A Future Caskett
By
UCSBdad
Disclaimer: You know this by now, right? Rating: K Time: See below.
For thousands of years humans left the solar system and spread out across the Orion Arm of the Milky Way and even deeper into the galaxy. Eventually, the Great Human Expanse began to collapse. Some planets were so devastated by war and chaos that all life died off. Some were thrust back into barbarism. Some slid back, but not completely. Our story takes place on one such planet where technology has fallen to the level of early 21st century Earth. Of course not every place on 21st century Earth had the same level of technology…..
Detective Kate Beckett sat at her rickety wooden desk and tried for the fourth time to get her computer to boot up. The flickering of the fluorescent panel above her didn't help. Why can't maintenance fix those damned lights? She thought.
Her work was interrupted by a shout from her boss's office. "Beckett! Get your skinny ass in here. Now!"
She shot to her feet and hurried across the worn and cracked linoleum flooring.
One of her "partners", Kevin Ryan, snickered. "Looks like Sweetie Pie is going to get it."
She ignored him and went into Captain Montgomery's office.
"Close the damned door." Montgomery snapped.
She did so and stood there while Montgomery glared at her. Although summer was officially over, it was still hot and the air conditioning wasn't able to keep up. Montgomery had taken off his jacket, his tie and had his sleeves rolled up. She could see sweat on his shaven head.
Finally, he spoke. "Do you know someone or something, Beckett?"
She had no idea what that meant. "No one that you don't know about, sir."
"Someone knows you. You know of a Richard Castle, the novelist?"
She nodded. "He writes the Derrick Storm series about a Security Service operative who…"
"Skip it. I've seen the movies, too."
Actually, Kate had only seen one of the Derrick Storm films. She had thought them nothing but endless gunfights, car chases and scantily clad women. The books had far more layered characterizations and plot twists that kept her guessing until the end of the books.
Montgomery glanced at a piece of paper on his desk. "Richard Castle wants to do some research about a Criminal Police homicide detective. You."
She was shocked. "Me? Why me, sir?"
"How do I know? Maybe he saw your picture. Or maybe someone told him that you're the only homicide cop worth anything in the whole freaking city. Everyone else is like those idiots out there."
Those idiots were what passed for her team, of course. Detective Kevin Ryan, who's family history said he should be a gangster, not a cop. Detective Javier Esposito who'd been demoted from the Field Police to the far less prestigious Criminal Police and never forgot whatever unknown mistake had cost him his career. And Corporal Roslyn Karpowski, liaison of the Field Police to the 12th Precinct. In spite of the detectives being plain clothes, Karpowski insisted on wearing her black uniform and made a point of letting every one know she was from the Field Police and they, most especially Esposito, were not. Espo retaliated by telling her that liaison with the Criminal Police meant she was officially useless for anything more complex. Kate often wondered when one would kill the other. Not that she cared.
"Castle will be in later to follow you around."
"For how long?"
"How should I know? And he's an Elite, so make damned sure not to do anything to piss him off. Anything he wants, you do. Understood?"
Kate understood perfectly. "Yes, sir."
"Now get out of here."
Kate had hardly gotten back to her desk when Castle arrived. She had seen his face on the covers of his books, but actually seeing him was different. His photo hadn't been altered. He really was good looking. And tall, with broad shoulders and a slim waist. He had on a perfectly cut blue suit, a white shirt and a striped tie. When he checked the time, she could see he had an expensive watch. Then he stepped into Montgomery's office.
What did you expect? She thought to herself. He looks just like an Elite. And he'll act like one, too.
"Detective Beckett. Will you come in here, please?"
The entrance of Castle and Montgomery's use of the word "please" had caused the "team" to look at her in curiosity and a bit of awe. She ignored them as she rushed to Montgomery's office.
"Mr. Castle, this is Detective Kate Beckett, the best homicide cop in the city. Beckett, this is Richard Castle, the writer."
Castle smiled at her and shook her hand.
"Beckett, we have a fresh one for you and Mr. Castle to roll on. 53rd and Barras. Uniforms are already there. And remember to show Mr. Castle every courtesy."
