Chapter 28
Johanna Beckett let out a frustrated sigh as once more she had reached her daughter's voicemail. She had already left a couple of messages to which she had so far received no response. She killed the call and put away the phone, there was no point in leaving another message.
Johanna realised that the cab had come to a halt. Looking out the window she saw that she had arrived out the front of her daughter's apartment building. Opening her purse she took the money and paid the cab driver.
"Thank you." She said with a smile before she got out.
"Have a nice evening, missus." The driver called out before driving off.
Entering the building Johanna waved to the man sitting at the front desk. She had been here many times that no one questioned her. They knew who she was. The man smiled back.
"Evening, Mrs Beckett." He said.
Normally Johanna would have paused by the front desk to say a quick hello but tonight she headed straight for the stairs ignoring the elevator.
Johanna walked up the stairs to the floor where her daughter's apartment was located. She could have taken the elevator but chose the stairs instead. Three flights of stairs was not all that much of a climb and it was faster than waiting for the elevator as she had discovered in the past.
Johanna was trying not to show it but she was a little concerned for Kate. Kate was supposed to meet her for drinks after work tonight but had not shown up nor had she had called to cancel. She had called several times only to get Kate's voice mail. Her texts were not answered. In the end Johanna had called the precinct where she learned that Kate had gone home early. Rather than going home Johanna decided to drop by Kate's if for nothing else than to allay her concerns.
Stepping out onto the third floor Johanna paused to catch her breath. Practically running up three flights of stairs had winded her a little. It was a none too subtle reminder that she was not as young as she used to be. Ignoring that reminder Johanna started down the corridor towards Kate's apartment.
The elevator announced its arrival on the floor with a single ring. Johanna saw the doors of the elevator slide open and a delivery man emerge carrying with him a large rectangular white cardboard box. The delivery man turned and walked up to Kate's front door.
"Excuse me." Johanna called out as she approached. "Is that a delivery for Kate Beckett?"
The delivery man turned to Johanna.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I can take that for you." Johanna offered with a smile.
The delivery man considered the offer for a moment before he nodded his head.
"Can you sign for it, ma'am?"
"Certainly."
The delivery man produced an electronic pad and got Johanna to scribble her signature on the screen with a stylus. With that task done he handed the box over.
"Thank you." Johanna said.
The delivery man nodded his head and headed for the elevator.
Johanna stood in front of Kate's door looking down at the box she held in her hands. She wondered what it contained. She studied it for a moment. The box was not heavy that was one thing she noticed. Looking at the dimensions of the box a smile rose on her face as she realised what this box contained. There was a folded note on the lid of the box.
Curious to see who had sent the box and what it contained, she looked at the note. Her smile deepened a little. The note contained a line from a Disney film and was unsigned. Shifting the box onto one hand she rang the doorbell with her other hand. A few moments later the door was opened by Dr Lanie Parish.
"Mrs Beckett." Lanie said with some surprise.
"Hello, Lanie." Johanna replied as she stepped into the apartment.
Before Johanna had a chance to ask what the Medical Examiner was doing there, the two women heard a loud frustrated shout emanate from the direction of the bed room. Johanna glanced at Lanie and shot her a questioning look.
"A major crisis over what to wear." Lanie explained, trying hard not to smile. "Kate is going to a black tie fund raising event."
"Oh, I see." Johanna said, nodding her head.
Johanna followed Lanie into Kate's bedroom. Johanna immediately saw the heap of clothes strewn across the bed. It was easy to figure that those clothes had been discarded as inappropriate for a formal black tie affair.
Johanna shifted her gaze and found her daughter standing in front of her open wardrobe wrapped in only a white towel. Her hair was still wet from a very recent shower. Kate was going through the clothes still hanging in the wardrobe and though she had heard their arrival she was too busy trying to find something to wear to turn around.
Johanna could not help but be amused at the sight of her daughter. This must be important, she thought to herself. Normally Kate did not go these kinds of lengths to find something to wear. She had always had a knack finding something to wear that was appropriate for the occasion.
"Who was at the front door?" Kate asked, finally.
"Just me, honey." Johanna replied.
Kate turned around quickly and was surprised to find her mother standing there. Then she blanched as she remembered that she had a date with her mother.
"Oh my God, Mom. I'm sorry." Kate said. "I completely forgot."
"I gathered as much." Johanna hide the relief she felt behind a smile.
"I'm sorry."
Johanna placed the big white box on Kate's bed and then walked over to where her daughter was standing and quickly hugged her.
"It's ok." Johanna told her.
"No, I should have called." Kate insisted. "But this case..."
"I understand, darling." Johanna said as she stepped back. "So you're going to a fancy ball?"
Kate bit on her lip and nodded her head. A moment later she let out a frustrated sigh. Johanna saw panic and anger warring on her daughter's face.
