CH12 (33)

Kate had watched Ryan cuff Will's hands behind his back. Kate wanted him booked and put in holding and he was going to do just that. One of the uniforms had gone with him while two more were following behind them in their cruiser.

Kate was just finishing listening to what the plain clothes guys had gotten out of the other FBI men. Still more uniforms had taken them away, however they left without being cuffed.

It became clear that Sorenson and his superior were behind all of this. They had been selected as back-up to support Sorenson and gather information.

They even knew the names of the men that were sent long before they ever got here. They had let them come to allow the person who hired him hang himself so that he could be moved to a more private holding area.

Espo was taking his leave of Kate and her home. He was going to follow Ryan into the precinct, he and Ryan were going to explain things to Sorenson. There were still uniforms all over the building and were going to stay all night long if necessary.

Kate had retreated to the study room and sat down in Castle's chair. Kate had all the information from Will and the other 9 FBI guys. Now just what does she do with it?

Kate pulled out her phone, she had two people to call. Kate was going to make someone pay.

It only took 45 minutes for the first one to arrive. He was escorted into the study by a uniformed officer. "Hi Steve, have a seat, we're just waiting for one more person." Kate tells him.

It was only another 20 minutes for the next person to show up. He however was not escorted into the room. "Have a seat. Steve this is Captain Roy Montgomery, this is my lawyer Steve." Kate introduces both of them.

This told both of them that this might be big.

"For Steve's benefit, we'll start at the beginning. My mother was murdered because she got too close to someone and what he had done. With a lot of work, he was arrested about a year ago and is still awaiting trial.

However he is a very powerful man who had, and apparently still has, access to hired killers to keep his secrets. It was all over the news when he was arrested. He's barely even mentioned these days.

I was the one that had him arrested and destroyed his future and all his plans. Seems he is being held and monitored 24 hours a day. Naturally his conversations with his lawyer are not monitored. However his lawyer is also monitored 24 hours a day.

The FBI found out that this lawyer had hired two of these hired killers to come here and take out my family while I was forced to watch and then be left alive so that I would be forced to live with it.

The FBI guy in charge, a Robert Matteson, instructed another FBI guy, a certain Will Sorenson to allow them to break into my home to show intent to kill and then rush in and arrest them.

This Will Sorenson happens to be an old boyfriend, who decided he wanted to get back together with me now that my husband is dead, and I've had a year of grieving his loss.

As directed by this Robert Matteson it was decided that I was not to be contacted to warn me of these 2 hired killers coming to take my family away from me.

They blew my front door open using explosives and entered and started shooting up the place. My daughter took a round in the shoulder and is presently out of surgery and resting in her room at the hospital.

Steve you're here to ascertain if there is a case for a civil suit again every FBI person that participated in this fiasco." Kate paused to allow both of them to digest all of this.

"If you believe you may have a claim for negligence (careless conduct, or other wrongful or "tortious" conduct) against a federal agency or employee, you must first determine whether you can sue the federal government under the FTCA. Unless your claim is allowed by the FTCA, there is a good chance it will be barred by sovereign immunity.

In general, the FTCA is intended to provide monetary compensation for injury, property loss, or death 'caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government.' But this broad-sounding mandate is subject to a lot of fine print.

Although the limitations and exceptions are too numerous to easily mention, here are some general guidelines regarding the limitations on FTCA claims:

Only federal employees can be sued under the FTCA, not independent contractors hired by the federal government (unless they are treated like employees).

The negligent or wrongful conduct must have been done within the scope of the defendant's employment.

In general, only claims of negligence - as opposed to intentional misconduct - are allowed (though some claims for intentional misconduct can be brought against certain federal law enforcement officers).

The claim must be based on - and permitted by - the law of the state in which the misconduct occurred.

Despite these and numerous other limitations on FTCA lawsuits, the federal government still pays out millions of dollars each year to compensate FTCA claims. So if you think you may have a valid claim, it may be worth pursuing.

If you determine that you do have a valid FTCA claim, the next hurdle is to follow the prescribed steps for such claims, which include some strict time limits.

You must file within two years.

Include facts and damages in your claim.

The agency has six months to respond.

You then have six months to file a lawsuit.

You don't have to sue until the agency rules on your claim." Steve finishes.

"I have interview information from every FBI agent that was sent here, along with countless witnesses of the interview that are uniform officers along with investigators from Narcotics and Robbery from both the 12th and 54th Precinct.

All of them are presently in holding down at the 12th. All recorded and written and signed.

Nine of them are just following orders, but I want the heads of Will Sorenson and Robert Matteson." Kate tells him.

"I'll get my office to get copies and get over here to take pictures and interview everyone involved. I'll also get someone down to the hospital to talk with the doctor. I'll also get contractors in here to determine the cost to repair the damage." Steve tells her and pulls out his phone, but pauses.

"How is Alexis?" Steve cared; Castle had been a friend for years.

