Author's Note: I'd like to thank phnxgrl, southerngirl1, MaineCastle, and Chkgun93 for their reviews. The Gentleman story arc was one that was unplanned in the early stages of writing The Shadow Fox, but that is one of the things I love about writing; something that starts so simply is capable of taking on a life of its own. We will get to why he's punishing Beckett, but not in this case. Sorry (or not).
Anyway, we're starting the next chapter a little after the last one left off. Enjoy!
Chapter 13
The sewer map superimposed on top of a city map helped them to see why that street had been chosen. The street and pipe ran parallel to each other for a few blocks, but in that particular stretch the pipe was closer to the surface compared to most of the city. Beckett went through the map and started marking areas where the sewer system matched the same criteria. If this one had been a dry run, she wanted eyes on locations where the threat was at its highest.
Castle came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her as she capped her pen. "Talk to me, what happened today?"
"A stupid reporter outside. I'll be fine."
"I know you'll be fine, I'm worried about now."
She sighed and tossed the marker in the tray. "Thanksgiving is coming up. At the session… that hit me pretty hard. And then a reporter asked me to comment on his murder."
"Oh, Kate, I'm sorry."
"Right now I just want to get through the day, so can we shelve this for now?"
"Sure. You want me to do something about the reporter?"
She shook her head, a smile creeping onto her face as she turned in his arms to face him. "No, he's not worth it." She turned to the boys. "What have you guys found?"
Ryan stepped to the board. "We think Conklin's bookie/loan shark is Foma Gretkov. He's one of the most ruthless sharks in the pony game. He has multiple arrests for assault, though most charges are quickly dropped because the victims refuse to go through with it."
Esposito jumped in. "One did press charges, but the complainant disappeared soon after. DA tried to prove Gretkov had something to do with it, but there was no evidence and he had been in custody the whole time. Even without the victim, the assault case went through and Gretkov served a nickel."
"Gretkov has ties to organized crime in Brighton Beach…"
Beckett interrupted Ryan. "Russian mob?"
"Yeah, his cousin is a big name in the underground poker circuit. Anyway, Gretkov has ties, but he doesn't actually work with the mob, at least not directly. His business is his own."
"Where's Gretkov now?"
Esposito shrugged. "We're trying to track him down."
"Good. What else you got?"
"CSU identified the gas. It was methane, just like Castle said."
Beckett bit her lower lip as she thought. "How long ago did that Mythbusters episode air?"
Castle shrugged. "A few years ago, but Discovery Channel and a few others do reruns a lot. Not to mention Netflix, iTunes, youtube, or the thousand other ways someone could get a hold of it."
"That's true. Gates has been briefed?"
Ryan nodded. "Yeah. She looped the FBI in, but they're gonna stay in the backseat for now. Don't worry about it, we got this. Go home, take a break. We'll call if something major breaks open."
"You guys sure?"
Esposito nodded. "Yeah, no sweat."
Castle handed Beckett her coat. "Thanks guys."
Rick helped Kate out of her coat when they arrived home. "What happened at the session today?"
"He asked how we celebrated holidays prior to my dad's murder; that made me realize Thanksgiving was coming up." She followed Rick into the kitchen. "I know we've been getting ready for the holiday, but this was the first time I'd really thought about Dad not being here for it. I don't know, I guess I was just blocking that thought from my mind."
Rick grabbed two wine glasses from the cupboard. "I was thinking about that a couple days ago. I was trying to think of a way we could have at least his memory with us here. A favorite dish or centerpiece maybe. It could be a new tradition; or, in your case, a continuation of an old one."
Kate smiled as a tear slipped down her cheek. "It was a dessert. He loved my mom's fried apple hand pies. I know traditional Thanksgiving dessert is pumpkin pie, but in our house, it was fried apple pies."
"Then that's what we'll have from now on." He poured the wine and handed her a glass. "So, what did the reporter say?"
"'Can you comment on your father's murder at all?' That was it, but it was enough. I thought I was ready to face all the reporters, but I was ready for questions about Conklin's murder, not that."
Rick set down his glass. "Did you recognize him?"
She shook her head. "He was behind me by the time the question was asked. I didn't see him. Why?"
He shrugged and took a sip. "With the case we're working, that question just seems a little... I don't know, off."
"You know the press. They love asking awkward questions."
"I guess."
"Rick, what's wrong?"
"Call it a gut feeling, but that whole situation just seems off; like he was asking specifically to hurt you."
She set down her glass; her hands had started to shake. "Like he was the killer?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe he really was just a reporter looking for a reaction."
She swallowed hard. "No, you're right. I wasn't thinking about it earlier because I just wanted to get through the day, but you're right. The way he said it, when he said it, everything was deliberate."
"What do you mean?"
"He waited until I was close to the door to ask his question. The others had stopped hounding me because I'd just told them 'no comment,' so they knew they weren't going to get anything from me."
"But he wasn't expecting a comment. He was looking for a reaction."
She nodded. "And the way he asked. There was a tone there that was almost mocking. It was like he knew something." She stood up.
"Kate, slow down. This can wait till the morning."
"I know. I just want to text Karpowski; ask her to meet with us in the morning to talk about this." She sent the text and returned to her seat. "If this helps identify my dad's killer, she needs to know about it."
The doorbell rang and Rick checked his watch. "That must be dinner." He went to the door, paid for the food, and brought it in. "I hope this hits the spot."
