Chapter 11

Special Agent Wil Sorenson paced back on the platform like a caged lion as he waited for the train to arrive. A ghost of a smile on his face. He was trying to control the growing excitement he was feeling. In a few minutes he was going to get his hands on Castle.

Sorenson stopped pacing and turned ready to resume his pacing. He caught site of Agents Perry and Tuttle. They had accompanied him on the plane down to Albuquerque and he could see that they too were trying to contain their excitement. Standing next to Perry and Tuttle was Special Agent Jason Avery. Avery had met them at the airport when they landed and had driven them to the train station. Avery seemed to tower over his two agents.

The platform was teeming with FBI agents and local law enforcement officers. Sorenson had called on ahead to get the troops out in time to meet the train. Sorenson was sure there was no way Beckett or Castle were going to get away from him this time.

Sorenson slowly approached the three waiting agents.

"Everyone in place?" He asked.

"Yes, sir." Special Agent Avery replied. "We've got people on this platform, in the terminal as well as surrounding the terminal."

Sorenson nodded his head. He liked this man.

The South West Chief announced its arrival by blowing its whistle as it thundered in and slowed to a halt at the platform, air brakes hissing loudly. Sorenson started moving before the train had come a halt, the other agents followed him. Sorenson climbed into the sleeper car.

Sorenson strode along the corridor. Seeing Miles the porter standing in the middle of the car he approached the porter. He pulled out his ID and flashed it at Miles.

"FBI." Sorenson announced.

"You here to pick up that guy?" Miles said with a smile on his face.

Sorenson nodded his head.

"Come on then" Miles said waving at Sorenson and the other agent to follow him.

Sorenson and the other three agents dutifully followed the porter to the end of the car. Miles stopped in front of a door. He pulled out a key that was attached to a long chain.

"I've got him in here." Miles said as he unlocked the door and pushed it opened. He stood aside for the FBI agents.

Sorenson nodded. He could not hide the smile that came to his face as he took a step into the compartment. He looked to the bunk bed and saw Demming laying there with his hands tied behind his back. The smile on Sorenson's face vanished as he regarded the prisoner.

"Who the hell are you?" Demming demanded.

Sorenson glared at Demming before he turned and left the compartment. He turned his gaze on the porter.

"Where's Kate Beckett?" Sorenson demanded.

"Oh she got off a couple of stops back. Flagstaff I think." Miles replied. "She got off with the other guy."

Sorenson closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as he tried hard to push down the anger that was churning inside him. He opened his eyes and nodded to the porter. He was about to turn to look at the other agents when Miles leaned towards him.

"Her name isn't Beckett." Miles said, grinning. "Her real name is Sorenson."

"I'm Sorenson!" He shouted before storming off.

XXX

Beckett and Castle came to a stop in front of the Greyhound bus terminal. She paused to catch her breath. They had walked half a mile from the train station with Castle handcuffed to her. She had set a cracking pace to get here. Though it was mid morning and warm the promise of a scorching day hung in the air.

Along their journey to the bus station Castle had been whining about wanting to visit the historic downtown area of Flagstaff. His whining had only made her angry and that was why she had set a fast pace to get to the terminal.

"I don't know why we can't go an visit the historic downtown area." Castle said, breaking the silence. "Aren't you interested in our country's history?"

Beckett turned and glared at him. It was a glare that silently spoke volumes. It spoke that much harm would come his way if he did not shut up. Castle understood the meaning of the glare directed at him and wisely decided to stop talking.

Beckett started towards the entrance of the terminal. Castle followed her. Beckett made her way to the phone booths. She gave Castle a look that told him to behave before she picked up the phone. She put a coin into the slot and dialled a number.

While Beckett was waiting for her call to be answered she noticed an old homeless man making his way along the row of phones, checking the slots to see if there are any coins. She eyed the man carefully as the man reached across her checking her phone for change.

"Get out of here!" she shouted.

The homless man quailed under her outburst and quickly moved away. Castle frowned at her. Beckett ignored his look, turning to face the booth.

Castle looked at the homeless man and gave him a smile. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a folded bill. He held out the money to the homeless man. The man glanced at Beckett a moment fearing she might turn around and bark at him again. He reached out and took the offered money. He smiled and nodded his thanks to Castle and quickly walked away, not quite believing his good fortune.

"Royce?" Beckett said when the call was answered.

