Chapter 2
Kate woke up the next morning with one hell of a throbbing headache. Her brain felt like it was going to ooze out of her ears. Luckily she has the day off due to the fact that they found a viable suspect from that lead last night. Most coincidentally it was the one that destroyed her relationship with Peter. This lead has produced a suspect that they could really be involved in this case hands down. Her Captain was very lenient and gives her the day off. He has decided that she went above and beyond the call. She was going to celebrate with Peter but with last night's event put an end to that permanently.
She has every right to arrest that redheaded bimbo after her comment. While Peter might have invited her to "listen" to his problems she was technically trespassing in her apartment. Only her name was on the lease. She is the one who pays the rent. Peter was her guest...by legal standards. Sure they were living together but he contributed nothing financially to her. From her bedroom, she leans on her elbows when the phone in the apartment starts to ring. She strains to listen to the message.
"Kate, I'm calling to let you know that the movers I hired will be at your place around 1:00 pm. Would you please tell them what to take when they get there?"
There was a long pause on the line. Kate is unimpressed knowing what will come next...
"And for what it's worth, I'm sorry"
The line goes dead. The machine clicks off storing the message.
Kate thinks to herself at the last part of his message.
"He's sorry?"
It sounds more like a question than an apology. That did not matter anymore. She looks the clock radio on the nightstand. It reads 8:12 am. Getting out of bed she ventures toward the shower. After showering, she selects some comfortable outfit. It consists of jeans plus a pullover sweater. She has time to meet her friend.
She is eager to tell her what happened last night. She walks over to the nightstand where her phone was charging. She disconnects the charger then scrolls through her contacts until she finds her name. Dialing she waits.
"Hey Lanie, what's going on?" Kate asks in a friendly manner.
"Girl, where have you been?" Lanie replies full of curiosity.
"I'm home why" Kate answers a bit perplexed.
"Well, we should meet for coffee if you have the time. I have news." Lanie offers.
"When and where?" Kate responds eagerly.
"Do you remember the small coffee shop on the corner of Church and 14th street?" Lanie asks.
"Sure when?" Kate responds.
"Let's meet at 10 am. This way I can hit the shower then find something decent to wear." Lanie suggests.
"Okay sounds like a plan see you then Lanie" Kate replies.
Kate hangs up then wonders what news Lanie has that could be so important? Walking back into the living room she notices the chair still propped against the door knob.
She gets out her phone.
"Hello, Mr. Scott? Yes, this Kate Beckett I had a break in. Nothing was stolen but I need these locks changed immediately!" Kate says as she listens as the supervisor replies he will be right up to change out locks.
Kate hangs up the phone then hears a knock at the door within minutes later. She goes over to remove the chair then opens the door and it is her building's super.
"Hello, Ms. Beckett…I am here to change the door locks. If burglars are breaking into detectives apartment heaven help the rest of us. So I take it you'll be giving a key to Mr. Peters too?" Mr. Scott asks as he changes the lock.
"No Mr. Scott, Peter has moved out. Under no circumstances is he allowed back in here." Kate says.
"Good…That man was no good! I told my wife that just the other day with all these unmarried women coming at all times…She was wondering when you would wise up…You need a good man…One who would cherish you, understand you…I'm all finished…Here are the keys…Good day to you Ms. Beckett." Mr. Scott says as his commentary ends as he leaves.
Kate breathes a sigh of relief. And she now wonders how many times this had happened before she caught him.
"Did Peter ever really love her at all? She realizes that her job has caused her relationship to fall apart or is it more likely that I just chose poorly?" Kate ponders.
She turns to look at the room one last time. She slips into her coat then grabs her gun and shield from the safe. Heading out, she locks the apartment door with the new key. She decides to walk to the coffee shop to meet Lanie. It's a short walk. It will give her time to think about how to break the news to her best friend of her breakup with Peter. And also, how to say that she wants to invest her time in becoming a better cop without the distraction of the opposite sex.
Before long she arrives at the coffee shop. As she enters the shop she looks for any sign that Lanie is there. Seeing that she is the first to arrive she takes a seat in a booth with a view towards the front of the shop.
No sooner than 5 minutes pass that she sees Lanie entering the shop. As she gets closer she notices that she is more anxious and bubbly. It's way more than usual. Lanie takes the seat opposite Kate and has a smile that looks way too painful to keep on her face.