He unpacked the bag and revealed…comfort food. There was smoky mac and cheese, garlic potato mash, a salad, and apple pie with ice cream for dessert. Kate smiled. This was exactly what she needed after the day she'd had. They grabbed plates and forks and dished up. During dinner, Kate opened up, reveling in the memories of holidays with her family. More tears fell, some of sorrow, some of laughter. Rick shared a few stories of his own. By the time they finished eating, Kate was feeling better. She was still sad, and missing her father still hurt, but the pain of the day had lifted a little.
After dinner they found themselves at the couch. Rick had Kate sitting on the floor in front of him so he could massage her shoulders. As his nimble fingers kneaded the knots of her tense shoulders, she could feel the last of the day's tension leave her body. Slowly, she relaxed and her mind drifted.
But not for long. During the massage she had slowly leaned forward as Rick worked his way down her back. Now his hands were at her waist and he gently encouraged her to stand so he could maneuver her to sit sideways in front of him on the couch. She complied and he continued working the tension from her muscles. One of his hands brushed her hair to one side so his lips could find her neck. She tilted her head to the side to give him better access and a soft sigh of contentment escaped her lips.
His hands had found their way under her shirt and were caressing the curves of her sides. He'd pulled her close, soft kisses peppering the side of her neck and her jaw. She turned her head, eyes still closed, and captured his mouth in a tender kiss. He moaned into her mouth as the kiss became more passionate. They broke apart for air and he returned his mouth to her neck as his hands slowly crept up to cup her breasts. She settled back against his chest, her hands caressing his thighs as he nuzzled the underside of her jaw again.
Kate turned around on the couch and wrapped her arms around Rick's neck, pulling him to her so they could kiss properly. His hands moved down to her back so he could pull her hips close. She lowered one hand and began to unbutton his shirt, rocking her hips into his at the same time. He moaned again as his shirt fell off his shoulders. Rick quickly hurried to relieve Kate of her shirt as well so their bare skin could finally make contact.
She shrugged out of her shirt and leaned back, pulling him with her till his body covered hers. She undid his belt and wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him close when he pulled back for air again. For a long moment they just stared into each other's eyes, lost in the moment. Kate craned her neck up to quickly kiss his lips before placing her hands on either side of his head and kissing along his jaw. He dropped his head next to hers, allowing her to place kisses to his neck as well.
After a long moment he extricated himself from her legs and stood, offering Kate his hand to pull her to her feet. She took it and followed him into the bedroom where he pulled her close to enjoy another passionate kiss. Their tongues battled for dominance as he carefully undid the snap on her jeans and slid the zipper down tantalizingly slowly. She smiled into the kiss until they broke apart for air. He knelt in front of her, pulling her pants down her legs till they were pooled at her feet.
She stepped out of her jeans but he didn't rise immediately. Instead he slowly kissed his way back up her body, starting just above her underwear till he reached the scar on her chest. There he paused, carefully placing reverent kisses around it before kissing the scar itself. Kate arched her back into the kiss. She loved when he did this. Most might think he was morbidly reminding her of the moment that almost took her life, but he didn't feel that way. To him, the scar was proof that she was alive, proof that she had survived.
He turned his attention back to her lips. Rick kissed both corners before capturing her lips again. Kate finished unfastening his pants but he stopped her hands before she could begin to remove them. She looked up at him inquisitively but he just shook his head. That's when she understood; tonight was about her.
And so she surrendered. He was in control, willing to make her feel loved and cared for. Rick shed his pants, then led her to the bed, sitting on the edge and pulling her onto his lap. From this position she could feel him straining against his boxers, but he made no move to relieve any discomfort he might be in. He undid the clasp of her bra and then drew the straps down her arms till she dropped it to the floor.
Now that her breasts were free, he sucked one into his mouth, using his hand on the other so it wouldn't be left out. Kate clutched at his head, holding him in place while simultaneously holding herself upright. She slowly rocked her hips forward and back again, creating delicious friction where she needed it most. He moaned again, the sound stimulating her breast and making her gasp as her eyes rolled back in pleasure.
He switched his attention to her other breast, sucking it into his mouth to ensure he treated both equally. Despite how amazing this felt, Kate was beginning to lose patience. Her center was throbbing with desire, and as good as it felt to grind herself against him, she needed more. As if sensing her growing frustration, Rick transferred his mouth back to hers for a sensual kiss as he maneuvered her onto the bed.
But he wasn't done with her just yet. He slowly pulled her panties down her legs and discarded them as easily as Kate had discarded her bra. He kissed his way down the inside of one of her legs till he reached the ankle and then reversed direction on the other leg. Kate whimpered as he reached the apex, anticipation making her nerves tingle. And he didn't disappoint.
Her orgasm caught her off guard. He had barely begun his magic down there before her back was arching and she was calling his name. As she was coming down, she noticed that Rick had finally shed his boxers, freeing his erection at last. He crawled up her body until they could kiss, his hips settling between her legs with his tip at her entrance.
He broke away from the kiss to look into her eyes. "I love you."
She smiled. "I love you too."
He smiled and began to thrust. They quickly found their rhythm; sometimes teasing, sometimes passionate, always loving. She climaxed again, this time with him following close behind, both crying the other's name into the night.
A/N: Leave a message below, thanks!