"You know what he's trying to do?" Kate said casting a glance at Lanie. "He's trying to humiliate me."
"Who's trying to humiliate you?" Johanna asked, even though she knew exactly who 'he' was.
"Castle." Kate spat.
"Why would he do that, darling?"
"He managed to get two tickets to this fund raising ball for the Metropolitan American Dance Theatre and he's invited me as his plus one."
"And this is part of the case you're investigating?" Johanna asked. Kate had informed Johanna about the case when they had spoken a couple of days back.
"Yeah."
"So what's the problem?"
"He's trying to humiliate me because he knows I've got nothing to wear."
Johanna was more than certain that the Richard Castle she knew and had observed would never do such a thing to her daughter. She would bet her life on it.
"I'm sure he's not trying to do that, sweetheart."
Kate glared at her mother.
"So do you have anything to wear?" Johanna asked, ignoring the look her daughter gave her.
Kate glanced back at her wardrobe and then shook her head almost in defeat.
"Well, I'm sure we can come up with something." Johanna assured her daughter.
Kate's eyes shifted over to the bed and noticed the white box that her mother had placed on the bed.
"What's in the box?" She asked, nodding at the box.
Johanna turned to look at the box that she had brought in with her.
"Or we can take a look in the box." Johanna said happily, remembering the box. "It's a delivery for you."
All three women moved over to the bed and looked down at the box. Johanna could see that both Lanie and Kate had been on enough shopping expeditions to know what the box might contain.
"Who's it from?" Kate asked.
"Let's find out." Lanie announced.
She picked up the box and passed it to Kate. Kate held it but made no move to open the box. Lanie removed the note attached to the lid and unfolded it.
"Bibbity-bobbity-boo?" Lanie read out aloud.
Understanding washed across Kate's face.
"Cinderella. It's from him." she informed the other two women.
"Oh, please. It's a dress. Now open it up, girlfriend." Lanie demanded.
Kate still made no move to open the box. Her face clouded with anger.
"Go on dear, open the box." Johanna urged.
"Oh, I knew he was arrogant." Kate fumed, shaking her head.
Johanna's curiosity got the better of her, eager to find out what kind of dress was in the box she reached over and pulled the lid of the box.
"But this, this is complete..." Kate's voice trailed off as her eyes looked down.
Johanna had pulled aside the tissue paper to reveal the dress contained in the box. Lanie let out a loud gasp of surprise.
"Oh." Kate said as she stared down at the dress.
"Oh my, what a gorgeous gown." Johanna declared with a beaming smile. Lanie nodded her head in agreement, suddenly having lost the power of speech.
Kate continued to stare down at the gown. It was indeed a gorgeous gown. Red and sequinned. She watched as her mother reached into the box and carefully lifted the gown out and held it up for them to see. Kate could not help but gasp as she stared at it.
"This is truly beautiful." Johanna remarked.
Kate could only nod her head in agreement. The look of shock on her face melted away as it dawned on her that she had been wrong about Castle. He had not sent the dress to humiliate her, far from it. A warm smile settled on her face as she stared at the gown.
"And it's in your size too, sweetheart." Johanna remarked, glancing at her daughter. Kate nodded her head without realising it.
Lanie dragged her gaze from the sight of the beautiful red gown and studied her friend's face carefully. Her eyes narrowed. The anger and dark imprecations Kate had been spouting for the past hour as one dress after another was dismissed had vanished from her face and was replaced by a smile. A big warm smile, Lanie noted.
"How would Castle, know your exact size?" She questioned carefully.
Kate shot the medical examiner a guilt tinged look before turning back to the dress that her mother was still holding up.
"Yes, sweetheart how would he know?" Johanna added, trying not to grin. "I didn't tell him, and I can tell Lanie didn't tell him. Did you tell him by some chance?"
Kate shook her head.
"Spill, girlfriend." Lanie demanded.
Kate suddenly felt like one of her suspects she interrogated. It was an uncomfortable feeling.
"I have to get dressed." Kate said suddenly, starting to reach for the gown.
Johanna pulled the gown away out of Kate's reach.
"Mom, I need to get dressed, or I'll be late."
"What are you not telling us, girl?" Lanie demanded.
"Nothing, I'm telling you both nothing."
Lanie straightened up and folded her arms across her chest. She cast a look in Johanna's direction.
"I think she's keeping something from us." Lanie said.
"Oh I know she's keeping something from us." Johanna replied.
"Come on, I need the gown now." Kate demanded desperately
Johanna took a couple of steps back and draped the gown over her arm.
"Not until you tell us, sweetheart."
"I don't believe this." Kate muttered to herself as she rolled her eyes.
