DISCLAIMER: The characters of CASTLE do not belong to me, they belong to ABC, I'm just borrowing them for a while, for my enjoyment and hopefully yours as well.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Over a month since I last updated. Sorry, so sorry. I'm hoping that I'll get this story done by the 19th of September, which is when CASTLE is coming back and based on the spoilers and the previews / promo's that I've seen it's going to be a great season. :D So anyways, please enjoy this chapter, and if you've got the time leave a review 'cause I love reading what you think!

Chapter Nine

Castle and the boys climbed into their undercover car and drove to City Hall. As they drove, they talked about ways to approach the situation. They didn't want to go full force because that might spook the mayor and put Kate in even greater danger. Ryan and Esposito wanted to corner the mayor and make him talk, but Castle made them realize that he was probably the best one out of all of them to get the mayor talking. "If we play our cards right, we should be able to figure out where Kate is by nightfall," Castle told the boys.

"Yeah and if we do this wrong, Beckett could be dead by nightfall." Ryan added.

"Positive thinking bro," Esposito said. "We're going to get her back."

"Course we are," Castle agreed. "We've got to."

"I'm sorry," the mayor's secretary apologized for the third time. "But like I've said, the mayor is not available to speak to anyone right now."

Castle put on his most charming smile. "Alice, I know that the Mayor is a busy man. But this is really important and I promise that it won't take more than five minutes. So do you think that you could buzz us in?"

Alice Wright sighed. Castle was one of her favourite frequent visitors to the mayor, not to mention that he was one of her most favourite authors as well and never failed to give her a signed copy of his newest book. She knew that she'd do almost anything for him, and the long standing crush that she had on the bachelor was one of the reasons why she was willing to break the rules.

"Alright, I'll be straight with you Mister Castle,"

"Rick," he interrupted. "How many times have I asked you to call me Rick."

Alice blushed. "Rick, the Mayor isn't here right now."

"No?" asked Esposito, surprised at that.

Alice nodded. "He's not expected back at all today."

"Do you know where he is?" Ryan asked. "A function or something?"

Alice clicked a couple of times on her computer nodded again. "He was at the opening of an Art Gallery this morning, but right now he's at a celebration function for his wife's charity work. It's on the roof of the Esquire building and he'll be there till ten or so."

"Thanks Alice," Castle thanked as Ryan and Esposito were already leaving.

"Don't mention it," she replied in a low voice. "Seriously, okay?"

Castle winked at her. "My lips are sealed."

And with that said, Castle was gone as well.

"So this is the Esquire building," Ryan muttered as they got out of the car. Tall and impressive, the Esquire building was one of the newest building to be built in Manhattan. It was a shining jewel in the Trump Towers Corporation and it housed a multitude of shops on the ground and first four floors, offices for various other companies on levels five through fifteen and high end condos on floors fifteen through forty. However, Castle and the boys had no interest in the first forty floors. What they wanted was at the very top and they quickly found the elevator that would take them to the top. Unfortunately a private security officer guarded it.

"I'm sorry," he apologized in a tone that wasn't very apologetic at all. "But you can't go up there."

Castle flashed the man a grin. "Course I can, I'm Richard Castle. I'm here to see the Mayor."

"I know who you are sir," the guard stated. "And I'm sorry but you can't go up."

"Just put a call into the Mayor," Castle asked. "I know that you guys have his number, to let him know of any potential danger. Just let him know that I'm here."

The guard looked at Castle and shook his head. "Sorry."

Castle sighed and looked to the boys for back up. Ryan and Esposito just shared a look and then instantly showed them their badges. "Is this enough credentials for you?" Esposito asked, watching as the guard nodded and stepped aside.

"Hit the R button," he told them as the doors opened. "It'll take you to the top."

"Thank you," Castle said as he was the last to step inside.

The doors closed and the boys stood in stony silence on the ride up.

"Castle!" the Mayor exclaimed with a smile as he saw Castle weaving his way through the crowd. "What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here."

"You've heard about Detective Beckett, haven't you?"

The mayor's grin instantly disintegrated. "Yes. Terrible thing. What can I do?"

"We'd like to talk to you sir," Ryan added from behind the mayor.

"It won't take long," Esposito promised.

The mayor looked from the cops to Castle and realized that he was cornered. "Of course," he said at last. "Let's find a quiet corner.

"So?" the Mayor asked as they found a spot near an emergency stairwell.

"We're friends," Castle asked. "Aren't we?"

"Course we are," the Mayor assured. "Castle, what is this all about."

"Detective Beckett has been kidnapped, by the same people who killed Captain Montgomery," Castle explained warily.

"Dear me," the mayor muttered shaking his head. "What's my city coming to?"

"Yes sir," Ryan began cautiously. "It is your city."

"And we think that you might know something."

The Mayor's eyes narrowed. "You think I had something to do with Montgomery's death? He was my friend."

"Course he was," Castle interjected, trying to keep things civil. "We know that."

"It sounds like you're accusing me of something,"

"No sir," Ryan assured.

"We just thought—"

"I'll tell you what you thought," The Mayor said, interrupting Esposito. "You thought that you'd be able to come here, to my wife's grand evening and accuse me of being embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring this city to its knees."

"Mayor I—"

"Rick you're my friend too," he interrupted again. "But I'm asking you now to leave and not darken my doorway again with such unfounded and unbelievable accusations."

"But—"

"Yes," Castle stated quickly, stopping Ryan or Esposito from saying anything. "Of course. I am sorry."

The Mayor's face softened a little bit. "Course you are. Now if you'll excuse me, I trust that you gentlemen will be able to show yourselves out."

"Yes," Castle assured. "Have a good evening."

Back on street level Ryan and Esposito could barely contain their anger. "He's lying to us," Ryan muttered darkly as they got back into the car.

"Course he is," Esposito agreed. "But aside form going to him with proof,"

"We don't want to spook him," Castle interjected.

"We might have done that already," Ryan pointed out.

"So what do we do now?" Castle asked. "We can't just sit here."

The three boys looked blankly at each other.

"We can't let the mayor out of our sight," Ryan said at last.

"We're going to have to put a tail on her," Esposito added.

"Your new captain isn't going to like that." Castle pointed out.

Esposito's eyes narrowed. "I don't care. Beckett's our leader, our friend, I'm will to risk the wrath of God himself if it'll get her back… what about you two?"

"I'm with you," Ryan assured.

"Well bro?"

Castle looked both men in the eyes. "What did you have in mind?"

TBC— Again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

What do the boys have in mind?

What will Jenny & Lanie and Alexis and Martha think of all this?

You'll have to read the next chapter to find out. :D