Beckett Behind Bars
CHAPTER THREE
All Standard Disclaimers Apply
Kate dragged herself out of bed and wandered into her bathroom. She took a quick shower and was happy to see that there was no trails of paint and ink running down her arm. The temporary tattoos passed their first test.
She came back and began to get dressed. Castle was still sound asleep, and for that she was grateful. Hopefully she would be able to dress and get out of the apartment before he woke. She just didn't have an awkward good bye in her.
She put on one of her oldest pair of jeans, and a simple pull over blouse. She also grabbed a plain hoodie from her closet.
She gave the sleeping Castle a warm smile and a quick kiss on the forehead as a slight twinge plucked at her heart. She prayed that this operation would be quick and easy. Being away from Rick was going to be one of the hardest parts of it. But she would bring Rick's confidence in her with her.
She padded out into the kitchen in her stocking feet and found her oldest pair of tennis shoes on the floor of the hall closet. She was now a criminal, so she might as well look the part as best she could.
She didn't dare make herself a cup of coffee because she was afraid the aroma would wake Castle. She planned to be away before he woke. She figured she could get a cup at the 29th before her ride to Belmont showed up. It just wouldn't be as good as what Rick could make for her.
Another sacrifice she would have to make for this foray into the unknown.
She was actually encouraged by the fact that she made it out of her apartment without waking Rick up. Maybe things were looking up for her. She didn't want to have to say good bye.
What she didn't know was when her front door banged shut and the latch caught, a smile appeared on Rick Castle's face. "Stay safe, Kate."
She had caught a cab almost right out in front of her place. She gave him the address of the 29th precinct and she was on her way.
She flopped back against the poorly cushioned seat and closed her eyes. She hadn't really gotten much in the way of sleep. Even after being nearly worn out by her lover, her mind wouldn't shut down and let her rest. She really hoped that she would be able to sleep on the prison beds. She tended to be cranky when she didn't sleep well.
The driver had to call out to her a couple of times when they arrived. Apparently she could sleep in a cab.
She quickly entered through the front entrance and said hi to the desk sergeant, who happened to be the same one she saw yesterday. He just smiled after a brief confused look, and waved her through.
When she reached the third floor and made it over to the gang unit's space she was greeted by Lt. Walters. He led her into the same conference room they used the day before.
Her eyes grew big when she walked through the door. Sitting on the table was a large pot of coffee, by the smell of it. And a plate of various pastries. She noticed that there were bear claws on the plate. She grinned as she grabbed one.
She glanced over at him and raised her brow.
"We called Esposito and asked what you normally ate for breakfast."
"Thank you very much." It was nice that he made the effort to find out. She poured herself a cup of coffee. "But this is really what I need."
"I'm just sorry it's plain old coffee and not the fancy stuff you have over at the 12th."
Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at him. "Esposito is in big trouble. He's the worst gossip I've ever known. How he was able to keep his mouth shut when he was in Special Forces, I'll never know."
Walters chuckled with her, then she took a big bite of the bear claw and washed it down with the coffee. It was plain, and black, but it was coffee, and she better get accustomed to plain coffee again, because she doubted Belmont Prison had latte machines in their mess.
Kate poured herself another cup and turned back to toward Walters. "So, when is my ride coming?"
He checked his watch. "They won't be here for about an hour yet… if they are on time. So you have a little time to enjoy your breakfast, and ask any questions you still have."
She nodded. "Okay, I do have one question. Why only have one person, the warden, know my real identity? Couldn't that possibly be a problem? What if when she's out of the office and I need to contact her for some reason. I'm stuck."
Walters nodded. "Yeah, that could be a problem, but we really felt your security would be best served by just having the one person, the most powerful person, be in on this. I would have problems trusting the staff or the guards if they thought someone might be willing to pay for information, any information that someone might want."
Kate frowned. "This might be considered a little late to be informing me of something like that."
"I'm sorry, but it's a sad fact that prison personnel are working in prisons and not precincts for a reason. Many are washed out uniforms or cop wanna be's. You'll be fine as long as you act like a criminal. Don't give them any reason to think you are anything more than just another convict."
Kate furrowed her brow. "So don't bring any undue attention to myself, and make sure I plan my exit when the warden is there."
Walter's pulled a card out of his pocket. "And if you do run into some uncomfortable situation, here's the card of your lawyer."
Kate picks up and looks at the card. "It looks legit."
