Altered Assessment
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Another AU WHAT IF. Castle was only at the precinct for FFYG, until being requested back by Captain Montgomery for Candela case. Kate is the pursuer, Meredith died in Childbirth, Gina is just the Editor. Previous experiences shared by Roy, Rick and Mayor W. We may take liberties with the events and timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, Warning THIS IS AU, with only brief flashes of Canon.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Previously Courtesy of DUST JACKETS DOT COM
EXT - NEW YORK CITY ROOF VENUE
Launch Party
GINA COWELL
(Voice Over) Murder, mystery, the macabre. What is it about a hard-boiled detective, the femme fatale, and the cold steel of a gun that keeps our bedside lamp burning into the wee hours of the morning? However, the spell is cast, tonight we honor a master of the form and celebrate the launch of Storm Fall.
The stunning conclusion to his best-selling Derrick Storm mystery series, ladies and gentlemen, the master of the macabre, Rick Castle.
CASTLE
Just once I'd like someone to come up to me and say something new.
BECKETT
Mr. Castle?
CASTLE
(Takes out his pen) Yes?
BECKETT
Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD. We need to ask you a few questions about a murder that took place earlier tonight.
ALEXIS
That's new.
************************************************************************************/
Chapter 1
NYPD 12th Precinct
Two Hours Later
Rick wasn't upset by being asked to come down to the precinct to answer some questions, but Gina was about ready to blow the roof off of the place. She and Detective Beckett got into a very heated verbal exchange as Rick stood aside and called his attorney, Howard Weisman to meet him at the precinct, and to be prepared to bail Gina out if she pushed the Detective much farther.
"Do you have any fucking idea of how much this book launch is costing? How you could be costing Mr. Castle, and Black Pawn thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars by this reckless action? This is something that could have waited for another few hours, and we would all be willing to co-operate, but you pulled the power play Detective, whatever your name is." Gina was screaming at the Detective,
"It's Beckett, spelled with two T's if you want to file a complaint, you're more than welcome, but I don't conduct my murder investigations to meet the schedule of some debutante mystery writer who thinks he is above the law." Detective Beckett is pissed and is popping it right back at Gina Cowell, the Managing Editor and Vice President of Black Pawn Publishing.
Kate made the error of saying the comment loud enough for the film crew from TMZ to pick up and before she was back at the precinct with Rick Castle, her phone had pinged with a message from Captain Roy Montgomery,
"Beckett, I just heard the sound clip from your questioning of Mr. Castle, who I believe is not even a suspect, Call me when you get to the precinct and a secure phone, we need to talk" she heard the phone slam down since he had obviously been called at home by the brass and caught hell for her actions. She rolled her eyes, knowing an ass-chewing was coming from the Captain, but if she could solve the case, it would soften the blow.
"How can I help you Detective" Rick Castle asked, sincerely, no flirtations or acting like a jerk like many had said he was. Kate thought he was sincere and very willing to help.
When she pulled his file, she was almost floored, the man was not a stranger to police work, having worked with various precincts over the last 5 years, including Roz Karpowski here at the 12th. So, this was the hot writer Roz had an orgasm every time someone mentioned his name for the last two years.
"Mr. Castle. You've got quite a list of accomplishment listed here, and it appears that this isn't your first interaction with the NYPD. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. Anything you'd like to add to the official report on your previous contributions." Kate asked.
"Well, you're going to find out when your Captain gets here but he, I and the mayor have prior history together, I'm not going to discuss the nature of what it is or was, but just a heads up, I know Roy called you on the way back to the precinct tonight, and he's not a happy man." Rick said,
Kate blushed, she rarely lost control of a milli-second during an interview but she was speechless with Mr. Castle's answer.
"How did you know that Mr. Castle?" she finally mumbled,
"Please call me Rick or Castle, and as to how I know, well, let's just say I have my ways. I know you didn't bring me all the way down here to discuss my methods of discovery or my relationships, you risked a lot, interrupting a book launch the way you did so it has to be important, or at least in your eyes." He replied, more business-like than anything else.
"You're correct Castle, there is a lot more at stake. I have a series of murders, all tie to you, well in a roundabout way." She tried to regain her composure, God here he was in the flesh, her favorite author, the writer who helped get her through her Mom's death and he was even hotter in person.
"Should I bring my attorney in now, or do you care to explain, how I am connected to your string of murders?" he wasn't impolite, but he was serious, his blue eyes went steel cold as he peered at her.
