Chapter 12
Kate Beckett slowly came to consciousness. For some moments she hovered in that land between wakefulness and sleep. Her nose was assailed by familiar smells that curved her lips into an involuntary smile. The call of sleep was like a siren song and she wanted nothing more than to sleep a little longer. She wanted to luxuriate in the warmth of the sheets that surrounded her. No matter how strong the siren song was the alarm on her phone was stronger and louder, dragging her away from the land of sleep.
Blindly reaching over to the nightstand she killed the strident alarm. Opening her eyes she took in the darkened surrounds. Nothing seemed familiar to her sleep fogged mind. Then it came to her in a rush. She immediately sat bolt up right in the bed. She was in Castle's bedroom.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she forced herself to relax and recalled the night before. Switching on the bedside lamp she picked up her phone and checked the time. It was six o'clock in the morning. Then she checked her messages. As she expected there were none from the one person she wanted to hear from. Just a handful from Josh that she had not bothered to read or respond to.
Sooner or later she was going to have to talk to him she realised, remembering the scene at the precinct yesterday. It was not a prospect that filled her with any joy.
Putting her phone back on the nightstand she pulled aside the blankets and reluctantly hauled herself out of bed.
Coming down the stairs she spotted Alexis sitting in the kitchen, a school book opened in front of her and a bowl of cereal beside it.
"Hey Alexis." Beckett said softly as she approached the girl.
Alexis turned her head and beamed at the detective.
"Morning Kate."
"You're up early."
The girl nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't sleep all that well." She confessed.
Beckett put her arm around Alexis and hugged her tightly. She felt a little bad she had slept better than she had in many weeks while Alexis hadn't.
"I have coffee ready." Alexis announced when they broke the embrace.
"I could kiss you." Beckett said with a smile.
Beckett kissed Alexis on the top of her head before going around the counter to where the coffee pot was being kept warm. She poured herself a steaming cup and brought it over to the counter. She saw Alexis smiling at her.
"What?"
"The tee shirt you're wearing."
"What about it?"
"Dad would get a kick to see you wearing it. It's his favourite Star Wars tee shirt."
Beckett glanced down at what she was wearing and smiled guiltily. It depicted the movie poster from the original Star wars movie with Luke, Lea and Han with the menacing visage of Darth Vader looming in the background.
Beckett had grabbed the first tee shirt she found when she had opened one of the drawers in search of something to wear to bed last night. She gave the girl a shrug of her shoulders and smiled. Alex beamed back. Bringing the coffee mug to her lips she took a sip of the coffee. She closed her eyes momentarily as she savoured the first hit of caffeine for the day.
"Do you want some breakfast, Kate?" Alexis offered. "How about some pancakes?"
"No need to go to any trouble, Alexis, some cereal will be fine."
"It's no trouble, really."
Beckett did not have the heart to protest in the face of the girl's enthusiasm so she consented with a nod of her head.
"I'm going to grab a shower." Beckett announced, watching as the girl got off the stool and raced around the counter.
"Breakfast will be waiting for you when you get back Kate."
Fifteen minutes later Beckett was dressed and seated on a stool beside Alexis having breakfast.
"Are you going to go to school today, Alexis?" Beckett inquired.
Alexis looked up from her plate and shook her head.
"I'm going to stay home again today." Alexis explained.
Beckett raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Paige and a couple of other friends will take notes for me."
"Would you like me to call your school?"
"Thanks but that's all ready been taken care of."
Beckett continued to look at the red haired girl.
"I thought I'd keep Grams company."
The Detective smiled and nodded her head in understanding.
"She may not show it but she is really worried about dad." The girl added.
Beckett reached out and stroked Alexis' arm.
"We all are sweetie, we all are."
Glancing at her watch she saw that it was nearing seven.
"I have to get going." She announced, getting off the stool. "I want to get into the precinct early but I have to stop by my place to change first." She gathered up the empty plates.
"I'll take care of the dishes, Kate." Alexis said.
"Sure?"
The girl smiled and nodded her head. Beckett set the plates down on the counter.
"Kate..." Alexis paused not able to finish the sentence.
Beckett saw the worry that Alexis had been trying to conceal rise to her face.
"If I find out anything you'll be the first to know." Beckett told her.
Alexis slid off her stool and walked up to Beckett and hugged. Beckett returned the hug with equal force.
"I know you'll find him Kate." Alexis said firmly.
Beckett was touched by the blind faith the girl showed in her. She desperately hoped she could live up to that faith.
