Beckett cracked open an eye against the wishes of her head; she felt the cold dampness on the floor than closed her eyes again. Seconds later she snapped them open again as one name slammed into her head, struggling to sit up she called it.
"Castle!"
Gentle arms answered her as they draped around her shoulders. "I'm here Kate."
She met his face with relief groaning at the relentless pounding in her head. Her hand flew to it trying to ease the ache. Castle looked at her sympathetically.
"I know I've had hangovers better than this."
"Ugh! Where are we?"
"Question of the day." he replied helping her get more comfortable.
Beckett lowered her hand at the sight of the chained woman. Richard saw her gaze and quickly explained.
"She's harmless just an agent of the CBI-"
"That's far from the truth." a voice answered.
Teresa gave her consultant a look but was glad to see he finally woke up. "Jane, are you ok?"
"Oh, I've been better." he answered as he dared to raise his head to meet the agent's eyes.
The ex-con gave an impassive look as his eyes honed in on the wall behind Lisbon; Teresa became worried at her friend's sudden shock.
"Jane what is it?"
Beckett followed the man's traveling gaze. What she saw made her blood run cold was that blood? Castle also noticed the red smear that stained the wall behind the agent.
"Huh, that is not very comforting." Rick said as he saw the length of the smear. Ceiling to floor.
Teresa opened her mouth but didn't have the chance to say anything as the dark room was splotched with an eerie brightness that immersed each person in a pale blue light. A voice cut through the tension like a flash light in the dead of night.
"Greetings, I hope all is well. This is the best I could come up with on such short notice." the distorted voice explained.
"Sorry, to inconvenience you." Rick answered.
The voice chuckled darkly. "Oh, Mr. Castle I assure you it is no inconvenience."
"Who are you? Why have you brought us here?" Beckett demanded.
"Its individuals like you that make my life miserable. I thought I would dismount you from your high horses and expose you for what you really are."
"Let us go and we can make a deal, this way when I throw your sorry hide in jail it won't hurt as much." Teresa threatened.
"Heh, I like your tenacity Agent Lisbon, but you are in no position to tell me what to do."
"You're a coward." Jane bluntly replied.
"Oh?"
"Yes, you hide in the shadows and play your cat and mouse game. Be a man and show yourself." Jane explained.
This brought another laugh from the voice. "Oh, Mr. Jane Where is the fun in that? Besides I'm a bit shy I need to get to know you better. You and your friends."
"Listen, I don't get why you are doing this, you must know it won't end well." Castle replied.
"Not with that attitude it won't you must be optimistic."
"Yeah, well I'm finding that I'm low on that at the moment." Castle answered as he lifted his arm to look at the rusty chain.
"You will have to excuse the chains but I couldn't risk you trying to escape."
"Of course not." Beckett muttered.
"What do you think you will accomplish by holding us hostage? By now every cop will be searching for us." Teresa said her temper rising.
"I want to know you better, but more importantly I want you all to confide in one another. Express your true feelings."
"You have got to be kidding." Teresa answered not amused.
"No I'm not agent Lisbon. To know ones self they must unlock the doors that keep them bonded to all the monstrosities of daily life.
"You are out of your mind there is no way we are going to consent to this crazy plot." Beckett fumed
The voice chuckled a again. "I figured as much, perhaps once you've seen what I have done to the others you will change your mind."
"Others? There's more?" Castle asked unsettled by the whole thing.
"Not anymore… but I have footage that could make you think twice."
Jane listened closely not sure what to make of this sick mastermind.
"Mr. Jane you haven't said much, is their something on your mind?" the voice jeered.
"Clearly, you are someone who is a possessive, obsessive control freak looking for his fix."
"Harsh, but fair. I will be the first to admit I'm a bit eccentric."
Teresa couldn't take it anymore this guy was really over the top and she didn't have time to pussy-foot around him. Not only did she have to get both her and Jane out of there but two civilians to boot, she can't waste another minute.
"Enough let us go!" she yelled.
"I can't do that… but I'll be nice and show you who I am."
Another light flicked on revealing the truth. Teresa's eyes went wide as she saw the all too familiar face painted in a malicious, dark, sinful blood filled pattern. The worst part was it sat above Jane and he didn't even see it.
Red John.
A/N: Well?
Review!
Kindred Spirit.