CLEANING LADY
Chapter 8
Kate left Castle's place before Alexis got home from school. Now she was going in search of someone. She found him at the hotel's bar.
"How fast can you arrange for me to be in Saint Petersburg?"
He didn't even bat an eye. "The end of the week."
Kate's jaw dropped slightly in surprise. "That fast? What if I need more time?"
"Then you tell me when and I'll arrange it. It will be on a private jet."
"Thank you." She turned to leave.
"You're sure about this?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I need out of this city for personal reasons, and I speak Russian fluently."
"I hate to lose you, but if it's what you want, then I'll make it happen. Just tell me when."
"Thank you." Sighing, Kate turned and rode the elevator up to her room.
~oo0oo~
"Hi, Dad." But her father didn't respond. Alexis tried again. "I said 'hi', Dad." When she didn't get a response, she sat down next to him. "What is it, what's wrong with you?" But still no reply. "DAD!" She poked him to get his attention.
"Oh, hi, Alexis. How was school?"
"Okay, Dad, give. Somethings eating you, so tell me." Alexis waited for him to say something.
"I think I'm in love with Kate," Rick began.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"She's talking about moving to Russia."
"Did she say why?"
"Sort of," Rick hedged. "I just can't tell you about it."
"Okay. Do I get a clue?"
Rick gave her the only clue he could. "It's about that movie last night. The one about John Wick."
"She's not John Wick, is she?" Alexis watched him shake his head. "That's good. John Wick. Hmm."
"She said she's falling in love with me and wanted me to follow her to Russia."
"That's a big thing. Did Kate say what city she was moving to?" Alexis watched as he shook his head again. She continued to think about the movie.
"She said you could go to school there and that she did during high school. Call it a student transfer."
"I could do that. Paris would be my first choice, but I suppose I could transfer to a Russian school. Might be fun." Alexis had something else to think about now. "I could learn Russian.
"So what are you thinking, Dad?"
Frustrated, he raked his hand through his hair. "I don't know. I think I love Kate, but do I love her enough to move to Russia?"
"Only you can answer that. But it sounds doable." Alexis patted his leg and got up to go to her room. "You'll have to sell everything. This place, the house in the Hamptons. Everything, including the cars, most likely." She continued up the stairs to her room.
"Yeah," Rick muttered to himself. He just didn't know what to do.
~oo0oo~
Kate waited an entire day before she showed up at Castle's place. Rick answered the door and stood aside to let her in. "I don't have an answer for you yet."
"I don't expect one so soon." Kate bit her lower lip. "I want you to make love to me."
"Is this you hoping sex will sell it?"
"No. If you say no, I want something to remember you by, so I want you to make love to me. Maybe spank me again." The tips of Kate's ears turned pink. "I kinda liked that."
Rick stepped aside to let her enter and followed her to his bedroom, where he made love to her. And yes, he spanked her. She had asked for it, and he gave it to her.
~oo0oo~
Rick woke up and, to his dismay, saw her clothes were missing and she was gone. Sighing, he got up and took a shower.
Alexis came down the stairs and found Kate sitting at the breakfast bar with a cup of coffee. "Kate."
Kate greeted her with, "Hello, Alexis," but she was aloof.
"Dad told me you were thinking about moving to Russia."
Kate nodded. "Yes, I'm going to do it. There are a few things I have to work out."
"Where in Russia?"
"Saint Petersburg." Though she hadn't told Castle yet.
"Saint Petersburg. It might be nice."
"You could be an exchange student. I did it in Kyiv. I had the time of my life! It was where I learned Russian."
"I would prefer Paris, but Saint Petersburg might be nice. I don't speak any Russian, though."
"Neither did I when I went to Kyiv. I learned it while I was there. You could do the same."
"Dad loves you, you know. And moving to Russia is asking a lot of him."
"I know I blindsided him, Alexis. But I'm falling in love with him and had to try."
"When are you moving?"
"I haven't set a time yet, but soon. Perhaps as little as two weeks from today, maybe. I don't really know."
"Two weeks is kinda tight. Dad would have to sell the loft and sell pretty much everything. That will take time," Alexis warned her.
