It appears my creative juices have been bubbling away and have allowed me to complete this latest chapter ahead of schedule. So here it is, please enjoy.
Chapter 11
"Well Kate, shall I continue with the story?" Castle asked her. "I know you are eager to hear what happens next. Well, we now come to the part of our tale where the fair Detective Beckett and the ruggedly handsome Minstrel team up together again and finally begin to uncover the clues that will point them to the murderer..."
"...It was at a goodly hour of the morning when Richard the Minstrel awoke to face the new day. He had the night before endured the recriminations and admonishments of both his daughter and his mother for having been apprehended by the constabulary yet again for doing something foolish. The Minstrel looked suitably remorseful for what he had done and vowed that he would not do it again. The two red headed women knew full well that it was a vow that he would end up breaking in the not too distant future for that was how he was. Wisely they chose not to raise that particular point merely accepting his promise not to land in trouble again.
Richard the Minstrel had risen from bed fired with a determination to right a wrong that had taken place. It would never sit well with him to know that an innocent man was going to gaol. He may not have shown outward displays of outrage in the way the fair Kate thought he should have when they had sat together in the briefing room at the police house.
To the fair detective and her constabulary colleagues charging Cabot with the crime of murder was a good enough story but they were not minstrels, they were not spinners of tales, weavers of stories. They had little idea how a reader or an audience would react if presented with such a story. Richard the Minstrel knew.
The Minstrel knew what he had to do. He had to prove to the unbelieving fair Detective Beckett and her colleagues they had made a mistake. And he knew what he had to do to prove the young man was innocent of the crimes. Before sitting down at the table in his kitchen with his family, to break his fast Richard the Minstrel had penned a short note. Summoning a messenger he sent the lad away to the address he had given him along with a few large denomination coins to ensure a speedy delivery of the message.
A couple of hours later saw the messenger return with a response that saw the Minstrel leave his large abode and venture into town, Derrick his trusty stead carrying him speedily through the streets.
The sun was shining brightly in the morning sky when Richard the Minstrel arrived at his destination. He alighted from his stead with a flourish and tied the reins of the horse to the post at the side of the street and he cast his gaze at the building he beheld. The building was five storeys tall and of recent contruction. The ground floor was a glass double front that enclosed a reception area. In the windows were small cardboard signs that advertised dwellings and apartments that were available to let.
Affixing a confident grin upon his face, the Minstrel strode into the building and walked over to the reception desk where a young woman sat working. The young woman lifted her head and smiled at the Minstrel's approach.
"May I help you good sir?" She enquired.
"Good morrow, young lady." Richard the Minstrel said smoothly. "I am Richard the Minstrel, I believe I have an appointment to see Lord Tisdale."
The receptionist consulted a list that she had close at hand. A moment later she looked up at the Minstrel and smiled.
"Yes Minstrel. His Lordship is expecting you."
"I see he now?" Came the voice the Minstrel had come to know, and truth be told he liked hearing.
Turning he found the fair Detective Beckett walking in holding up her badge at the receptionist. She swept past the reception desk and the surprised Minstrel and made her way to the stairs.
"Why my dear detective, so good to see you again." Richard the Minstrel said with a smile, recovering from his shock at seeing the fair Detective Beckett so soon. Suddenly the smile vanished from his face as he remembered the promise he had made back at the police house the day before.
"My dear detective, this is not what it appears..." He stammered.
The fair Detective Beckett cast a knowing glance over her shoulder to the now concerned Minstrel.
"Very well, it is exactly as it appears." He conceded with a loud sigh.
The fair Kate allowed a small smile to grace her lips as she reached the foot of the stairs. She looked at the Minstrel again, raising an eyebrow at him.
"You coming, Minstrel?"
Another look of surprise crossed the Minstrel's face. Did he hear her arright? Was the fair Detective inviting him to join her? Indeed she was if she was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. The look of surprise on his face vanished with the arrival of a beaming grin. He glanced at the receptionist. Who mouthed 'top floor' to tell him where they could find the person they had come to meet. He gave her a nod of thanks and quickly scurried over to where the fair Detective Beckett was waiting for him.
They started up the stairs with the fair Detective leading the way. The Minstrel could not resist.
"So my dear detective, what brings you here on this fine morn?" He ventured.
"I would imagine the same reason that finds you here, Minstrel."
"Ah hah!" The Minstrel said excitedly. "I was right."
