Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for violence, language and sexual situations
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: I wondered what the reaction would be to the last chapter, both halves, so of course was pleased to see the feedback that I got for it so will go directly to my thank yous! vetgirlmx (It was nice to see first off again that you thought both halves of the chapter were very nice! But interesting to see you loved the first half, but glad that you did. I'm not surprised that seeing the way Julia and Mari are together brought back memories, does for me too, lol, which is how I write them of course. I'm not surprised you expected Beckett to have the fear of Julia remembering still, I figure that's something that's not going to go away for her really. But that answers why I have it coming up periodically, just because for her she doesn't want to possibly lose her relationship with her daughter if she does remember. I was really happy to see you mentioning Julia taking care of Eliza when she was scared, since of course I like to point out that she's a good big sister, lol. Great that you can't wait to read the next chapter and now you don't need to anymore!), Beckett-Castle4ever (Glad to read that you thought both halves of the chapter were good! I wasn't surprised you mentioned the girls taking the cut on Beckett's cheek pretty well. And also wasn't surprised that you thought the family time was nice and cute. And again I am so glad that you enjoy the way Castle and Beckett are as parents, so nice to read that in your reviews! It was really nice to read also that you like the fact that they speak in Irish to each other when they don't want others to know what they're talking about, figure that's nice for parents to have, lol. I was happy to see that you liked the way they played games with the kids, also Castle and Beckett dancing after. And I had the same reaction to you liking the family moment with them trying to comfort Eliza after her nightmare, really glad you liked that! And Beckett's guilty at the fact that she knows she's not Julia's mother, and concerned of what Julia's reaction would be should she ever remember it, just to explain that. And great you liked the ending with Castle and Beckett thinking of themselves as parents. Really happy you can't wait for the next chapter and now you don't have to wait anymore for that!), MichelleBell16 (I was pleased that you loved the last two halves of the chapter too. I'm not surprised you're wondering if it's the end of the case still, and that if it isn't you want them to close it soon, I expected that, lol. I also have to say I wasn't surprised to see you wondering about Julia remembering her birth mother either. But I was when I saw that you're hoping that she does, though reading your reasons for that it makes sense and I do know how much you love Beckett's and Julia's relationship of course. And good point, lol, not sure if I could make their relationship stronger but that would be interesting if I could. Very nice to read that you can't wait to read more and of course you don't need to now!), MaineCastle (I'm really glad to see that you've been enjoying this series so much to want to continue. And great you love seeing that I've updated with e-mails about that, so hope you're happy about this update!), Guest (It was very nice to read that you love the chapters that will focus on the family, since those are always fun to write. And I'm happy to see that you enjoyed the moment with Beckett comforting Eliza after her nightmare, I had been hoping readers would like that!), life's a mystery (Was happy to read that you enjoyed the last two chapters since they were more family oriented, I thought you might so great to get confirmation on that!) and TORONTOSUN (Really glad to see that you liked the last chapter of course. And I wasn't sure if you meant does as you wrote or doesn't, but if you meant does it's a bit funny you noticed that keeps them apart… again if that's what you meant, but still, I do have to have them paying attention to their daughters of course, lol, when they're out like that, lol). Thanks so much for reviewing, loved reading them of course and I'm appreciative of the time taken to write them and send them too!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song (I Want to) Come Home by Paul McCartney, a single that he wrote for the film Everybody's Fine.
Where The Truth Lies Waiting
"Rick," Beckett whispered. When he wrinkled his nose she whispered his name again, brushing her lips to his a few times before he turned onto his back. She was quick to follow him and she laid half on top of him, kissing him a little harder.
That was enough to wake Castle up and before he opened his eyes he managed to kiss her back. When his wife was pulling away from him, he smiled and said, "Morning."
"Are you up?" Beckett asked in a rush.
"Yes… what time is it?" Castle asked, trailing off then as he realized that it was barely light outside. He never got an answer, as his wife was suddenly sitting up, taking his attention. And when she started pulling off her pajama top he forgot what he'd said in the first place as he was quick to join her, sitting up and taking off his own shirt. He gathered her in his arms, kissing her roughly before flipping her around onto her back.
Wrapping her right leg around him, Beckett raised her hips, rubbing herself against his erection that she'd been able to feel when she'd woken up and she moaned softly against his lips. He moved down to her neck then and she arched it, stroking the back of his head as he sucked lightly on her pulse. "You're taking too long," she said, smiling as she made him move away from her by pressing on his shoulders.
"You… oh, alright," Castle said, about to protest that he wasn't when he quickly discerned that she was joking. He moved back enough to take off her pajama pants and panties off together and said, "Better?"
Giving him a look, Beckett helped him with the rest of his clothes, kissing him as they were doing that hungrily. She lay back down once they were finally both naked and she let him spread her legs, wanting to feel him doing that. As soon as he was lying on top of her she initiated another kiss, running her fingers through his hair, scraping at his scalp as he shuddered against her. "Make love to me," she whispered against his lips as they stayed close together.
