We had an email address, it wasn't much, but it was something. We had solved cases on a lot less than that. We managed to trace it to an Internet chat room and then we got stuck rooting through all of their customers and their aliases.
After two weeks sifting through conversations, profiles, and search history we found suspects.
It was no shock, after what we found out about them, that these people were keeping their identities a secret.
We had Hastings and her partner stake out the place waiting for our most likely suspects.
I had planned on going on that stake out, but Ryan had showed up with Amber at the precinct.
Castle was back at my side having finished the chapters he owed black pawn. The baby made him go all domestic and smiley.
When Castle got too close Ryan moved Amber's stroller away from him. "Jenny doesn't want anyone getting her sick!"
Castle rolled his eyes. "Didn't you bring her so we could meet her?"
"Yeah," he said, a little unsure of himself, "but…"
Jenny came over and checked on Amber ten times before we finally made it out of the precinct to get some lunch. It had been Castle's idea to get Ryan out of the house. He had been concerned that Ryan might go crazy cooped up for too long. I wanted to see him because I missed him, but I also wanted to talk to Jenny and see if she had told Ryan that Rick and I had gotten married and whether he knew not to tell Espo.
Half way through the lunch Jenny got up to use the restroom. I excused myself as well planning on talking to her. I hung out in front of the mirror pretending I was fixing my hair. When she came up I turned to her.
"Did you tell Ryan?" I asked. There was a great deal of fear in my voice, more than there ought to be.
"You really that afraid someone is going to find out?"
"It's about his image, his book sales."
"Keep telling yourself that." She said smiling.
I frowned. It was.
"I told Ryan, but he already knew. Apparently Espo is clueless though and Ryan said he wouldn't say anything. History repeating itself."
"What do you mean?"
"Kevin was the first to find out you guys were dating when you were keeping it a secret and the first to realize you and Castle has gotten hitched." She smiled. "The good thing about Kevin's detective skills means I get the facts before everyone else does."
I placed the palms of my hands against my cheeks, for some reason I was blushing. What did I have to feel embarrassed about?
We walked back out to the table and sat down. Rick and Ryan eyed the two of us like we had just been exchanging secrets and they wanted to know what they were.
It was kind of ironic since Espo should have been the suspicious one, but he was making goo goo eyes at Amber and talking to her in an unnaturally high-pitched tone. Amber was the perfect distraction for Rick and I, no one would be looking for our secrets with Ryan's kid being so adorable and she was really cute.
Unexpectedly Jenny picked her up and placed her in my arms. I tried to protest, buy Jenny insisted. It was strange considering the fact that earlier she hadn't wanted anyone to get too close and now she was as close as she could get.
The kid wriggled trying to get comfortable. She eventually settled and just looked up at me. Jenny leaned back in her chair admiring her little girl. Ryan shook his head back and forth and then I spotted Rick starring. It was that look again.
Espo looked at Amber, across at me, and back at Rick and something clicked in him. He looked up at the ceiling as if he was mentally smacking himself for being so stupid.
The waitress came up to the table. "How are you guys doing? Need anything else?" She leaned in a little. "She is so cute, how old?"
I just starred up at the waitress blankly.
Jenny answered. "She's four weeks old."
"That little one of yours is adorable. Let me know if you guys need anything."
I handed her back over to Jenny.
"She thought she was yours." At first Jenny thought it was funny then she looked like she might cry. "I thought she looked like me."
Ryan sighed. "She does, spitting image."
It sounded like Ryan had been saying this a lot the past month.
Jenny sniffled but held it together. "Sorry guys."
"There's nothing to be sorry about." Espo said smoothly. He looked at me, "Unless you guys have something you need to tell me."
"Well…" Castle said.
I gave him the look.
"Kate's making such a terrible face that I'm not allowed to speak."
I thought at first that he'd keep quiet, but Castle was one to find ways around the rules, push limits to get what he wants. Our being together was proof of that.
Castle tapped just his left hand ring finger against the table. Everyone watched him do this. The shared smiles that spread around the table even affected me. We should have done this a long time ago.
They all looked at me to see my reaction. Rick had told them without my permission. I still glared at Rick, but I tapped my ring finger against the table too. Espo and Ryan started cheering causing everyone to stare.
I felt relieved that we had finally told them. The only one that didn't know now was Gates; that was still a conversation that I did not want to have.
I didn't want Rick to get kicked off the team. Eventually we'd have to face her, but not yet.