The fair Detective Beckett slid her eyes in the direction of the man walking up the stairs beside her. "Did you hear those words pass my lips, Minstrel?"
"You may not have put them to voice but you thought it."
"I did no such thing."
"And you did no such thing very loudly." The Minstrel grinned.
The fair Detective Beckett rolled her eyes in the Minstrel's direction showing her annoyance. She increased her pace up the stairs. Richard the Minstrel paused a moment to admire the fair detective from behind and the smile on his face increased. He quickly climbed to catch up with her.
"So why do we find you here, my dear detective?"
The fair Detective Beckett silently cursed the man beside her. Could he not let that matter drop, she thought to herself? Was he conceited enough to want to hear her tell that he was right? She glanced in his direction again.
"You raised some valid points, Minstrel."
"So I was right!" The Minstrel insisted.
"Whether you are right or not remains to be seen." The fair Detective Beckett said trying to control her anger that had suddenly flared. "But as I said you raised some valid points and I would be remiss in my job if I did not investigate."
"I was right, I was right." The Minstrel said in a sing song voice.
A fierce looking glare from the fair Detective ended the Minstrel's triumph.
"Sorry, my dear detective." He whispered, sobering up.
The fair Kate could only shake her head and wonder what she had done wrong in her life to deserve being lumped with this man beside her. They climbed up the remaining stairs in silence.
Lord Jonathan of Tisdale's office took up the entire floor. Wood panelling was everywhere to be seen and the most expensive grain of wood was used. There were some bookcases with books that had not been touched in a while except to be dusted. A couple of large portraits of his Lordship looking stern and severe in his finery adorned the walls in the hope of intimidating visitors. Several large intricately woven rugs covered parts of the floor, where the rugs did not cover there was highly polished floorboards.
In the middle of the office there were several tables where sat scale models of building developments that Lord Tisdale's company were constructing. One was of a model of a multi story apartment building another table displayed a housing development that was being constructed somewhere in the outer suburbs of the city while another displayed a large sporting stadium.
Lord Jonathan of Tisdale was standing behind his desk, a wall of glass was behind him providing a picturesque backdrop of the city. From his vantage point he could espy a number of buildings his company had built. He was a tall man with a thinning build and a pale looking face. At this moment in time he was standing and holding a framed portrait of his deceased daughter.
Standing on the other side of the large desk was the fair Detective Beckett. She glanced over to find Richard the Minstrel inspecting the building models having taken a sudden interest in them for reasons she could not fathom.
"Did Alison ever mention having enemies or being threatened?" The fair Detective Beckett inquired.
"No." Lord Tisdale shook his head as he continued to look at the portrait in his hand. "She was well loved by all people. She was of the kind that wanted to make this world a better place. I told all this to the other police officer."
"Yes sir, I know." The fair Detective replied. "We are just following up sir."
"Did Alison know of anybody who would profit from her death?" Richard the Minstrel asked as he continue to admire the models before him. Slowly he turned and walked over to the desk. He saw the flicker of annoyance cross the man's face.
"Minstrel, I may be rich but my daughter was not." He said crisply. "She detested money, what she had she gave to charity."
The fair Detective Beckett decided to end the interview. "Thank you Lord Tisdale." she said as she started to turn and leave. The Minstrel made no move.
"Lord Tisdale, Wealth magazine has estimated your net worth at nearly a hundred million. Is that true?"
The fair Kate shot the Minstrel a look which he chose to ignore. Lord Tisdale let out a long sigh as he set the portrait upon his desk. He looked to the Minstrel.
"I do not inspect it day to day."
"But it somewhere in the fairground?" The Minstrel ventured.
"I have been fortunate, yes." Lord Tisdale conceded.
"We appreciate your time, your Lordship." The fair Kate said, once more sending a look towards the Minstrel. This time it was full of anger. Once again the Minstrel chose to ignore the look directed at him.
"What becomes of your wealth if something should happen to you?"
"Minstrel!" The fair Kate hissed.
"Half the estate goes to my charitable foundation, and the rest to my children." Lord Tisdale paused and winced visibly. He recovered quickly as he looked at the Minstrel. "I mean my son."
Richard the Minstrel gave the man a grateful smile. "Thank you for your time, your Lordship." he said.
Quickly the minstrel followed the visibly angry fair detective from the office. He knew that he was going to bear the brunt of her displeasure for the questions he had asked but he was prepared for that. At least he hoped he was prepared for that.