"Anything you want," Castle said before he moved to slide within her. He kissed the corner of her lips, breathing heavily from the pleasure of that simple movement, and the fact that he found out that she was ready for him added to that greatly. He paused, more to make sure of what she wanted, and then proceeded to thrust once she had done so. He went slowly, carefully within her, watching her closely to see her pleasure which she began to express as soon as he'd begun. After a moment, he leaned down, brushing his lips against her collarbone before she was nearly hauling him back up to her lips, crushing them together roughly. When they had in due course parted he murmured against her lips, "You just wanted to start…"
"You know we don't need to… to…" Beckett breathed out heavily in pleasure as she'd wrapped her legs around his waist. "We don't always have to work up to it or… oh god… Rick… there."
Since he'd changed the angle of his hips as she'd spoke, Castle was going through the same as what her tone of voice was conveying she was. He kissed her neck and then went up to her ear, nibbling at the lobe gently before he whispered, "Or delay things?" He felt her nod at that, but it was an erratic one, and he then told her, "You dreamt about us didn't you… love?"
In response to that Beckett kissed him, but only a chaste kiss on the lips before she told him, "You were amazing then too."
"And this… will make me amazing now?" Castle said as he reached underneath her hips to tilt them up towards him. When his wife cried out in response to his first thrust into her he was hearing it just slightly over the roaring of his racing heartbeat in his ears. He moved to kiss her and he made it sensuous, feeling her respond to him as he slipped his tongue past her lips. They dueled together a little at first before calming down and slowly stroking against one another.
"You're… trying to outdo you in my dreams?" Beckett asked when they parted and she had cupped his cheeks.
"Not trying, I know I can," Castle told her simply. He leaned down slightly and began to brush his lips over her breasts, feeling her hands clasp on the back of his head a little tightly. He grunted in pleasure at the sensation and finally moved to take her right nipple with his mouth.
Closing her eyes tightly and arching her back as his suckling at her made a jolt of bliss rush through her entirely, Beckett tried to match his pace; a little difficult as she had to try and contend with everything her body was being put through. She managed to get herself back in control as Castle pulled back slightly but the next second he was lightly blowing on her moist skin and she was back to fighting with her own body. Stroking from his hair down to his back, she leaned down as he went over her other breast, trying to press her lips to the top of his head. She managed to reach it before he was tilting his head up to take her lips with his. Their kiss was a little wild at first but soon they calmed down slowly, though they never stopped their fight with their tongues; enjoying it too much.
Parting after that kiss, Castle pressed his forehead to his wife's and said, "I know what you'd… say."
"About what," Beckett murmured, wanting to speak through the pleasure she was experiencing to feel his lips brush against hers again.
"Who's better," Castle said simply before he moved down to her neck again. He kissed her skin, warm and slightly moist from their exertions, and he went to each side, feeling her pulse beating roughly against his lips. He couldn't help it, biting down on it on the right side of her neck and proceeding to suck at it. He groaned as Beckett jerked her hips up against him and he thrust against her a little rougher than he'd intended to. He quickly got himself back to the rhythm he'd been at before and breathed out before going back to her neck. While he soon moved away to kiss his way back across, flicking out the tip of his tongue that time, he concentrated on her more, wanting to feel her. She was tight around him and wet with her arousal, making him have to stop focusing on her lest he get off too quickly.
Since Castle had started to move around her upper body then Beckett quickly discerned that he was trying to create a distraction and she made him move up to her so they could kiss. She gave him his diversion for a moment with that but it was only temporary as they were parting quickly to breathe and to let out their groans of pleasure. "Kate…" he mumbled, their breath mixing between them.
"Please… come with me," Beckett begged him, stroking the backs of his shoulders. "I can… feel you." She bit her lower lip then as she felt him drawing her right leg up under his arm and his next thrust was deep, making her cry out as she threw her head back. Her orgasm was a little rough, as she was used to their slower movements, so it was a shock to her that made her feel as if a wave of ecstasy was rebuilding itself through her entire body. She held onto her husband tightly when she felt him joining her quickly, hearing him groaning her name as he pressed his face into her neck. She became slightly out of touch with herself as she concentrated on the sensation of them drawing their climaxes out for as long as they could out of each other but finally she felt herself slow down before stopping completely. She kept her arms around him as he thrust for a little longer but then slumped on top of her, both of them breathing roughly in the aftermath.
When he felt he could move Castle raised his head slightly, kissing his wife as slowly and sensuously as possible; not really thinking of how he was going to, just doing that easily. When he pulled back he looked into her eyes and said, "You're very rough Ms. Beckett."
"Yeah, I don't see you complaining about that," Beckett said, rolling her eyes though she couldn't deny that she felt a short thrill go through her at his tone as he spoke that.
Castle kissed her again before he moved away from her, lying back on his side of the bed as she pressed against him. "How early did you wake me up?" he asked, looking over at the windows.
"Early, I woke up from that dream," Beckett said. "So of course I couldn't control myself."
"I don't have a problem with that," Castle said. They were both silent then before he frowned and told her, "This doesn't seem right."
"No, I agree. I don't see how exactly Fern could have done it," Beckett replied; since she'd known he'd been talking about the case. "But unless we can provide him with an alibi…"
"We'll be able to find something," Castle said then. "Someone around the restaurant had to see him; he was in the middle of downtown."
