Ladykiller
Season 9, Episode 20
Written by Meg Moore
This is a work of fiction by writers with no professional connection to ABC network's Castle. Recognizable characters are the property of Andrew Marlowe and ABC. Names, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Claudia took her time as she quietly descended the service stairs down to the penthouse level, scurrying away for a few moment of privacy. The party on the roof was starting to show signs of winding down, but it was almost three in the morning and she needed a break. Her boss, Mrs. Danica, had already turned in for the night, so no one would notice or care if she didn't return to her duties for a few minutes longer. Maybe she could sneak into the pantry and smoke a cigarette or two while she was killing some time. Anything to avoid the remaining party-goers, a bunch of young, drunk, spoiled brats, all friends of Mrs. Danica's son, Niles.
Claudia wasn't complaining, though. She'd started working for Mrs. Danica right after her billionaire father died and she received her inheritance, and had been with her ever since, because good treatment and high pay went a long way toward loyalty. She would tolerate Mrs. Danica's obnoxious son and parade of husbands (and lovers) because her boss was good to her and made sure she was well cared for. In return, Claudia ran her household with efficiency and discretion.
When she'd dawdled long enough and finally reached the landing, Claudia passed through the French doors that led to the kitchen in order to grab a drink before she slipped into the pantry and enjoyed a smoke.
The lights were low in the kitchen, the caterers long since cleaned up from the dinner hours before, only the bartenders still in attendance upstairs. She retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge and was turning to make her way back to the pantry when a movement caught the corner of her eye. She turned, thinking it was Mrs. Danica's cat, Mimi, and she suddenly wondered if anyone had bothered to feed her tonight, but… it wasn't Mimi. It definitely wasn't the cat.
Mrs. Danica lay on the floor beside the massive kitchen island, a pool of blood around her body expanding the longer Claudia stood and stared, no doubt a product of the chef's knife protruding from her back. And beside Mrs. Danica was her current husband, Mr. Peter, kneeling over her, checking her pulse. But even in the dim lighting of the kitchen, Claudia could see Mrs. Danica's unblinking and unseeing eyes, glazed and forever frozen in that position. She had no doubt the woman was dead.
Her hands rose to cover the gasp she couldn't keep from escaping her lips, sending the bottle crashing to the floor, the plastic bouncing noisily and skittering into the corner of the room. Mr. Peter's head snapped up to her, as if awoken from a stupor, and his eyes grew to the size of saucers, darting back and forth between the body on the floor and the housekeeper.
"Oh, god, Claudia! No, you need to understand, this isn't what it looks like! I swear! I found her like this!"
Claudia heard that last statement through the closed door of the pantry. She was already dialing 911 when she locked it behind her.
The bedroom was already daylight-bright when Kate finally opened her eyes. Glancing over her shoulder at the the clock on the nightstand, she threw her arms over her head, cat-like, stretching her spine into an arch as she thrust her swollen belly forward. 9:43 A.M.? She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept in that late. Baby Girl was remarkably quiet that morning, much like Baby Girl's father was, and seriously, where was he, anyway? He had teased her just last night about sleeping in and lounging around in bed with her all day now that she was officially on her maternity leave. She had fully expected him to be beside her still, snoring softly, or maybe even awake and reading something on his iPad, his hand resting on her stomach, chasing the fluttery butterfly movements of their daughter just beneath the surface.
Instead, he was nowhere to be seen and the loft was quiet, but there was the distinct odor of coffee emanating from the direction of the kitchen, and before long she'd slipped from the bed and into her robe. After relieving herself and washing up, she made the conscious decision to avoid her reflection in favor of seeking out her husband. She shuffled into the living room, her eyes landing on him immediately as he sat at the bar with the paper spread before him, a steaming cup in his hands. His head swiveled in her direction the moment he sensed her approach, a sleepy, awestruck smile lighting up his face as he took her in.
"Mmmm-mmm-mmm, good morning to you, my unbearably sexy wife." His last words turned into a hum as he pulled her into the vee of his legs and pressed his smile to hers, one hand clutching her hip as the other spanned her torso. Freshly rolled out of bed at 39 weeks pregnant, she was fairly convinced she looked to be a hot mess the size of a small whale, but Castle only had eyes for her, a fact he reminded her of regularly with his words and his touch and the way he looked at her like she was everything.
She couldn't help but recall the time she'd sat next to a woman in Dr. Kowalewski's waiting room who had had filled her head with horror stories about how her husband had stopped touching her the moment she started showing. They hadn't had sex in months, and Kate (who was a month or two further along) hadn't had the heart to tell this woman that her husband had done all manner of filthy things to her that very morning. She'd opened her mouth but no sound emerged, her mind wiped blank and her cheeks heating up at the memory of what they'd gotten up to just hours before in the steamy shower they shared. Nurse Susan had saved the day, calling Kate in for her appointment and sparing her from having to confess that she couldn't relate, that her husband couldn't keep his hands off her.