She stared angrily at her mother and Lanie silently for several moments. The other women stared back unmoved by the look the detective was directing at them. The kind of look that made hardened criminals quake in their boots. Kate finally let out a long sigh of resignation as she realised that she was not going to get the dress until she had told them. She looked at her mother.
"Do you remember a couple of weeks ago, when I didn't make it to your birthday dinner?" Kate said slowly.
Johanna nodded. "You were upstate with Castle when the blizzard..."
Johanna's voice trialled off as she saw her daughter blushing. Suddenly it all fell into place.
"Don't tell me you took my advice, sweetheart?" Johanna grinned evilly.
Kate bit on her bottom lip as she tried to contain the smile that was eagerly trying to break through. She cast her eyes to the floor then slowly nodded her head in answer to her mother's question.
Lanie looked from mother to daughter.
"Wait, what am I missing here?" Lanie demanded. Johanna turned and smiled at the Medical examiner.
"Kate was stuck in a motel room for a couple of days during that blizzard with..."
Lanie nodded her head as weighed up what she had been told. A look of astonishment swept across her face.
"Oh my God! You got your freak on with Writer Boy!" Lanie squealed.
"Writer Man, definitely Writer Man." Kate said in a low voice.
Suddenly Kate was enveloped by an over excited medical examiner, squeezing the life from her.
"Lanie, I can't breathe." Kate gasped.
Lanie released her and stepped back unable to wipe the smile from her face.
"Well, it was about damn time, girlfriend." She said. "And why am I only hearing about it now? I'm your best friend."
Johanna saw that Lanie was in the mood for a long interrogation and was ready to start firing questions at Kate. This was not the time to pepper Kate with questions, there would be time enough for that some other time.
"Come on, let's get Cinderella ready for her Prince Charming." Johanna announced.
"Wait, when exactly did this happen?" Lanie demanded.
"Feb 9th."
Lanie turned to look at Johanna and beamed.
"Congratulations, Mrs B." Lanie said. "You just scooped the pool."
Johanna smiled. "Best belated birthday present I could have asked for."
"What pool are you talking about?" Kate said frowning.
"We'll talk about that later, sweetheart." Johanna said hurriedly. "Time to get dressed, time's a wasting." This was not the time to confess that she had gone into the betting pool that had been organised at the precinct.
She stepped up to her daughter and handed over the gown, then she turned her around and propelled her in the direction of the bathroom.
"I need underwear." Kate called over her shoulder.
"I'm on it." Lanie replied as she moved to Kate's underwear drawer.
"And I'll organise the shoes." Johanna called out.
Lanie opened Kate's underwear drawer and stared at it.
"Hmmm, sexy or comfortable?" She mused aloud.
"Tonight, definitely sexy." Johanna said.
The two women looked at each other and suddenly sniggered like a pair of mischievous school girls.
XXX
Castle was in his office standing in front of a large mirror. He was dressed in his tuxedo. He was desperately trying to do up his bow tie but every attempt he made was not to his satisfaction. He sighed and untied the bow and tried doing it up again. He had been standing in front of the mirror for the past fifteen minutes. His frustration level was rising each time he failed in tying up the bow properly and having to undo it and commencing again.
Alexis walked into the office to find her father in front of the mirror. A smile appeared on her face as she watched him doing battle with the black bow tie. Her grandmother had told her about how nervous he had been that time he had been invited to Kate's parents' place for lunch. The way her grandmother had recounted the story it was a major drama. Alexis had discounted some of the story because her grandmother was prone to the melodramatic but now seeing her father trying to do his bow tie, she realised her Grams had not been exaggerating.
"My dad, nervous for a date." Alexis observed, unable to hide her amusement.
"It's not a date." Castle replied as he glanced at his daughter. "It's an undercover operation."
"Uh-huh, is that what the cool kids are calling it these days?"
Castle cast a disapproving frown in Alexis's direction before he turned to the mirror again and looked at his latest attempt. He let out a heavy sigh at yet another failed attempt. He could not believe this was happening to him tonight of all nights. Normally he did not have this much trouble doing up a bow tie. He could do it with his eyes closed. It was as if he had completely forgotten how to do it.
Untying the bow tie he looked to Alexis.
"Could you...?" He pleaded and crouched down a little.
Alexis smiled and walked over to her father. Quickly she started doing up the bow tie.
"Dad, you do know that we know that you have been dating, Detective Beckett." Alexis said.
"What...when...how?" Castle stammered, shocked at what his daughter had said.
Alexis finished doing up the bow tie then smoothed down the corners of his shirt collar and took a step back. She nodded to herself pleased with her handy work. Her eyes moved up and found her father staring at her, his mouth opening and closing but no words coming out. That made her smile a little more.
"We've noticed a change in you since you started working with Detective Beckett." Alexis explained. "You talk about her all the time."
