Ch. 9 Test The Waters
"Well, look at you. Did you dress up for me?" Lanie turned Kate around to get the 360° look.
"No. Rick, but you said you could find the gun? How?"
"Always work with you. Come here." Lanie motioned for Kate to follow her. "If you look at the wound, you can see the grooves left by the bullet." She leaned the microscope over Gwenie's head wound then moved it over to Sylvia's head.
"Yeah, I see the little groove right there. Looks like a 9mm." Kate looked for verification and was pleased when Lanie nodded.
"It is. This wound was from a Beretta M9. That help you?"
"Yeah. Thanks Lanie. I have to run to find out who owns that kind of gun." She made a move to leave but Lanie pulled her back.
"Whoa there. Tell me why you dressed like this for Rick." She made no point of moving out of Kate's way so, Kate crossed her arms in defeat.
"He is staying with me." She stood her ground and tried to ignore Lanie but her face was clearly shocked and Kate fought the urge to smile.
"Hold up. You are going to nurse him back to health? No wonder you broke out that outfit. But tell me this, how are you going to make it through?" Lanie smirked and tried not to be so snotty to Kate. But Lanie knows how Kate can get when feeling pressured.
"You should know by now that I don't sign on to anything that I can't handle. Now seriously Lanie I have to get back, talk to Espo and Ryan, and then pick up Rick. Do you have anything else to say?"
"No. You may go but, know this, if you need me, I'll be there." Lanie made a sweep of her arm and stepped out of Kate's way.
"Thanks. I know you only have my best interest at heart. I have to go but I will call you later." She waved then left with her hair swinging behind her.
"So what exactly are we looking for?" Ryan set aside yet another notebook and went back to ruffling through Gwenie's bag.
"Some kind of note I guess. She really didn't tell me but what else do we have to do?" Esposito lifted a tiny, gold colored, diary and smiled.
"What's that?" Ryan abandoned his pile and stood next to Espo and marveled at the diary.
"A glimpse into the mind of a woman. Bro, this is the kind of thing every man needs. I wonder what she wrote about." He attempted to pry it open but Ryan snatched it from his hands.
"I think we should wait for Kate. I mean, isn't she the one who wanted the bag?"
"The bag. Not some diary. Plus, it could be a break in the case. You know you want to open it." Esposito tried to convince him with his devilish smile but Ryan wasn't changing his mind.
"No. I think we should wait."
"You just want to impress your never-ever-gonna-happen-because-you-are-co-workers-and-she-doesn't-like-you-like-that-non-existent-girlfriend. So, do yourself a favor and get over your silly little crush on Kate."
Just as Espo was finishing his thoughts, Kate walked in and she immediately took in Ryan's red face. She felt bad but at the same time sort of happy. He was a sweet guy who had the biggest heart but it would and could never happen. She tried to downplay it but she could tell he was embarrassed and wounded.
"Maybe you should listen to Ryan a little more, Espo." She saw the diary in Ryan's hands and reached out for it.
"Is there something you need me to do?"
"I want to talk to Abby's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Williams. I want to know why Abby killed herself. If she had any signs of mental illness, I want to know. Thanks guys."
They were about to leave when Kate stood and grabbed Ryan's arm back.
"I just want you to know that I appreciate all you do for me but you know that I am with Rick and…"
Ryan held up his hand, "say no more. I understand. I just want you to know that I would do anything for you." He smiled and left with his dignity still intact.
Kate smiled to herself and at that point, set herself down for a few hours of searching.
She laid out all the loose papers and only saw loose essays and receipts. Nothing was out of the ordinary and she felt defeated but pressed on. She skimmed over all the papers and then started reading the notebooks. All that was in them was homework assignments. Just as Kate was giving up on the notebooks, at the back, scrawled in the binding, read "Make amends. She would want you to."
Make amends? Maybe she is talking about Abby's suicide. Was Gwenie a part of it? Where is the note then? Kate picked up another notebook with little writing in it but there again, in the binding was another scrawled message.
"Read it. Don't be afraid, it holds all the answers." Confused, Kate skimmed the notebooks again but all that was there was homework. It holds all the answers? What is she talking about? Kate dropped the books and started opening pockets hoping to come up with something.
Her phone rang and she checked the screen. Ten already? Good thing I set that stupid alert. She left the conference room and thus headed to get Rick.
"Do you really want to stay all by yourself?" Alexis was eating some cotton candy and kept sticking her tongue out to see if it was green yet.
"I will be sleeping mostly. It won't even be fun for Kate but especially you. I can't spend the day out, I'll be spending it in the bed. So, don't worry about me being alone." He stuck out his tongue and she shook her head.
"You aren't going to tell her unless she asks right?"
"Affirmative." He stuck another wad of cotton candy in his mouth.
Kate stepped in and was dismayed to find Alexis there. But she graciously waved and walked right over to Rick. She took in the wild assortment of candy and whipped out a licorice. She bit down on it and leaned down to kiss Rick.