If ever she'd wondered if Castle would grow to tire of her ever-changing pregnant body, the answer had turned out to be a pretty resounding no.
He kept his hands clasped around her loosely as she took a step back, keeping her close. "Hey sleepyhead. How do you feel this morning?" he murmured, raising one hand to brush some stray tendrils back from her eyes.
"Mmmm, good. I slept like a rock and only got up twice to pee instead of my usual five times." She quirked a smile and rolled her eyes at the absurdities of pregnancy. She was resigned to her constant trips to the bathroom at this point.
"Not much longer, honey. Lily just needs to bake for another week or so and then you can have your bladder back. Until the next baby, of course..." he sing-songed, his teasing tone turning into an unmanly squeal when her sharp pinch at his ribs sent him squirming.
"Bite your tongue, Richard Castle. One baby at a time." She smoothed a hand over her bump affectionately, and it sent him laughing at her, unable to resist leaning in to plant a peck to her lips. He released her then, hopping down from the stool and ambling over to make her once-a-day latte, as she slid up and onto the warm seat he was just occupying.
"So Beckett," he threw over his shoulder, "You're officially on maternity leave. You have exactly zero captainly duties to attend to today."
"Captainly?"
"As in, the duties carried out by a captain, so yes, captainly." It was his turn to roll his eyes at her. "All of the details for the book launch are finalized. Until tomorrow evening, our sole obligation is relaxation. Please get used to the idea being pampered by me."
"And what, pray tell, does being pampered by you entail?" she smirked.
"Whatever you want," he called out as he steamed the milk. "Oooo, how about a blanket fort? Or a movie marathon? Wait, no… A movie marathon inside a blanket fort. With snacks!" His eyes sparkled with an irrepressible glee.
Suddenly, she could see it so razor sharp, a vision of what the future held for their little girl. Lily was already blessed with the best dad in the world; she just didn't know it yet. He was the one who would stoke the fires of her imagination, the one who would play fairy tea party complete with sparkly butterfly wings and tiaras. He'd take her on a mission to Mars without ever leaving their living room. Or maybe he'd just take the time to make chocolate chip cookies from scratch with her. His paternal side had been one of the first things that attracted her to him, and when those qualities were shining through? Well, he wasn't the only one who had trouble keeping his hands to himself.
"And maybe… we can make out a little in the fort."
Castle spun around with her steaming latte, grinning like a little kid. "Really? You wanna?"
"Yeah. I mean, the nursery is all but ready. And you said it yourself, the launch is set up. I even know what I'm going to wear. There's nothing to do, so... yeah! Why not?" she smiled and shrugged as he handed her the steaming mug. She took a long, grateful sip, and mmm, okay… His coffee-making skills might be the real reason she had fallen for him.
But if she was being completely honest, it felt good to let go a little, and like she said, why not? Their baby could safely be born any day now, so it was just a matter of time. She knew there were changes on the horizon. Things would be different. They would be different. It wasn't so much that she feared what was to come, and her husband, who actually had experience raising a child (and a pretty amazing child, at that), had nothing but the utmost confidence in her abilities. None of that changed the fact that this was all new to her. No matter how much research she did, no matter how many parenting books she read, there was just so much… unknown. Over the years, Castle had imparted some of his appreciation for mysteries to her, but it still was (and would always be) her nature to be well-prepared, and there was no preparing for the unpredictability of parenthood. Not really.
Her reached across the island and laced his fingers through hers, giving her a encouraging squeeze and a serene smile. "Hey. Don't dwell on the what ifs, Beckett. You're gonna be an amazing mom. Let's just enjoy this time before Lily arrives."
She returned his smile. Sweet man… he always just knew, didn't he? Tugging on his hand, she was about to suggest they get started with breakfast and decide on the theme for their movie marathon when they both turned toward the sound of keys jingling at the front door.
"Are we expecting someone? Did we get an alert?" she wondered aloud.
Castle glanced at the iPad sitting on the counter and poked at the screen to open their new security app for the loft. "We did. I must have been steaming the milk when it came in and we didn't hear it. Alexis usually calls or texts before coming over, so it's probably my mother, aaaand… yep! Bingo!"
He turned the tablet in her direction with a sigh and a resigned shake of his head so she could see the closed-circuit video feed of Martha in the hallway, and she responded with a smile and a shrug. Kate knew as well as he did that Martha had a mind of her own when it came to these things, and she visited whenever she pleased. Miraculously, she'd interrupted only a handful of intimate moments over the years.
