One Of Us – Chapter 7 - Investigations & Interrogations

Previously - After Gates' ultimatum regarding their relationship and new roles, Beckett & Castle attend a series of meetings to communicate their decisions to their family and work.

Disclaimer – even in my wildest dreams I don't own Castle or any of the characters. If I did, you'd see way more than primetime TV allows!
All the other legal stuff applies too.


Chapter 7 – Investigations & Interrogations

By common consent, Rick has been staying away from the Precinct until a case is assigned in a not-to-dissimilar manner to when Kate is leading the team. Left unsaid is the risk mitigation minimizing the potential distractions and pitfalls of a less-than-fully-occupied Writer under close observation from the Captain.

Kate worked a 12 hour day with the ADA's team on Saturday prepping for the trial. She faces more of the same from Monday onwards but she's more than comfortable with the idea, arriving early each morning with a coffee from Rick, and going home to the Loft each night. She knows the Boys will keep Rick safe, and hopefully it's only for one case.

In the meantime, the pair enjoyed a lazy Sunday in the loft. Original plans to start the moving in process were abandoned when both observed that they we alone in the loft and that this presented opportunities for celebrating and christening the next phase of their relationship. Alexis and Martha had returned on Sunday evening to find the pair enjoying a relaxed meal on the balcony and a surprisingly clean kitchen and living room.


In the end, it takes 3 days since they had accepted the Captain's conditions before they get a body drop. Even then it's second hand via Robbery.

It so close to the Precinct that it's barely worth taking the cars but they travel the four blocks to the crime scene in two cars, suffering in the Monday morning gridlock. Castle is riding with Ryan and Esposito is shotgun with Gates after a brief round of scissors, paper, rock to determine the lucky detective.

As they reach their destination, they turn off into a vacant lot that is currently serving as a local car park. They can see a unit with lights rotating down one end so they pull in there and de-bus. As they exit the cars and look around at the older early 20th century apartment blocks, a uniform gives then a straight-arm direction to the body down a wide alleyway between two buildings. Gates notices how the team acknowledge the relatively junior uniform, and especially how Castle passes close by to shake hands and chat briefly before preparing to follow his team into the alley.

Gates doesn't take the lead as Beckett would, instead she waits for the team to re-orientate and to sort themselves out. It takes the two detectives and consultant a brief while to establish a rhythm. It's clear they are used to Beckett leading. They more than aware of the presence of their Captain and to be honest it's thrown them more than a little, but they're not completely off their game. Stepping up, Esposito takes command and leads the team into the alley way where the crime scene is located.

Based on the vehicles in attendance, there's no ME yet, only two more marked units, and two detective wagons – from Robbery. Once more the team acknowledge the uniforms which include the tall LT who grins and fist-bumps the Writer and they exchange words which has the whole team chuckling.

There are four Robbery detectives circled around what presumably is the body. Mumbling an expletive under his breath, that Gates almost catches, Esposito recognizes the lead Robbery detective. Tom Demming. This could be a wrinkle, and he hopes Castle can keep a lid on any inclination to provoke or respond to Demming.

Sensing the new occupants of the alley, the four turn and Demming catches sight of the three men, his eyes widening in recognition of the homicide team.

"Where's Kate?" the Robbery lead inquires?

"Beckett's doing case prep" explains Esposito a scowl on his face at the use of Beckett's first name. "I'm running point on this one" and as Gates arrives behind them he adds with a twist "Oh, the Captain's along with our team as an observer."

Smirking slightly at Demming's discomfort of discovery Captain Victoria "Iron" Gates 'along for the ride', Castle acknowledges the Robbery Detective with a nod. "Demming"

"Writer-Monkey" breathes Demming, but not quite low enough for Gates to miss. She makes a note to follow up with Esposito and Ryan. If Castle has heard, he doesn't react.

Apparently Demming has now recovered from any surprise, and he is now giving the team an update on the victim and the connection to Robbery.

"We were called in after a series of bust-in's in the top floors of this and two adjacent apartment blocks in the last day and a bit. Same MO, door knock and then muscle their way in, or sledge hammer to handle and entry. Three suspects, masks, 2 armed with handguns. Take some cash and jewellery, but nothing reported that makes this high risk venture worth it."

"Intelligence has nothing, and we were doing door knocks when this" Demming gestures to the body "was reported by one of the building supers. Male, slim build, possible drug user, late twenties/early thirties, no ID, no wallet, no cash. ME is still en route, no ETA."

A first glance appears that may be a random 'pop and drop' and the Robbery detectives voice this opinion.

