xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Office of the Police Commissioner
14th Floor
NYPD Headquarters
1 Police Plaza Path,
New York, NY 10038
8:40 A.M.
Abagail Baker opens the door.
"Chief Arbogast and Deputy Commissioner Moore, Sir," she announces.
"Dino, Garrett," Frank Reagan greets the uniformed chief and the civilian respectively.
Captain Victoria Gates stands up thinking she's dismissed.
"Please say, Captain," Frank instructs, "I want the Chief of Department and DC of Public Information to weigh in on what we've discussed."
Gates nods as she sits back down. Arbogast takes the center seat while Moore takes the far right one."
"Dino," Franks turns to the four-star chief, "What do you have for me?
"Per your instructions," Arbogast replies, "Over the weekend I sounded out some senior officers about Castle coming over to work for you.
"I limited it to those with no personal connections to him. I explained he would only look into cases that your discretion, and only provide advice when asked.
"Without naming names, about 10% agree with Captain Gates and don't want him near police business."
"Actually, that's a lower number than I expected," Frank replies, "What about the rest."
"About 20%," Arbogast continues, "Expressed concern that you're bringing him as some sort of disrupter."
"He can be disruptive alright," Gates says under her breath.
"I don't think it's meant that way," Garrett responds, "It's a business term for someone looking for new innovate ways to run an organization."
"Exactly," Arbogast responds looking at Frank, "They don't want that from a non-cop no matter what kind of track record he has.
"But I reemphasized his role, especially the part about only providing input when asked. That seemed to put them in a wait and see stance.
"About 30% had no opinion or where afraid of expressing one, but I got the general feeling they were in the wait and see group.
"And the remainder wanted to know if how to go about asking for his input on cases. All I could say to that is Chief Kent had first dibs."
"Anything else, Dino?" Frank asks.
"Yes, Sir," Arbogast adds, "Since Brown's column appeared, Captains, Inspectors, and Chiefs, all 12th alumni, have been calling."
"What was their take?" Frank asks.
"At first, they were confused about Brown's reasons," Dino replies, "But when I explained your idea, most thought Garrett was behind it to lay the ground."
"I was not!" Moore objects emphatically.
"I made that clear," Arbogast counters, "But you should take it as a complement, most think it was a brilliant maneuver, but I don't how many actually believed me."
"By your tone, I assume they generally approved," Frank responds.
"Yes, Sir, Commissioner," Arbogast recounts, "I believe their feelings could be summed up with the phrase…what took you so long."
"Anything else, Dino?" Frank chuckles, "You haven't really chimed in yet."
"Well, yes, Sir," Arbogast responds hesitantly, "First, I'm worried about allowing him to be armed."
"Dino, he's expert shot," Frank counters, "And while he's had license to carry for years without incident, he's never carried while at the 12th.
"I don't think you have to worry about him being trigger happy," Moore adds.
"I understand," Arbogast nods, "But, Members of the PC's office are Civilians and unarmed unless they were sworn officers beforehand."
"Captain Gates," Frank turns to her, "Will you please read aloud the highlighted portions of that paper I gave you, from the Code of Federal Regulations."
"Yes, Sir," Gates then reads, "Title 28 of Section 0.19, Associate Attorney General…shall… Exercise the power and authority vested in the Attorney General…"
"Keep going," Frank prods when she chokes on the words.
"To authorize," Gates continues, "The Director of the U.S. Marshals Service to deputize persons to perform the functions of a Deputy U.S. Marshal."
"He's a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal," Arbogast says dazed, "How'd that happen?"
"Long before he did any at the 12th," Frank explains, "He's did research with a number of Federal law enforcement agencies."
"Some, especially the FBI's White-Collar Division, found his unique perspective useful and they had him deputized so he could help.
"After the bomb incident Larry wrote about, the Feds confirmed his status to minimize any embarrassment a being shown up by a civilian. Anything else?"
"Sir, I've never served at the 12th," Arbogast prefaces, "And frankly, I never understood the confidence all of you put in someone who's…who's…"
"Not a cop," Frank finishes the thought, "Didn't go to the academy. Never walked a beat even if, unarmed, he's saved the life of cops and civilians."
"I understand all that," Arbogast replies, "And I can't argue he gets results, but does it have to be an official position? Can't you bring him on as a consultant?"
"I agree with Chief Arbogast," Gates responds, "There's a lot more to the criminal justice system than…"
"Didn't he graduate from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice?" Moore asks.
