All in the Family Chapter 4

"Rick, I said are you coming?" Kate held the phone to her mouth as she hurried down walk toward the esplanade.

"I'm sorry but have to be with Alexis right now." Castle replied. "I'll catch up with you later or tomorrow if you're not back."

"Okay." She clicked off her phone and focused on the scene now in front of her. A partially decayed body lay on the edge of the embankment. Lanie was doing a cursory examination. "It's murder. Looks like a shot to the head. Male, older, maybe elderly. There's a lot of decomp, he's been in the water for about five days, a week. Something else too, he may have been injured previously on his side. His left foot is missing. There are traces of ropes around the ankles."

Detectives Esposito and Ryan stood further down the river's edge looking into the water. Kate walked to them and indicated they should tell her what they found. "Where's Castle?" Ryan asked.

"With Alexis," Kate snapped back. Ryan shrugged his shoulders and continued. "Some kids pretending to fish found him. I'm guessing the foot broke off when they brought it up. I don't think we'll able to tell where he went in. There was no identification on the body. It's probably at the bottom of the river."

Esposito added his thoughts. "What he said. We figured we'd go back and look through missing persons for possible matches."

Alexis dozed on the couch inside Jillian Dunne's apartment. Tumblers of scotch joined the mugs of tea on the coffee table. Castle spoke quietly. "I am not sure which upsets me more, the fact that I have a sister, or the fact that he told me I was his only child."

"Rick, I'm sure he did not tell you that," Jillian said. "However, he may have led you to believe it, for good reasons. He's old school, you know. He's made a lot of enemies."

"He told you about me." Castle was resentful.

"Yes he did, and that's the reason why he never told you." Jillian answered. Castle silently encouraged her to go on. "My mother died when I was a little girl. Our father, can we call him Anderson, believed she was murdered to send him a message."

Castle felt remorse for his jealousy. "I'm sorry. So you didn't grow up with him?"

"No."

"And that's why he never contacted my mother and me," Castle paused, "Until Alexis was in danger."

"What?" Alexis started from her sleep. "I'm sorry. Was I asleep?"

"Yes, and you can go back to sleep." Castle whispered.

Jillian left the room. Castle wondered why until he saw her appear with a large quilt and a pillow. She handed them to Castle and watched while he tucked Alexis in on the sofa. Jillian grabbed the scotch and headed to the kitchen. Castle followed. "That's your story. You know mine. Do we have other brothers and sisters out there somewhere?"

"Perhaps. He was a bit of a rogue in his younger years. Still is I'm afraid." Jillian giggled like she had inside information. "Whatever you think about him, you should know he's ruthless, but I think he really wanted a family."

"You also work for the CIA?" Castle asked.

"I consult for the CIA among other agencies." She had repeated this so much her voice lost all intonation. "It was one way of keeping me safe."

"But Alexis found out." Castle interrupted. "Wasn't meeting you dangerous for Alexis and me?"

"As far as anyone else knows, I'm only her professor, and your fan. If anyone is watching we are just having a long conversation about spy novels and the arts."

"Will you tell our father, Anderson, whatever his name is, that we met?" Castle inquired.

"Actually, I tried to contact him when Alexis asked me for the DNA sample, but he didn't respond." Jillian poured more scotch in to Castle's glass.

"Is that normal, for you? It is for me."

"It's not. It's been quite a while too." She turned her eyes toward the wall and her words slowed. "It could be unsafe."

"Or he could be dead." Castle spoke Jillian's thoughts.

Gray morning light filtered through the window. "I've always been aware that every conversation we have might be our last." Dunne's pragmatic tone returned. "Rick, you have a lot to think about. I understand if you never want to see me again. To be safe, you should call a couple of galleries about a show. But please choose ones that will turn you down."

Castle nodded his head. "I don't know what to tell my mother." Castle quipped.

Jillian quickly stifled her laugh so she wouldn't wake Alexis.