"She took a round in the shoulder. She has permanent muscle damage on that side. The doctor said she'll recover, but is going to have to go through physical therapy. I just hope this doesn't delay her early entry into Oxford or Stanford. She has worked so hard to get in early." Kate was hurting over that.

"I'll add that damage to the lawsuit." Steve points out and excuses himself to get his office started on all this. Happy that Alexis would be alright.

"We're talking about Bracken, aren't we?" Roy asks. Getting Kate to nod her head.

"He wanted to get even. Thanks to the FBI it took my own security measures to keep us all alive. Just what would have happened if I wasn't home when they showed up? I would have come home to what?

I want them Roy! I want both of their heads hanging from the Statue of Liberty. They both knew and did nothing to stop it. And they were going to do what? Say 'I'm so sorry for what happened to your family. Now get on with your life since you can't touch me?'"

"I can take it to the district attorney and the commissioner, but you're talking about politics now. Sorenson will likely be sacrificed so that nothing happens to Matteson. As sad as it sounds, you're only recourse is likely to be a lawsuit that the government will try and reach a deal by paying you a few million for the damage." Roy knew the politics of this would make getting anyone higher than Sorenson to take responsibility was unlikely.

Kate had been afraid of that. Short of killing someone and being caught doing it, the higher ups were immune to the actions that they take and have no fear of the consequences of their actions. Just do it again, and again.

"I'm going back to my daughter. Do what you can Roy, or Bracken will just try again. Year after year." Kate got up and left after checking in with Steve. She needed a new door and a new lock just like the last one. Along with a bottle replacement.

Kate walked into the waiting room and found Rick and Martha who had Alexander in her arms feeding him. They were both too pre-occupied with Alexander to notice her. "Is Alexis still asleep?" Kate asks them.

"Kate." "Katherine." They both tried saying at the same time. It was cute and it got Kate to smile. "When was the last time you checked?" Kate tried something else.

"Right now." Rick hops up and starts walking for Alexis's room.

"Where did you meet him Katherine?" It was Kate's turn for questions.

Kate knew this was coming, and this was not how she wanted everyone to meet. "I literally ran into him in a coffee shop on my first day back to work after maternity leave."

"He's a good man Katherine, there is something in those eyes." Martha hasn't figured it out yet, but she's thinking about it.

"What has he told you Martha?" Kate figured she was in trouble. She left them alone together all because of Sorenson. Kate wanted to shoot him, she really did.

"I know what I need to know dear, only what I need to know." Martha was smiling at Kate.

Rick stepped into the room and saw Alexis just like he last saw her. Rick stepped up and leaned over her to look at her face. "Hi pumpkin, I don't know anyone except I feel like I know you and I don't know why that is, and I didn't even know that until I saw you. You need to get better and wake up so you can help me. I feel so lost, …. so very lost.

I feel like I should know Kate too. She's in my mind and going into my book. It's her and it's not her, and I don't understand. … Please pumpkin, I need you." Rick blinked back tears and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I need you to get better." And kisses her again and walks back to the waiting room.

Once again missing Alexis mouth the word, "Dad".

"She's still asleep." Rick tells them as he sits back down next to Kate with Martha on the other side of Kate who was holding Alexander.

It was only a few minutes later. "KATE!" As Lanie comes charging into the room.

Kate gets up and meets her half way and they both end up in each other's arms. "How is she, where is she?"

Kate tried to give Lanie a smile. "This way." And Kate escorts Lanie to Alexis's room.

"OH my, …" Lanie places a hand over her mouth. She was in a hospital so knew to keep the noise down. Lanie walks over to the side of the bed and reaches out to stroke her face. "Oh sweetie, what has he done?"

The pain on Lanie's face told Kate a lot. "Will caused this?" Espo had told Lanie at lot.

Kate nodded her head. "Him and his supervisor. Will thought he could swoop in and save us in person and then take Castle's place in my life." Kate confirms. "I almost shot him Lanie, I mean really shot him. I was so close."

To think that Will could be so careless and thoughtless to risk the lives of her family just so he could get in her pants. Kate still wanted to shoot him.

"What are you doing?" Kate asks watching Lanie pull out her phone.

"I'm going to tell the guys where they can hide his body where it'll never be found. What do you think I'm doing?" Lanie was ready to slap Kate silly. She should have shot him.

"Lanie!" Kate reaches out and takes her phone from her, and hangs up just as she can hear Espo answer.

"Katherine Castle, you don't think I'm just going to stand here and let that SOB get away with this. He hurt our girl. If you hadn't been home at the time, …" Lanie trails off knowing all three of them would be dead. Losing Castle had damn near killed Kate, if she had lost what family she had left it would have finished her.

"And he's going to suffer for it. I've already put plans in motion. … Besides killing him is too fast and painless." Though Kate did still like the idea of shooting him.

Lanie studied Kate for a moment. "Fine, but he better suffer Kate, or I'm going to hurt you." Lanie takes her phone back, and makes a quick call and spins out of Kate's reach.

"Hi Javi, make him bleed." And Lanie hangs up her phone. And turns to see Kate glaring at her. "You think the guys feel any different?" Lanie challenges. "Now, who is the guy out in the waiting room? He's cute."

