After the little impromptu get together at the Old Haunt the previous night Kate was feeling good as she walked into her Captain's office with the certificate signed by Dr. Burke. She was finally released from Admin leave. The Captain did not look that thrilled.
"Good Morning Detective what do you have for me?" Gates said pulling out her reading glasses.
"Good Morning Sir. It is my release form. I have undergone my compulsory psych eval after the shooting and near death. As you can see I'm cleared for duty." Kate said handing her Captain the release.
"Ok Detective I want you to consider my words closely. Do you want to return this early? Or is this something you think you should? I can not afford you to rush this." Gate said with a Grandmotherly look to her face.
"Sir I talked it over with Castle and we have decided it is in my best interest is to get back on the horse." Kate stated.
"So Mr. Castle approves of your return to duty?" Gates asked.
She knew Mr. Castle was important to her Detective but having Kate admit it to her was a different thing all together.
"Yes Captain he does. We are continuing counseling too. There are a few things we need to discuss. However, Sir it will not affect any of my abilities." Kate said.
"I see well welcome back Detective. I need you the other Detectives will clue you in."
Gates said handing back her gun and shield.
"Thank You Sir!" Kate said leaving the office.
Rick was gabbing with the Boys when Kate came out with a slight smile on her face.
"So Gates…?" Rick asked.
"She reinstated me." Kate said grasping his hand and rubbing it gently. It was the only PDA she would show overtly.
"Well that is great." Rick said brightly.
"It could not happen at a better time. We have a car bomb! Lanie's there at the scene waiting." Espo said hanging up the phone. "Welcome back Becks."
"Once more into the breach…?" Rick asked.
Kate nodded and grabbed his hand then together they exited the precinct.
/
Kate and Rick had stopped for coffee and he was distributing it to the Uni's and Lanie got a tea.
"So Lanie what do you have for me?" Kate said grasping Rick's hand as if it was a lifeline.
"Well he is pretty well gone." Lanie said as a tow truck drove up and started to load the remains of the car.
"Hey where are you going with my Crime scene?" Kate screamed at the tow truck driver.
"I'm so sorry but I have an order from that guy over there. The driver said as he finished placing the car on the bed.
Kate was upset and started to yell.
"Who is in charge here?" Kate was visibly frustrated.
"That would be me." The tall gentleman in a black suit which screamed FED!
"I want my crime scene back!" Kate said getting into his face.
"So sorry Detective Beckett It is not your crime scene" the man said.
"What do you mean it is not my crime scene?" Kate said staring at the FED eye to eye.
"That is what I said Detective it is not yours. I'm Special Agent Guerrero with Homeland Security. It is not yours. If you have a beef take it up with my supervisor." The Special Agent said walking away.
Rick came up and gently guided her away. The Boys and Lanie were standing watching Kate carefully.
"What are you doing standing around? Go get the videos and to a canvas find out what you can. They may have the vehicle but this is still an NYPD murder investigation." Kate ordered.
Both boys looked to Rick who just shrugged.
"Ok I've got the videos" Ryan said.
"I'll start the canvas" Espo said taking the Uni's with him.
Kate glared at the retreating form of the Boys. Lanie made herself scarce too since there was now no body to investigate.
"Thanks Castle for the Tea…Keep an eye on our girl huh?" She said as she got into the ME vehicle.
"Come on Kate they said it is not ours so let's go back to the precinct." Rick cajoled.
"Rick? Wha…I…Ok" Kate said grasping his hand again.
They headed back to the precinct but Kate could not shake the feeling she was being watched. She looked around a number of times before entering the car.
/
Getting back to the Precinct, Espo came walking in with some sort of evidence.
"I have the vic's wallet. It was found by the canvas a few blocks away." Espo said.
Rick reads the license.
"It says our vic is Dale Tanner and we have a home address." Rick said.
"Yeah and his description fits what witnesses say too." Espo said. "He was just sitting in the car then kablooey!"
"Ok Castle and I are going to notify the next of kin Espo good work. Come on Castle." Kate said.
/
Rick and Kate were at the home of Dale Tanner. Kate knocked and identified both of them to the person opening the door. They were let in then the hard part started. Rick was always amazing of Kate's compassion about the people left behind.
"I'm so sorry to inform you of the death of your husband Dale Tanner Mrs. Tanner." Kate said.
"I'm divorced…How did it happen?" Mrs. Tanner asked.
"It was some sort of bomb…he was in his car when it happened." Kate said. "Are you able to answer some questions?"
The woman cried and shook her head yes. Rick handed her a tissue which he saw was handy. The woman was used to tears it seemed. The woman finally was able to control the tears to talk to them. Rick noticed a Son hovering in the background. He noticed the Son had a bit of a concern for his mother but something else had played across his face. Rick thought it was satisfaction. That did not fit this picture at all.
Rick turned his attention back to Kate as he held her hand then gave it a squeeze. Kate responded with a thankful smile then turned to the crying woman.
"It was the chase I knew it was dangerous but a car bomb?" Mrs. Tanner said.
"I don't quite understand. What sort of occupation was your Ex husband involved?" Kate asked.
"Oh he was a journalist. When we were younger he thought he would be another Bernstein." She said. "He felt that the criminal justice system was broken. He was going to champion the little guy against the big guys."
"So he was an investigative Journalist?" Kate asked.
"Yeah but for his own magazine…I have a copy somewhere." The woman said looking around through the stacks of papers scattered about.
"Mom quit looking he has not published a paper copy in 10 years. He was the owner of the investigative website Whistleblower Anonymous." The Son supplied. "I'm Shawn his Son."
"Wait I've heard of that. He was the one to explore the charges against Fracking." Rick said.
"Yeah but he did prove the activists were the ones who created the mess to blame the oil companies. That earned him activists picketing his downtown office. Shawn said. "…Along with the death threats."
"Wait he was getting death threats?" Kate asked.
"Yeah it was so bad that we had to change numbers twice. The activists were able to get the first change of number." Shawn said.
"So did your father keep any of these recordings?" Kate asked.
"Maybe it would be in his law office downtown." Shawn said.
"Law office…? I thought you said he was a journalist?" Kate asked.
"He had so many lawsuits that he went to law school to counter them." Mrs. Tanner said. "Anything to get the story…He had no care for this family at all…The chase was what he lived for…The exposure of the wrong doers."
"I have another question if I may…Do either of you know why Homeland security was involved with your husband?"
The woman shook her head but the son looked determinedly grim.
"I must warn you he did not keep much in his downtown office but he rented a storage unit in Queens…I do know he has a partner but I have no idea who he was…He said the less I knew the better off I would be." The woman said.
The son was getting visibly upset.
"Mom they know the government killed him and these two are here to cover it up." Shawn said with venom.
"Well here is my card Mrs. Tanner and if you can think of anything else please get in contact with me…I'm so sorry for your loss." Kate said leaving with Rick looking at the Son.
Rick saw that smile of satisfaction again. Outside Kate called Espo and gave him the address of the downtown law office.