Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
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 had been wondering what the reactions would be for the last chapter so I was really happy about the feedback I got for it and I'll get straight to my thank yous for them! Guest (Really happy that you thought the chapter was outstanding, definitely tried write it the best I could! And I you're very welcome for posting!),
vetgirlmx (Ah, glad I could sorta surprise you by not killing Rudolph though I'm not surprised myself you were thinking that might happen. And I wasn't surprised to see you didn't like what was going on with this chapter and echoed Brad's question about the family- watching a lot of true crime stories about wealthier families weird, weird stuff can go on with them and big secrets too. But yeah, not surprised you had the reaction you did with the idea of the father trying to basically, as you said, prostituting his daughter. Also not surprised either you mentioned the kind of person that would agree to the idea. Oh and your comment about wishing that the parents had been poisoned didn't take me aback either, actually I thought people might be thinking that too. I wasn't surprised too that you didn't think Brockson was a suspect, wasn't making her out to be so you caught that from my writing, lol, and nice to see that you were glad that she was found safely and cleared too. Now it was interesting to see your reaction to Wilson and I mean that in a good way as you caught him being a pig too, sorta a social comment though of course I haven't made every last man a pic there, lol. Oh and I'm very pleased you like Rudolph so far but not surprised he's the only one so far, lol. You did rant a bit but it was warranted because of what had happened in the chapter so it was understandable since you're right, the family is messed up. But really happy that you can't wait to see what happens next which now you don't need to do anymore!),
TORONTOSUN (I'm so happy to see that you think, after the last chapter, that things are getting really interesting for the case and the story as well. It was what I wanted to happen!) and
Guest (It was nice to see your reaction to the idea of Julia writing a story based on what she saw the night of the murder. And you're right; doing that helps her work through what she went through and her sexuality a bit as well. You're also right about it giving something that Castle; and Beckett as well; can bond with her with, tangible as you put it. It's why I had that come into the series here. And yeah, though I have her writing those kids' books with them I realize you're right, I could write them discussing plots and such as you mentioned. But great you think the story she has is interesting and you want to see it more too! And I'm guessing you liked the talk that Julia and Mari had during their walk, lol. And you'll have to wait a bit to see who her crush is though it'll come up in the future at some point).
Thanks so much to all of you for the reviews, loved reading all them as usual and appreciate the time taken of course to write them out and send them my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Must Do Something about It by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Wings at the Speed of Sound.
Lonely Joker On A Shelf
Walking up to the pair Brad paused when he saw that Castle was standing just behind his wife, Beckett looking out the windows in the waiting room at the hospital. He went over to his friend and murmured, "What is it?"
"I don't know," Castle said, his voice low. "She won't tell me but there is something she's remembering."
"Remembering?" Brad asked, startled.
"I thought it was Julia but it's more," Castle said, turning around as he didn't want his wife to hear him. "Something with Patrick that she's suppressed."
"You tried to talk to her," Brad stated.
"I did," Castle answered. "But she doesn't want to consider it."
"So what're you going to do?" Brad asked as he could tell from his friend's tone that he was upset about Beckett's silence.
"Talk to her later," Castle began. "When we're back home," he finished rapidly as she started to walk to them.
"Have you talked to the doctor?" Beckett asked the chief.
"No he's speaking with… Rudolph's siblings," Brad said. He wasn't surprised when the two kept looking at him and told them, "Mrs. Radcliff is with her husband."
"You're not arresting him?" Beckett said.
"Rudolph isn't pressing charges," Brad replied. When Beckett looked frustrated he said, "You'll have to ask him, I don't know why he isn't."
"He hit his son on the head," Beckett said, her teeth clenched together.
"Again he's not pressing charges," Brad said. "Can you speak to him when we're allowed in?"
"Don't you mean when she is?" Castle said. When his friend nodded he grabbed Beckett's arm and told him, "We'll be over here."
"Don't," Beckett replied as her husband turned to her at the window.
"Kate…" Castle began to say. But he trailed off and then nodded saying, "Alright but I'm not going to leave this alone."
"I know," Beckett said softly before she was looking down at their hands as he was squeezing hers tightly. She did the same to him but they had to let go as they turned around at Brad calling their names.
"Chief," the doctor reaching him said with a nod. He paused before he said, "Your consultants?"
"They are, you can continue," Brad replied. "How is Mr. Radcliff?"
"He's doing well but you were correct Ms. Beckett," the doctor answered. "He was poisoned with cyanide; very little; but he was given some grapefruit juice which he's allergic to."
"And he still drank it?" Castle said in surprise.
"He had one drink and then went to get his epi-pen when he realized what it was," the doctor said.
"So the dose he had was… meant to be large," Brad said.
As he nodded the doctor looked at Beckett and told her, "You saved his life."
"What about the hit to his head?" she then said.
"Some bruising but nothing serious," the doctor replied.
"Is he ready to speak to us?" Brad then said.
"He'd like to see you first," the doctor said, directing that to Beckett again.
Not saying a word to her husband or Brad, Beckett followed the doctor to a door just past the nurse's station and down a hall. "He'll recover?" she finally said.
"He will and we're barring his parents from his room, per his request," the doctor said in response. When he saw Beckett was looking at him questioningly he said, "He thought you might suggest it." He stopped at a room then and pushed open the door with a knock on it saying, "Mr. Radcliff? Ms. Beckett is here to see you."
"Let her in please," Rudolph said as he tried to peer behind the man.
"Where's your family?" Beckett asked with a smile as she closed the door behind her.
"They all went down to the cafeteria," Rudolph answered as he watched her sit next to his bed. "Thank you."
"How are you feeling?" Beckett said, knowing that the man was looking at her adoringly but in a far different way than Bridges had done earlier.
Sighing Rudolph said, "Okay but I think my brothers, sisters and I are in trouble."
"I agree," Beckett replied. "Have you thought about what you might do? Once you're released."
"They said I should be okay to go in an hour or so if I'm really lucky," Rudolph replied. "But my brother Rembert; Yvonne's twin; he's saying we need to go."
"What about the baby?" Beckett asked him.
"Her too but we're not sure if we can do this…" Rudolph said. "Luckily Rembert and I are old enough to take care of the younger ones if we can manage to escape." He then looked at Beckett and asked, "You've got kids don't you?"