"Bachelors and Masters," Frank confirms proudly, "Can't write realistic crime novels without knowing the system, graduated with top honors both times."
"Of course, he did," rolls her eyes in frustration.
"There is also, well…" Arbogast says nervously, "You've been so adamant about not using your office to show favoritism to your family…and while Castle isn't…a…"
"Don't complete that sentence," Frank cuts him off gruffly.
"Yes, Sir," Arbogast says, frightened by the rebuke, "I'm sorry, sir."
"No, I apologize Dino," Frank responds, "But you are right. That is my position, but as you pointed out, the Commissioner's office are civilians."
"I understand, Sir," Arbogast continues, "In light of the column this morning, it' looks like you have bigger plans for him…I mean it's like you're…"
"I think," Moore picks up the hanging conversation, "He's worried about the final line."
"You mean that by statute a PC mustn't have been a cop," Frank smirks
"Yes, Sir," Arbogast concedes, "He seems to be hinting that you're grooming Castle to be Police Commissioner."
"Oh, God no," Gates blurts unintentionally, "Sorry, Sir."
"You got that from one line," Frank suppresses his laughter, "Well, Larry is correct. We've had politicians, former soldiers, civil servants, and businessmen.
"Before becoming the first PC, Irish-Born Michael Murphy, received the Medal of Honor in 1864 and was later indicted of bigamy.
"In 1866 joined raids into Canada to pressure Britain to leave Ireland. He created the first Deputy Commissioner so he could avoid showing up for work."
"But, Sir, he was appointed in 1901," Arbogast counters.
"I know," Frank responds, "I'm just saying we've had worse, and the original legislation separated PC from Chief of Department to keep civilian control of the NYPD."
"But we haven't a pure civilian at the post since the 1960's at least," Dino argues.
"1955 when Stephen Kennedy was appointed," Frank corrects, "Since him, all have had police experience not always in the NYPD."
"Sir…" Arbogast is getting frustrated, "I'm worried about how the Rank and File will take it, we have to think about morale…"
"Dino," Moore interrupts chuckling, "I think he's just messing with you."
"Sorry, Dino, I couldn't resist," Frank replies smiling, "I think Larry was just having a bit of fun with that, but you're right about morale.
"I think it would hurt morale to have a PC put in office at gunpoint which is what will be required to get Rick to take the job.
"Rick's always showed deference and respect to the uniform. If it becomes a problem, I won't have to fire him, he'll step down himself. Copy?
"Copy that Sir," Arbogast responds crisply.
"And as I said to someone earlier," Frank smiles, "I don't plan on going anywhere just yet."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Conference Room
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Rd,
Arlington, VA 22202
"Well, that was rude," Rick stifles a laugh, "Frank always says you're a great cop."
"You talk to the Police Commissioner…about me?" Kate looks shocked.
"Sure," Rick adds, "Although, he does think you're sometimes a bit headstrong, obsessive, and insubordinate much like Danny, you know, Frank's son."
"I know who Danny Reagan is!" she snaps, "The entire department knows the PC's family including his father, Henry Reagan, the former PC.
"On top of that, there's his other son Jamie, a uniform at the 12th, and daughter Erin the ADA with the supermodel looks."
"Wait…are you jealous of Erin?"
"I need to keep him talking," she thinks to herself, "Wear his anger down, I just hope I don't punch him first."
"The point is, I know who the Reagans are!" Kate seethes, "But, for the sake of clarification, who are you to them?"
"Remember Robert Duvall in the Godfather," Rick answers, "Except that instead of a big mobster family, a big cop family unofficially adopted me.
"And, along with Bob Weldon…and Roy, Frank is Alexis' Godfather, but his late wife Mary was her only Godmother. Roy and Bob weren't married when she was born."
"This doesn't make sense," shaking her head, "Why am I just finding out about this?"
"In 100 Years of Solitude" he references, "Gabriel García Márquez wrote everyone has three lives, one public life, one private, and one secret. Sound familiar."
"Okay, I like my privacy," she responds, "But I never asked anyone to lie which you must have told Martha, Alexis, and God knows who else to do."
"I never told anyone to lie," he counters, "I asked them not to volunteer anything but to answer honestly any question you asked. It's on you that you didn't.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kate responds, feeling slighted.
"There were clues," Rick explains, "You drove me to the hospital the night Frank was shot. Jamie and I hang out.
"Erin always takes my calls even if she's a little grumpy sometimes, and her daughter, Nicky, and Alexis are super close.
