Kate got down to the garage and had a hard time to place the key in the lock. Rick placed his hand over hers
"Kate…?" Rick asked as she looked up at him.
Kate's eyes were glassy.
"Oh Kate" Rick said then wrapped her in his strong arms and again she broke down.
"I'm such a loser Rick" she balled.
Rick looked at her with such compassion.
"I can not keep from crying" She said.
"Do you want me to drive?" Rick asked.
"Yes Please" she said in her very little girl voice.
"Please hand me the keys." Rick asked.
Kate handed them to him and he unlocked the door.
She slid in and immediately placed both hands over her face.
Rick started the car and eased out of the parking area then got into Manhattan traffic.
"Rick what is wrong with me?" She finally said after stopping crying.
Rick handed her some tissues to wipe her nose and face.
Rick glanced over. Even in her distraught state she was so breathtaking beautiful. Rick assumed Kate wanted not an answer so he kept silent. They arrived at the precinct. Kate entered to go to the women's room to clean up. Rick rode the elevator to the 4th floor. He was immediately greeted by Merri.
"Hey you are looking worst for wear. Is it painful?" Merri asked.
"Is what painful?" Rick asked.
"The shot silly we have it all on video. All SWAT shots are recorded and Ryan was going over them. You were intentionally shot by a SWAT member." Merri said.
"What?" Rick said.
"Yeah SWAT does not even know of the cameras in their weapons." Merri said walking along with him.
"How do you know?" Rick asked heading to the break room to get him and Kate their customary coffee.
"You remember that debacle called Fast and Furious. Well they were not exactly truthful. They were not rigged with only GPS. The weapons were outfitted with cameras too. Then the DOJ had the great idea to place them in all federal purchases. NYPD SWAT was part of those purchases." Merri said.
"Who are you?" Rick looked at his friend.
"That Ricky I could never tell you. But suffice to say Mr. Smith sends his regards." Merri said. "Hey they are starting the briefing. So you and Kate how long…?"
"I'm not going to dignify that with an answer." Rick said.
"Suit yourself." Merri smirked then walked away.
Kate looking more in control took the coffee Rick had. She sipped it.
"Oh that is sooo good Castle!" Kate said.
Rick beamed.
"Oh I need to log this." Kate said login to her computer.
She typed it into evidence then as she was going to place it in the bin it was taken out of her hand. She turned then gazed into Captain Gates' features which at the moment were very neutral.
"I will handle this one Detective" She said.
"Yes Sir of course." Kate responded.
The meeting resumed.
"Hi I am Special Agent Merrick Borm. Yes my name is similar as the infamous writer friend corrupted it as Derrick Storm. Let's get this out of the way. I am going to be conducting this debriefing." He said.
"I am Captain Victoria Gates. I will be reviewing the lack of cohesion from Tactical." She said. "This is the reason was all this mess created."
Gates waved the cell phone in the air.
"It is a tool used to learn how to make cars safer but as we have learned it can also create any car to become a guided missile. This is a terrorist dream. Lucky the person who had this device did not dream big." Gates said.
"Hi I'm Henry Ford the Fifth responsible party in creating this device and as part of this action report. I can assure this app will never be placed on anything portable again. Sure it might make our tech's job a bit harder but it would remove this possibility in ever happening again. We did not ever anticipate this eventuality. We are going to screen our employee much more carefully." He said.
"So I am turning over the evidence to the rightful owner now." Gates said.
Henry nodded and two men with sledgehammers appeared and he placed the device on the ground. The pulverized it into many small pieces. The pieces were scooped up and Dr. Lanie appeared with a Flask.
The thermos was opened and the pungent smell of concentrated Hydrogen Fluoride acid was detected. The pieces were dropped into the flask. It bubbled then stopped.
Rick was mesmerized by the demonstration.
Lanie left with the flask tightly shut.
"I must excuse the theatrics but I wanted everyone to know we take safety seriously. Thank you for being such a great audience." Henry said.
Rick sidled up to Henry.
"Great demonstration but before was that phone able to be used as a regular phone?" Rick asked.
Henry showed him the SIM card.
The app is not on that? Rick asked.
"No it was a hardware modification. It just acted to the user as a software app." Henry said.
"Ok so what next?" Rick asked.
"Well it was cloned into your database so I leave it in NYPD's capable hands" Henry said leaving.