"Hey Kid." Royce replied. "Where the hell are you?"

"How the hell did Demming end up on my ass?" Beckett shouted. "Did you put him on this?"

"Me? How could I put him on you? I don't know where the hell you are!" Royce shot back. "Hey kid do you still have Castle?"

"Yeah I got him."

"Kid where are you?"

"Flagstaff."

"Arizona?" Royce exclaimed.

"Yeah, we're about to get on a bus." Beckett informed him.

"A bus? What the hell are you doing, Beckett?" Royce shouted. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Look Royce, I can't get into it right now. I Just wanted to let you know we're on our way. The bus is about to leave. I'll talk to you later, Royce."

Beckett slammed the phone back in its cradle and tried to control her anger.

"You know, Beckett, with all this anger you're going to end up with an ulcer." Castle remarked quietly.

Beckett turned to look at the author and narrowed her eyes.

"If you don't pipe down, Castle I might just practice some of my fearsome ninja fighting skills on you."

Castle clamped his mouth shut and then made a zipping motion across his lips with his free hand.

Beckett nodded and then dragged him towards the ticket office.

XXX

Jerry stood in the doorway of Royce's office watching Royce pacing the floor. His boss was noticeably angry after the call from Beckett.

"What the hell is she doing?" Royce shouted. "A bus?"

Jerry shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Royce."

"This was supposed to be an easy job. She should have been here in New York already. Now they're on a bus in Flagstaff Arizona, what the hell?"

"You want me to get some donuts or something?" Jerry offered.

Royce stopped his pacing and rounded on his assistant. "What do I look like, a diabetic?"

"Maybe a donut will do you good?"

"And where the hell is Demming?" Royce shouted.

"I don't know, Royce." Jerry said as he started to back out of the office. "I'm going to grab some donuts."

XXX

In the non descript van parked around the corner from Royce Bail Bonds Special Agents Erskine and Malone were grinning at each other. They had just listened in on the call Beckett had made to Royce. Erskine pulled out his cell phone and keyed-in a phone number. As he waited for the call to be answered he peered out the window of the van and saw Jerry walking up to the nearby phone booth.

"Jack start the other tape." Erskine called out. "Our little friend is making a call."

Agent Malone quickly put the headphones back on his head and started up the second tape machine.

"Yeah, put me through to Special Agent Wil Sorenson." Agent Erskine ordered when the call was answered.

XXX

Beckett and Castle were standing at the ticket window. Beckett had handed over her credit card to the ticket clerk. She was waiting for the clerk to return after checking her card.

"So how's our schedule going, Beckett?" Castle inquired.

"Don't fret your pretty little head, Castle." Beckett said with a confident grin on her face. "I'll get you there on time."

Castle nodded but did not return her smile. He saw the ticket clerk return. The woman smiled at him before she addressed Beckett.

"I'm sorry mam, but this card has been cancelled." The ticket clerk announced.

Beckett frowned at the news. "That's impossible. Please check it again."

"I double checked it, mam." The ticket clerk said. "Sorry, I can't accept it."

Castle gave the ticket clerk a half embarrassed, half amused look. The woman tried not to respond to his look. He looked at Beckett who had pulled out her wallet. The frown on her face deepened when she opened her wallet and pulled all her cash. She counted out the bills on the counter and found that she was a little short. She turned to Castle.

"Don't look at me Beckett." He said. "I'm not the one who doesn't pay their credit card bill."

Beckett glared at him. "How much money you got?"

"A lot!" Castle said with a chuckle.

"I meant on you?"

Castle shrugged his shoulders.

Beckett rolled her eyes. Without warning she dug her hand into his trouser pocket. Castle jumped in surprise, his eyes wide.

"Beckett, really, shouldn't we find a place somewhere a little more private?" Castle said with amusement.

Finding nothing in that pocket she searched the other front pocket.

"Fine, but I wont be held responsible for what might happen." Castle continued. "A little to the left...ahhh."

Beckett felt her cheeks start to heat up but she did not look at him. He was doing a good job of embarrassing her, which she could tell he was enjoying. Finding nothing in that pocket she withdrew her hand. She then stuck her hand in his back pocket.

"If you're going to handle the merchandise I must insist on reciprocal rights." Castle said loudly.

