12th Precinct, Present Time

To Serve and Protect

Chapter Five - Continuing Investigation

Senior Consulting Investigator Rick Castle was on the phone, talking to his close friend, and associate, Jordan Shaw, an FBI profiler. He was asking her assistance on their current case, "So if you were to profile this serial killer, how would it look?"

"Well, like many serial killers, the prep would be smart, verging on high intelligence, maybe almost genius but would be socially inept, somewhat of a loner, not able to have close friends and associates. Good at his job, to the point his talent hides his dysfunctions."

"But why target these particular women and why the connection to them being cured from covid?"

"Off the top of my mind, I can see a couple profiles that might fit."

"Can you give me one, Jordan, it might lead the team to look in places where we are not looking?"

"Let this be an initial profile subject to corrections as more becomes known on this killer. Maybe our prep is also a covid survivor himself, who had someone that was close to him also die from covid? He lives, but his close friend dies. He might have some extreme survivor's remorse."

"But you just said he would be a social loner."

"Correct, so if the prep did have a friend, then the loss of that person would be even far more impactful. The killer appears well put together, but under it all, he is in turmoil. Like I said, his occupational competence hides his dysfunction, making him look like an everyday functional person. But he wants to get back at those people who lived while his friend died. An extreme case of survivor's remorse. "

"But why the physical traits of his vics, female, blonde, blue eyed, attractive, in their twenties, and so forth?"

"Maybe resemblance to some doctor or health professional who the prep blames primarily for not curing his friend. That appearance triggers his rage. He seeks to find the person who let his friend die, persons who should have died instead of his friend. When he finds them, he strikes out."

"So he is getting revenge for his friend? But why all females?"

"Well a lot of health professionals such as doctors are female, and most nurses are female. Or perhaps a female patient who he perceives got better treatment than his friend. That person lived and his friend died."

"But torture and rape?"

"He is dysfunctional in intimacy. Keeps all that hidden inside. His few, or maybe only, attempt at physical intimacy with a woman was a personal disaster. Maybe he was scorned when he attempted closeness with that female acquaintance. In a like fashion, he is attracted to his vics, but also hates them. This conflict comes out when he punishes the vics. It is displayed in how he kills his victim. He wants control over them that he did not have. Wants them to accept him. Wants them to show him affection willingly. Remember that rape is about control rather than of carnal intimacy. The control is just exhibited in a physical assault. It is dominance over people who have hurt him and compensates for his inability to attract women in the accepted manner."

"What other profile might fit?"

"Maybe the prep's mother was a health care professional, but showed more attention to her patients then to her son, thus neglecting her own child. So when his friend died the image of the health care professional who let his friend die became an image of his mother."

"Okay, I can see that, but why the covid selection?"

"The health scare of the present day. Maybe the mother our prep hates was involved primarily in past pandemics: AIDS, FLU, Dengue, and the like."

"Again, though, torture and rape, of former covid patients?"

"Most likely in his state of mind he is killing a favored patient of his tormentor. One that he perceives should die for this imbalance of how he or she was treated. Again speaks to how deranged the prep is in this matter."

"This guy is truly more of a disturbed monster than I thought. We need to find him quickly before another woman falls prey to him. Anything you can add?"

"The prep most likely is a health care professional? Not necessarily a doctor or nurse, but some one, maybe in related field like lab tech, EMT. "

"Okay...all good food for thought. We have considered the health care professional as you suggested. We have not looked into related health care fields. However, the team cannot reconcile that the vics were treated at different health facilities and one was home treated. If it is one person, he must be able to move around to different venues. If we can figure that one out, we might get somewhere with the killer being in health care. Any other profile that might speak to this prep?"

"I think these two are your most likely profiles. You can add in all the other characteristics of known serial killers to the profile. The ones I cite in these two profiles just speaks to this kind of serial killer, probably the first of a kind. Still all serial killers have like traits. The accuracy of my profiles are still a work in progress, subject to modifications as more evidence appears. We are in new territory here. Have I helped?"

