The day started out good. They woke up together, Showered together, brushed their teeth together, Alexis smiled at them too. She had already had coffee at the ready and breakfast on the table.
"Wow Pumpkin what is all this?" Rick exclaimed.
"I'm so so sorry I been acting all childish I am trying to make amends." Alexis said all apologetic.
Rick was starting to protest when Kate said simply "Thank You Alexis." Which silenced her father, Alexis had to laugh how Kate handled the situation while her Father was still flustering to find the right words.
"Bye Kate and Dad" She gave them both a big hug. "I'll be at the precinct later for my shift." She was then out the door. Rick could not believe what a difference he saw in his daughter. Over night the change was remarkable.
"Ok Rick either eat or close your mouth we can not be late" Kate instructed.
Rick turned his attention to the food.
They left the loft and the traffic was horrible. They were stuck in the car Rick fiddled with the radio but could not decide on what he wanted to hear. Finally Kate grasped his hand a held it. Kate decided she was going to ask about the case.
"Ok Rick what is going on with this DNA?" Kate asked.
"Kate, have you ever heard of Chimera?" Rick asked with his blue eyes dancing.
"Are you talking the mythological beast with 3 heads and three different body parts? Let me see there is the head of a Lion, Dragon and Goat. The body was of a lion with goat hoofs and it has a Dragon's tail. Is that what you asked? Kate said looking at her partner.
"Well Yes that is one definition but another is a person with several different DNA's which are closely connected." Rick stated.
"You are talking about a patchwork person?" Kate asked.
"I guess that would be a good of description as any other" Rick agreed.
Kate looked at her partner.
"Ok what do you understand about mDNA?"
"It is maternal and is passed by Mother to daughter. So you are saying. Or perp and Victim had the same mother?" Kate said excitedly. Finally something made sense.
"No Kate it could have been any female Relative not just the mother." Rick said.
"Ok they might be cousins then?" Kate asked hopefully.
"That is possible but there is more to it" Rick responded.
"What do you mean more?" Kate asked waiting for her boyfriend to answer her.
"Kate the traffic is moving." Rick said trying to get her attention on her driving and not him.
Kate turned her head and the traffic had cleared during the conversation. The drive to the precinct was now complete but their conversation was not. Walking into the Bull pen Ryan acknowledged them with a head shake and went back to his computer. Espo was in the conference room speaking with two older individuals.
Kate knocked on the door to get his attention. They entered the room. Espo introduced them.
"Ok this is Det. Kate Beckett my boss and her Partner Richard Castle" Espo said.
"Oh My!" the woman exclaimed "it is he Fred! My favorite author!"
Kate just rolled her eyes.
"Oh so you must be the muse! I just love the Nikki Heat series!" The woman gushed.
Espo tried to continue the introductions.
"Boss this is Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heather. They were looking for their daughters."
Fred shook Kate's hand and moved away to sit on the couch leaving Rick and his wife Martha H. to gush over him.
"We have come to the city to find our daughters. Claire and Carrie. They are twins. But they never acted alike ever! Claire was into boys and girly things and Carrie was well the tomboy! She would hunt and fish with me while Claire would be left at home. I have before never seen her in dress! Especially for Prom she wore a tux. But then she got involved with this beauty pageant and she won Miss Iowa. From then on she became very girly. But before It was always Jeans and T-shirts. Carrie acted as Claire's protector. Claire came first to the big City she wanted to be a model but she was a good student at NYU. Carrie came to New York to be with her sister. We stopped by their house and a nice policeman directed us to come here." Fred told his story.
Kate was happy the NJ police were cooperating so well.
"I cannot help but notice you do not look anything like your daughters?" Kate asked.
"Well we adopted them at an early age and raised them as they were our own." Fred said.
"So the girls are what age?" Kate asked.
"Both 19" Fred said.
"Ok so they are over age did you ever tell them they were adopted?" Kate asked.
Martha H. now joined the conversation. "Oh yes they both knew we chose them to be our daughters. They were happy and well adjusted kids."
"So did the birth mother try to contact them?" Kate asked.
Martha looked uncomfortable.
"Yes she did they one day got a letter from NY and it was addressed to the two of them. The adoption agency gave her their address." Martha H. said.
"Did you happen to save the letter?" Kate asked.
Martha H. opened her purse and handed Kate the letter. The return address on the envelope was in the same building as the murder. They had their connection.
"So we went to this address but the doorman would not let us in. That is when we came to you for help." Martha H. said.
"We just want our daughters to contact us and tell us they are safe." Fred said.
"Where are you staying?" Kate asked.
"Right now we have not made that kind of plan we are not rich and we could not possibly stay in the city" Fred said.
