CH59
Kate had handed over Samantha yet again as they arrived at the station. The women were happy with how Amber was working out which pleased Kate. It had become part of their routine now. It was just over a month since their last camping trip and LT had moved to Newcastle with his girlfriend who was now a partner in a new microbrewery and they were working on designing their first beer together. LT had been on the job for just a few weeks and the office was now fully staffed.
"Thank you Kate," Amber told Kate one more time. "And I told you we're happy to do it so just stop. We adore Sam and so does Alexis. We'll do this as long as necessary," Kate told her.
She was back sitting at her desk when her cell phone rang. "Beckett," Kate responded without looking at the caller ID. "Hi girlfriend." Lanie sounded happy when she answered. "Lanie how are you doing?" Lanie hadn't told her much. "I just got out of my second interview for State Medical Examiner for the State of Wyoming here in Casper. They want to create a State Medical Examiner since only one coroner in the state has any forensic training which means all of the others have to use out of state help. If I accept this position I would be flying out to all of the counties that needed me," Lanie informed her.
All Kate had gotten out of her previously was that she had applied for a job and had gone through phone interviews and one in person interview. "They offered you the job!?" Kate's heart was soaring. Maybe her hairbrained idea just might work. "They offered me the job," she confirmed. "I've got a feeling that Roy had something to do with it," Lanie admitted.
"And?" Kate asked, not hearing what her answer to the offer was. "I told them I would accept if they interviewed Javi for the detective's position," she told her. "They have an opening in the police department?" Kate couldn't believe that. "Not yet. One of their senior detectives is retiring in 6 months and they haven't even started to look for his replacement," she told Kate. "Are they willing to talk to him?" Kate asked. "They said they would call him and arrange for an interview. I told them that as soon as he had his interview I would accept their offer," Lanie said, which told her that Lanie had a lot of faith that Espo would get the job that wasn't even open yet. Kate leaned back in her chair. "What did they say about Kevin?" Just how lucky were they going to get? "They'll only have the one opening and I got the feeling they were thinking of promoting from within," Lanie said.
Kate slumped. Kevin was out and even Espo wasn't necessarily in. Still Lanie was in. "Is there any more good news?" She needed something besides just hope and prayers. She had been living off of that for weeks now.
"Yeah. They made me an offer. They offered me $192,402 annually plus retirement, health and life insurance, plus paid vacation. They're also offering additional pay to cover continuing medical education requirements," Lanie replied. "My god Lanie! Do you have any idea how far that kind of money can go out here?" Kate was shocked. Her salary, if she won the election that was coming up soon, was $95,924. Lanie was going to make almost twice that.
'Kate, you need to turn on the news, do it now Kate. Right now!' She could almost hear Rick yelling at her. 'RIGHT NOW KATE!' That got her up out of her chair and into the main room where they had a TV. She brought her cell phone with her so she didn't lose Lanie; she pressed the power button on the TV, watching as the screen filled with information.
At first she couldn't make sense of what she was seeing and hearing. "Anyone else seeing this?" Kate called out into the room. Soon everyone in the office was watching the TV. "Lanie are you anywhere near a TV?" Kate asked. "No, why?" Lanie was in a taxi headed back to her hotel. "Stop somewhere and turn on the TV and watch it. Something has happened, something big."
'Babe, what's going on?' Kate wasn't making much sense of what she was seeing. That was until she watched what must be a live broadcast as the first World Trade Tower collapsed down onto itself. "OH MY GOD!" someone in the office called out.
'They're saying that planes crashed into each of the World Trade Towers while another plane has crashed into the Pentagon,' he explained. "I have to go Lanie. Just get to a TV and call me back," And she hung up.
'What the hell is going on babe!?' Kate asked him. 'I'm not sure I know myself. Just keep watching and they'll show you as a plane literally crashed into one of the towers. Other than that they aren't saying much,' he replied.
They all watched as the news network played the collapse over and over again and spent a lot of time talking about it. It was almost an hour later and they all watched as the second tower collapsed much like the first one. Kate, Greta, and Robert, who was still in the office, were handling it better than the women in the office who were crying.
Kate's cell phone rang again. "Beckett." She knew if it was a call needed local help it would have come in on the land line, not her cell phone. "My god Kate!" It was Lanie and she had seen what they had now seen several times. Kate and Lanie talked for almost an hour. "Do you know anything about Espo or Kevin?" Kate asked her. "No, I've just been watching," Lanie admitted shakily. "Hang on I'm going to call Roy," Kate advised her.
