It's about Time
Chapter 9
Kate would never admit this to anyone and that included herself, however there she was, out shopping for a dress for her meeting with Rick later that day. She needed something really nice, a little sexy but not slutty. She needed something that would show off her best attributes and diminish those that she didn't like. That meant her long legs needed to be shown while she hid her breasts.
It wasn't that she was ashamed of the size of her breasts, it was just that when she was young she greatly feared that she was never going to fill out, that she'd end up being flat-chested forever. Even though she now had breasts she wasn't really happy with their size. But she also knew the power of cleavage when it came to men. It was just that showing too much of both might make her look slutty.
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Kate had always been sure of herself. To be a spy kind of meant you were self-assured and capable. Except as she walked to the meeting spot she found herself a little unsure as well as excited. Their one short meeting had intrigued her.
She walked with her head up and her chest out unlike most women. Most women didn't really notice that they walked with their shoulders a little hunched. It was an unconscious choice since the pain of having a breast hit was severe. Kate, though, had learned the power of displaying confidence.
Her dress was an A-line with a deep V-neck jumpsuit that had an open sheer skirt. The dress itself was filled with sequins that made it sparkle. It was sleeveless and backless. Because of that she was not wearing a bra.
The jumpsuit pants came down to her ankles and they were tight fitting. Her high heel black shoes made her long legs even longer. It gave him a hint of her breasts and accentuated her height.
She found him right where she had found him last time. He was sitting on a bench, but the statue that had been there was long gone. She had released it last night and it had obviously moved.
Kate walked right up to him. "Hi." She smiled approvingly since he was now more formally dressed. Last time he had been wearing blue jeans and a Hawaiian aloha shirt with tennis shoes. Now he wore black dress slacks and a deep burgundy dress shirt. It was almost a perfect match for her burgundy-colored dress. He was even wearing black dress shoes. If anyone saw them together they would guess that they were a couple.
Rick looked up and smiled. "Hello, lovely lady." She was even taller than he remembered and she was gorgeous. She had obviously taken time curling her hair in large curls and she was wearing a lot more makeup this time. And he couldn't help but move his eyes from her eyes to her breasts and back again.
Rick stood up. "You look amazing." This time he made sure to look her over from head to toe.
Kate saw him looking her over and it gave her a moment to do the same. With her heels she was equal in height to him. He was close shaven and it had her wondering what he would look like with a couple of days of stubble.
"It looks like we're a little overdressed for the park. Care to join me for dinner? Perhaps someplace quiet and dark." Rick held out his hand for her to take.
"That would be nice." It beat sitting on a concrete bench that some teenager had chiseled things into to leave his mark. Kate took his hand and walked proudly next to him while they held hands.
"Someone stole our statue," Rick commented.
Hearing that had Kate grinning a little. She was the cause of that, however, he had called it their statue. Suddenly they had a statue.
"Maybe it flew away," Kate teased since it did have wings.
"How does that work when they're made of concrete?" Rick queried.
"Floating bridges are made of concrete," Kate countered.
"Good point. …So smart and beautiful."
"Thanks." Kate was proud of herself and smiled at him after his compliment. "Where are we going?" What did he have in mind?
"Something French, perhaps. It's called La Sirene. Maybe not as quiet and dark as I offered, but it is nice. Unless you want something more dark or a different palate," Rick offered.
"Do you know of a German restaurant?" It would be nice to eat food from home.
"German." That had Rick searching his memory and what his Angel could tell him. "Perhaps Heidelberg? Established in 1936 so it's old. We're going to need a taxi since it's on the upper east side. Lots of German beer."
"Sounds perfect." Kate let go of his hand and hooked her arm around his so she could walk closer to him while they went in search of a taxi.
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Like all of New York it wasn't a stand-alone building. It certainly looked German, though. It had a white stucco front with wood accents.
"Welcome," the hostess said. "Just two? We have space in three locations. The bar, the main floor, or the basement."
Rick looked at Kate since it was her choice. She wanted a beer but could get that sitting anywhere. "The basement, please." It would certainly be darker like they both wanted.
They went down the stairs just off to one side and into one long narrow room with tables on both sides. It had wide plank dark wood floors that her heels clicked on as she walked. The tables were solid dark wood with wood chairs. The walls and ceiling were white. There were large wrought iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a medieval shield with swords behind it hanging on one wall. There was also a huge painting of old world Germany between them.
"Your server will be with you in a minute." She handed out the menus and left.
