Kate looked down at her phone as she left the precinct.

When are you coming home? The text message read.

Shaking her head she pocketed the device. She couldn't have it going off where she was going. She glanced around the street as she walked towards her car. When she was positive no one was following her, she dropped into the driver's seat and brought the car to life.

The hotel was just outside of town. It would be a twenty minute ride with the light traffic. Glancing in her mirror she shook off the feeling of being followed. It was impossible for anyone to know what she was about to do. Rick had been in meetings with his publisher all day. Both Ryan and Esposito had left early and Lanie, well she could only imagine what she was doing since Esposito left early.

Finally a sign for The Holiday Inn illuminated the sky as she pulled into the parking lot. Kate took the first parking spot she saw as her cell phone began to ring.

"Beckett."

"Room 183," the male voice responded before the line went dead. She made her way across the parking lot taking a deep breath as she approached the front door. The lobby of the hotel was empty except for an older woman who was standing behind the desk. The woman didn't say anything as Kate walked by. Her only sign of communication was a slight head nod as if to ask about her luggage. Kate merely shrugged and walked to the elevator.

As the elevator doors slid shut, Kate got glimpse of her reflection in the mirrored panels. Quickly she tried to bring her hair back to life as she unbuttoned the top two buttons on her blouse. This was not how he wanted her to look.

The ding signaling her arrival caused her to jump. Walking out of the elevator she read the sign on the wall and turned down the correct hallway. Years of being a detective and now was when her nerves began to show. With a trembling hand she knocked on the door of room 183. The door swung open almost immediately revealing his face to her.