She was back with Lanie quickly. "Roy said everyone from all the precincts is out there doing what they can. He wishes you were there since he is anticipating hundreds if not thousands of bodies. He told me they are going to ground all flights for an indefinite time. So you're stuck where you are or I can send Rick to come get you. It isn't really that far, I'm sure he'd be willing to come get you," she offered and wrote down the name of her hotel. "Expect him in about 2-1/2 hours. You can stay with us till the planes are flying again," she told her then hung up and called Rick to tell him her offer.
"I'll have to leave the dogs so you need to come home earlier than normal. It's going to take about 5 to 6 hours round trip. Alexis and I will be on the road in a few minutes," he advised her as he yelled for Alexis. "I'll come home to let the dogs out before going back to the office, just go get Lanie. And stay safe babe, I love you." Kate hung up. "Matt, Greta, I want you two out into town and make sure everyone sees you. Hit your lights and siren from time to time just to show them that you're there," she ordered. "Call if you need me and I'll join you. I have a few phone calls to make." She headed for her office. "Leave the TV on in case they say something we should know," she called over her shoulder.
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Rick pulled up and parked at the hotel where Lanie was staying. With Alexis in tow, he went inside and found her sitting in the lobby sipping a drink with her luggage piled next to her. "Hi Lanie!" Alexis reached her first. "Hi Alexis. You two really didn't have to drive all the way up here. I could have just waited until I could fly out," Lanie told Rick as he picked up her bags and started walking out to the truck leaving her no choice but to follow him. "And let you eat hotel food and sleep on a hotel mattress that other people have done who knows what on for who knows how long? Guess again! Besides, we'll all feel better if we know where you are," he countered. "Have you heard anything else?" she inquired. "Roy isn't answering his phone anymore; I got a continuous busy signal the last time I tried reach him." He was sure she meant her friends, not what happened. "Here call Kate and ask her what she knows." He handed over his satellite phone.
"Hi Kate. How are you holding up?" Lanie asked her. "Our 911 phone is supposed to be for emergencies but you wouldn't believe what people think is an emergency now. Most of them are just scared. The sooner they figure out what happened and tell the rest of us the sooner everyone will calm down. Sloan did have the day off but I called him in to be in town with Matt and Greta. Mike and Robert are out on patrol while LT is assigned to the night shift," Kate explained. "We've had the TV on all day," she added.
"Don't forget the dogs," Rick yelled so Kate could hear him. "I heard him and I'm leaving in a minute. Just get here Lanie and I'll feel better." She ended the call and informed the office that she was going home to let the dogs out and would be back as soon as possible. "Give me about an hour."
Kate was met at the door by two very happy dogs. "Hi Midas, Maggie, come on outside." She left the front door open and walked outside with them. Fifteen minutes later she locked them back inside the house and headed back to the office. It was when she got there that she saw something she hadn't been expecting for at least another 2 weeks. Not only that, but each driver had the two Rams off the top of one car hauler and the two Durangos off the top of the other. All of them were painted and said Sheriff of Weston County on the side. They even had bumper guards and lights.
"The new cars are here ma'am." Elizabeth sounded and looked happy, even if she wasn't getting one. Though she may get a chance to use one of the Rams that would be staying at the office most days. "I see that. Go have dispatch call in Matt, Greta, and Sloan. Let's get the new computers installed in them and get our deputies back out there. They're probably going to need to get gas for them, too." Kate was betting there was just 2 gallons in each of them. "Yes, ma'am." And Elizabeth ran inside. "They look great!" Elizabeth yelled the second she opened the door. Kate watched as the four Intrepids and two PT-Cruisers came off the trucks and looked at them all lined up as she smiled. Her office was really coming together.
They had gone through the discomfort of having all of the walls opened up to have the pink insulation removed and watched panels go into the walls that were thinner than the ones that were already on the roof. After that came new drywall and paint. The contractor had filled a dumpster with what he had taken off of their roof. The price had gone up a little when he found that all of the plywood panels sitting on the roof joists had to be replaced due to rot. Plus he had to sister several of the roof beams due to rot. It would have been better, but more costly, to remove and replace them so he simply sistered new wood to the old wood. All of the women now had high hopes that the office would be more comfortable this winter than the previous ones.
