The Heart Won't Lie
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: This is Totally AU; Beckett has left for D.C and the Feds. This describes the activity of each, during the time away from each other, NO PROPOSAL, before she left, but plenty of ANGST. Can they find their way back to each other, or do they even want to? It blends some Canon dialog, courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com, then goes quickly and completely AU. What were each up to during this time, Taking Literary License to fill in the blanks.
A/N: CASKETT ENDING IS NOT GUARANTEED. : CASKETT ENDING IS NOT GUARANTEED.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Thanks to reader pmt0622 for the prompt:
A CASKETT ENDING IS NOT GUARANTEED.
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Chapter 11
Crime Scene
Same Time Period
Roy took charge of his team, the instruments they were wielding were not Sci-Fi toys, but actually state of art, another name for expensive, tools of investigation. One detected blood, but also provided a type with a slight swab, and if enough sample was possible a DNA footprint could be gathered real-time, subject to confirmation at a lab.
NYPD Crime Lab had penetrated just about every surface with powder while dusting for fingerprints, unsuccessfully, but one tool the team had removed the powder, and using high powered scanners were able to pick up partial prints, along with a shoe print that the lab had completely missed.
Detective Beckett had rushed the lab personnel, so it wasn't a surprise that evidence was missed, Roy's team spent almost five hours going over every detail, recording and calibrating. The handprints on the weapon the victim had tried to retrieve were gone, taken by NYPD, BUT the ammo box had legible prints, matching Mr. Glazer.
Roy concentrated on the safe, and the surrounding area, it was a similar brand and type that had been used in other high-end robberies, meaning they were dealing with a professional. He had already contacted the companies associated with installation, service, and manufacturing of the units for disgruntled employees that may have left recently.
He expanded the search to those who recently quit, or retired, and as expected received push back from the companies for information of that type. He reached the VP of Operations for one company, and the conversation was very polite but short.
"Mr. Vale, yes I'm fully aware of the day, it's Christmas which means I'm away from my family in the apartment of one of your customers who was murdered last evening. Now how would you like for me to call the Times and publish the brand and contact number of your company, also that it was the same safe that was cracked in at least five of the recent high-end burglaries?
"I don't give a shit about your day, our victim, your customer doesn't have anymore, thanks to the inferior product you overcharge for. How would that go over for business, now either I have that list, and the names of your top five competitors' contact information, including phone numbers, within two hours or I call the Times, the Post, and every rag paper I know of.
"What better way to get even with your competitors than to have their Christmas holiday interrupted as I did yours while doing a public service at the same time. I mean it's your call, don't tell me you guys don't get together to talk shop at the golf course, how the hell do you think we got your home number?" Roy was a master at applying leverage,
"OK, OK, but it's going to take me longer than two hours, I have to go into the office to retrieve that information, give me until 7:00 PM tonight?" Vale replied,
"Are you nuts, who do you think you're fucking with, I'm calling the Times as soon as I hang up," Roy spit out,
"No, No, OK, OK, three hours, that's all I'm asking three hours, please?" Vale begged,
"You've got three hours, if you're a minute late I call the Times," Roy said, as he disconnected the phone.
"Hey Roy, I think we got something on those photo recognition shots from the cameras the boss installed. Look at these, they're all side shots, but you know that new software Rick agreed to Alpha and Beta test for Bill Gates and Microsoft, it worked, we got a hit." Larry, one of Roy's top investigators, and a nerd like Rick for new gadgets.
"How did that work again Larry? I know it wasn't the retina recognition, that's been around for a long time, what was it they focused on?" Roy asked,
Larry smiled, and tugged on one of his ears, "The ear, Roy, people think that by turning away from cameras they're safe, they used to be, but this software, and don't ask me how it works, but it identifies suspects by comparing photos of their ear, I thought they were both nuts, but it worked.
