The usual disclaimers apply: I'm not making any money off of this, Castle belongs to ABC and Andrew Marlowe, and any similarities to real people or places are strictly a coincidence.
Author's notes are at the bottom. Please enjoy!
The Spellbound Affair
Chapter Twelve
Beckett limped towards consciousness, guided by the sound of a man and woman having a heated argument in Spanish. She blinked tiredly and brushed her matted hair away from her face. The room was fairly bright with the morning sun that spilled through the large picture window overlooking the skyline. Flashing colors from the large flat screen mounted above the dresser drew her focus towards the novella. Two very attractive actors were fighting, apparently about the third attractive person hovering in the corner of the screen.
"Really, Javi, soap operas?"
"One, it's not a soap opera, and two, nothing else even remotely interesting is on." He was curled up against the padded headboard, surrounded by plump pillows and a spare blanket. Beckett sat up cautiously. To her satisfaction, she didn't experience any dizziness or nausea. Her headache was a distant memory, though her body still felt lethargic. At this rate she might be able to go in to work that evening, once Castle had returned to take care of the boys.
"Can you turn it down a few notches?" Her headache might be gone but she didn't want to risk triggering another.
Instead of turning it down, Javier turned it off completely. He tossed the remote towards the foot of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly, a lot better. What time is it?"
"Quarter after ten." Out of habit, she glanced at the alarm clock on the night stand. 10:16 AM.
"Castle and Kevin aren't back yet?"
"Writer-boy texted your phone a bit ago. The doctor ordered x-rays so he said they'd be a while yet."
"Anything else?"
"Notta."
"Well, I'm sure he's fine," said Beckett. It was as much as a reassurance to herself as to her partner. "You hungry?" Her strength felt like it was returning and eating could only help it come back more quickly. Javier shrugged - his breakfast had been much more recently consumed than hers - but followed her out of the bedroom anyway. She pulled open the narrow fridge in the kitchenette to inspect what the hotel kept stocked for their guests. There wasn't much to choose from, though the brick of Colby Jack sounded like it would be good with crackers. She located a small cutting board and semi-sharp knife with which she began slicing the cheese. Once she had a decent amount of snack prepared, she joined Javier at the table.
"How are you doing, Javi?" She watched him critically as he snagged a slice of cheese and paired it with a Wheat Thin.
"I don't know. Ideally, I would prefer to just not think about it but that's pretty impossible."
"Yeah." She knew that he wouldn't appreciate empty condolences or false promises. A strong urge to cuddle him overtook her. She pushed it away even as her confusion for having the feeling gnawed at her. She wasn't the kind to want to show her affection physically, especially not with her partners. Javier Esposito was high on her list of most trusted people and the only one she felt she could really talk to about her PTSD from the sniper attack but that had never meant anything more than close friendship to her before. Now she was starting to feel motherly… no, sisterly… towards him. That's what she meant. She felt like his older sister wanting to protect and provide for him. Beckett wondered if the feelings would remain after Javier and Kevin were restored to adulthood.
Because there would be an afterwards.
She regretted initiating a conversation about feelings because now she was having too many of them. A change of topic was necessary. "So, are you going to tell me about your new girlfriend?"
Javier actually looked confused for a second, which Beckett believed because he wasn't that great of an actor, but he quickly caught up with her train of thought. "Ah, no. Consider it payback for keeping Ryan and me in the dark about you and Castle."
"Yes, but I had a good reason for that. At least tell me which department she works in."
"You're the star detective, you figure it out."
"So there is someone."
"Lanie told you as much."
"Lanie knows who it is?"
"She's been sworn to secrecy and you know she doesn't break promises."
Beckett frowned. "Yes. I like that quality in her a lot more when she's keeping my secrets and not withholding others'." Her cell phone started ringing. A quick glance revealed that it was coming from the precinct. She answered it, eager for some news or the chance to push her multiple investigations forward.
"Detective Beckett."
"Beckett, it's Demming. I hope I'm not bothering you. I heard you were out today with the flu?"
"I think Castle overreacted a bit. It's probably just a twenty-four hour bug. I'm feeling better already."
