A/N: What happens when a London-based magazine gets a shot at a rare interview with Kate Beckett? And what happens when she heads home after the interview? I did a little research on the NYPD while writing this, but there was still a fair bit of winging it. I imagine there will be inaccuracies, and I accept full responsibility for them.
*A/N edited to add* To ensure that this story is firmly within FF dot net guidelines, I reformatted the interview portions, which previously appeared in conventional Q&A interview format. I'm not completely happy with this format (I think the former one was more realistic and easier to read), but hopefully this is not too difficult to follow. If you would like to read the story in its original format, please PM me and I'll send it to you.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Castle' – and thank God for that, because I would muck it up.
THE REAL DEAL
She's beautiful and badass, a woman in a difficult career who still has the carefree laughter of a girl. She's not 'The Real Nikki Heat', but she is definitely the real deal.
By Christina Broome
When you meet 46-year-old Inspector Kate Beckett, the first thing you notice is her striking physical beauty. From perceptive eyes that seem to be hazel in one light and a unique shade of green in another, to a lithe, trim figure, she is stunning, especially when she smiles. Her manner is professional – brisk, confident, crisp, self-assured, steady. She seems completely unaware of her good looks; her attention is always on the task at hand. So much so that you quickly lose your "gosh, she's so pretty" awe, and focus intently on what she is saying and doing. Meeting her made it clear to me why best-selling mystery novelist Richard Castle chose her as the inspiration for his most popular character: a sassy, street-smart, razor-sharp New York homicide detective by the name of Nikki Heat.
Considering that a chance meeting between her and Castle over a decade ago led to a bestselling series of novels, and considering everything that's happened since that fateful day, it would be easy to view Beckett as a larger-than-life heroine – and in some ways, she is, as attested to by her formidable résumé. But when I sat down with the youngest female inspector in the history of the New York Police Department during her recent working visit to the UK, I also discovered a surprisingly down-to-earth woman, with an enthusiastic laugh and a grace all her own. She's not overly warm or effusive, but she's not cold either. She is personable and polite, but no-nonsense – there is an air of seriousness about her.
Kate Beckett has always guarded her privacy fiercely, often reiterating to enquiring reporters that she is "a cop, not a celebrity". She sometimes appears at her husband's book signings and launches, but she generally shies away from the media, except in the course of her official duties. She leads the NYPD's Major Crimes Unit, an elite team of crack detectives investigating some the most serious crimes throughout New York, and her work is both incredibly demanding and highly sensitive – we were interrupted at various points during this interview while she checked her phone and tablet for vital updates from her team.
Beckett only agreed to seek authorization for this interview when we emphasized Heels' focus on helping young women achieve their career goals. (She also said she got a kick – no pun intended – out of the magazine's name, and looking at the heels on her gorgeous, brown Coach boots, I can certainly understand why.) Mentoring young women is something Beckett is passionate about, and for her, a career in law enforcement is one that no young woman should hesitate to pursue. As she puts it, "it's not an easy road by any means, and any aspiring officer – male or female – needs a great deal of determination and commitment, but it's extremely rewarding."
Incidentally, "extremely rewarding" is exactly how I would describe my encounter with Inspector Beckett. I've interviewed many public figures, and I've grown slightly cynical as a result. It's hard to find genuineness at the top of any profession, and public officials are particularly susceptible to the traps of obliqueness, official-ese and politically correct posturing. Beckett is refreshingly different – witty, insightful and candid. She rolls her eyes when she finds an argument unconvincing; she gets a steely look in her eye when you ask a question that rubs her the wrong way, but a soft look when she's talking about something (or someone) she loves. She isn't afraid to speak her mind, and as her self-professed "number one fan" Richard Castle would say, she's "the real deal". Find out why for yourself in this in-depth, exclusive interview:
"You've achieved a unique level of success in what is still a very male-dominated profession. Apologies for the clichéd question, but I have to ask – what is your secret?"
Beckett smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling charmingly. "Well, I'll forgive you for the cliché if you'll forgive my equally clichéd answer: the secret is that there is no secret. When you're determined to succeed and you work really hard, there's no limit to what you can achieve. I was raised by a strong, dynamic woman, so I never really doubted that I could be good at what I do."
"So your mother was a role model for you?"
"Absolutely. My mother was an extraordinary woman – she had incredible integrity, she fought for justice to her last breath, she was fully committed to her work, and yet she was also a great mom to me, a great wife to my dad. How could I not be inspired by that?" She shrugged eloquently.
"It can't be easy for you to talk about your mother." (Tragically, Beckett lost her mother, Johanna, in a fatal stabbing in 1999, when Beckett was only 19.)
"There's no doubt that losing my mother, especially with the way it happened, was terribly devastating to me and my dad. It was... there are just no words to describe it, and it's something we still live with every day. But the way her life ended doesn't define who she was. I try to remember the joy, the love, the laughter, all the special moments we shared, the things she taught me about kindness, decency and compassion – because those things last forever. And those are the things I dwell on when I tell my children about their grandma."