"As usual, you have given insight. You are good at what you do Jordan, thanks for the help. I will keep in touch. Regards to your husband and kids."

"Same here, always great talking to you Rick. Tell Kate I say 'hi', kiss the kids for me."

"Can do, till next time."

"Yes, till next time."

Just as he hangs up, he sees his wife and Commanding Officer come to his desk.

"Well hey there Captain, here for an update, I just got thru talking to Jordan Shaw."

"Brief me after I tell you that our eldest daughter wants to see us tonight. She suggested dinner and she will treat for a takeout."

"Okay, wonder what's up?"

"I do not know but told Lex that Italian is fine, as her siblings will go for spaghetti or pizza. She said she would get both."

Dinner With Alexis

"I don't like it Pumpkin. Why choose this assignment. It is dangerous and you could be killed."

"Dad, there is very little reporting on this and the public needs to be informed."

"But the Ukraine Lexy, why?", asks her stepmom.

"Kate, there is a Russian troop build up on their border and this could be another takeover like what happened in Crimea years back. If Russia is planning a similar invasion and takeover, it needs to be covered by the press properly and fully; the main stream media is ignoring the on-going situation."

"We are your family and just want you to be safe."

"I love you all and that is why I would be cautious so I can come back."

"How long Alexis?"

"As long as it takes."

"Your answer is not reassuring, but I know you've made up your mind. So your stepmom and I will support you on this."

"I knew you would and that is why I love you all dearly and will do everything to return safely."

"And what of your sister and brothers?", Kate once again questions.

"They are three reasons for returning. I grew up primarily as an only child, and having siblings is the one most cherished blessings in my life and I have you to thank for it Kate. I know they will miss me as I will for them. But I want them to be proud of their big sis as a journalist and when they are older they will understand this. It will be a role model for them, just as you and Dad were role models for me."

Alexis had made a tough choice on the assignment. Her decision to leave her only sister and two brothers behind for this assignment did not come easily. It tore her apart, but like her father, she sought to right an imbalance, to correct a bad situation, the example she took from him and her stepmom. But she did not come unprepared for her trip. She had taken a Russian language and cultural course while at Columbia. Kate, her step mom, had honed those language skills in her by often conversing with her in Russian.

Her stepmom had spent a whole summer in the Ukraine as part of her Russian course at Stanford as an undergrad. Alexis had many a talk in Russian about Ukraine, the places to go, the customs of the country, things to be caution on, like the Ukranian men! Also, Alexis could defend herself. Being a single woman, her stepmom had taught her hand to hand combat, just in case she ever needed it. Also, she was a good shot with a handgun. She had joined the same gun club as Kate and her dad, and had qualified expert in the pistol. All these skills would do her well if fighting did break out in the Ukraine. And her staff had prepared an emergency exit plan for her as a last resort. There was her plan B if things went south.

"When are you leaving?", asks her father.

"A couple days from now, my staff is still finishing the prep and the paperwork required. I am going as Press Corps so will have a favored status."

"Can you be with us till then sweetie?", her stepmom says and Alex senses Kate's concern.

"I plan to have dinner here each night till I leave, Kate."

That Night After The Talk

As they prepare for bed, Kate senses Rick's angst to Alexis' trip. Rick is wearing his sleep boxers and nothing else. Rick has his nagging doubts about this current assignment his daughter had chosen. Kate feels his concern, she did not need to read his mind. He had raised Alex as a single parent and there was no one closer to him than perhaps herself. Alexis and Kate shared that bond. A bond now growing in her three children for their father.

"You want to talk about it Rick?"

"Maybe I am just too focused on the negatives about this new assignment Alex has chosen. I mean, she is a grown woman; a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist with her own newspaper. I know she has looked at all the cons and decided that this assignment is worth the risks."

"It's normal Rick, you are her father, and the only one in her life for a long time until her three siblings came along. Of course you are concerned!"