"She is the inspiration to Nikki Heat." Castle replied. "Of course I would talk about her a lot."
"You're a lot happier, you're working on a new book again."
"As I said..."
"And you're not walking around the house in you're underwear waiting for post time at Belmont."
A pained expression appeared on Castle's face. "Let's not talk about that shall we, not one of my finest moments."
"If only I could scrub the vision of it from my memory."
Castle nodded his head. He smiled gently at his daughter and held open his arms. Alexis smiled as she stepped into him and hugged him tightly. Castle rested his chin on his daughter's head as he hugged her.
"Are you okay with it, pumpkin?" he inquired.
Alexis broke from her father's embrace and looked up at him.
"About you dating, Detective Beckett?"
Castle nodded. He tried not to look too anxious but his daughter's opinion was very important to him. After his second divorce and when he started dating again he made it a point not to bring women back to the loft when Alexis was around. He kept that part of his life separate from her because he really had never been serious with any of those women he used to date. Her approval meant everything.
"I like Detective Beckett." Alexis replied.
"Hmm."
"Are you happy, dad?"
"Yeah."
"Then I'm happy too."
Castle broke into a big smile, feeling relieved that he had received approval from the most important person in his life. It made his heart swell. He pulled her in for another big hug.
"Dad, shouldn't you be going to pick Detective Beckett up?" Alexis asked. "Can't keep a lady waiting, you know."
"It's okay, I've sent the car service to pick her up and bring her here."
Martha swept into the office and smiled at seeing her son and granddaughter.
"Honestly darling, I don't know why you wont tell me where this party is." She said.
"Because you'll show up." Castle told her pointedly.
Martha offered up a shrug as if to say that it was worth a try. She had been asking him where this ball was being held that he was going to from the moment he had arrived home and announced he was going to a black tie affair. She had to hand it to her son, he had been very tight lipped about the location of the ball.
Admittedly, she had form in the past, having gate crashed one or two parties that her son had attended. To her way of thinking a party was a party and should be enjoyed. It had been a little while since she had been to a swank black tie affair.
The door bell sounded. Before Castle or Alexis had a chance to respond Martha turned on her heels and swept out of the office.
"I'll get it darlings." She called over her shoulder.
XXX
Kate could not help but feel nervous as the town car drew up in front of Castle's building. Looking out the window up to his loft she told herself that she could do this. It was an undercover operation after all. She had been undercover before. Truth be told on those previous undercover operations she had been dressed in a shirt with a plunging neck line and a skirt that barely covered her ass while standing on street corners.
The chauffeur opened the door for her. She gave the man a smile of thanks as he took her hand and helped out her. Pulling up the wrap that had fallen down her back Kate entered the building.
"Good evening, Detective Beckett." Eduardo called out from his desk. "You look very nice tonight."
"Evening, Eduardo and thank you."
The doorman smiled and gave a little bow of his head.
Reaching the elevator Kate pressed the call button and waited for the elevator to arrive. She had been quite relieved to get out of her apartment when the chauffeur had arrived to pick her up. She did not know how much more she could have taken of the questions she had been getting from both her mother and Lanie.
As annoying as that had been she had to concede that her mother and Lanie had done wonders in getting her ready. Her mother had taken care of her hair and Lanie was in charge of her make up. When she had looked in the mirror Kate almost did not recognise herself. She could not help but agree with what her mother had said, that she would knock Castle socks off the moment he laid eyes on her. Lanie then had to go an add that she was betting that it wasn't just his socks, she was hoping to knock off.
The elevator arrived and Kate stepped in and pressed the button for Castle's loft. As much as she hated to admit it, there was a part of her that did feel like Cinderella. A few minutes later she was standing in front of Castle's front door. She took a deep breath trying to quell her nerves and then pressed the door bell.
A few moments later the door was opened by Martha. The actress let out a loud gasp delight as she turned on a beaming smile.
"Stunning. Simply stunning." She said bringing her hands to her face.
Kate smiled nervously at the compliment.
"Come in, come in." Martha said taking Kate by the arm and drawing her into the loft.
"Hang on, hang on." Martha said as she quickly scurried off somewhere.
Kate's nerves grew a little more at being left alone standing there near the door. She saw Alexis and Castle emerged from his office and approach. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks on seeing the look on Castle's face. It was something that she could only describe as wonderment and awe. Then the warmest smile spread across his face like the sun breaking through the clouds.
"You look incredible." Alexis announced.
"Really?" Kate replied, feeling a little bashful under the scrutiny of father and daughter.
"Really." Castle confirmed, nodding his head.
Kate could not help but smile.
"Wow." He added.
"Thank you, Castle." Kate laughed.
Kate found that she could not take her eyes off the author. He looked good enough to eat dressed in that tuxedo. Her smile deepened as she gazed at him.
