Coonan and Castle are in the elevator making their way to the main floor as Beckett and the guys try to beat the lift and get Coonan.
I in no way own Castle.
Dick Coonan had grabbed Castle, a gun grazing his skin and pointed towards his kidney.
"Detective, here's how this going to go down. You are going to let me and your sidekick here walk over to the elevator. I'm going to leave this precinct and not as much as one cop will be following me out. Sidekick here will be sent back up the elevator to this floor, maybe a little worse for wear, but he won't be slowly bleeding out to a painful death."
Beckett clenched her teeth and fought back her emotions. Castle was her partner and she didn't want anything to happen to him. She also wasn't going to let Coonan make any kind of successful getaway. If it came down to it, she would shoot him. She would take his life almost gladly, knowing her mother's murderer wouldn't kill again. She wanted answers but her partner's life was hanging in the balance and his safety was her top priority.
"You know I can't just let you out of here Coonan. And even from any instructions I give, I'm not going to be able to keep the cavalry from hunting you down like the animal you are."
Coonan got a tighter grasp on Castle and pushed the muzzle of the gun tighter against his body hard enough to leave a bruise.
"Well if I don't make it out of this precinct alive neither will the guy in front of me."
"Is that a threat Coonan?"
"No it's not a threat. It's a promise."
"Well Coonan, I think that's one promise you are going to have to break."
Beckett was trying to stall Coonan, hoping Esposito and Ryan would notice the situation and somehow be able to get behind Coonan undetected, and maybe help disarm him. That's when the Captain came out of his office and realized the situation, drawing his gun while speaking towards Coonan.
"Drop the gun and back away from Castle slowly, Coonan!"
Coonan turned his head to get a better look at Montgomery.
"Afraid I can't do that, Captain. You see, like I told Misses no Mom over there, I will leave this precinct alive, whether or not this civilian does".
If it was even possible, Beckett became even angrier at that, her eyes going from a dark brown to near black.
She ignored his comment about her mother and informed him,
"He's not just a civilian. He's a consultant for the NYPD and shooting him will get you into a lot more trouble than killing a civilian that is if we weren't aiming to kill."
Captain ignored Beckett's response knowing this situation was as hard for Castle as it was for her, Coonan may not have the gun pointed towards her but her mother's case had painted a target on her back.
"Coonan, we are going to give you one last chance to put the gun down and step away."
Castle knew no matter what happened someone was going to be shot or go home in a body bag. He didn't want it to be Beckett so he spoke on Coonan's behalf.
"Captain Montgomery, you and Beckett step aside, away from the elevator, I'll be fine. You heard him, he doesn't necessarily want to unload a round of bullets into my kidney."
As he said it he wasn't looking at Montgomery, he was looking at Beckett. Then he added making sure she heard him,
"It's okay, really. I'm more afraid to of the elevator breaking down on the way to the main floor than of him pulling the trigger. That is as long as you let us into the elevator with no interference."
He knew Coonan couldn't see his face because Castle was taller than him and Coonan was using him as his own person bodyguard. So as he spoke he winked at the last part and shifted his eyes towards the stairs, hoping Beckett would get the idea. Let Coonan escort Castle into the elevator and once the doors shut have her, Montgomery, Epsosito, Ryan, and whomever else to race down the stairs, magically getting down there before the doors opened, allowing them to get the drop on Coonan.
Then he added "It's really the only option we have if Dick here won't drop the weapon" to try and comfort Beckett by pretending he wasn't scared out of his mind.
Coonan didn't seem to appreciate the double meaning of his name being used and expressed it in a less than affectionate way, slamming the gun even harder, this time into Castle's ribcage.
Beckett knew they wouldn't be able to stand here all day and Castle's idea was the only kind of plan that had the slightest possibility of working. She gave a quick glance towards the Captain and agreed with Castle. She lowered her gun down but kept it directed at Coonan in case he changed his mind.
"Captain, drop the gun, please."
It took Montgomery a few seconds before he finally let his shoulders relax slightly, his eyes shooting daggers towards Coonan.
"Alright Mr. Coonan, it seems you've overstayed your welcome and it's time you be leaving."
"With pleasure Captain, thanks for the hospitality."
Coonan waited for the officers to finish lowering their weapons all the way before pushing Castle with him towards the elevator.
As instructed, the door to the elevator was open and waiting for Coonan and his hostage. They entered the elevator with ease considering the situation and Coonan directed Castle to push the button for the main floor.
"Hey pretty boy, push main floor."
Castle did as he was told and looked out at Beckett for one last time in case this ended badly.
Once Beckett heard the elevator doors hit together she was first to make it to the stairs. She was directly followed by the boys, Captain Montgomery, and a few uniforms.
Castle was on the descent with Coonan and the guy had the audacity to speak.
"I know what's going on, what is it, Castle right?"
"Yeah it's Castle, and what do you think is going on, Dick?"
"See as we make our way down the elevator shaft, uniforms are racing down the stairs to beat the lift. Trying to get into position before the door opens so they can get the jump on me."
"And why do you think that?"
"Because I know cops. And they weren't lying about not letting me out of here alive."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, it is."
"And what do you suppose that means for me?"
"It means, either you or that Detective Beckett won't be leaving here alive. And I'm going to let you choose which one."
"So you wouldn't think twice about shooting people who have a family? Well, I know you wouldn't. You didn't care about Johanna Beckett when you left her bleeding out in an alley."
"Normally, it's nothing personal. I'm just doing my job. Getting paid for a service, and it never hurts to get some practice. You never know when the experience may become handy. Like now. Knowing my way around a gun is going to help me get out of a jam, or at least, make my final stand a little flashier."
"Yeah, well unlike you, when someone has a gun to my chest or someone shoots another person, I consider it personal."
"Why's that?"
"Because if you're going to kill someone, you should look them in the eyes and in most cases, looking someone in the eyes is considered a personal connection. So, seeing how you told me to choose between myself and Beckett, I want you to look me in the eyes before you pull the trigger."
"Well alright then. It's always easier to complete an assignment when I know who the target is."
"I just have one question before you shoot. Who ordered the hit on Johanna Beckett?"
"Why does it matter, you'll be dead."
"Exactly, so what's the harm?"
She was sprinting down the stairs listening to the lift as it made its descent to the first floor. She was in the process of skipping the last few steps, reaching the lobby floor when Beckett heard the noise.
She was no stranger to the sound of a gunshot. She took many trips to the shooting range, making herself a remarkable shot in the process. She had been shot at her fair share of times, though most people would think being shot at was in no way 'fair'. Nonetheless, Beckett knew what a gunshot was, and she didn't just hear one. She head three. Fired off in succession. The first one ringing out loud and clear, the last two sounding off a bit later, dampened by the sounds of commotion now coming from inside the precinct. It seemed liked everyone had all jammed themselves onto the first floor.
It must have only been about thirty seconds before the elevator opened but it seemed like an hour. The waiting. Everything moving in slow motion. The agony of watching as the number above the elevator changed from two to one, signalizing the lifts final descent.
There had to be at least thirty people staring at the doors to the elevator. Thirty people with concerned faces waiting. Sixty eyes straining to get a look and to know what was happening inside the small, confined space.
Beckett tuned every sound out waiting for the ding of the elevator letting her know to be ready. Esposito, Ryan, and Montgomery stood in position as well. Each one of them concerned for the writer who'd somehow become their friend, their family.
More chapters to be posted.
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