"Oh it is? He really is a lawyer, he just moonlights for us when we need a lawyer's participation." Walters grabs a donut for himself. "And he charges like a lawyer too, but if you need him, he will be briefed before he comes and sees you."
They sit together in silence for several minutes until Kate starts to laugh.
"Spit it out Lieutenant, I can see you fidgeting over there. What do you want to know?"
He looked sheepish. "So, Richard Castle is really your partner? He's on your team?"
Kate smiles and nods. "Yes he is. Has been going on five years now."
Walters shakes his head. "Why? I would think he'd just get in the way."
She smiled. "That's what I had thought too. When he pulled strings with the mayor to be allowed to shadow me I was not a happy detective."
Walters laughed. "I'll bet."
Kate froze him with her stare. "But you know what? He's the best partner I've ever had, and I don't know what I'd do if he left."
Walter's frowned. "My wife loves his books, but she's convinced that the only reason you keep him around is because the two of you are 'doing it'."
Kate glared at him. He held his hands up in front of himself. "I didn't say that, she did. Still it's hard to believe he can provide much help."
Kate knew she had to keep her cool. It's natural for people who don't know anything about Castle, and his work at the 12th to think that way. It just annoys her that people don't realize that if he was just a tag along nuisance he wouldn't still be working with them for the last five years.
"I can understand your skepticism. It's not something I haven't heard for five years now. But do you really think I would let someone follow me around who didn't contribute? The facts are what they are, and since Castle joined our team, we've had the best closure rate every month except one for the last four and a half years running."
Walters smirked. "What happened on that one month?"
Kate returned his smirk. "He was out with badly sprained ankle he received when he knocked over a suspect who had me in his sights. He's always had my back and I'll always have his."
Walters smirked again. "It sounds like you two might be a bit more than just work partners."
Kate smiled back. "Might be."
He chuckled, then checked his watch. "Oh, it's time to get you down into holding. Your ride will be here shortly."
Kate sighed and reached over and filled another cup, and grabbed another bear claw.
"Lead on."
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Kate found the ride to Belmont Prison, both uncomfortable, and boing. She was joined by two other prisoners being transported that morning.
It was a simple cargo van where the back had been refitted with two bench seats along either side of the van. There was no back rests and only the thinnest of padding on the benches. At two foot intervals there was a single cuff on a chain bolted to the ceiling of the van. There was space to transport up to eight individuals at any one time.
Kate was thankful that they were fewer and thus didn't have to sit next to each other. And she was also thankful that no one wanted to chat.
Kate had decided that she'd be best served if she played the role of a sullen, uncommunicative person. One who minded her own business and wasn't at all interested in anyone else.
No one, that is, except Valeria Denov. Kate needed to come up with a reason to pick her out as someone she'd talk to. The strange thing was, Walters told her that Valeria came over from Russia as a teen ager along with her parents. So how was it that she supposedly didn't speak English? She'd had years to pick up the language. Maybe the neighborhood she was raised in spoke their own language most of the time.
That was the first red flag that Kate saw. It could mean that she was faking it. It made sense that'd she'd use Russian because her folks probably spoke it at home, but as she interacted with other teenagers how could she not be exposed to the language.
In fact, how could she become a prostitute and not be able to know what her customer's specific wants would be, and how to communicate her pricing?
Granted she could have learned just enough English to conduct her business, but she would still be at a steep disadvantage against the English speaking pros.
Kate was getting the feeling that there was more to little miss Valeria than she let others see. Somehow Kate was going to have to gain her trust. Or she'd have to trick the information out of her. Either way it was going to be more difficult finding out what she needed than just befriending the girl and expect she'll confide in her.
Katya had better not underestimate Valeria.
Kate had so much on her mind that the time went by quickly and she was surprised when they passed through the gates and pulled up to a solitary building that attached to the main prison building by only the smallest of an enclosed walkway.
The guards prepared to have them debark from the van. Two guards flanked the rear doors of the van as one guard stepped into the van and unlocked their cuffs.
That guard quickly jumped out of the van, pulled her weapon and joined the other two. They called for the convicts to step out of the van and hold their hands in front of them.
Kate and her two companions had zip ties fastened around their wrists and then they were instructed to follow the yellow line.
They were all brought into an obvious administration section of the prison. The three of them were instructed to sit on a wooden bench where a couple of guards with revolvers pulled, and in hand, stood on either side of the bench.
