He was a famous author, sometimes she forgot. He just seemed to fit so naturally to the role of detective she had to remind herself that he really was just researching for his next series of books. She felt he was her best partner ever, he made her think, made her look at crime scenes differently and always, always made her laugh. Now, though, when the call came in, she was scared. Who could want to kidnap Castle? Better yet, why would someone want to kidnap him? Oh sure there was his money, his fame. He was always involved in some "I know this guy" scenario that brought him into contact with many of the cities underbelly types. Could one of them be the mastermind to this plan? She had to go see Martha and Alexis. How could she calm them, what could she say? "The department is actively pursuing leads "sounds so formal. She would know what to say when she saw them. "Speak from your heart," Laney told her one time not long ago. She thought that was good advice then and probably even better advice right now.
Beckett rings the bell at the condo. Martha answers, "Oh Kate, thank goodness it is you. What can you tell us? Have you heard anything?" "I'm sorry Martha; I haven't heard anything since our first contact. I see the detectives have been here, tapped the phones and are keeping a close eye on everything. This is the hardest part. We have to wait until we hear from them. Unfortunately, they call the first shot."
Alexis hears Martha and Kate talking and she enters the room. "Detective Beckett, I am so worried." Kate walks over to Alexis and reaches out to hug her. Alexis holds on and cries. "He is always meeting with people, talking things over for his books. It is hard to say if any of them would be involved in this. My Dad is smart. If he can, he will let us know he is all right. I know he will."
While they are talking Castle's home phone rings, "Kate rushes over to it and whispers for Martha to wait until they are ready to tape the call. Kate gives her the sign to pick up, and Martha answers. "Hello, Richard? Is that you?" "We have him. Follow our directions to the latter and no one gets hurt. We will call back at 3pm on the dot with directions for a ransom. If you want to see Richard Castle again, you will do as we ask."
The line goes dead. Beckett looks to the detectives to see if they were able to trace the call. "He wasn't on long enough, sorry Detective." Kate looks worried, but she turns to Martha and Alexis and says, "Well all we can do until 3pm is wait. Everything will be all right. In the meantime, did the voice sound familiar to you, Martha?" "Unfortunately, no Kate, it did not sound familiar," Martha answers.
Ryan and Esposito show up at the house to assist with the investigation and to see how Mrs. R and Alexis are hold up. Det. Beckett speaks on the QT to each of them. "Listen, this could go either way. We could meet their demands and they release him, or……."
"Let's not finish that thought," Ryan answers. "I do know he said he had some fact finding to do in regards to the Nikki Heat story he is working on," Esposito offers. Detective Beckett goes to speak to Alexis.
"Alexis, you seem to know a lot about your Dad's storylines when he is writing. DO you know what this Nikki Book's plotline might be so that we can narrow down whom he may be seeking answers from with his research?" "Well, I know it involves FBI informants and bad cops. He said he was interested in how the departments handle "investigating their own."
Beckett looks worried now. "I wonder how far he looked into Internal Affairs and whose feathers he may have ruffled. Knowing Castle his path may have cut a wide swath."
Esposito and Ryan offer to go see IA and ask around to see if he spoke to anyone in particular. "Thanks, I will stay here with Martha and Alexis to see if any other calls come in to the condo. But keep me informed of any information you dig up" Beckett tells the duo.
At 3PM sharp the phone rings at the condo. Martha picks up as Beckett listens in. "Listen carefully to the instructions. We need 2 million in cash, small bills, placed in locker #456 at the bus terminal at precisely 7PM this evening. NO COPS, NO TRACERS, NO GPS. If everything is in order we will release Castle at midnight after we call to tell you where." Beckett writes a note to Martha. (Ask if we can talk to Castle to make sure he is ok) Martha asks, "How do we know Richard is all right? We need to talk to him." The voice on the other end answers, "You will be receiving a video tape response from Castle in one hour, VIA DHL sign for it and you will see he is all right."
The line goes dead.