"I just hope Brad gets started on canvassing early," Beckett replied. She sighed then as their alarm went off and she got up, leaning over her husband to turn it off. "Okay, so we need to get the girls ready," she said as she slipped out of the bed though he was trying to keep her with him. "And then head straight to the station as soon as we get home."
"Alright, I'll get up," Castle said with a sigh as he sat up and pretended to grumble under his breath as she pulled the covers off him. "But you owe me."
"For what? I think you owe me," Beckett said simply as she went into the closet.
"Come on, I fulfilled your dream, slaked your desire," Castle said, following her. When she paused and looked at him he asked, "Don't say that again?"
"Please," Beckett said, shaking her head. She went back out with her clothes and got ready, not waiting for her husband as she washed up and then dressed. She was going to pull her hair up into a ponytail when she paused and then went over to the windows, looking out.
"It's a little warmer than yesterday," Castle said, looking at his phone since he was dressed by then. "Slightly though."
Beckett finally decided to leave her hair down and she walked out with him to Julia's room, seeing Martha's door was closed. "She came home," she murmured.
"I know, I thought she was going to stay over too," Castle replied before he followed her into their oldest's room.
"Julia," Beckett said softly as she sat down next to the still sleeping girl. She smiled as her daughter wrinkled her nose a little before turning over, away from her. "Hey, time to wake up, you've got school today," she said, shaking her shoulder gently before she kissed her temple which finally got Julia to open her eyes and turn to them.
"Want me to get Eliza ready?" Castle asked his wife.
"Go ahead," Beckett said as she ran her hand over the back of their daughter's hair.
Walking into the next room, Castle wasn't surprised to see that Eliza was still sleeping and he took off the net along the edge of the bed before sitting down. He had just barely run his hand over her forehead when she was opening her eyes to look at him. "Hey, morning sweetheart," he told her as she looked angry for a brief second in trying to wake up. "Sleep well?"
"No monsters," Eliza replied with a little smile. "Mommy?"
"She's helping your sister," Castle said. "So I offered to get you up to help her."
"Kay," Eliza said before she sat up. She watched as Castle grabbed her things and she kicked her legs saying, "Do you go?"
"We need to," Beckett said, in the doorway then. "Julia told me say good morning to her little sister."
"She still needs you though," Castle said, unable to help remember the night before.
"Oh I know, but she just wanted to make sure I saw Eliza," Beckett said, a small smile on her face before she went over to the toddler who'd stood up on her bed seeing her. "Morning sweetie, how are you?" she asked, picking her up and hugging her tightly.
"Good, Mommy I wanna go," Eliza said.
"To work with us?" Castle asked after he and his wife had exchanged a look.
"You can't Eliza, you need to stay here and do your schoolwork with your gram," Beckett said after the toddler had nodded her head.
"Why Mommy?" Eliza asked.
"Because you need to be grown up to go to work with the police," Castle said quickly as he came over to the bed. "Am I continuing or are you taking over?" he then asked his wife
"Can you do Julia's hair too?" Beckett asked.
"Sure," Castle said.
"Then I'll get breakfast today," Beckett replied simply. She turned to Eliza and kissed her saying, "Let your daddy get you dressed."
"Kay," Eliza said, smiling at her mother widely.
Before she could turn to go, Castle took Beckett's hand and kissed her gently on the lips, intending to just do that before she went downstairs. But he was a little startled when all of a sudden she was wrapping her arms around him tightly, kissing him deeply. He responded for the short period of time they did that; knowing she hadn't forgotten their youngest. When they parted he looked into her eyes and murmured, "Can't let go of the other night can you?"
Glancing at Eliza who was watching them; though still smiling; Beckett said simply, "There are a lot of nights I can't forget," before she let him go. "And more to come."
Sucking in a deep breath at his wife's tone and her words combined, Castle turned to Eliza and said, "Okay, now I can get you ready."
Julia, having finished making her bed, hurried down the hall to her sister's room, surprised to see Eliza sitting alone in the middle of her bed with her hairbrush. "Where's Mommy?" she asked, leaning against the side before taking the brush from her hands.
"Brush Jules!" Eliza cried then, turning around and scooting back on her knees to the edge of the bed.
"Careful she doesn't fall," Castle said, coming out of the bathroom.
"Mommy's cooking?" Julia asked, brushing her sister's dark brown hair carefully.
"She is and since I'm doing your hair, what would you like?" Castle asked, sitting next to Eliza.
"A French braid again?" Julia asked.
"Once you're finished with your sister," Castle said, watching the two with a smile.
"Daddy, can I see Alexis?" Eliza then asked slowly.
"She had a dinner last night for one of her classes, remember? The professor is retiring and they had a party for him," Castle said. "We'll talk to her tonight."
"My coat?" Eliza said.
"She wants to tell Alexis about her new coat," Julia translated for their dad in case he didn't understand.
"You can, you can do a little modeling show if you want," Castle said as he waited for Julia to climb up next to him since Eliza was finished. "Then you'll really look like your mom."
"Why Daddy?" Eliza asked, crawling over to him on the bed.
"Because she was a model," Julia reminded her. "You saw the pictures."
"Yeah," Eliza said, smiling. "Me and Mommy?" she asked then.
