Kidnapped Ch.31
Her breathing was quiet and steady as she crept up to the door of the target apartment. A long, thin metal plate was handed to her and she carefully slipped it under the crack of the door, surveying the doorknob with a keen eye. Satisfied that there were no trip wires or anything rigged to the door that could cause an explosion upon the door opening, she placed her hand on the handle and looked back at everyone with her. Castle was right behind her. SWAT team was surrounding her on all sides, their face all holding the same grim and determined expression. Receiving a nod from them, she turned the knob and allowed the SWAT team to immediately swarm into the apartment, their guns all at the ready.
Kate followed them into the apartment, with Castle close on her heels. They searched through every room, every single nook and cranny within the spacious apartment, but there was one thing missing - its occupant, Bracken.
'Where is he?' Kate huffed, her eyes darting over to the building right opposite to her, but careful to keep her face impassive.
A grin tugged on the edge of William Bracken's lips. His rifle was resting on the window ledge, completed with the scope and ready to fire at his command. His pistol was attached to his hips, ready for any kind of emergency. He could see Kate Beckett pacing up and down the floor of the apartment opposite to his, looking every part of the pissed-off cop. He smirked at their naivety. How could they possibly expect him to make it easy for them to catch him?
Through the scope, he carefully adjusted the rifle so the centre cross of the scope was trained directly at Kate Beckett's heart. She and her mother had been nothing but an extremely bothersome, irritating nuisance to him, and he would not hesitate to take her out. He placed his index finger on the trigger and gently began to pull it back, savouring the moment of the kill.
'NYPD!' Esposito shouted right behind him, and Bracken froze for a moment. This was something he had not anticipated. He turned around slowly, and was greeted by the sight of Esposito and Ryan's guns trained on him.
'Slide your weapon over and get on your knees with your hands on your head,' Esposito ordered.
His brain began to spin at a million miles per hour. He could not allow this perfect opportunity to take Kate down to slide out of his hands. He began to kneel down, but at the very last moment, his hands went to the pistol at his his belt. Firing a shot at the pair, he jumped out of the window, racing away from the building.
Ryan and Esposito ducked behind the couch as the bullet whizzed past, and as soon as the bullet went pass, they jumped out from their spots and ran towards the window. Bracken was heading across the street to his own apartment, where Kate and Castle were, and there was no one down there to stop him.
'Kate, we've lost him. He's heading towards your direction now,' Esposito called into his walkie-talkie, hoping that she would be able to get everyone out in time.
Moments later, the walkie-talkie crackled to life, and both of their hearts dropped down into their stomachs as they listened to the response.
'Nice try, detectives, but you're too late. Richard Castle and Kate Beckett are both with me now,' the triumphant voice of William Bracken laughed over the crackly connection of the walkie-talkie.
A/N: Yep, very short chapter, but I couldn't resist leaving on this cliffhanger. I have been cooped up all weekend because I had yet another relapse, so I'm bored, like very bored, and one of my favorite pastime is to come up with amazingly awesome cliffhangers for you to all groan over :D. Seriously though, I was planning to write longer, but I am really too tired. I'll try to make the next one longer, but no promises. :P
As usual, PLEASE REVIEW! Criticisms are much appreciated, but no flamers please.
This chapter is dedicated to Bianca tabbycat for being an amazing beta.
Zoe tabbycat