A single guard called the first prisoner out and accompanied her to a door way that lead to a hallway. Kate sat and watched the hallway until that guard and prisoner came back. The prisoner was handed off to a new guard who had just shown up and was led down a different corridor which Kate assumed was the way to the prison proper.
Kate just sat there until it was finally her turn to take the walk down the hallway. They reached the end, and came up against a metal door with a buzzer next to it. The buzzer was pushed and the door opened.
On the other side of the door was an ante room which was set up like a secretary's office. There was a woman sitting behind a large monitor and keyboard from an obviously outdated computer. Kate also recognized a fax machine, and a printer which seemed to be able to print from the secretary's computer and from an outside source.
Kate was escorted through another door which led into another office. But this office was quite a bit nicer. It had a wooden desk, with two comfortable looking upholstered chairs in front of the desk.
There was a nice rug under the desk and chairs. A large bookcase that matched the desk was pushed up against the far north wall, if Kate had kept her directions correct. Against the south wall was a credenza with had a small coffee and water set up, and on the wall above was a couple of large typical office style scenic pictures. There were several smaller pictures of kids and young adults, all smiling at the camera. Kate assumed they were family pictures. Probably kids and grandkids.
Kate was guided to one of the chairs in front of the desk. Behind the desk sat a matronly looking woman who had to be in her late fifties to early sixties. Her hair was styled in a neat bun at the back of her neck. Not a brown/grey strand of hair was out of place. The plaque on her desk read Margret Winslow Warden.
Kate couldn't seem to get any sort of read on her since her focus was all on some papers she was reading. Kate assumed they were about her. This was supposed to be the woman who was her lifeline in this place.
Kate wasn't surprised to notice that the guard who brought her in stood post at the door. You couldn't leave the Warden in a room with a criminal unprotected after all. It just made it more difficult to talk.
Finally Warden Winslow put the paper down and looked up at Kate.
"Katya Koslikov, it says here that you're remanded to our facility because you were convicted of attempted murder. That's a very serious crime."
Kate didn't change her expression. "That's an exaggeration. I wasn't trying to kill the jerk, I was just trying to scare him away."
Margret looked down on the paper and then looked back up. "You tried to scare him away with a shotgun?"
Kate shrugged. "It was handy."
"But if you were just trying to scare him, why did you fire at him."
"He never would have been scared if I had just waved the gun in the air."
"But he received wounds on his posterior. That would seem to indicate to me that he was already leaving?"
"Yeah, I was a little slow on the trigger."
Margret looked down at her paper again. "Where are you from Katya?"
"Little Odessa."
"In New York City."
Kate rolled her eyes for effect. "That's right."
"How long have you been in the United States?"
Kate pursed her lips and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, like she was thinking.
"About ten years."
The Warden nodded. "And you were originally from Kiev?"
Kate waved her hand toward the papers on the Warden's desk. "That's what it says there. Just like it has all the other things you asked me."
The older woman smiled at Kate. "So you think you're a tough gal."
"Tough enough."
"Well Ms. Tough Enough, you'll find that here cooperation will get you further than a tough gal attitude."
The Warden leans back in her chair like she's thinking. "I have an idea Katya. How about I give you a chance to show me that you can cooperate in something that will not only help you, but would help another former country woman of yours."
"What's in it for me?" Kate had guessed what the warden was working toward and she was thankful for the clever idea she hoped was going to be proposed to the sullen Katya.
"Well, aside from helping another Russian immigrant who got herself in trouble. Maybe I would consider looking into your case and see if there might be any way to claim your actions were self-defense."
Kate made herself sit up straighter. "What's your deal?"
Warden Winslow gave Kate a grandmotherly smile. "Well, I have a young Russian girl who got in with a wrong crowd and found herself here."
"It happens."
"Well this young Russian woman is at a definite disadvantage because she doesn't speak English. Only a few words here and there. But since you seem to have had no problem learning the language, and I'm assuming that you also can speak Russian, I'm hoping that you would agree to help this girl learn some English. To help her navigate while she's here."
Kate plays it up like she's thinking. "And if I do this. If I help this ignorant girl learn how to speak more English, you'll help me out with my case?"
Margret folds her hands in front of her. "I can't promise anything, but I know people who can scrutinize the case and can see if you have some basis to at least lessen your sentence."
Kate nods like she'd consider the deal. "Okay, I'll give it a shot. I'm not a teacher but I do know both languages."