Beckett emerged from Castle's loft to find Sergeant Mavros and his people guarding the front door and corridor.
"Don't you ever sleep, Steve?" She asked, smiling.
"Started shift half an hour ago, Beckett." Sergeant Mavros replied with a half smile on his face.
"Alexis and Martha will be staying in today." Beckett reported.
Mavros nodded his head. "Makes our job a little bit easier."
"Well, I'll see you later, Steve." Beckett said and started for the lifts.
"Where do you think you're going Beckett?"
Beckett stopped and looked back to Mavros, a puzzled looked on her face.
"First I'm heading home to change and then head into the precinct."
Mavros held out his hand. "Your keys, please."
"What?"
"Hand over your car keys please."
Beckett stared in disbelief at the chief of the protection detail.
"I'm perfectly capable of driving myself, Steve."
Mavros nodded his head. "I know you are. Please hand over your car keys."
"Why? I don't understand."
"Orders from up on high."
Beckett glared back at the sergeant but he was impervious to it. His hand remained outstretched, waiting for her keys.
The detective continued to glare back at the sergeant.
"What if I refuse and just leave?"
"I'd rather you didn't, Beckett. It would be much better for all concerned and less embarrassing, if you just handed over your car keys, please."
The look on the face of the chief of the detail told her that he would do whatever was needed and she would end up losing the battle.
Suddenly it dawned on her. The anger drained from her along with the colour from her face.
"You think I might be a target." she said in a low voice.
"Orders are that you get protection as well."
"Whose orders?"
"Keys, please."
Beckett knew that Sergeant Mavros was not going to tell her. She had a fair idea who was behind the new orders. There was every chance that she was going to give the man a piece of her mind when next she saw him. She couldn't believe she hadn't been told. Angrily she dug into her bag and retrieved her car keys. She tossed them over to the sergeant.
"Thank you Beckett."
Mavros held out the keys to the bodyguard standing behind him.
"George, drive Detective Beckett to her apartment and then to the precinct." He ordered. "And take Cooper with you."
George took the car keys and walked to the lifts and pressed the down button.
Beckett continued to glare at Sergeant Mavros who gave her a 'don't blame me' shrug of his shoulders. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Letting out a sigh she turned away and faced the lift waiting for it to arrive.
Kate Beckett was not feeling like a happy camper, in fact she was silently fuming as the car pulled into a parking spot not far from her apartment building. She was sitting in the back seat of her own car while it was driven by Cooper. She never let anyone drive her car. George rode shot gun in the front passenger seat. It galled her to be driven around in her own car. George was out the door the moment the car had come to a stop. Beckett started to open her door.
"Wait please, Detective." Said Cooper in a firm voice.
"You got to be kidding?" Beckett said rolling her eyes.
"No detective."
"I'm a cop for God's sakes."
"Yes Detective."
George opened the door for her. She got out and started walking towards her apartment. George fell into step beside her on her right. A couple of moments later Cooper trotted up on her left.
"Are you going to be shadowing me all day?" she demanded.
"For as long as it takes Detective Beckett." George replied. His eyes were sweeping the street ahead of them, looking for anything that could pose a danger. "We'll try not to get in your way."
Beckett let out a loud sigh of frustration. At least her last shadow knew how to make the experience a little more palpable with his witty remarks and lame jokes. Looking from George to Cooper she didn't think they were capable of cracking a joke to lighten the mood. They were by the book.
The lift reached her floor and the door slid open. Standing in front of the open doors was a tired looking Josh.
"Kate." He called out his face brightening.
Instantly the two bodyguards moved into action. George slid across to shield Beckett while Cooper stepped swiftly out of the lift to have a very startled Josh pinned up against the opposite wall. A forearm pressed against the base of his throat and a gun poking him in the chest.
"Kate...what the hell?" Josh demanded. "What's going on?"
"Guys stand down." Beckett said wearily. "He's my...friend."
Cooper looked to his partner. George nodded his head. Cooper eased his forearm off Josh's throat but continued to press the gun against his chest. He quickly frisked the doctor.
"Kate what the hell is going on?" Josh demanded angrily. "And who are these guys?"
"He's clean." Cooper announced crisply before he stepped away.
"Kate?"
"I'll explain inside." Beckett replied, a flush of embarrassment colouring her cheeks.
Reaching her front door Cooper held up Beckett's keys, she pointed out the front door key. Cooper unlocked the door.
"Wait here, please Detective Beckett." George said putting a hand on her shoulder. "Cooper is going to take a look inside first."