Martha having found what she was looking for made her reappearance. She carried with her a diamond and ruby necklace.
"I just have the thing to make this outfit perfect." Martha announced holding up the necklace.
Kate's eyes widened in surprise on seeing the necklace. It was a very beautiful piece of jewellery.
"Oh, no, Martha I couldn't..."
"Yes you can." Martha insisted. "Let me..."
Kate cast a look in Castle's direction looking for some help and saw him smile and shrug his shoulders. Kate decided not to fight it. Martha placed the necklace around her neck and then came to stand in front of her to admire her.
"Oh, it's brilliant." Martha pronounced smiling. She eyed Kate carefully. "So, where are you kids headed tonight?"
"Uh...uh...we're going to the Waldorf." Kate replied, glancing down at the necklace gracing her neck.
Martha smiled triumphantly and turned to look at her son.
"Ah-huh!"
Kate noticed the slight deflated look on Castle's face before she had a chance to question it he became animated, kissed his daughter goodbye and then his mother and then came up to her and held out his arm.
"Shall we, Detective Beckett?"
Kate smiled and nodded her head as she put her hand around his arm.
"You two kids have fun tonight." Martha called out cheerfully as Castle and Kate departed.
XXX
The New York evening traffic was rather heavy which made progress slow. Kate was looking out the window on her side of the car. Not long after they had gotten into the town car and headed off Castle had reached out and taken her hand. Their hands now rested comfortably on her thigh. She
found that she liked that. Normally she was not one for holding hands but this seemed to feel right to her.
Kate could feel his eyes on her while she found it a little creepy, or use to feel it was, when he did it at the precinct, tonight she found she did not mind it at all. She turned away suddenly from the window and caught him looking at her boobs. A stricken, guilty look appeared on his face at having been caught out. Quickly he lifted his eyes up to her face. Kate was amused to see the slight blush on his face at having been caught checking her out.
Kate could have called him out for ogling her but seeing his slight embarrassment she decided to let it go. If anything he looked adorable.
"So, where did you get this dress, Castle?"
It had been a question that had been plaguing her from the moment she had first laid eyes on the gown when it had been taken out of the box.
"Do you like it?" Castle asked in a hopeful tone.
Kate smiled at him. "I love it!"
Castle smiled with relief on hearing that. He had been a little worried that he might have over stepped when he had spoken to his guy and ordered the dress. His guy had emailed him a photo of the gown and the moment he saw the picture he just knew it would be perfect on Kate. He cared little how much it cost, all that mattered was that it would look great on Kate. The moment he saw her in that gown he knew he had been right. It was money well spent. Still he remained a little worried that she might be angry at him for getting the gown for her.
"So, where did you get it?"
"I know a guy."
"You know a guy?" Kate said, arching an eyebrow at him.
Castle nodded his head.
"In the fashion trade?"
"Yeah."
"But how did you know my size?" Kate asked. It was not only her mother and Lanie who had wondered about that. It had been at the back of her mind.
"I made an educated guess based on careful observation and extensive tactile scrutiny." Castle said as he raised his hand and waggled his fingers.
Kate rolled her eyes and looked away from him. She stared out the window, she felt the heat rise to her cheeks turning them a deeper shade of pink. She was grateful for the semi darkness in the back of the car that partly hid her blushing. No other man touched her the way Castle did. She had discovered that he really loved to touch and explore and she loved him doing that. It never failed to set her skin on fire, send her heart soaring and turn her insides into mush.
"My Mom knows about us." Kate said suddenly.
"Oh, okay." Castle said hesitantly.
"And Lanie as well."
"How did they find out?"
"Well, when they saw that the gown was in my size, questions were asked."
"I see and so faced with overwhelming evidence, you cracked and rapidly confessed?"
"Yeah." Kate huffed. She still could not believe she had been so quick to confess. She thought she could resist interrogation a little better than that.
"Are you okay with that?" Castle asked after a few moments of silence.
Kate slowly turned away from the window and looked at Castle. She could not help but smile at him. She nodded her head. Castle smiled back. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"They were going to find out sooner or later." Kate said.
"Alexis and Mother know as well." He confessed.
"So much for telling them, huh?" Kate quipped.
"Yeah."
Castle lifted their joined hands and brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
"Do you know they were running a pool on us?" Kate said.
"Who?"
"Everyone down at the precinct, about when we would get together."
"Really?" Castle chuckled. He found it amusing that people at the precinct would be betting on them getting together.
"It's not funny, Castle." Kate chided.
"So, who won?"
"What?"
"Who won the betting pool?" Castle asked, suddenly curious.
"You're not going to believe this." Kate said with a roll of her eyes.
"Try me."
"My Mom."
Castle burst into laughter on hearing that.
