CH12
Three solid days. It looked like no one went home. Not even the Captain. Kate, Ryan and Javi were dead on their feet. Barely able to keep their eyes open. They had all lived on coffee, soda and whatever snacks were left behind. Kate could hear and feel her stomach growling, but could not stop to do anything about it.
Final tally after 3 days. Four dead police officers. All with multiple gunshot wounds. All of them thru and thru. They had been using armor piercing bullets. So far they had not been able to track down where they got them from. Three dead civilians. The two run over by the first police cruiser. Another had succumbed to his wounds later on. He had died shortly after leaving surgery. Eighteen civilians had been wounded. Most having been shot by the spray of fire as the truck fled the scene. Of those 18, two were left paraplegic. One lucky bullet from the final spray. Both girls, only 15 years old. Both had been best friends since grade school. Now they would grow up confined to a wheel chair the rest of their lives.
The two cruisers where a total loss. Six more civilian cars had been damaged by gun fire. As had 4 taxis that had been in the area. It was one of the taxi drivers that had called it in first. He had been made a hero and a goat. Because of him the first ambulances had arrived early and could take the critical ones to a hospital. He was credited with saving at least three lives that day. However it was also his call that got the second police cruiser to arrive at the scene without any backup available.
The sandwich shop was forced to close its doors. It's owner had only just been scratching out a living. And his insurance that he had cut back on to help keep the doors open, had failed to cover the damages.
Then there were the civilians. The medical bills were piling up for some. Others were missing work that they did not have PTO to cover the time off work. If they had any savings, they were going to go through it fast.
All for one killer gang member! Kate was pissed beyond belief. But just too tired to take it out on anyone or anything. As the center of all the efforts everyone did on this case, she and her captain were the only ones in the building privy to all the information. Everyone else just had the little snippets that they had gathered and given to her to process. She kept track of everyone and everything they learned.
What was worse. They had him. Right here in their holding cell. And he got out. And she still had nothing on who had ordered the transfer. Worse where he was being transferred to had no knowledge of the transfer request. The paper work and badge number turned out to be fakes. And Kate was just too tired to process just what that meant.
The surveillance cameras had traced where the truck had gone, but by the time they actually found it. It was abandoned and had been wiped clean. All they found were the casings for all the bullets they had fired from it. Plus it had been reported stolen just hours before the event took place. They guy who owned the truck had called it in. But it was such a low priority, no one had gone out to talk to him. He didn't even want the truck back. 'It was a murder truck' He had said, 'Why would he want it back?'
Finally Captain Montgomery came out and thanked everyone for all the hours and hard work they had put in. The 12th was going to be on a skeleton crew for the next 24 hours. Other precincts where donating man power so everyone could go home and get some sleep. He had made it an order. If anyone set foot thru the front door and he found out about he would suspend them for one week, with pay (thoughtful of him). Normally Kate would have argued and put up a fight, but she could barely keep her head off her desk. And bed did sound really good right now. Even that stupid voice in her head seemed to be tired too.
Kate didn't bother to eat when she got home. She didn't even shower. Anything that took more effort than fall on the bed, didn't happen.
Kate woke at 6:00 am the next day. Since she went to bed (well on the bed anyway) at 1:00 pm the previous day, she got some much needed sleep. Waking ON her bed IN her clothes still was something of a shock. She must have been really tired. Taking a shower woke her up. Problem was it also woke up her stomach. Which was doing a lot more now than growling at her. Opening the refrigerator got her nothing. "This is what I get for eating out (in) all the time." Talking to herself.
So, grab some money, her ID, badge and gun and house keys, and go out looking for some breakfast.
She decided that if she is going to eat breakfast, might as well eat. So hailing down a cab she asks for 120 Essex Street. Shopsin's should give her just what she wants.
The menu choices are daunting, but she finally decides on A34. Steak, Scrambled Eggs, Fried potatoes and Toast with coffee.
She had it all gone in under 5 minutes, and still hungry. So she decides on a 'Banana, Mango Peach Foster and Bacon, French Toast Sandwich to go. She'll just eat it, later. Later turned out to be the second she got thru the front door. Turned on the coffee maker and went to check her mail.
Coffee in hand, sitting on the couch, listening to her ipod with a now full stomach that wasn't talking back to her. One long heavy sigh and she's content. And has the day off to do absolutely, nothing!
Kate woke the next day in a cold sweat. Her sheets were wet and sticky. And her head hurts,.. 'ACHOO', now her head really hurt. Her mouth is dry, her throat hurts a little, and, .. 'ACHOO', and she was spreading slobber all over. Maybe a nice hot shower will help. Getting up causes the room to spin and her head hurts even more now, and, …'ACHOO'. "Oh, that one hurt!" Talking to herself.
She shuffles her feet to the shower and turns on the water and, …. 'ACHOO', turns the water on and waits for it to get hot. 'ACHOO'.
The hot shower seems to help, except for, … 'ACHOO'. "Damn it, if I've got a cold. Some on is going to die for this." Drying herself off, she is shivering from the cold. 'ACHOO'. "Yup, someone is going to pay."
She diligently gets ready for the day and heads for the precinct. She makes it to her desk and more falls into her chair than sits in it. 'achoo'. She tries to silently sneeze out. Fortunately no one else is here yet.
Spoke to soon. "Hey, Becket. Enjoy your day off?" Javi asks sounding all chipper. Which only aggravates Kate even more.
Looking at her as he makes his way to his desk. "You know you were suppose to TAKE the day off Beckett. NOT, DRINK the day off."
"You feel alright?" Javi questions.
"I'm, fine." Though her voice sounds more like a freight train ran over it.
"Uh-huh. You sure your fine?" Not convinced.
"Yes, I'm fine, Espo. Now lay off." This time more like a model train ran over it.
Kate has spent the last 2 hours sitting at her desk catching up with all the paperwork left over from the 3 days from hell. Doing her best to cover up the 'achoo's, that sneak out. As everyone else slowly enters and gets to work.
Kate finally notices that Montgomery is standing over her. "Castle is on his way up. Says he wants to know what is happening about the Jessica case. You 3 want to fill him in."
Looking down at Beckett, "You ok there Beckett? You look like a car wreck."
"I'm fine sir. Just not enough sleep I guess." Kate is lying thru her teeth.
"Hey Castle. You look good. We still on for that poker game at your place?" He really would like some of Castle's money.
"Yup, the others are still willing to lose. How about you two?"
Kate looks up at Castle, "I could take you with one arm tied behind my back." With a voice that actually sounds just a little better than earlier.
"You Ok Detective? You look like someone just stole your favorite fluffy."
"I'm hine Castle. You just make sure you don't spend any of my money." 'achoo' escapes out.
"You want me to come get you? Or are you planning on taking an ambulance?" Castle is not hoodwinked so easily. He has a child that has had colds before.
"I'm fine! Just need some more coffee." Kate stands up suddenly to get away from these yahoo's. And the room spins, and seems to be getting darker. Did the power go out? Is her last thought.
No one is quick enough to catch her before she hits the floor.