Smiling slightly she answered, "Two daughters and a stepdaughter." Beckett watched Rudolph nod and then said, "What about Rocco and Fiona?"
"If we leave we're going to that hotel," Rudolph said. "They'll help us." He saw the look on Beckett's face and said quickly, "They all know, except Sydney, about me now. I had to tell them." He breathed out and said, "They still love me."
"Were your parents around much when you were all growing up?" Beckett then asked though she had a feeling of the answer already.
"Not really, mostly nannies and when Rembert, Yvonne and I were old enough we took care of the younger three," Rudolph said. "Does the Chief want to talk to me?"
"He would like to," Beckett answered with a slight nod of her head. "Do you want me to get him?"
"Your husband can come too," Rudolph replied.
Getting up Beckett walked briskly down the hall to get her husband and Brad and after waving to them she joined her. "He's alright."
"Did you talk to him about what happened?" Brad asked. He was slightly startled when she shook her head to indicate she hadn't but then realized why she'd done that.
"How's he doing emotionally?" Castle asked her.
"He's trying to move on," Beckett answered. "Which I think he'll be able to, it'll just take some time."
They'd reached the room by then and Brad stepped inside first, going straight to Rudolph and shaking his hand warmly. "We're all glad to see you're recovered," he began. "And I hate to talk-"
"No, it's alright," the young man said firmly. "If anything I say helps you to find out who killed Yvonne… I need to tell you."
"Then I think," Brad said before he paused as Castle shook Rudolph's hand then. "You should walk us through what happened from the time you got that glass of juice, don't leave anything out as the details might help us."
Rapidly nodding Rudolph told them, "I had asked for some pink lemonade since I knew we had it."
"Who did you ask?" Beckett said, standing close to him as a kind of support. The déjà vu that hit her then was swift and nearly made her breathless but she tried to push past it and pay attention again to the young man as he spoke.
"It was a maid, Adrienne Mayor," Rudolph replied. "She's worked at the house for five years but… do you want me to tell you about her?" When all three nodded he shook his head and said, "I can't really, she was kind of a loner. Just worked and never gave us any problems. But she got it for me and it looked just like what I asked for but when I tasted it I knew it wasn't lemonade and it had a bitter flavor to it. But that bitterness I only just remembered after; when you said I was poisoned. Did they use what killed my sister?"
"They did," Beckett said as he was looking to her for the answer.
Breathing out harshly Rudolph paused in his story as Brad excused himself to contact some officers and he said, "We really didn't know anything about her."
"We'll look into her," Castle assured him.
"They're heading to the house right now," Brad said as he stepped inside. "But please, continue your story," he said to Rudolph as he sat down next to the chair Castle was in, waiting for the young man to continue with his story once more as he took a sip from the cup of water that Beckett had handed to him.
"There isn't much to tell after that," Rudolph replied. "I got my epi-pen but since my sip wasn't that large I just took it, called my doctor and that was it."
"How long before your confrontation with your father?" Beckett asked him carefully.
Leaning his head back more on the pillow behind it Rudolph said, "Ten minutes? Fifteen? I wasn't paying attention to the time after that."
"So shortly after," Castle said. When the young man nodded he said, "Do you have any idea how he found out about you?"
"No but I'm sure I'll be disowned," Rudolph said. He shrugged and said, "Not that I care I just want to be able to stay in touch with my brothers and sisters."
"If you're-" Castle and Beckett said at the same time. They stopped then and looked at one another before he nodded to her to continue.
"If you're disowned will you lose your position with the firm?" Beckett asked.
"Oh no, I'm untouchable there and I'm sure it'll infuriate my father that he can't throw me out," Rudolph said.
"No one can for that reason," Brad said firmly though he knew why the two had thought that. "Now tell us what happened with your father if you can talk about it."
"Yeah," Rudolph said, moving. He breathed out and said, "I was relaxing in my room after what had happened; as the doctor directed me to do; and he had Leon bring me down." He then became concerned and said, "But don't blame him he was just following my father's orders and-"
"He's the one who called 911," Brad interrupted to reassure the young man. "And directed us to where you were."
Breathing out in relief Rudolph said, "Leon's been with the family for a long time, I trust him. So I went down on my own since I know where my father's study is and he hit me here on the head."
As he motioned to the bruise that had formed on his forehead Beckett said, "Without saying a word?"
"Nothing, he just hit but luckily I saw it and ducked a little," Rudolph replied. "But it still dazed me and I couldn't really fight back. And he just said I was unclean and a disgrace and I wasn't his son anymore."
"You're sure you don't want to press charges?" Castle asked the man carefully.
"No point in drawing things out with him," Rudolph replied, shaking his head. "I just want to leave…"
The doctor was coming in then and Beckett turned to the young man asking, "Are you sure there's no one who wants to hurt you?"
"No, no there's no one I can think of besides him…" Rudolph replied.
"I'm sorry," the doctor said, going over to the bed. "A Mr. Rocco and-"
"Let them in," Rudolph said immediately brightening up. "I'd like to see them."
"Is there anything else you need to discuss with him?" the doctor then directed to Brad.
"Is there anything you can tell us that you may have noticed before you got that glass of juice?" the chief asked.
Rudolph closed his eyes, thinking that over, before he finally opened them and shook his head, "I was in my room, working on sketches." He sighed and said, "I thought I should keep out of sight for the time being."
"And with that being said there'll be an officer outside to watch over you," Brad told him. "Do not leave the room without letting them know."
"I'll meet you," Beckett said. "Tell Rocco and Dally." When the two men had left with the doctor she turned to Rudolph and said, "You need to be careful."
"That's not why you stuck around is it," the young man said simply.
With a slight smile Beckett reached into her jacket pocket and handed him her card saying, "Not just for the case. If there's ever a reason you need to talk I'm here to do so."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Rudolph asked then as he took it.
"My best friend at the police academy was closeted," Beckett replied. "He was gay and it was… hard on him. I became his fake girlfriend because I couldn't stand what he would go through if people knew what I figured out. And one of my best friends is a lesbian who was closeted for a long time herself… it's not fair."
"Oh," Rudolph said, a little startled at the fervency of her voice. "Thanks for the help… you looked like you were going to hurt my father."
"If he was going to hurt you," Beckett replied. She then stood and said, "I'll let Lamont and Fiona come inside now, get some rest so you can leave."