The fair Detective Beckett said not a word as they went down the stairs but the manner in which she was moving down the stairs, at rapid speed, informed the Minstrel that he had landed in her bad books. It was all he could do just to keep up with her. The fair Detective reached the ground floor and barely acknowledged the receptionist but the Minstrel gave the young woman a smile of thanks before he ran after the fair Kate.
Once out on the street and away from the building the fair Detective Beckett rounded on the Minstrel and glared at him.
"Pray tell me what that was all about, Minstrel?"
"What?"
The fair Detective said nothing but raised her arm and pointed skywards towards the top floor of Lord Tisdale's building.
"He's dying." The Minstrel replied, simply.
"Who is dying?" A confused look clouded the fair Kate's face.
Richard the Minstrel espied a food vendor a short distance from them and he started to move towards the vendor.
"Do you want something to eat?" He asked, pointing in the direction of the food vendor.
Faster than a blink of an eye, the fair Detective Beckett captured the Minstrel's nose between her thumb and forefinger and gave it an incredible squeeze. The Minstrel let out a squeak of pain.
"Ow...ow...ow." He squeaked, as his legs buckled towards the ground. "Apples!...apples!...apples!"
"What makes you think Lord Tisdale is dying?" The fair Detective Beckett asked as she continued to apply pressure to the Minstrel's nose.
"Apples!" The Minstrel appealed in a high nasally voice.
The fair Detective Beckett allowed a small smile of triumph, feeling a little better as she released his nose. It pleased her to know that she had the Minstrel's undivided attention. The Minstrel rose to his feet and immediately rubbed his wounded proboscis.
"You have quite the strength in those delightful fingers of yours, my dear detective." The Minstrel said with a sudden new found respect for the fair Detective Beckett.
"Explain yourself, Minstrel." She demanded. "What makes you believe Lord Tisdale is dying?"
Richard the Minstrel dropped his hands from his still throbbing nose and looked at the fair Detective Beckett.
"Do you recall those portraits in his office?"
The fair Kate nodded her head.
"Lord Tisdale is now a lot thinner than when he sat for those portraits."
"He could have sat for them a while ago."
"I may have conceded that point to you my dear detective but for the fact that I took a closer inspection of those portraits and saw that that the painter had signed and dated them. They were painted less than six months ago."
The fair Detective Beckett nodded her head again, accepting what the Minstrel said.
"Lord Tisdale is thinner now, as infirm sick, not workout thin."
"Do I need to remind you that his daughter has just been murdered...?"
"And the way he was touching his hair as if he was self conscious." The Minstrel continued.
The fair Detective Beckett paused to think on what the Minstrel had just said. Her eyes widened a little as the implications sunk in.
"Do you mean to say he was wearing a hair piece?"
"Twas a good one I venture to say but all the same it is new to him. The treatment he is undergoing is also recent. And did you not notice that he was wearing makeup?"
"He is trying to look far healthier than he really is." The fair Detective Beckett said.
"Mayhaps he does not want his shareholders to know of his illness?"
"So he has a serious illness, that does not mean he is dying."
"Indeed that may be true, my dear detective." The Minstrel said with a smile. Unbeknownst to each other during their exchange they had moved closer to each other, invading each other's personal space. "But it makes for a far better story, does it not?"
The fair Detective Beckett looked up at the Minstrel and realised in that very moment that they were standing close together, a little too close. Her breath caught in her throat. Carefully she took a step back but continued to hold the Minstrel's gaze. Those blue eyes could be mesmerising when they sparkled with intensity like they were doing right now.
If Richard the Minstrel noted her sudden discomfort and stepping back he chose not to make mention of it.
"Did you interview the brother?" He asked.
The fair Kate shook her head, turning away from the Minstrel's gaze. "There was no need."
"Well my dear detective now there is."
The fair Detective Beckett nodded her head in agreement. She turned back to look at the Minstrel and found him smiling at her and his eyebrows were doing a happy dance up and down. The fair detective shook her head turned from the Minstrel and went to collect her horse.
Soon the redoubtable and fair Detective Kate Beckett and the ruggedly handsome Richard the Minstrel were riding to their next destination. For a little while and maybe more the fair Detective Beckett and Richard the Minstrel rode in silence. The fair detective was thinking over what had transpired back at Lord Tisdale's office and then down on the street. Though she was loath to admit it but the Minstrel had been of assistance to this investigation. She also knew that the man riding beside her was casting looks in her direction just like he had done back at the police house. She found it a more than a little disconcerting but she was not about to make mention of it. She also remembered how at one moment when they had been on street they had stepped closer to each other. How it happened, she could not recall. One moment there had been distance between them and the next there was not.