Kate went straight to the beer section. After all this time she had a chance at a real German beer and she couldn't wait. She barely noticed that their server was wearing a traditional German dirndl.
The choices made her selection a little difficult. However, "Dunkel, please. One liter." She wanted a nice big stein or at least a heavy glass.
"I'll have a Hofbrau Lager, please. One liter." Rick started to fear that Kate could drink him under the table but didn't want to look weak. He watched her grinning at his choice.
Both of them began looking at the menu. "Any suggestions?" Coming to a German restaurant had been her choice so why not ask her.
"You trust me?" Kate grinned at him since they knew next to nothing about each other.
"Implicitly." Rick didn't bat an eye and smiled back at her. Kate smiled even wider.
"We'll both have the menu surprise," Kate told their server and handed over her menu while Rick did the same.
He started the conversation. "So a singer?"
"Yes, just not at the moment. I'm looking for a new space." Which was a big lie since she wasn't looking at all. But she was good at lying.
"Pity, I was looking forward to listening to you sing." She had just popped his bubble. "Maybe a private song?" Rick smiled charmingly at her.
"On a first date?" Kate challenged.
Rick's eyebrows rose. "So you're shy?"
"Perhaps after a second date," Kate deflected since she hadn't really made up her mind just yet.
"I'll let you chose our second date location." Rick was all in for a second date. Kate might be a lucky find.
"So what do you do?" Bank robber, jewel thief, maybe. Serial killer would be great.
"I'm a part time consultant. I also brew my own beer from time to time. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it. Though I don't have any equipment at the moment. I'm renting a room from a lady so I don't have the space for it." It was a pity really since he could use the practice.
"Beer." That alone had Kate. Just as she said it their server delivered their beers in large glass steins.
Kate lifted her glass. "Zum Wohl."
"You speak German." He didn't know that. "What did you just say?" He didn't understand a word.
"To your health," Kate replied and watched as he raised his glass, clinked it against hers, and drank just as long as she did. Which emptied half of their glass at one time.
Kate grinned, pleased that he was following her example. Maybe if she got him drunk he would be more than willing to be her sex slave. Problem was if she got him too drunk he wouldn't even come home with her. Maybe after their second date.
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Kate had actually enjoyed her date and he wasn't drunk. She had obviously gone without for far too long since she had a slight buzz. Though she was still in control of herself.
"This is me." They had gotten out of the taxi and were standing just outside of the lobby.
Being a singer must pay well. It was a nice building. She obviously had a condo or rented an apartment. Rick liked it.
"You want to come up?" Kate had sex on her mind. She might not sing for him on their first date but she was more than willing to have sex with him on their first date.
"That would be nice. But I have responsibilities that require my attention." He had to get home.
"I knew it! You're married." Kate was kicking herself. But if she got him drunk enough she could still keep him.
"I'm not married, Kate. I've never been married. I have to get home and check on Huey, Dewey, and Louie." They were his responsibility and he had to watch after them.
"You have kids?" This was turning into the date from hell. So much for him being her sex slave.
"Not kids, kittens. I have three kittens. I left them alone to come here. I left them with water and food, but I really need to check on them. …Sorry. Maybe lunch next time, your choice. Then I can check on them and you can show me your place," Rick suggested.
"Kittens." Kate shook her head. She was so willing to see the dark and bad side of this date. All her life she'd met bad men. Not evil kind of bad, but bad as in worthless. Good-looking but jerks.
"You should meet them, they're really cute. They'll melt your heart. Innocence can do that to you." He reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips to kiss it. "Noon right here in two days?"
Kate liked him, really liked him. Too bad she hadn't met him when she was a teenager. Her life would have been so very different. "It's a date." Kate was in.
"Excellent. I look forward to what you want to do for our second date." Rick was ready to leave only to have Kate grab his hand that he was still holding and pull. Then she kissed him soundly. He was a bit shocked at first and it took him a second to kiss her back.
Kate was obviously a take-charge kind of woman. She was going to be a refreshing change. All the women he was used to were soft and shy. Kate was clearly soft in places, however she was obviously not shy.
"Hmm, perhaps more kissing on our next date," Rick murmured.
"Count on it." He was a good kisser and it left her wondering just what else he was good at. Was he good at doing what he was told? How many lessons did he need before becoming her willing sex slave?
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Rick had planned to get the mural done today before moving on to the next phase. He had a few boards to make sure he didn't step too far back and tumble into the hole that was going to be the pond. First he needed someone's help with his other plan.
