The distinctive thud of two bodies hitting the ground is heard resounding throughout the building. One just moments before the other.
Senator William Bracken is frozen in place where he is standing. He is looking at Richard Castle who is obviously unharmed by any assault.
"Senator? You were saying something about a quick death? I am guessing you were referring to the two men whose bodies just hit the floor behind you"
"What is going on here?" Bracken turns and asks his driver
"Sir, I don't know"
Castle walks up close to the senator and comments "I know exactly what is happening here. You have run out of steam"
Castle steps away from the senator as they hear the sound of something being dragged in their direction. Senator Bracken turns to see two men dressed in black from head to toe with long barrel rifles slung over their shoulders, dragging the lifeless bodies of two other men along with the rifles those men were carrying. The rifles that had been pointed at Richard Castle
The two ninja clad men stop at the rear of the car. Castle tells the driver to open the trunk. The driver hesitates for a brief moment before Castle speaks up "I suggest that you open the trunk before that man beside you decides you are also a threat to me as they did your two employees here"
The driver opens the trunk and the two men are unceremoniously placed in the trunk. The clips from the two men's rifles are emptied and then laid on top of the bodies. The trunk is closed. One of the black clad men turns to walk away but before he does, he turns back and strikes the tail light assembly with the rifle butt breaking the lens. Even though his face is covered a smile can still be seen from below the mask.
Castle turns to face the senator again. "I am wondering if you have any more tricks up your sleeve senator?"
Anger is written all over the face of the now embarrassed man
"Actually yes, Mr. Castle! Since you and your team of killers are here, you can do nothing to save your girl. My associate is there at the hospital as we speak and she will be taking care of Ms. Beckett soon"
Castle walks over to the edge of the light and reaches out and takes the arm of Crystal Roberts from Detective Ryan
"Is this the killer you are talking about? I think she is not in any position to hurt anyone right now"
Roberts struggles trying to get away from Castle "Let go of me you dirty son of a b…"
"Now! Now! Such language from a lady. Oh excuse me. If you are anything but you are not a lady."
Castle shoves Roberts toward the senator "She tried real hard to get to me but I believe she belongs to you"
The fierce anger in Senator Bracken's face begins to build "You still have NOTHING on me, Castle"
Castle turns again to the darkness "Everyone got this?"
Multiple voices respond. "Got it"
Castle turns back to Bracken. "Those voices were from several camera crews that recorded everything that happened here today. So if you want a copy, you will be able to pick it up the edited version at your neighborhood video rental store by tomorrow afternoon and on demand play will be free on all major providers"
A few chuckles can be heard from the group hidden in the darkness.
"Oh one more thing Mr. Bracken" Castle turns toward the darkness again as a tall slender gentleman enters the area. "This is Mr. Smith. The Mr. Smith who has the copy of the police files from Roy Montgomery detailing all of your crimes"
"You mean HAD the file. Maddox destroyed both of them"
"Sorry about the error in the math. There were three files not two and therefore the third file is still in play. And just for clarification. Police files are NOT hearsay."
Senator Bracken is standing in a darkened warehouse surrounded by ninja clad shooters, police officers, photographers and one mystery writer
"Well Mr. Castle you surprised me today. I didn't think you had this in you"
"Senator I do when it comes to those people I love. Now Mr. Bracken so we both understand the agreement. If you ever harm anyone Beckett or I love or hurt anyone that those here today love then everything that has come to light will be plastered all over the media. Newspapers, TV, Radio, Internet. Do you understand?"
Bracken gives a half hearted Yes to Castle
"Now I suggest that you get in that car of yours and try to get home before you are stopped for a broken tail light and the officer asks you to open the trunk to check for contraband. Explaining two bodies along with sniper rifles might me difficult, even for you"
The two men get in the car and drive out toward the exit. As the sedan slowly pulls out of the building the entire group can be heard cheering and giving each other high fives
Back in her father's room in the ICU
Katherine Beckett has laid her head down on the edge of her father's bed and has dozed off.
Kate is somewhere in a dream world. In her mind it is her first night as Richard Castle's girlfriend. That first night they spent together. Her ripping down the walls around her heart and begging him to come in. So far every night they have been together since was a great at that first one. She is excited dreaming about more to come
She feels a hand touching her gently on her head. In her dream it is Castle that is caressing her. Running his hands thru her hair. Whispering to her "Katie?"
Wait! That voice is her father's voice. She looks up to her dad's face to see a smile.
"Dad. You're awake?"
"Katie. What's going on?" He speech is barely audible
"Dad, you had a heart attack. They did open heart surgery on you and you are going to be all right. The doctor's fixed you"
"What happened? Where was I? The last thing I remember, I was having dinner with Rick Ca…"
Then his voice trails off like he decided talking about Castle might not be such a good idea to do around his daughter at this moment
"Dad, Rick called 9-1-1 and did CPR until the paramedics got there. Dad, Rick saved your life"
"Katie. I have been keeping him informed about how you are doing. I am sorry if that bothers you"
Tears are everywhere "No dad. Everything is great. I need to show you something" She holds her hand up to let her father see the ring
"Rick and I are engaged. He still wants to marry me even after everything that's happened. So you need to hurry up and get well. We have a wedding to plan" She leans her head back down to her father's side.
The door to the ICU room opens and a gentle voice speaks up "How is my future father-in-law doing?"
Kate jumps up to grab her husband to be "Castle! How did it go?"
"It all went well. Exactly as we planned. Down to the last detail"
Kate takes Rick's hand and pulls him to her father's bedside "Dad. Meet my one and done"
"Katie. I hate to tell you, but I knew this was coming."
"What?" Kate asks
"The last thing I remember that night at dinner was Rick here telling me that someway somehow he was still going to marry you"
Jim Beckett takes his one free hand and grasps both his daughter's hand and her future husband's hand and holds them together until he goes back to sleep.
After a few minutes the nurse comes in and tells Kate and Rick that Mr. Beckett needs to get some sleep and they should go home and come back tomorrow. They walk out of the hospital and into the parking garage to Rick's car.
Castle starts the engine and they buckle up. Kate looks across at Castle wishing she could just slide over to his side and ride cuddled up next to him.
"Rick" Kate says "I really wish we could just go back to the loft right now, but I guess I really need to go back to my place since all my stuff is back there now"
Castle reaches over to take Kate's hand "All those boxes containing your clothes and other things that I had moved back to your apartment after you left?"
Kate is looking at Rick's face "Hum?"
"They are back where they belong in your closet at OUR loft. So lets you and me just go home? OK?"
THE END
I think it would be fun to see how many of my bread crumbs you find in previous chapters foretelling what will happen later in this story.