"Ok so that is one worry but now to the problems with Tactical." Gates said.
Rick was bored so he was heading out when Gates' voice was very loud and clear.
"Are you leaving Mr. Castle? I think you should stay. It does pertain to you too." She stated.
Rick looked around then sat back down. Everyone laughed.
"Ok as you were. I was saying Tactical was dismal." Gates said. The suspects spotted you before you were in position. This caused a wild west shoot out killing all the suspects. It also prevented any of them from being interrogated. I am talking to you Officer Grandy. What in the world possessed you in walking into the area with out your gun drawn?" Gates said. "And you Officer Herrt"
"Me Ma'am…?" He said.
Both Javi and Ryan winced when they heard the newbie say that dreaded word.
"I know you are new to the 12th so I will let that one slide. I am Captain Gates you will address me as Sir or Captain is that understood Officer Herrt?" the Captain said.
"Yes Sir Captain." Officer Herrt said.
The rest of the group laughed.
"Ok Officer Herrt you were out of position here and here Why?" Gates asked.
"M…Sir I did not realize I was until the Sarge told me." He stammered.
"Typical Rookie mistake" Javi whispered to Ryan. Ryan nodded.
"Yes Detective Esposito it was a typical mistake. This is why we have these debriefings to see the mistake then hopefully do not make them again." Gates said.
"Let me give you a different reason you were out of position Officer Herrt." Merri said turning on the video.
"If you can see you were out of position but you were not facing the suspects. You were facing the Boat as this video shows and it also shows you concentrating and firing. So Officer Herrt can you give any reason you fire away from the suspects?" Gates asked.
"Officer Herrt your personal finances have greatly improved in the past two days?" Ryan asked. "Can you give a reason why?"
"Officer Herrt due to your actions our Civilian Consultant's Vest was hit by your bullet as this recreation shows." Javi said.
"Only because the bullet passed through this board does the vest do its job. Otherwise it was a killshot." Gates said. Detective Grobin arrest Officer Herrt and read him his rights.
"Oh I am not going Down B-ytch." Officer Herrt drew his weapon.
Gates looked at Sarge. He gave a wink.
"Officer Herrt control yourself! Your fellow law enforcement officers have you surrounded." Gates said.
"You are so lucky Mr. Castle! But your luck has just run out." Officer Herrt turned his gun on Rick and fired. He was laughing as he went down.
"NOO…!" Kate screamed then lunged at him knocking him over.
Officer Herrt was then dogpiled by the rest of NYPD officers in the room then wrestled him out of the room.
"3XK give you his regards Castle!" He said before being man handled off the floor.
"Rick talk to me." Kate said getting off of him then gently slapping his face.
Rick became awake. Kate kissed him.
"Kate? I do not feel anything but pain in my chest where that bullet hit my vest." He said "where's the blood?"
"Rick you were not hit?" Kate looked him over when he stood.
Captain Gates was smirking so were Ryan and Javi.
"Bravo!" Merri said clapping. "You sure missed your calling Rick."
"Can someone please tell me what is going on?" Rick asked.
"Well if you came back to the precinct you could have been part of it." Ryan said.
"Part of what…?" Rick asked sitting back down.
"My little production Ricky you were marvelous as usual." Merri said.
"Your… Your Production…?" Rick asked.
"Ok enough fun and games the man deserves an explanation" Gates said.
"Fine, it all started with the video made by the German Sailor named Wilhelm. He had a bunk mate Oscar who shot a different angle video and posted it. Unfortunately it was showing tactical approaching but little else. It did show how Officer Herrt shot at you." Merri said.
"This started the investigation. Ryan and I were enlisted to determine who Officer was that was out of position." Javi said.
"This is where I came in." Sarge said. "I gave them the name and once we had determined with the camera on the weapon that he was intentionally aiming at you. Captain Gates ordered me to remove his bullets and replaces them with blanks. You were far enough away so that the fragments of the blank would be harmless."
"So once the stage was set we needed you Ricky to play your part. And we captured a known Professional. He will rot for awhile." Merri said.
"I see and his taunt?" Kate asked.
"Red herring we found the email which hired him. He was told to say it" Ryan said.
"Well people it was fun being the target but I have a book launch to attend. Of course you are all invited. Thank you for capturing this criminal masquerading as law professional." Rick said.