"Hey Kate." Alexis half-heartedly waved and started to gather her things.
"Hey Alexis. Did you get him on a sugar rush?" She smiled and pulled out a worm before sitting down next to him.
"It was always his solution for when I was down. He made me feel special, like I was the queen of candy land." She smiled at the fond memory that they shared and walked over to Kate.
"Well, I love candy. Mind if I have some more?"
"You can have it all, you have to, otherwise he gets cranky." She laughed before kissing Kate on the cheek and doing the same for Rick. "Bye guys."
"Are you worried about this?" Rick pulled the candy from her hands then held her hands in his.
"Well, I wouldn't call it nervous. I just don't want to screw it up." She set her honey eyes on his blues and tried to seem poised.
"How could you screw it up? You, me, together, alone. Come on, it's a dream. Please don't be nervous. We can do this." He smiled as securely as he could manage and pulled her face close to his. "I love you." He tenderly kissed her and ran his fingers through her hair. This is living.
"I love you too. What do you want to do when we get back to my place?" She raised an eyebrow but laughed it off. "Not that. But do you want to do something?"
"Yeah. Sleep. I am so tired but I wasn't about to take a nap when Al was here. I had to be awake for her." He wiped hair out of her eyes and gently pulled her down so he could kiss her forehead.
"I think that is a good plan. Plus I need to get back to work." She bit down on her licorice again and handed him one.
"How is the case going?"
"Just when we get a lead it fizzes out. Whoever is doing this is good, prepared, and scary. And your case, well, it's cold." She looked down, as if ashamed.
He rubbed the side of her leg and tried to get her attention without words. "Kate, don't worry. The other victims take precedence over me. Focus on them."
She smiled but inside she wasn't going to give up so easily. She kissed him and started to pack his things up.
"Be careful." After an interesting car ride that was filled with laughs, she managed to easily and gently get him inside her apartment. He leaned on her sending her a little off balance, thankfully Beatrice was there. She helped bring his stuff into her apartment.
"Thank you so much Beatrice." Kate propped him up on her couch and went to take the bags from her.
"No problem really. Call me Bea, honey." The sweet woman walked into Kate's apartment and sat down on one of her chairs.
"Bea, I hate to be rude but I have to get back to work. Maybe rain check on the tea?"
"Nonsense." The woman got up and made her way to the door. "Whenever you can dear. You don't owe me any apology."
I didn't apologize. "Thanks for understanding. Talk another time?"
"Sure." The older woman left and Kate shut the door after her.
"Kate?"
Kate locked the door and ran to Rick's side, but not before tearing off her shoes. "Yes." She sat next to him and moved hair out of his face.
"I need you…"
"Yes?"
"I need you to…"
"Rick, come out with it already." She rubbed his arm.
"I need you to get me in bed."
She playfully slapped his arm and kissed the area right after. "Here." She lifted him up and over the side of the couch. She slid off his jacket and tossed it next to him. She unbuttoned his shirt and he winced. "Sorry." She took off his shoes and threw them by the door. She had everything off him except his pants. Should be interesting.
"Ok. You can go to bed now."
"What about my pants?" He made an attempt to get them off himself but his ribs pulled.
"Oh, let me help you." It's not like I haven't seen it anyway. But I know what this leads to. But he can't have sex anyway. He is in too much pain. This won't last long, not if I have anything to do with it.
She tucked him in bed and kissed his head but she was pulled back and he hungrily kissed her.
"Did you miss me that much?" She kissed him again and started to head to her door.
"Yes. Thank you. I'll see you when you get home." She didn't even get a chance to respond because he was out. She just smiled and blew him a kiss.
She quickly swapped out her shoes and slid her feet into her white lace flats. Much better.
"Anything new fellas?" Kate made her way to her desk where she stashed Gwenie's bag and diary.
"Abby's parents, the Williams'? They'll be here tomorrow. Apparently they are at some sort of fundraiser."
"Ok. Anything else?"
"Got a print out of everyone who owns that gun you were looking at? One of the men I talked to reported that his was stolen a week ago. Want me to talk to him or you?" Espo sat on the edge of her desk.
"You can. I am doing research." She pulled out the gold diary and smiled.
"I could do that for you."
"You wouldn't be able to decipher it even if you tried. No, I have this, you go talk to, who?"
"Mr. Eric Devern."
"Ok. Bye Espo." She waved him away and Ryan took his place. "What you got?"
"Um, I talked to some of Sylvia's friends and they are all trust fund babies. No one saw her for a week or so. She had decided to 'do a little mending', according to her friends. I have no idea what that means and neither did they. I asked her best friend, Kim Lola, to come down so I could ask her a few questions."
"And what did you get from her?"
"Nothing much." He smiled like he was being sarcastic. "They always had a sleepover, every Friday night and Sylvia canceled their last one. Kim asked why and Sylvia said 'I have to meet him. He wants to get together. Stop being a bitch Kim, just because you are jealous of what me and Dale have.'"
"Dale?"