"I know. Maybe Castle could meet me there if he comes. If you come."
"That might be best," Alexis agreed. She left Kate and moved into the kitchen, where she got a can of Coke out of the fridge. She glanced at the clock. "I've got to go. I have an early class. Say bye to my dad for me. I'll see you." She picked up her backpack and left.
A moment later, Rick walked in from his study and was surprised when he saw her. "Kate, you're still here."
"Yep. Alexis said bye. She had an early class."
Rick headed for the coffee maker since she had started it. "I don't get a good morning kiss?" Kate tried to sound hurt. That got him to lean across the island and give her a quick kiss. "Thank you. …Do you have any questions for me?"
"Probably a lot of them, but I can't think without coffee."
She chuckled. "You sound like me. I can't function without coffee."
"Where do you live?" Rick was awake enough to ask her that.
"I have a room in a hotel. It's not much, but I don't have much anymore." Kate waited a breath before telling him, "And I'm moving to Saint Petersburg."
"Saint Petersburg, not Moscow?"
"No, the people I work for don't have a hotel there." Kate watched as he sipped his coffee.
Rick was awake enough to put two plus two together. "Just like the movie, John Wick. That's why you rushed out of here. John Wick."
"Yes, that movie hit a little too close to home. So I went home and asked a bunch of questions. That was where I learned about the place in Saint Petersburg.
"You don't have to make a choice right now. I know I blindsided you with a lot."
"Yeah, you did do that," Rick agreed. "When are you leaving?"
"I haven't decided just yet. I was thinking of maybe two weeks from now. You could meet me there if you come. If you don't, I'll understand. I'll miss you, but I understand."
"I wish I did," Rick thought, then he asked her, "So, what are your plans for the day?"
Kate shrugged a shoulder. "I don't have any plans. That's the benefit of being a Cleaning Lady. I work when I get a call."
He raised an eyebrow. "Homicide detective to cleaning lady. There's gotta be a story in there somewhere."
"And I'll tell it to you," Kate said, "if you move to Saint Petersburg with me."
"There had to be a catch."
"That's the deal. I'll tell you if you move to Saint Petersburg with me."
"That still leaves us with what will we do today?"
"We could go play pool. Or we could go bowling." Once more, Kate bit her lip. "Or we could make love again."
Rick smiled at her. "I think I could agree to that."
~oo0oo~
She never left the loft. Kate put on some of Rick's drawstring shorts and an oversized T-shirt while Castle washed clothes for her. They made love daily, and even Alexis and Martha were kind to her.
Then it came time to make a decision about Saint Petersburg. Rick took her hands in his. "I don't think I can do it, Kate. I love you, but I can't."
"I understand, I do. I'm asking too much of you." Kate lowered her head. "But I'm going. It'll give me a fresh start. A chance to start over again. I love you, but I need to do this."
She kissed him. A nice, long, never-to-be-forgotten kiss, and then she turned away. While she waited for the elevator, she took one last look at him before she stepped in, a single tear running down her cheek.
Her heart was broken, but she needed to do this.
~oo0oo~
True to his word, Kate didn't need to worry about Customs. She arrived with her one big suitcase, a carry-on, and a purse and set foot on Russian soil. She would get to use her Russian.
The hotel was similar to the one in New York City, and it cost her a coin per month to stay there. This time her room was much higher up than before.
The first thing to do was get the lay of the land. Then set up an incinerator and buy a van.
~oo0oo~
It took her three long months to get set up. She had a new number. Her old cell phone didn't work there.
She was sitting in the lounge, drinking her sorrows away. She missed Rick, missed sex with him. She even missed his family. Then her phone rang. "Da?"
It was a man's voice. "Mne nuzhen ochistitel."
"Skol'ko tel i naskol'ko bol'shoy besporyadok?" Kate inquired.
"Vsego odin kuzov i on otnositel'no chistyy. YA zaplachu tebe odnu monetu."
"Ty nashla sebe uborshchitsu. Mne nuzhen adres." Kate got what she wanted from him and hung up. It was her first job as a cleaner here in Saint Petersburg.
