Disclaimer: I do not own Castle ABC does.

A/N: Reviews are still incredible thank you all so much for your kind words. I must say I haven't read a single bad review and the thought of that blows me away. This chapter has a bit more action in and mentions some real places and events. Brighton Beach really is an ethic neighborhood in New York, at least according to google. I also mention a story in the news about certain Russian spies that took place awhile back. The reference is small but just google it if you want to know more because the US did find 10 Russian spies recently. This chapter has a bit more action in it and Castle does something that may seem a bit out of character, but I think I bring him back pretty well. Very little of Beckett but the cliff hanger for this chapter is going to make you all hate me. As always feel free to comment, criticise, question, or even offer suggestions in reviews and I will respond where appropriate. Anways without further nonsense on my part enjoy!

P.S. Forgot to mention but Italicized parts mean that the characters are speaking Russian

Chapter 11: Coercion

Brighton Beach New York was where the largest concentration of Russians lived in New York. It also happened to be where the leader of the Russian mob had his headquarters. Everyone in law enforcement knew that Sergei Sokolov kept a finger on the pulse of all imports from Russia, and the talk about him at the 12th never went unnoticed by Castle. What the organized crime division at the 12th did not know was that Sergei himself was former KGB and still had ties with the Russian Security Services, which was the official name of the KGB after the Soviet collapse. However, Sergei had chosen the life of a mob boss for a reason and his loyalties were not nearly as strong as they used to be.

That lack of loyalty was why Castle was standing in a dark alley late at night. Getting information about a Russian spy from any official channels would not only be stupid, but useless as well. If the CIA or FBI knew who or where a spy was they would have already gotten them themselves. Because of that Castle had to resort to getting information from someone a bit more homegrown.

Going in and trying to negotiate or even buy off Sergei was out of the question. Sokolov didn't know him, and was more likely to put a bullet in his head than rat out a former colleague to a stranger. That left Castle with option number two, coercion.

Looking up Castle saw Sokolov, in an immaculate white suit, and his two bodyguards leave the small restaurant and head his way. Castle had followed them earlier in the day and when they had parked and walked through the very alley he stood in to go to dinner a plan formed in his head. While most New Yorkers would avoid alleys late at night, for the specific reason of them being unsafe, people like Sergei had no such inclination. Monsters didn't fear the dark because there was nothing more dangerous then them in it. What this particular monster didn't know was that tonight there was a reason to be afraid.

Standing in the shadows Castle waited until the trio of mobsters passed him before making his move. Sliding the safety off of his silenced Sig Sauer Castle stepped behind the trio and fired twice, putting a round into a leg of each bodyguard.

Releasing shouts of pain the two bodyguards crumpled to the ground, each clutching their wounded leg. Sergei hearing the sound whirled around only to stare down the barrel of Castle's gun.

"Long time no see Sokolov. I recommend that your men slide their weapons towards me if you intend to walk out of this alley tonight," Castle said in Russian.

"Quickly you two, do as he says," Sergei instructed holding his hands out wide caring more about his own safety than of his two wounded bodyguards.

Slowly, mainly because they were quickly going into shock over their sudden gunshot wounds, the two bodyguards took their guns out of their shoulder holsters and slid them towards Castle's feet.

"Who are you?" Sergei asked.

"You do not remember your old friend, such a pity. I need information Sergei, information concerning the Russian KGB agent that has recently come to New York. Do not lie to me, your suit is far too expensive to be stained with your own blood," Castle said simultaneously questioning, threatening, and skirting Sokolov's own question.

Looking at his two bodyguards that were trying to stem the flow of blood from their legs Serge didn't take any chances. "I do not know who you are talking about. Russia pulled out all of their agents after the US caught those ten fools earlier this year," Sergei confessed.

"Then you must remember harder Sergei because I know one is here and I know that you would have heard of this person. My patience is not infinite comrade, and as much as it would pain me I will put a bullet in you," Castle threatened slowly aiming the gun down to Sokolov's knee.

Panicking slightly at the possibility of having his kneecap literally blown off Sergei became frantic in his desire to answer, "Wait! There was a boat that came four days ago. I received a call and payment to turn a blind eye at the docks. My men said that the contact spoke Russian. We did not ask any questions I swear."

"I need the name and the dock for that boat Sergei," Castle commanded.

"I don't know something in Arabic it's at pier sixteen dock number eleven. My men had to match the name with something they wrote on a piece of paper. It means something involving God or something," Sergei said beginning to sweat.

"That was not too hard. Stay away from my business Sergei or next time our next discussion will begin and end with a bullet to your head," Castle said while walking backwards and sliding into the shadows and out of the alley.

Walking away from the alley Castle had to stamp down a feeling of nausea in his stomach. It had been well over a decade since he had shot anyone and the feeling of wanting to vomit had always been in his stomach as soon as it was all over. Rick had to keep reminding himself that what he was doing was for his family and for Felicia, her killer could not just walk free. Instead of dwelling on it he cleared his mind and thought about the conversation he just had.

Rick had intentionally dropped hints at being a former acquaintance of Sergei, even using an accent that made him sound native to Moscow. By acting as if he already knew him Sergei would think back to enemies he had made in the past instead of looking to closely in other places. That combined with the shadows of the alley and his altered appearance made Castle certain that his real identity was in no way compromised. Not to mention that the ruse had thrown Sergei off balance and made him say more than he normally would.

Sokolov probably thought he didn't reveal much, but what he did have was more than Castle had hoped for. Not only had he confessed that the Russian government was most likely not involved, but he had also confirmed that this entire thing did involve the operation he had pulled off with Felicia. A container ship with an Arabic name was just too much of a coincidence.

The arrival of the ship, the Arabic name, and the fact that a Russian speaking man, who none of Sergei's men knew, had paid them to turn a blind eye made Castle believe that this was all connected to Felicia's murder. Now all Castle had to do was head to the docks and check out a that ship.

(BREAK)

"Yo Beckett we got a hit!" Esposito shouted from across the squad room as Kate exited the break room with a cup of coffee. Ever since Castle's arrest Kate had gone to get coffee when she needed to think, for some reason it made her feel closer to him.

"Me and Ryan went through the records of the Russian owned docks for the past week looking for a connection. We figured since this involves the KGB that the mob may have some part in it. Turns out a ship from the Middle East docked four days ago and they kept it real quiet," Javier said

Hearing the news Beckett felt a smile forming on her face. "Well boys it looks like were going to the docks."

Like it? Review it!