"You still should have told us," She replies.
"You're right," he replies, "But I didn't know you guys and I was afraid you'd all walk on eggshells around me."
"Maybe you have a point," she concedes, "But why not tell me after we got together?"
"I should've," Rick sighs, "But I kept wimping out. Everyday I thought you'd find me out. It's nerve wracking dating the NYPD's best Detective."
"Oh, I'm the best now," Kate counters, "I thought you said I was incompetent."
"I've always called you extraordinary," he responds, "When did I ever call you incompetent?"
"A few minutes ago," Kates says, temperature rising, "Apparently I was never good enough to beat Bracken."
"Do you think Lanie's incompetent?" Rick asks.
"No! of course not," Kate snaps, "What kind of question is that?"
"Would you let her do brain surgery on you?" he asks, "During training, all Doctors rotate through different departments including neurosurgery."
"Where's this going?"
"Academy training covers the basics," Rick explains, "But each cop eventually moves on to different areas where they get more training and experience.
"Just as Lanie doesn't have the training and experience to do neurosurgery, a cop who has only been in ESU isn't the go-to person for a murder investigation."
"So, I'm not incompetent," she snarks, "I'm just out of my depth."
"So, was I," Rick counters, "I was raised around cops so why would I need to shadow you for my books?"
"I don't know," Kate rolls her eyes, "To get me into the sack."
"Obviously," he smirks, "But I also needed to learn how homicide detectives worked. I never had much interest in it as a kid."
"Hold on," Kate objects, "Larry wrote you're the only Commissioner for a Day contest winner to crack a murder case during your day."
"I found one detail cops and the M.E. missed," Rick recounts.
"Hold on," Kate gets a hunch, "That M.E. wouldn't have been…"
"Perlmutter," he smirks, "He's never been able to handle a kid showing him up. Guess that why he never dimed me out."
"That actually explains a lot," Kate comments, "But you were already a successful a mystery writer way before you met me."
"Thank you," Rick smiles, "But I didn't hit the A-list until I created the Derek Storm series, leaning on what I learned as kid hanging around the 12th.
"There was a case when I was kid, a Catholic Bishop misappropriated church funds. Apparently, he liked Off Track Betting but sucked at it.
"The Diocese wanted the matter dropped, but Frank wouldn't. Afterwards, I asked him, a devout Catholic, why he didn't."
"What did he say?" Kate asks.
"It wasn't about God," he replies, "It was about a very old and very powerful institution run by people and those often have an agenda."
"Such as not being embarrassed by scandal," she nods, "Even if a criminal gets away. Sounds like elements to a couple of Derrick Storm stories I recall."
"Anyway, it got me angry," Rick continues, "People who ran corrupt organizations caused more harm but seemed to be punished less if at all.
"So, started to pester the guys with questions about dealing with organized crime, gangs, fraud, and the like. It's why I got along with Don Kent so well."
"The pestering part sounds familiar," she comments.
"Hey, I'll have you know was adorable back then," he smiles, "Actually, still am."
"And so modest," she ribs him a bit.
"This is great," she thinks, "We're bantering like normal. Just need to delay taking about the interview and then talk him out of the ridiculous idea of working for the PC."
"Anyway," Rick continues, "I just see crimes, the world, differently than you. Why do you think I always first go with complex conspiracy theories?"
"To drive me crazy."
"Okay, that is fun," he smirks, "But recall, you once said everyone looks like killer to you, well everything looks like conspiracy to me."
"Do you have to remember everything I say?" she rolls her eyes.
"Nice try Kate," Rick thinks, "Normally, I'd let you play me like this, but as Frost said, I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep."
"Actually, I do," he responds, "Anyway, homicide cases are different. It's about individuals, not just the victims but the bereaved left behind.
"And there's a clock, 48 hours to get somewhere or the odds drop like a rock, maybe two weeks before it's declared cold and all with limited resources.
"It's extraordinary how you handle all that, the way you focus a case like laser beam and hold on to it with this bulldog tenacity…"
"What did you say," Kate interrupts him and steps towards him, "Bulldog Tenacity?"
"Here we go," he thinks.
Suddenly her first starts flying towards his face.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Office of the Police Commissioner
"Alright Garret," Frank turns to Moore, "What do you have?"
"Now that Dino has explained the inhouse," Moore says, "I can explain the outhouse."
"Garrett," Frank gives a look of bemusement and disbelief.