Richard the Minstrel was a man who found it exceedingly hard to remain silent. He was a minstrel after all and in his chosen profession one had to open one's mouth and speak if one was to make a success of it. Besides he was not much of a mime. He had tried to remain silent as he rode alongside the fair Detective Beckett but it was a battle that would be lost. The silence however did allow him the opportunity to cast glances in the direction of the fair detective. And he found that he liked to look upon the fair detective.
"So tell me, my dear detective." Richard the Minstrel said finally when he could take the silence between them no longer.
"Tell you what, Minstrel?"
"Tell me about yourself?"
"There is not much to tell." The fair Kate said.
"I believe it not, my dear detective." The Minstrel laughed. "Not for a minute."
"Why the sudden interest in me, Minstrel?"
"I find you a very fascinating woman, my dear detective, and I am intrigued."
"Is this another minstrel habit like poking through cupboards and medicine chests?" The fair Detective Beckett asked as she looked across to the Minstrel remembering his apology when she had caught him rifling through her files.
Richard the Minstrel smiled at the fair Detective Beckett and gave a shrug of his shoulders.
"I give you fair warning Minstrel you will get nothing from me." The fair Kate announced as she gave him a warning look.
"Oh a challenge!" The Minstrel said with delight. "A challenge is it you have set for me? I love challenges I'll have you know, my dear detective."
"Not this time."
"Confident too!" Richard the Minstrel laughed. "So be it, my dear detective. I humbly accept your challenge my dear Detective Beckett." The Minstrel gave a bow of his head.
The fair Detective Beckett stared at the Minstrel for a moment and maybe more. Finally she let out a loud and long sigh of frustration. Tightening her hold on the reins she dug her heels into the flanks of her horse spurring it into a fast gallop. Richard the Minstrel watched the fair detective gallop away from him.
"Running away from me wont help you, my dear detective." He called after her.
With a chuckle to himself Richard the Minstrel set off to catch the delightful and most fair Detective Beckett.
The fair Detective Beckett had dismounted and stood beside her horse. She had reached the warehouse owned by the son of Lord Tisdale. She stood observing the activity taking place by one of the large open doors. Workers were loading a long cart with cargo. The workers were being supervised by Harrison of Tisdale. He was aged in his late twenties and dressed in everyday clothes.
It was not long before Richard the Minstrel rode up. The fair detective heard the Minstrel's approach and turned to watch him. The Minstrel pulled hard on the reins to bring his horse to a halt.
"Whoa there Derrick." The Minstrel commanded. He alighted from the saddle with a flourish to land gracefully upon the ground. He grinned at the waiting fair Detective Beckett. That action not to mention the alighting from the saddle in such a theatrical way earned him a roll of her eyes from the fair Detective Beckett.
"Do not tell me you named your horse after your famous character?" The fair Detective Beckett said when the Minstrel joined her.
"No." The Minstrel replied.
"No? But I heard..."
"I named my famous character after my horse."
"Truly?" A look of surprise appeared on the fair detective's face.
The Minstrel looked at the fair detective and nodded his head.
Suddenly a giggle escaped from the lips of the fair Detective Beckett. Immediately she clamped a hand across her mouth to prevent any further giggles escaping but her emerald eyes sparkled with amusement. Richard the Minstrel returned the smile. He found the sound of her giggling enchanting.
"Mayhap I will tell you the tale how Sir Derrick of Storm got his name, my dear detective but it is a story for another time." The Minstrel said. He espied the man supervising the loading of the cart and motioned with his head in that direction.
"Is that Harrison of Tisdale?"
With a final snigger the fair Detective Beckett managed to regain her composure and all too soon she was the redoubtable constabulary investigator she truly was. A mask of seriousness filled her face but the Minstrel did detect a flicker of amusement in those emerald eyes of hers.
The fair Detective Beckett and Richard the Minstrel approached the man known as Harrison of Tisdale. He was busy signing a batch of invoices that an assistant standing beside him had passed over and did not notice their approach.
"Harrison of Tisdale?" the Fair Detective Beckett, said holding up her badge.
