I know it's been a good long while since I've been able to update, and I truly appreciate all the kind words and encouragement I've received from those curious to see what happens next. As always, the characters are so very NOT mine.
Fallout, Chapter 9
"You mean he didn't do it?" Ryan asks.
"I'm not sure what he did or didn't do," she says, "but I know damned well that he didn't do this because he was upset about Castle's books. Look at what he wrote." She holds the note back up and points out the first sentence.
I was angry because Richard Castle killed off Derek Storm's character.
"See how he spelled Storm's name? It's supposed to be D-E-R-R-I-C-K, not D-E-R-E-K. Anyone obsessed enough to kill over it would know that. There are so many little things that don't add up. Castle's written over twenty books, but we didn't find a single one in Jacobi's place."
"Maybe he checked them out from the library or borrowed them from a friend. Or maybe he had some and sold them all," Ryan ventures. "I mean, the guy was flat broke and didn't have anything of value in his place."
"It's possible," she admits, "but did you notice that he didn't react at all when he saw me? We're talking about someone who broke into my place and planted that box with the note in my bedroom, not to mention the letter that was sent to the publisher. No, the details just don't fit." She hands him the paper. "Get this to handwriting analysis and have them compare it with the other samples. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that it doesn't match."
"You thinking that we've got more than one person involved?"
"Honestly, Ryan, I don't know what to think." She runs a hand through her hair. "It's late. Let's question him again in the morning and see if we can get any other details out out of him after he's had time to think things over."
"You staying at the safe house again?"
"Yeah." She can't imagine any other place she'd rather be right now.
"Okay. Let me drop this off and I'll drive you out there as soon as I'm done."
"Thanks." She takes another long look at the murder board. It's a mass of inconsistencies. There's the victim, who's not really a victim, and the murderer, who's not really a murderer, regardless of whether the intent was there or not.
Captain Montgomery walks up quietly beside her, and, in a low voice, says "Give me some good news, detective."
"I got a confession out of him."
He pauses for a few seconds. "From the sound of your voice, I'm guessing there's a pretty sizable shoe waiting to be dropped."
"It's bogus. I don't know what he's trying to accomplish, but he's either covering up his real motive, or he's covering up for the real murderer. Bomber. Whatever you want to call him. Either way, I don't like it."
"Is there anything else you need?"
"A good night's sleep and a fresh perspective, not necessarily in that order."
"You've done a damn fine job so far," he says. "The press has been hounding us for a statement and the mayor's approved letting them know that we have a suspect in custody. But we've only got one more day, two tops, before they start to ask about a death certificate and memorial arrangements."
Memorial arrangements? She hadn't even thought about the possibility. Surely even Castle wouldn't want to carry the charade that far, although her mind's eye suddenly conjures up a vision of him winking at confused mourners as they file slowly past his open casket. She won't let it come to that. They have some substantial leads now, and she feels the familiar sense of anticipation that comes just before a case blows wide open.
"We're close," she says, "but there's something missing that I can't put my finger on just yet."
Ryan rounds the corner with his car keys jingling in his hands. "Ready to go?"
The captain studies the murder board and puts a hand to her shoulder. Apparently, he's forgotten about her injury. His touch isn't that firm, but she still has to suppress a wince at the contact. "Well," he frowns, "we're going to have to go public sooner or later, but I'd prefer to do it with an airtight case. Go get your rest, and we'll see what tomorrow brings."
She busies herself with getting her things together until the captain leaves before telling Ryan, "I'd like to stop at my place first."
"Sure. Something in particular I can run in and grab for you?"
"Yes," she says as they walk toward the elevator. "I need the pain medication that they gave me at the hospital."
"Bad, huh?" He eyes her shoulder sympathetically.
"Not bad enough to keep me off this case, so don't tell—"
"The captain. I get it," he agrees, "but promise me that you'll let Esposito and I help wherever we can."
"You're already helping," she reminds him.
"I'm doing my job. And now I'm going to go outside of that role for just a minute, but hear me out."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Nah, you're a captive audience," he says as he opens the passenger door of the car for her. He walks around the car and sits in the driver's seat, but doesn't start the engine just yet. "I just wanted to say that you and Castle, whatever you have, I'm happy for you. I mean, I'm jealous, but I'm happy."
This day is just full of surprises. "Are you trying to tell me that you're gay?" she asks cautiously.
"What?" The look on his face is comical. "No! Oh, you mean about being jealous. No, I mean, having Jenny in my life is great, but she doesn't know what our lives are really like. Sometimes that's a good thing, but sometimes we have those cases...you know, the ones that make you want to puke your guts out and shower with bleach."
She knows. Every homicide cop does.
"I think—" he shrugs and starts the ignition before carefully backing out of the space. "I think it would be really nice to be with someone who understands."
"It would be," she agrees softly. What the hell? She's too tired and in too much pain to think clearly about the state of her relationship with Castle. "I mean, it is. It's nice."
"I'm glad," he smiles, "and I'm sure you already know this, but if he ever requires, say, an attitude adjustment, you know who to call, right?"
She can't help but grin. "I do. Thanks, Ryan."
"You bet."
As soon as they walk through the door, Castle is there waiting for her.
She steps into his arms gratefully and murmurs "Gently, please," as he pulls her close. He lets her go immediately and gives her a quick once-over.
"You okay?" he asks, his features etched with concern.
"I will be." She pulls the bottle of pain pills that Ryan retrieved for her out of her pocket and shows it to him. "You were right about things getting worse before they get better. I'll wait a little longer before I take one though, in case it knocks me out."
"Good idea." He pulls one of the chairs at the kitchen table out for her. "Have a seat and fill us in."
