They enjoyed a simple dinner of grilled fish wrapped in foil, seared steak, fried eggs, and broccoli sautéed in leftover butter, accompanied by a local fruit wine. Considering they were outdoors, they couldn't ask for more.
Under the moonlight, a "mermaid" swam through the cool lake waters. Sitting at the lakeside, Jack watched her graceful figure rise and fall, feeling his heart grow warmer.
The water was truly cold, and the "mermaid" wore nothing at all. Jack worried she might catch a chill, so he leapt into the lake, heroically intending to rescue her.
However, the "mermaid" didn't seem grateful—in fact, she may have thought he had dubious intentions. She struggled fiercely as soon as she fell into his "grasp."
Under the moonlight, ripples stirred the lake surface as waves rhythmically splashed against the pebbles onshore. The calm was only broken by a soft cry that echoed across the night.
Jack emerged from the water, carrying a drained Hannah over his shoulder. As he stepped ashore, he reminded himself that even with moonlight, night swimming could be risky—she had nearly cramped and drowned.
Hannah's cheeks were still flushed, the wine from dinner leaving her slightly intoxicated. She leaned into him, pressing close.
The two sat by the campfire, talking idly until the heat between them built again. That night, the birds in the woods were not spared, often startled by the strange noises.
The next day, they slept in until noon. After packing up the tent, they resumed their journey, with Jack driving his Firebird toward Niagara Falls, located between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The waters of Lake Erie flow through the Niagara River, feeding Lake Ontario before reaching the North Atlantic, and forming three waterfalls of varying sizes along the way.
Collectively known as Niagara Falls, two of these waterfalls, one large and one small, lie on the American side, while the largest, the Horseshoe Falls, is in Canada. The American side doesn't offer a great viewing angle, and lacks entertainment facilities, so Jack decided to cross the border via the Rainbow Bridge.
Crossing between the US and Canada is even easier than the US-Mexico border; a passport check suffices. Many American college students visit Canada to drink legally due to the different age restrictions.
In Niagara Park, there's a century-old power station, now a museum. Inside, they were greeted by a line of vintage generators.
They took an elevator 50 meters underground and followed a nearly 700-meter tunnel, formerly an intake channel, to a viewing platform that provided a breathtaking view of Niagara Falls.
To the left, they could see the impressive, though slightly less powerful, American Falls, and a small, almost tiny waterfall nestled between the two larger ones.
This smaller waterfall, romantically named the Bridal Veil, reminded Jack of similarly named falls in other places around the world.
Walking through the tunnel, they could faintly hear the distant rumble of the falls. When they reached the tunnel exit, the sound amplified, becoming a thunderous roar. The air was thick with mist, creating a breathless feeling—the mist carried on the wind, whipped up by the falls.
Boats full of people occasionally passed by on the river, stopping in the middle of the Horseshoe Falls' basin, where they'd be drenched by the spray.
Jack noticed a curious detail: tourists on Canadian boats wore orange life jackets, while those on American boats wore blue.
Since Hannah disliked physical contact with strangers (excluding fights), and Jack wasn't a fan of crowded spaces (excluding pretty women), they opted to enjoy the scenery from the more distant viewing platform rather than taking a boat ride.
They'd heard there was an evening light show at the falls, but it didn't happen every day. Jack searched for details without success. After leaving the old power station, they took a left into Niagara Falls City.
From there, they could still see the magnificent waterfall, though it was just a street away from various entertainment facilities. Hannah was especially drawn to the giant Ferris wheel by the riverbank.
Viewing the falls from the towering Ferris wheel provided a completely different perspective.
After staying overnight at a hotel in the tourist district (where they paid a small fortune), they set out for New York the next day, making a quick detour around the Finger Lakes. They toured the Cayuga Lake wine region and returned with two cases of locally produced Riesling.
The white wine, with its balance of acidity and sweetness, pairs well with food and is especially useful in Western seafood stews to enhance flavor complexity.
On their last evening of vacation, Jack donned a custom suit, and Hannah, in a black, elegant evening gown, joined him at a book signing and wine event.
They'd been invited by Alexis to attend the event for her father, renowned detective novelist and suspense writer Richard Castle.
"So, even at a party, you're still working on your homework? I hope to have such a diligent daughter one day." Jack found Alexis tucked in a corner of the bar, her textbook open in front of her.
"Hi, long time no see, Unc... I mean, Jack." She smiled, showing dimples that made her so adorable he almost wanted to pinch her cheeks.
"Oh, don't let me hear you start with a 'U' again, or the lovely lady by my side will be heartbroken." Jack waved a finger at her, then introduced them.
"This is Hannah, my partner, and this is Alexis Rogers, the ideal daughter every father in this country dreams of."
A faint blush crept onto Alexis's cheeks, a little embarrassed by the compliment. But the two quickly bonded, exchanging polite kisses on the cheek and chatting softly.
"Hey, handsome, maybe that little lady is a bit too young for you, but I think we're just the right match." A well-dressed, vibrant older woman in her sixties, wearing striking makeup and standing like a starlet, approached Jack and gave him a wink.
"Grandma, this is Jack, a friend of Uncle John's," Alexis said, her face turning beet red, clearly embarrassed by her grandmother's brazen behavior.
"Hush, darling," her grandmother said, rolling her eyes. "I still hope to meet my true love at a party like this." She then reached out to shake Jack's hand.
"John's told me about you. I haven't had the chance to thank you for saving our little sweetheart."
Jack quickly shook her hand. "I should've come by to apologize long ago, Mrs. Rogers. If it weren't for me, Alexis wouldn't have been in danger."
"Oh, don't say that. You're a hero—I saw you on TV, the FBI's big star, right?" She waved a hand dismissively.
"And please, call me Martha. Ever considered becoming a movie star? You have the perfect image and charm; I've worked in the industry for years, and…"
"Mom, he's my future colleague," interrupted a familiar face—Rick Castle himself, much younger than his old friend John Nolan. He moved closer, giving Alexis a quick kiss on the cheek. "Hi, sweetheart."
"Hi, Dad. This is Jack," Alexis began to introduce, only to be cut off by her father.
"I know—Jack Tavor. David Rossi's already shown me your book, Detective Jack. I must say, for a newcomer, your talent is impressive."
Castle shook Jack's hand, and they were about to chat when sudden murmurs and commotion arose from across the room.
Everyone turned toward the noise, where a young woman, bloody and battered, stumbled into the hall.
"Robin?" A middle-aged man, startled, turned around from his conversation and realized, horrified, that the girl before him was his daughter.
"Dad, I'm sorry... I'm late," the girl whispered dreamily as she reached her father, then collapsed.
"Robin!" With the crowd's gasps filling the air, the man dropped his glass and barely caught his daughter as she fell.
"Call 911!"
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