"That is I." Harrison replied with out looking up. He passed the signed invoices and looked to his assistant. "Tell Mitch to get those pallets loaded onto the cart, the client is waiting for them." He looked at the fair detective and the Minstrel.
The fair Kate introduced herself and the Minstrel. "We'd like to ask you some questions about your sister." The fair Detective Beckett added.
"Yes, of course, please come inside to my office."
Harrison of Tisdale led the fair Detective Beckett and Richard the Minstrel up the stairs up to where his office was located. The office itself as the Minstrel noted upon entering was small and not a little untidy. There were papers strewn all about on the desks. There were more papers stuck to cork-boards. Filing cabinets were overflowing with more papers and files. He could not help but wonder how the man could find anything amongst what undoubtedly was a unique filing system.
Harrison of Tisdale took up station behind his desk but did not sit down.
"When did you last see your sister, Mr Tisdale?" The fair Detective inquired.
"It would have been about a month ago, at my father's estate." Harrison replied. He paused letting out a sigh and shook his head. "Truly I can not believe she has gone."
"We're you close to your sister, Mr Tisdale?"
"Alison was well loved by all." Harrison said, echoing something similar to what his father had said. "She tried her best to see the best in all people. Even that fellow that killed her. She tried to everything to help him and that is the reward she got. Do you know that she even brought him to me once to see if I could give him a job?"
The fair detective cast a quick glance in the Minstrel's direction. The Minstrel had taken up station beside the lone window in the office. The Minstrel returned her look before he turned his attention back to Harrison.
"I gather you did not give him a job?" The fair Detective said.
"Truly you must be jesting? If my workers mess up it ends up costing me. I lose my bond. I lose clients." Harrison paused as he ran his hand over his hair. "Truly I don't know...if I had indeed found a task for him things may have turned out differently."
"How did your sister react to the news that your father is suffering from a terminal illness?"
Harrison of Tisdale looked up at the fair detective with some surprise. Quickly he recovered.
"She indeed was upset at the news. Foorsooth, we both were, detective."
"But now that she is dead your inheritance stands to double, does it not?" Richard the Minstrel said in an even tone of voice.
Harrison of Tisdale looked sharply at the Minstrel. He controlled the anger that rose with in him.
"What are you suggesting? You already caught her killer, have you not?"
"Indeed we have, Mr Tisdale." The fair Detective Beckett said smoothly. "However, his lawyers will try to reflect the suspicion on to someone else. Someone with motive. I would have to take the stand at the trial and they will inquire of me why I did not investigate, and then the jury will have doubts. And we do not want the jury to have doubts, do we?"
"No, we do not." Harrison agreed.
"So you must excuse me for having to ask this of you, but where were you on the night of your sister's murder?"
"I was out of the country travelling on business." Harrison informed her. "Truth be told I was out of the country for all three murders."
Harrison of Tisdale opened the draw of his desk and rummaged through it. The fair Detective Beckett kept her face schooled not to show any hint of what she was thinking. She did glance across to the Minstrel and saw a frown crease his ruggedly handsome face.
"Here is my passport." Harrison announced as he handed over it to the fair detective. "You may inspect the stamps if you like."
The fair Detective Beckett took the proffered passport and flipped through the pages and inspected the stamps. Richard the Minstrel was curious and he tried to peer over the fair Detective Beckett's shoulder. The fair detective noticing the Minstrel's curiosity turned her back on him as she continued to inspect the passport that Harrison of Tisdale had given her.
It was not long after that our fair Detective Beckett and the ruggedly handsome Richard the Minstrel emerged from the warehouse and made their way to where their horses we waiting. The fair Detective Beckett wore a smug smile upon her face.
"Gadzooks, a passport!" The Minstrel declared.
"Still persisting with the word, Minstrel?" The fair Kate said her smile increasing.
"It will catch on I assure you."
"Keep thinking that and one day it might come true."
"A passport?"
"Unassailable proof."
"I was ever so sure he did it."
"Do not take it so hard." The fair Detective Beckett chuckled. "After all, you are just a minstrel."
Richard the Minstrel noticed the smug grin upon the fair Detective Beckett's face.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Pray tell, my dear detective what amuses you so?" The Minstrel demanded.
The fair Detective Beckett stopped walking and turned to face the Minstrel.
"Truly Minstrel, the man was deceitful." The fair Kate informed him. "I understand him knowing where might have been when his sister was murdered. But for the other two murders? Think on this, Minstrel, Harrison of Tisdale did not pause. He did not ask of me the dates of those murders. He did not inspect his calender yet all the same he was ready with an alibi."
