This is the Longest chapter I've written in ages. It is worth it. There is some Msh material at the end.
Chapter Six:
When Reid reached Zurich Airport, he saw a face he recognized.
"Dr. Laurel!" he said as he was wheeled next to a woman with short blond hair in her late thirties.
"Dr. Reid!" she exclaimed from her own wheelchair where she was sitting with a bulky cast on her right leg.
"What happened to you?" he asked.
"Brutal undercover work," she said simply. "You?"
"David Rossi calls me a bullet magnet behind my back," he said.
"He isn't the only one," she said with a laugh.
Marissa Laurel was an adolescent psychologist who did undercover work in the human trafficking division. They had a met a few times when their respective teams ended up at the same local bars.
"So," she said. "Is there anything not classified about that video leaked on every major news source in the country?"
Reid shook his head. "I was in the hospital at the time because of a shoot-out."
"The Secret Service probably hasn't slept since this whole mess began," she said. "After the video leak, the president refused to allow any details about the Queen's rescue to be released to the media except to say she was on her way home."
"I know," he said. "Even Garcia couldn't trace when the Queen was rescued."
"Rats," she said with a smile. "That was my next question. Of anyone, I thought Garcia would have found something."
"It drove her crazy," he said. "Anyway, how did you get invited to Bodera?"
"Several months ago, I helped rescue a group of women off a port in New York. One of the women was Boderian. A backpacker who get lost in the mountains and ended up in the sex trade. Since Queen Caroline seems to have better resources than the CIA, she found my name and invited me as a thank you and to educate her on what makes her citizens abroad vulnerable to abduction."
"Interesting," Reid said. "I guess my reasons for being invited are obvious: She is afraid for my safety and added something in the message about wanting to learn more about profiling."
"From what I've read the Queen sounds like an interesting woman," Laurel said. "Thirty-six years old and under tremendous pressure to marry. The crown goes to her maternal uncle, if she dies, who is extremely unpopular even in his own family. And apparently his son is worse."
"It is a complicated situation," Reid said.
An announcement was made. Their gate had changed. Two assistants stepped forward to wheel them down the hall.
Laurel laughed. "I could get used to this."
Reid shrugged. "I would have preferred to walk."
"We disagree on something," she said lightly. "How will we get along in a castle together for four weeks?"
"I can't imagine," he said with a laugh.
"Neither can I," she said with a smile.
…
Reid let Laurel have the window seat on the way to Bodera. It was only a two-hour flight. She gasped when the saw the famous Robindian Mountains. All the trees were blossoming and so the land looked like a haze of white as they made their descent. They glimpsed Grace Castle nestled in the mountains before landing at Cordian Airport.
"It's kind of like being at Disneyworld," she said.
"I've never been there," he said.
"Really?" she said the plane emptied out.
"I had an unconventionally upbringing," he said evasively.
"You need to go at least once in your life," she said.
"I'll take that under advisement," he said with a laugh.
Their guides appeared in dark blue blazers with the royal crest on the right side.
"Welcome to Bodera," the slightly taller man with a thick brown mustache said in perfect English. "My name is Gerome, and this is Brendan, we will be escorting you to Grace Castle."
"Thank you," Reid and Laurel said in unison.
Gerome and Brendan helped them into wheelchairs and off the plane. Laurel and Reid couldn't stop looking around. The airport was sleek and modern, yet the people dressed at though they were from a slightly different era. There was something sophisticated about the way the Boderians moved and interacted. Reid looked forward to seeing more.
Reid and Laurel were then transported into a Cadillac where there was bottled water waiting for them.
"I trust you had a pleasant flight?" Gerome asked.
Laurel looked to Reid. "Very," she said with a smile.
"Good," he said. "When you arrive at the castle, you'll be welcome to rest from your travels until dinner at six. The Queen is dining with the ambassador from Spain tonight and she thought you'd prefer to eat with your fellow Americans while still jetlagged."
"That was thoughtful of her," Laurel said.
"You'll be seeing her for breakfast at eight o'clock," he said. "She asked me to emphasize that you are no way expected to follow any certain dining rules except common politeness. You are her guests and she wants you feel comfortable 'to be yourselves' is a phrase commonly used in America that she likes."
Laurel laughed.
"I'll try not to make a fool of myself then."
"I wouldn't be worried," Brendan said. "The Queen is very kind and cares little for rules about which utensils to use."
"Good to know," Laurel said.
Reid was slightly disappointed. He was looking forward to seeing her today. Pushing that thought away, he reminded himself he was there for his own safety. Whatever feelings he had for the Queen did not matter.