She arrived in her van, was paid one coin, and got to work. First came the body. It went into a body bag, which she dragged to the door. Then she got to work cleaning. Everything was going well. That was until, unexpectedly, the police busted in. There were too many for Kate to shoot her way out. So she surrendered.
She went through booking and had her fingerprints and picture taken. She knew the drill.
So there she was, in prison, awaiting her trial. If she even got one. That was life in Russia.
~oo0oo~
She waited three months, three very long months. She had to defend herself twice. The other woman didn't look so good when Kate finished with her.
She had access to the weight room and used it daily. Kate was sitting in her cell when a female guard came by. "Vy vnesli zalog. Poydem."
Bail, she made bail! But how? That didn't make sense. No one knew she was here. Did they? The first person who came to mind was Castle. But she dismissed it.
Still, she was out and at the hotel. Her room was gone since she hadn't paid a coin for it in three months. Thankfully, someone put everything she left there in storage.
"U vas yest' soobshcheniye." He handed her a sealed envelope and inside was a letter.
Kate,
High Table got you out. But you can no longer stay in Saint Petersburg. Nor are you welcome in New York City. I am sorry.
You will find a jet waiting for you at the airport, the same one that brought you there. All of your things, including your coins, minus ten coins to pay for this, are returned to you.
He will return you to New York City. After that, it is up to you.
This is the best I can do for you. Good luck, Miss Beckett.
It was unsigned but she knew who it was from – the Administrator.
~oo0oo~
True to his word, there was a jet waiting for her to take her back to New York City.
Once Kate was there, she dragged her suitcase into the hotel, where they immediately noticed her. She greeted the man behind the counter. It was Michael. "Hello."
"Miss Beckett, it is good to see you!"
She slid a coin across the counter to him. "I can't accept that, Miss Beckett."
"I know. It's for you, only you. You were a good friend, Michael, and I can't use the remaining coins, so I want you to have this."
He paused and then reached out to pick it up. "Thank you, Miss Beckett. It won't be the same here without you."
"Goodbye, Michael." Kate smiled at him and turned and left the building. Once outside, she drew a shaky breath, deciding what to do next. She didn't see the tear that escaped his eye. Michael truly was going to miss her.
~oo0oo~
She found a hotel room, one that was very average, and settled in. She debated what to do next. She couldn't stay in New York City long. For one thing, it was too expensive for her. She had money but was well aware it wouldn't last long.
Her mind went to Castle. But she had burned that bridge when she had left. No, she had little choice but to get out of town.
She bought a laptop and put it to use. She now had a ticket to San Antonio, Texas, one way. It was for a week from today. She had one week in the city where she was born and had grown up.
She thought San Antonio would be a safe place to live. They didn't have a Hotel there. And no High Table there. She counted her coins. She had ten coins left and nothing on which to spend them. She didn't want to leave them, so she packed them deep in her pocket.
~oo0oo~
She was out shopping for clothes. She didn't need any, but she could at least look and see if anything caught her fancy. She saw the reflection of a man in the store window. It couldn't possibly be him, could it? "Castle?!" She turned, and he was standing right in front of her.
"Kate, you're back!" Rick hugged her tight, and Kate melted against him. It felt so good to be in his arms again. "How have you been? When did you get back?" He didn't let go of her while peppering her with questions.
"About two days, I guess. God, you feel good." Kate began to cry. She didn't even try to wipe her tears away since to do that meant letting go of him.
"You feel better. I've missed you." Rick felt his own tears starting to fall. "Come to the loft with me. Alexis and Mother will be so happy to see you."
Kate cried even harder. "I can't. I need to get out of town. I've stayed here too long as it is."
"I'm not taking no for an answer. You are coming to the loft with me. NOW!" Rick held her by the arm and led her to a taxi that drove them to the loft.
~oo0oo~
Alexis stared at her. "What do you mean you can't stay?"
"Remember the job I had? High Table did get me out of Saint Petersburg, but I'm not welcome in New York City either. I bought a plane ticket to San Antonio."
"I guess I don't understand." Then Alexis had an idea. "Move to the Hamptons. That's not New York City. Dad has a place there. You'll like it. It's big."
