Chapter 11: Limbo
Richard Castle is pulled from Interview Room 3 with significant force. His eyes focused on his intended, he lunges forward as Detectives Esposito and Ryan release their grip. Equal to his force, Detective Kate Beckett pushes firmly against his chest, her eyes wild, fiery. The door closes behind her.
"Castle, no!" she commands pushing against him with the palm of her hand. Esposito and Ryan take a step toward Castle, hands out to direct him away from the room.
"He took her Kate," Castle says choking, taking a step back, "He took my little girl." Castle's hands come instantly to his hair. He pulls in frustration.
Beckett offers reassurance, carefully reaching out to grab his forearms, pulling on him slightly. She looks toward Esposito and Ryan offering an awkward smile as they step back. Captain Montgomery enters the corridor behind them. Esposito and Ryan turn to him instantly. Their voices are low, inaudible.
"Castle," her voice quiet, soothing, "Listen to me. This guy is a piece of work. He's toying with you. He knew exactly where you were going to be. He's studied you." He hand runs over his forearms. "He knows how to get under your skin. He wants to see you sweat."
He looks up slowly, tear filled eyes meeting hers. She licks her lips, the corner of her mouth curling.
"What I'm trying to say is that I need you to focus," she adds carefully, "Where is your phone?"
With a sudden hope flushing his face, Castle nods.
"You're right," he says, nodding frantically, "You're absolutely right."
Hands fumbling in his coat pocket he pulls his phone turning it in his hand. Face falling, he frowns, "It's dead. My phone's dead. Maybe she was calling. Maybe she was asking for help." He takes several gasps before looking at her.
"Castle," Beckett calls out forcefully, grabbing onto his elbows again, "Focus."
She reaches into her coat pocket pulling her own cell phone, handing it to Castle. He dials the familiar number. He is gasping for breath.
A voice picks up the line, "The number you have dialled is unavailable. Please hang up and try again later."
"Her phone's off," Castle declares looking to Beckett.
She nods casually, "Ok," her tone, one of familiar Detective, "It's ok. Call your mother. Maybe Alexis is home."
It is as if she can hear her own heart pounding in her head as she waits patiently in front of him, his breathing erratic and heavy. Finally a voice is heard on the other line.
"Hello?" comes an unfamiliar, shaky voiced Martha Rogers.
"Mother. Is Alexis home?"
"Richard? I've been trying to reach you for hours. Where the hell have you been? I expected you to be home. I wait up. You don't show."
"Mother," Castle breaths heavily, his voice rising, "Is Alexis with you?"
Beckett reaches forward, carefully taking Castle's shaking hand in hers and holds it against her chest lightly caressing.
"Honestly Richard, I don't know where you get off making me worry so. I'm your mother. I have a right to know if you're going to be out wondering, chasing down some crazy dream. I don't know why Beckett bothers to put up with you, I just-"
"Mother!" Castle shouts as Beckett tightens her grip on Castle, pulling herself closer, "Is Alexis home?"
"No Richard," a sigh comes across on the other line, "Alexis is not home."
"Did she call?"
"No," Martha answers, pausing, "Richard? Is something wrong?"
Voice shaking, Castle answers, "If she calls, you call me. You call Detective Beckett."
"Richard what's going-"
Castle ends the call, returning the phone. "I should have been home. I should have answered my phone. She should have been home this morning." He pauses, his face flushed, "I think I'm going to be sick," Castle brings his hands back to his hair, hunching his back. Beckett is on him immediately, taking him by the arm.
"Castle. Come. Sit. Take deep breaths." She guides him to the nearest chair, helping him place his head between his knees.
The figure of a woman exits the Interview room. Maggie Anderson pops her head around the corner motioning quietly in Beckett's direction. Beckett looks up slowly.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Anderson whispers, "I have a background in psychology."
Beckett rises, treading across the floor to meet her.
"He just needs a minute to collect himself." She takes a second to look Anderson over, "And you are?"
"Dr. Maggie Anderson," offering her hand, "I'm actually an old friend of Richard's."
"Really? Old friend?" Beckett says looking at Anderson's outstretched hand, and crosses her arms, tilting her head back, "Funny you should mention; Richard can't seem to place you exactly."
Anderson tilts her head back, and crosses her arms to mimic Beckett, "College. I know Richard from college."
"Is that so?" Beckett huffs.
"It is," Anderson remarks defensively, "If you have any questions about my credentials Detective, I suggest-"
"Steadman's year-end party," Castle interrupts, his head still held between his knees. Beckett and Anderson turn to look at him.