"That's only half of the good news, see these, the guy thinks he's being so smart using a camera in his glasses, to take pictures. He's concentrating on the most valuable pieces of jewelry, and their owners" Larry smiled,
"You got a name to go with those pics, Larry?" Roy asked,
"Better, we got the guy, he's being detained at the holding cell, solitary confinement at One PP. The cops don't know he's there or who he is," Larry said, baiting Roy,
"If I have to ask you once again, I'm going to kick your ass, who is the mystery photographer and how is he tied to the MADT organization?"
"His name is Dick Emery, at least that's his name now. He did time for robbery and home invasion in New York under his birth name Leslie Duce, no wonder he changed it." Larry laughed,
"So how was he tied to the organization, or was he?" Roy asked,
"He was hiding two secrets, the Director of the Art Museum, Gearld Coleman and he were, or are lovers. Coleman was on the Board of Directors of MADT, charities like that often bring in someone like in his position to lend credibility to it. This time they brought in a man who is severely over-leveraged and in need of cash like tomorrow, seems he has a gambling habit and isn't very good at it."
"Before you ask where Coleman is, he's upstate in the secure cabin with team C, he's more frightened of the bears than he is his guards. The team let it be known he was going out of town for a family business event, in case Beckett's team chase him down." Larry smiled,
"Good job, but you need to lose the smirk, Rick will take you to school if he sees that," Roy said from experience,
"Got it, boss, let's wrap up here, I think we have a partial print we need to eliminate a few suspects back at the office," Larry said,
"Agreed. Good Job, let the rest of the team go home to their families, it's still time to enjoy some of the day, I'll take this" Roy said, as he dismissed his team and headed to the office. He didn't want to come out and say it, but he didn't want to hear from his little sisters about how big of a disappointment he had been to his father, he would see his Mom when they weren't around.
XxX
12th Precinct
Two Hours Later
Kate had the boys come back to the station, then thought better and sent them home. She knew how Jenny hated her already. If she forced Daddy to miss his little girl's Christmas, she didn't think that there would ever be a path back into her graces.
She was setting up the murder board when she heard a familiar voice, behind her.
"Tell you what boss, you take the board, I'll see what I can dig out on a holiday for the vic's financials and phones," Javi said,
"Hey, what are you doing here, I sent you and Ryan home, it's Christmas," Kate said as she got the eye roll back from Espo,
"Yeah, it's Christmas, just another reminder that I like you, am alone on yet another holiday. Kate, you have to regret treating Castle the way you did, I mean, I thought he would never let you go. I guess everyone has a breaking point, and we both found out the hard way.
"I never asked you the question but you have to know everyone, especially Rick wondered, WHY? You had the world by the, eh, horns." Javi said, and turned to look down at his paperwork,
"I could ask why you couldn't commit to Lanie, but that isn't any of my business, so I won't. You asked the question that I've asked myself a thousand times, and the truth was I got played Javi, my fucking ego, got me played." She said, sadly,
"Now that we've cracked that box open do you care to explain for those of us a little slow in the room" he smiled, making her feel at ease. She knew she needed to talk about things, and since Lanie was AWOL, she didn't trust anyone else.
Javi was her brother, he cared, sometimes too much sticking his nose into her business, but she always knew he was only trying to protect her. Royce finally admitted that he had charged Javi with that role the day he left for his retirement during their beer before she realized he played her like so many others when they worked Under The Gun jewel case.
"OK, remember the drone case, the one that Rick was so excited about because of the remote detonation of the car bomb, never mind that it was the kid's father, but anyway, we had the Feds come in. I'm not sure you remember that,"
"Oh, you're talking about Mr. Sorensen the second, old square jaw Stock or something like that was his name," Javi said,
"Close Javi, it was Stack, long story short, he approached me after the case, away from Castle, he fed me some pre-prepared sales pitch of small stage, and how much more I could do on a large stage where my talents would really shine, anyway, I fell hook line and sinker.