Nonsense Rick said. "I will make arrangements for you to stay at the Plaza! It is the least I can do for one of my fans in desperate straights"
Kate again was struck at the generous nature of her soon to be fiancée she just hoped Rick would get up the courage and ask her.
Concluding the interview Kate asked to keep the letter. They agreed. Kate gave them her card and told them if they could think of anything else to call. Rick had arranged for his car service to take them to the Hotel so they could unpack. Rick had noticed the suitcases by their feet.
"Espo, Rick and I are going to this address. We should be getting DNA results back soon Keep an eye for them Ok?" Kate said.
"Will do Boss and I am so happy for you both!" Espo hugged them both and whistled a happy tune as he left but stopped whistling as soon as he saw Ryan!
That was just too much for the Irish Detective.
"Ok Espo I have been more than accommodating for your grudge but it has been 3 Months let have it out on the field of battle! Fisticuffs after downing a fifth of whiskey first! That will make it a fair fight!" Ryan challenged.
"Ok Ryan I accept your challenge we should have at the old Haunt tonight!" Espo said.
"Rick? are you agreeable on the terms?" Espo asked.
"Oh Yes Boys if you want at each other I will even supply the whisky too!" Rick clapped his hands to together.
"Rick you are getting…" Kate tried to say.
"Kate I know what I am doing Trust Me!" Rick winked at his girlfriend.
Kate kept her mouth shut. It soon was all over the precinct about the grudge match between the partners. Several bets were made.
As Kate and Rick were walking out Rick was telling Kate about the Old Haunt and its relationship with championship boxing.
"Yes Kate this fine establishment has seen many a manly bouts of fisticuffs if you look on the floor you can see the scratched where the ring stood. I have instructed Brian to get the place ready! It will be a great match!" Rick said with much enthusiasm.
Kate was worried.
Kate how much damage will they do after a full fifth each?
Rick had made his point and they had arrived at the building it was still an active crime scene so they were allow in without any problems. Soon they were knocking at the door which the birth mother listed. Rick looked at the handwriting on the letter in the elevator. There was something familiar but he could not figure it out.
The door opened. There was Martha Rodgers!
Mother? Rick exclaimed.
"Oh Dear!" Martha opened the door to let them in.
"Mother what are you doing here?" Rick asked.
"Well it is like this…." Martha tried to explain.
Rick mind now made the connection. "You wrote the letter!"
"Yes I did only because I just learned the whereabouts of our relatives which had been missing for 19 years." Martha said.
Both Rick and Kate looked at her with interest.
"Richard, you have a twin!" Martha said.
Kate tried to hold him up as he fell into a chair. After he recovered from the shock he asked.
"A sister am I correct? Mother?" Rick asked.
"Yes Richard I am sorry I never told you this. It was something I was not happy about." Martha said.
"So the twins are…" Rick stated.
"Your nieces they are the same age as Alexis." Martha said.
"Where are they now I need to see them and talk with them?" Rick asked.
"They both are students at NYU and they will be back here after classes." Martha said.
"So this apt…?" Rick asked.
"Well it is technically yours Richard. It was part of your book deal I figured if you were not using it the girls and I could stay here." Martha admitted.
"Is this why you have been so scarce at the Loft recently?" Rick asked.
"I thought you were upset at Rick and I getting together" Kate softly added.
"Heavens No! Of course finding out that way was a bit of a shock but I am happy for the both of you." Martha said as she hugged them both "Congrats!"
"Mother, were you here 3 nights ago?" Rick asked.
"Oh Yes there was such a party I was upstairs at this wonderful party and both girls were with me. There was a person there which I introduced to them which would help them in their modeling careers." Martha replied.
"What time did you leave?" Kate asked.
"Oh early about 2 I guess I had a young man escort me and the girls down. He was such a nice young man" She said.
"Mother, were either of the girls injured?" Rick asked.
"Oh Yes it was dreadful both got involved with that fight. That nice young man got them out of it quickly but boys will be boys and they kept at it!" Martha said.
"Martha did one of the girl's go to the bathroom to clean up?" Rick asked.
"Yes I believe Claire did." Martha said.
"Did Carrie follow her?" Kate asked.
"Maybe, I don't really remember clearly" Martha replied.
"So what happened?" Rick asked.
"We got together and we were escorted down stairs to here." Martha said.
"Tell me were they dressed alike?" Kate asked.
"No Carrie was in a Hip Hop uniform and Claire was in a very short dress." Martha answered.
"I see and that is all you can recall?" Kate asked.
"Yes it was fun until that fight broke out. Why Richard?" Martha asked.