"A video response from Castle, that is different," Beckett offers. Beckett's cell phone rings and she picks up, "Beckett. OK, well, did he talk to him? Well, thanks keep trying." "The man at Internal Affairs front desk remembers seeing Castle this morning, but did not know who he was there to meet. Esposito and Ryan are continuing to ask around IA so at least we know he as there."
At 4pm there is a delivery to the condo, the doorman sends DHL up to the loft's door. Martha signs for the package. Beckett takes the package off of Martha wearing gloves. She carefully opens the package to prevent fingerprints, takes out the video, and hands the box over to the investigation unit to analyze for prints. They go to Castle media room to watch the video.
"Hi Mom, Alexis. I am fine. I haven't slept much with the IRT Train rumbling by Castle's can handle it though, and it is a coincidence with Castle and all, you know, at least the pizza is good here. I feel like I am almost living one of my books here, Storm Rising. Except, Storm is not used to this side of town, and I wish I knew Karate. Anyway, give them what they want and I will be out of this alley rat trap soon."
Beckett is concentrating so hard Martha thinks she might pop a vein. "He looks tired but well, Martha. He was trying to tell us where he is being kept." She flips open her phone and calls Ryan. "Hey, got a video right now and I wish I had Castle's amazing cell phone with all the apps but where does the IRT train pass, on the wrong side of town and what pizza joints would be close by?" "What would be ironic about that?"
"Ah Detective, I have the NYC Subway line on my browser phone web browser right now. It lists all of the stops on the IRT East line and guess what is so funny? One stop is at Castle St."
"That's it! Beckett screams into the phone. What pizza shop is nearest that street?"
"Mama Leone's" Ryan tells her. Get cars out there and I will be there in 45."
Beckett turns to Martha and says, "In the meantime can you arrange to have the money in a bag in case we need to do the drop at the bus terminal locker?" "I am sure of it; Mr. Hemmingway at the bank is a big fan of Richard's. Should I tell him what is going on?" "NO, just tell him it is very important to have the money ASAP," Beckett tells her.
Beckett's phone rings, "Beckett here, what? You are kidding Ryan, right? I don't get it….but I will be there in 45."
All of the color has drained from Beckett's face. It can't be true. What Det. Ryan told her just does not make any sense. Why would Will be meeting Castle? Does it have to do with Castle's disappearance? No there must be a good reason for their meeting.
Kate arrives at Mama Leone's. She is looking up at the elevated subway line to see where it passes apartment buildings. Storm Rising, he mentioned that book. What could he mean by it reminds him of Storm Rising?If her memory serves her well, that book was about jewel thieves hiding out above an abandoned warehouse. "Hmmm, I wonder…" Just then her eyes see a warehouse of sorts, seemingly boarded up. The doorway seems different than the rest of the building. No cobwebs! Could it have been used recently? She reaches back for her gun, motions Ryan and Esposito, and they slowly quietly open the door. They begin their preliminary search of the building. All clear downstairs, they slowly begin to walk up the stairway, Ryan first, then Kate, then Esposito.
They hear voices. Kate leans in to listen. Hard to say, but I think I heard someone say "With cheese please…" Ryan kicks in the door, Kate bellows, "Police! Hands in the air! Everyone—Hands in the Air!" Then she sees him, Castle handcuffed to an iron register on the floor, two Mexican criminal types with hands in the air, "No Senorita, No tenemos un arma " Kate puts down the gun as Ryan and Esposito keep their guns on the group. "Castle says, "Well, what took you so long?"
While she is unlocking his handcuffs he proceeds to tell her, "Will was involved Kate. He went bad as was known in the department for being on the take from the mob. I was asking around and he got nervous. He wanted to meet me. Well, next thing I knew, I was handcuffed and making a video for my family. I decided since Will wasn't a Castle fan, you might understand my clues. Thank goodness you did."
Kate calls in an APB on Will and knows that he will be found it is just a matter of time. Castle looks around as the Mexican gunmen are being taken out to the patrol car. "You know I never did get my pizza with cheese." He reaches down and grabs a slice. "How about you detective, surely this isn't evidence?" Kate smiles at him and says, "Make mine with cheese too."