CH63
Kate went shopping on her way home the next day. She needed post-it notes and some markers so she could tag things at home. Kate was already getting started when she heard Rick's voice.
"Alexis and I will be right there in a few seconds. Try not to shoot us." Which got Kate giggling.
"I make no promises." Kate responds.
About fifteen seconds later. "HI MOM!" As Alexis rushes her.
"Hi sweetie, how was your day?" Kate is glad to see her.
Alexis whispers into Kate's ear. "Dad has found a new spice. Lunch was Yucky. You need to watch him."
"I will. We girls have to stick together." Kate whispers back.
"What are you two plotting behind my back." Rick asks as he walks up.
"We were trying to decide what is on our Pizza tonight." Kate lies.
This however has gotten Alexis's attention. "Yea dad, Pizza."
Rick lowers his head. "I thought as much. Not likely there is anything in your refrigerator except a new form of bacteria anyway." Rick teases.
"HEY, I heard that." Kate sounds hurt. But is smiling since she knows Rick is right. She hasn't cooked anything here in a long time now. Reminding her just how much time she has spent at Rick's house.
While Rick is off using his phone to call for pizza delivery, Kate gives some post-it's and a sharpie to Alexis. "Here sweetie, if you see something you think should be moved with me write take on these and attach it to the item. Got it?" Kate asks and hands over the items.
"Got it mom." And Alexis takes them and heads off.
"Pizza's should be here in about 30 to 45 minutes." Rick tells everyone.
"Here these are yours. I'll take the bedroom." As Kate hands over some post-it's and a sharpie. "Take for what comes with me. D for donate and T for throw it out." Kate tells him.
"I'll start in the kitchen and then we can decide on the big items together. I've got packers who will also move everything coming tomorrow. So I need a key before we leave here tonight." Rick explains.
Kate finds her purse and takes her key of the ring. "Here take mine. I have work tomorrow so I don't need it anymore."
"You're sure about this?" Rick gives her one last chance to back out.
Kate just moves in and kisses Rick. "I'm sure."
"Then let's get started." As Rick takes the key.
A thought hits Kate. "Do I need a key?"
"Nope. Touch anything you want to open, including the panic room or ask Lucile to open it, like the garage door, and you're in." Rick explains.
Kate jumps in his arms and kisses him. Breaking from the kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too." Rick responds.
"Hey mom. You want all these books?" Alexis calls out.
"Yes please, sweetie." As Kate lets go of Rick and heads for the bedroom.
About 45 minutes later they take a break to eat their pizza.
"You know what you want to do with the bigger pieces?" Rick asks.
Kate thinks for a minute while she chews her latest bite. "Donate the bed and dresser of course. And the sofa and tables. Yours are so much better and I like them.
I'd like to find someplace for all the pictures." Kate makes note.
"We'll find someplace, even if we have to take something down." Rick assures her. Getting a wide smile from Kate.
"How about the appliances?" Rick asks.
"Donate. We don't need them." Kate concludes.
It's late when they are done. However Alexis was done some time ago and is asleep on the sofa.
"I kinda hate to wake her but we need to get home." Rick comments.
"I brought my car so I'll have to meet you there." Kate tells him. As Rick goes to pick up Alexis and carries her to Kate's front door. Where Kate opens a Transmat wall for him.
"Thanks." And accepts a quick kiss from Kate.
"I'll see you in a few." Kate tells him.
"Park in the garage. Just tell Lucile to open up when you get there." And Rick walks thru. Kate however has to do it the hard way.
What she does not know and is not watching for is that she is being followed all the way home. However Rick and Kate have an ace in the hole.
"Richard, Kate. Kate was followed. They were using three different cars to follow her from her apartment." Lucile tells them.
"Where are they now Lucile." Kate asks.
"All three are retreating and still traveling. There is as yet no indication that they are going to meet." Lucile explains.
"Who could be following me? We have all the men Bracken had here." Kate thought sure.
"Have any of the ones we have taken escaped Lucile." Rick asks.
"None have left the area that you left them at" Lucile confirms.
"Has anyone found them and given them any way to communicate?" Rick tries again.
"No communications have originated or been sent to any of their locations." Lucile again confirms.
"Who did we miss then?" Kate asks.
"Has Bracken hired people to replace the ones he lost already. And how does he know they are all missing already? It hasn't been that long?" Rick wonders.
"Maybe he didn't think he had enough people after he lost Rook and his gang." Kate speculates.
"Lucile are any of them headed for the guys or Lanie?" Kate is now a little worried.
"Negative." Lucile is blunt.
"So they are after me still and just me." Kate comments.
"I'm not going to tell you not to go into work. Because I would never ask that of you. But I will remind you to use your bracer and to remember that you have it." Rick tells her. This gets Rick another quick kiss.
"I'm going to contact you a lot tomorrow just to make sure you are safe. And to remind you to watch your back." Rick does tell her.