Beckett looked at George sharply. The bodyguard removed his hand from her shoulder.
"Kate are you going to tell me what is going on here?" Josh was rising.
"In a moment, Josh."
Five minutes later Cooper opened the front door and stepped aside. Beckett stormed into her apartment Josh hot on her heels.
"Kate, damn it, tell me what's going on?" Josh shouted.
"Now's not a good time Josh." Beckett replied as she headed for her bedroom.
"When is it a good time?" Josh said as he followed her. "What's going on, talk to me."
Stopping in the middle of her bedroom she turned to face Josh. Anger and concern warred on his face. As much as she did not want to tell him what was going on she knew that she had no choice. The two bodyguards that had accompanied her saw to that.
"A couple of night ago Castle went missing down in El Paso." She said. "I spent the night at Castle's place keeping his mother and daughter company."
"Kate you should have told me." Josh said. "You should have sent a message."
He walked over to her and put his arms around her drawing her to him.
"You should have told me."
Yes she should have told him, she thought to herself. Why she didn't was something she could not explain.
"So what's he gone and done, run off with some bimbo he found in El Paso?" Josh laughed.
Beckett stiffened in his arms. She didn't like the remark nor his laughter. It got her back up. Josh was like most people who believed the Richard Castle they read about on page 6 was the real Richard Castle. The page 6 Castle was nothing like the man she knew. She resented it when people thought of him in that way. She broke from his embrace and took a step back from him.
"So what's with the goons out there?" He asked.
"They're my bodyguards."
"Bodyguards?" Josh looked at her carefully. "Why? Are you in some kind of danger?"
Beckett could only shrug her shoulders in response to his question. She had no idea. She saw the anger rise up on his face.
"What has that goddam SOB gone and done to put you in danger?" He demanded.
Beckett glared at him.
"Nothing."
"Come on Kate." Josh retorted. "Having two bodyguards is not nothing. What's he done?"
"He's done nothing." Beckett insisted.
"That's bull."
"Fine, whatever." She said dismissively.
She was not in the mood for an argument with him. Lately they had been having far too many arguments. She was tired of it.
"I want to know what he's done." Josh demanded his voice rising in anger.
Beckett saw that Josh was not going to let this go. "He's been kidnapped, OK?"
"Oh." The anger drained from Josh's face. "Kate, I'm sorry."
She accepted the apology with a nod of her head. She moved to her wardrobe and searched for a change of clothes. Finding what she wanted she draped the clothes over a chair.
"But what's with the bodyguards, then?"
"My superiors think I might be a target."
"Why?"
"I don't know for sure but it might have to do with some case Castle and I worked on." Beckett explained and shrugged her shoulders. It was one of the theories that had been rolling around in her head as she was being driven to her apartment. It made sense.
"Damn it Kate." He sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair. "I've lost count of the number of times you've nearly been killed doing this job."
"Don't Josh, don't you dare go there." Beckett cut him off.
She knew what he was going to say. They had a few fights over this as well. "I'm not going to give up my job."
"It's getting too dangerous."
Beckett couldn't hold back the anger.
"And what about you when you're in Africa or wherever is it? Isn't that dangerous?"
"That's different."
"No it's not Josh. I may not like it when you fly out on some new mission for Doctors Without Boarders but I understand why you do it, and I accept it. Your job is important. My job is important."
"Important to whom?"
"To me!"
"More important than us?" Josh asked.
Beckett did not answer him. She bit on her lower lip to stop from herself from uttering the one single word that was on her tongue. She did not want to hurt him and turned away reaching for her clothes.
"Excuse me but I need to change." She said.
"Go ahead." Josh waved his hand and sat down on the edge of her bed. He wanted to continue the fight.
She had changed in front of him countless times but this morning she did not want him watching. She did not even want in him in her bedroom.
"Get out."
"What if I want to stay?" Josh said defiantly.
She turned back to look at him. "One shout from me and those two goons as you describe them, will come piling in here."
Josh stared at her in disbelief. He saw the determined look in her eyes. "You would do it too." It was a statement.
"Today is not a day to try my patience Josh." She said coldly.
Josh was shocked by what she had just said. He shook his head. Rising from the bed he walked to the door. He paused in the doorway and looked back. A thought came to him.
"Do you love him?"
Beckett looked at him startled. She had not expected the question. The heat rose to her cheeks. She knew who he was asking about but did not respond to the question.
"Do...you...love...him?" He demanded heatedly.
She could only reply with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Not an answer!"