"Lanie, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary, what's going on?" Kate inquires.
"Kate, I finally have him!" Lanie responds.
"Who do you have Lanie?" Kate asks looking perplexed at her friend.
"Well, you know that I have had my eye on someone in particular right?" Lanie relates.
"Wait...you mean that guy from the party last week?" Kate asks excitedly.
"Bingo, Kate not only is he the founder of the biggest tech company in the country, he told me on the phone that he was thinking about finally settling down his corporate office right here in New York City." Lanie replies.
"So you helped him see that this decision is not without benefits...right?" Kate asks.
"You got that right girlfriend!" Lanie squeals.
Kate's face suddenly goes sullen. This is not the right time to unload her woeful life. Lanie, on the other hand, could read Kate like a book. She always knows when her girlfriend is hiding something.
"Okay Kate out with it right now. I know something is up. So tell me now or I will have to resort to other means" Lanie says with a seriousness of a heart attack voice.
Kate tries to hide what she is thinking.
"Lanie what are you talking about? I'm so happy for you girlfriend" Kate deflects with unnatural cheeriness.
"Come on Kate. I've known you from our first year at Stanford. There's no way you can hide what's on your mind. I know it's big because I just told you that I found someone who I'm crazy about and for a moment there you look like I just killed your dog. Oh, you tried to recover but girlfriend this me here…You aren't that good of an actress. So cut the shit and tell me what the hell is wrong?" Lanie says full of compassion.
"No sense in denying the inevitable" Kate thought.
"Where should I start?" Kate asks morosely.
"Well, Kate one usually starts from the beginning duh!" Lanie quips.
Kate smiles just a little.
"Okay Lanie, You know the Captain had put me in charge of this high profile case?" Kate starts.
"Sure, is this case getting you down…Honey, we have all been there" Lanie commiserates.
"No Lanie, the case if anything is going well. It is the only part of my life which is at the moment." Kate says under her breath.
"So if is not the case then it's that rat bastard, Peter! I should have cut him up with my knife. What did that no good excuse of a man do to you now? Why did you ever accept that rat bastard's ring in the first place. I told you he's no good! So did he finally prove me right?" Lanie finally asks after her verbal bashing of the ass.
"Yeah, Lanie you have warned me. And I foolishly did not listen. You were right Lanie he is a rat bastard." Kate says beginning to cry.
"Oh, Kate no, no don't cry, what did he do? I hate seeing you like this. Come on we are leaving. This is no place for us right now. Your place is closest. We are getting your favorite wine, then ordering in. We are going to get to the bottom of this." Lanie says taking charge.
Kate nods then wipes her eyes. Lanie escorts her back to the apartment.
Kate hands her the key. Lanie notices it is a new one. She quickly adds up what has happened. Lanie opens the door then places Kate on the couch. She dials up their favorite take out place. Once that is done she sits then hugs Kate until she stops crying.
Lanie knew this day was coming. She just hated it happened when she has such good news. However, this is all about Kate today.
Kate gets up then goes to the bathroom to clean up. Lanie fusses around the kitchen opening that bottle of wine. The take out has arrived there rather quickly and Lanie paid him. She places the food then poured two glasses. She returns to find Kate much more composed and eating. Lanie hands her the glass then sits to feed herself too. Once they have finished the meal Lanie turns to her girlfriend.
"Ok, Kate tell me everything…I mean everything!" Lanie admonishes.
"Ok, Lanie I said earlier about this case?" Kate starts.
"Yes I know about the case so how does it fit into you crying?" Lanie asks impatiently.
"Lanie I'm getting to that. Anyway, there's a lead in this high profile case. I couldn't trust the boys to handle. So I went with them." Kate says.
"Wait this was yesterday Were you not supposed to get off early to have dinner with Peter?" Lanie asks.
"Yeah Lanie I was supposed to have dinner with him, but this lead was huge." Kate explains.
"Oh, I get it Peter was not too understanding right, especially when you told him? I bet he tried to make it that it was your fault huh? He is a psychopath!" Lanie huffs.
"You're right, Lanie. I did call Peter. I tried to explain that this lead was important. You were right again he tried to blame it all on me. So we had a disagreement. After I got off work I had a reason to celebrate. I wanted to make it up to Peter. So I bought dinner and a nice bottle of wine." Kate explains.
"Okay, that sounds good so far what happened next?" Lanie asked.