Beckett nodded and then led Castle towards the garage and her cruiser. As soon as she saw it, she swore. "Dammit! The right front tire is flat again. I keep asking them to replace it, but they keep trying to fix the damned thing."
"No problem, Detective. We'll take my car."
"With all due respect, Mr. Castle, my cruiser has police radios and computers as well as other..."
Castle cut her off. "So does my car. I made sure it was completely outfitted when I decided to follow you. This way, please."
Kate followed him outside and almost stopped when she saw his car. It was huge, and both the paintwork and chrome gleamed. Castle opened the passenger side door for her. She found the upholstery was leather and the dashboard was highly polished wood, not cheap, cracked plastic as in her car. She checked the console. He had a both a radio set and a computer that would not have looked out of place in the Minister of State Security's own vehicle.
"Where did you get the computer and the comm gear, Mr. Castle?" She asked, somewhat awed.
He shrugged. "I know a guy."
"Oh." She couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Where to again?" Castle asked, turning on the engine.
My God! Kate thought. I can hardly hear the engine. "Um, 53rd and Barras. Near Junktown."
"Got it." Castle said as the car pulled into traffic.
As they drove, Kate glanced furtively at the back seat. She wondered if he'd take her there or if he'd at least have the decency to take her to her place and use the bed. He's an Elite. He'll do what he damned well pleases. She thought.
When they got there, Kate noticed the two uniforms weren't in proper uniform. Due to the heat, they had their ties off and their long-sleeved blue shirts had been altered to short sleeved shirts, showing off their massive biceps and tattooed forearms.
Seeing an obvious Elite car pull up, they came to something like attention. When they saw Beckett and Castle emerge, an odd came over their faces.
They're wondering if Castle is some MSS bigshot come to make their life miserable.
The two men saluted, something Kate had never seen before. "Detective Beckett, we're officers Lockwood and Marks. We found the deceased."
Kate nodded, but let them sweat a bit longer. "Oh, this is Richard Castle, the writer. He's doing research for one of the Derrick Storm novels."
The two men relaxed and smiled.
"What do we have?" Kate asked.
Lockwood replied. "Maggie Reynolds, age fifteen. Record for prostitution, drugs and carrying a blade. I count thirteen stab wounds. Address is for her parents, but they haven't seen her for over a year. Same with school."
"Witnesses?"
Lockwood almost laughed, then remembered Castle. "No one ever sees a Junktown hooker get carved up."
Castle stepped forward. "It's been my experience that people will remember things if you ask properly." He pulled a roll of bills from his pocket and handed what looked like fifty sovereigns to each cop. "Go across the street and spread those around. You'll find someone."
The two took his money and headed across the street to a row of tiny shops all crowded together.
Kate wondered just how naïve Castle was. Obviously the two would disappear into the maze of shops, pocket the money and come back in half an hour claiming to have found nothing.
Kate was surprised when the two came back smiling inside of fifteen minutes.
"Good news, sir." Lockwood said, ignoring Kate. "We found two witnesses. The killer is the girl's pimp/boyfriend, a mush head called Gilly. They even knew where he lives, a flop six blocks from here on 53rd."
"We'll follow you, then." Castle said, then remembered Kate was in charge. "Um, if that's acceptable to Detective Beckett."
"Fine. Let's go." Beckett had no desire to argue with some Elite.
The apartment building was a dump, but the mailboxes gave the address of one A. Gilly as being on the first floor, unit 110.
Kate turned to Rick. "Mr. Castle, you should stay here. If he's still high, he could be dangerous."
Castle nodded, and Kate and the two uniforms headed down the narrow hallway. They stopped outside Gilly's door. Lockwood was about to kick it in when Kate heard a voice right behind her.
"I might be unlocked." Castle said.
Before Kate could say anything, Lockwood opened the door and all four charged in. Gilly was anything but high.
"He's totally blissed out." Marks said.
"And he's got blood all over his clothes and a bloody knife on the table in front of him." Kate said. "Search the place for any other evidence of illegal activities, cuff him and deliver him to Interrogation One at the precinct."