Martha pushed through the door a moment later, a swirl of red hair and a cloud of expensive perfume and billowing, colorful silk. Her arms overflowed, a huge purse hanging from one arm and multiple shopping bags hanging from the other. Martha still knew how to make an entrance, no matter the size of the stage.
"Hello and good morning, darlings!" The bracelets encircling her wrists jangled as she shucked the contents of her arms onto the dining room table, moving to embrace Kate, then skirting the island to greet her son next. "How are my favorite son and daughter-in-law this morning? And how is my newest granddaughter faring now that you are on maternity leave, Katherine?"
"We're well, Martha, thank you. Everything looked good at the last checkup. Just planning to enjoy the last of our quiet time before Lily arrives."
"Excellent plan, you two!" she exclaimed with a clap of her hands. "Listen, I have a rehearsal to get to this morning. Streetcar opens next month and as you know, there are so many decisions to made before then. I just happened to be in the neighborhood and I wanted to drop off this irresistible little ensemble for Lily that I knew she absolutely had to have the moment I laid eyes on it. But remember kiddos, nothing is so important that I won't be at your beck and call when this little one arrives…"
Martha trailed off as she circled back around to the table and started digging through her bags, looking for the one with the umpteenth adorable outfit she'd bought for Lily. As if it weren't enough that she and Alexis had thrown them a lavish baby shower and given them piles of gifts, she continued to buy more stylish baby clothing with every passing day (although, in her defense, Alexis had only been slightly more restrained in her spending on her new baby sister). Their daughter would never be lacking for wardrobe.
A shrill ringtone cried out from Martha's oversized purse, and she halted her search to fish her phone out, a strange, bewildered frown forming when she looked at the screen.
"Who is it, Mother?" Castle must have noticed it, too.
Martha simply held up a finger in reply and answered her phone. "Hello? Yes, this is Martha. Oh my, it is you, dear. Yes, alright… wait, what's happened? Oh. Oh my goodness. Oh, all right, they are? Oh, well, yes, that's correct…"
The one-sided conversation carried on like that for another minute, both Kate and Rick waiting with bated breath to know who the mystery caller was.
"Yes, of course. Of course I will. I'll send him over, dear. Of course. Yes, I'll meet you at the precinct, Marnie. Give me a half-hour. Yes, dear. Yes, of course. I'll see you then." Martha disconnected the call then, falling silent and simply staring at the phone cradled in her palm.
Kate found her voice first. "Martha?"
When Martha didn't acknowledge her, Castle spoke up next. "Mother? Are you alright? Did I hear you correctly? Did you say Marnie, as in…" He trailed off when Martha finally stirred, looking up at him with a grim expression on her face.
"Yes, as in Marnie Jacobs."
Kate looked from Castle's face, his features contorted with surprise, to Martha's, her blue eyes stormy and troubled.
"Guys, I'm so sorry to butt in here, but who is Marnie Jacobs?"
Martha swallowed before she spoke, her voice a little uneven. "Marnie is Peter Jacobs's daughter."
Castle finished for her, his expression transitioning from shock to a scowl. "And Peter Jacobs is my mother's ex-husband. He's the man who took her money and left her destitute. That's when she moved in with Alexis and me." He swung around toward Martha then. "Not that it wasn't wonderful having you live here, Mother. It was."
Martha glared at him from the corner of her eye, a huff of laughter escaping her lips. "Of course it was. Anyway..." She took another deep, steadying breath, her manner turning serious again. "That was Marnie, obviously. She was calling to tell me that… that Peter's been arrested for murder."
As if drawn by a magnet, Kate's gaze turned toward her husband at the same time he sought hers, before they both turned back to his mother.
"Martha, why was she calling you?"
"Apparently, the 12th Precinct is investigating. Ryan and Esposito are there now. Marnie told me that she'd always followed your work with Katherine, Richard, and she recalled reading that you two worked out of the 12th Precinct, and, well… she figured she'd call and see if we could help. She insists her father is innocent."
Kate didn't need to be looking at Castle to know he didn't buy it, and the snort of disbelief he let out only cemented that. "Oh, I'm sure he is."
She was going to cut in, and maybe suggest that Castle was a little biased on this subject, but Martha leveled him with a look and he shrank back visibly.
"Richard. Stop that. Peter Jacobs is many things, but I never knew him to be a violent man. And if he is guilty, your detectives are savvy enough to find the evidence to prove it. Now," she took another calming breath, "Marnie was wondering if you would meet them at the crime scene. She was begging, Richard. Please. Peter had plenty of faults but Marnie was always a delight, even you'd agree with that. She deserves our help. It wasn't her fault that her father was a grifter."