"You look just like one another," Castle said. "And your sister and your mom look a lot alike too."
"But I have green eyes," Julia said in a matter of fact tone.
"You do and very pretty green eyes," Castle said, a little uneasy at that. With them always afraid Julia was going to regain her memory, they had a feeling that it would be her eyes; the only green ones in their family; that would help her remember. "But we should get back to today," he said quickly to change the subject. "Do you have everything you need for school?"
"I do," Julia said as her father began the braid. "Oooh, I wish it was tomorrow already. We haven't seen Alexis since Thanksgiving."
"A long time," Eliza piped up then.
"It is but don't forget she'll be here for a month for winter break," Castle said. "Hold still you two," he told the girls with a laugh as they were bouncing in response to that.
"Sorry," Julia said with a giggle, grabbing her sister to stop her. "Aren't you excited Daddy?"
"Very but I need to finish this braid so we can go down to breakfast," Castle replied, managing to do that as he'd spoke. He put a band around the bottom of it and then took Eliza saying, "Hope you two are hungry."
"Gram?" the toddler asked as they stepped out into the hall, looking over at her room.
"She's probably still asleep," Castle said, pulling Julia by the hand toward the stairs. "Let her, I bet she stayed up late last night."
"Mommy, see my hair?" Julia asked once they'd gotten downstairs and she could see her mother in the kitchen, rushing to her. She turned and smiled when she felt Beckett kiss the top of her head before she turned back and shared a kiss with her. "Is it ready?"
"Almost, I put the bowls and spoons on the table for you," Beckett told her.
"My mom's still asleep, so we won't need this one yet," Castle said as he set one of the bowls and spoons on the island. "How's it going?"
"Really?" Beckett asked in amusement. "For oatmeal?"
"Just checking to see," Castle said before he went over to get milk for the girls. "Anything?"
"No, you?" Beckett asked. When he shook his head she nodded once, not surprised though she'd been hoping by then the chief had found something to either completely close the case or let them know they were needed to continue investigating it. She turned her attention back to the pot on the stove, and since it had finished while she'd been thinking she hurriedly turned off the burner and carried it to the table.
"Okay, here's your coffee love," Castle said, setting the mug at her place at the table.
"A snowman!" Julia cried seeing the design on the foam. "Can I take a picture?"
"Go ahead," Beckett replied, handing her her phone. She turned to her husband then and kissed him briefly before pulling away. "Not bad today."
"The cupcakes inspired me," Castle said, smiling as his wife did so in response to him.
"I hope Martha is up by the time we bring Eliza back," Beckett said then as her husband was ladling out the oatmeal for them.
"I'm sure she will be," Castle said absently as he got his bowl then and sat down. "These two were pretty excited earlier," he said to his wife as he watched her stir a little brown sugar into Eliza's bowl.
"For Alexis? I'm not that surprised," Beckett said. "I'm sure she's just as excited too."
"Aren't you excited?" Julia asked.
"For what?" Castle said.
"Your date!" Julia said in slight exasperation. "You're going to dinner still aren't you?"
"We are but it's not really a date," Beckett replied. "We're long past going on those."
"Then your dinner," Julia replied.
"Yeah, we're excited about that," Castle said, looking at his wife as he spoke.
"I am too," Beckett said with a smile at him. She squeezed his hand on the top of the table before saying, "You're not worried about us are you?"
"A little," Julia confessed. "But I know Mommy, you're happy with Daddy. And you're happy with Mommy," she said to Castle last.
"Mommy?" Eliza said as they went back to eating after Beckett and then Castle had nodded in agreement to what her big sister had said.
"Yes sweetie?" Beckett asked, looking over at her.
"Go to school?" Eliza said.
"Not yet," Castle replied before his wife put her hand on his arm.
"I think she means she wants to go," Beckett reminded him. "Soon," she then directed to the toddler. "You want to go right?" she asked, glancing at Castle as their youngest had been a little unsure about pre-school after they'd told her about it.
"You should," Julia said reassuringly, leaning over the table to look at her sister before her mother made her lean back to sit up straight. "We'll see each other at recess," she said.
"You have the same recess?" Castle said, not remembering hearing about that.
"They will," Beckett said. "But I don't know if you can see your sister," she said warningly.
"Can you ask?" Julia said, looking at her little sister to see she was frowning.
"We will," Castle said before he leaned over and kissed the side of Eliza's head as he'd seen her expression too.
"Can she come with me to dance class after school?" Julia asked hopefully.
"She's going to be staying only until before lunch," Castle said. "And then we'll pick her up and come home."
"What if you're working on a case?" Julia pointed out.
"Someone will, don't worry," Beckett told her. "Keep eating, we're going to be late." She watched Julia to make sure she did and when she had she said to her husband as she'd suddenly remembered, "You know we forgot an RSVP."
"We did? Which one?" Castle said.
"To Brett and Shannon's lunch," Beckett replied.
"Oh, well… wasn't that the one invitation we were a little hesitant about?" Castle asked her.
"We were, we're going to be going to a lot more parties now," Beckett said. "And this one is on the same day as Rebecca and David's party," she reminded him.