"Glad to hear it. Listen, your captain was asking the other departments for assistance since half of her homicide detectives all decided to call in sick at the same time. Since I'm already partially familiar with the case and I'm assigned to the break-in at Castle's loft anyway, I volunteered."
"Thank you for your help."
"Sure. If you're up for it, can you fill me in a little more? I've studied your murder board but without the background to go with it, I'm a little lost."
"I'm definitely up for it. Do you want to meet somewhere?"
"Not if you're supposed to be resting in bed."
"I'm fine, really. I have one of the boys with me and I'm sure he'll let me know if I start fading again." Javier nodded stoically in agreement. He asked whom she was talking to and got a gesture to hold on for his troubles. It was kind of a little petty, but she was annoyed that he wouldn't let her in on his secret crush. "There's a popular café just around the block from my hotel. I think it's usually crowded around this time so we should be able to blend in easily."
"Sounds good. Thirty minutes?"
"Perfect." She ended the call and smiled at Javier. "We're meeting Detective Demming in thirty to discuss the case. He'll be helping me out since you and Kevin are playing hooky. Go get dressed."
"For the record, I'm supposed to be making sure you stay here and rest. Castle was very clear that you weren't allowed to work." Javier popped the last cracker into his mouth. "You know, in case he asks why we're not here when he gets back."
"I'll tell him that you made a valiant yet ineffective attempt to keep me from the case." They exchanged a conspiratorial grin before parting to change into daytime clothes. Beckett changed into a comfortable shirt and jeans. She pulled her brush through her hair but it didn't want to be fixed. Ponytail it was. After making sure she had her badge, sidearm, and wallet, she exited the bedroom to check on Javier's progress. He was waiting for her, dressed in shorts and a Yankees tee.
"Grab your hat, too," she said. While Javier located the cap, she composed a text message to alert Castle to their change in location. By the time he responded with an exclamation that she was supposed to be sleeping and a series of frowning emoticons, Beckett and Javier were already crossing the hotel lobby towards the exit.
They arrived first. The café was crowded but a few tables remained open. Beckett picked out the one against the wall, from where she could see all of the exits and most of the patrons. She nudged Javier to slide into the booth before her. She sat down next to him just as Demming entered the café. He spotted them without delay.
"Beckett, Esposito." To the burglary detective's credit, he acted as if his old colleague from the 54th had always been the size of a first grader.
"Demming," the two Homicide detectives chorused. "Where do you want to begin?" asked Beckett.
"If it's not too taboo of a subject, I'd like to start with Esposito's predicament." Beckett imagined that his curiosity had been killing him all night since he learned that the real reason her partners were out sick was not poisoning but being turned into little kids.
A waitress came to take their orders. Beckett opted for another latte while Demming went for black coffee and Javier settled for chocolate milk. Beckett wasn't in the mood to defend letting a kid drink coffee. The waitress promised to return quickly with their drinks.
Beckett briefly explained the weird twist that the Valduerez murder case had taken when Lanie realized that the girl was actually a forty-eight year old woman. From there, she summarized the visit upstate and subsequent 'poisoning' that had rendered Ryan and Esposito in the same condition as the victim. She did her best to explain Nora Bellefonte's motive but given how little she understood it, she didn't think she did a good job. "Right now, Castle and I are working under the assumption that yesterday's kidnapping attempt was related to the curse. Rayford Bellefonte threatened them when I had his mother arrested."
"I don't know," said Demming. "I questioned the two kidnappers last night in the hospital. The one with the taser burns…"
"Electronuts," offered Javier.
"… was able talk to me. His partner is still in the ICU."
Beckett reached over to take the coffee creamers that Javier was using to build a wobblier version of the Tower of Pisa and put them back in their decorative container. "What did you learn?"
"The guy has never heard of Rayford Bellefonte or anyone named Bellefonte for that matter."
"And you believed him?" Beckett couldn't help feeling skeptical.
"I did," said Demming. "He's a thug for hire. He was more than willing to talk about the person who hired him in hopes of getting a lighter sentence. He claimed that a rich looking guy with red-brown hair and a gold watch promised him a thousand dollars each if he could deliver the little boys staying with Richard Castle."
