Many commented that a lawyer should never bring a witness to the stand with out deposing them first. Let's see why that is so important
Never ask a question that you don't already know the answer to
Castle spins around in his chair and looks at Kate who now has a look on her face like she has just been hit by a truck. This is not anything she was expecting. She stands up and walks to the witness stand where the court reporter swears her in and then tells her to be seated
The attorney looks over his notes then begins the questioning
"Ms. Beckett, what is your occupation?"
"I am a homicide detective for the city of New York police department"
"So you investigate murders?"
"Yes"
"Have you ever investigated a murder in partnership with Mr. Castle?"
"Yes, a few"
"So. More than one?"
"More than one, Yes"
"How long have you known Mr. Castle?"
"About six months"
"When did you two first meet?"
"A copy cat murder occurred using one of his books as the model. We asked if he would assist and he did"
"So the killer did the crime as if he were the character in the book?"
"Yes"
"Then what other cases did he assist on?"
"The death of the twins' parents was the next time he assisted"
"So he is DIRECTLY involved in that crime?"
"As a consultant, yes. We were at his vacation home in the Hamptons when the Everson's were found dead in the city"
Trammell turns and faces Beckett. "So you were with Mr. Castle at his place when the crime occurred?"
"Myself and two other detectives, their dates and our captain and his wife. There were seven of us all total"
"OH. So you had not gone to his place to be with him?"
"No. As a matter of fact, none of us really cared for Castle at that time."
"Any why were you there again?"
"He had invited all of the detectives to come up for the July 4th weekend we all decided it was the polite thing to do"
Trammell acts as if he is thinking. "All right then. You were all there in the Hamptons, the Everson's are murdered. And then what?"
"While Castle stayed to deal with arrangements for the couple's funeral and help the twins the detectives came back to the city to start on the investigation into the deaths"
"Well then how did Mr. Castle help with the investigation if he were not here?"
"After the funeral, he devoted a great deal of his time to putting together what had happened"
"But he is NOT a police detective. How was he able to solve the crime?"
"Castle thinks outside the box. He does not follow a straight road ahead. He looks for the crooks and turns before he finds the solution to what happened"
It is becoming obvious to everyone in the room that Beckett's emotions are getting the best of her when it comes to Castle. Her body language and tone of her voice is giving away the fact she really has strong feelings for the writer. Of course that is the plan of the attorney. She has played right into his hands. He is getting ready to spring his trap.
"Detective Beckett. Are you and Mr. Castle a couple?"
Kate looks at the lawyer, takes a deep breath and answers "We are dating"
"Ms. Beckett! Are you and Mr. Castle a couple? Yes or no?"
"Yes we are a couple"
"How long have the two of you been in a relationship?"
"We started early July, so about four months"
"Ms. Beckett, are you in love with Castle?"
Kate was not really ready to answer that question especially in a court room under oath
"Detective? Please answer the question. Are you in love with Mr. Castle?"
The edges of Kate's lips turn up ever so slightly "Yes. I am"
"Ms. Beckett you have seen the newspaper photographs, the magazine articles describing the escapades of this playboy gad about town. Why in the world would you, a well trained firmly grounded individual, fall in love with a man with that reputation?"
Beckett takes a deep breath before answering "The man in the photograph on the back dust cover and the one who shows up at the book parties is not the man sitting here today"
She looks directly at Rick "The man I fell in love with takes wonderful care of his mother, loves and protects his daughter and is currently tasked with the guardianship of two teenaged girls, that are not his, but he feels the responsibility as if they were his own. That is the man I love"
This answer gives the lawyer the leverage he wanted
"You are telling me that Mr. Castle feels very protective about the girls as if they were his own?"
"That is what I said, yes"
"Then why would he place these two minor children in a situation that is less than stable and let them live in an environment filled with debauchery?
Kate is totally taken back by the accusations being leveled at Castle
He has let his comments sink in then
"OK detective. You have said that you have been in this relationship for four months. And this is about the same amount of time the minor children Sherri and Suzie Everson have been living with Mr. Castle. Is that correct?"
"Correct"
Trammell is facing his client and smiles as if to let his client know that he is getting ready to lower the boom on her
"During that time that these two non family foster children have been living with the Castle family, how many times have you spent the night with them?"