"Lanie I reached the apartment and heard strange voices through the door. Fearing the worst, I burst into the apartment in full cop mode." Kate says.
"Well is that not the proper procedure? I bet Royce would be proud of you." Lanie praises.
"Well Yes, Lanie but that is not the worst part." Kate says being a bit exasperated at her friend.
"Okay, Kate what is the worst part?" Lanie asks impatiently.
"Okay, so I hear voices then clear rooms and follow those voices to the bathroom after looking in the bedroom. The bed was very messy and clothes were strewn about. I did not recognize them. So with gun drawn I listened at the door." Kate says.
"So the rat basted had sex with another woman in your bed! Why did you not shoot him as an intruder?" Lanie asks.
"Believe me, Lanie I was really tempted." Kate says.
"Too bad so you listen at the door what were they saying?" Lanie asks.
"The bimbo was disparaging me as a fiancé and a woman. She said I did not know how to satisfy a man like she could! Like that bitch has any real thought on that topic." Kate says.
"Oh no, what did you do?" Lanie asks apprehensively knowing about Kate's explosive temper.
"Well I'm not too proud of myself stooping to her level but I picked the bathroom lock then caught them together. She was wearing my favorite towel, Lanie!" Kate complains.
"How dare that hussy!" Lanie responds.
Kate grins for the first time since talking about it.
"Okay, I said if she wanted him so badly that she could have him. I then frog marched the bimbo into the front room holding the gun on her. I told Peter to retrieve her clothes then watched that she did not try anything. She got dressed then I warned her she could have been arrested for a number of crimes. Though, I was feeling generous because I did not want to file the paperwork. After she left I confronted the rat bastard then threw him out too. His movers should be arriving soon." Kate says.
"Well good for you Kate you did good to rid yourself from that leech!" Lanie applauds.
"Yeah, so after this experience I think I should not look for any long term relationship. I know you told me this would happen. I should have taken your advice. How did you know?" Kate asks.
Lanie looks at Kate then decides to tell her.
"Kate, look I am so sorry this happened but you remember that party last month where you and I got so drunk? Peter tried to take advantage of me." Lanie says.
"Lanie is that why you have been avoiding me?" Kate asks suddenly very concerned.
"Not you exactly, but him yeah." Lanie says.
"Lanie, why didn't you tell me?" Kate asks.
"Kate, would you have listened?" Lanie asks.
Kate thinks back to that time…No, she's sure that she wouldn't have. She needed this to happen, right in her face before she saw his true nature.
"Oh, Lanie I'm so sorry…I guess I wouldn't have listened to Mr. Scott either." Kate says.
"Mr. Scott, your super what was he trying to tell you?" Lanie asks.
"Well, he told me as he changed the locks that Peter has been entertaining many young ladies while I was at work!" Kate mutters.
"Oh, Kate…I knew he was bad news but this really takes the cake. You can not tell me you did not ever notice? Come on you were in Vice for crying out loud!" Lanie points out.
"Yeah, I was that blind Lanie. God, I feel like such a fool." Kate says.
"Now Kate do not be so hard on yourself. You chose wrong that is all that happened here. I'm just glad that you found out BEFORE the wedding! Next time you will know the signs." Lanie says.
"That implies that there will be a next time Lanie. I need to concentrate on being the best detective there is." Kate says with much determination.
"Well improving one's work is fine…however, never cut yourself off from the possibility of love." Lanie warns.
"Listen, Lanie, I had the guy, but obviously I'm partially to blame here too. My job gets in the way of whatever I might be able to start with a guy. If I am able to find a guy who understands what I do, what happens if this occurs again? My heart could not take it." Kate says.
Lanie feels for her friend but has one last point to make.
"Kate what if hypothetically you meet a guy and you both hit it off? Not all men are like Peter. Don't let one screw up ruin it for every man." Lanie cautions.
"Lanie that's highly unlikely." Kate says as she hears the knock at the door.
Kate gets up then opens the door. It is the movers. She invites them into the apartment.
Lanie finds her feet then chooses this time to exit.
"Okay, Kate you have made your decision now. However, we will revisit this at another time…Take care girlfriend." Lanie says hugging her bestie.
"Okay, Lanie and thank you for listening to my tale of woe…bye now" Kate says as her friend exits.
Kate stands by the door to supervise the movers. With a couple of free minutes, she calls Ryan and wants an update on the case...