SCENE ELEVEN
Scene opens with Detective Kate Beckett and Richard Castle waiting in the conference room of the 12th Precinct. Beckett and Castle turn towards the door when Detective Kevin Ryan enters the conference room. Beckett stands up.
Beckett:
So?
Ryan nods.
Ryan:
We got him. The information Jordan Norris gave was enough to call Jones back to New York for questioning. He'll be in tomorrow afternoon.
Beckett smiles.
Beckett:
Good.
Ryan, however, does not seem so pleased.
Ryan:
There is something else I wanted to talk to you about. (He bites his lip, as though thinking over his words carefully.) Jones has planned another attempt on your life.
Beckett takes a deep breath, nodding slightly.
Beckett:
Yeah – I kind of expected that.
Ryan:
This time's different. We think the shooter might be in the NYPD.
Beckett and Castle's eyes widen.
Beckett:
How do you know this?
Ryan sighs.
Ryan:
It was something Norris said. He won't tell us any more than that – 'cause he's afraid Jones'll take him out – but he seemed to want to warn you about that. (Beat.) You know what this means, right? It's not safe in the Precinct.
Beckett bites her lip.
Beckett:
What did Gates say?
Ryan:
I'm going to tell her now. I just thought you should know first.
Beckett nods, turning away. Out of Ryan's view, Beckett's eyebrows furrow in deep thought. Castle, who sees this, looks at Beckett with concern. Ryan turns to leave the conference room. Just before he leaves, Ryan turns back towards Beckett.
Ryan:
Beckett–
Beckett turns towards Ryan.
Ryan:
We will find this guy.
Beckett tries to smile.
Beckett:
Thanks, Ryan.
Ryan turns and leaves the conference room. After he's gone, Beckett sighs and runs her fingers through her hair.
Beckett:
This isn't good. If the shooter is in the NYPD, they can strike before Jones even gets here.
Castle gets up, concern filling his face.
Castle:
Then should we leave?
Beckett shakes her head.
Beckett:
No. The precinct is still the safest place I can think of. There are too many people here – too many good cops. Whoever it is, if they try anything in the precinct, they won't get far before they're put down.
Castle:
Then what do we do? We can't just wait around like sitting ducks.
Beckett:
We'll figure something out. Gates'll probably put me on a protective detail. (She bites her lip in thought.) In the meantime, we need to figure out who the shooter is. (She looks through the pile of papers on the table.) Have you seen the list of officers with a connection to Jones that Demming compiled? The shooter's probably one of them.
Castle nods and helps Beckett search through the papers on the table. They do this for a couple moments when Beckett looks up at Castle. Beckett sighs.
Beckett:
I'm sorry I got you into this.
Castle turns towards Beckett.
Castle:
It's not your fault. Besides, we're partners. (He reaches out his hand to take Beckett's.) That means we're in this together.
Beckett smiles.
Beckett:
Thank you. For everything. And I promise, after all this is over, things'll go back to normal.
Castle smiles mischievously.
Castle:
By normal, you mean we go back to chasing bad guys, solving crimes – and I'll annoy you until the cows come home?
Beckett lets out a small chuckle and goes back to searching the table.
Beckett:
Sure, Castle. That kind of normal.
Castle smiles, evidently pleased that he made Beckett laugh. He helps her search the table. End scene.