"If you're asking if you are a suspect and need your attorney the answer is no," as she slid some photographs across the table to him,
"This is, well was Alison Tisdale daughter of real estate mogul Jonathan Tisdale. She was murdered tonight, and I wanted to verify your relationship with her" Kate bluffed,
"Detective, there was no relationship, she's cute, well was a pretty young lady but I don't know her or her father." Rick replied looking her in the eyes, never flinching
"Did you ever meet her? Book signing? Charity event? Perhaps on one of your many fundraisers you host?" Kate softened the approach since she could tell he was being truthful and trying to help.
"It's possible. As you know I meet a lot of people but she's not on my social calendar if that's what you're asking. I don't really socialize as much as the press portrays me doing," He said with a sad look on his face,
"What about this guy? Marvin Fisk. Small claims lawyer." Kate asked showing Rick a DMV photo,
"Detective, I have my own attorneys on retainer, why would I need a small claims lawyer, not being crude but the deals my firm is involved in are on a much grander scale, so what's this got to do with me?
"Fisk was found murdered in his office two weeks ago. I didn't put it together until I saw the Tisdale crime scene tonight" as she shows Castle the crime photo, the crimes are connected by"
"Scenes from my books" Rick interrupted her. "Flowers for Your Grave, and"
"This is how we found Marvin Fisk, right out of Hell Hath No Fury," It was Kate's turn to interrupt Castle.
"Hell Hath No Fury? Angry Wiccans out for blood? Only hardcore Castle groupies read that one so you must be looking for someone who either reads everything I write or skips to the murder scenes of writers." Rick responded, not at all conceited, or cocky. It was more a statement of explanation than bragging,
"Mr. Castle, this may be a tough question to ask, but we need to know if any of these groupies ever write you letters? Disturbing letters?" Kate is being thorough in her questioning, hell the ass-chewing was going to come regardless at this point.
"Well, all my fan mail is monitored before I even see any part of it, I have a 15-year daughter Detective, so there is some distancing that must be taken to protect my family and my private life. I'm sure you are not like most readers who think I live my private life on page six, different night, different partner, it's a marketing ploy my editor and agent used to keep my name in the press." He was empathic with his answer but it did indeed throw Kate a curve,
"No, of course not, I don't think anyone could live that lifestyle, well, I wouldn't know, I mean I'm just a homicide cop" She reflected,
"I know what you're thinking" as Kate blushed if he knew what she was really thinking he would either ravish her on the desk right now or pull her into the first closet so she could have her way with him,
"Sometimes in cases like this, killer attempts to contact the subject of his obsession. My chief of security insists that my Daughter Alexis and I attend training once a year to protect us from the clues or marks a stalker or other fan seeking out of the ordinary attention would leave.
"He insists we include the psychopathic methodologies; Alexis hates it, I don't look forward to it but understand it's for our protection.
"So, I take it that you won't have any objection to us going through your mail Mr. Castle?" Kate tried to regain the professionalism but got she was getting hot for the man, talking about his daughter, protecting his family nothing like the jackass the press had him painted as.
"That request has to be cleared by my chief of security, but if you hit any snags just call me, or tell Mike I said, Wright-Patterson, he'll know what to do. Here's my card, as well as Mike's." He slid two business cards that were printed on very expensive parchment, his read RCE Enterprises, and the other, Mike Powers, Security, and Private Protection, with the contact information.
"I don't have to tell you all contact information are for official police business only, and please don't share them with anyone not absolutely needing access, or a need to know" Kate picked up on the phrase, need to know, perhaps there were more layers to the Castle onion than people knew.
"Of course, Castle, thank you for being so co-operative, I didn't expect"
"What, you didn't think I would be this co-operative? It's not me you need to worry about, but you better let Roy know that Gina Cowell, my editor, has already filed a lawsuit against you and the NYPD, that clip on TMZ didn't help your case. By the way, I never have or will consider myself a celebrity who is above the law" as Kate's face turned crimson red from embarrassment.
"I'm sorry Mr. Castle, I mean, I didn't think"
"It's Rick or Castle, and you didn't think I would hear, but just a piece of advice, lose the hard-ass routine, everyone knows you're a detective. You'll get a lot more information from people who want to work with you than those that you or the macho Detective Esperanto try to intimidate. It doesn't work for him, and really doesn't flatter you in your position of authority, "Rick replied, knowing that Roy was about to walk through the door and take charge.
"Again, Rick, I apologize for Detective Esposito as well as myself, we didn't mean to come off as it appeared, it's just that"
"As I said Beckett, give people a chance before you start the bull rush. One more thing, can you forward copies of those photos, that you are allowed without compromising the case to my Agent, Paula Haas?"
"For what reason Rick?" Kate asked with a puzzled look
"Well, we both know that photos like these will bring a hefty dollar to the paparazzi especially after your bull rush into my book launch and TMZ airing your comments, so my Agent can usually get ahead of anything that is coming across the press if she knows about it.