Rudolph nodded and then grabbed Beckett's hand saying expressively, "Thank you, I really mean it I would probably be dead if it wasn't for you."
Nodding Beckett said, "Take care Rudolph."
"Please, you and Mr. Castle and Chief Davis can call me Rudy, I always preferred that Ms. Beckett," the young man replied.
"Alright, just call me Kate and my husband Rick," Beckett said with a slight smile before he let her go.
"Are you sure?" Rudolph asked in surprise.
"We'd prefer it," Castle said from the doorway.
"He's right," Beckett said, looking over at him. "Call if you need to," she urged him. Once the young man had nodded she said goodbye to him and let her husband take her hand to lead her out of the hall. "You don't need to be jealous," she told him, studying him as he was silent then.
"I'm not," Castle told her firmly. He stopped just outside the door once Rocco and Dally went in and said, "Think about it, I bet you he had no real mother in his life and you come and protect him as you've done."
"I knew already," Beckett replied with a slight smile. "And I don't mind it. You?"
"I don't," Castle said quickly. When his wife just studied him again he told her, "It kind of makes me love you more, you'd fight as much for our daughter if you needed to."
Beckett couldn't reply to that though she was touched at the sentiment and she squeezed his hand briefly before they turned to Brad who was walking to them.
"I have the address of the maid, are you coming with or back to the station?" the chief asked the two. He wasn't surprised when they indicated they'd follow and he led the way to the parking lot where his car was. He drove them to a neighborhood near the cook's home and said, "We're about five blocks away from Trainor's home, in case you were going to ask."
"A coincidence," Beckett said simply as she watched while Brad parked the car. "And since the Radcliffs live here in the Hamptons it'd make sense their staff would be near." She was out of the car after her husband and said, "You don't want to make any theories?"
"No," Castle said simply. "There's been enough… just enough going on already," he finished after shaking his head.
"You're doing that less and less," Brad commented as he waved past his car to Gordon and Hill who were pulling up behind him. "Hopefully that doesn't mean the magic of this job is gone."
Castle narrowed his eyes at his friend and glanced to his wife before he turned his attention to the officers coming over to them. "CSU?" he asked.
"A little early for that," Brad replied. "We need her permission to search the place," he finished quickly. "I'm not expecting… what?" he asked as he noticed the file in Gordon's hand.
"Information on Ms. Mayor sir," the officer replied as she handed it over to him.
Looking at the paper on the top Brad sucked in a breath and said, "Is anyone living with her?" At the shakes of both his officers' heads he said to Castle and Beckett, "She has some mental disabilities and she's mute."
"Oh god," Beckett said, taking the file he held out to her. She saw that he was right and then said, "Why-"
"I talked to the head of the maids," Hill said before Beckett could ask the question. "And she'd been moved to the kitchen to help out there after the party."
"Is there anyone else that they might have targeted like Mayor?" Castle asked.
"No just her," Brad said. "Stay behind, we may have to call CSU after all," he said to Hill and Gordon. He then walked over to the front door with Castle and Beckett trailing behind him and said to them, "You're expecting it."
"No we just think it might be," Castle answered as he glanced to his wife, not surprised to see the troubled expression on her face.
Brad nodded and reached out to the doorbell, ringing it before he called out, "Ms. Mayor this is the Hamptons police, open the door."
Beckett wasn't surprised when there was no response the first time, or the second and to the second and third times the chief pounded on the door. "Castle," she said to her husband since he was slightly ahead of her on the porch. Once he was behind her she withdrew her gun and held it at the ready as Brad tested the doorknob. When it opened easily she shared a glance with her husband and then followed the chief inside.
"Clear," Brad said, seeing an office off the foyer.
"Bedroom up ahead," Beckett said, scanning the kitchen as she knew he'd want to go in there first. Once he was doing so she followed him, trying not to hesitate but finding it hard not to as she had a feeling what they'd find once they were there.
Castle, seeing the two were in front of the doorway, groaned and said, "Want me to tell them to call CSU?"
"No I'll go, stay out of the… oh who am I kidding?" Brad started to say as he turned to leave. "You can look but please don't touch."
"We weren't planning on it," Castle replied, watching him go. He turned back to the room and said, "They're trying to hide it."
Making a sound of agreement Beckett went inside first and said, "I'm not sure why they thought we wouldn't suspect them in this murder," looking at the body on the bed. "Shot twice," she said.
"Can you tell the make?" Castle asked, watching her studying the entrance wounds as the maid was laying face down.
"I'd say… Glock but the clothing is making it hard to get the number exactly," Beckett replied before she looked over to the door where Brad was coming in.
"CSU and Thayer are on their way," the chief said. "She left right after she gave the juice to Rudolph."
"Did you talk to just one person or more?" Castle asked.
"Just the woman in charge of the maids, she didn't notice anything wrong with Mayor," Brad answered, looking at the bed with them. "It was her end of shift so she left."
With a nod Beckett said, "I would look at her financials."
"They're already doing it," Brad said simply. "She had no family," he told them. "At least no one alive today, in case you're thinking she wasn't cared for."
"She wasn't cared for now," Castle said. He then heard someone at the front door and turned to see that it was Thayer. "Are we leaving?"
"You two are," Brad said, looking at them.
"Leaving for the day or just for the station?" Castle asked, looking at his wife who was standing next to Thayer.
"The station but very soon I'm going to send you both home," Brad said, looking at his watch.
"Why?" Beckett asked, coming around the bed and to the two men who were waiting by the doorway.
"Because it's going to be grunt work," Brad told her. "Come here," he said, taking her by the arm. He wasn't surprised when she turned to him when they were out in the family room and he noticed she was looking to the kitchen. "I saw already," he said, knowing she and Castle were looking at the kitchen table where the missing bag of mostly absent cyanide was.
"We haven't found the killer yet," Castle spoke though it was mostly said in a kind of monotone.
"And we're unlikely to unless we look completely at the people in the Radcliff's employ," Brad said simply. "Hill," he called to his officer. "Take them back, they're going to look more into our victim here."
"Wait," Beckett said, going back to the doorway of the room. "What was the caliber?"
"9mm," Thayer responded. "And the first shot was here, close range, the second as a kind of insurance she'd be dead."
"Thanks," Beckett told the man before she walked out to the others. "We'll look into that but you know it's likely illegal."