"You just had a biggest smile on your face when you mentioned your children (Beckett has twin sons, Nathan and Noel (9) and a daughter, Elaine (6).) Another clichéd question – but our readers will really want to know how you are able to juggle motherhood with such a challenging and risky job."
Beckett shifted in her seat, but spoke firmly. "There are always going to be risks, but as a parent, you always try to be responsible, to take sensible precautions to stay safe. During my pregnancies, for example, I had to pull a lot of desk duty, especially with the twins, because any multiple pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy, and I was not about to take any chances. And I've been very fortunate – it is a high-risk job sometimes, but I take calculated risks and try to always be as prepared as possible. Thankfully, I'm still here, and I plan to be for a long time to come."
"It must take a considerable amount of courage though, considering what happened to your own mother, and also what happened to you back in 2011." (Beckett was shot by a sniper at a senior colleague's funeral, and only narrowly survived.)
Beckett shook her head dismissively. "I don't see myself as particularly courageous. I'm just doing my job. But back to your question about "juggling", I have to say that the biggest thing for me is having a great partner. I work long and sometimes crazy hours, and he also has to do a lot of 'juggling' on his part so that we can keep things together – or you know, fairly together – at home. I have the utmost respect for single parents, because honestly, even in our two-parent home, and with help from others, it's exhausting! There just aren't enough hours in the day to do it all, so you do what you can, and hope for the best. The thing I would say to anyone, though, is that it can be done. It's challenging for sure, but not impossible. And as hard as it can be, it's also fun – there's a lot of laughter at our house."
"So, tell us about what drew you to police work. Did you always want to be a cop? Were you influenced by your mother's work?" (Johanna Beckett was a civil rights lawyer and law professor.)
Beckett's response was thoughtful and measured. "Growing up, I wanted to be many things at different points in time – a scientist, a lawyer, an astrophysicist, a movie star, a secret agent, a teacher, an activist…. I had all kinds of dreams. I wasn't the sort of kid who knows exactly what she wants to do from a very young age – I just knew I wanted to make a big difference somehow, and I really believed that I could. I was a very independent, self-motivated kind of kid, and I enjoyed exploring lots of different interests.
By the time I went off to college, I had sort of decided on a legal career. Partly because of my mom's work, I was becoming more aware of women's issues, and different forms of inequality and injustice, and I thought a legal career would be a great way to make an impact. I was ultimately going to make it all the way to the Supreme Court – or at least that was the plan.
And then – my mother's life was taken. Her death really was a watershed moment for me in many ways. I wanted justice for my mom. And I kept thinking about all the people who had experienced what my dad and I were going through, with no closure, no answers, no one to fight for justice for them, no one to speak for the ones they had lost. I decided that a career in law enforcement was going to be my way to make a difference. So I transferred to NYU, applied for a place at the Police Academy, and the rest, as they say…."
"Your mom would be so proud of everything you've accomplished since then, wouldn't she? You've risen through the ranks at an astonishing pace; you've solved numerous murder cases and brought the closure you just talked about to the families of hundreds of victims. You've done hugely important work at all levels – local, state, federal, even across international borders. Since you became its commanding officer, the unit you lead has done an amazing job of improving the NYPD's image – not just in terms of achieving 'results' but also in terms of treating people fairly, without allegations of discrimination. You've saved lives and won numerous awards and honours. Johanna Beckett would be incredibly proud, right?"
"First off, I could never have done any of those things without all the people I've worked with over the years. I've been very fortunate – I've always had great support from my fellow officers, and you absolutely need that in order to succeed as a cop. I do think my mom would be very proud of my professional achievements, yes.
But I think she'd be most proud of the fact that I'm a fulfilled person. She'd be glad to know that I have great relationships with wonderful people whom I love, and who love me in return. Now that I'm a mom, I understand that all any parent really wants is to see their child happy and fulfilled. And I think that if I'd achieved that in any profession, whether as a crane-operator or the President of the United States, she would still be just as proud."
Describe a normal day in the life of Kate Beckett.
Beckett laughed loudly. "There is no such thing as a 'normal' day in my life, but that's actually one of the great things about it. One of the fun things about my job is that each day brings a unique set of challenges. The team I lead deals with everything from terrorist threats to serial murders to sensitive security matters. Of course, I can't say much about the actual cases, but they are often very complex, and in a city like New York, of course there's always something new popping up on our radar.
But basically my day usually starts early, with a cup of coffee – I've always got to have my coffee. Then it's a full day of work, which as I said is incredibly varied. I always look forward to spending some time with the family at the end of the day. Sometimes work gets in the way of our family time, which kind of sucks, but again, I'm very fortunate to have a great partner – that makes all the difference."
"Speaking of family, your stepdaughter Alexis seems to have followed in your footsteps. I'm referring of course to her inspirational advocacy work with disadvantaged youths. I watched her address the United Nations General Assembly on the subject of human trafficking earlier this year. She's a remarkable young woman."