…
Grace Castle was an enormous structure made of dark brown stones and beige mortar. The peaks were conical. It looked like something directly out of a fairytale. Laurel hummed "When You Wish Upon a Star," and Reid couldn't help but smile.
They were driven to a side door. Brendan opened the door and helped Laurel into a waiting wheelchair. Gerome offered him a wheelchair, but he declined.
"I can move around on foot," he said.
"I'll guide you to your room at least," Gerome said.
Reid waved at Laurel as they moved in separate directions.
The castle was a seamless mixture of old and modern. Every room was lavished with paintings and other fine art. The draperies were composed of dark blue and gold, the colors for the Erdaya coat of arms. From the mixture of light and dark woodwork, to the beautifully embroidered upholstery, there wasn't a corner in the structure that wasn't worthy of further inspection.
"It is a lovely castle," he said.
"We like to think so," Gerome said as he guided him to an elevator.
It stopped on the third floor. He was led into an enormous room with red draperies. The bed was in a nook by a window that had stunning views of the countryside. There were also multiple cases of books with a ladder, so he could reach the higher shelves. The place was truly stunning.
"You will find a map of the areas of the castle open to you on the desk," he said. "If you have any questions or would like anything to eat, please press the button also located on the desk. Do not be afraid to bother us. You are honored guests and we look forward to assisting you in anything you need."
"Thank you," he said.
"Welcome to Grace Castle," Gerome said and left.
…
Greg Erdrich and Terrance Weimer were the other American guests. They had been there a week. Erdrich was from white collar crimes, and Weimer was a special forces operative who recently joined Coop's team. Both were not the best health. Erdrich had just entered remission from leukemia while Weimer had just survived a care chase that left his left arm in a cast. Laurel and he joked they were a set.
"The Queen is collecting the walking wounded," Erdrich joked at dinner.
"She probably just chose people who needed the rest," Reid said.
"I wonder who else is joining us," Weimer said. "I understand two more people are coming."
"We'll see," Laurel said. "In the meantime, this veal is delicious, and I don't usually like veal. Do you think I can ask for the recipe or is it a secret for generations?"
Weimer laughed. "I have yet to have a bad meal here. The deserts are out of this world."
"Do you think we'll get to go on beer tasting tour?" Erdrich asked. "I know Bodera from two things: Tech almost as good as the State's and beer. I really want to try more of their varieties."
"I'm all for that," Laurel said and turned to Reid. "You?"
"I prefer wine," he said.
"I hear they have a nice selection of that too," Weimer said. "Who knows what ancient bottles the Queen has in her cellars."
"Speaking of which," Erdrich said and raised his glass. "To good company in Bodera."
Everyone clinked glasses. Laurel smiled at Reid and then raised her glass.
"And to the Queen," she said. "For inviting us to this paradise to enjoy a world few have seen."
"To the Queen," they said in unison and clinked glasses.
…
The sumptuous bed was warm and cozy. Slowly, the jetlag was starting to fade. Reid couldn't remember the last time he felt so relaxed. It was as though his troubles were literally as far away as he was from them geographically. He was truly content.
Late at night he heard moaning. It grew louder. Reid looked around blindly for the source. It began to sound hysterical. He got out of bed and traced the sound to the large mirror on the opposite wall. The sound was horrible, and he wanted to help the person. Feeling around, he found a latch and suddenly the mirror pushed forward. It revealed a dusty staircase. He quickly climbed it in search of the person in pain.
After finding the latch in the blank wall at the top, he opened it to find none other than the Queen wrestling in sheets under a canopy of purple. Reid rushed to her side.
"Your highness!" he said in a loud whisper. "Your highness!"
She continued to writhe and moan in bed. Not knowing what else to do, he placed his hands on her shoulders and held on.
Within moments, she stopped. At first, she didn't seem to recognize him and appeared to eye him suspiciously in the room only lit by the bright moon. Then she reached up and caressed his cheek.
"My hero," she whispered.
Her hand slid down and onto his neck. Suddenly, she pulled him forward and he lost his balance. He landed on top of her.
"Caroline," he said softly, "You don't want this."
"I do," she said.
"I am here to help you find your father's killer."
"You can do more than one thing," she said longingly.
Reid suddenly realized the Queen never look more beautiful with her hair down and her eyes shining bright. He kissed her. She kissed him back and proceeded to pull off his shirt. At first, he felt slightly embarrassed but then, she caressed his scars. This made him want her even more. He wanted to see more of her. He reached around and pulled off her night dress and gasped.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he said.
Tears trickled down her face.
"It has been so long since man has said that to me," she said.
He grew ravenous. Only lust was on his mind in a way he had never experienced before. After stripping down to nothing, he removed her last garment of clothing. He licked away her tears and they became one.