"Then I think you and I know how we should reply to that," Castle said.
"I'll get to it later today," Beckett said before she glanced past him and smiled.
"Not with your fingers," Castle said, turning and seeing that Eliza was trying to pick up the oatmeal in her bowl. Since she was sitting on the other side of him, he grabbed her hand and held it as he got some oatmeal on her spoon. "Try it like that," he told her.
"What are you going to be doing in dance class today?" Beckett asked their oldest after they were quiet for a few minutes.
Going back to the beginning of her class the day before, Julia then recalled and said, "I think we're going to stay with the Quickstep again, but then after we take a break we'll work on the Samba."
"Then you must be excited," Castle said, laughing with his wife when their oldest nodded exuberantly.
"Oh I am! Even though we're not doing Samba rolls, I still can't wait," Julia said earnestly. "I love the Samba a lot."
"As much as the Jive?" Beckett asked.
"Almost as much as it," Julia said.
"Think you'll dance it at your next competition?" Castle enquired.
"I don't know, we need to be picked for the competition," Julia said. "And that means Peter and I have to be the best at all the dances."
"Well, if he's as excited about the Samba as you, then you'll be dancing again for us," Castle said.
"Dance now Jules?" Eliza asked.
"Not yet, but I hope soon," Julia told her sister. She then began to talk about the Samba moves and the ones she liked in particular; comparing it to the Jive; pleased when her parents and Eliza all listened attentively. When she finally made herself stop they were cleaning up from breakfast and she said with a small laugh, "I love to dance."
"We're happy that you do," Beckett said, kissing her forehead. "And we don't mind hearing you talk about it," she added since Julia had sounded a little apologetic.
"But now we should get going," Castle said, checking his watch after he'd washed the dishes. "Get your backpack."
Following their daughters, Castle and Beckett helped them put on their outer layers for the walk before getting their own. They paused to listen and see if Martha was up but when they didn't hear any kind of movement; they decided to go before they made Julia late.
"Good morning," Rebecca said, coming out with Mari on her own when the family was in front of their home. "David was called into his campaign headquarters. The local media wanted to interview him and they're doing it early to make it to the five o'clock news."
"Does he know you're coming out here alone?" Beckett asked her friend teasingly.
"He's aware," Rebecca said. "He doesn't like it, but what's new? By the way," she said as they'd started to walk. "I have to say thank you for last night."
"You said that already," Beckett reminded her as they were walking behind the three girls.
"I know, but I wanted to say it again," Rebecca replied. "David needed it."
"He's stressed out?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, he got news that he and Hopkins are even last night," Rebecca told them. "But I said that's great as he was a few points below. When it comes to the election, I'm sure those people who they don't ask for the polls are going to vote for him. So dinner alone was a blessing as we got back to something more important; us. Well, us and this one who decided to play a short soccer game towards the end of it."
Smiling at that, Beckett said, "I hope he'll be okay being mayor."
"It's not an easy job," Castle said.
"You two are thinking of the city," Rebecca told them. "The Hamptons is much smaller, but still I told him it won't be easy. He wants to follow in his grandfather's footsteps even though he knows that."
"He will," Beckett said before they reached the school.
"I can walk back with you right?" Rebecca asked as they headed into the elementary school building.
"I think David would kill us; me especially; if we didn't make sure you got home alright," Castle said.
"Why you?" Rebecca asked, looking confused; as was Beckett.
"Like I'd let him touch a hair on Kate's head," Castle said jokingly.
"We'll meet you here at the doors," Beckett said, shaking her head as her friend rolled her eyes. After Julia and Eliza had said goodbye to Mari she and Castle took them upstairs to the fourth grade rooms. "Alright, have a wonderful day, we'll try and come to your class again but we don't know how work will go yet," she said, hugging Julia after Eliza had done so.
"I know, but I hope you have a good day," Julia said after she shared a kiss with her mother, her code for telling her parents to be safe; not wanting to scare her little sister.
"We will," Castle said, hugging and kissing the little girl. He watched with Beckett and Eliza as she rushed into her classroom and he turned to them saying, "Time to head out," clapping his hands together before scooping up the toddler in his arms.
Going downstairs ahead of them, Beckett saw that Rebecca was waiting at the doors, watching some last minute kids coming inside before the bell rang. She took her friend's arm as they left the building and was about to speak when she felt her phone shake in her pocket.
"Is it Brad?" Castle asked, walking with the two, Eliza still in his arms.
"It is," Beckett replied as she read the text. "They haven't found anything, so he's hoping we'll come in."
"Do you want me to watch Eliza for you?" Rebecca asked, thinking Martha wasn't at the house.
"No, my mom's home, she just wasn't awake before we left," Castle explained.
"Sounds like we all had a good night," Rebecca said as they continued on.
"Take care of yourself," Beckett said once they'd reached the Foster home and her friend was inside.
"Same with you, good luck," Rebecca replied.
Smiling at that, Beckett nodded before she hurried up the path to the sidewalk where Castle was waiting. She took their youngest from him and said, "She said it again."
"Maybe it's like what Julia says," he suggested as they walked swiftly home.
"Probably," Beckett said. Inside the house she saw that Martha was in the kitchen and she called to her mother in law saying, "We need to go now."
