Friday evening everyone clears their desks and heads home. Ryan and Esposito enter the elevator and go down to the ground floor and exit the building. The evening is a little gloomy with the last of the winter chill still in the air. There is something about winter in the city that is just dark and dim. It's hard to shake the feeling that everyone is going to be totally depressed this week end and not a thing can be done to cheer anyone up.

Ryan and Esposito decide to call Lanie and meet at the Old Haunt and have one drink before calling it a night. When they get there it appears that the place is closed for a private function of some kind. The man doing security at the door tells them that the owner is having a bachelor party and it is by invitation only.

The trio stands outside and decides that it is best if they not use their badges to get in because that will cause a very embarrassing set of events since Castle is personal friends with the mayor. If he gets mad that they intruded using their police credentials, then he could create a scene.

The three stand outside and decide to just head home and come back together tomorrow morning at the station to catch their ride to the Hamptons. This will probably be the longest Friday night any one of them has ever seen.

Saturday 7:00 AM

Ryan, Esposito, Parish, Gates and spouses are waiting at the door of the 12th. A long stretch limousine pulls up. The driver gets out and helps load the overnight bags each has brought. After everyone gets in, they pull away from the station for the trip to whatever Castle has planned for the day. The ride is chilled since no one wants to talk about what is happening today. Even Gates is solemn. She may be a by the book captain, she till does care deeply for her officers. After what seem like hours and hours, they arrive at the estate.

As they pull into the driveway they are besieged by reporters. Cameras are clicking. Reporters are yelling. Questions of who is in the car. Who is getting married? They hear one reporter ask if anyone know the whereabouts of Kate Beckett.

After they clear the entrance gate, there is uniformed security making sure the paparazzi are not getting in. The limousine pulls up to the main house and the doors open. Everyone gets out and goes into the main house. A woman approaches the group and tells them that she is there to escort them to their rooms if they want to freshen up before the ceremony. This lady has just confirmed that there is in fact a wedding being held. She tells them that they need to be on the lawn no later than 1:30. Ryan looks at his watch, it's now 11:00. They have a little over two hours.

After they rest for a bit, Ryan and Esposito go outside looking for Castle. Looking around the grounds, it is obvious that there is a wedding going on. There are hundreds chairs set up on the lawn. An arbor set up down by the beach for the nuptials. Flower arrangements are everywhere. This is an obviously elegant event.

There are tables with various exotic foods. Several servers are roaming the crowd with wine trays. Other servers are carrying trays of cheese, finger sandwiches, and fruit.

A string quartet is playing softly near the front. There are hundreds of guests roaming the grounds. Looking around, they see the mayor and several city council members. There also are several judges that, in the past, the detectives have had contact with execute warrants. But they do not see Castle or a minister or anyone who looks like they could be part of a wedding party.

Lanie comes out of the house along with Jenny and join up with the other two.

Lanie speaks first "Have either of you seen Castle?"

Ryan answers "No, but I don't see anyone I recognize except the mayor and some judges"

About this time the lady that greeted them at the door comes up to the group "Dr. Parish?"

Lanie answers "Yes"

"Will you come with me, please?"