"You of all people know that we still look at it," Brad said. "Is this her way of telling me I'm a jerk?" he directed to his friend.
"You're not a jerk; it's frustration," Beckett replied. "And not aimed at you; come on Rick."
Startled that she'd used his name Castle hurried to follow her to the squad car that Hill had driven there and asked as they were on the way back to the station, "Are you going back?"
"Chief wants me back so I can search with everyone else that needs to," Hill replied.
Beckett glanced at her husband, surprised that he wasn't questioning that more, but turned back to see that they were almost to the station when her cell phone rang. She became concerned it might be her father or mother in law but saw the number was unfamiliar. An uneasy feeling crept up on her and she answered it, "Rudy?"
"M- Kate," Rudolph said on the other end. "Please, my father is trying to take Sydney away you've got to help us, he's trying to keep her but he has no right."
"We'll be there," Beckett said, hanging up the phone. "Turn to the hospital right now," she told Hill.
"What?" the man asked in surprise.
"Turn," Beckett said firmly. Once they had she said to her husband, "That was Rudolph; his father's is trying to take the baby."
"Can he do that?" Castle asked hesitantly.
"I think he's disowned the vic's twin and Rudy himself," Beckett said, looking back at him.
"We'll see what's happening," Castle said, not surprised at her uncertainty.
"I'll be there to represent the law," Hill said as he could see Beckett was looking at him out of the corner of his eye. He soon reached the hospital and parked quickly when he saw her hand on the door. Nearly running after them he had to wonder how the chief was able to keep up with them before they reached the elevator.
Getting out on the third floor Beckett saw that the Radcliff children where in the waiting room with their parents; Rocco and Dally as well with the latter holding Sydney.
"Please, please Samuel just let them take her for the night and we'll get everything set, please," Clementine was begging her husband.
"If you think I'm going to… allow these queers-" Radcliff started to say.
"Mr. Radcliff," Beckett said simply but harshly. When the man looked at her she said, "Your wife has control of the baby and Sydney will be in good hands."
"She's my daughter as well!" Radcliff yelled, setting off the baby.
"Here," Castle said, going to Dally and taking Sydney.
"Yes, take her," Clementine said. She turned to Hill and said, "Could I put my child into their custody?"
"I… hold on," Hill said, looking stunned before glancing at Castle and Beckett.
"Do you think-" he started to say to his wife.
"Yes," Beckett said firmly.
"Chief says it's up to you Mrs. Radcliff," Hill said, watching the woman.
"Just one night," Clementine was begging Castle and Beckett. "I'll talk with my husband," she whispered to the two. "And-"
"We'll take her," Beckett said simply, interrupting her. When the woman sobbed and reached for her hands she stepped away and took the baby from her husband and said, "But she'll be given to her oldest brother tomorrow until we figure out what the hell is going on in your husband's home."
Clementine stepped away and turned her back on Beckett, motioning to her youngest son so he would take the diaper bag for the baby to them.
"I'll sue," Radcliff snarled. "I'll-"
"Samuel! Come on, we'll fight another day," Clementine said, pulling her husband away from them.
"Thank you," Rembert said to the two then. "We're taking the kids at Mother's insistence tonight to the motel. Father's… livid."
"Good idea," Castle commented.
"Here," Beckett said, giving Sydney to him.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Rudolph asked Beckett as he had his sister push his wheelchair to her.
"It's fine," she assured him. "And just for a night. Tomorrow we'll… you'll figure things out."
"I hope," Rembert said. "There should be everything she needs there," he said, running his hand over his sister's head. "Take care of her."
"We will," Castle assured them. He then realized something and said, "Is there a carrier somewhere…"
"Here," Duncan said, running over with it.
"Can you escort them to the hotel?" Beckett asked the officer while she and Castle were getting the baby into the carrier.
"Come on," Wilman nodded to the Radcliffs.
"Did we just agree to babysit tonight?" Castle asked his wife when they were alone with Hill.
"It's nothing new for either of us," Beckett replied, smiling at the baby who was cooing slightly at her. "Come on, when we get to the station I know Brad's going to send us home."
Castle picked up the carrier and they walked out to the squad car where he sat in the back with the baby. He murmured to her comfortingly as she smiled at him and he let her hold his finger before they were at the station.
"This is her?" Brad asked as he'd gone over to the car.
"It is, we're going to be leaving soon," Beckett told him as she was standing next to him.
"Are you sure about this?" Brad then said while they walked over to the station.
"Can everyone stop directing that to me," Beckett said in frustration. "I've had a baby."
"They've never seen you investigating while caring for a baby," Castle pointed out to her.
Beckett rolled her eyes and sighed before she then shook her head telling the men, "We're taking her for the night and I would suggest Martha care for her tomorrow."
"You don't trust her brothers?" Brad asked.
Shaking her head quickly at the chief as Hutchinson came up to them Beckett said with a slight smile, "Everyone knows?"
"They do," the officer said, smiling at the baby before she looked over at her superior. "She had money in her account, a large amount dating back from the beginning of the poisonings."
Freezing at hearing that Beckett said, "Was Rudy's blood tested?"
"It was, we just got the results faxed," Hutchinson replied, handing a paper over to her.
Breathing out Beckett said, "He was poisoned too but slightly less."
"At the same time as his sister," Castle said. He frowned as he looked down at Sydney and said, "I know why they were poisoned."
When her husband looked at her Beckett nodded and said, "I thought the same thing too."
"Because they were gay," Castle said at the same time as his wife.
"A hate crime," Brad said, looking at the baby then as well. "I better call the FBI."
"It could be their father," Beckett called. "And what about Corbin Bell?"
"The time leading up to the poisoning he was in DC," Brad said, turning back to them. "And there's their mother as well."
"Excuse me," Beckett said, taking her phone out of her pocket. She dialed Rudolph's number and when he answered she stepped into the break room, closing the door behind her.
"It could be both of them," Castle told Brad.
"Maybe," he said with a nod. He smiled at Sydney who cooed and said, "The information said three and a half months right?"
"She is," Castle replied.
"So you'll sleep at least," Brad said.
"Mother will watch her," Castle said. When his friend looked up at him he said, "I know her and she'll want to. The girls will be delighted with her."
