Title: The Stranger

By: greygoose70

Chapter Sixteen

Marlowe lowered Thomson to the ground, took his radio and headed to the far right where the deputy named Calvin Peete was located.

Using the same technique on Deputy Peete as he had on Thompson Marlowe made quick work of eliminating him also. Now he just needed take out the two remaining deputies Denton and Murphy.

Marlowe knew that there was a clearing ahead that the two deputies would have to cross it. He would need to get there first and into a position where he could take them out swiftly and quietly. He took off in a silent sprint toward the clearing which was about three hundred yards ahead getting there in sufficient enough time that he would be across it himself and in position.

He found the perfect place to take his ambush from, in a tree right on the edge of the clearing. There was a small stream twenty-five yards to his front that ran across the clearing they would have to cross, that is when he would take his shots. What made things even better was the fact there was a full moon out tonight that would illuminate them better, no need for his night vision gear.

Deputies Denton and Murphy came to a halt when they reached the edge of the clearing. They looked left and right for their comrades, but they never appeared. Denton being the senior deputy called out to them over the radio, neither Thomson nor Peete responded. "You don't think he got to them," Murphy spoke into his mike.

"Don't see how, you would think we would have heard a shot or something; this is also the first time neither has answered my call."

"Maybe their batteries died," Murphy replied, "I know Burt has forgot to charge is up a couple of times."

"And maybe they just veered off in the wrong direction," Joe sarcastically said in return. "Now let's get a move on, it's not much farther to Island City, we will stop there get old man Benson to give us a ride back."

They started their trek across the clearing final coming to the stream Murphy commenting to Denton through the radio, "Shit, these are new shoes."

Denton snickered and took his first step into the stream. That is when he felt the penetration in his chest. He looked down seeing the feathered end of an arrow, he began to scream, but then a second arrow pierced the other side and he fell face first into the stream.

Murphy turned toward the loud splash coming from Joes direction. Upon seeing him lying in the steam started to laugh but no sound came out as suddenly he felt an excruciating pain in the side of his neck. He reached up trying to feel what was there, he touched what felt like a stick, but it was too smooth to be just a stick. He ran a finger along it, reached the end and felt the feathers realizing what it was, an arrow. He turned back, facing the wooded area across the stream, saw a figure coming toward him, he collapsed to his knees then face first to the ground as he choked to death on his own blood.

Ding, ding, ding.

Castle did a quick check on Kate saw she was still sound asleep then headed to the kitchen. He had a definite idea as what to fix for dinner Chinese Pork Chops with stir fry veggies using some of the vegetables they purchased at the farm and Nutty Wild Rice. There was a lot of preparation to be done and he needed to get started.

Kate awoke to a heavenly aroma drifting in from the kitchen. She tossed back the blanket; funny she does not recall covering up. . . of course not, that would be her wonderful husband. She got up, stretched, and traipsed off to the kitchen where she saw him, his back to her. "What smells so good in here, Chez Rick," she asked?

"Hey there beautiful, have a good nap," he replied coming around to give her a hug and kiss, an extremely passionate kiss. "Chinese Pork Chops," he said breathlessly when they separated; "they will be accompanied by stir fried veggies and Nutty Wild Rice," breathing easier.

"Well, it smells wonderful, how long before it is ready?"

"About fifteen minutes, why don't who go see if Lily is awake."

Dinner and dishes done the family moved to living room where Rick asked Lily what movie she wanted to watch. "Don't want to watch a movie, want you to read to me," she answered.

"What book do you want me to read from?"

Lily jumped off the sofa, went over the bookshelf, pulled a book off and brought it to him. He looked at the cover and read the title, Anne of Green Gables. This is considered a children's classic he told her, "what made you pick it?"

"Like the picture," she replied which brought a giggle from Kate. "Okay then get up here and let's get started."

Rick opened to the first page and started reading changing his voice for each character when he came to them which brought stares from Kate and giggles from Lily. After about an hour of reading he heard Kate softly call out to him. He halted his reading, turned to see her pointing down at Lily who has fallen asleep, so he closed the book, set it down on the end table, picked up Lily and carried her up to her bed.

Kate in the meantime shut everything off downstairs, went up to their bedroom where Rick joined her moments later.

It was four-thirty when Kate awoke to an empty bed, she reached over and felt his side, still warm so he must have just got up, probably had to use the bath, so she laid her head back down immediately falling back to sleep. When she woke up again it was seven o'clock, this time his side was cold there is only one place he could be. She put on her robe, went down to the study where she found him, his fingers literally flying across the keyboard of his laptop. She was a good typist but not nearly as good or as fast as him, so she left him, went to the kitchen to start coffee and breakfast.

TBC