Margret smiles. "Excellent." She turns to the guard. "Chloe, please take Ms. Koslikov down and get her package. Clothes, sundries, all her basic needs and check in with the Floor Warden. The arrangements should have been finished by then." Margret looks down at her papers. "Katya Koslikov from this day forward you will be sharing a cell with Valeria Denov."
Kate almost has to bite he lip to keep from smiling. This warden just made the first part of her operation really simple. Now she doesn't have to track down the girl and find a way to be her friend. They're roomies.
The Warden stood up and reached out her hand. Kate stood and took the woman's hand. It was a bit awkward because of the plastic ties hadn't been removed yet.
"Katya, let's hope your stay here is reasonably comfortable and short."
Kate felt a slip of paper pressed into her palm. She kept her face unresponsive as she clenched her fist and kept the guard from seeing what had been passed to her.
The guard, Chloe, scowled at Kate. "Follow me." There was only expected compliance in her tone. Kate followed.
While following like a good little puppy and staring at guard Chloe's back, Kate was able to maneuver the slip of paper such that she could read what was scrawled on the slip of paper.
In a hurried handwriting she peeked down at the paper in her hand. Written were only three words, "Trust No One".
Kate looked around her and noted that no one was currently looking at her, so she quickly slipped the small strip of paper into her mouth. After completely soaking it with her saliva she swallowed it.
Suddenly, her recent flare of hope was damped down significantly..
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Richard Castle walked into the 12th precinct and noticed that both Espo and Ryan were at their desks.
"So, no current case guys?" He planted his butt on the corner of Ryan's desk.
Ryan pushed him off. "No, we're just finishing up the paperwork from our last one before Gates comes down on us."
Castle quickly glanced over to Gates' office. "Where is your fearless leader this morning?"
Esposito chimed in. "She's down at 1PP for some sort of meetings, but she told us she 'expects' our paperwork will be finished by the time she comes back."
Castle chuckled. "Well, you guys have it made then. With both your bosses gone I'm surprised you're not surfing the internet or flicking paper footballs through hand uprights."
Esposito glared at him. "We have to get this paperwork done, or Gates will have our hides."
Ryan nodded. "Yeah, and we don't even have Beckett as a buffer."
Rick nodded. "I know."
Both detectives glared at Castle. "Do you know where she is?" Esposito questioned the writer.
"Don't you?" Castle tossed back.
"I had a guy from the gang's unit call and ask me what Beckett usually had for breakfast." He frowned. "Why would she be with gangs?"
Ryan shook his head. "All Gates or Beckett would tell us is that she was working on a special assignment."
Castle held his hands out. "If that was all you were told, then I don't think I'm allowed to add to it."
Ryan jumped in. "So you do know. She told you didn't she!"
Castle held his hands out. "If Gates won't tell you then I'm certainly not going to tell you. She'd hurt me."
Javier grinned. "Which one, Gates or Beckett?" They all chuckled.
Ryan had a questioning look on his face as he addressed the writer. "If we aren't allowed to know where she is, why is it that you seem to know?"
"Yeah bro, what's up with that?" Espo glared at Castle.
Castle shrugged as he moved farther away from their desks. "Well, you know, I'm her partner."
"No, we're her partners. You are a nosey writer who has somehow convinced her to let you follow her around like a puppy."
Castle frowned. "I'm helpful."
Ryan jumped in. "Yeah, he's very good at bringing Beckett coffee, and buying her a bear claw nearly every day."
"Nearly?"
"Yeah bro, if you didn't feed her and keep her caffeinated, do you really think she'd keep you around?"
Rick started to give Esposito a glare, when he mind flashed back to last evening. So instead he flashed both of them a big grin.
"Maybe, maybe not." Castle smirked back. "All I know is, it's been five years now and she still hasn't shot me."
Both of 'the boys' nodded in wonder. "That's true." Espo spoke up. "You have to be one of the luckiest guys I've ever known."
"Hey, Beckett sees my value."
The two detectives began laughing. "I'll bet she does. Coffee and bear claws do have value."
Castle put on one of his smug faces. "Oh she is aware of a lot more value I provide."
Esposito snorted loudly. "In your dreams writer boy, in your dreams."
"Guys," He paused for effect. "You couldn't handle my dreams."
"Mister Castle!" The mellifluous tones of Captain Gates' voice suddenly broke up the guys' conversation.
Castle turned toward the small frowning woman. "Captain Gates, it's so nice to see you."
