Ch. 2 Just Give Me A Reason

Kate started the coffee pot and pulled two mugs out of her cussa. She quietly walked through her bedroom and closed the door to the bathroom. She started the shower and stripped her clothes and laid them on the counter. Once the water was luke warm, she climbed in. She pulled the curtain forward and showered.

She climbed out of the shower and could already smell the coffee. She wrapped her towel around her and began to get ready. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. She went to grab her blow drier out but she decided to let her hair air dry. She quickly ran a brush through it then went into her bedroom.

She squeezed her toes into her brand new beige carpet. She smiled at how soft it was. She made her way to her closet and opened the doors. She surveyed the blouses and pulled out a bright green, silk blouse. She then scanned over her pants. She pulled out a pair of her vintage black pants but then reached for the pants with the suspenders. She wanted to wear them but they wouldn't go with her top and she wanted the top more. So she placed the pants back in and scanned over her pants another time. She grabbed a pair and was satisfied. The pants were a light grey color and she tucked her blouse in but felt she was missing something. She went to her drawers and pulled out a soft brown belt and fastened it around her waist. She went to her full length mirror and smiled.

"I like it too." Rick was smiling and sat up against her headboard.

"Hey you're up." She walked over to him and sat down on top of the covers and leaned into kiss him.

"I smelled coffee and well you are awake." He kissed her again and she rose from the bed.

"Yeah. I made coffee, you can stay as long as you want, and I have to get to work." She walked out of her bedroom and headed to the coffee pot.

"Wait a second!" He jumped out of bed and followed her into the kitchen.

"What?" She poured him a cup and handed it to him. She put back her coffee cup and pulled out her travel mug.

"I just got you. Last night I was alone." She gave him an oh really look and he corrected himself. "Well until you woke me up and we had amazing make up sex."

"Better. But I can't help it. I should have stayed to see what else I could find but I knew you'd be here so I came home. I'm really sorry." She was hurt that he might not understand. She turned her back to him and filled up her mug.

He set his mug down and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or make you feel bad about doing your job. I just miss you."

She turned around. "You don't think I miss you too? Because I do. I felt bad about leaving for dinner and you weren't even there."

"I'm not asking you to choose between me and your job."

"Good."

"I'd never ask you to do that."

She felt a little silly. She placed her hands against his warm chest. He wrapped her in his arms.

"Are you ok?" He rested his chin on top of her head and became worried.

"Rough case."

"Tell me."

She thought about it and tucked herself deeper into his arms. "Jane Doe. She had burns so we couldn't lift prints. Then she was shot twice and the bullets were removed. I just, I hate Does."

"Geez. I'm sorry."

She pulled herself out of his embrace and grabbed her mug. "It's ok. I shouldn't have gotten short with you it's just the case."

"I understand." He reached to hold her mug while she slid on her brown, ankle boots. She slid on a white cardigan and reached for her mug.

"You could have stayed with me." He smiled so she would know it was a joke.

"Just give me a reason." She raised her eyebrows as a challenge and he answered when he ran his hands over his abs.

"I think it speaks for itself."

She ran and kissed him then left him wanting more.

"It's all I could do to leave but the job beckons." Kate smiled and blushed at the remembrance of how she had left Rick that morning.

"Girl, you are making me blush." Lanie moved over to the table the victim was on. "Here we have a scratch. I already swabbed for DNA but don't get too excited." She moved to another table laid next to the victim. "Another thing is, I looked over our girls clothes and I thought I recognized the design but I wasn't sure."

"Really? Nice job Lanie. Well, what do you know about it?"

"It's an Alice Ritter."

"A what?" Kate paused unsure how that helped her.

"An Alice Ritter. How do you not know who Alice Ritter is?"

"I don't where those designer clothes. You should know this."

"That's right. You only wear old clothes. I'll take you shopping sometime. A place where there aren't recycled clothing." Lanie cracked a smile.

"Okay smart ass. Where could you get an Alice Ritter?" Kate reached into her pocket and took out her notepad.

"Many places." Kate looked bummed. "However, I think this dress came from Kirna Zabête. They have a special line and this might be one of them. It's on 96 Green St."

Kate wrote it down and put her notepad away. "Thanks Lanie. Let me know if you get anything else."

"Will do. And I am serious about that shopping trip."

"Sure you are." Kate left with a wave and called Ryan on her way out. "I got some news on the dress so I am going to head there right now. Do you have anything new?"

"Well, still no information about her name but there is hope I guess. I just got the footage from the hotel and I'll scan that and see what pops."

"Thanks Ryan. If you find anything, let me know."

"Will do. Bye."

"Bye." Kate laughed as she got on the elevator. At one point the old fashioned clothing remark hurt Kate but it was her dad who had fixed that problem. He made her feel better with an Audrey Hepburn movie and Kate never felt bad about it ever again. She wasn't stuck in the past but her style was dated. She had never thought about changing her style because that's just who she was and still is. She knew Lanie met well but Kate couldn't help but feel a little misunderstood sometimes.