Kate tried to shrink and melt away. Oh god, why does the universe hate me?

"Katherine Castle, what have you done?" Now Lanie was glaring.

Kate squeezes her eyes closed. "His name is Rick." Kate stats off with.

"Dad." Alexis whispers. Getting Lanie to turn and Kate to launch for her bed.

"Pumpkin!?" Kate leans way in to look in her face and stroke her head with her hand. Searching her face for something, anything. But she was still sleep.

Kate stood up straight and took Alexis's hand. "His name is Rick and I literally ran into him my first day back from maternity leave." Kate starts again, dreading this.

"Dad." Alexis whispers again. Getting both of them to look at Alexis again. But she was still asleep.

"We've dated a couple of time. I took him to a ball game, we lost both times." Kate tells her.

"You took him?" Lanie questions, as in you asked HIM out and paid for it.

Kate nods her head. "Rick has a job, and he's really good at it, but he doesn't have much money." Actually Kate didn't know how much he had, but was sure he didn't have much considering where he was living.

"Dad." Alexis whispers out again, correcting her mom without knowing it.

It got both of them to look at Alexis again, but she was still asleep.

Why does she keep doing that? … You really need to wake up pumpkin. I can't take much more of this.

"I take it you like him?" Lanie asks. Getting Kate to nod her head.

"Then I'm happy for you. I know you miss Castle, we all saw how much his loss hurt you, but Castle only wanted you to be happy. He fought long and hard to get you to see yourself. That you could be happy." Lanie wanted Kate to be happy too.

"I know Lanie, I was just too damn stubborn. I let him in too late." Kate looks down at the floor. Then takes in a deep breath. "But I'm not running this time; I'm not screwing it up this time. … Not this time. Rick's nice, and we're going to see." Kate stood up straight.

"Dad." Alexis whispers out again. But they both see she is still asleep.

Why does she keep doing that? …. Does she know something? Or is she seeing her father in her dreams? You really need to wake up pumpkin. My heart can't take much more of this.

Kate went back out to the waiting room while Lanie went off to talk with the staff. Lanie wanted to know what the staff knew about Alexis. Not what they were willing to tell the family.

Before Lanie left she checked to see if any of them needed anything? "Coffee." "Coffee." "Tea."

Lanie didn't trust the cafeteria coffee so she left to go get what they asked. By the time she came back Rick was gone. "What happened to your boyfriend?" Lanie couldn't resist.

Kate glared at her but took her cup of coffee. "RICK, went in to look at Alexis again." Kate responds trying to figure out how to hang onto her coffee while having Alexander in her arms.

Lanie handed Martha her tea and put Rick's coffee down on the table.

"Call me when she wakes and let me know how she's doing." Lanie asks of her.

"Not a problem Lanie, soon as I know something I'll share." Kate guarantees.

Rick had stepped up to the bed and leaned way over to look at Alexis. "Can you wake up for me pumpkin? … Come on pumpkin, you've slept long enough." Rick strokes her face and then pulls on her ear. Getting a moan out of her.

"Come on pumpkin, open your eyes." Rick tried tapping the tip of her nose and it did get Alexis to start scrunching up her face. "Come on pumpkin." Rick places his hand on her head with his thumb on her forehead and starts rubbing circles.

Rick can see her blink her eyes open. "Hi!" Rick smiles looking down on her.

"Dad?" Alexis whispers. It hurt a little since her throat was dry.

"Want some water?" Rick asks and sees Alexis barely move her head. Rick picks up the glass and puts the straw in her mouth. "Suck a little, … not too much pumpkin."

Alexis stops. "Thanks dad."

Rick looks at her funny, that's twice she's said that. "Do you know where you are?" Rick tries something else.

Alexis looks around. It looked rather white, there were machines, the bed had steel handrails on each side. "Hospital."

Rick nodded his head. "There was a break-in at your place. You got shot in the shoulder. … I'm going to go get Kate and Martha." Rick starts to leave knowing they will be happy.

"DAD!" Alexis wants him to stop, and Rick does.

"I'm not, ..." Rick gets interrupted by Alexis.

"You don't remember yourself, do you dad?" Alexis questions.

"Pumpkin, I'm not, …." But gets interrupted again.

"Why do you call me pumpkin dad?" Alexis questions him.

"Well, your skin in pale, a little more pale now, and with orange hair you remind me of a, …." Rick is interrupted again.

"Pumpkin. … That's what you said when I was little. You called me pumpkin before now." Alexis tells Rick.

Rick inclines his head. "I have?" Rick didn't remember that. He remembered doing it only while in the hospital.

"You need to remember dad, … please." Alexis saw Rick but could feel her dad, and her heart wanted him back in the worst way. He hadn't left her, he came back and was in there somewhere.

Rick knew he had memory loss and that Alexis felt like the key, but being her dad? "I'm going to go get Kate and Martha." Rick started to hurry out of the room.

"Dad please." Alexis called after him, but Rick didn't stop.