish makeup and frizzy hair falling loosely over her shoulders. A light T-shirt depicting a predatory spider, worn directly over her naked body, was seductively tight around her neat breasts. The short leather skirt with a wide belt accentuated her hips and showed her shapely legs covered in black fishnet stockings. The stylish biker jacket, dangling casually from her right shoulder, gleamed matte with rivets, and the daring outfit was completed by black patent shoes with high stilettos.
Compared to Beckett, Castle looked noticeably simpler: scuffed jeans, a blue cotton shirt, and a brown jacket made him look like a man who had nothing to hide and nowhere to hurry. And, indeed, they seemed to have plenty of time.
- How much longer before the meeting? - Beckett glared and shook her head, moving her eyebrows angrily, puffing her cheeks discontentedly, wrinkling her nose comically, all the while stubbornly avoiding looking at Castle. No matter what happened then, such a gamble would never happen again, and I'm sure Castle understood that. At least, his heavy sigh could be interpreted that way.
- The information is inaccurate, Kate. It could be an hour, or even two hours, or never at all," Castle turned his wrist to his watch and cast a quick, concerned look at it. - But I'd like to get my hands on that elusive Tong, once and for all. Are we going somewhere?
- No. I just don't feel right," Kate frowned, nervously rubbing the riveted sleeve. - All flaunted, like a stripper. And there's nowhere to hide the gun. I feel naked and defenseless!
- Good idea, Kate," Rick picked up the sliding leather jacket and put it on the bend of his elbow. - I just love seeing you like this!
Seeing in the mirror how Kate understandably rolled her eyes, Castle hastily corrected himself:
- I meant whatever you look like. And by the way," Rick ran his hand behind her back where the glock protruded from her waistband, the back of his hand against the ribbed handle. - Your gun's still there, and I'll give it to you if you ask me to. Don't point it at me.
- Don't annoy me, and you'll live to be old," Kate squinted her eyes ironically, turning away from the mirror. Without paying any attention to Castle, who was frozen in place with his jacket on his arm like a well-groomed waiter, she stood at the only window, looking out into the courtyard. - While I watch, you keep yourself busy with something nonthreatening.
- Rick's eyes sparkled with mischievous sparks, but he immediately gave himself a fake surprised look and walked slowly toward Kate, rummaging in the side pocket of his blazer with his free hand.
- I don't know," Beckett smiled encouragingly, "I'm not yet old enough to advise a master of fiction. Better come up with something unusual or iconic, and if you're short on ideas, just shut up.
Without turning, Beckett opened her palm over her shoulder, and Castle readily placed a small binoculars in it. So shiny and dainty in her thin hand, like a toy, as weighty as a pebble of the sea, with soft silicone eyecups, it zoomed in clearly on the image he was looking for.
- You know I'm best at giving advice," Rick smiled back smugly, and tossed his jacket carelessly onto the bed. Standing to the left of Kate, he touched her shoulder with his, as if unintentionally. - Without them your work becomes dull and monotonous, and our ambush is a prime example of that.
Without taking the binoculars from her eyes, Beckett mysteriously raised an eyebrow, and on her cheek appeared such a seductive dimple, that Castle could not resist the irresistible urge to touch the velvety skin, and it did not matter how: with an air kiss, with a finger or just cheek to cheek, but he could hardly overcome himself. Now they were looking in the same direction together.
From the third-floor window of the hotel her courtyard could be seen just fine. It was practically empty, only two men in gray overalls were diligently sweeping the container yard, putting the wind-blown garbage into the bins. The cleaners didn't seem to be in any hurry, and neither did a large flock of motley pigeons grazing in the grass near the exit from the canteen. In short, the unbroken ordinariness was comforting, and there was nothing to suggest that hostilities might break out here in just a few minutes. It just took a long, patient wait, which was the most tiring part.
Castle sighed softly. With nothing to do he was already seriously aiming to run his impatient fingers into Kate's soft hair to lightly and innocently stroke and fondle her fragile neck, when suddenly in the inner pocket of his blazer the radio vibrated. Rejoicing at some potential news, Rick busily brought the device to his lips, but immediately received a palpable push to the side with his elbow, and the "toy" went to Beckett's narrow palm without hesitation. She was not aware of the fact that she had been in the middle of the night, but she had not been able to see it. Lowered her hand with the binoculars, she gave Rick a look of unconcealed superiority and confidently pressed the tight button, accepting the call.
- Yo! How are you doing? - Esposito's interference-distorted voice was dry and terse. - How is your global boredom? Is it affecting your intelligence yet?
- It doesn't affect someone who has none at all," Kate smiled modestly at the understandable hint. - But we've been quiet so far, except one person keeps trying to fool around with silly and fantastic stories.
- Heh, why am I not the least bit surprised that Castle would be true to himself? - and with a short chuckle, Esposito hung up.
Handing Rick the walkie-talkie back, Kate put the binoculars down so she could reach right away. Her eyes focused on one point; biting her lip, Beckett thought intensely about something, then suddenly turned around and sat down on the edge of the window sill. She took a thorough look around the room, where, if not for work, she wouldn't have stayed for a minute.
- Why did you choose this particular room, Castle?
And indeed, the interior was most "outstanding": a crumpled bed with shabby wooden headboards, a skewed closet with sagging doors and a dusty chandelier of colored glass and plastic, a pair of absurd nightstands, and a chair that threatened to collapse at the slightest touch.
- Don't even ask! - smiling slyly, Rick openly admired the chiseled profile of his beloved. - It's just another tiny "skeleton from the closet" writer Richard Castle. True, at the time he was most commonly referred to as Rick.
- Ha!" Beckett turned to face him, to playfully tuck him under her arm. - And what exactly did that look like, may I ask, "ah-ah, Rick-ick" or "oh-oh, Rick-ick"?
- How do you like it? Actually, it was predominantly, "Yeah, Ri-i-ik!" And by the way, I just love hearing it in my house every day. And every night!
- You're impossible, Castle! - Kate reached out to him with her lips, sort of for an innocent kiss, but when Rick leaned toward her with a wussy, cocky smile, she deftly dodged him and lightning-quickly yanked him by the ear. - Can't you think of anything else?
- Ouch! - With a hilarious grimace, Rick grabbed the attacked lobe and sighed tragically. - So boring, Kate!
- Please, Castle, be patient with me! - her face reflected a silent and convincing request. Kate took Rick by the lapels of his jacket and lightly pressed her forehead to his lips, dreamily covering her eyes. - After all, unless we get Tong on the arms sale, we can't go any farther. But, who am I saying this to?
- Work, your boring work, it comes between us all the time," Rick kissed his beloved and still carried out his impatient "neck" plan. - Damn, I'm gonna have to wait again...
- Mm, Castle... - Beckett even squeezed her eyes with pleasure, - well, be patient a little longer.
In the inner pocket of his blazer the radio rattled again, and Kate, not without regret, released from such a cozy embrace, immediately dived her hand behind the tucked lapel.
- What is it, Javi? - she even stretched her neck, impatiently looking out the window.
- A pair of black SUVs pulled into the alley. Meet me.
- Copy that, keep in touch! - Kate held the binoculars to her eyes and peered through them, then winced softly:
- The devil! I can't see who's in the jeeps, or how many of them there are. I'll try to stick my head out the window, and you hold me back just in case.
- Always! - Castle clapped his hands cheerfully. - Will there be a sequel?