"It's the father," Beckett said, walking up to them then before she motioned over to Brad's office. Once they were inside she said, "His mother was gone remember?"
Almost swearing and stopping because of the baby Brad said, "Her financials were clear but you're right, she'd left around the beginning for a spa resort."
"To have Sydney," Castle commented.
"To have the baby," Brad echoed. He took a deep breath and said, "I'm sure Radcliff had an accomplice and since we're tracking where everyone; even the kids; were when the poisoning started you two need to get her out of here. This is no place for a baby."
"You'll call," Castle said, looking to Beckett to see if she was okay with that and seeing that she wasn't protesting.
"I always do," Brad said. He heard the phone ring and when he saw the number he growled as he said, "Radcliff. Go; get her out of her and to your home where it's secure."
With a quick goodbye Castle and Beckett were leaving with the baby, Beckett sitting in the back with Sydney, watching her fall asleep.
"What do you think the girls will say?" she asked her husband when they were close to the school.
"They'll be delighted," Castle said. "Eliza especially."
"Julia likes babies too," Beckett said with a slight smile as she lowered her voice.
"Mother will watch her tonight you know," Castle said.
"I know but she needs to suggest it," Beckett told him. "And we have to stop at David and Rebecca's to get a bed for her."
"And formula?" Castle asked.
Looking through the diaper bag Beckett said, "There are bottles but yeah, we need formula."
"Never thought we'd be doing this again," Castle said with a slight smile at his wife as they were stopped at a red light.
"It's for a night," Beckett said simply.
Castle only nodded to that as he was parking outside the school and together they walked up to the high school, making a beeline for the dance studio where their daughters were.
"So I think we have things set," Ms. Grey was saying to Julia, Peter and Martha. "Good ideas class."
"Yeah, great ones," Peter said, looking down at the others as they were all standing in a line.
"Yep, we're gonna have awesome costumes," Julia told them before they were all laughing.
"So let's go over this in order… Hello Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett," Grey said, smiling as the two came in.
At the same time Julia and Eliza caught sight of the baby carrier their father was holding and gasped together before the latter rushed to them. After the teacher nodded to her Julia went over, looking at the baby that was fast asleep.
"Who is she?" Julia finally asked.
"Her name is Sydney and we're taking care of her for just a night," Beckett said. "Now you need to go back to your class sweetie," she told Julia.
"I'm glad you came," the girl said, hugging her tightly before she stood next to her partner.
"Alright so first is the Jive and you'll be dressed in fifties clothing," Grey said. "Next is the Foxtrot and you'll be wearing a dress like your mother's Halloween costume Julia and Peter you'll be in a suit."
"Wait," Beckett said. "Which costume?"
"From last year Mommy," Julia told her quickly. "Not the same but with a skirt like it."
"Very modest," Martha said, peering at Sydney then with a smile on her face.
"Next is the Argentine Tango," Grey said. "And that one you'll have on a black dress but a longer slightly split skirt Julia. Peter-"
"A suit," all the kids said at the same time before they laughed slightly.
"After will be your Waltz and we'll have a sparkly dress in green since we're having you be a performer to go with your song," Grey said.
"Thanks Loni," Julia said to the girl who'd suggested it.
"Next is your Samba and that one you both will be dressed in forties clothing," Grey said.
"What song did you pick?" Castle asked.
"The same one Jennifer and Derek had," Peter replied.
"Justin thought we should be dancing in clothes like that 'cause we never dance like it's the forties," Julia said. She applauded with the others and then said, "The Paso is next."
"Exactly and since we're playing traditional Spanish music for it," Grey began.
"Flamenco!" the kids said together, laughing again.
"Right and you'll be in red Julia, Peter a shirt and pants," Grey told them. "And last will be your Quickstep and you'll be in jumpsuits working on… something."
"I'll be able to get Julia's costumes ready in time," Martha commented, gently rocking the baby carrier.
"Fantastic," Grey said. She turned back to her students and said, "Are you ready to start practice?"
"Yeah," the students said and with that they began to practice the routines that Julia and Peter would be dancing for the competition so they could all dance them and the pair could test the steps.
Watching the rest of the class Beckett kept an eye out for Sydney though eventually she watched Julia as Martha was giving most of her attention to the baby. When Julia was changed and coming back to them she said to her husband, "How are we going to do this?"
"We need the other car," Castle said. "Where's your dad?"
"Right here," Jim said as he was walking into the studio. "Sorry I had a call from the office and they weren't letting me go."
"Do you have to go back Grandpapa?" Eliza asked worriedly.
"No I was able to fix everything," Jim assured her. "Who's this?" he asked when he saw the baby.
"This is Sydney and we're taking care of her tonight," Castle answered.
"It has to do with the case," Beckett murmured to him. "Do you have the other car?"
"We do," Martha answered. "I drove it."
"Then I can run to the market for the-" Beckett started to say as Mari joined them and looked at the baby with the others.
"Can I go with you Mommy?" Julia interrupted.
"Sure," Beckett replied. "We'll get the formula and what we'll make for dinner tonight. Go to the Foster's to drop Mari off…"
"It's okay," the little girl said with a smile. "I don't mind and my mom and dad want me back to play with Dani."
"Get what we need and we'll meet you back home," Beckett said. "But can you two take the baby into the house?"
"Of course we can," Martha said, smiling down at Sydney as the baby was awake and looking up at them.
"Be careful," Castle said, more out of instinct and not because he was too worried about his wife's safety at that moment; knowing she could protect herself and their daughter if she needed to. After Beckett merely smiled at him he watched her leave for the car in the parking lot with Julia before he turned to the others and they gathered everything they needed to get back home.
"Mommy?" Julia asked from the backseat after they were on their way to the market.
"I know sweetie," Beckett said quickly. "And I'll explain but we need to stop driving before I do that."
"Okay," Julia said, settling back against the seat. She thought for a moment and said, "Was she in danger?"
"A little," Beckett replied. She waited for her oldest to continue and when she didn't smiled at her trust of her and continued until she was reaching the market. Parking she turned off the car and said, "Do you mind the walk?"
"No you're going to talk to me?" Julia asked. Her mother nodded in response and she got out of the backseat quickly, taking her mother's hand before Beckett explained what had happened to her. "Oh Mommy," she couldn't help breathe when she'd finished, stopping abruptly. "Why would they do that? Don't they love their kids?"