"It's so not funny, Castle." Kate huffed. "I can't believe she was betting on us."
"I think its sweet and very funny."
Kate shot him a look but it made him laugh even more. Seeing her look did not change Castle quickly sobered up and looked at Kate.
"I always did think your Mom was a smart woman." He said. That remark earned him a small jab in the ribs.
XXX
"Okay, Espo...we're a couple of minutes away." Kate glanced at Castle and saw him give a nod of his head confirming their arrival time. "If anything happens, call me."
Kate looked out the window and saw that their car was lined up behind a string of limousines that were slowly moving towards the entrance to the hotel to disgorge their passengers. Castle looked at Kate and saw a nervous expression had settled on her face. She was gnawing on her bottom lip again.
"You've never been to one of these high society black tie affairs before, have you?" he said gently.
Kate turned to look at him and slowly shook her head.
"The closest I've been to one of these things was when I was in uniform and handling traffic control." She said.
"You are going to be fine." Castle assured her. "Trust me."
Kate forced a smile to her face and gave him a small nod. Castle leaned closer to her and kissed her on the cheek.
"You're going to knock them dead, Kate."
Their car slowly inched slowly towards the front entrance of the Waldorf hotel.
XXX
Detectives Ryan and Esposito had been standing by the red carpet half way between the side walk and the entrance to the hotel for the past hour watching a passing parade of people as they headed into the hotel. Members of New York City's high society were well represented. There had been a bevy of celebrities as well who seemed to take almost forever to walk the short distance from the side walk to the hotel entrance as they paused every few steps so that photographers could take their photos. A handful of politicians too had walked the red carpet. The Mayor had arrived about ten minutes ago flanked by a small security detail and one or two assistants. Five minutes later a US Senator from New York walked the carpet with his wife. He had a ready smile for the cameras and provided a quick sound bite for entertainment reporters who stuck their microphones in his face.
Many of the women who had walked past were wearing their best jewellery, impressive pieces of jewellery. The two detectives did not need to be jewellers to see that those rocks hanging around those necks were worth six and seven figure sums.
Apart from looking at the women passing by Ryan and Esposito had been carefully scrutinising the men who walked the red carpet. None of the men even remotely looked like sketch they had of the perp they were looking for.
Ryan glanced at his partner and saw that Esposito was showing his frustration at having to stand around watching people walking by and no sign of their perp. Ryan understood his partner's frustration because he was feeling it too.
"Man, these guys look guilty of tax evasion, not home invasion." Esposito muttered.
Ryan nodded his head in understanding. He cast his gaze in the direction of the side walk as a black town car came to a stop. He saw Castle leap out of the car, came around the back of the car and opened the back door. His eyes almost fell out of their sockets when he saw Kate emerge from the back seat wearing a tight fitting strapless red gown, she gave Castle a warm smile as she put her arm through his and started walking down the red carpet, looking for all the world that she owned it. Almost immediately a barrage of camera flashes exploded capturing the famous author and his companion's progress along the carpet.
"Yeah, well Javi...appearances can be deceiving." Ryan muttered.
Esposito looked in the direction of the side walk and his jaw dropped on seeing Kate approaching. He saw the grin on Castle's face and the shy smile on Kate's face.
"Nice dress." Ryan quipped with some amusement as Kate walked by.
"Yeah, what there is of it." Esposito added, trying not to smirk.
Kate cast a baleful glance in Esposito's direction.
"I'd let you borrow it, Esposito, but you stretched out the last one." Kate retorted as she glided away.
Castle heard the remarked and guffawed. He looked at Kate and smiled. An amused look appeared on her face.
"Nice one, Detective." Castle said.
They entered the hotel and made their way across the lobby to the entrance to the ballroom. At the door Castle produced the two golden tickets and handed them to the girl sitting at the desk by the front door. She smiled and bade them to go in.
Kate had been in the ballroom before with Castle when they had come to interview Anne Greene the organiser of this fund raiser. When they had been there the ball room was still being set up. Now with the lights on and filled with New York's high society and with a band playing a musical background Kate found it spectacular and a little overwhelming. She had never been to such a fund raiser before and could not help but feel like a fish out of water. Her fingers dug into Castle's arm as they descended the stairs to the ball room.
"You've got this, Kate." Castle said in a low voice. "You are the belle of the ball."
"Uh-huh." Kate muttered, wanting desperately to believe him.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Castle spotted the Mayor a short distance away. He broke into a smile as he made his way over to where he was standing gently pulling Kate with him.
"Big Cheese!" Castle called out.
His Honour the Mayor of New York, Robert Wheldon turned around and on seeing Castle approaching he broke into a big bright smile.
"Ricky! Ricky! Hey! Why didn't you tell me you were going to be at this shindig?" Mayor Wheldon said with a hearty laugh as they shook hands. "I would've given you a ride."