"Rick asked me what he wanted and I blew him off, in fact, I lied to him. I should have told him the truth, but by that time, I was beginning to believe some of the crap he fed me. He even got Gates to give me a great recommendation, so when I flew to DC, early that morning, never telling Rick, I already had the job. I had already lied to him three times, I didn't want to make it anymore. I didn't know at the time, but it was a recruiting technique because what the real job when compared to the promises they make, is total bullshit."
"Wait, you flew to DC, that must have been the water tank case where we pulled that chick out of the water tower. You never told Rick you were going? You never mentioned a word to him, Kate? God, that was what three weeks after Eric Vaughn, I swear you were having a breakdown then.
"I tried to talk to Rick, but he was so hurt, he just said, things would work out. The last thing he said to me was sort of spooky, 'sometimes you have to face the fact you don't always get what you want in life'. I thought of that talk many nights after Lanie and I split, I mean, I couldn't give her what she needed.
"I couldn't string her along, so it was for the best she cut me loose. I just didn't know she would recover so fast; it does hurt." He said, as once again his eyes found the floor.
"I'm sorry Javi, I knew you cared about her, but you know sometimes you have to put the other one's needs before yours, don't look at me, it wasn't me, we both know that I never did, I was talking about Rick," Kate said sadly,
"I left for DC when he was staying in the Hamptons, he didn't want to watch the movers take things away that had only been moved there less than five months before. I know you've heard, so you might as well hear my story about the episode of sleeping with my boss.
"I was dead tired, miserable, and well lonely, so I took him up on the invitation, no funny business just a group going for a drink after work. Well, the next morning, I woke in his bed, with a terrible hangover, and a sense of shame and guilt I never could express.
"I always accused Rick of just trying to sleep with me to add a notch to his bedpost, so what do I do? Move to a new city, new job, and become a married man's notch, I know that destroyed any possibility of any chance to be friends with Rick, much less work our way back together."
"You think Kate? You went nuts on the man when he had his tryst with Ellie Monroe, and he practically begged you to tell him not to go, you told him to do what he wanted. How is your loneliness any more of an excuse, hell you and Rick were living together two weeks earlier? You hadn't even dated him when he slept with Ellie." Javi said, anger in his voice.
"Well, I was drunk, and he was stone-cold sober" she fired back, then realized what a hypocrite she was being, "but you're right, and I'm wrong. There is no comparison between what he did, and how I acted. I have to live with being played by not only the US Government but also the man I thought would uphold the morals of the department.
"I was wrong, both times, the second time really hurt because of how I had treated Rick and then fell for such a line of bull shit. My only redemption is that the AG found out and transferred his ass to Guam, after testifying for his wife in their divorce trial.
"He left DC with nothing, but that didn't undo what he did to me, too many of the new agents. Still, I fucked up, I knew better, and if I hadn't fallen for a line of crap, I never would have been in that mess, to begin with." Kate half cried, half said,
"You sure about that Kate?" Javi asked after giving her a few moments to compose herself.
"What's that supposed to mean? You know I wouldn't, Javi" Kate cried,
"What I know Kate, let me finish because you're not going to like what you hear, is that you only put Kate's interests at heart when you go after something. I remember the case where you were clinging to the edge of the ledge shouting out for help, I was knocked unconscious, but the collateral damage was greater for me and Ryan than you.
"You suddenly decided that Castle was all you wanted, after resigning from the force, and it took Castle's influence to get you back, (noticing her glare of what are you talking about) what? That shocks you, Kate? Did you think you just batted your eyes at the Captain and all was better, after you so much as told her to shove the job up her ass? I was suspended for 90 days, and it took almost 18 months for Ryan and me to mend the fences. I still don't trust him as I once did, so thanks for that.
"Ryan had a tough time with both me, and you being gone. He thought it was his fault we got into trouble, but in reality, it was yours Beckett, all yours". He held his hand up to stop her from talking, "I said to stay quiet Beckett, I'm not finished.