"That's right Richard," Anderson says flocking to his side, a gently hand held out to his arm, "Steadman's year-end," Anderson continues, a look of scorn toward Beckett. "Oh Richard, it really has been too long."
Anderson reaches out carefully placing a single finger to Castle's chin raising his head to look him in the eyes. "Oh Richard," a flurry of long brown hair engulfs Castle's frame, "I feel just terrible."
Beckett scoffs, and turns abruptly to see Montgomery motioning for her to join them. She abides leaving the scene behind.
"Beckett? What do we have so far?" Montgomery questions with authority.
"Alexis isn't answering her phone. We've called his mother. She's not at home either." Beckett pauses, "Castle mentioned that she was at a sleepover. She should have been home this morning."
Montgomery is quick to hand out his orders. "Beckett you go to Castle. Get as much out of him as possible. We need to know her exact movements. Where and when. What ifs and maybes. Be tough. Don't let him crack."
Beckett nods, "Of course. Yes sir."
"Ryan. Put together a task force. Canvas all areas between the sleepover to Castle's house. I'm talking buildings, alleys, subway stations, restaurants, dump bins. Leave no stone unturned."
Ryan looks up from a pad of paper, clicking his pen, "Yes sir."
"Esposito," he says pausing, "You and me are on psycho duty," and looking to Beckett, "This guy will break if I have to crack him in the nose myself." Montgomery nods slowly looking over his crew. "All right people. Let's bring this little girl home."
Each break in their own direction before Montgomery turns around, calling out, "Oh and Beckett!"
Beckett turns in her stride to face him just before turning the corner, "Yes sir?"
"You might want to call in a favour from the FBI," he pauses placing a hand on the door of Interview Room 3. "I wouldn't on normal circumstances suggest this, but getting Castle's daughter home safe is our number one concern."
"Yes sir." Beckett says nodding, and turns back to the scene she had left only moments before; Castle and Anderson still held in a tight embrace.
"Alright doc," Beckett says, tapping her on the shoulder, "Just a heads up but my guys are in there as we speak probably picking apart that psycho brain of yours."
"You have no right!" Anderson exclaims rising to her feet, treading heavily toward the doorway, "Under no circumstances do you talk to him without my authority."
"Who is it that you think you are exactly?" Beckett asks coldly.
"I'm a social worker. I'm only doing my job, detective." She takes a step toward Beckett, pulling back her hair from her face with one hand, "I'm also probably the only friend in the world he has right now."
"Some friend!" Beckett exclaims, her voice cracking, "How can you defend him? After all he's done?" She points to Castle, eyes remaining focused on Anderson.
"It might surprise you," Anderson says crossing her arms, head tilt back once more, "But Harvey Lee Osmond is a regular person like you or I. He's just been lead astray."
Beckett chuckles, her tone one of mockery, "And what? You're some sort of shepherd. Come to lead him back to his flock. Read him the Good News."
"Yes," Anderson confides, "If that's how you want to put it. Underneath his thick exterior, Harvey really is a gentle soul."
"Stop feeding me your bullshit," Beckett says, stepping forward, "I've spent many an hour with this 'gentle soul' of yours, and believe me gentle is not the word I would use to describe him." She takes the opportunity to point out the scar on her face, pulling aside her collar, revealing the end result.
"Psycho is psycho," Beckett glares, "I don't care how you want to butter it up." Beckett takes the opportunity to turn from her, looking back over her shoulder to Castle who stares in trance at a spot on the floor, "Well Maggie, I'd love to stay and chat but I have work to do. And just so that way we're clear," she continues, lowering her voice, "If he has so much as harmed one little hair on her head, I will gut him myself and show you just what a 'gentle soul' really looks like."
Without another word, Anderson turns on a dime exiting out of the room, leaving Beckett to collect her breath.
Thanks again for the dedication... the favourites... the author alerts... the beautiful reviews... So thanks for stopping by to read this... especially if you made it to Chapter 11... I hope to not disappoint. Next Chapter shouldn't be too long away.
they make me smile and pick up the laptop to furiously tap at my keys into the wee hours of the morning...escaping to CASTLE heaven...
I hope everyone is spreading the CASTLE love around getting people addicted to this show... so far I'm sitting pretty at 12 people! :)
We need this show to go on as long as humanly possible. It makes me smile to see new people on this site and the story board is up to 8 pages of entries.
Peace out my Castle-ites... and better yet my CASKETT friends. ;) I love you all...