"Go, I'll help Eliza with her things," Castle's mother said, stopping her son from unbuttoning her coat. "We'll see you later."
"Bye sweetie, I love you," Beckett said, kissing her cheek.
"So do I, love you a ton," Castle said, kissing Eliza's other cheek. "Bye," he called as he and Beckett went to the garage. He let her drive then, surprised when at a stop sign she didn't move. "What?" he asked, seeing she was looking at her phone.
"He's got something," Beckett said simply. "He doesn't say what, but it must be big."
"Ah, exclamation points," Castle said as she took off for the station.
"Great, you two are here," Brad said, waiting in the lobby again. "We got a call from Kirby who I sent to the jail to look at Fern's things they took off him there. That included his phone, with a GPS tracking app for himself."
"Any idea why he had that?" Beckett asked.
"No clue, but we looked at what was recorded the morning of the murder and we found that he turned it off right before Antonio was killed," the chief said.
"And you're taking that as definitive proof he's the murderer?" Beckett replied.
"It's making him more likely," Brad said. "However last night I thought over what you said and you're right, all of this is too easy. Why would he keep this app if he was intending to murder our vic and not just delete it before going? I think what we need to do is go over downtown with a fine tooth comb. And that includes you both."
"Great, I'm ready," Castle said, Beckett nodding in agreement with him.
"Alright, I'm taking Hutchinson and Bernier with us, the others will stay behind and keep an eye on things for us," Brad said. "We're dividing it up into sections, this is what you two have; from 2nd Avenue to Roanoke Street, then from Greater Boulevard to West York Way. Take as long as you need to and if you get anything at all, call me."
"We're on our way," Beckett said before she and Castle left.
"Should we split up?" he asked as he was driving to their area.
"You think someone would talk to you?" Beckett asked, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Yeah, I can sound authoritative if I need to," Castle replied in protest. He then said, "Alright we'll go together but where do you want to start first?"
"Go to 2nd Avenue and we'll work our way west to east," Beckett said. "So park as close to the restaurant as you can."
"I'm surprised he gave us that," Castle said. "Unless he's remembering the information we got yesterday."
"Most likely," Beckett said as he parked. "So the waiter they talked to yesterday said that Fern walked west from here."
"Do you want to track him by trying every place in that direction?" Castle asked.
"We should," Beckett said with a nod, going to the first place next to the restaurant. Inside the boutique, she went back to the register and said, "Hello, my name is-"
"Ms. Beckett, Mr. Castle, are you here for something specific?" the woman there asked.
"Actually no," Beckett replied, nudging Castle in the side as he was looking over at the lingerie in the corner to their right. "Are you the manager?"
"Oh yes, I'm Chloe Boynton, this is my store… how can I help you?" the woman asked, looking a little uneasy.
"You know we assist the Hamptons PD right?" Castle asked. At the manager's nod he said, "Then we need to ask you; if you'll tell us; if you saw this man at all three days ago around eleven or twelve?"
Looking at the picture of Fern that Beckett put on the counter, Boynton shook her head saying, "No, I'm sorry… isn't that Alan Fern? Didn't he commit suicide-"
"Thank you for your help," Beckett said quickly before she led the way out. "I get a feeling we might have… hold on," she said then in frustration before going back in.
Castle followed her to the door, watching as she asked the manager if there was a security camera outside.
"No, but some of the places here along the street have them," Boynton replied.
"Thanks again," Beckett said before she went back to her husband. "We'll have to remember to ask that at the next place. If they have a camera-"
"We'll be able to see where Fern was heading if not that place," Castle said as they went to the next one, which was a pet store. "We're going to need to come here."
"Later," Beckett said quickly. She spoke with the manager and the employees, one of whom had seen Fern continuing to walk west.
Going to the other places on that side of the street, Castle and Beckett heard the same and saw the same; that Fern walked in the same direction but never stopped. When they reached the end of their area they stopped on the corner and looked at the other side.
"I don't know Castle," Beckett said with a sigh of impatience. "If no one saw him cross the street," switching to Irish as some people were walking around them.
"Well, you never know, people walk in front of their stores all the time," Castle commented.
Looking at him in confusion Beckett said, "Yes, they do. Do you think he walked off our area?" When he didn't reply she was about to ask him what he was talking about when she realized that he wasn't looking at her, instead over her shoulder. She turned and saw the corner place was a florist shop, making her turn back to him saying, "Flowers?"
"Think about it," Castle said as they started to cross the street. "He was obviously mentally disturbed; considering he took his own life; and he might have tried to get back with his wife. Maybe he was trying to get her flowers; a gesture that he thought might make her want to be with him again. And I know she was pregnant with her lover's child but again, he was going through a lot mentally."
Stopping outside the shop, Beckett said, "What if he was getting flowers for his girlfriend?"
"Or he could have been doing that," Castle said. "In the end, what matters is us finding an alibi for him." When she started to turn to the door he said, "Why don't you let me handle things in there?"
"Why?" Beckett asked as she waited for him to walk up to her.
"They know me here," Castle said pointedly.
Beckett had to concede the point; since she knew her husband had gotten flowers every once in a while for her from the shop; so she went inside after him, watching him walk straight to the register.
