The following morning she sits at her kitchen counter, on a bar stool. She looks at the pile of papers in front of her, and then she looks over at the person sitting next to her.

"It's really weird having you here," she admits.

Victoria looks over at her, through the glasses she's wearing, "I just thought that you would feel more comfortable doing this here, instead of the precinct."

"I am, but you're still my boss," she points out.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Kate nods.

"How long?"

Beckett furrows her brow, "How long has he been missing?"

Gates shakes her head, "No I read the report. That isn't what I meant."

"How long, what?"

"Have you known?"

"Known what?"

"I know that the fifth anniversary of his abduction was a little over a week ago, but I have a feeling that isn't why you chose to reveal this to me, to anyone."

"I guess that I don't know what you're asking me."

"You know how much I like plausible deniability."

"Yes, sir," she nods.

"So I would prefer not to come right out and ask it," Gates clarifies.

"I have no idea what you're trying to ask me."

Gates cocks an eyebrow, "Really? You are a smart girl. You know exactly what I am trying to get at."

"I do?"

"There is a reason that you feel a sense of urgency to find him, other than the anniversary, isn't there?"

"Yes," Kate confirms.

"And despite the fact that you don't want to disclose what it is to me, I want you to know that I know."

Kate frowns, and furrows her brow, "You do?"

"And I realize that you haven't told anyone, not even Castle, which I have to say, is rather surprising."

"I haven't told anyone, you're right."

"So how long?"

"Does it matter?"

"Not really, I just want to know for my own curiosity. I have the feeling that it is close to the anniversary date of his abduction."

"Yes."

"You have admitted nothing to me, so that if asked, I know nothing," she smiles, in satisfaction.

"Why do you care?"

"You're a good cop. I would hate for personal conflicts to ruin your career."

"Me too."

"You should tell Castle."

"Can we just focus on this?" She points to the files in front of her.

"How are things between the two of you right now? I sense some tension between you."

"I don't want to talk about that. Can just we focus on finding Dominick?"

Victoria nods, "Yeah. What did you find out about the car parked outside of your house that day?"

"That it was incinerated by whoever stole it."

"They never figured out who stole it?"

"No."

"And who was the owner?"

"Pam Brennan."

"Do you recognize the name?"

"No."

"The address?"

"No."

"Why do you think someone took your son?"

"They did."

"For what reason? What was the motive?"

"Revenge," Kate answers.

"You're a detective, obviously you have made some enemies over the years, but what if it isn't about revenge?"

"A crime of opportunity?"

"What if it wasn't about you at all?"

She arches an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"What if it was about your son?"

"You think it was a pedophile?"

"I am just suggesting that maybe they didn't take him for the reasons that you think they did."

"I just want to find him. I don't care why someone took him. I just want him back."

"I spoke to a contact in the FBI, it turns out the lead investigator on the case died not long after the investigation. It was about three months after Dominick disappeared."

"You think that there is a connection?"

"I talked to his widow. She said that the autopsy ruled it natural causes. They insisted he died of a myocardial infarction."

"She didn't buy it?"

"She thought that he was murdered."

"By who?"

"She didn't know. She just said that he was anxious."

"Did he tell her about what?"

"He said a case, but he wouldn't give her anymore details."

"We should go talk to his partner, maybe he knows something."

"Maybe he did it," Victoria suggests.

Victoria takes a seat on a park bench next to a man wearing a black suit. He wears an earwig in his ear as he watches kids play on the playground. She flashes her badge. The man who sits on the bench next to her is in his mid forties. He is tall, and muscular. He has brown hair, and matching colored eyes. He looks like a g-man. Gates clears her throat.

"Mister Porter, I am Captain Gates with the NYPD."

"Ma'am I can't help you."

"I am here regarding a case that you worked five years ago. A disappearance of a little boy. His name was..."

He cuts her off, "Dominick Beckett. It was his second birthday."

"You remember?"

"Like it was yesterday."

"What did it have to do with your partner's untimely demise?"

"Everything."

"Did you kill him?"

"No, but someone did," he answers, never making eye contact.

"Who?"

"The person who arranged to have Dominick abducted."

"And who was that?"

"I wish that I knew."

"What do you know?" She arches her eyebrow.