She comes up to him and gets in his space planting a longing kiss to his lips. She had put on her favorite lingerie, one she always saved when she wanted to create a mood. Rick sees it and is instantly aroused.

Seeing the reaction in Rick's eyes that she had wanted, she speaks coyly, "It there anything I could do to take away all this concern that has you so worried? I mean, what's a wife to do when her husband acts this way!"

"Oh, I don't know, ... there might be something", he says as he closes the gap between them. Invading her space, Rick slides the straps to her lingerie off her shoulders. Gravity takes over from there and causes her outfit to fall complete down off her and on to the floor. She is standing completely naked in front of Rick. She now steps out of the outfit which is in a circle around her feet. She hears Rick's breath take a hitch and she knows she's got him where she wants him. He is looking at her lustfully and through his boxers Kate sees she has his 'full' attention.

For Rick the sight of his wife naked was always an arousal for him. She always kept in shape and her slender athletic frame attested to how fit she was and always ready for him. He looks her up and down. Her slim figure, soft but supple breasts, flat tummy, slender hips, and long an oh so sexy legs, always drove his libido up. God how he worshipped her! How had he been so lucky to marry such a women?

"I was thinking...", she says with a tease.

"What were you thinking Mrs. C?"

She puts her hand on his chest and starts to push him backward to their bed. When their bed hits the back of Rick's legs, he stops. Nowhere to go now other than to fall backward on to the mattress. When Rick stops at the foot of the bed, Kate takes her two thumbs and places them under the elastic band of Rick's boxers, one on the left and one on the right. Once her thumbs are in place, she pulls down on the boxers and springs Rick! Now it's her turn to look and admire. His large muscular frame and his manhood now fully showing, just flames her desires and she feels the heat in her down to her core. She kneels down in front of Rick and takes him in whole. That is the spark that lights the emotional bonfire.

With three kids and now almost 8 years married, their love making was always like the first time. It did not seem to diminish with time, this carnal need they had for one another. They both filled that need in one another other and both knew when it was time to answer that need. Rick wanted it tonight after the talk with Alexis.

Kate also was worried for Alexis so she too was prepared to relieve that emotional angst. Both required some stress relieving sex and Kate knew it. She had felt it immediately after their talk with Alexis. This is how it is for them, seeking each other out when in trying times. Again no words need to be spoken, each sensed the other and simply gave accordingly.

There had been other men in Kate's life before her husband. There had been Wil, then Tom, and Josh. But none of them knew her like Rick. The truth be told, sex with her prior lovers had been mostly physical, lacking much of the emotional support she craved. Rick was her only intimate partner who had always been completely there for her, to share her bed, to share her load, to share her thoughts, and to take away her angst; releasing her from stress. With Rick it had been mind and body and was always fulfilling for Kate. The other men prior had all failed to complete that in her and been lacking in their couplings.

With Wil it was over in an instant, and he would then just roll over and sleep it off. Leaving her at times quite lacking for relief and unfulfilled. Demming never got to run all the bases, but he was good at making out, good for a fast reprise from her melancholy. Josh came close to filling some of her emotional needs but after about the third encounter his love making had become clinical and rote. She could predict just how it would happen with Josh, he was always safe and routine.

Rick however always kept it new and exciting. He knew her so well physically and just where to go on her body that just drove her mad with desire! She was addicted to her husband and could never get enough. On book trips when she was not with him, she longed for him, which was the situation of late, as lugging three kids along for a book tour was a show stopper. His absence from her was withdrawal on her part, for the drug named Rick, but she could never overdose with him.

Now it was Kate who had to respond to Rick. To ease in him the growing concern and angst that she had felt coming from him when Alexis had told them of her decision to go to the Ukraine. It was always this knowing subconscious link between them that let them know when one was hurting. It often manifested in a physical joining by them to ease that pain.

They go at it and are fully spent as they near the midnight hour. They wake up the next morning invigorated despite their short sleep! Both were late for the Precinct that following morning having taken twenty more minutes to cuddle as they lay awake, entangled in each other's limbs.