"Why?" Javier glared down at his napkin which he was methodically turning into white confetti. Beckett placed her hand over his, ceasing the destruction of the innocent napkin. She left it there for comfort.
"Casey Boyd, the thug, says that the anonymous man wouldn't give him a reason beyond the two Gs."
The drinks arrived. Beckett absently unwrapped a straw and stuck into in the milk before sliding it over to her partner. When she felt Demming's stare on her face she looked up self-consciously. "What?"
"You said that Esposito and Ryan turned into children Friday night?"
"Yes?"
"Nothing. It just seems like you've already adapted pretty well to the change." Beckett flushed at the implication that she was mothering Javier. She hid in her latte as she tried to fight back her blush.
"If you think Beckett is enjoying playing house, you should see Castle." Javier rolled his eyes as he took a long draw from his drink.
"I am not enjoying this." Beckett smacked him lightly on the shoulder.
"Where is Castle?"
"He took Ryan in for a follow-up appointment to the accident."
"Ah." Demming must have sensed that the subject was a sore one for the two detectives across from him so he abandoned that line of questioning. "I sent a few unis out to canvass the area where Boyd met with the mystery man. Hopefully the man lives or works around there and someone will recognize him."
"Any word yet on if Nora Bellefonte is cognizant?"
"I haven't heard. I'll call in for an update as soon as I get back to the precinct."
"Anything suspicious turn up from CSI in Castle's loft?"
"Nothing beyond the fingerprints. It doesn't seem like anything is missing, which is what he and his mother indicated yesterday."
"Maybe Rayford hired the mystery man to hire the kidnappers," brainstormed Beckett. Her theory sounded like something Castle would come up with but he'd been right with crazier theories than that.
"Won't know until we find the man," said Demming.
"If that Bellefonte guy lives anything like his mother, I doubt he'd have the dough to pay the kind of bounty that the redhead was offering," said Javier. "I thought her house was a dump even before she pulled her stunt on Ryan and me."
"You told me that her place was full of creepy witchy stuff, yet you still drank the lemonade." Beckett raised a challenging eyebrow at her partner.
"That's Ryan's fault." Beckett rolled her eyes.
"Any luck on tracking down Rayford?"
"No, he's not been to his usual hangouts since before Friday," said Demming. "I put out an APB on him."
Beckett's phone chimed that she had a new text message. She glanced at it quickly. When Demming asked her if everything was alright, she responded, "Castle is on his way back with Ryan."
"I should let you get back to your hotel then," said Demming. "I'll keep you posted on any progress that I make this afternoon."
"I should be back in the precinct tomorrow. I'd come in this afternoon but Castle volunteered to go undercover at this high end hotel near Central Park that is hosting a jewelry convention. Serafina Valduerez might have been there before she was murdered but the staff won't talk to police without a warrant. That means I'm babysitting."
It was Javier's turn to roll his eyes. "I'm plenty capable of taking care of myself, you know."
"Not in the eyes of Child Protective Services." The three detectives slid out the booth and walked towards the front of the store to pay for their drinks. Demming graciously volunteered to pick up the tab. They parted ways on the sidewalk in front of the café. Beckett was starting to feel a little fatigued again. She wouldn't mind curling up on the couch with a book.
She and Javier made it back to the hotel room ten minutes before Castle and Kevin returned. Martha was there, still looking fabulous even though it was clear that she'd been doing housework. The older woman had gone back to the loft to start cleaning up now that the Evidence Collection Unit was done with their sweep. "How are you feeling, Katherine?"
"Better, thank you. I plan to be back to one hundred percent tomorrow."
"I'm glad to hear it. I don't know what Richard will think about this but I intend to move back into the loft in the morning. I've never been one for hotels, even those as nice as this one."
"Beckett could request a security detail until they arrest that Bellefonte creep," said Javier.
"That might be worth thinking about," said Martha. "If he was looking for proof that the boys are staying with Richard, he certainly found it."
"I don't like that our staying with you is putting you in danger, Mrs. R," said Javier.