"I obeyed orders and kept a promise to Royce to look after you when I knew I couldn't talk you out of what you were planning. Hell, if you threw Rick out of your life, you certainly wouldn't listen to me. Ryan just followed orders until his gut instinct kicked in, good thing, it saved your life, even though it came close to destroying our friendship.
"How many times did you call me Kate when I was suspended? How many times did you ask me if I needed anything? That's easy, you never did. Rick called me every week, and my rent was paid for six months by an anonymous person, wonder who that could have been? Ryan called, or tried, it took me almost 6 months before I would say anything more to him than I needed to for work.
"You moved on with Castle, your life was good, mine was shit, and to be honest, if Rick hadn't paid the rent, I would have been homeless. So, you see when you say you wouldn't have fallen for a line of crap, yes you would have. All it required was to satisfy one of your wants, and you would have been played like a cheap violin.
"The ONLY person you ever put your shields up around was Castle, so you need to rethink why and what happened. Kate, do you think that Rick really didn't know of all of your one-night stands when you and Lanie went out for girl's nights?
"It always happened after you had been without a boyfriend for a few months, and was a huge reason why I couldn't get serious enough with Lanie to propose. That's on me, and between us, but do yourself a favor, stop lying to yourself and justifying everything you did. You know exactly why you did what you did, what's worse is that we all know the truth also.
"Now come on, grab your coat, Rick has the Haunt opened for free meals to anyone who can't afford a Christmas dinner, he just asks for a contribution to those who can. It's about the only place open on Christmas Day, so no arguments, just think about what I said." He held her coat and she silently put it on, his words had hit deep, perhaps she needed to really think about everything.
XxX
RCE Enterprises
Two Hours Later
Roy was alone in the office processing all of the data they had gathered, he needed to speak to Rick, but he knew the questions Rick would ask, and he better have the answers. As he was making himself a cup of coffee, his cell phone rang.
"RCE, This is Roy" he answered as he always did.
"Roy, this is Parker from Forsythe Labs, you sent us a sample DNA, and requested a complete breakdown of any potential relatives of the deceased Mr. Karl Nadir, AKA Carl Nady, AKA Carl Nadler, we have some results."
"Great," Roy said, as he turned on the recorder, "By the way this call is being recorded to ensure accuracy on my part, I owe my boss a report this afternoon" he finished his statement,
"Fine, no issues from this end Roy, are you set to record?" Parker asked,
"Recording as we speak" Roy replied,
"Well, I think you said you were playing a hunch, turns out that although Mr. Nadir didn't have any natural children, his sister did, two sons, one which ran away from home at 15 and spent most of his youth in reform schools.
"Randy Turner, was his legal name, although he went by Nadir later in life. There was never anything official to change it, more of his personal choice. He spent time in Green Haven Correctional facility, where his cellmate was none other than his uncle, Karl Nadir, since there was no contact between, him and his mother, or any relative, the prison never knew they were related.
"He was released about 4 months ago, after completing 15 years out of a 25 to life for manslaughter, and get this, it was during a jewel heist he committed the murder of the homeowner. He did share cells for a short time with another interesting criminal, Leslie Duce who he befriended, and provided protection.
"Deuce was paroled 8 years ago, and sort of dropped out of the system until he provided his DNA voluntarily to an ancestry site on the internet. The DNA we gathered from Mr. Turner matches the footprint of the DNA sample from the crime scene. It can be challenged in court, so it would be best to have a witness testify to support the evidence. That would secure a more meaningful case to the DA and jury."
"That's fantastic Parker, now one last question," Roy started,
"We verified he's living at Charlton Street, in SOHO, I'll text you his exact address and google map location if that helps," Parker said,
"Thanks for the Christmas present, Parker, that just made our day, and Merry Christmas to you as well," Roy said, trying not to smile, they were a long way from closing the case, BUT they were a hell of a lot closer than NYPD.
TBC
A/N: The software described using ear recognition DOES exist, although not widely used in public settings yet.