As Rick watched, the two uniforms collected a number of things, including s plastic bag that probably held mush. "Shouldn't you put that in an evidence bag or something?"
Marks shrugged. "Sure, if they'd give us any."
With everyone outside and Castle in his car, Kate talked to the uniforms. "You didn't spend any of Mr. Castle's sovereigns, did you?"
"You asking for a share, Detective?" Lockwood asked, sullenly.
She shook her head. "Just curious. I figured you'd pocket the money and come back saying you hadn't found a thing so you could go enjoy yourself with his money."
Lockwood nodded. "We thought about it. But, Elites can be odd. Some act like anything less than a thousand sovereigns isn't really money. We figured if we do something for him now, maybe he gets more generous later."
"We'll see." Kate said.
"By the way, Detective. We got a call from the meat wagon. They finally took the vic to the morgue." Marks called after her.
"What now?" Castle asked happily as Kate got back in the car.
"The morgue has the vic. We'll check in with the Medical Examiner for cause of death."
The morgue was in the basement of the precinct.
"Wow!" Castle said. "All they need to add to make this place totally creepy is a sign that says, "Abandon hope all ye who enter here."
Kate agreed but said nothing as they entered the Morgue. "Dr. Parish? It's Detective Beckett. Do you have a COD on Maggie Reynolds yet?"
A voice from an office answered. "There were thirteen stab wounds to the chest and abdomen. I would have thought even the dumbest cop could make the connection. But, no you had…"
A curvy black lady stepped into the morgue from her office, a sneer on her face. As soon as she saw Rick, her eyes lit up. "Why Detective Beckett, why didn't you tell me you had company?" She advanced on Rick, pushing Kate out of the way. "And what can I do for you, sir? You know I'll do anything at all. I'm Dr. Lanie Parish, the Medical Examiner."
Rick smiled. "Hi, I'm Rick Castle, the author. I'm following Detective Beckett around for research. Could you tell me something about the cause of death?"
Lanie whipped the sheet of the dead girl. "There are thirteen stab wounds, rather random, so I'd say a crime of passion, not a professional job. These two, "Lanie pointed, "would have caused almost instant death. I can tell you also that the girl had several illegal drugs in her system and she'd had sex several times recently. If you'd care to stay, I can give you a lot more." She said, suggestively.
"We really have to go." Castle said, grabbing Beckett's arm. "Maybe later."
"I'll be waiting."
Once in the elevator, Castle sighed. "She's sort of…pushy?"
Kate shrugged. "She's an MD, and the only person in the precinct that got past high school. I don't know what she did to end up here, but she wants out badly."
Castle, with Montgomery, watched from observation as Beckett interrogated Andrew Gilly.
"He's confessing to everything." Castle said, somewhat surprised.
"Beckett is the best interrogator there is."
"But he's under the influence of drugs. Will the court accept his confession?"
Montgomery shrugged. "Why not? We didn't give him the drugs. He's for the short drop now, for sure."
When Beckett was done, they met at her desk. "The rest is just paperwork, Mr. Castle. You'll probably be bored."
He smiled. "I'm sure I will be, but I'm here to learn how things are done, including paperwork."
They sat for several hours while Kate struggled to get her malfunctioning computer to behave properly. Once, when she was three quarters done with the report, the computer erased everything she'd done and she had to start over.
"Finally." Kate said with relief as the computer accepted her report and sent copies to the interested parties.
Kate stood and held out her hand. "It's been very interesting working with you, Mr. Castle. I hope you learned what you need to know."
Castle laughed. "You have an exaggerated idea of the extent of my talents, Detective. I can't possibly form Nikki Heat out of nothing from just one day with you."
"Nikki Heat?" Kate had no idea who she was.
"The character I'm basing on you. I'll be here tomorrow. What time do you start work?"
"Seven AM."
He groaned. "Seven AM? Okay, I'll manage to get here somehow." He shook her hand and walked out of the precinct.
He's probably used to coming home from some scandalous liaison at seven AM. Kate thought to herself.