"A Dale Zane. Has a nice wrap sheet. B & E, Resisting arrest, and public intoxication. Not a stand up guy and she was involved with him?"
"We like our bad boys. Did you track him down?"
"I have a BOLO on him. Anything else I can do?"
"Yeah, check Sylvia's and Gwenie's friends' alibis. Make sure they all stick. Especially, this Quincy character."
"Ok."
Once Kate was left alone, she cracked open the diary. There was no name in it but the first entry was standard. It mentioned this voice that was bothering her. Then it went on to say if it wasn't for G, then I wouldn't be here.
This isn't Gwenie's diary, it's Abby's.
Kate read on.
August 20th 2012
I hate to say this but G is probably right. They're back. I can't help it. The rents say that the meds need a change but it's not them, it's me. I am wrong. I won't go back to there. Or better known as drug and drool. Q won't like me if I do. I want him to like me but G is the one he wants. Maybe the voices win.
August 22nd 2012
Maybe I was wrong. They say I am wrong. Maybe they are right. G understands, she said she would help. But I made her promise that she wouldn't tell Q. B is pushing me to tell but I can't. No one gets me but them.
Them? Where was she at? Voices? Mentally ill? She must have really liked Quincy. And Gwenie must be G, the only one she can trust. And B must be Babs.
Kate quickly flipped through the diary and saw that the last two pages were ripped out. By Gwenie? Abby? Maybe they held her suicide note. But two pages? She looked through the diary and checked if there was hidden messages within the binding but there wasn't. She checked the clock and noticed it was lunch time. Good time to check on Rick.
She was on her way out and decided to see if he was even awake. The phone went to voice mail and she decided she would check on him anyway.
"Rick?" She quietly called his name and got no response. She slid off her flats and headed into the bedroom. He was spread across the bed and his left arm was dangling off the bed. His chest gleamed in the little sunlight that slipped through her curtains. She smiled at the sight and crawled across the bed and into the little nook of his right arm.
He turned and stirred awake. He opened his eyes a crack and when he saw her, he cracked a smile.
"Hey sleepy head. I thought I would have lunch with you. What would you like?"
"A bologna sandwich with tons of ketchup." He stroked her cheek with the tips of his fingers and she gently kissed his hand.
"Sure." She made no effort to get up and just stared into his eyes.
"You only have a little time with me."
"That's where you are wrong. I have you for as long as I want." She smiled and crawled on top of him. She made sure to take an easy on him because of his ribs.
Before she could say a thing, he kissed her. His lips brushed the tip of her nose and he nuzzled her ear. "Want to?"
She pulled away, surprised. "You can't. You are healing. But trust me, I will take you as soon as you are healed nicely." She rubbed his bare chest then placed tender kisses all over.
"Fine. But we can still do this." He pulled her face from his chest and slid his mouth over hers. His tongue glided over hers smoothly, and she let out a little moan. He kept up his act, and he ran his hands through her hair then down her back.
She pushed him back and tried to catch her breath. Her breathing was ragged and she rubbed her face. She bit her bottom lip and then looked at him. Her cheeks flushed and no words were needed. A smile spread across both of their faces and she slowly leaned back down on him. She gently kissed him and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer to him.
He removed himself from her and leaned into her ear. "When am I getting that sandwich?"
She pulled her face up into his and gave a warning look.
"I was just messing with you. But aren't you hungry as well?"
She held a look of annoyance that he disturbed what she had been working on but she reluctantly nodded.
"Two bologna sandwiches with tons of ketchup coming up." She walked into the kitchen and pulled out a frying pan, the one her dad insisted on buying her.
"You need good pans Katie. This is the kind of pan you need." He proudly held up a box filled with the complete pots and pans collection.
"Dad I can't afford those. Plus, we didn't need to come to Crate & Barrel for good items, I can go to Bed, Bath, & Beyond and spend way less money."
Her dad's face fell and he proceeded to hold onto the All-Clad stainless steel 14-piece Cookware set. "Katie, you aren't buying this, I am."
Her face became horror stricken. "Dad! No! You can't afford this either. Please, let's leave."
"No Katie. You have always settled and you are never settling again. I am getting these for you and I don't want to hear another damn word about it. You are the best and you aren't going to settle for anything that is not as good as you." He set the set in her cart and led her to the checkout.
It was a big thing for him because he even swore, and he rarely did in front of her, even though she was an adult herself. She never said anything about them again but gave him a gracious hug and kiss.
Kate was busy frying the bologna when Rick tiptoed into the kitchen. He grabbed his ribs when they pulled and she turned around upset.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
"I wanted to come out here with you. Plus, I can't eat in your bed." He made his struggle to her couch and plopped himself down.
"You could actually." She ran to his aid and set up a pillow behind him. She fluffed his hair and smiled.
"I can eat out here with you. No big deal." He rubbed her backside and she swatted his hand away.
"Keep testing the waters Mr. Castle, just don't drown." She went back to making them lunch, sure that this was how it was supposed to be.