One of Us – Chapter 11 – Knocking On Doors
Previously Castle has found the links and now it is time to do that other side of the police work… knocking in doors.
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.
12th Precinct, 3.10 pm, Thursday
Castle knocks on the door to the secure conference room and after a short wait it is opened by one of ADA Denoza's female assistants.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt, but could I possibly speak to Detective Beckett for a minute?"
"No problem Mr Castle" answers the ADA. "We could all do with a break, and now is as good a time as any". At his words, the team around the desk rise and make for the door and pass Castle as he moves into the room. All except the ADA and Beckett.
"Hey" Beckett greets Castle as she moves into his space, oblivious of the other occupant of the room.
"Mr Castle, a moment of your time if I could, please?" the ADA asks just as Beckett nears Castle.
"No problem Mr Denoza."
"Charles" corrects the spry, smartly dressed ADA as he holds out his hand which Castle shakes. "Rick" the Writer acknowledges in turn.
"I wonder if you could do me a tremendous favor and…" he's pointing to a not so small bag of books sitting incongruously in the corner, the top cover is visible with the familiar shape of a naked female holding a gun - Heat Wave.
"Sign some books? Sure." Confirms the author. "What's your wife's name?" He knows without asking that the ADA is not a fan, which by deduction means his wife is.
"Megan" the ADA offers. Castle nods, and with the practiced ease of years of signing rapidly autographs the small pile of novels. "You're a lifesaver, this case is a nightmare and this will at least get me in her good books – literally – I hope."
"There you go. Please pass on my thanks to your wife for being such a loyal reader." Beckett is always surprised at how humble the Writer is when signing for genuine fans and not simply those seeking reflected fame. Of course, the ego lurks not far below the surface and can easily emerge.
The author feels a pair of lean limbs surround him and hears "Hey again" in his ear and her turns towards his Detective. A quick, almost perfunctory kiss and Castle speaks.
"I was just coming to let you know we've got a pretty strong lead, and we're heading back to the crime scene to conduct an operation."
"Mmmm okay. You be safe and let the Boys and Gates take the lead."
"Of course. We've called in ESU and uniforms for this as well. By-the-book." The Writer assures his partner. He leans in for a quick return kiss with a whispered "Love you" directed to his Detective as he exits the room before she can respond.
Eyebrow raised, Beckett can't help wonder what could possibly make them consider such a deployment when the team normally does this alone.
Never-the-less, she needs to let her man go do his thing, even if this is role reversal and now she is the one tied to a desk. In the back of her mind, is the nagging feeling that this could be a far bigger part of her future once she is promoted to Sergeant? Her commitment to Rick is absolute but it doesn't stop her second guessing the method by which they are securing their future with the NYPD.
Crime Scene, 4.30 pm.
A small convoy of vehicles enters the car park. Three marked units, an ESU response team bus, and their two detective units.
They exit their vehicles and cluster round the trunks collecting their vests. Two marked units are providing local security, and the Third will pull round to the front on the main street to cover the front. The team had evaluated the risks and believed that ESU presence would be advisable given the probable presence of at least 1 shotgun and an unknown number of suspects. It never hurts to have a group of hard heads in black with automatic weapons to help persuade suspects of the correct course of action.
Gates watches as without speaking Esposito and Castle check each other's vests and gear in a practiced and familiar manner, simply patting each other on the shoulder to signify all is well.
Ryan has crossed over to Gates and performs the same duty for her and she repeats the slightly unfamiliar steps for him. Satisfied that all is good they assemble with the ESU team. The Sergeant leading the ESU squad – Fredericks - looks to Gates for permission and she nods her assent as the cops form up for a tactical briefing.
4.39 pm
It has been less than 10 minutes since they arrived but the briefing is complete, and ESU form up and move towards the rear door of the apartment block. The homicide team fall in behind ESU and Castle drops into the tail of their stack.
As they reach the door, the ESU Sergeant knocks and the door is opened and they file in. The tension rises as they make their way up the stairs towards the top level. They meet no other traffic on the stairs and it is eerily quiet except for the occasional squeak of boot rubber on the stairs.
There is a raised fist at the front, and the column halts. Gates is surprised how quiet it is. Even the usually immutable Writer is silent.
The ESU Sergeant beckons her detectives forward and then it is clear they are pausing whilst someone does a scan of the vicinity and ensure members of the public are out of the way. It is Ryan who detaches from the group, to scout ahead, his attire being deemed the least cop like.
Looking back between her Gates watches Castle watching. Well observing is a more appropriate term.
His eyes light upon the names on the back of the ESU vests. Sweeping forward through the team they settle on the front pair. This is the entry team, first in and most likely to be on the receiving end of anything or anyone waiting for them on the other side of the door. They are similar in dimension, both stocky, about 6 foot, one with a ballistic shield, the other a MP5 Submachine gun. Suddenly his eyes light up and Gates has begun to recognize the increasingly familiar twinkle.
His voice is low but it carries far enough to encompass the waiting cops. "So Johnson and Johnson. Twins? How do they tell you apart? Is it a size thing?" The voice is full of mischief and a touch of innuendo and it would be unimaginable not to mention unacceptable for a member of the public to address cops like this, especially the no-nonsense, and tightly coiled members of ESU. But the Writer isn't a member of the public. He's one of the team, the family of NYPD despite the lack of a badge and a dark blue uniform.
As his words seep through the assembled cops, there is a smirk here or shuttle shake of the head there, but no verbal acknowledgement or laugh. At the front, the forenamed Johnson twins, sigh and bump helmets as if to realize the Writer's quip is going to follow them around for a good while. All around, some of the tension and anxiety lifts from the team.
Gates realizes this has been the Writer's intention. He won't be in the team kicking down doors, nor most likely involved in detaining any suspects. But it his investigative skills that have bought them here today. He does what he can and she knows this often goes well beyond what a civilian consultant could or should do. Roy's notes and the formal records for a number of cases make it clear that Richard Castle has saved the lives of each one of this unique team, none more so or more often the Beckett. And they in turn have saved his. Yet, there has been nothing in the press or even in his novels about this. Her original image of a vainglorious, egotistical playboy are nothing like the reality of the man standing behind her.
Ryan returns and reports all clear. Then gazing at the group of cops in front of him, his eyes widen slightly. "I missed something didn't I?" he says forlornly.
"Bro, you always miss something" confirms Esposito earning a quick fist bump from the Writer.
4.51 pm
Emerging into the hallway, the column splits and the ESU team approaches the door of the target apartment stacking up either side. The homicide team takes position out of direct line of the doorway.
The Johnson twins position themselves in off center at the front of the door with Johnson Shield in front of Johnson Submachine gun. By their side two other ESU team members step forward with the Ram and prepare to swing.
The ESU Sergeant glances back to Gates, receives the nod, and he raises a hand with thumb and 2 fingers up. He nods to the team and begins a silent count down starting with the middle finger, and as his thumb folds into his still raised hand making a fist, there is a serious thud as the Ram impacts around the lock followed by a crash as the door lock shatters and the door flies open.
The Johnson twins move through the door, ballistic shield locked in front, MP5 sweeping from side to side.
"NYPD! NYPD!"
Author's note - Whoops, sorry had an incomplete sentence there. Fixed now. Apologies for that. Thank you to you know who for picking that up. ;-)
Thank you to all the followers, favorites and reviewers.