"She's already had to get ahead of the headline I was a murder suspect hauled in for questioning from my own book launch party, so thanks for your candor Detective.
"I hire professionals to control the chaos, it seems to come with the role, but your actions have already put both my editor and my agent into overtime for damage control." He wasn't cruel but he wasn't letting it slide that Beckett and her team had embarrassed and caused additional work for his staff.
"I'll need my Captain's approval for that, it's not a usual request, and"
"Beckett, what do you need my approval for?" boomed Roy's voice as he was walking towards her and she knew the shit was about to hit the fan.
"Sir, I didn't know you would be here tonight sir, not at this time." She asked respectfully,
Roy shot her a glare that could pierce armor, "It wasn't my idea Detective, not until I got a call from the Mayor who called the Commissioner who let me know they were about as happy with you as I am to leave my weekend and come into the precinct. What the hell were you thinking?"
"What does Rick need that you need my approval, Beckett?"
Kate explained, and Roy boomed, "You haul him out of a book launch, the final one for Derrick Storm, threatened his editor with arrest, tell the world you don't operate on a debutant writer's schedule solving murders, then when he requests copies of the pictures to continue damage control you inflicted, you suddenly are over your head? HELL YES Beckett, send the God Damn pictures to his agent, Paula Haas. That's an order" he was steaming when he finished,
Rick sat silently as Roy lowered the boom on her unlike, he had ever done before. The entire Bull Pen was in shock that she finally was on the receiving end of some of the ass chewing she dished out on a normal basis to everyone but her boys.
Roy suddenly turned and bellowed, "Where the hell is Esposito, and what the hell did he think he was doing, acting like some king of the walk, I thought you went there to ask for Rick's cooperation, not treat him as a suspect? Roy was still mad and getting madder when Esposito appeared from the break room,
"Esposito, my office now" Roy boomed,
He looked shook up but followed Roy to his office when the door was slammed and Roy tore into him like a Drill Sargent to a new recruit. Roy dressed him up one side then the other, then verbally threw him out of the office with the words, "You disgust me, get the hell out of my sight, and you have thirty days to prove you deserve to wear that badge, hell any badge, now get out of here"
Rick sat in silence waiting on Kate to say something but she was so intent on Javi getting chewed out, she was silent.
"I think we're done here." Rick finally uttered as he stood, I expect those pictures to Paula within the hour, and all inquiries go through Mike Powers, and Detective, that means ALL details, if you go outside that boundary, well, just don't" his voice falls off.
"I understand Mr., eh Castle. I'll be sure your guidelines are followed, is there anything else?"
"Yes, HE, pointing Esposito, owes my editor a written, formal apology for getting in her face when she was within her rights to throw you, and your crews' ass completely off the property, and Detective, keep him out of my sight, or you'll be on your own on this.
"I don't appreciate bullies, especially when it comes from a man with a badge to one of my family, or friends. The next time he goes Macho on someone I work with or one of my friends, we'll see how macho he really is, I think I made my point. The letter can be sent in care of Paula Hass, you have her contact information." Rick's voice never rose a decibel, but the look in his eyes, well it was a look that Kate had never seen before,
"I'll be sure the letter is sent, and that it covers his actions thoroughly," Kate said quietly,
Roy was just coming out of his office, when he saw Rick standing,
"Hello Rick, long time, I'm sorry we had to meet like this after all this time, but"
"Roy, good to see you, wish it were under better circumstances, but I gave Detective Beckett my requirements to resolve this." He said as he pulled Roy into a Bro Hug,
"Bro, when you fuck up, you pick them don't you" Ryan chided his partner, "We'll be lucky if we're not working the docks in the middle of January with your bullshit. Why do you do that, Mr. Special Forces Man, God do you know how dumb that makes you look?" Kevin was on a roll, now fearful that the blowback would reach his own service record.
"You got time to talk Roy?" Rick asked,
It wasn't lost on Kate when he looked right at her and replied, "Sure Rick, but not here, too many nosey nellies trying to save their asses. I'll get my coat" he replied,
Not another word was said as the two men walked toward the elevator and out of the 12th, leaving Kate and the Boys wondering what the hell was the connection between Roy and Castle, and what they had to do to make tonight go away.
"Esposito, get that letter of apology written, and I want to see it before you print it off, no sense wasting paper, oh and use the spell check before you show it to me." Kate's tone was nothing like it was normally for one of her boys,
She thought to herself, how the hell did Roy know Rick, and how bad did she screw up, she really could use his help, along with the mail to try to figure out why his books, why these victims, but she could only hope now.
TBC