Study,
Rick Castle's Loft
427 Broome Street
Manhattan, New York, New York, 10013
Rick's phone beeps with a text message.
"Who's that?" Alexis asks.
"Vincent Grippo, Frank's Chief of Staff," Rick responds.
"What does he want?" Alexis asks.
"He wanted me wanted to know that news about Kate is out and already spreading.
"I thought she's just interviewing today," Alexis asks, "How did the new get out?"
"DOJ likely did a full background check," he says, "Maybe someone at 1 PP blabbed."
"Maybe it was Icky Vicky," Alexis counters.
"Show some respect," Rick scolds her, "Gates is a good, honest, and dedicated cop."
"She's insulted and belittled you, even when you solved big cases for her," she replies.
"When Volkov took you, Gates did all she could to get you back," Rick says, "That settles all debts."
"I Understand," Alexis replies.
"What difference does it make if the NYPD knows about Kate or not?" Alexis asks.
"Without Kate," Rick replies, "There's a feeling I'm up for grabs."
"What are you, the number one draft pick?" Alexis responds."
"What's with all your baseball references lately," Alexis replies.
"Jim Beckett's been inviting me to Mets games," Rick replies, "He has season tickets."
"Kate's is always too busy, and I get to play granddaughter. Let' face it, any bonding experiences with my own grandfather would consist of a self-destructing message."
"Moving on, why don't you quit? Alexis asks.
"They'll likely show up with case files," Rick replies, "Maybe even victims' families'".
Alexis just nods in sympathy.
"So, what happens now?" Alexis asks.
"So, let's leave town until Uncle Frank figures it all out?" Alexis asks.
"Actually, he's already decided," Rick replies, "He just hasn't told the Department yet."
"What have you done!" Alexis glares.
"Frank decided, not me?" Rick says nervously.
"You're too serene about it," she counters.
"I'm too serene?" he responds.
"From the word Serenity," Alexis responds.
"I know what serenity means," Rick smirks.
"Anyway, I can tell this is all part of some cockamamie plan you concocted," she replies.
"My plans may be ridiculous but never cockamamie," Rick replies.
"Whatever you call it," Alexis crosses her arms," I know you're headed back to the 12th."
"What makes you think you're right," Rick deflects.
"Because dad," Alexis responds, "I know you better than anyone."
"What about your grams?" Rick replies.
"I said better, I didn't say longer?" She gives him a look.
"Fair enough," Rick shrugs.
"You practically grew up at the 12th, it was a second home to you with
a part time job where you organized the property room like I did except you were paid."
"It was the good old days," Rick replies, "Before budget cuts, "But I was still
so proud, when you returned that photo album to the late owner's daughter."
"Funny thing was some old timers who remembered you. They said I was good, but you were so good, you found Lost Ark, the Sunkara Stones, and the Holy Grail. "
"Hey, I had more time," Rick smiles, and hey, maybe I really wasn't a handful?"
"You heard me say that to Kate, huh?" Alexis feels ashamed."
"That area was my stomping grounds," Rick says, "I know all the Laird's Lugs."
"I'm sorry dad." Alexis replies, "I didn't, mean to bring you down."
"It's okay, Pumpkin," Rick counters, "I brought it on myself."
Alexis gives him a big hug.
"So, who you were you trying to impress?" Alexis asks, catching them off guard.
"It was just a job," Rick tries to deflect.
"Dad!" she scolds again, this time more intensely.
"Frank and Roy," Rick replies, "I wanted them to keep me around since I felt safe there."
"Safe from what?" Alexis asks confused.
"That's another story," Rick replies.
The look on his face made her drop it.
"it seems you're going to stay," Alexis replies.
"Gates may put up a fight," Rick counters.
"Come on, Uncle Bob and Uncle Frank are your Rabbis. Who's going to say no to them."
"Rabbis?"
"Cop slang," Alexis explains "It's an influential person who is an unofficial sponsor."
"I Know what it means, why do you?" Rick rolls his eyes.
"Nicki's my best friend.," Alexis answers, "I picked up all sorts of cop speak from her family specially her uncle Danny and great-grand-dad. And we've done some research."
"This can't be good," Rick shakes his head.
"Until Kate," Alexis recounts, "Gates was the youngest female detective ever.
"She should have been a shoo-in for homicide."
"But others had powerful rabbis. IAB was her only choice," Alexis replies, "That's why Gates resents you," Alexis adds, "You're there because of your rabbis."
"She tried to get out of IAB. But she couldn't, beat the bias against IAB I guess. So, she fought to stop what she considered the corrupt rabbis practice," Alexis replies.
"Good analysis," Rick responds, "You will make a formidable Duchess."
"Did you just paraphrase "Dune"?' Alexis smirks, "You hate Dune".
"Just a little," Rick replies.
"Alright, tell me what you and Uncle Frank are up to," Alexis asks, "I'll know sooner or later."
"But you'll be angry later," Rick replies.
"I won't be angry," Alexis says calmly.
He nods and hands her a case with his badge in it.
Then he explains and she remains calm until he finishes. Then waits a second.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND!"
"I wonder if Frank is having a better day." Rick mumbles.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Office of the Police Commissioner
NYPD Headquarters
1 Police Plaza Path,
New York, NY 10038
Captain Victoria Gates sat frozen with her hand over her mouth then she finally spoke.