"Thanks for the briefing. How-about you leave that for the ME and Homicide to determine? Appreciate it Demming." As Esposito both corrects and dismisses the Robbery detective in few words. With that the Robbery team start to pack up and move back to their vehicles.

Castle is standing about 5 yards away. Gates takes note of how the Writer stays a little back from the officers, almost as if he deliberately staying apart from the detectives and collecting his own view of the crime scene. He takes no notes, and doesn't seem the usual constantly distracted and fidgety person she sees in the Precinct.

Eventually walking over to join the team, the Writer looks down at the body. Grimacing slightly – according to NYPD records Rick Castle has been to more than 70 homicide scenes over his 4 years at the 12th Precinct – the man never-the-less joins the other detectives in evaluating the body and surrounds.

"That's a shotgun blast isn't it? Not a typical weapon for a mugger or even a killer. NYC and Manhattan especially is a handgun kinda town. Not exactly concealable nor as quiet but certainly efficient as a killing weapon."

Esposito nods in confirmation making his own observation. "The B&E team were seen with handguns, no shotgun reported". Ryan makes a note on his pad.

The medical examiner arrives and whilst it's not Lanie, blessedly is it not Perlmutter for which all the team including Gates is grateful for the absence of the acerbic ME. Newly arrived in NYC, Dr Vincent Gello is young, keen, irrepressibly cheery and for some reason totally oblivious to normal social codes of conduct but in the opposite manner to the withdrawn surly Perlmutter. He's a little bit too touchy feely, more so even than Castle which has been the source of more than a few jokey comparisons. However, it is his apparent almost near infatuation with Beckett that has almost provoked issues in the few weeks he has been on the staff.

"Good morning Detectives" the ME cheerfully offers the assembled team. The he notices the absence of Beckett. "Where's the lovely Detective Beckett today?"

"She's not with us today. However, Captain Gates is" Esposito shuts down the ME and hopefully fires a shot across his bows. Esposito is beginning to think that this whole thing is staged given the potential pitfalls and mouse traps that are appearing for Castle's evaluation.

The ME sets up and within minutes is back to the Detectives.

"He wasn't killed here. Not sign of any blood splatter, debris or shotgun pellets." The Detectives nod in acknowledgement but this is not exactly new information to them.

"He was dead before being deposited here – but I think he was dropped here" continues the ME.

"From a vehicle?" asks Ryan.

"No, from a height. There is extensive tissue damage, post mortem bruising, and fractures to the left side of his body." The team look at each other, and then glance up at the two apartment blocks to each side. ME Gello is oblivious to the team and continues on "I believe that the victim was dropped or thrown from the roof top of one of the surrounding buildings."

The team look back up at the two apartment blocks and acknowledge with resignation that an extended period of canvasing is required.


Moving out into the top level hallway, the team begin door knocking. There is another team of uniforms - led by LT – that are covering the canvas at the other building.

Gates notices how Castle compliments the police officers. He doesn't ask quite the same questions. He puts the residents and hopefully potential witnesses at ease with his manner. Talking to an elderly male resident and whilst making quick notes on a pad she hadn't seen him use before, the Writer reaches into his pocket for a NYPD business card, and pulling one out pauses.

"Excuse me a moment, Sir" he addresses the elderly man, before turning to the team "Hey Espo, can I get some of your business cards? I've only got Beckett's."

"Sure Bro" and Esposito quickly crosses the hallway and hands over a small stack of his cards.

"Thanks" and with that the Writer goes back and hands one to the resident with a pleasant "Thank you for your time and please don't hesitate to contact us if you remember anything else."

The team continue to move along the floor, patiently knocking on door, and handling the suspicion, oddballs and outright hostility that make up the usual mix of frustration when going door-to-door.


After 2 hours, the team wrap things up and head back to the precinct. The medical examiner, body and marked units are already absent from the alley and car park lot.

Once back at their desks the two cops begin to review their notes, Ryan already typing things up, Esposito updating the Murder Board. Castle has disappeared to the break room and returns with coffee for the team.

Gates is surprised to find he has one for her. "Thank you Mr Castle" and she sips from the break-room mug and discovers he has made it just like she would, half measure of plain creamer, 1 sugar, and temperature just a little below maximum. She's never told him this, never had a coffee from him (or any other precinct member for that matter). Roy's notes have indicated that Castle has very keen powers of observation regardless of the circumstances or his apparent distraction or inattentiveness.

Castle, checks his watch and inquires if the team wants lunch. Hearing affirmatives the Writer states he'll be back in twenty and departs with no further comment or any suggestion as to what lunch will consist of.

Gates moves closer to the two male detectives.

