*I relented, here is the rest of your story. Hope you like it enough to review THIS TIME. Thanks-1hopelessromantic*
'How little' It was the first thing she had said since she had gotten in the car.
'Huh?'
'How old is the 'little' girl Castle?' She said with a tone of steel.
'14 today'
They had arrived and the last thing she said before she got out of the car and slammed the door was
'Great birthday present'
After getting to the crime scene castle and the rest of the team watched Kate for any signs of sadness. Captain Gates told Ryan and Esposito to track the killer through the death of Ms. Niamh Johnson and that castle and Beckett would follow the trail through her daughter, Zoë Johnson, being kidnapped.
Castle and Beckett found the school that Zoë went to NYCPSA standing for new York central private studies academy. She called in all the teachers. Her Latin teacher: Mr. Reburg was no help. Her math teacher Mrs. Gunny was upset but held no information. Her science teacher, Mr. Nitram, also had no idea. He said she was an overall nice girl who got along with most people but had a sharp wit and an aggressively loyal personality. The only two teachers who helped where her English teacher, Ms. Nelle, was quite distraught but wrote down a list of possible enemies. Her social studies teacher, mrs. Perry knew Zoë the best. Zoë came into talk to her almost everyday after school but El, a friend of Zoë's, confirmed and vouched that nothing ever happened and that mrs. Perry would never do anything like that. The List of people included...
Stone Webbers (a jock who had never liked Zoë)
Trudy Jessica Amoretti ( A popular girl who was Zoë's main tormentor)
Sarah Camel (A girl who was always jealous of Zoë)
Anthony Zhira (An annoying boy who liked to play tricks on Zoë)
They interviewed them all and everyone but Stone and Sarah alibied out. Sarah claimed to be at dance and they hadn't yet verified while Stone said he was at home watching tv.
Sarah soon alibied out and stone was the last one left. Kate knew it wasn't him he was talking to them while Zoë was missing. But she suspected he was working for someone.
After a week of hard work they found Stone clear and a neighbor named Lee Tench was found guilty from fingerprints but the most pressing issue was getting the girl out of Lee's hands safely.
Castle and Beckett were at a dead end when a phone went off. Beckett picked up the landline and answered with her usual
'Beckett'
'If you want that girl you better back off the case'
Remembering the hostage negotiations of the time when Castle was hostage in a bank Kate started with The attitude that grumpy cop had advised.
'What do you want?' she said in a monotone.
'I want to not go to jail'
'well I can promise you a fair trial' she said trying to hold her ground with the slight training
'NO Detective I have NEVER gone to jail I don't plan to start now.'
Her homicide training and her own emotions took over and she bit back... 'Mr. Tench you tell me where you are holding that girl and I will tell the judge you repented. You will not get the death penalty. But if you keep her hostage and we have to come find you that information will never be passed on and I will have no say in your trial and sentence. And Mr. Tench most judges don't like men who kidnap children and kill woman'
'You listen here Detective, if you try and come rescue this girl I'll kill her. Do you want that.'
After the man said 'kill' Kate could hear a small whimper from who she suspected was Zoë.
'You come to the place you will trace from this call with no reinforcement, unarmed and with no intention of arresting me and I will hand over the girl. And she'll never tell you what I look like because she knows I'll kill her if she does'
Kate breathed in and did something Captain Gates would hate.
'Fine Tench. I will be there in 3 hours but don't think you'll get away with this so easy. I won't come looking for you. I'll just come FIND you'
'See you soon Detective.'
Kate had Ryan trace the call while she had Esposito write down the conversation. Ten minutes later Ryan told her the address. She got up from her chair and went into Gates office. Castle had been sitting there since the call thinking about the case. He ran into the office interrupting the conversation.
'...too dangerous he's a killer I'm not letting you go in there with no back up'
'She won't.' Castle said both were startled not noticing him run in.
'You heard what he said. He'd kill her. I won't let her die.' Kate fired back
'yes but otherwise he might kill BOTH of you' Gates countered.
'He said no backup. I just looked at the image of the place you'll be meeting him. There are two exits. He'll be inside. You will have something recording the conversation so I can hear what's going on. Ryan and Esposito will be undercover on the main entrance and I'll be at the back. Most likely he'll run out and someone will catch him. If he does find out we will immediately know and we will be able to scatter if he comes to check.'
'Castle that's actually...' began Beckett
'... A great idea' finished Gates to both of their surprise. 'we need to stop this guy. Go we don't have much time.'
When they got there Kate and Castle went around the back. Ryan and Esposito stood outside the front area pretending to be playing poker on a bench near the entrance to the building.
When they got around back Kate handed Castle her gun and told him to be careful she reached for the door when he spun her around to face him.
'Kate. Be careful. I don't want you to die.'
'Ill try Castle just promise you'll have my back'
'Always' he said then hugged her and kissed her cheek. She forced herself to focus and went into the building.