Beckett sighed and said, "I've never understood it but I think some parents want to control their children, like they seem to be doing. And being gay is something that they were both apparently taught to hate and misunderstand."
"But…" Julia started to say as she frowned.
"It's hard to understand, like I said," Beckett told her, knowing what the girl was thinking already.
"But how can he disown his son?" Julia asked.
"Because he doesn't seem to love him that much," Beckett said.
"And the mom?" Julia asked.
"I don't know," Beckett replied, pausing before they could enter the store. "But I hate them for not trying to keep the family together," she said.
"At least the brothers and sisters are together… except for the baby," Julia said slowly. When her mother started to walk she held her back and said, "Can they stay at our house?"
"I think it's best if we let everyone calm down after today," Beckett said gently. "And wait to see what Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff want to do tomorrow."
"Okay," Julia said though she couldn't stop herself from sounding very unhappy about it. "Wanted to meet Rudy," she mumbled under her breath.
Beckett had heard that but didn't comment on it as someone was greeting them and she wanted to respond.
"What do we need to get?" Julia was asking.
"Some formula and diapers," Beckett said, leading the way to the aisle.
"I thought you were going to get something for dinner?" Julia asked.
"And that but I want to get the baby's things first," Beckett answered as she stopped at the formula. She grabbed the brand she and Castle had used for Eliza and handed it so Julia to place in a bag they used for their market shopping. "And these," she said, handing the girl a box of diapers.
"Are they the right kind?" Julia asked, studying the box. "You know Daddy would make sure."
"They are," Beckett said in amusement. "You can read they're biodegradable."
"Not the whole word," Julia said though she did recognize it. She set it into the bag and took her mother's hand before they walked over to one of the frozen food aisles.
Grabbing a few items there Beckett said as they stood next in front of numerous kinds of pasta, "You never mentioned all the songs you're going to use with those dances."
Smiling as she knew her mother meant what she and Peter would be dancing to for sure Julia said, "I'll wait until I tell everyone."
Noticing the way that her daughter hesitated slightly there Beckett asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Julia said rapidly. "I was just remembering that Peter and I were practicing at lunch."
"Did everyone watch?" Beckett asked, looking at her.
"Yep," Julia replied. "We just practiced some Quickstep steps and then walked around," she explained as she and her mother walked over to the registers. She was surprised when her mother had her stop suddenly and asked, "What is it?"
"Did you write during lunch?" Beckett asked her with a smile.
"I did," Julia said, laughing softly as she wasn't surprised her mother had figured that out.
Beckett was going to say more when her daughter pulled something from the pocket of her uniform skirt and she saw soon after it was some papers. "This is what you wrote?" she asked.
"Yeah it's them going to see who… the case is about first," Julia said, pausing and looking around to see if anyone was near before continuing.
"It's okay," Beckett said gently. "You've never done that before so you might not know. Do you want me to read it? And your daddy?"
"Can you read it first?" Julia asked shyly.
With a tender smile at her daughter Beckett leaned over and kissed her forehead before she said, "Why don't we walk down to the café on the other side and get drinks for everyone?"
"Okay… are you still going to take that walk with Lizzy?" Julia asked as they continued to the front to pay.
"It'll be a short walk but yes," Beckett replied.
Julia waited a little impatiently as her mother paid and finally they were leaving, walking to the café. She had to wait again while her mother got the orders from everyone and when they were sitting inside she watched her read what she had.
Before she could start on the pages Beckett said to her daughter, "You know you might have to wait to really-"
"I put that already Mommy," Julia said rapidly before smiling at her briefly. "I… took one of your books from your office."
"When," Beckett stated instead of asking.
"The other day," Julia replied.
"Before we went to that dance class?" Beckett asked in surprise. When her daughter nodded she said, "You wanted to read the beginning."
"I did," Julia said. "But that's all I read."
"Which book did you take?" Beckett asked.
"The second one," Julia replied.
"Okay, let me read this now and see how you did," Beckett said, holding up the pages before she looked down at them and then read while Julia watched anxiously.
The crash was loud and after everything stopped moving it was quiet, not even the sound of someone breathing changed it. The car was almost destroyed and the body inside was still until the sound of running and broken glass moving broke the silence.
"Okay," Beckett said.
"It's short," Julia said in a rush before her mother could say anything else. "But I don't know what else to write really."
"Maybe what led up to the accident," Beckett suggested.
"Oh… I didn't think about that," Julia replied, sitting back and thinking that over. "It's not that good is it?"
"Considering you're only ten this isn't that bad," Beckett said. "You're a little better with your vocabulary than your daddy wrote when he was eight."
"He started writing when he was that little?" Julia asked in surprise.
"He was," Beckett replied with a quick nod. Their number was called and she had her oldest help her take everything out to the car before she made her way home. "He didn't write anything that could be a story exactly, just scenes that never came together," she then told her daughter.
"Why did he start writing about that stuff?" Julia asked.
"He saw a body," Beckett said.
"When he was that little?" Julia asked. At her mother's nod she said, "Did he have nightmares?"
Beckett nodded and was going to leave it at that before her daughter was speaking again.
"What did he see?" Julia asked. "Mommy," she said then quickly as she saw her mother was opening her mouth to protest she knew. "It won't scare me."
Though she didn't want to Beckett quickly told her daughter the barest details about what her husband had told her. She was stopped at a red light when she was finished and looked back at her daughter. "What?" she asked as she saw Julia looked to be considering something.
"He had a nightmare about Gram and then 'lexis you said," the girl began. "Has he had that dream about you?"
"He did," Beckett replied, driving again. "A few times but that's because he's afraid he won't be able to protect me."
"Has he had that about me and Lizzy?" Julia asked when they were near home.
"No, he never did," Beckett said. "That doesn't mean-"
"He doesn't have to worry about us like you; since you're parents with him," Julia interrupted.
"True," Beckett said with a slight smile.
Studying her mother Julia said, "Did a man ever do that before?"
"What do you mean?" Beckett asked, glancing over her shoulder at her.
"The guys you were with before Daddy," Julia explained.
"No," Beckett said simply as she waited for the gate to open.
"Are you glad that he's like that?" Julia asked.
Turning the best she could to her daughter Beckett said, "Why are you asking?"
"Just making sure," Julia said with a shrug.