"With the twins? UH. I watched them twice I think. Castle was on a book signing and Martha was in the Hamptons once and the other she had gone to Connecticut to visit a fellow actress. So I strayed there with the girls overnight"
With a tinge of anger in the voice Trammell re asks the question
"Ms. Beckett, you know exactly what I am asking. How many times did you sleep over at the Castle's loft with Mr. Castle and the twins were also there? I will give you time to add up the numbers if you need to"
"No time is needed. I have NEVER spent the night WITH Castle"
The attorney stops cold then turns toward Beckett "You mean you never spent the night at his place? So then how many times had he spent the night at your place?"
"Same answer counselor. NEVER"
"Does your answer mean that you left and went home before nightfall or he did?"
"No. I have never slept in Richard Castle's bed. He has never spent the night in my bed"
"I will ask then where do you go? His place in the Hamptons or some motel?"
"Neither"
"Detective! I wish to remind you that you are under oath. Are you telling this court that you and Richard Castle who consider yourselves in a relationship and you just admitted that you love? That you two have never had sexual relations with each other?"
"That is EXACTLY what I am telling you"
Castle's attorney looks across to his client "I hope he closes his mouth before a bug fly's in. I think his plan just blew up in his face"
It is everything Rick can do to not fall off his chair laughing
Trammell turns to the judge "Your honor, permission to treat this witness as hostile"
Mr. Trammell! She is your witness. I will not allow you to put on a circus show in my courtroom. Either finish you questioning or pass the witness. I will suggest that since the answers were not what you were expecting then you keep your mouth shut"
He steps back to the desk and is visibly shaking "Pass the witness"
"Mr. Andrews, your witness" the judge states
"Thank you, Your Honor"
"Detective you stated earlier that Mr. Castle had some involvement in solving the murders of Mr. And Mrs. Everson. Correct?"
"Yes he did"
"You said he was able to do things differently than police officers. Can you give me an example of this type thinking?"
"Yes, I think I can. In this particular case the theft of several million dollars worth of electronics from a warehouse was connected to the murders. Instead of looking for a break in or stealing by taking materials out, Castle determined the materials never arrived in the first place. No police office had thought of that happening"
"You might say he looked at the theft backwards?"
"That would be correct"
"Very good detective. What anything else was discovered in his investigation?"
"There was. There were drugs being delivered from the warehouse and currently the narcotics division are trying to make some connections but the operations manager Sam Henderson is not being very co operative"
With the announcement of the name of Cindy's brother, the lawyer for the Longs "I object you r honor. This has nothing to do with our case today"
"Over ruled. You opened this door. They are just driving the truck trough it."
Trammell stands. Up "Your Honor can I get a short recess to discuss some case issues with my client"
The judge looks at the clock "We will break for lunch. Be back here at 2:00" He strikes his gavel.
Kate comes down from the stand, rushes to grab Castle and he pulls her out into the hall and around the corner to a small alcove away from the main traffic.
"Katherine Beckett! You said up there that you love me. Do you really?"
"When I said it I was under oath. I had to tell the truth"
"Yes you were. Well, under oath or not I love you too"
At 2:00 o'clock the plaintiff table is empty and Castle and his attorney are waiting patiently for the judge to enter. Beckett is sitting directly behind Rick. Esposito, Ryan, Lanie, Jenny are one row behind. Martha and Alexis with the twins in between Kate and Alexis
When the judge does enter, he does so with his usual pomp, the judge sits down at the bench then looks out to the empty table.
"It appears that your opposition has decided to take the high road. Mr. Andrews do you have a motion for this court?"
"Yes your honor. I make a motion to dismiss the custody counter claim filed by Cindy and Herbert Long"
"So ordered. Any other requests?"
"Yes Your Honor. I make a motion that the request of Mr. Richard Castle to be granted the adoption of the two minor children as listed on the original petition also be granted"
"Also so ordered. The two minor children are now the legal children of Mr. Richard Castle from this day forward. Congratulations Mr. Castle. I would say take good care of them, but I already know you will"
There is one last chapter then we can close this story
Also a small point of clarity.
I do know that there are no surprise witnesses in US courts. Each attorney MUST post a witness list for the other
Witnesses are issued a subpoena so they know when to be there.
But, what's the fun in that?
I like my way better