The scene opens in the kitchen of a very busy restaurant. It was a very exclusive one from the dishes laid out for delivery to the tables. There were several exotic delicacies. Of which one was a diner plate with a succulent squab. The other plate was of the crispy but tender Quail. The server had picked them up and being new he was told the wrong information on which plate was which. The Squab had a curry pumpkin sauce. The Quail had spiced squash. Looking at the plates the server could not tell the difference.
He brought the poisoned plate to the right person though. He breathed a sign of relief when neither patron stopped their inane conversation. He did his job and he quit on the spot. He could not stand this insane pressure. The car wash was never this bad.
The patrons had not taken a bite once the server had hit the bricks. It was not until 3 days later did he know something went wrong.
Once there was a lull in the conversation did the portly person take a bite. He was immediately struck by the poison. He dropped face first into the poisoned plate. The other guests looked horrified. One guest had a horrified expression suitable for the occasion but a secret smile was forming.
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Across town in the loft of that most famous writer and police consultant Richard Castle he was engaged in a battle of Call to Duty. He was enthralled and in the zone when he was taunting the 15 year old opponent. At this time Kate Beckett Rick's girlfriend extraordinaire was trying to get his attention. However, her attempt was unsuccessful for her boyfriend said out loud "You suck it!"
Kate was suitably annoyed when her seduction act failed to break his concentration. Storming off Rick realized what he had done. He had ignored the love of his life. In his defense he did not realize she was there. That unfortunately did little to solve the lover spat brewing between them. Kate could remember a time when just the sight of her would send him soaring. Now she was 2nd fiddle to a stupid video game and a 15 year old boy.
She was happy to have a distraction when her phone rang.
"Beckett" she said.
She listened to the instructions from Central then hung up.
"Castle we have a case!" She said.
Rick tripped all over himself to apologize in the car. He did more damage than good. However, he did make them stop to pick up her favorite coffee. She was so angry she downed it without blinking an eye. Rick looked down right scared. She causally tossed the empty cup on the seat when they arrived at the location.
"Iago's" Rick said in amazement. "I've been trying to get res for this place. I heard the quail is delightful."
Kate just ignored him as the Uni's lifted the crime tape to allow them both to pass.
Dr Lanie Parish was attending to the dead person. Ryan came up.
"So this is how the other part lives? Ok we have our vic Arthur Felder 54 and venture capitalist. Witness says he took one bite of the squab then did a nosedive into his plate." Ryan said.
"Lanie any signs of trauma?" Kate asked.
Rick was star stuck one of the witnesses was The Eric Vaughn!
"No but There's no sign of anaphylaxis, but his enlarged pupils and excessive saliva suggest a foreign substance. I will know more once I get him on the slab and do a tox screen." Lanie said.
"Thanks Lanie. Where is the server?" Kate asked.
"I'm the head chef and the little punk ran away. He said he could not take the pressure! So good riddance I said." The chef said.
"Ok tell me can you tell the difference between your plates?" Kate asked.
"Of course any head chef should …" The head chef stopped speaking in mid sentence.
"Sir…? Is there something wrong?" Kate asked.
"Yeah let me see that ticket!" he yelled at the waiter.
The waiter appeared and showed him the ticket.
"Is there a problem?" Kate asked.
"I thought so that damn Punk switched plates that is not the squab! It is the quail!" The head chef said.
"So you are telling me the wrong person got poisoned?" Kate asked.
"Well I'm saying that plate there under the late Arthur Felder is the quail not the squab." The head chef said.
"So who was supposed to have the quail?" Kate asked.
He read down the ticket.
"Position number 2" The head chef said.
"And that was?" Kate asked.
Eric had looked at his nemesis across the room when she first appeared. I sent 4 assassins after this woman? How can this be? I need to know more about her. I need to push the charm.
"I think you need to speak to me Detective." Eric said walking up to her.
"I see and you are?" Kate asked turned to face the newcomer.
"I'm Eric Vaughn and I had the selection of the quail." He said studying her as if she was a rat he was a cobra ready to strike.
Rick was getting over his star struckness quickly. He noticed this Vaughn character was chatting up his girl friend. He certainly did not like it especially when she laughed at one of the lamest jokes he had ever heard.
Rick decided to crash the party.
"Rick Castle I am please to meet you!" Rick said holding his hand out.
"Rick Castle the novelist? Oh my mother loves your books!" Eric said looking over him as a potential problem.
"I must get her an autographed copy." Rick said.
"That would be so kind." Eric said bringing up the swarminess.
Rick stood there as Kate walked away chatting with him.
Both Javi and Kevin noticed. They were not happy either. Rick was almost fit to be tied. However he held it together.
He was waiting for Kate to drop him like the hot potato but somehow that didn't happen. Rick wondered has he been taking Kate for granted? She is nobody's property. But the feeling that this interloper could come in a sweep his girl off her feet well he has never tangled with Richard Castle!