He knew what hospital she worked at. He just needed to talk to her superior and coerce that person into implementing his plan. She wasn't going to go on a Hawaiian vacation if she wasn't allowed time off work to go on vacation.
"Mr. College, thank you for seeing me." Rick shook his hand.
"What can I help you with, Mr. Castle?" He didn't understand why he needed to speak with him.
"Doctor Janelle Smithson has been working really hard of late and she recently lost her husband," Rick began.
"I heard about her husband. It was truly a very sad day. She's one of our very best doctors." he easily agreed.
"I'm sure her husband is in a better place with our Lord. I have a plan on getting her to slow down and enjoy her life again. To show her that she has a life after her husband. I was hoping to talk you into letting her have nine days off from work. A day of travel, seven days sailing around the islands of Hawaii and another day of travel. Give her a chance to enjoy life. What better place is there to unwind and enjoy life than the islands of Hawaii," Rick said earnestly.
"Hawaii. A place my wife and I would love to visit ourselves. What is your place in all of this? I don't know of any sons she had with her husband."
"I'm just a family friend. I'm actually staying with her to help her keep the house up. It's a big place and it's only her. I can get her to the airport, I just need you to grant her the time off. It's going to be a surprise." Rick didn't need him spilling the beans.
College sighed. He was willing to admit that she likely needed a vacation and the chances of her asking for time off were slim. "Let me see what I can do and I'll get back to you. I need to make sure that her absence doesn't disrupt the hospital." This was going to take planning.
Rick nodded understandingly. "Is two days enough time? I can come back for your answer. Unless Janelle comes home to tell me she has been told to take a vacation. Sort of a use it or lose it option."
"Two days should be fine. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Janelle needs to be working at her best." He stood up and offered Rick his hand. Rick shook it and headed home. Part one was now complete. He just needed a date and then he would book her a flight and a cruise around Hawaii.
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Kate was making breakfast the next morning. Sleep had been a little elusive. She had really liked Rick. He'd been nice and was certainly easy on the eyes. Maybe just a little too nice. However she found herself looking forward to their next date. She had been willing to bring him up and have sex with him last night.
He had actually managed to scare her a little with that married fear and then with his kittens. Kittens she didn't mind so much. Having a pet might be nice. Then there was what he did. He had been a little vague about that. A consultant for who, doing what? That answer could wait. First was finding out if he was any good in bed. Could he be trained?
Her first problem was a big one. "What do I want to do for a date?" It had been a while since she had been on a date that wasn't part of her previous job. Still she was actually looking forward to it.
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There was one thing Kate had found in her search of the home. She had found a laptop computer. At first she didn't understand what it was or how it worked. The keyboard was obvious and it had a screen that lit up after being turned on. Thankfully the owner hadn't given it a password so using it was easy.
Next came some time figuring out that she could do a lot on something called an Internet. She could purchase nearly anything online and have it delivered. She had found something called Amazon.
She had created an account and used the credit card and had gone looking for things to purchase. She even had three items ordered already.
Now she was using it to search for a lunch date location.
The last one had been in the upper east side so maybe they should stay there. She almost hated to think it but he had taken her to where she wanted to eat so maybe she could take him where he wanted to eat. It was just that she couldn't stomach taking him to a stinking French restaurant. So what was neutral ground?
"Portugrill, it serves Portuguese food. Spain was technically neutral in the war even if that wasn't actually true. Portugal might be neutral enough." Kate decided on it then looked at the menu. "Only twelve seats? It's tiny!" Maybe it wasn't that good of a choice. "We could buy it and eat in the park. It's only a few blocks away. A picnic in the park might be nice. Then we could have sex in a public place for our first time." Kate grinned widely. She was more than willing, but was Rick willing?
"Chicken, sausage, and one skirt steak." The menu was a little limited but it was enough. "We're going to need plates, glasses, something to drink, napkins, and something to put it all into." She had one day to find it all.
Thankfully living in the year 2012 meant she could find where it all was using the laptop that came with the house. She could even have it delivered, save for the fact that she didn't have the time for that. It simply meant she had to go out to get it which took a couple of hours of her time.
Right now her only concern, and it was a small one for the moment, was when and who was going to show up next. The young woman's husband would probably be first, though he might show up with the local police. She would kill all of them and get rid of the bodies. She knew staying there would eventually become too dangerous.
Not dangerous as in being afraid for her life. It was just that as a spy you needed to be invisible and not be a suspect for anything. The more people that disappeared that had this place in common meant more people would be looking this way.
She was going to have to spend a little time looking for her next place to live.