Understanding washed across the face of the Minstrel. He nodded his head.
"In my experience, Minstrel innocent people do not prepare alibis." The fair Kate added.
"So I was right!" The Minstrel declared brightly.
The fair Detective Beckett rolled her eyes. She turned and marched to where her horse was waiting. Richard the Minstrel had to jog to catch up to her.
"So my dear detective what do we do next?"
"We must unearth the evidence that proves Harrison of Tisdale lied to us."
"And how do we accomplish that, my dear detective?"
The fair Detective Kate Beckett untied the reins of her horse. In one swift but graceful motion she climbed into the saddle. The Minstrel climbed onto his horse.
"Lets us away to the police house, Minstrel."
Richard the Minstrel nodded his head in agreement. However the fair Kate hesitated. She looked over to the Minstrel an amused smile upon her fair face.
"You named your famous hero after your horse?" She said with a shake of her head.
"I assure you it is an amusing story."
"I look forward to hearing it, Minstrel."
With that the fair Kate wheeled her stead about and spurred it into a fast gallop. Richard the Minstrel smiled at the departing figure of the fair Detective Beckett. He could not help but admire the way she rode, so confidently, almost as one with the animal. He had to shake off his reveries and urged Derrick into a fast gallop to catch up with her..."
A loud yawn interrupted Castle's storytelling. He leaned back in his chair.
"Sorry about that." he said. He released Kate's hand and rubbed his tired eyes.
"I'd love to stay and hear how the rest of the story goes." Jim announced as he rose to his feet. "I have to go to work."
"Don't worry, Jim." Martha said. She reached out and put a comforting hand on his arm. "If there is any change we will let you know."
"Thank you Martha."
Martha smiled as she gave Jim's arm a squeeze before releasing him.
"Rick, could I have a word with you outside, please?" Jim asked.
Castle nodded his head. He rose from the chair and followed Kate's father out of the hospital room. Once outside the room Jim stopped and turned to look at Castle.
"I know you're going to ignore what I'm going to tell you but I'm going to say it anyway." Jim said with a gentle smile.
Castle nodded his head.
"You look like crap, son. You need to get some rest."
"I'm fine, Jim." Castle assured him.
Jim smiled as he shook his head. He patted Castle's shoulder.
"Just as stubborn as my Katie."
"Not so, I can be more stubborn when I put my mind to it." Castle joked.
Jim chuckled softly. "I'm beginning to see that, son."
Jim left Castle standing there promising to be back later in the day. Castle watched Kate's father standing at the elevators. The elevator arrived disgorging Esposito and Ryan. The three men exchanged greetings and had a quick word before Jim stepped into the elevator and the two detectives approached Castle.
"Yo Castle, how's our girl doing?" Esposito inquired, concern writ large across his face.
"Still the same." Castle replied.
"Hey dude, you look like crap." Ryan remarked.
"Yeah I've been getting a lot of that." Castle said. "It's a new look I'm trying."
"Don't think it'll catch on, dude."
"Guys you can go in." Castle informed them. "I'll be in a moment."
Esposito and Ryan nodded their heads and headed into Kate's room. Castle rubbed his face with his hands. He was feeling more and more tired but as he vowed earlier he would not sleep until Kate had woken, however long it took. He turned on his heels and returned to the room.
"Hey Bro, Lanie tells me you been telling our girl a story, is that true?" Esposito said.
Castle nodded his head. He glanced at his mother and saw the fixed smile on her face and the concern in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile as he slumped down in his chair. He turned his attention to Kate. He took hold of her hand and brought it up to his lips. He kissed her hand and continued to gaze at her. It gladdened his heart to see the small smile on her face. It was the sign that told him somehow and some way his words were reaching her.
He did not care that his mother and two friends were witnesses to his actions. He certainly would not have cared of the looks they had exchanged with each other or the grins on their faces. In this moment the tiredness drained out of him, it was just him and Kate. He smiled brightly as he looked at Kate. His thumb stroked the back of her hand.
"Well Kate we have come to the part of our story where the redoubtable and fair Detective Kate Beckett and the ruggedly handsome Richard the Minstrel set about trying to find the evidence that proves that Harrison of Tisdale is the murderer..."
Your thoughts on my latest effort would be gratefully appreciated, dear reader.
Con