"Yes mother." Kate teases.
"I'm serious Kate. You may not like it, but I'm not loosing you now. Not now." And Rick takes her in his arms. "I may come into the precinct a little more often this week."
"You be careful. I don't need them taking you to get to me. And Alexis stays in the house where Lucile can protect her 24/7. You here me!" Kate is trying to sound firm.
"Tell me what room in the precinct is empty and I''ll Transmat in to see you. Some place on the gound floor maybe so it looks like I just walked in?" Rick suggests.
"I'll look come lunch time. Maybe I can get the guys to create a distraction to give you an opening. It'll probably cost you." Kate cautions Rick.
"I''ll arrange to have pizza for everybody again. I'm sure that should keep everyone happy."
Smiling wide and trying her best to talk while smiling. "You've already got everyone in Homicide happy to see you during lunch." Kate tells him.
"It's always good to have friends in the right place." Rick tells her.
"Rick, Kate?" Lucile calls out and shows up standing next to them.
"I'll keep Alexis, have no fear. It is possible that these three are the ones or part of the ones that Bracken asked for before you took General Reed." Lucile tells them.
A light bulb goes no over Kate."That's right. I forgot about that call he made earlier. DAMN!"
The look on Lucile's face has changed. "What is it Lucile?" Kate has spotted it.
"Those three are beginning to circle back this way if they keep their present course." Lucile tells them.
"You might want to consider using the Transmat to get into work tomorrow Kate. The trip between here and the precinct is likely to be the weakest link." Rick tells her. "Let Lucile pick a place for you to arrive in. Even if it is a door in the garage area." Rick asks.
"But I need that car to get to a site if we get a body." Kate counters.
"I have a friend who could have a couple of guys follow you from here to close to the precinct." Rick offers thinking of Vince.
"I'll be fine Rick." Kate counters.
"I'm not sure I like this idea, but I do trust you." Rick responds.
"You could contact Detective Esposito and Detective Ryan and they could drive into work with you." Lucile offers a compromise.
Rick gives Kate his best PLEASE look.
Kate relents. "Sure, I'll contact the guys you go check on Alexis. I don't need her spying on us again during this conversation."
Early the next morning.
Its time to play the music
Its time to light the lights
Its time to meet the muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.
Its time put on makeup
Its time to dress up right
Its time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight
"That'll be the guys to escort you into work." As Rick walks down to the front door to let them in.
Kate turns to look at Alexis. "We girls have to stick together."
"Thanks mom." Alexis tells her for getting her dad to change the front door bell.
"Hey Beckett. Remind me again why we are here?" Javi asks.
"Lucile spotted three guys in cars follow me here when I got off work last night." Kate tells them.
"I thought we got all of Bracken's men." Javi states.
"We are thinking they might be that extra group Bracken asked for before we picked up General Reed." Kate explains.
"I forgot about those guys." Ryan admits. "Are we sure there are only the three?"
"Lucile hasn't spotted anyone else, but it doesn't mean they are all alone." Kate confirms.
"So do we escort you home tonight also?" Javi asks.
"No I'm going to leave the car in the garage and then Transmat home from there." Kate informs them.
"You got one of those for us." Javi asks. Pointing at the mug of coffee in their hands.
"Of course. Sorry guys. You know where the machine is. The k-cups are in the cabinet above." Rick tells them.
"So how are you little Castle?" Ryan asks Alexis.
"I'm fine. I'm going to help Mom move today." Alexis pipes up.
This gets Ryan and Espo to look at Kate. "I'm moving in here today. Rick has movers showing up at my old place today." Kate tells them.
"It's about time Beckett!" Ryan comments. Kate just gives him a glare.
"Have you told Lanie yet?" Javi asks.
Kate gets an 'I'm so dead' look on her face.
"She's going to kill you if she hears about it from someone besides you. You know that?" Javi tells her as he sips his coffee and gives Ryan a chance at the machine.
"She may still kill me." Kate is not looking forward to talking to Lanie.
They left Rick's house with Kate out in front. "Kate I think we have a tail. …. He's turned off." Javi tells her using the communication disk.
"Just remember, there are at least three of them." Kate tells him.
"We're flanked one block over to out right." Ryan tells them both.
"I think I see one on my left one block over." Kate tells them.
A little later. "Our first guy is coming up our six." Javi tells them.
"They are getting ready for something." Kate tells them.
"Hit your lights, I'm calling for backup." Javi tells her.
A short time later with their lights on they were running red lights. "My tail has backed off." Javi tells them.
"My guy to our right is also gone." Ryan tells them.
"Mine on the left is also gone." Kate tells them.
"They must have scanners." Javi concludes. "I've got two cruisers with lights coming up behind me." Javi concludes.
Reaching the precinct Javi and Ryan thank the guys in the cruisers for the escort and to keep this little joy ride amongst themselves.