"Mother a man who was identified as a serial Rapist was killed in the bathtub at that party." Rick explained.
"So what is this about Richard?" Martha asked.
"Martha One or Both of the girls might be involved we need to talk to them" Kate said.
Martha sat there stunned. No way were they involved in such a heinous crime. They must have been wrong.
"Oh" Martha said. Kate got up for some water as Rick held her hand. Kate returned.
"Here Martha drink this" Kate coaxed.
"I would prefer something with a little more kick!" Martha winked.
"So Mother about my twin what is her name?" Rick probed.
"Susan Marjorie Rodgers." Martha replied.
"Where is she Now Mother?" Rick asked.
"The…." Martha now broke down crying.
At this Point…Carrie enters the apt!
"Who are you and what are you doing to my Grandmother!" She was ready to fight
"I am Det. Kate Beckett and this is Your Uncle Richard Castle!" As Kate got off her knees and preparing to fight.
"Uncle?" Carrie questioned.
"Yes that is me I suppose" Rick smiled.
Carrie dropped all pretexts to fight and hugged her Uncle! She was so strong!
Rick was so surprised.
"Oh Claire will be so jealous I met you first!" Carrie bragged.
"So you have a bit of sibling rivalry?" Kate asked.
"Oh Yeah we are competitive in everything." Carrie agreed.
"Does that include Murder too?" Kate said now turning on the Det Beckett mode full blast. "You were at the crime scene so tell us what happened."
Carrie said "Ok only when Claire gets home. She is usually here before me. I am worried about her."
"Carrie what my Girlfriend was trying to say was she has evidence linking you and Claire to the crime scene. Were you aware before your arrival here in NY that your sister was raped?" Rick said.
"What? No she never told me!" Carrie confessed. "I should have been here sooner to protect her!"
"Richard! Is this necessary!" Martha became very protective.
"Did you know of her apt in Hoboken?" Rick asked.
"No I certainly did not I came here once I receive the money and the scholarship to go to NYU." Carrie answered.
Kate looked at her to continue.
"Claire was the adventurous one she left after I won Miss Iowa! I really did not want to enter but Claire convinced me that the scholarship and prize money would have been worth it. I never wanted a modeling job only Claire, I did it for her and she left as soon as the check cleared it was 50,000 plus the scholarship anywhere in the US. I have to compete in the Miss USA pageant soon too. That is when Grams got involved. She sent me the letter to come to NY to train and go to college" Carrie explained.
"You know you left your parents the Heather's worried about you both so much they left Iowa to find you two" Kate said softly.
"Fred and Martha are here in NY?" Carrie exclaimed.
"Yes they are I think you should call them. They are worried" Rick said holding out his phone to her.
Carrie push the button and soon she heard her mother's voice. Mama?
"Carrie? Is that you darling?" Martha Heather asked softly.
"Yeah Mama it is me. Why did you come all the way here? I left you money for the farm. I know I been gone awhile." Carrie said.
"You have not been returning any of our phone calls and yes the money help save the farm. But Life without You in it was too much and since we did not know where you were or what you were doing I wanted to find out for ourselves!" her mother said.
Carrie was breaking down but holding back the tears.
"Oh I got to meet my favorite Author you know Richard Castle. He is such a nice Man he arranged our hotel stay here in the city." Her mother said.
"Mama He is my UNCLE!" Carrie said.
What? Oh MY! That is so wonderful! Mrs. H. said.
At this point Claire came in the apt.
"Grams? Carrie? What is going on?" Claire asked suspiciously.
"Oh Claire Talk to Mama and I will explain." Carrie said.
"Mama? She is on the phone?" Claire asked.
"Yeah say hello!" Carrie urged her sister.
"Hi Mama!" Claire said.
"Claire are you ok?" Martha H. asked.
"Fine Mama what is going on where are you?" Clair asked.
"Your Dad and I are in NYC. I sure wanted to see my girls!" Martha H. exclaimed.
"Oh Mama I missed hearing your voice" Claire started to cry.
"Oh My darling where are you?" Martha H. heart was breaking her girl was hurting.
"I am living with Carrie and Grams, My birth mother's mother." Claire said wiping away the tears.
"Oh so you are ok?" Her mother asked worriedly.
"Yes Mama! I have another wonderful family here in NY! Grams is so funny and witty and just so fun to be around You would like her Mama! And then there is Alexis she is so smart and goes to Columbia. She is my age. Then My Uncle he is funny and smart too. I heard you met him?" Claire perked up.
"Yes I did and his girlfriend too. Ok I am glad you are alright I was so worried about you." Her mother scolded.
