Chapter 36
May 5, 2013
An hour later Kate was talking with her father, and Castle decided to make the call while she was distracted. He had hoped it would end up being something innocuous, but what if Johanna Beckett's case was lurking? How his biological father could be enmeshed in that was beyond him, but it would be fitting that their first case after getting married would be the one thing that had caused their relationship the most pain.
He was getting ahead of himself. It was likely nothing. Maybe the man was a scam artist and this was a ploy to get his money. He never thought that he would have ever wanted his father to turn out to be a petty criminal so badly, but the alternative was that Kate's life was at truly at risk.
He picked up his phone and dialed quickly to be done with it.
"Sutton."
It was one word - his father's voice, his name. He couldn't think about the ramifications, he needed to stay on topic. "It's Richard Castle. I heard you wanted to talk."
There was a pause, which made Castle wonder if he had been equally struck by hearing his son's voice. "Yes, but it has to be in person."
"What is this about?"
"Not over the phone. I'm sorry, but we have to meet."
His tone was firm but it didn't seem cold, although Castle had no basis of comparison. He knew nothing of the man's character or personality at all. Clearing his throat he asked, "How do I know this threat against Kate is credible?"
"You don't, but we both know that you won't risk her life by ignoring me. You can pick the place, but we need to meet as soon as possible. Tonight, if you can manage it."
He decided that it needed to be on their turf, but he wouldn't invite a stranger to the loft, even if that man shared his DNA. It was Sunday evening so their floor at the precinct would only have a skeleton crew and they would have the resources if needed. It would also be a way to test this man's integrity. If he were trying to pull something he'd be less likely to do so while inside a police station.
"The twelfth precinct, in one hour."
Sutton hesitated for a moment, and just then Castle realized that whether the threat against Kate was credible or not, the idealist in him needed this man to be honorable. "Okay, one hour. Thank you."
He was annoyed with himself for being relieved that Sutton agreed. "I'm not doing this for you or for me."
"I know."
"One hour."
Castle dropped onto the couch, his elbows on his knees, head sunk and one hand running through his hair. Kate walked in the room and froze.
"You talked to him?"
He nodded as he felt the couch dip next to him and a hand rest on his thigh.
"You okay?"
He shrugged, his expression unclear. He wasn't angry or relieved just despondent. "I'm not sure how I expected that to go, but I doubt the Hallmark Channel will be making a movie based on that long-lost father/son conversation. Hey, I wonder if they would get Jason Bateman to play me?"
He was deflecting and she let him.
"Maybe Natalie Rhodes would be willing to play both Nikki Heat and Kate Castle, although that might cause typecasting problems for her career down the road." She got a slight smile from him as she bumped his shoulder with her own. "Bad TV movie potential aside, are you ready to tell me what evil is lurking on our doorstep this time?"
He sat back and put his arm around her and started sifting his fingers through her hair, "No idea. He insists on meeting in person. I hope it's okay, but he'll be at the twelfth in an hour. That way if there is a threat we can get right on it."
"That's a good idea."
He let his frustration slip, "Kate, we just got married. How can this be happening? We're not even back on duty yet."
She rubbed his chest with her palm soothingly. "Hey, it could just be about a nutty fan who we can suppress with a restraining order. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
He nodded but added, "I'm calling in backup just in case. I'm not going to risk anything happening to you."
They were going to be in a police station, so she couldn't see how much more protected she could be, but she also knew that over the years it wasn't just Beckett and Castle, they were part of a team, and that is how they functioned best.
"This is your call, Castle," She had come to a point where she only called him Castle around other people or at the precinct, so he recognized that her use of his surname was a way to somehow propel him into cop mode, to help him compartmentalize.
He stood and pulled her to standing, "Well, Detective Beckett, looks like we're back in business."
Kate insisted on driving while Castle made the call.
"Tell me you haven't screwed up already, Castle. You've only been married for two weeks, Buddy."
"No, you and Esposito have unsettled me into obedience for years to come, a lifetime to come in fact, so not to worry."
Kate turned towards him and raised a questioning eyebrow. Castle shrugged her question aside.
Ryan chuckled. "You know we have your back too, Bro, it's just . . . you know, it's Beckett. We had to let you know where our loyalties lie."
He smiled knowing that their exchange would be cemented in team Beckett lore and retold at his expense for years to come. He already had been working through a similar scene for Roach in his next Nikki Heat book. It was the stuff of classic tough guy clichés and he loved that they had done it . . . now anyway. At the time he had been seriously creeped out, until he saw them right after the ceremony and both men were barely keeping it together.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"So, do we have a case? I didn't expect to hear from you until work tomorrow. Wait, Gates didn't decide to bench you now that you're hitched did she?"
"No, I'm calling for another reason. We need you and Esposito to meet us at the twelfth, tonight, whenever you can get there."
"Castle, what's wrong?"
He could sense Ryan's dread.
"I'm not sure. The Reader's Digest version of the story is that my father will be there in 45 minutes, and he claims that Kate is in danger."
"Wait - What? Your father? What kind of danger?"
"Yeah, you know as much as I do. Can you meet the guy, Daniel Sutton, and bring him to interrogation? I'd rather not meet him for the first time in the lobby with an audience."
"Whatever you need, Bro, we got your back. You okay?"
"I'll be better once I know Kate's safe."
"I'll call Esposito, we'll be there."
The Castles watched through the glass as Ryan led Sutton into the interrogation room then a few minutes later Esposito entered and handed him a coffee and a few sugar and creamer packets. Rick stared blankly ahead. Kate placed a hand on his back, and asked, "Are you sure about this? You don't have to do it. I could question him, or one of the guys while I stay with you." She moved so she was hugging the side of him, clearly worried.
Rick turned and brought his arms around her. "I have to do this, Kate. You can stay here and watch, but I need to go in alone. I promise that you can pick up the pieces later if it comes to that, but I need you to stay on this side of the glass, no matter what that man says, until I come back in here."
Kate ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. "I guess you've been second fiddle in that room for long enough." She tilted her head and met his lips, trying to transfer encouragement and comfort through the kiss.
"Was that a vote of confidence, Detective Beckett?"
His light response was reassuring. She ran her fingertips over his jaw, "If so you should be downright arrogant after how we spent the past two weeks."
He looked from her to Sutton and back to her, his face betrayed an amusing thought, "I just realized that this means the kids will only have two arms."
Kate let out an abrupt laugh. "Well, there goes the career in puppetry."
He hugged her close one more time. "I'm sure any Castletts we have will be genetically superior even without extra appendages."
"Castletts?"
"Sounds better than 'Beckles,' and much preferred to 'Casketts,' but we can discuss the kids later, for now I've got to meet my own personal Darth Vader." He released her and drew in a breath.
She reached for his hand and squeezed, "Rick, I'm here when you need me."
He turned to look at her and time froze for a second before he replied, "Oh, believe me, as soon as this is over, I'll need you."
A/N: FYI the puppetry reference was Chapter 17 if you need to jog your memory.