Kate pulled up to the stylish boutique and felt better about her clothes. Kate could already glimpse inside the store from where she stood. The boutique had lavender floors, red railings, and the roof was sloped and Lucite. It reminded her of a candy shop but there was nothing she could afford in the boutique. As she opened the door, she was taken back. Sure it was high end but it didn't seem it.

"Hello. My name is Fredrick. How can I help you today?"

Kate looked over the twenty- something man who stood in front of her, hands held together. He had red skinny jeans on, a white tee with a black line across it and a fedora. She stifled the laugh that was trying to escape.

"Yeah. Do you know this woman?" Kate flashed a picture if the vic.

"OMG. No but is she dead?"

"Yes. She had on one of your dresses. Do you recognize it?" Kate flashed the picture of the dress.

"Yes. We just released that. It's part of our spring collection. I don't think we sold that many."

"Could you check? I need a list of everyone who bought this dress."

"Sure. Come with me." He waved his hand at Kate, signaling her to follow. He led her to the counter and he brought up the list. He hit the print button and handed the sheet over to her.

"Thank you. If I have anymore questions, I'll let you know."

"Please do. It's a shame she had to die."

Kate just nodded and left just as a woman started to yell from the top floor. She scanned over the list and saw only four names. Makes that easier, she thought.

"Got the list of people who bought our vic's dress and headed back." She turned onto the road and heard Esposito in the background. "Does Espo have anything?" Kate switched the phone into her left hand and stopped at the light.

"No. He's just antsy and bored."

"I'll be happy to find him something to do." She heard him objecting and laughed. She heard Ryan start to laugh with her.

"He has all of a sudden found something to do."

"Well, he'll have something to actually do when I get back. On my way Ryan."

"Alright. Drive safe."

Kate smiled and took a sip of her coffee. She drove as soon as the light changed and ignored the text alert she got, no doubt from Rick.

"Finding out who our vic is." Esposito walked away and Kate kept her eye on the list she had and reached for her phone. She saw Ryan looking at her funny, and turned away from him. Sure is getting weirder everyday, she thought.

After the third time she hung up, she beamed.

"You find out who she is?"

Kate just shrugged.

"Come on Beckett. Tell us?" Esposito sat on the edge of her desk and grew impatient.

"I got her name because I was doing actual work. So, here," she handed him a sticky note, "get her phone records and comb through them." She went to her white board and wrote Sylvia Peters.

"Sylvia, she does sound like a classy woman." Esposito smiled and went off to his task at hand.

"I checked the footage from the hotel and whatever reason she went there is unknown. The only people that came in there was a couple, and two other women. No man just by himself."

"You think he followed her there then waited for her to come out?"

"Possibly. Need anything else done?"

"Financials?"

"Sure." Ryan smiled wide and went to his desk.

She knew something was going on but wasn't sure she wanted to know. Ryan knew something she didn't, she could tell. He always acted funny when he tries to keep a secret. But the thing was, who was it about? It obviously included her but who was he keeping the secret for? What was the secret? Kate snapped back and decided it was probably best if she didn't find out.

She picked up her phone once it buzzed again.

Rick,

Kate he needs you.

He needs me? What is that?

Then she saw another one.

Rick,

It's Martha. Rick is in the hospital.

Kate's heart sank. Her mouth went dry and her hands became clammy. She started to cough and she realized she had been holding her breath.

"You okay?" Ryan looked up from his computer and then made his way over when Kate continued to cough.

She jumped up from her chair and ran to the break room. She poured a quick drink of coffee and gulped it down. She then rested her palms on the counter and tried to control her breathing.

Ryan had followed her in and Esposito was right behind him.

"Kate, what's wrong?" Ryan came behind her and gently rubbed her back. She shook him off and stood tall.

"I have to go."

"What's wrong?"

"Rick. It's Rick. He is in the hospital. I didn't know because I ignored the text and came right here to find out who our vic is. I ignored that he…" She couldn't talk anymore and she fought to suppress her tears, at least until she was in the safety of her own car. She knew the minute she closed her door, the tears would fall fast.

"Kate, you couldn't have known. Don't worry just go ahead. We'll hold the fort down." Ryan smiled reassuringly and Kate forced a smile back.

"I'm sure he is fine. Probably something stupid." Esposito tried to keep things light but even he felt something bad had happened. But knowing she already thought the worst, he kept his mouth shut.

"Right. Thanks guys. Call if you find anything." She made her way back to her desk and grabbed her phone, bag, and ripped her cardigan off the back of her chair. She ran to the elevator and silently prayed that he would be ok.

He gave me a reason to stay but I had to leave. He'll be fine. He has to be. He has to be. He just has to. Kate swiped at the tears that started to fall onto her cheek.