"I am so sorry, Sir," she says in a trembling voice.
She felt like a schoolgirl who'd just uttered a naughty word in front of the whole class.
For his part, the Commissioner sat there, lips sealed, trying to suppress laughter.
"It's alright," he says good naturedly, "I'm not giving you detention.
"Thank you, Sir," she replies, "Is this one of Mr. Castle's pranks?"
"I assure you it's not," he replies, "Any further questions?"
She pauses a second.
"Yes, Sir," she nods, "There is something I don't understand."
"Go ahead."
"You're creating an Assistant Deputy Commissioner position," she states, "Aren't such positions limited to administrative duties with no police powers."
"I recall," he says, "You had police powers as Deputy Commissioner of IA."
"Well, yes," she says, "I was police officer before becoming administrative.
"Sir, I was a sworn officer before," she counters, "Did I miss the part where Mr. Castle he joined the NYPD?" Gates says sarcastically.
"Actually, he joined the New York City DOI as a Confidential Investigator," hestates.
"The Department of Investigation!" she blurts, "They're not even part of the NYPD.
"But they are a law enforcement agency," The PC responds, "The oldest in the city."
"They investigate civic corruption," she states, "Like IAB for the city and I get the irony."
"The Investigators are sworn officers," he replies, "And work at the mayor's direction."
"Since when has he been one?" she asks,
"Monday morning," he replies, "At least temporarily."
How long is temporarily?" she asks.
"Monday afternoon," he responds, "He's already transferred to my staff at NYPD."
"I get they answer to the mayor, but how did you get DOI to agree?" Gates asks.
"Rick called in a favor," the PC confirms. "He consults with DOI, occasionally."
How long has this been going on?"
"It started before he stared working with Beckett, why?" he asks.
"Did you and Montgomery know?"
"Considering we helped raise Rick from a pup," He replies, "The topic was discussed."
"I should have been informed," Gates replies.
"Rick didn't want to," he replies, "And there are no rules mandating he should've."
"Is he cooperating with any other agencies I should know about?" Gates asks.
"He'll tell you, when necessary," the PC replies, "Otherwise, it'll give you nightmares."
"This, I believe," Gates replies, "Although, I think it's years too late for that."
"Your reactions to Rick side activities strike me as odd," he states.
"What do you mean?" Gates responds.
"Victoria, your happiest days are when he's not there," he replies, "Why do you care?"
"He's part of my precinct," Gates replies.
"Victoria, how do you define Rick Castle's his role at the precinct?"
"I think you need to clarify, Sir."
"First, you refer to him as "Mr. Castle" as a sign disrespect," the PC says.
"I do so because he's a civilian," she responds.
"Exactly," the PC responds, "Despite his accomplishments cannot bring yourself to show respect.
Sir…
"Second, in your mind, why is Rick Castle at the 12th?" he asks.
"He's like an embedded reporter following a story," she replies.
"Actually, that's Jameson Rook, his alter ego from the novels," he responds.
"I've never read the books," she lies.
The PC just exhales in disbelief.
"Would you agree that Rick has been helpful?" the PC asks.
"Yes," she replies reluctantly, "In a support role, like one of our administrative aides."
"These two examples," he replies, "Are they how you rationalize his presence."
"I wouldn't call it a rationalization, Sir."
"What would you call it, Captain?"
"Well sir, I define Mr. Castle's role in a way that fits departmental precedents."
"So," the PC counters, "You treat him as a go-fer?"
"I wouldn't put it that way," Gates stammers.
"I however, "he counters, "See him as one of the most gifted investigators, researchers, and profilers I have ever seen."
"Are you…" she stops before the word 'nuts' is uttered, "Sure?"
"Nice save," the PC smirks, "But you've reduced Nick Charles to Asta's dog walker."
"Who?" she scrunches her nose.
"Nick Charles," he replies, "Was an amateur sleuth created by Dashiell Hammett. He was helped by his rich, beautiful, wife, Nora, and their wire fox terrier, Asta.
"And when they offered to help the police, they took it gladly. In the movie version of the second book, Jimmy Stewart played the villain, his only time as the heavy."
"I still can't see him in the same light as you do," Gates isn't giving up the ghost.
"Here's something from when he was eleven," the PC states.
"Did you say eleven?" Gates does a double take.
"Yeah, he came by the precinct one day", The PC recounts, "Roy was away from his desk, but there were some crime scene photos there."
"And he couldn't help going through them," Gates rolls his eyes.
"It was an open and shut case," he declares, "A young woman was found dead in an SRO with an empty bottle of large sleeping pills next to her."
"Suicide?" Gates says.
"Roy was about yell at Rick, when the kid asks, where's the glass of water?"
"What?" she blurts.
"Two detectives, three cops, and an ME said suicide," he replies, "Rick says murder. Ever wonder why Sidney Perlmutter hates Rick? Rick made him reverse his findings."
"Did you get the guy?"
"Yeah," he replies, "Spoiled real-estate heir. Said it was all a witch hunt to frame him."
"Maybe he was trying for a psych hospital," Gates suggests.
"Yeah, now he claims he was the President who lost reelection in a rigged vote."
"As interesting a story as that is Sir," Gates responds, "He was an eleven-year-old who made a lucky guess anyone would have seen it eventually."
"Don't kid yourself Victoria," he smiles, "I wouldn't base my decision on a one-off event. When he was eleven. There's much more."