Castle looked to his wife, genuine distress written out across his face. "But… but… our fort! And our marathon! And snacks. And making out! Kaaaaate…" he whined, shaking his head at the idea of abandoning their plans for the day. But at the same time, who were they to deny Martha help when she needed it? She would drop everything for them, and they knew it.
Kate reached over to squeeze his hand. "It's okay, babe, really. Rain check, I promise. Go help, if you can."
He sighed in resignation. "Promise me you'll relax? I'll keep you updated?"
"Yes, I'll take it easy. And yes, please let me know if there's anything I can do. Martha? Can I help you at all?"
Martha's smile was watery, and she suddenly looked very tired considering it was only ten in the morning. "No, dear. I promised Marnie I'd meet her down at the precinct, so I'll just catch a cab. You need to rest, here at home."
Kate pursed her lips in frustration. Her maternity leave was supposed to be a welcome reprieve, but now she found herself wondering how 1PP would feel about her working just this one case?
"Kate." She turned to find Castle shaking his head. Damn it. Of course he knew what she was thinking. "Stay. Please. I promise, I'll keep you updated and I won't stay away any longer than necessary."
"I know, I just… I know." And she really did; she understood. She was officially on leave from the NYPD. She wouldn't risk the investigation by inserting herself in an unauthorized capacity. "Hurry home, babe."
He smeared a kiss to her mouth as he passed through to their bedroom to get dressed. Martha swooped in with a kiss for her cheek moments later, as she left in a flurry much like the one she had entered in. Kate found herself alone then; her home that had been bustling with life just a few moments ago was now a ghost town, and she wrapped her hands around her still-steaming mug, propping it atop her belly with a sigh. Staying home wasn't going to be nearly as much fun if she was all alone.
After his driver dropped him off at the address his mother had jotted down for him, Castle gazed up at the impressive façade of the building that held Danica Fenton's ritzy penthouse apartment. He had known of Danica more than he actually knew her, their paths crossing superficially a handful of times over the years at charity events and the like. They tended to move in completely different social circles, so Danica had been easy enough to avoid when she'd taken up with his mother's creep of an ex-husband.
Did he believe Peter to be capable of murder? Well, actually… no, not really. Peter was more slick than sick, but if working with Beckett all these years had taught Castle anything, it was that most of the time, killers didn't wear neon signs stating their intentions. He'd just have to wait and see how the investigation panned out.
Marnie had left his name with the doorman and he was allowed up to the penthouse level, carving a path through the cadre of NYPD personnel present when he stepped off the car and made his way to the apartment. Espo and Ryan stood near the front door, talking quietly while consulting their notes, only looking up when Castle stood right before them.
"Uhhhh, what are you doing here, Castle?" Ryan asked first.
"Beckett's on leave, aren't you supposed to be home?" Espo piped up next.
He held up his hands in supplication. "Guys, I was summoned."
"By whom?" Ryan scoffed. "Not us."
"No, it was me." Marnie Jacobs spoke up as she walked out into the hallway, joining their group. Save for a few more lines around her eyes, she had barely aged in the decade since Castle saw her last. "Rick and I go back a long way. I knew of his work with your precinct and asked him to be here."
Espo flicked a finger back and forth between Marnie and Castle. "You two know each other."
"Actually, we were step-siblings at one point, long ago," Marnie explained.
"Yes, my mother was once married to Marnie's father," Castle clarified further.
"Wait, let me get this straight," Ryan interjected. "Martha was married to Peter Jacobs? The man we just placed under arrest for the murder of Danica Fenton, that Peter Jacobs?"
Castle knew how crazy it must have sounded. Even to his own ears, the whole scenario was a little farfetched, but the truth was the truth. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, she was."
An awkward silence fell, the tension ratcheting up a few notches more when the uniforms began to usher Peter from the apartment to the squad car waiting downstairs. Peter looked up as he walked through the door, stopping short when he saw Castle standing there.
His mouth open and closed a few times before he managed sound. "Richard," was all that emerged.
"Peter," Castle replied in a steady voice, betraying no feeling. He was there out of respect for Marnie and his mother, not for Peter's benefit.
"C'mon guys, get moving. Get him to the station. We're right behind you," Espo prodded the uniforms, who set into motion again, tugging Peter away with them, Marnie following at their heels.
"Well, that was the most awkward family reunion ever," Ryan whispered out of the side of his mouth. Espo slugged him in the bicep, mumbling shut it, dude under his breath.
Castle paid Ryan no mind though, watching as the uniforms corralled Peter into the elevator.
"Oh, that was nothing. If you think that was awkward, just wait until he gets to the precinct. My mother will be there."