"YES! Move to the Hamptons. You'll love it there. Come on, Kate! Come with me to the Hamptons. I love you." Rick couldn't take his eyes off her while he waited for her answer.
Kate reached over and caressed his face. "I love you too. You really think that will work?" She was hesitant. "The Hamptons is only two hours from here. They might consider that close enough to be part of the City."
"It should be," Alexis offered. "It's not the City. It's what, close to eighty miles from here, right, Dad?" Rick nodded; Alexis was right, it wasn't the City.
"I don't know, but I know someone that would. That's if he'll even see me," Kate said worriedly.
~oo0oo~
Kate walked into the hotel. "Hello, Michael. I need to see the Administrator, please."
"Certainly, Miss Beckett." He picked up the phone and briefly spoke to someone. "He's in the Lounge."
"Thank you, I know where it is." Kate walked that way and immediately saw him.
"Miss Beckett. What can I do for you? You have just five days left to get out of the City."
"Yes, I know. High Table and all that." Kate sat down. "I have a plan and need to know if it would work. I want to move to the Hamptons. Would that be far enough from New York City? I brought you all of my remaining coins. Maybe I can buy my way there." Her heart pounded while she waited for an answer from him.
"Interesting." He thought for a moment. "How many coins do you have?"
"I have ten coins. Is that enough?"
"For you, Miss Beckett, we have a sale going on. The Hamptons will be far enough, provided you never return to the City."
Kate got out of her chair and hugged him. "Thank you so much!" She felt like she had hugged a piece of concrete, but it didn't matter.
"My coins." She took them out of her pocket and laid them before him on the table. "Again, thank you."
"Good day, Miss Beckett." He stopped her. "And Miss Beckett, remember, do not set foot in this City again."
"I won't, and thank you," Kate said fervently and hurried away. Only after she was gone did he smile and pick up the coins. It really wasn't enough, but for her, he would make an exception.
~oo0oo~
Later that same day, she was smiling as she sat in the passenger seat of Castle's Mercedes on her way to his house in the Hamptons. She would never leave the Hamptons, but it didn't matter.
She turned her head to look at Castle and smiled. He smiled back at the woman he loved.
~oo0oo~
He pulled up to his house, and she was totally awed by what she saw. She waited for Castle to get out and open the door for her.
"Wow, Castle. Are you rich or something?" She felt she could live here.
"Well, I'm not Patterson rich, but I do okay. Come on, I'll give you a tour, then come back here for your bags." Rick held out his hand to her and together they went into the house.
~oo0oo~
It was still cold, and it took a while to warm up the house, but Kate didn't care. She was outside in the grass looking at the view when Castle joined her. "Something to warm your blood." He handed her a glass of vodka.
"Thanks." She took a sip. It was the good stuff. "It's beautiful here."
"Yes, it is." He was looking right at her; she noticed and blushed.
She put an arm around him, and he slipped one around her. "I get to live here."
"Yes, you do, love. And I can write from here. Though, truth be known, I did a lot of my writing out here. Oh, and Alexis will be out Friday after school. She'll take a car service and spend the weekend with us."
Kate leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder. "I love you."
"I love you too." Rick bent his head down to hers. "Now, how about you tell me why you're no longer a homicide detective?"
"It's a long story," she warned.
"I'm not going anywhere, Kate. Not even after you tell me why."
"All right. Let's go inside first and be comfortable. I have a story to tell you."
"I'm all ears, sweetheart." Once they were inside, Rick settled down beside her and listened.
~oo0oo~
Translation from Russian to English
Da? – Yes?
Mne nuzhen ochistitel. – I need a cleaner.
Skol'ko tel i naskol'ko bol'shoy besporyadok? – How many bodies and how big of a mess?
Vsego odin kuzov i on otnositel'no chistyy. YA zaplachu tebe odnu monetu. – Only one body and it is relatively clean. I will pay you one coin.
Ty nashla sebe uborshchitsu. Mne nuzhen adres. – You found yourself a cleaner. I need an address.
Vy vnesli zalog. Poydem. – You've made bail. Let's go.
U vas yest' soobshcheniye. – You have a message.