She found nothing in that pocket either and was about to withdraw her hand when she stopped. An idea came to her. Suddenly she gave his buttock a big squeeze. She heard him gasp in surprise. Withdrawing her hand she straightened and smiled at the look she found on his face. He looked shocked and surprised that she had grabbed his ass.

Beckett gave a stunned Castle a smirk before she turned back to the ticket clerk. She picked up her wallet and unzipped the compartment where she kept her emergency cash. She passed it over to the ticket clerk. The clerk counted the money and nodded her head to indicate that there was enough money for the two bus tickets she had purchased. The ticket clerk passed over the two tickets.

"There you go, two tickets to New York." Said the ticket clerk. "Your bus is leaving in five minutes, mam."

"Thank you."

"Have a nice trip."

"Thank you." Castle replied, smiling at the woman before he was yanked forceably away from the window.

XXX

Victor Racine stood on the balcony of his penthouse apartment looking over Las Vegas in the late morning light. He was dressed in a white bathroom. He had a smile on his face as he took a sip from his coffee mug. On mornings like this it was hard not to feel content with the world. He had spent the night with one of the chorus girls from the casino's floor show. The girl who was young enough to be his daughter was not much of a dancer but it was not her dancing talents that he had been interested in. He knew that the day would only get better.

At the sound of the door bell ringing Racine turned away from the balcony and headed into his penthouse apartment. He walked over to his desk and sat down. He reached under the desk and pressed the button that released the security door.

The door opened and Anthony Petrocceli, Racine's lawyer entered. Petrocceli was aged in his early sixties with a shock of white hair that was neatly trimmed. His face was creased and tanned from his many years of living in Las Vegas. He was dressed in a grey three piece hand tailored Saville Row suit that would have cost more than most people earned in a couple of months.

"What do you want Tony?" Racine demanded.

"You and I need to talk." Petrocceli said as he came up to the desk. "I heard somebody picked up Castle in Los Angeles."

Petrocceli sat down in one of the chairs opposite Racine's desk.

"Yeah that's old news, Tony." Racine said with a wave of his hand. "I'm on it."

Petrocceli frowned at the confident look on his client's face. He leaned forward in his seat as he looked at Racine.

"I don't have to tell you what will happen if he becomes a Government witness."

"Tony, that wont be the case." Racine assured him.

"I thought you were going to say that, Victor." Petrocceli said. "I'm supposed to advise you against such acts."

Racine smiled at his lawyer. "Tony, relax will ya? Get yourself a drink." Racine checked his watch and smiled even more. "It's going to be over in an hour or so."

XXX

Beckett and Castle were seated near the back of the bus. Castle was sitting in the window seat while had Beckett had the aisle seat. Beckett had her eyes closed trying to get some rest. The author was wide awake gazing out the window watching the passing scenery.

Castle grew tired watching the passing scenery. He turned to look at the woman sitting next to him. He could not help but smile as he watched her.

"What did I tell you about staring?" Beckett said without opening her eyes.

"Not staring." Castle replied. "Gazing."

"Stop it."

Castle turned back to the window.

"Why are you so angry?" He asked.

"I have a lot of things to be angry about." Beckett retorted.

Castle glanced back at the woman sitting beside him and a thoughtful look settled on his face. He turned back to the window before she said anything further. He stared out the window for a few minutes before he broke the silence.

"When was the last time you spoke to your dad?" He asked.

Beckett opened her eyes. She turned her head to look at Castle.

"Do we know each other?" She said.

"I'd like to." Castle said hopefully.

Beckett's eyebrows lifted. She was surprised at what he said. One moment he could be exasperating and the next he was the exact opposite.

"Well I don't." She said quietly.

"It's a long bus trip, come on."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Pretty, please?"

"Castle, don't start that again." Beckett warned him.

Castle turned back to the window and watched the passing desert scenery flying past the window.

"Why aren't you close to your dad?" He asked in a low voice.

Beckett sat up in her seat and shot a glare at the author but it was wasted as he he staring out the window.

"It's none of your business, Castle." She said tersely.

"Did you two have a fight?"

"I said it's none of your business." The heat rose in her voice.

"You know I'll keep asking."

"Would you like me to start practising my ninja fighting skills on you right now?"

Castle turned away from the window and saw her staring at him. The angry look in her green eyes told him in no uncertain terms that if he pursued this line of questioning he would end up getting hurt. He had not forgotten what she had done to Demming on the train. He offered her a small sheepish grin and then shook his head.