"Oh, Last minute thing." Castle replied, smiling. He then glanced at Kate before looking to the Mayor. "Mr Mayor, I'd like to present to you Detective Kate Beckett. Kate, you know the Mayor."
Wheldon's smile deepened as he looked at Kate.
"So this is Detective Beckett?" He said.
"It's an honour to meet you, sir." Kate said nervously as she shook his hand.
"Oh, please call me, Bob." Wheldon told her. Still smiling he cast a glance at Castle. "Rick, she's even prettier than you said."
"Mmm-hmm." Castle smiled and nodded.
Kate turned to look at Castle.
"Would you excuse me, the senior senator from New York to wants to have a word." Wheldon said and started to move off.
"Of course." Castle said.
Kate took a step closer to Castle and glared at him.
"You talk about me to 'Bob'?" She said.
"Well we play poker together." Castle said and shrugged his shoulders.
Kate's expression darkened a little.
"That, and you are the subject of my next book." Castle added hurriedly.
"Uh-huh."
"Can I get you a drink?" Castle asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, tequila, lots of tequila." Kate replied looking away from Castle and taking in the scene around them. Suddenly she remembered. "But I'm on duty, so water."
"Yeah. Tequila." Castle said under his breath as he quickly headed for the bar.
XXX
The Mayor approached the Senior Senator from the state of New York. Senator Bracken was standing near his table talking to a trio of tuxedoed men. On seeing the Mayor approach Senator Bracken dismissed the men and took a couple of steps toward the Mayor, turning on a smile.
"Mr Mayor." Bracken said, holding out his hand.
"Senator Bracken." Mayor Wheldon replied as he shook the other man's hand. "I didn't think that modern American dance was your thing."
"It's not." Bracken replied. He cast a glance to his table where his wife was sitting. "But the wife..."
"I understand." Wheldon replied with a chuckle. He had been to more than a few fund raisers merely to appease his wife.
Mayor Wheldon had been to enough charity fund raisers he had no interest in other than because his position required making an appearance. What he had learned from early on was that these functions were good occasions to press the flesh and maybe find a few more campaign contributors. He knew a politician could never have enough campaign contributors.
"Was that the author Richard Castle you were speaking with a moment ago?" Bracken inquired. He cast a glance across the room to where Kate Beckett was standing taking in the scene around her.
"Yeah, it was."
"And who is that lady he's with?"
"That is Detective Kate Beckett, the subject of his latest book that he's writing." Mayor Wheldon grinned.
Bracken studied the detective for a moment before he turned his attention back to the Mayor. He smiled and nodded his head.
"Mmm, interesting."
"Lucky dog." Wheldon laughed.
"Yeah."
"Word is that Wellesley is planning to run against you again, Bill." Mayor Wheldon announced.
"So I've heard, Bob." Bracken nodded his head.
"He's gathering a good team of people around him this time."
Bracken was well aware that Blake Wellesley was soon going to announce that he was running for the Senate again. And he certainly had been aware that the man had been hiring experienced people for his campaign over the past few months. He had been doing it quietly but one did not hire such people if you weren't running for high office. Bracken was not too concerned.
"Some people think just because their daddy represented the state in the senate they have a God given right to the job." Bracken said. "I will crush him just like the last time."
Wheldon saw the wolfish grin on the senator's face and nodded his head slowly.
"Can I count on your support for the funding initiative?" He asked, changing the subject.
Bracken looked thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't see it should be a problem." Bracken replied with a smile. "But have your people speak to my people about setting up a meeting so we can thrash out the details."
Wheldon smiled and nodded his head, a little relieved. The two men had never been political allies but in the past had joined forces for one reason or another. Wheldon had been hoping to get Bracken's support for the initiative he had been proposing, a program to assist the poor of the city. It was something he felt Bracken would support given some of the programs he had sponsored in the Senate.
"But I need your support on a couple of matters, Bob." Bracken said.
"Of course."
Wheldon had been expecting that. In politics there was always a quid pro quo. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. It was the price of doing business whether it was local politics or national politics.
"We can discuss it at the meeting."
"Certainly, well, enjoy your evening, Senator."
"You too, Mr Mayor."
Mayor Wheldon moved away going over to where a group of men were standing. Bracken watched as the Mayor greeted the men with a big smile and handshake. Then he shifted his gaze back to the centre of the room where Detective Beckett was standing speaking on the phone. A moment later Richard Castle came up to her and swept her to the dance floor where they started dancing.
The senator would have continued watching the author and the detective but his wife called out to him to come join her at the table. There were a couple of friends at the table with her. He forced a smile to his face as looked at his wife and slowly walked over to the table and joined in on the conversation talking place.