"I am ok Mama see you soon! Bye Mama." Claire hung up the phone then handed it back to Rick.
"Ok Claire we have to ask you some very uncomfortable questions." Kate said.
"Ok I am ready" Claire said.
"At the party 3 days ago did you see your Rapist?" Kate asked.
"Yes I did. He tried to attack me again." Claire replied.
"Did you entice him to follow you into the bathroom?" Kate asked.
"He came in while I was using the facilities" Claire said.
"Claire don't!" Carrie screamed.
"What did you do?" Kate asked.
"I screamed for Help but no one came and I was push up against the mirror and I scratch him to get away but he slapped me instead and I struggled against him. And I kicked the mirror and it broke! I got away from him and ran out the door. He was smirking at me as I left! Before I left he scratched my arm!" Claire now showed Kate her injuries.
"Why did you not report the attack to the police?" Kate asked.
"Why? They did such a good job of keeping him locked up before!" Claire snarled.
"No so we could have had record of the attack so you would not be suspect in his murder!" Kate said.
"Murder? Wait he was alive when I left he was at the sink smirking at me! I swear it!" Claire said panicking.
"Kate a moment?" Rick pulled her to the side.
"Kate I believe her story. Some one else slipped in unnoticed. You did see the window in the bathroom was broken from the outside in. Somebody on the balcony observed the attempted Rape and killed him." Rick said.
Kate thought about it and decided Rick was right. "OK Claire I am so sorry I made you relive that attack but we have to eliminate suspects" Kate consoled the weeping child.
Gram consoled the poor child and Carrie asked. "Well you got your story but was it worth it to frighten my sister this way?"
"Ok Carrie now you tell us what you did?" Kate asked.
"I was bored with the party and I went out on the balcony then I got caught up in the fight! I was rescued by a very tall man with T-shirt with security printed on it I stayed next to him and Grams appeared and he escorted me, Claire and Grams home I never entered the bathroom!" Carrie said.
"So that shoots down our suspects Rick" Kate said.
"Yeah it does but I am glad my relatives while I hate the guy attacking her were not involved in his justifiable death!" Rick said.
"Ok who wants Chinese!" Rick asked. Everyone voted for it.
Soon they were all eating Chinese and reliving Rick's most famous blunders, Rick called Alexis and soon she was meeting her cousins.
Rick looked at his watch. It was Ring time. Kate and Rick excused themselves and left the apt. Getting into the Old Haunt was a bit of a bother so they used the sewer route and came up through the office. The place was packed and the contestants were on about 2/3 down of the fifths.
"Oh Mom and Dad you made it" slurred Espo as he hung an arm around both them! "I am going to murder that rat" he said.
Ryan was not yet slurring his words but again he was feeling no pain as Brian came up and told Rick what the bet line was 3 to 1 against Ryan.
Rick said "I put 100 on Ryan to win." Brian nodded and added it to his tally.
"Oh Rick really?" Kate asked.
"Kate, please get us some beers I need to talk to both of them." Rick said.
Kate got the beers and went to their reserved booth. Lanie and Jenny were there.
"Hey girls!" Kate said as she placed the beers down.
"This is such a waste" Jenny said. "I just hope he does not get too injured."
"I do not know but they need to have it out once and for all!" Kate said.
Lanie agreed. "Espo is so much like a caged animal these days he needs to get it out!"
Rick now joined them. "Kate was that way until she blasted Maddox away! She was magnificent! He had no defense against your withering attacks!" Rick kissed Kate in front of their friends.
"Kate you never did tell us what was the difference between the first and rematch?" Lanie asked.
"The first I was impotent because I was fighting for a ghost. It would not matter if I won or lost. But the second time I knew what was at risk in this fight. It was to protect myself and my loved ones! He Had to go down that was the point. I was confident and strong before I was confused and weak that my friend was the difference." Kate said as she took a swig of her beer.
Soon the Bottles were drained and Brain was the MC. The contestants were allowed to touch gloves and then the fight began. The first round was a tie but the second was all Ryan he battered Espo mercilessly. The Third round was the decider. They were both doing well until 4 mins in and the effect of the fighting and alcohol affected both their judgments and the both collapsed in a heap in the middle of the ring after both connected with a punch. The fight was over and Ryan was declared the winner by points. Neither man could be awaken so they were dragged to the office to lie on the couches down there. Each was given a bucket. So that when they puked it would not be on Rick's fine couches.
Rick smiled and collected his winnings. Soon they were back at the loft to wash off the day's grime. Nothing had been proven on the case but some suspects had been eliminated. They were back to square one. Kate nuzzled closely to her soon to be fiancée and fell fast asleep.