"What can you do?" Martha lifted her palms towards the ceiling. "Katherine, did Richard mention his idea of taking the boys up to the summer house until things calm down here?"
"He did." Beckett tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She caught Javier's eye and studied his face for clues to his feelings about being hidden away in the Hamptons.
"I see. I know you're scared to let them out of your sight for too long but it probably is the best thing," said Martha. "Personally, a bit of fresh air and salt water sounds heavenly to me."
"We're supposed to be helping you solve the murder case." Javier looked worried that Beckett might actually be considering sending them away.
"I know. I want to keep you here but I have to put aside my own selfishness and do what's best for you two. I never want to repeat the events of yesterday afternoon. Besides, Castle's summer home has internet, too." Beckett ran her hand over the top of his head.
"Well, think on it, dear," said Martha. "I need to get cleaned up. Richard invited me to go to the jewelry show with him." With a warm smile, she disappeared into her private suite. Her door had barely closed by the time the door to the hallway swung open. Beckett hurried over to grab the brown paper grocery bag that Castle was about to drop as he tried to balance a toddler in one arm, the bag in his other, and use the flimsy keycard.
"Honey, I'm home," the writer called jokingly. Beckett deposited the bag on the counter and returned to his side so she could kiss Kevin's cheek and Castle's lips. Kevin offered her a small smile around the stick of the Dum-Dum he was eating.
"What did you find out?"
"Good news. Dr. Rosencrantz said that Kevin's x-rays looked good - no tissue or bone damage. The bruising makes it look worse than it really is. She said that he could probably lose the sling in a day or two as long as he tries not to over use his arm. There's not much she can do for the tailbone injury except keep him on painkillers until it heals on its own." Castle set Kevin on ground next to Javier so he could have both hands free to dig through his paper bag. "She recommended some herbal supplements and a couple multivitamins to combat his lack of appetite."
Kevin gave her a look that promised a long argument if Castle actually tried to give him any of the stuff. Beckett smirked at him and shook her head in amusement. He turned towards his partner, to whom he offered a second sucker. Javier happily peeled off the wrapper and popped the grape flavored candy into his mouth.
"What about you? I thought I left you in good hands but I guess I was wrong." He swatted at Javier's head but the six-year-old dodged the pat.
"I'm feeling much better, Castle," said Beckett. "I told your mother that I should be as good as new by morning. Don't worry, I already told Detective Demming that I would take the afternoon off as well to stay with the boys while you and Martha go to the jewelry show."
"I guess I can live with that."
"He put out an APB for Rayford Bellefonte and interviewed one of the kidnappers from yesterday. So far, it doesn't look like the two crimes were related but Demming is going to track down the man who hired the kidnappers."
Martha emerged from her room, looking every inch the diva that she was. Beckett doubted that the snooty Mr. Peller would even consider baring her for the convention. Hopefully the mother-son team would find enough information to crack the Valduerez murder case wide open.
"Surely that's not what you're planning to wear, Richard."
"I just got back from the hospital, Mother. Give me a minute to change. You won't regret being seen with me, I promise."
"Yes, yes." She waved him towards the room he was sharing with Beckett. Castle shot a 'Save Me!' look at Beckett. She chuckled at his antics. While he got ready for his undercover work, Beckett retrieved her favorite Derek Storm novel from her overnight bag. She figured it wasn't too early to get comfortable on the couch.
Kevin and Javier climbed onto the opposite sofa with the remote for the large television that hung over the small fireplace. This time, the older boy found a baseball game instead of his Spanish soap opera. They were all settled by the time Castle came out of his room, looking surprisingly dapper in his hastily packed clothes. The writer kissed his girlfriend good-bye and ordered the boys to behave. A comfortable quiet fell over the room as the door closed behind mother and son.
to be continued…
Author's Notes:
Thank you so much, everyone who reviewed and followed and favorited. My readers are much more creative than I and always suggest great ideas for what might be coming up. I very much look forward to your feedback, so please let me know if you're still enjoying the story. I write for fun but I always want to improve, so constructive criticism is always welcome. All mistakes are my own.