Beckett regarded him for a moment before she looked away and stared straight ahead. She hated herself for getting angry over little things. They remained silent for a few more miles. She then looked over to Castle.

"Castle can I ask you something?" She asked hesitantly.

"You can ask me anything you want, Beckett."

Beckett was a little surprised at his response. A few minutes ago they had been arguing and she had threatened him with physical harm and now he was willing to answer any question she might have.

"So what is a successful author doing becoming an accountant to a mob boss?" Beckett inquired.

Castle glanced at her a moment before he looked away.

"Research." He said

"Research?"

Castle nodded his head. "After I killed off Derrick Storm..."

"You killed off Derrick Storm?" Beckett exclaimed in shock.

Castle turned to look at her and saw the utter surprise etched on her face as she stared at him.

"You killed him off?" She repeated in a lower voice.

Castle nodded his head.

"So the rumours are true?" She muttered, more to herself.

Castle quirked an eyebrow.

"Do I take it that you peruse the Castle fan sites?" He ventured, unable to hide the grin on his face.

Beckett felt herself blush and she quickly looked away from his gaze. She did surf the fansites but she was not about to tell him that. The chat rooms had been on fire recently with the rumour that in the latest Derrick Storm novel the hero was going to be killed off. There had been no official response confirming or denying the rumour which only made the rumour mill go into overdrive.

"Why did you kill of Storm?" Beckett asked.

Castle shrugged his shoulders.

"I, l...liked him." Beckett corrected herself. She was going to say that she loved Derrick Storm.

"I grew bored with Derrick." He said.

"Bored?"

"Writing Derrick Storm used to be fun, exciting but the last two books it changed. It wasn't fun anymore. It became predictable. I knew what was going to happen in every chapter, in every scene."

"But you're the writer, aren't you supposed to know what happens in the story you're writing?" Beckett pointed out.

Castle nodded his head.

"Yeah, that's true most of the time." He agreed. "Sure I'll plan out a chapter or a scene, knowing what I'll write and then I'll start writing..." Castle paused a moment as if he was thinking something over. "But there are moments...there are moments when you're writing away and then suddenly the characters take over, they decide what they want to do, they decide what they're going to say. That's when it gets exciting because I don't know where they going to take me. It's an amazing journey and I'm merely the privileged vehicle they use."

Beckett watched Castle in fascination, there was a warm genuine smile on his face as he spoke. She

could not help but feel a little excited that here she was sitting next to her favourite author and he was revealing something about his writing, about the books that meant so much to her. She felt privileged that he was opening up to her. It was a privilege that any fangirl would have killed for.

"Writing Storm had become hard work, it wasn't exciting any more...so I killed him off."

Beckett could only shake her head at that.

"My publisher has given me hell over the fact that I've killed him off." Castle said quietly.

"Is that why the book launch has been delayed?"

Castle nodded. "That and the other business."

"Which brings me back to my original question."

Castle turned his head to look at Beckett. He smiled at her for some moments. The anger he had seen in her face a little while back was gone. He liked the smile her saw on her face.

"I came up with an idea for a new book." He said. "What would happen to an ordinary man, a family man, a good man, a law abiding man, an accountant who finds himself looking after the books for a mob boss?"

"But how did you manage to become Racine's an accountant?"

"I knew someone who knew someone, who knew someone." Castle grinned.

"Okay but you're a well known author, they would have spotted you." Beckett pointed out.

Castle laughed and nodded his head.

"True." He said. "You have to remember that I grew up with a mother who is an actress so it wasn't hard to come up with a disguise, dyed my hair black, a pair of glasses...wasn't all that hard."

"And an alias?"

Castle nodded.

"And then you went and embezzled Racine's money?"

The smile faded from Castle's face as he sobered up.

"It was only a month or two before I realised what he was involved in. I thought he was only a minor minor mob boss. I was shocked and angered when I realised what I had landed myself in. So I thought it would be fun, a way of getting back for all the bad things he's done, all the bad thing's he's involved in. Every time he'd been charged he would always get off for one reason or another. It irked me that the Government couldn't get him. I thought I would get him where it hurt the most."Castle paused and let out a long sigh. "Little did I know that all hell would break lose."

"Well Castle if you play with fire, sometimes you get burned." Beckett said gently and patted his hand.

"Yeah." Castle sighed, "Almost to a crisp."

XXXXX

Thoughts, dear reader?