XXX
A handcuffed and mortified looking Paul Reynolds with his head hung down emerged from the hotel entrance escorted between Detectives Ryan and Esposito, they walked the now empty red carpet towards the waiting police cruiser. Behind them came a subdued looking Castle and a triumphant looking Kate. Reynolds was handed over to the uniform who quickly deposited him in the back seat and shut the door. A couple of moments later the police cruiser pulled away from the side walk.
"Can we give you guys a lift?" Ryan asked with a grin.
"No thanks, we've got a ride." Kate told him. "We'll see you back at the station."
Castle and Kate watched as Ryan and Esposito headed down the street to where they had left their car. Kate turned to look at Castle with an amused expression on her face. Castle's town car pulled up by the side walk. Castle snapped into action. He opened the back door and helped Kate into the back seat. Closing the door he walked around the back of the car and got in from the other side.
"Where to, Mr Castle?" The driver asked.
"Twelfth Precinct, please." Kate informed him. "And don't break any traffic laws in getting there."
"Certainly, Detective Beckett."
The car pulled slowly away from the side walk and merged into the traffic. For a couple of minutes there was silence between Kate and Castle. She turned to look at him.
"So, does your mother crash your parties often?" She asked.
"Far too many times than I care to mention." Castle sighed.
Kate smiled and nudged his shoulder.
"So did you find out who won the auction?"
Castle shook his head. In all the excitement of finding out who the inside man was for the murderous home invasion crew he had forgotten all about the auction. He still could not believe his mother and Powell had set him up to be auctioned off for a date.
"I wonder if it was that guy with the beard?" Kate giggled.
Castle turned and cast a frowning look in Kate's direction. He had put himself up for auction a few times before to raise money for charities he supported. At those auctions it was the women who bid furiously for a date with him. Having a guy bid for a date with him was a first.
"I can't believe you did not come to my rescue, Kate."
"You should have seen the look on your face." Kate giggled again.
"As my partner, you're supposed to come to my rescue."
"You weren't in any danger, Castle."
"I'm pleased to see my discomfort is a source of merriment to you, Detective." He huffed.
Kate laughed as she shifted closer to him. She reached over and took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Don't worry, if Bearded Guy gets too amorous on your date..."
"Kate." Castle whined.
"Maybe, he'll be satisfied with an autographed photo of yourself?"
Castle narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" He said.
"Yeah, I can't help it." Kate giggled.
Castle found that he enjoyed hearing Kate laugh and giggle. It was a delightfully wonderful sound to his ears and something he did not hear all that often. It seemed to ease his own disposition. He let out a sigh and slowly shook his head.
Kate managed to rein in her giggling. She rested her head against Castle's shoulder. Castle glanced at her. Slowly he raised his arm and draped it across her shoulders and drew her closer to him. He saw the small smile settle on her lips and could not help but smile as well.
"Kate?" He said.
"Mmm?"
"Where did you keep your badge?"
In the ball room when they had gone over to Paul Reynolds to arrest him Kate had produced from out of nowhere. His curiosity had been sparked. He had asked her about it in the room as Reynolds was being lead away by Ryan and Esposito but she had given him a look and said not to ask. He could not help it, he had to find out.
"For me to know." Kate said then gave him a knowing smile.
"And for me to find out." He retorted with glee.
He tried to disengage his hand from Kate's to start his search. Kate squeezed his hand, holding it tightly. She shifted her head so that she could look up at him.
"If you behave, I might tell you later." She whispered.
"I'd prefer it you showed me."
"It all depends on you, if you're a good boy..."
"I'm a good boy, I'm a good boy."
"We'll see."
Castle settled down.
"So that was Powell?" Kate said breaking the silence that had descended between them for a couple of blocks.
"Yeah."
"And Bentley Silver in Storm Rising was based on Powell?"
"Uh-huh." Castle looked at Kate with a curious expression on his face.
"I had a good time tonight, Castle." Kate announced quickly.
"Well, we did catch a bad guy who will help us catch us an even badder guy." Castle said.
"I don't mean just that."
"I thought you didn't like these affairs?"
"I didn't say, I didn't like them. I said I'd never been to one of them before." Kate informed him
"Well, next time, hopefully we wont be working a case."
"Yeah. I think I'd like that." Kate nodded.
For the remainder of the ride back to the precinct they huddled together enjoying each other's warm and silent companionship. Castle's mind was already trying to figure out what big charity ball he could take his muse. Kate was trying to focus on their case, mentally preparing herself for the interrogation of Reynolds. She could not remember if she had a change of clothes at the precinct. She did not fancy the prospect of interrogating Reynolds in this ball gown. Yet there was a part of her that was wishing she was not heading to the precinct to conduct an interrogation but taking Castle home so she could show him just exactly where she had kept her badge.
XXXXX
Thoughts?
Con
