Rick was down at the police station with Craig Bennett, his attorney while Kate, Martha and Alexis waited while he was being questioned.
"I knew this would happen." Martha said as she paced the floor
"Grams, calm down." Alexis tried to comfort her
"Yes, okay. Thank you, Sir." Kate ended her call with Commissioner Gates, "Gates is on her way down here. Meanwhile, I'm hoping they'll let me in there after they're done."
"How is this possible?" Martha asked, "It can't be his DNA."
"I know somehow it was planted." Kate said
"Oh and how would someone get his DNA to plant it?" Martha asked
"I don't know Martha but there is no other explanation." Kate replied, "It's happening again."
"What's happening again?" Alexis asked
"Several years ago, you remember the triple XK killer." She explained, "Made it look like Rick killed someone and was having an affair."
"But why would someone do this?"
"Any number of reasons." Kate said, "It could be related to a P.I case Rick worked and I don't know much about those."
"Kate." A male voice came from the door to the break room
"Craig." She replied, "What is going on?"
"They're charging him." He replied, "He says he didn't do it and I believe him but with DNA it's almost open and shut."
"No, his DNA was planted somehow." She said, "You know him. You know this is a frame up. Can I talk to him?
"Let's go back in the room. They said as a courtesy they will let you see him before they book him. He'll have to spend the night in jail at least until bail can be set."
Kate looked at Martha and Alexis, "I'll be back."
She walked into the interrogation room and for the first time her husband looked frightened. He got up and went to her and they hugged.
"Kate, I didn't do it."
"Babe, I know you didn't. Your DNA had to be planted."
"By who? And how would anyone have gotten anything to plant?" he asked
"I don't know. It had to be semen so…" She trailed off
"What?"
"Do you remember when we decided to try and get pregnant you went to the doctor to be tested to make sure everything was okay because you're older."
"Thanks for reminding me." He said sarcastically
"No, I mean you gave a sample for them to test." She said, "But some of it was probably kept, right?"
"Yeah I gave more so they could keep it just in case...well you know."
"And someone could have taken it."
"But that doesn't make sense. They would have had to have access to the lab and everything." He replied, "And know I was going to be doing that."
"Someone had to be watching us." She said, "And got access to that office. Maybe as an orderly or janitor."
"Kate, Rick, I can't possibly use this as defense. How would we go about proving this and by the time a trial comes around? This sounds ludicrous."
"You've never heard any of my crazy castle theories then."
"Rick, I'm serious."
"We've got to find a way to prove this under the table." Kate said, "I can't look like I'm trying to pull strings and officially I can't ask any of my detectives to help because this isn't a homicide. Maybe Gates can help."
"Gates?" Rick asked
"She's on her way down here." She explained
"She believes I didn't do it?"
"Yes, and she wants to help."
"I'm grateful and surprised."
The door opened and the two detectives come in, "Times up. We've got to get him booked."
"Rick, I'll get you in front of a judge as soon as possible."
"Thanks, Craig." He said then turned to Kate "I love you."
"Always." She replied and they led him away
She and Craig met Martha and Alexis in the hallway along with Gates who had just arrived.
"What happened?" Gates asked
"They booked him." Kate explained
"I'm going to try and get him in front of a judge as soon as possible." Craig told them
"I'm going to have a word with the precinct captain." Gates said
"Sir, I appreciate the help. I know my husband isn't one of your favorite people."
"Captain," she replied, "Kate, as infuriating as he can be he is no rapist. Not in a million years."
"Thank you, Sir." Kate replied and Gates left the group heading to the captain's office
"Kate, I've got get going on his arraignment." Craig said, "I'll call you later."
"Thanks, Craig." She said and turned to Martha and Alexis, "Okay, we need to go to the P.I. Office and go through the case files. It may be nothing but it's a place to start."
/
Meanwhile, Gates was having a word with the precinct captain, Jerry Miles.
"Captain, the reputation the husband of one of your colleagues is at stake here." Gates told him
"A woman has made an allegation of rape, commissioner." He reminded her, "Surely you don't want someone to skate on these charges because he has influence."
"Of course not." She replied, "But Rick Castle is no rapist and I want your detectives to do a thorough job here. Look beyond what seems obvious and open and shut."
"Are you saying my detectives would railroad someone?" He said defensively
"What I'm saying, captain." She replied, "Is that there is evidence and there is evidence. Understood?"
"Loud and clear."
"Good."
She got up and walked out the door
/
At the P.I. office the ladies, joined by Haley, were pouring over the files. There weren't a lot of them and nothing was standing out to them. Martha and Alexis had gone to pick up lunch for everyone.
"Most of these cases are pretty boring." Haley said, 'But I guess a cheating husband could be angry enough to do something like this."
"This is a stab in the dark." Kate replied as she stood up and stretched
"How's Rick doing?" Haley asked, "Really."
Kate sighed, "I think he's more scared than he wants to admit."
"You must be, too." She said
"I can't afford to be."
"You've got to take care of yourself." Haley reminded her, "And that little one."
"Kate smiled slightly and gently caressed her belly, "I have to be strong for him."
"But you're not alone."
"I know." Kate said, "Thank you for helping us."
"Of course." Haley said as she picked up another file and looked through it, "Wait a minute. I think I may have found something."
"What?" Kate asked and walked over to her desk
"Brent Tompkins." She said, "This case was pretty sticky. He cheated on his wife and it also came out that he was embezzling money."
"Well, that's bad but I don't know that it would be enough to do this."
"Rick told me the guy really went off the deep end about it." Haley said
"Did he know Rick was following him?"
"He must have found out because there was a voicemail message from him making threats."
