This story is set in an Alternate Universe within the Castle Realm. creative license is applied. Not sure if there will be a plot or just a rambling story about Kate.
Katherine Beckett sat on her couch staring at her computer, it had been nearly an hour and nothing had transpired across the screen. Her mind was blank, off in a distant world. Thinking about matters not related to her work. She had one foot tucked under her other leg
Her eyes swept across her beautiful penthouse. It had been featured in a single magazine article about the best looking lofts in New York. The living room/ dining room was two floors high. The kitchen, a bathroom, the front door and the spare bedroom were on the first floor. What sold her was the curving staircase that led to a loft, a large bathroom, the spacious walk-in closet and a spare room. That was supposed to be her office but it was her other room, a brag room. The spacious penthouse had bohemian musing with retro décor.
One failed marriage and eighteen bestsellers later, here she was living in a two story penthouse just across the street from Central Park. She made a comfortable living writing her books.
Kat looked at the clock on her computer. It was six in the evening.
"shoot," she had a launch party at seven. Kate set her laptop on her coffee table and ran across her apartment and up the stairs to her loft.
She opened the door to her walk in closet and wondered around. Dresses from all lengths, styles and colors decorated one wall. Shoes adorned the other wall while the third wall had her everyday clothing in drawers. Her jewelry sat against the forth wall. Kate scanned her dresses and found a blue Herve Leger off shoulder bandage minidress. Herve Leger was her favorite designer but she'd occasionally walk the red carpet events in other designers. She was always stylish, turning heads when she walked the carpets of benefits, movie premieres and occasionally red carpet events
Kate pulled a pair of nude pumps out of her closet and her underwear, set her wardrobe on her bed and made her way to the bathroom.
She emerged minutes later, clean and glowing, her makeup was flawless, her brunette hair perfectly styled. She dressed quickly.
The dress was her favorite, it showed off her legs whle the nude pumps elongated them. She reentered her closet and emerged minutes later with a clutch in hand.
Kate left her apartment minutes later exiting her building under the canopy into the waiting limo. The ride was soothing the city lights, made a kaleidoscope in the limo.
The party was in full swing as a she pulled in front of the club. Today's launch was being held at a classic club. A three floor nightclub decked out in paraphernalia related to her latest book. These book launches were easy to do since her last eight books, including this one, had the same main character.
Kate discovered her heroine when writing Hudson's Revenge. Her wildly acclaimed Kiss series featured a strong woman capable of solving crimes named Katie Greer, who kept Kate's pseudonym Loni Black afloat in money, though Kate tucked most of it in a savings account. Kate wasn't one to go out and drop her cash in one day. Most of her formal attire was given or donated to her from designers.
Kate smiled as she stepped out of the limo. She was use to the camera flashes these days. She crossed the red carpet and entered the club. She found her agent standing near the door.
"Hey Paula,"
"Hey love," Paula had a thick New Yorker accent. Today she had a body hugging red dress, low slung red crsh velvet heels, "They are just starting the pitch, come on,"
Kate followed her into the club. A male stood at the podium all eyes fixed on him.
"in the heat of the moment will Katie Greer find the answer to who sold her out in Blackout? Will she uncover a conspiracy that will rock the heart of the Agency or will she crumble into the abyss. Whether you're a bedside reader and read into the wee hours of the night or you are a hardcore Black fan everyone will enjoy this book. The events that began in Wild Kiss all lead up to this thrilling conclusion to Loni Black's wildly popular Kiss series. Ladies and Gentleman, Loni Black" Kate took her seat at the table and began her book signing.
Four hours had passed since she arrived at her launch party. She had spent two hours signing books, then another two hours spent doing the rounds greeting the Mayor, the press, fans and even her father and she just caught her publisher's assistant's eye.
She wondered what strings he pulled to get that job.
"Hello Katie," dressed to the nines, He work a three piece suit from Ralph Lauren. Knowing him, he saved a hundred dollars shopping at a distributor. He had the typical Hollywood sleaze ball hair style, black hair with several strands of hair over his forehead. His face had slight acne scarring on the left side. His smile was lopsided, and she knew that he never worked out. He was a desk rat, only circulating launch parties to remind the authors about deadlines.
"Jeez Chris how many times have I told you, don't call me Katie," Kate's Manhattan accent echoed through her speech. A waitress padded across her vision carrying a flute of champagne on a server's tray.
Chris grabbed for it and took a sip, and made eyes with the waitress, "Thanks sweetie," he watched her as she disappeared into the crowd, then turned toward Kate, looking disgustedly at the flute in his hand, "How is it they can't carry decent wine at these shindigs, this stuff is watered down."
Kate looked at him. She knew why he was here, but she asked anyway, "Why are you here Jack,"
"Blackjack needs your next manuscript," he was scanning the room, looking for a woman to bring home. It would be the woman showing the most amount of skin.
"I'm working on it, I'm kinda stuck," She surveyed the room hoping to find some soul to latch onto to get away from this conversation,
"Stuck? Get unstuck that manuscript was due three days ago, if we don't have that manuscript, Blackjack is prepared to withdraw your advance," He caught another wine server's tray and set the half empty flute on the tray and began to walk away,
"You know Jack, I already spent that advance, it went toward divorcing you," Jack turned and waved his hand and disappeared into the crowd. Kate caught sight of her younger sister over by the bar.
Kate sauntered over to her. Sure her sister was in college but there was a Shirley temple in her hand. Once again Kate would have to tell her that if she wanted a guy that she would have to switch drinks. Amy was dolled up, hair framing her face with a one shouldered dress covering her frame.
"Hey Amy, how is college going," Kate leaned her back against the steel bar top. She rested her elbows on the counter.
"Doing fine, so what's next in your repertoire?" Amy was staring at her, "Who kills the best-selling character in what New York Times calls quote a mystery romance saga of the century?" Amy did air quotes with her fingers, Amy was in her early twenties, with red hair and green eyes, and was by the standards of society, a 10. She was a cheerleader in high school, and still looked it. Her heels only boosted her petite frame up four inches.
Oddly they were polar opposites. Kate stood head and shoulders over everyone when wearing heels, and was the misfit and loner in high school, being five ten and lanky wasn't enough to attract the man of her dreams. Amy was short, without heels she stood five four and was in the popular crowd in high school. Her sister passed on more mens advance then she did accepting.
"I was bored, she became so predictable, I killed her because I was tired of writing her," Kate grabbed a wine flute from a passing server, and took a sip.
"Predictable, these parties are predictable, the flutes, the red carpet entrances, and the a-list attendees." Amy tilted her head back and finshed her Shirley.
Kate raised an eyebrow, turned to her sister and jokingly said, "Just once I would like someone to break the monotony,"
"Katherine Beckett," Kate set the flute on the bar top and turned with a sharpie in her hand, "I'm Rick Castle, NYPD, I need to ask you some questions about a murder that took place earlier tonight."
Kate got a better look at Rick. Tall and brooding with world weary eyes, his black hair was a stiff combed style. She could spot the bump of his gun on his hip. She turned to her sister, "I'll call you in the morning,"