Beckett shook her head firmly. "Oh, there's no way I could possibly claim any credit for that. Alexis has always been incredibly smart and principled; she's always been amazing. She had a really great upbringing, and by the time I became a part of her life, she was already 'a remarkable young woman'."
"But still, she's named you as one of her role models," I noted.
"I love her for saying that, and I'm incredibly proud of her, but as I said, Alexis has always been amazing."
"Wow, that's quite the mutual admiration society you've got going there – so there hasn't ever been any of the usual tension between stepmoms and stepchildren?" I wanted to know.
"You're heading into private territory with that one, Chris, but all I'll say is that Alexis and I have a great relationship. My relationship with her has been more of a 'big sister' role, not a 'stepmom' one – as I said; she was already a really smart, mature young lady when I arrived on the scene. We're great friends."
"Speaking of role models though, who are yours? You mentioned your mother earlier –"
"Yes, my ultimate role model is definitely my mother. My dad has taught me a lot too – he's overcome a lot in his life, and with a lot of grace and a – I guess I would call it a quiet determination. He's also very wise – that sort of hard-won wisdom that comes from real life experience. He gives great advice. And I'm a lot like him, so I think I've learned a lot from him about my own strengths and weaknesses.
I've been influenced by so many other people throughout my life and career – I've had great mentors. Roy Montgomery (the senior colleague at whose funeral Beckett was shot) taught me so much – how to work a homicide, how to lead a squad, and even more important, how to be a well-rounded person. When I was fresh out of the academy, my training officer, Mike Royce, taught me how to be a cop, the essential skills you need in order to get the job done on the street. After he left the force, he – he made a very bad mistake, and he paid the price for that. Ultimately, he died trying to make amends by helping others.
Both Montgomery and Royce taught me a lot about balance. The work of a police officer in a city like New York is tough – and the same goes for London, I'm sure. Sometimes it's so easy to get lost in the darkness, the grimness of it all. Montgomery and Royce taught me, both in words and by their actions, to hold on to a sense of self, to remember who I am and to find a way to stay whole. I'll always remember everything they've taught me. I use those skills, those life lessons, every single day.
And there've been other great mentors over the years – Deputy Chief Victoria Gates, for example, who now leads the NYPD Intelligence Division – she has tremendous tenacity and integrity. I'm not just inspired by my leaders, though – the people I work with everyday inspire me in so many ways. I learn from my team just as much as they learn from me – probably more. And some of the people I've worked with over the years have become my best friends."
"I guess the ultimate example of that would be the man we've barely talked about in the course of this interview – Richard Castle. Your relationship seems to have begun with him shadowing you, and then working with your team, and then – it became a lot more, it seems. Now you've been married for over a decade. How did that happen? How does a successful novelist find common ground with a homicide detective?"
"Well, you left one step out – our relationship actually began even before we met. I guess that's the wonderful thing about writers, that they can reach out and touch people's lives without even knowing it. I was a big fan of his books – I still am. By a strange quirk of fate, Rick and I met while I was investigating a case, and I guess we just connected over time.
We worked really well together from the start, our ways of thinking and working just… came together, and then other things fell into place as the relationship progressed. It might seem on paper as though we don't have a lot in common, and we are very different people, but we share similar fundamental values. So I think that's why we were able to forge a friendship. Also, I think that along with that friendship, part of the bedrock of our relationship is humor. We've been able to find joy and laughter together, even in some of our darkest times, and that's so important."
"You just said that you and Castle worked well together from the start – but a former officer (Peter Grayson, who worked at the NYPD's 12th Precinct until his dismissal from the NYPD in 2014) recently wrote a book (The Real Nikki Heat & Jameson Rook, published in the US last October) about your relationship. In the book, he alleges that you actually had a pretty strong dislike for Castle when he first started shadowing you. He also makes other claims – for example, that you and Castle had a sexual relationship as far back as 2009, even while seeing other people –"
Beckett's eyes flashed with annoyance at the question. "There are some things I consider... despicable, actually. Writing some sort of sensationalist, sleazy 'tell-all' about people who were once colleagues is one of them. I haven't read the book – and I don't intend to waste my time reading it or addressing any of the material presented in it."
"Will you or your husband be taking legal action against Mr. Grayson?"
"I'd rather not comment on that at this time," she dodged, her first non-answer in this interview.
"How accurate is the title of the book, though? Are you and Castle really 'the real Nikki and Rook'?"
"Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook are fictional characters, created in Castle's imagination. There's no doubt that Castle was inspired by real people in developing these characters, but no – he is not Jameson Rook, and I am not Nikki Heat. Nikki and Rook don't have children, for example. But – I think at this point we're starting to stray from the issues I was hoping to address in this interview. And I do have a flight to catch in a few hours."
Uh-oh, sounds like someone might be losing Kate Beckett's attention…. The second and concluding part of this interview will follow shortly. Till then, thank you for reading, and please review – I'd love to hear your thoughts on the interview. And if you have any questions you'd like Christina to ask Kate, please let me know – hopefully she can ask a couple of them before Kate rushes off to catch her flight!