"Ramona, it's so great to see you," Castle said to the owner, Ramona Gibbs.
"Hello Mr. Castle, are you here to pick up some flowers for your wife," the woman said, smiling at them.
"We're here for the police," Castle replied. "We need to know if you saw this man three days ago, at about eleven or twelve?"
"Oh, of course, Mr. Fern," Gibbs said as she studied the picture he'd placed in front of her. "He was a strange customer."
"In what way?" Beckett asked interestedly.
"Well, for the longest time he went back and forth outside, seeming to be in deep thought," Gibbs replied. "So I guess he must have been deciding something. And then when he came in the shop he walked around for a long time, looking at every last flower. So much so I was almost afraid he was going to try and eat them."
"Did he buy anything in the end?" Castle asked.
"No, he actually just stalked out after throwing some white lilies on the floor," Gibbs replied. "I was tempted to call the police but I didn't really have much to accuse him of."
"Do you have a security camera?" Beckett then inquired.
"Oh yes in here and outside, why?" Gibbs said.
"Do you mind if we look through them both to see him?" Castle said.
"That's him," Brad said with a sigh, watching the footage on his screen and the time. "So he's not our killer. But why would he confess to a murder that he didn't do?"
"I told Beckett it was because he was mentally unstable," Castle said. "I think everything with the baby made him have a breakdown. In his mind he believed he killed Antonio, but why he felt remorse… you'd have to speak to a psychologist to figure that out."
"You're probably right," the chief said. "So now we're at square one and we've exhausted all possible leads. Unless you two have something to suggest?" he asked them hopefully.
Sharing a look with her husband Beckett said, "I'm sorry we don't, we're as clueless as you are." When Brad groaned in annoyance she quickly said, "But we've found when we're having trouble investigating a case that sometimes going over it from the start helps."
"You have to do that often?" Brad asked.
"A lot more than you'd think," Castle said. "Why don't I make us some coffee and we'll go back to the beginning; to the crime scene." When the two nodded he went to the break room and started up the machine before he felt someone was next to him. "You couldn't wait?" he asked his wife.
"No," Beckett replied. "I want to clear something up. When you say go back to the crime scene-"
"In pictures," Castle quickly told her. "Don't worry, I don't really want to go anywhere near Susannah again."
"Good, because I wouldn't be going if you-" Beckett started to say before her phone rang. "It's Ryan," she said in slight surprise. She exchanged a slightly anxious look with her husband before answering the phone saying, "Is it Tyson?" as her greeting.
"No, I talked with Diaz up in Robbery just now," Ryan said. "He has a case that you need to know about."
"Is it related to our current case?" Castle asked as the phone was on speaker.
"A lawyer's office here in the city, on the West side, was broken into last night," Ryan said instead of answering. "He says only one file was taken; and it was the copy of an addendum to a will."
"Who was the client?" Beckett asked.
"Antonio De Soto," Ryan replied.
"Does the lawyer know at all what the addendum said?" Castle asked as he and his wife looked at each other in their surprise.
"I got a copy of the lawyer's statement and I'm sending it to you," Ryan replied.
"You have to go?" Castle said.
"Yeah, we've got a new case," Ryan told them in a rush. "If you need to talk to Diaz call me."
"Thanks Ryan," Beckett said before she went out to their desk; Castle following her. She opened her inbox, seeing their former partner's e-mail and she began to read it.
"Brad," Castle yelled to the chief who was in his office.
"You have something?" the man said, running out to them. When the two merely moved away from the desk, he sat where Beckett had been, and read the e-mail on the screen. "What the hell," he muttered. "We need to find him, now."
"How do you want to handle this?" Castle asked.
"Hutchinson," Brad said, standing up. "Call the Harper Ranch and see if Castillo Gaspara is there."
"And us?" Castle said.
"You're coming with me to his apartment," Brad said simply, going to his desk.
Taking the weapon that he handed her, Beckett holstered it and looked at Castle as they left, going out to the parking lot.
"Castillo Gaspara, this is the Hamptons police," Brad was saying at the door to the man's apartment. "Open the door!"
Watching the two men while she had her hand close to her weapon, Beckett watched as Officer Enos kicked the door open and the two went inside. She wasn't surprised to hear the all clear from both men and she and Castle went inside quickly. "What?" Beckett asked as she saw the two were at the table off the kitchen staring at something.
"I think we found out how he established his alibi," Castle commented as there was a telephone with a two way speaker on the table. He turned around and stepped just past the doorway, looking up. "There's a camera here," he told the others inside.
"So he planned this for a while," Beckett replied.
"When was that robbery though?" Brad said.
"I think his brother might have told him what he was going to do and he found about the other lawyer and the copy of the addendum. So he must have been planning the robbery since the murder," Beckett said. "Are you calling CSU?" she asked as he got out his phone.
"Enos?" the chief asked as his phone began to ring. When the officer nodded he answered and said, "Hutchinson? Yeah… okay, I expected that."
"He wasn't there either?" Beckett asked when he'd hung up.
"No and he hasn't been there at work since yesterday," Brad replied. "Ms. Harper told me he's fired."