"I don't mind it," Beckett replied. "But sometimes he can forget I don't need to be protected all the time."
"That's because he loves you," Julia said.
"Where did you learn to talk like that sweetie?" Beckett asked teasingly as she turned off the car since they were in the garage.
"It's just what's true," Julia said, getting out then. She went to the driver's seat and said, "You-" before the door opened to the house and she turned to see who it was. "Peter?" she said in shock, seeing her partner there.
"Hi," the boy said with a slight smile. "Sorry Ms. Beckett, Mr. Castle stopped me and my mom walking home and said if I wanted to I could practice with Julia today."
"That's alright," Beckett said with a smile. "Go ahead inside sweetie; let them know we're home."
With a nod Julia went in and hurried over to the family room where she found her father was with Eliza. "Where's the baby?" she asked.
"Sleeping in your gram's room," Castle said, looking up. "Thank you for our drinks," he said, taking the coffee cup she held out to him. "Did I surprise you?" he asked.
"Yep, where can we practice?" Julia asked, hugging him once her hands were free.
"Here," Beckett said, standing in the doorway.
"In Mother's room," Castle said before his wife could ask.
"Is she there?" Beckett said.
"She is, sewing," Castle replied.
"I'll be in the kitchen," Beckett told him, showing him the bag she held.
"J- oh Jim, great," Castle said when he saw his father in law walk in. "Can you watch them?"
"Of course," Beckett's father said as he watched Eliza hurry over to him.
After glancing back at the doorway to see Julia and Peter talking while Jim and Eliza watched Castle went over to the kitchen where his wife was putting everything away. "So the walk?" he asked.
"We'll be leaving as soon as I'm finished here," Beckett said. She then looked up at him and said, "Did you get anything from Brad?"
"The same text that you got," Castle replied. "Do you think that would help?"
Beckett, finishing setting the bag of pasta on the counter last, thought for a moment about the list of some of the staff that had been there at the time of the first poisonings and said, "If he used anyone else to poison the vic and Rudy then maybe. But it depends on if they'll actually want to talk."
"Again if anyone at the home has poisoned the two," Castle said. He watched her reaching into her pocket and said, "What is it?" as he saw a startled expression on her face.
"It's Julia's story," Beckett replied with a smile. "I didn't read the whole thing."
"Her story?" Castle asked eagerly, stepping over to her quickly.
"Hold on," Beckett said, placing her hand on her husband's chest. "She wants me to read this first," she explained. When he looked a little hurt she told him, "She's a little nervous about you reading this."
"But I wouldn't be mean, she's only ten," Castle said. "And she's our little girl."
"She is but she trusts me slightly because she knows I'm not all that sure of myself writing still," Beckett said. "Go with them."
"Mind if I stay?" Castle asked. When she just sighed he kissed her cheek and said, "Thank you," before he watched her unfolding the pages.
Beckett placed the page she'd already read at the bottom of the sheaf and then started to read once more.
Walking to her desk Grayson sat across from her partner and looking to her said, "Did you hear?"
"Of course," Eaton replied. "The coffee machine is still broken."
"What? She wrote something funny? Let me see," Castle said interestedly at the smile on his wife's face.
"Stop," Beckett told him. "And she has interesting speech in this."
"Why can't I read it," Castle said in a mock whining tone.
"When the writer says you can you will," Beckett said firmly. She wasn't surprised when he sighed and slumped against the island they were next to and was about to go back to reading when she heard a voice calling to her.
"Mommy?" Julia said, walking to them.
"Yes?" Beckett asked. "What's wrong?"
"No, y-you can let Daddy read th-that," Julia told her, not looking at her father but instead at her feet which were bare.
"Sweetheart," Castle said. "Come here." When she'd reached him he wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could and said, "Thank you so much."
"It's not that good," Julia replied shyly though she was smiling.
"I wasn't that good when I first started and I was younger than you," Castle said with a shrug.
"That's what Mommy said," Julia said. "So you can read it."
"Come with me," Beckett said then, taking her husband's free hand and pulling her over to the office where she closed the door. "You can read it out loud love."
Castle nodded and then took the papers before he went back to the first one saying, "Since your mom read this I'll go over it quickly in my head." When Julia nodded herself he turned his attention to the writing telling her, "Your hand is much better than mine at that age; I was awful."
"Just read Daddy," Julia said, giggling softly.
While Castle was doing that Beckett said, "What about Peter?"
"He's trying to get the songs with Grandpapa before we practice," Julia said.
"One thing I should ask," Castle said, having finished. "What about homework?"
"Some math that I did already," Julia replied. "Well, Peter and I did that during the break at class."
"Nice," Castle asid. "And there I'm talking about your writing," he told her as he held up the pages. "Short but I'm going to guess that you're not sure what else to write."
"Mommy said I could put what happens before that," Julia told him.
"Exactly, you have to build up to that moment," Castle replied.
"I forgot to tell you," Beckett then said as she was reminded of it. "She took our second book from here," she said, motioning to it on the shelf near them. "To read our prologue."
"Good idea," Castle said. "If you need to learn, learn from the best." He smiled when his wife playfully slapped his shoulder with the back of her hand and he said, "Let me get to what else you've got now."
"Let us," Beckett reminded him.
"Right," Castle said, going to the next page. "How far did you read?" he asked her.
"To the second sentence," Beckett replied easily.
Reading that Castle smiled and said, "Nice, you've been around your mom and I too long."
"I thought that would be trouble," Julia said, smiling though she was a little bashful.
"Now to where we're at," Castle said before clearing his throat. "The call came in to Grayson and… you might-"
"Don't correct her Rick," Beckett interrupted him. "We'll be here all night."
"Okay," Castle said before he turned back to the paper in hand. "and Eaton looked over at her partner as she answered the phone, talking briefly to the dispatch on the other end. Nice," he said quickly to her before continuing. "'Do we have a body?' Eaton asked."
"I heard you say that before," Julia said in protest when her parents looked at her.
"It works," Castle said, looking to his wife.
"It does," Beckett said. "Keep going."
"That's it for that page," Julia said quickly.
"Just this one?" Castle asked as he saw that there was only one left.
"I wrote that today," Julia said. She thought for a moment and then said, "Can I write stuff down to plan it?"
"Sure, I didn't do that because I find it better to write as we go," Castle said. "But of course your mom likes to do some planning."