Beckett saw the anger blazing in his eyes. Not able to hold his gaze any longer she cast her eyes to the floor.
"I don't know..." she said finally, almost in a whisper, "...maybe..."
Beckett heard him let out a grunt before leaving, closing the door on the way out. She let out a long sigh as she ran her hands over her face. If their relationship had been approaching the jagged rocks for some time this episode had just ran it aground.
The doors of the lift slowly opened. Kate Beckett stepped out of the lift flanked by George and Cooper. The two bodyguards took up station by the lifts and watched as Beckett strode into the bullpen and to her desk where she dumped her bag and jacket.
Her eyes went to the empty chair beside her desk. She stared at it for some moments. For the first time she realised that she could imagine what it would feel like if he never again sat in that chair. She did not like what her mind had conjured up. It frightened her. She pushed those thoughts out of her head.
Looking over she saw that Ryan and Esposito's desks were empty. Surveying the bullpen she saw the two detectives in the briefing room. Detective Karpowski was with them.
"Hey guys." Beckett said as she stood in the doorway. She noticed that the piles of Castle's fan mail had been removed and had been replaced with files. "What are you doing?"
"Morning Beckett." Ryan was the first to speak, greeting Beckett with a smile. "How are the Castle girls?"
"Fine, all things considered." Beckett replied. "What are you doing?"
"The captain's got us going through some case files." Karpowski informed her.
"I thought you had a case Karpowski?"
"It was open and shut." The other female detective said and shrugged. "Jealous boyfriend. We picked him at his favourite bar. He confessed within five minutes of putting him in the box. Seeing I had some free time I pitched in to helped the guys."
Beckett nodded her head. Judging by the amount of files stacked on the table there was several years worth. "Are those files the cases Castle and I worked on?" She asked.
"Yeah, three years of case files." Esposito replied. The next moment he stifled a yawn with the file he had been holding.
"Have you guys pulled an all-nighter?"
Esposito nodded his head.
"Why didn't one of you guys call me in?" Beckett demanded.
"You were looking after the Castles." Ryan said.
"Damn it, you should have called me in."
"Hey Beckett, we got it, ok?" Esposito said.
"Found anything yet?"
"Not yet, Beckett." Ryan said unhappily.
"We're still looking though." Esposito said in a firm voice.
Beckett nodded her head and left the briefing room. Glancing in the direction of the lifts she saw her two bodyguards had not moved from where they had taken up station. George was watching her. She found it a little unnerving. Quickly she picked up her pace as she headed towards the captain's office. Captain Montgomery was emerging from his office.
"I need to speak to you, sir." Beckett announced as she walked past him and into the office.
"OK." Captain Montgomery said in a low voice. He followed her into his office and made his way to his chair and sat down. He saw that Beckett was standing in front of his desk with her hands on her hips. She did not look happy.
"How are Martha and Alexis holding up?" He asked.
"Fine."
"Good."
"Why wasn't I called in to go through my case files captain?" Beckett demanded.
"You weren't needed." Captain Montgomery replied.
Beckett's mouth dropped open. She was shocked that the captain would tell her such a thing so bluntly. "Ryan and Esposito were involved in most if not all of those cases." Montgomery continued his explanation. "They can handle going through the files. Karpowski is helping them out.
"I should have been called in." Beckett insisted but the fire had gone out a little.
"You were needed at Castle's place."
Though she hated to admit it Beckett knew the captain was right. She had needed to be with Alexis and Martha, and they needed to be with her. If she couldn't be there for Castle, she would be there for his family and had been. It was the least she could do for all the times he had been there for her.
"But why the protection detail for me?" Beckett said changing tact. She pulled up a chair close to the desk and sat down.
"Until we know who is behind the kidnapping I'm not going to take chances."
Beckett motioned in the direction of the briefing room. "You think it has something to do with one of the cases we dealt with?"
Captain Montgomery nodded his headed. "That's what my gut tells me." He added.
"So I'm stuck with the bodyguards?"
"I'm afraid so, until further notice."
Beckett shook her head to show she was not happy with that but she was not going to argue with the captain.
"There's been nothing from the kidnappers, sir." Beckett sighed.
Captain Montgomery frowned and shook his head.
They both knew that the longer the kidnappers did not make contact the more sinister was the kidnapping.
"Anything more from the El Paso PD, sir?"
Captain Montgomery shrugged his shoulders and then briefed Beckett on what he had gotten from the police down there. The El Paso PD had not gotten much more from the witnesses, conflicting reports about the descriptions of the kidnappers or what type of vehicle had been used. The police were searching for Castle but there was not much to go on.