"Given who and what I deal with sometimes…" Moore responds smiling.
"Has your phone been busy too?" Frank moves on.
"Since the wee hours," Moore replies, "I put them off for now. I wanted you to be able to get Dino's take before putting anything out there.
"One question that kept coming up is if Captain Gates would be fired or otherwise punished for almost letting the mayor be framed for political motives."
"I had nothing to do with that!" Gates finally speaks.
"Well let's review," Garett recounts, "Weldon beat out Thomas in a 2008 special election to fill the last fifteen months of the late mayor's term.
"He won a full term in 2009. In 2011, Councilwoman Thomas unsuccessfully tried to block a 2013 run saying he'd already had two terms.
"Then the Captain she championed to command the 12th, almost lets Weldon be framed for murder, apparently wrecking his political future.
"Yet, Weldon has recovered and is likely to win reelection in a walk. Thomas blamed Castle's behind the scenes political maneuvering for the recovery.
"Suddenly, Rick is also almost framed. Witnesses have also reported Taylor screaming why you couldn't get those two like you were supposed to.
"Now, with Larry's column, it looks like you were helping your political patron, and
THAT, Captain, is a FAIR media representation of events."
"Both those investigations were by the book, following the trail of evidence!" Gates counters loudly.
"Yeah," Moore responds, "You followed a false trail right off a cliff like…"
"Don't you dare say it…," Gates interrupts.
"Okay, how about Elmer Fudd or the Tasmanian Devil," Moor snarks.
"Garrett," Frank admonishes.
"Sorry," Moore nods in contrition, "But I have one bit of good news for the captain."
"What's that?" Gates rolls her eyes, "Is the media going to allow a guillotine instead of a dull ax to take my head."
"Not quite," Moore explains, "Before I walked in, Mayor Weldon issued a statement affirming his full confidence in Captain Gates."
"What?" Gates says confused.
"Yeah," Moore confirms, "It stated that he's certain you ran both investigations honestly and fairly as shown by your openness to the truth, once revealed.
"He also praised you for not letting your issues with Castle affect your diligence in searching for Alexis Castle, his Goddaughter, when she was abducted."
Gates is too dumbfounded to respond.
"Given the mayor's feelings about the good Captain," Moore continues, "Only one person could have convinced him to make that statement."
"Thanks, Garrett," Frank smiles, "So, how do you think we should handle my idea."
"Normally," Moore continues, "I would say we schedule a special press conference."
"But not this time?" Frank asks.
"If we go too big," Moore explains, "It'll look like a publicity stunt, that we're just scrambling to react to the column."
"It may also alienate those on the fence," Frank observes.
"Exactly," Moore nods, "I suggest a press release and take questions at the next regular briefing."
"What do we say about the Column?" Arbogast asks.
"We'll say Larry got wind of Castle possible new job," Moore replies, "And he wanted give Rick a boost beforehand"
"You think Brown will agree to that?" Arbogast asks.
"He, already has," Moore responds, "He's actually been telling people already."
"Dino?" Frank says.
"I agree with Garrett for once," Arbogast responds, "I think it's the way to go."
"Alright then," Frank replies, "But darn it."
"Something wrong, Sir," Arbogast asks confused.
"Rick bet me a sawbuck that would be Garret's advice," Frank replies, "And double or nothing that you'd agree with it."
"Remind me never to play poker with him," Dino comments.
"I wouldn't," Garrets rolls his eyes, "Nor with his kid."
"Ok, Garrett, Dino," Frank nods, "Thank you for your input. We can talk more later. Right now, give me a minute with Captain Gates."
"Well, Victoria," Frank says after the others leave, "I have two more items for you. First, you'll likely to get a call from Washington soon.
"They'll want your evaluation of Beckett. Rick wants it understood you are free to be completely honest regardless of how he or I might feel."
"Did he bet on that too?" she replies indignant, "Because I would have done just that."
"He had no doubt you would," Frank replies, "And he knew you'd take offense to any suggestion otherwise, but Rick wanted to make his position clear for the record."
"I see," she says a little confused.
"Second," he continues, "Keep a close eye on Rick. Let me know anything that seems to worry you and report back directly to me."
"What should I look out for?" Gates asks even more confused.
"The weight of guilt," Frank replies, "Rick's two years older than Danny, and he's always felt responsible for Erin, Joe, and Jamie as well as Danny.
"When Joe died, he blamed himself thinking that if he'd become a cop, he could have done something to protect him."