"What's the last thing you told them?" she asks Ryan.
"We haven't heard jack since you were about to question Jacobi." Esposito looks at Ryan accusingly.
"Man, you won't believe it," Ryan starts excitedly as he slides into his chair. "I asked the guy for a confession and he gave us one!"
Kate skewers him with a look.
"But it didn't hold up." Ryan's shoulders slump dejectedly.
"What, is the dude crazy or something?" Esposito asks.
"Not as far as we can tell," she says, "but there's something very wrong with his story." She explains the misspelling of Storm's name and Jacobi's failure to react to her appearance.
"Maybe he's got multiple personalities," Castle suggests, "and one personality doesn't realize what the other is up to."
"No history of mental illness, plus I think his boss or his coworkers would have noticed by now."
"Not necessarily. If he had a very recent mental break, they might not have caught on yet."
"I'll have him evaluated by a shrink tomorrow," Beckett says, "but I don't think that's what we're dealing with."
Castle stands abruptly and paces for a few seconds before stopping abruptly. "Evil twin?"
Ryan shakes his head. "He's an only child."
"Yeah, but he's adopted," Esposito corrects him.
"What? That wasn't in my notes," Ryan protests.
"Hey, bro, you got your sources, I got mine. You think I spent all day here watching One Life to Live?"
"Was he adopted at birth?" Kate interjects.
"I don't know," Esposito says, "but I'll see what I can dig up."
"Good. Ryan, I want you to—"
She's interrupted by a knock at the door. "Are we expecting someone?" she says, instantly getting to her feet and reaching for her weapon.
"Relax." Esposito motions for her to sit down again as he stands up and walks to the door, carefully checking outside before opening it. "Dr. Parish called earlier and said she'd be by with dinner."
"You wanna give a girl a hand, here?" Lanie says as she steps inside, juggling pizza boxes, a paper bag, and a small black satchel.
"I'll get the pizza," Ryan volunteers, taking the boxes from her hands.
"This is for you," Lanie smiles sweetly as she hands the paper bag to Castle.
He lifts his eyebrows. "After what you brought me last night, I'm almost afraid to look."
"You didn't enjoy what I brought you last night?" Lanie shoots a quick glance at Kate.
"Oh, it was enjoyed all right." Kate can't resist baiting her friend. "Repeatedly."
Castle clears his throat loudly. "You two realize that the rest of us are all still here, right?"
"That's okay. I don't mind a bit," Ryan says around a mouthful of pizza.
"Me, either," Esposito adds as he pulls a huge slice onto a plate. "I have a feeling this is just starting to get good."
Lanie cocks her head and looks at Kate thoughtfully. "So, you're saying that you not only listened to my advice, but you actually followed through? While you were in the hospital, did they happen to check you for head injuries?"
"What can I say, Lanie?" Kate shrugs and looks affectionately at Castle. "When you're right, you're right."
"Well, you can't argue with that logic." The M.E. lifts her little black bag and crooks a finger at Castle. "Follow me to the bedroom. I need to check you out."
"Did that sound as dirty as I think it did?" Esposito asks as Castle gets to his feet.
"More," Ryan agrees as he reaches for another piece of pizza. "Makes me want to get Jenny a naughty nurse's costume."
Castle puts the still-uninvestigated paper bag on the table. "This isn't going to hurt, is it?" he asks as he follows Lanie down the hall.
"I don't recall you having an overabundance of chest hair that could stick to your bandages, so you should be just fine. Unless, of course, you do something to annoy me, in which case all bets are off."
They round the corner into the bedroom, where, earlier that morning, Castle had thoughtfully arrayed his animal creations around the head of the bed. Kate counts to herself. One, two, three...
"Beckett!" Lanie doesn't even try to disguise the irritation in her voice. "You and I have got to have a talk."
Kate laughs at the absurdity of the situation. She knows that the pain and the fatigue are catching up to her, because everything seems so surreal. How she's able to laugh when the person who tried to murder Castle might still be on the loose is anyone's guess. Suddenly ravenous, she grabs a slice of pizza from the box and drags it onto a plate. While it cools, she investigates the contents of Castle's paper bag. It contains all the toiletries a man might need, including a light-up toothbrush shaped like a lightsaber. That's definitely going to score some points with him. Ryan or Esposito must have blabbed to Lanie at some point about her pain, because there's also a tube of analgesic cream for her shoulder.
"He's healing just fine." Lanie comes back, bag in hand, and spots the ointment in Kate's hand. "That's strong stuff, so go easy on it. Actually, it works best when somebody else rubs it in for you." She glances meaningfully at Castle, who's pulling his shirt on over his head as he walks back into the kitchen.
"You never give up, do you?" Kate asks as she bites into her pizza. The sauce is seasoned perfectly and the crust is sublime. She closes her eyes as she chews appreciatively. When she opens them again, she sees Castle looking at her strangely.
"What?" she asks as she takes another bite.
"Nothing," he smiles. "I'm just hoping to see that blissed-out look directed at me one of these days."
"It could happen," she replies. His face brightens considerably. "Just get the name of Lanie's pizza place."
He sticks his tongue out at her and grabs a plate.
Ryan's phone rings and he chews his remaining mouthful hastily as he answers it. "You guys work fast." He raises his eyebrows. "How sure? Eighty-five percent confidence? Okay, yeah, I'll pass it on. Thanks."
"That was my contact at handwriting analysis," he says. "I gave her all three of our samples: the confession, the letter that was in the mail, and the note from the shoebox under the bed. She says they all match."
Kate struggles to choke down a mouthful of pizza that suddenly tastes like the box it arrived in.
End of Chapter 9