The disappointment showed clearly on Beckett's face. She knew better than most knew how kidnappings could go wrong. That dead child from long ago still haunted her. She forced herself not to dwell on those thoughts. She did not want those nightmares to come back.
"Kate, are you all right?" Captain Montgomery asked, his voice heavy with concern.
Beckett looked across to the captain and quickly nodded her head.
"Anything from Castle's fan mail, sir?"
The captain shook his head.
The phone on Captain Montgomery's desk started started ringing.
"Montgomery." A puzzled look appeared on his face. "Who? An Agent Westfield?"
At the mention of the name Beckett immediately jumped to her feet. She motioned to the captain to send the agent up.
"Escort him to my office."
Captain Montgomery put the phone down and fixed Beckett with a questioning look.
"The guy from the Close Encounters of the Murderous Kind case." Beckett explained.
"What?"
Beckett suddenly felt embarrassed. Castle had called it that after the case had been wrapped up. For a couple of days he had been calling her Scully until she told him to stop it. She couldn't believe she had said it aloud.
"The Marie Suburow case, sir." She said hurriedly, trying to cover up her embarrassment.
"The guy from the nameless government agency?"
"Yes sir."
"Why would he be paying us a visit Detective?"
"Because I invited him." Beckett said.
The detective explained to the captain about Alexis' suggestion about tracking Castle's phone last night but getting nowhere and then having the idea of calling up Agent Westfield.
"It would have been nice if I got a heads up, detective." Captain Montgomery admonished gently.
"As would I about the bodyguards, sir."
The captain had the grace to look a little sheepish. He bowed his head slightly in a way of apology.
There was a knock on the door Montgomery and Beckett turned to find Agent Westfield standing in the doorway. He had the same lived in look on his face that Beckett remembered from his last appearance in the precinct. If she wasn't mistaken he was wearing the same black trench coat he had worn the last time. In his left hand he carried the metal brief case. His hairstyle had not changed either. He reminded her of a country music singer she had seen years ago.
"Detective Beckett." Agent Westfield said as he approached. He shook her extended hand.
"Agent Westfield."
"Captain Montgomery." The two men shook hands.
"Thank you for coming Agent Westfield." Captain Montgomery replied.
Agent Westfield nodded his head.
"Richard Castle was kidnapped a couple of nights ago and we are hoping you might be of assistance in trying to locate him." Beckett announced.
"I think I can manage that." Agent Westfield replied, a confident grin on his lips.
Agent Westfield set his brief case on the captain's desk and opened it. Beckett moved closer. Captain Montgomery came from around his desk. It took less than a minute for the computer screen to come up.
"What is Castle's phone number?"
Beckett provided it. "We tried tracking it last night but his phone was switched off.
"Then we'll have to switch it back on wont we?" Agent Westfield said grinning at Beckett.
He typed in Castle's phone number into the computer and then tapped a couple more keys.
Almost instantly a satellite map of southern Texas appeared on the screen. The next moment a red dot appeared. The agent tapped a couple more keys and the map changed zooming in on the red dot.
"He was on a book tour in southern Texas." Beckett said.
"There he is." Agent Westfield announced.
"Co-ordinates." Beckett asked anxiously.
Agent Westfield read out the co-ordinates that appeared on the right hand side of the computer screen. Beckett quickly jotted them down.
"If I'm not mistaken he's over the boarder." Captain Montgomery observed as he studied the screen.
"About a mile and a half north west of Mesita." Agent Westfield replied.
"Any chance of a live feed?" Beckett asked.
Agent Westfield nodded his head. A few more taps of the keys and the computer brought up a box in the top left hand corner of the screen. It zoomed closer to show a long warehouse.
"That's where he is." Agent Westfield said simply. "Or at least where his phone is."
"Thank you for your assistance Agent Westfield." Captain Montgomery said, once the agent had closed down the computer. The two men shook hands.
Beckett escorted the agent to the lift.
"Thank you for this." She said. "I really appreciate it."
"I'm pleased to have helped Detective Beckett."
"That makes us even."
Agent Westfield nodded his head slowly. A small smile appeared on his face. "I'll keep an eye on it and send you any further updates."
"Thank you."
The lift doors drew open and Agent Westfield stepped into the lift. He turned and looked back at the detective.
"Good luck Detective." Agent Westfield said looking serious. "You're going to need it."
The lift doors slid closed before Beckett had a chance to ask him what he meant. Frowning she turned and walked purposefully back to the captain's office.