"That doesn't make a whole lot of sense," Gates says confused.
"This isn't about logic," he replies, "It's about a gifted young man who for so long felt crushed under the responsibility for those gifts.
"To survive, tried to avoid those responsibilities, but was then felt crushed under the guilt for not using them to help people."
"So, you think accepting this position is about your son's death?
"That and a lot more," he replies, "I don't want him driving himself into the ground trying to live try to atone for past sins that only he sees."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Conference Room
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Rick grabs her wrist in midflight and directs her fist to the empty air over his shoulder, pulls Kate off-balance, and then gently guides her into a chair.
"You shouldn't telegraph your moves, Kate," Rick says smiling.
"What the hell, since when could he move like that?" she thinks to herself as she stares wide eyed at him.
"How did you do that?" Kate says confused.
"Jeet Kune Do," he explains, "It's the martial arts philosophy Bruce Lee developed."
"I know what JKD is," she counters, "Why do you know how to do it."
"Gideon Falconer trained me," he shrugs.
"Gideon Falconer," Kate says in a disbelieving tone, "The guy who helped develop most of the hand-to-hand techniques taught at the academy."
"When I was a kid, I took Karate in the Police Athletic League. He saw me, offered me a scholarship to his dojo and I learned JKD."
"He must have been impressed," she sighs.
"I thought, so," he nods, "But I recently learned he'd been one of my dad's protégés back in the day. Seems dad wanted Gideon to train me, but I can still take you."
"You're pretty sure of yourself," she scoffs, "After one lucky move."
"Hal Lockwood was professional mercenary," he responds, "I took him down barehanded. You think that was just luck?"
"Actually, yeah," she answers honestly.
"I knew it," Rick smirks, "You want to explain that cute but hardly effective punch?"
"Bulldog tenacity," Kate replies, "That's how Inspector Lestrade was described by Holmes. Did you say to Larry that I was the Lestrade to your Holmes."
"Oh, yeah, I can explain," he replies.
"I thought you said you didn't write any of the column," she glares at him.
"I didn't," he replies, "I said it to him four years ago. Who knew he'd remember?"
"Why would you even say that?" she snaps.
"I was angry," he recounts, "You'd kicked me out over your mom's case. I thought you were jealous that I found something when you didn't."
"That wasn't you!" Kate counters, "That was your friend, Dr. Death. I'd gotten further too if I could've hired my own forensic pathologist."
"His name Dr. Clark Murray," Rick corrects, "While he is the best at what he does, Clark's not a detective. Think about it.
"Of all the murder victims in New York over ten years, how did Clark know to focus on those particular three?
"I'd realized you always treated the case as a botched investigation by two lazy cops, and you focused on findings things they missed.
"It never occurred to you that they might have been part of it or something larger, maybe because they were fellow cops."
"Part of an old and power institution run by people," she responds, "Are you say you knew it was a conspiracy."
"Not like that," he responds, "I'm the offspring of an actress and a spy. Maybe I'm genetically predisposed to think nothing is at it seems.
"I was open to other possibilities they were dirty, so I started at zero by tracing to your mom's life before it happened.
"I went to her old organization, the Justice Initiative to snoop around saying wanted to make donation in her name, which I did.
"And they showed me a little memorial dedicated your mom, Diane Cavanaugh, and Jennifer Stewart, three members murdered by stabbing in less than six months.
"I did some follow up and found out documents clerk, Scott Murray, was killed the exact same way on the same day as Diane."
"Why didn't you mention all this?" she glares.
"After you took me back," Rick explains, "I could tell you were still hurting, and you couldn't take anymore, so I just let it drop and let you take the lead when ready.
"But I was wrong. I should have pushed it. You were nearly killed, Roy's gone, and a sociopathic blonde demagogue could become President.
"And now at least five families, including Roy's, are still hurting, stuck in the limbo without closure, because of that decision.
"Anyway, if you're worried about the column, I can ask Frank to call up the Task Force and give you a recommendation just to balance things."
"This doesn't make sense," Kate gets up and starts pacing.
"Didn't you say that already," Rick reminds her.
She keeps pacing. Rick eyes her, careful not to betray any emotion.
"I meant your behavior," Kate responds, "between the column you approved and the way you've acted, I'm so pissed at you."
"Yes, I recall the attempted punch to my face."
"Then like that," she snaps her fingers, "We're back to banter back and forth like nothing's changed."