"We'll have to tell him when we find him," Castle said in an aside to his wife.
"Alright, put out an APB for Gaspara, add that he's considered armed and dangerous," Brad said quickly. "Call the city airports and Newark, get his picture out, he might be trying to get back to Argentina."
After the chief had hung up Beckett asked, "This explains why the FBI in Buenos Aires had nothing on his sister."
"He was playing us this entire time," Brad said with a frown.
"But how did he find out where that addendum was exactly?" Castle then said.
"De Soto's place," the three of them said at the same time.
"Enos," Brad said before the officer came inside from guarding the door. "We're heading to the vic's apartment; we might need a second CSU team out there."
"I'll contact you if they find anything here," the officer said.
After leaving the apartment, Castle, Beckett and the chief headed out to De Soto's apartment building. At the door to 3F, she and Brad stood on either side of the door while Castle waited behind his wife.
The chief entering first after opening the door, he lowered his gun and said, "Yeah he was here," he told the two to let them know they could enter.
"No one's here… oh," Castle said as he followed Beckett and saw that there was only one room.
"Gaspara definitely was here," Beckett added as she went through the items tossed to the floor and over to the desk where she saw a drawer on the floor. "Here," she said, picking up a card and showing it to the chief.
"I wonder why he got a second lawyer?" Castle asked since the name on the card was not the name of the lawyer they had on record.
"This one in the city must have had the ability to write that addendum, make it legal," Beckett mused for a moment.
Castle looked over at his wife before he said, "That's not the explanation is it?"
"No, what I'm thinking is it's more than likely that he went with this lawyer because he didn't want his brother to find out what he was doing," Beckett replied.
"Alright, CSU is coming here as well," Brad said. "We'll wait for them but after this we need to go back to the station and look back into Gaspara."
"Did you check the name Castillo Montez?" Castle and Beckett said at the same time.
Looking at them, Brad shook his head and then groaned saying, "That's why his father's name sounded so familiar. The drugs."
Sharing a look with her husband, Beckett said, "The drugs?"
"We were able to get a name from a buyer of the dealer here," the chief said. "He told us it was a Montez Salazar but what threw me off was the fact it was the dealer's first name and there are a couple of Montez's in the area."
"Did you see the name Salazar anywhere in his information?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, a half brother his mom had after him," Brad replied. "His first name."
"It'd be hard to locate him taking names from both sides of his family," Beckett replied. She paused for a moment and then said, "Does he have any other siblings?"
"I believe another sister, Marta Leon," Brad said. "You think he's taken from there?"
"More than likely," Castle said. "You need to search that first name Leon for any kind of property."
"Public storage, abandoned buildings, anything like that," Beckett added.
"So that looks like it'll solve our cocaine problems," the chief said. "Thank you for that, but now we need to focus on getting Gaspara." The CSU team had arrived as Brad had spoken; as had Kirby who the chief had contacted; and leaving the apartment to them he went back to his cruiser with Castle and Beckett. "I think-" he started to say as he was heading to the station. Before he could continue, the radio in the car crackled with static, and dispatch began to speak.
"Reported break in and kidnapping at 730 Gordon Lane," the woman said. "All units available report."
"This is Chief Davis," Brad said quickly. "Heading to the Seymour residence. Any report of the suspect."
"Negative Chief, the owner of the house was unaware of who the perpetrator was," dispatch said. "There are possible injuries, EMTs have been contacted."
"10-4," Brad said. "He must have just gotten back."
"At least there's not a report of a murder," Castle pointed out. But even with that the cruiser was tense until they reached Mrs. Seymour's home, and he followed Brad and his wife up to the front door that was wide open.
"Alison, Nesta?" the chief said as he and Beckett were scanning the rooms they were passing.
"Here, we're in here!" the older Seymour woman called. "Please Chief, my daughter's been hurt."
Running into the kitchen, Beckett saw that Nesta Seymour was on the floor, unconcious as her mother was cradling her in her arms. "Where's Christopher?" she asked quickly as she and the chief knelt next to them.
"He came and took him, I don't know who he was but he knew Nesta," Mrs. Seymour said, tears running down her cheeks. "He looked like the baby's father."
"Did you see where he went?" Brad asked then.
"No, he hit me too and I only just woke up," Mrs. Seymour replied. "You have to find him; Christopher was not dressed for the outdoors."
Not wanting to tell the woman that there was more danger to the baby than exposure, Castle noticed some movement out of the corner of his eye and he turned to the family room windows. He rushed over to them and flung open the door out to the backyard, comprehending what he was looking at. "Beckett, Chief," he yelled to them.
"Christopher…" Nesta was moaning as she came out of unconsciousness then, keeping the two there in the kitchen. "He took Christopher… Where is he?"
"Guys, you need to come here now," Castle said as urgently as he could manage.
Beckett jogged over to him and when she saw his gaze was outside, she froze for a moment before she and Castle took off outside.
"Guys," the chief said when he noticed them going. He ran after them and was able to see what had made them go up the incline of the backyard to the shared common.
Gaspara was at the pond in the middle of the common when they had reached the top of the small hill, walking into it while the shrill cries of the baby in his arms rent the air as he cut through the freezing cold water.