"I wish I could say the same." She glared at the writer. "Since I know that you know that Detective Beckett is on a special assignment and is not presently here. I find myself wondering just what you are doing here."
Castle waved his hand around. "I just dropped in to check in with the guys and see if there is anything I can help them with."
Gate raised a brow. "Oh, do you do paperwork now Mr. Castle?"
"Ah, no." He stared at his feet.
Gates nodded her head. "I thought not. And that being the case, I don't really see any need for you to be here… do you?" Before Castle could come up with a rejoinder Gates continued. "Believe it or not, Mr. Castle, the 12th can function just fine without you. So until Detective Beckett returns from her assignment, I would appreciate you not coming into my precinct and bother my people while they are working."
Castle tried to look contrite for the captain but wasn't sure how well he pulled it off. His mother was the actor in the family.
"Actually sir, knowing that Beckett would be gone, I thought I'd drop by to invite my other partners out to lunch. I assume they are allowed to eat lunch."
Gates met his hidden smirk with a smirk of her own. "If they both have finished their paperwork from yesterday's case I have no objection to lunch." She turned gaze onto the two cringing detectives. "Is your paperwork done detectives?"
"Almost." They both answered in unison.
Gate swings her gaze back to Castle. "If you sit quietly in your designated chair, I'll allow you to wait until my detectives have finished their task so you can treat them to lunch. It's a nice gesture."
Castle moved toward his chair. "If you'd like, Captain, you could join us. We'd just be going down to Remy's for burgers and shakes."
Gates gave Castle an enigmatic smile. "As much fun as that sounds Mr. Castle, I've been in meetings all morning and I have my own paperwork to catch up with."
Castle stands next to his chair. "Maybe another time sir."
She nods her head. "Maybe." She then turns and glides into her office, shutting the door behind her.
The tension in the air dropped precipitously. The boys looked at him as he sat down in his chair.
"Hey man, did you really come down here to take us to lunch?" Ryan sounded eager.
"I have now."
The boys, now sufficiently motivated had finished off their paperwork in less than a half an hour. Now they were all sitting at what had become his and Kate's booth. Every time they came into Remy's they chose this booth if it was available. It was in the back corner where Kate could sit with her back to the wall. That way she could see everyone who came through the door.
Castle liked it because, by sitting across from her he had his back to most of the room and that cut down significantly on some fan happening to recognize him and coming up to him for an autograph while he was trying to eat lunch.
They all ordered the cheeseburger plate with fries and a shake. Castle and Esposito ordered chocolate, while Ryan ordered vanilla. That, of course, brought on plenty of razzing from the other two.
They'd had their food, and were comfortably eating, when Ryan brought up the subject of Beckett.
"Castle, from the way that Gates talked, it sounded to me like you know what the 'special assignment' that she is involved in is. That true?"
Castle set down his burger. "Yes, we discussed it the other night. But it was her decision to do it."
Esposito glared at him. "So, how come you are read into this operation when neither Ryan nor I have any idea what she's involved in"?
"Because I'm her partner?"
"What are we, chopped liver?"
Castle shook his head. "No Espo, you are more like a burrito, while Ryan is Irish stew."
"Not funny bro. What is she up to? Tell us, we are her partners and friends too, and we worry. Is it dangerous?"
Castle leaned back and stared at the two detectives. He knew they were worried, and he knew they were trustworthy with the knowledge, but he wasn't sure they wouldn't go charging in like the Lone Ranger and Tonto if they catch any hint of trouble.
"Let me ask you this." Castle answered. "Do you trust her?"
"Yeah." "Oh course." The both were quick to answer.
"She's the one who made the decision to do this. All I can tell you is that she's going undercover. And with her disguise, no one is going to either recognize her or think she's a cop."
"How can you be so sure?" Espo was belligerent.
Castle looked around and noted that no one was sitting nearby were they could see what they were doing. He cautiously pulled his phone out.
"If you mention to anybody that you saw this picture, I'll not only deny it, but Kate will cripple you and me if she finds out." He looked around again, then flipped it out to show them the picture he took of her the night before. "This is her disguise."
Both of them gasped. "You've got to be kidding me!" Espo shook his head in denial.
Ryan looked afraid. "That isn't really her is it?"
Castle smirked. "A pretty good disguise isn't it."
A/N: And so Kate's adventure is about to begin.
All Readers are Appreciated, Review if you wish