"Old habits die hard?" Rick shrugs.
"Also, you came here to breakup over the job," Kate continues, "But "And you've done everything you could to clear the way for me Why?"
"Before we ended," Rick explains, "I thought all debts and friendships should be settled and we'd start fresh."
"Quoting your own books," she quips, "That's a favorite Derek Storm line."
"My take on an old British Army saying" he counters, "When someone leaves the Regiment, all debts and friendships are canceled, everyone starts fresh."
"Did Dee teach you that?" a tinge of Jealousy is in her voice.
"It's from James Clavell's novel, The Noble House," he chuckles, "I hadn't met Dee yet when Derek Storm first said that."
"Then there's this new job," Kate continues to pace, "You suddenly announce you're going to work for the Commissioner."
Suddenly she turns and looks at him, into his eyes deeply for the first time that day. She doesn't see anger or disappointment.
She sees pain and guilt. She's seen it in her own eyes too many times when looking into the mirror. She goes over everything he's said today.
"You're the offspring of an actress and a spy," Kate says slowly.
"Didn't I just say that minute ago?" Rick responds.
"Nothing is at it seems," she then says.
"I said that as well," he replies.
"With the son of a spy and an actress," she gapes at him, "Nothing is as it seems."
"Actually, that's not what I said," he corrects.
"I know," she looks at him some more without speaking then it all falls together.
"You're going after Bracken," Kat realizes, "But you want to do it without me, why? Do you think you need to protect me from him?"
He doesn't say anything for a bit.
"Sonny Malevsky," Rick beings slowly, "He's the dirty cop who murdered Joe Reagan. Larry was right, I was there when he was cornered.
"So were Danny, Jamie, and Frank along with a dozen cops Frank could trust. Malevsky pulled out his piece and put the barrel under his chin.
"We all die, Sonny. It's just a question of when. That's all Frank said to him, and Sonny pulled the trigger.
"None of us tried to talk him down or stop him, but you, Kate, would've."
She looks at him, finally getting it.
"I saved Bracken's life," she says softly, "You don't want to protect me from him. You don't want me protecting him from you…"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Given the timeline of Blue Bloods vs. Castle, Dino Arbogast was likely Chief of Department in the Spring of 2013.
Arbogast first appears in 2011 (Season 2) of the Blue Bloods series, as head of the Organized Crime Bureau, OCCB, and is later promoted.
The show never mentions the timing of the promotion, but he has the job in the first episode of the fall of 2013 season, several months after this story is set.
In the season finale of Season 4 (2014) he is force out when it is found he's helping a high-ranking Assistant DA cover her efforts to take over a high-priced prostitution operation so the ADA could use it for political leverage on the customers.
Some future FF may put Rick into investigation, but I promise nothing. :-P
Note Castle started in the Spring of 2009. Blue Bloods began in the Fall of 2010 (about a year and half later with Frank Reagan already as Commissioner).
Here's fun fact, in many police procedurals, the 12th 29th, and 54th Precincts are used in the shows. These precincts do not exist.
Based on number patterns of the NYPD, the 12th would be located in the Manhattan South Area, the 29th in the Manhattan North Area, and the 54th would be in the Bronx.
I think TV companies use nonexistent precincts so they can put them anywhere in New York as needed, and also so the NYPD don't have to worry about tourists showing up at real precincts and get in their way.
In Blue Bloods, Detective Danny Reagan is assigned to the 54th as part of the Major Case squad which creates two giant goofs in the show.
First, Danny Reagan is always showing up at the office of his sister, New York County Assistant District Attorney Erin Reagan to get help with his cases.
If he is based in the Bronx, she wouldn't be able to him so much. The Bronx is in Bronx County. Manhattan is New York County.
Each New York City Borough (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island) has the same boundaries as its county (New York, King, Queen, Bronx, and Richmond respectively.
As each county has its own elected District Attorney and jurisdiction, Erin wouldn't be able to help Danny as much as shown on the show.
The show also makes the mistake of other NYPD related shows in how it portrays the Major Case Squad which is an elite unite but it's located at NYPD headquarters, not a particular precinct.
Also, the NYPD Major Case doesn't routinely handle homicide as Danny does on the show. It does most often when it's part of a RICO case or involves the murder of a Police Officer.
Unlike in Blue Bloods, Major Case mostly handles bank robberies/burglaries, art theft, hijacking, and sometimes kidnappings.
TV shows try to portray the NYOD Major Case Squad as the same as the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division.