Matt and Greta showed up first with Sloan a few minutes behind them. "Sloan you have seniority so you have first choice. One of the PT-Cruisers has already been set up as a K-9 unit for Mike. The Rams will remain at the office for now until we get snow. The new computers have been installed in them and are just like the ones in the office. The keys are already in the vehicles so take your pick," Kate told him. Much to her surprise Sloan took one of the Intrepids. She had been so sure everyone would want a Durango.
They watched as he transferred everything from his old trunk and put it in the new one.
"It's sitting on empty," Sloan rolled down his window and called out. "You have your work credit card; pray you make it to the closest gas station and get back out there. Matt, you're next," Kate told him. Next would be Robert but he was out on patrol so what Matt chose was critical.
Matt took another of the Intrepids and like Sloan, found the gas gauge sitting on empty. He drove to the closest gas station to join Sloan. "Looks like you have your choice Greta. Pick what you want then go get gas and get back out there," Kate told her. She watched as Greta took the first of the two Durangos loaded it up like the others and left. Kate went back inside. "Get Robert on the radio and ask him what he wants. He still has his choice out of the three types. Then someone call LT and have him come in and swap out his car for a new one," Kate instructed and headed for her office. She had two Intrepids, a Durango, and a PT-Cruiser left along with the two Rams.
Kate had one final campaign event to do tomorrow which was a BBQ luncheon for everyone in town that chose to show up and support her bid to be elected sheriff. The actual vote would take place the day after. It was just her and a police officer that had come up from Cheyenne to run for the position. A candidate from Casper and one from Rapid City had already bowed out and were gone.
There was a knock on her doorframe. "Robert said he would take one of the Intrepids," Elizabeth told her. That just left LT who still had his choice of vehicles and wouldn't get stuck with what was left. He eventually came in and took the last Durango. "It's yours LT, but before you go I want you to help me strip the old cars of everything. Computers, lights, and everything else that's in them," Kate asked him. "The guys and Greta have already taken everything out of the trunks so this should be easy."
It took them a couple of hours and she and LT spent part of the time talking about the twin towers and how he felt conflicted about being there instead of New York. He should be there helping. "I know how you feel LT. I still have friends there too, and I have to wonder what they're going through. My calls aren't going through to Montgomery; I can only guess that they're really busy," Kate replied feeling frustrated herself.
Soon their storage room was partially filled with what they wanted off the old cars. LT went back home to get some sleep since he would be up all night. Kate now knew that the last Intrepid would be their back-up car for when one of the others needed maintenance or was involved in a crash and the last PT-Cruiser would be hers. She just had to get her Jeep back home for her to drive it. The next day the car haulers loaded up the old cars and left. "Good riddance!" Kate proclaimed as she, Sloan, and Greta watched them leave.
She got home late and asked Rick to drive her back so she could pick up her new PT-Cruiser. He was in the kitchen cooking leaving Lanie and Alexis in the living room. "What did you think of the job?" Kate asked her. "The job itself is a dream come true. A real State Medical Examiner. I'll get sent all over Wyoming for all of the dead bodies. They're even buying a used twin turbo prop to get me there if commercial flights aren't available," Lanie explained in a little more detail. "Frequent flyer miles," Kate teased.
"So what are your thoughts about everything?" Kate asked her. "I'm a big city girl and being out here isn't the big city. How did you do it?" Lanie questioned her. "I'm not sure I can help you there. I came out here because of Mom, plus I have Rick." Kate wasn't sure she was a good example. "I suppose the question for you is, is the job enough to get you to move? You're an ME in an NYPD precinct and you're not the only one. Out here you'll be in charge of an entire state and with your salary... Hang on a minute." She got up to go into the kitchen and then ran upstairs. When she came back down she had Rick's laptop with her. "Casper real estate," she said mostly to herself with Lanie sitting right next to her while Alexis was off playing with the dogs. Amber had today off so no Sam to take care of.
3670 Placid Drive, Casper Wyoming, 82604. 3,246 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, with a 2 car garage, 2 floors. Hardwood floors, baseboard heating. "I don't know about that kitchen." Lanie didn't much like it. It was country kitchen white. "Oscar can fix that. Just look what he did with Rick's kitchen." Kate was sure Oscar could fix that easily. "Fireplace, lots of windows. I think I see an AC unit in the wall." Kate pointed at it. Lanie stopped Kate. "WOW!" Lanie saw the office that had one wall of bookshelves with cabinets below. "It's just what you need Lanie," Kate agreed. "WOW, look at that basement. Is that another refrigerator?" Kate asked. "What are they hiding using that dropped ceiling?" Lanie wondered. The last two pictures were of the deck and backyard. "$295,000?" Lanie was amazed at the cost. "I told you your money went further out here," Kate reminded her.