"If not you'd drive me crazy," Beckett said simply. "Read so we can go do what we wanted to."
Castle turned his attention back to the paper and read, "They looked into the car on either side and saw where the body had been in the broken glass. 'Do you want to check on the method,' Grayson asked Eaton."
"I don't know that word," Julia said quickly. "And I was eating so I didn't have a lot of time to write."
"Maybe you should wait until you get home before you write," Beckett said. "But you're doing okay right now."
"I don't know how some things work though," Julia said. "Who takes the body and looks at it? I know it was Auntie Lanie when you were in the city but what was she called?"
"The Medical Examiner," Castle replied. "We call them the ME."
"Is that what Dr. Thayer is?" Julia asked as she took her papers back.
"He is," Beckett replied. "And if you have questions just ask." She was taken aback when the girl frowned at her and she asked, "What?"
"If I ask you, you should answer," Julia said sternly. "I'm not a baby Mommy."
Castle winced slightly as he knew she was right and he looked over at Beckett to see her reaction.
"It depends on what you ask," Beckett said. "And you're not a baby but you're still my little girl."
"I know," Julia said. "Are we going?" she asked as her mother took her hand.
"Yes we need to," Beckett said. "Are you going to take care of dinner?"
"If you don't mind me making it while you practice," Castle directed to their oldest.
"Go ahead," Julia said with a smile before they stepped out to the hall and made their way over to the family room. "Did you get the songs?" she asked her partner.
"We did," Peter replied. "Are you ready?"
"And set," Julia said with a smile. "Bye Mommy, Lizzy."
"We get to go?" Eliza asked with a gasp.
"If you're ready," Beckett told her, holding her hand out to her. They stayed where they were though, watching the two dancers practice their Quickstep before Peter made a mistake and they began to talk. "Come on," she told Eliza quietly. She waved to her father and as they went over to the foyer to get the dogs' things she wasn't surprised Castle was following.
"I'm escorting you to the steps on the patio," he said when his wife looked at him. "Okay… stepping down to the grass." She kept looking at him and he said, "The edge of the sand?"
"Better," Beckett said, not surprised when their youngest began to giggle. She put the harnesses on the dogs with his help as Eliza watched them and when they were set she turned to her husband.
"I can't go out now?" Castle asked, pretending to cry.
"I have to leave?" Eliza asked as she watched her parents step to each other.
"No," Beckett said, wondering why she'd forgotten their daughter and the dogs. She turned to Castle and said, "Before we head out." And with that they kissed gently though they lingered slightly and then parted. She smiled and murmured to him, "Tonight?"
"Yeah," Castle said, seeing she was looking down at her phone. "What is it?" he asked.
"Rudy," Beckett replied. She read the text and then sighed saying, "His father's trying to call him."
"We have to find something," Castle said as he watched the way her demeanor changed so swiftly. "Someone at that house will tell us what happened."
"Maybe," Beckett said with a sigh. "Alright, let's go," she then directed to Eliza after she'd sent what Rudy had texted her to Brad.
"I'm ready," the little girl said quickly.
Taking Rita for his wife Castle followed the two and Macca outside and at the point where the grass became sand he said, "I'll check on Sydney when I get back inside."
"Thank you," Beckett replied with a slight smile. She took his kiss on her cheek before she took Rita and they then left to walk down to the beach.
Watching them go Castle sighed, hoping Beckett would be alright after spending some time with Eliza. He made a mental note to ask her again what had happened that she'd been trying to forget earlier. With the two out of sight he turned to the house and went up the steps before he started to head for the stairs when he saw his mother coming down them. "She's up?" he asked.
"She is and famished," Martha said since the baby was crying.
"I'll get the bottle," Castle replied, hurrying down the hall to the kitchen.
"Why is there a baby here?" Peter was asking Julia as they watched Jim join the others down the hall.
"It's because of her dad, he's really mad because his son is… gay," she answered, hesitating on that as she'd heard her parents say another word talking about the man.
"Oh… but why would the baby-" Peter started to say.
"The brothers and sister are all trying to go," Julia interrupted. "So they're gonna keep her here until tomorrow."
"Should we go back to practicing?" Peter asked as they saw Castle was at the stove.
"Yep, good thing we did our homework," Julia said, going to her grandfather's phone on the table.
"They're practicing?" Martha asked when she heard the music begin.
"They are, which they'll need," Castle said slightly absently before he handed the bottle to her.
"It's been some time since I've done this," Martha said.
Castle smiled as he washed his hands; knowing she was joking since she'd fed Dani Foster when she'd been younger; and said, "How is she doing?"
"Just fine," Martha said, watching Sydney. "Are you going to be making dinner?"
"Right now or else I'd be doing that myself," Castle replied.
Studying her son Martha asked, "Who's idea was it to take the baby?"
"Kate's," Castle replied. He glanced at his mother as he was filling a pot with water and said, "I think she was honestly scared for her well being. Also she didn't want the baby to end up with Child Services."
"No surprise there," Martha said, looking at Jim who had returned to the kitchen. "Has she always wanted children?"
"I don't think always," Beckett's father replied. "More when she was older but after her mother…"
"I'll bring the glasses of water Jim," Castle said, telling from the way his father in law looked over at the family room doorway that he wanted to go back. When he was gone he said to his mother, "Julia-"
"I realize; she did help them both," Martha replied. "Speaking of which, how is Kate doing after what happened to the Radcliff boy?"
"Something happened to her and Patrick," Castle said. "In the past but she won't tell me about it."
"It must be terrible then," Martha said.
"I had the same thought," Castle replied. He took the bottle when Sydney was finished and said, "I'm going to talk to her as soon as I can, she needs to talk."
"At least this proves I did teach you something raising you," Martha said, burping the baby.
"You did," Castle said before she left once Sydney was settled on her shoulder. He then called out to her before she was too far away, "Thanks for that by the way Mother. And I know Kate would say the same; she appreciates it."
"That's why I taught you," Martha said simply before heading into the family room.
Castle nodded before he was distracted as his phone shook on the island and he grabbed it, seeing it was another text from Brad. Reading the message he breathed out when he saw the list of last names of more staff members at the Radcliff home and read over them rapidly. It was then he comprehended they were far from finished as another text with even more names joined the first and their investigation into the multiple poisonings and murders doubled instantly.