"So what's the story with Demming and Castle?"

Esposito and Ryan can't but help look at each other in an unspoken question. Gates answers for the both of them "My office now!" in her best drill-sergeant tone.


"Let me clear this up for once and all, detectives. Nothing we say in the next 5 minutes leaves the room or goes on record". She pauses and is acknowledged by a crisp "Sir" from Esposito and a moderately more verbose "Understood" from Ryan.

The Captain tries again "So what's the story with Demming and Castle? Why did Demming act like someone kicked his puppy?"

It's Ryan who answers. "It more like who took his puppy so to speak. Beckett and Demming dated briefly during the second year Castle was on the team. Didn't last long and Beckett broke it off."

Esposito adds "She was going to go with Castle to the Hamptons, but then Castle went off with his ex-wife, and well it wasn't good for the whole summer."

Gates shakes her head. "Boy, when Roy left me briefing notes about them, he didn't quite cover how complicated these two make it!" The two male Detectives smirk a little, it may be that their Captain has a sense of humor.

Ryan can't but help himself. "Captain, how did you know Montgomery?"

Gates' answer floors the detectives – it's been a week of surprise announcements so far and looks set to continue.

"Roy & I worked Vice together when he was rookie D and I was still in uniform just out of the Academy."

Gates pauses, and rises her eyebrows as if to remind the Detectives that nothing leaves the room.

"There are no pictures before you even thing to go looking and can I remind that officers who served in IA have their personal files locked and monitored."

Both sets of male eyes are still wide in shock. Knowing full well what role female uniforms perform in Vice, especially rookies, the two detectives are frantically trying to ensure their subconscious doesn't visualize the Captain so attired. Once more they are grateful they don't have Castle's vivid writer's imagination.

"I trust that this piece of information really does not leave the room."

"It is clear to me that you have known about Beckett's and Castle's relationship for some time. However, I am choosing not to make an issue of this. I do understand the bonds of team loyalty and what extraordinary events are necessary to make most cops step outside that" As she speaks her eyes are on Ryan and he swallows nervously memories of last May still fresh in his mind. He unconsciously glances towards his partner.

"This is Richard Castle's best and probably only chance to secure a long term engagement with the NYPD. Also Beckett is not totally safe and her recent disciplinary matter could count heavily against her, as you well know." Gates' vision is clearly on the Hispanic detective this time, and Esposito nods. Message received.

"I trust I don't have to expand on the possibilities further. Especially if it goes adversely. "

"Now not a word of this to anyone else. I really don't need to explain further do I?"

Both Detectives answer in the affirmative "Sir!"

Returning to the original topic "Do you think Demming knows they are together?"

"I think he may suspect but then again pretty much most of the NYPD and NYC thought they were together. He did make what he thought were subtle inquiries middle of last year after Castle came back but it was obvious he and Beckett weren't dating. But of course by then Beckett was dating Doctor-Motorcycle-Boy whilst Castle was initially still with his ex-wife." Esposito answers.

Gates rolls her eyes at this piece of information. Espo and Ryan share a "WFT Bro! Did Gates just roll her eyes?" look before squaring their faces.

Gates smirks at the two detectives. "You know I'm not Iron Gates all the time. You really don't think I raised two kids acting like a cop?!"

"Now let's get back out there and on the case and do some more work before Castle returns with lunch.


Castle returns with lunch from a traditional Vietnamese place to find the Boys and Gates round the murder board. He has got the team an assortment of bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches) on wonderfully soft and crunchy baguettes. The most popular are the roast pork with fresh cucumber slices, fresh chillies, cilantro, pickled carrots and daikon. Most of the team break out in a cold sweat on their noses, except for Gates who picks at the left over chillies. What the team doesn't eat, Castle leaves in the break room where the fusion of classic French baking and fresh Asian tastes doesn't last long in the face of hungry cops and a free feed.

Heading back to work, they complete the write up of the notes and the transcription onto the Murder Board. However, they don't have ME's report and with no ID, they are stuck. Gates leaves the team at 5 pm to return to her office for paperwork and a conference call. By 7 pm the team are frustrated, and when Beckett emerges from the secure conference room where she's been locked away with the ADA and his assistants, the team take a mutual decision to wrap it up for the night, and resume in the morning. Esposito shoots Gates an email before ushering the team towards the exits, including a somewhat bemused Kate Beckett who is playing along with the change in roles.


Author's Note – Hurrah a crime scene at last!

For those kind reviewers asking for more on Jim and what Castle was up to, there will be more revelations in the next chapter.

Thank you for your reviews, favorites and follows.