22212 Lake Ridge, Casper Wyoming, 82620. 3,103 square feet. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, with 2 car garage, 2 floors. Hardwood floors, forced air with AC. "The kitchen is nicer though I'm not sure about the black appliances," Lanie said hesitantly. "That's a stupid place for a fireplace. In front of windows?" Lanie questioned. "I'm betting it's electric and why have windows when you would want doors to take advantage of that large deck?" Kate mused. Still that could be fixed. "$395,000," Kate added. "It would appear that I'd only have one neighbor nearby. Is that a propane tank?" Lanie asked. "Propane is what you get if you're too far out of town and this place looks like it is," Kate indicated. "Dinner ladies. Find Alexis and we can eat," Rick called.
Lanie would find out later that at her salary she would be approved for a home in the $845,000 range.
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"Now what?" Joanne asked Serena as they got ready for the day in their bathroom. "I wish I knew, I really do. I mean, who would have guessed that Paladin is based in India of all places? We only have contracts in the States and nothing in a foreign country. Plus the Osprey simply doesn't have the range. I wouldn't even make it across the Atlantic before crashing and sinking." Serena didn't know what to do either.
"We've finally found the head of the snake and we can't do anything about it." Joanne threw the razor she was using to shave her legs into the tub and sat down on the edge and put her face in her hands with her elbows on her knees. Serena got down on her knees in front of her fiancée and took her hands in hers. "We'll think of something; we've come too far to give up now. We almost have them! After all this time and the people we've lost, I'm not giving up yet," a determined Serena said fiercely.
"How? We can't reach them with what we have. I don't think you're jet accredited even if we had one or even stole one. Even some of the shifters we know about along the coast barely have a handful of boats between them and couldn't make it across the Atlantic either," Joanne pointed out the obvious. "We can't be done, we just can't. Come on, get dressed and meet me downstairs for breakfast. Maybe we can brainstorm something with the others. We'll get them, I don't yet know how, but we will." Serena kissed her head and started to walk about before hurrying back to give her a real kiss and walked naked out of the bathroom and into the closet to find something to wear. She was almost finished when Joanne walked in to do the same.
"Have you thought about where you want to get married?" Serena questioned her to take her mind off of it. Joanne only shook her head as she pulled out a pair of panties and a bra. Serena wrapped her arms around her. "We'll think of something, we have to." Serena kissed her head and left to go down to the kitchen. "Hurry up and join us," she called over her shoulder.
Joanne found her breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, cereal and juice waiting for her and joined the others at the dining room table. "India, any suggestions?" Serena asked all of them.
"Can we steal a jet? A corporate long distance jet maybe. Surely we have someone somewhere who is qualified to fly it," one of them proposed. "Sarah?" Serena called out. "Negative, no one at this time."
"How much money do we have? We could buy a yacht. How hard could it be to sail one over there?" someone else asked. "Distance from Florida which is the most likely place to purchase one that is for sale that has the range is 9,616.5 miles. The 191 foot superyacht Unbridled is available for purchase at $45 million. Its 34,000 gallon tank will allow it to travel 7,000 miles on a single tank," Sarah stated. "So we stop somewhere and refuel," he shrugged. "Except we don't have $45 million. We only have $30,000,000 plus." Serena shot that plan down. She had been combating Paladin instead of going out and making them more money.
"Is there one of those supersecret orbital laser devices in orbit that we could take over and use it to fire on them?" another asked. "It was just a thought," he said petulantly, defending himself after the looks he got.
"So we can't fly and we can't sail. Do we have contacts in the military that are on a boomer? Have them launch something big at them?" a voice asked. The silence answered her question.
"Maybe little green men from Mars will attack and single them out for destruction," someone said offhandedly. "They're grey with big black eyes and they're not from Mars. Why would they only attack them anyway?" one of the guys shot him down.
Serena, however, dropped her spoon into her cereal. "Not green, definitely not grey, and certainly not small, but she is big and purple!" Serena thought she had the answer.
"Detective Beckett!? Why would she help us and expose herself like that ?" Joanne questioned her. "Let's find out." Serena said hopefully.