THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
CHAPTER FIVE
Kate and Rick had finished dinner and were working on doing the dishes and putting everything away. They hadn't been doing it together very long, but they had achieved a certain rhythm that allowed them to flow in and out around each other like a pair of figure skaters in an Olympic routine.
After they finished they moved over to the sofa and just collapsed onto it. Kate leaned her head on Rick's shoulder. He rubbed her arm.
"Do you ever miss Alexis now that she's living on campus?"
Castle chuckled. "All the time, but she needs to have her independence. And I'm lucky enough to not have to rattle around in this place by myself."
Kate leans up and kisses his check. "I've lived alone most of my adult life but I have to admit that it's much more fun living here with you than living alone." She sighed. "I must be getting soft."
Castle continued to rub her arms, then kissed her on her shoulder. "I like it when you are soft."
Kate smiled at him. "It's official. You have ruined me."
He smirked. "Or you could say I've brought out the best in you."
She smirked back. "Nah, I was already perfect."
He kissed the side of her head. "You won't get an argument from me."
What looked like the beginning of a spontaneous make out session was interrupted by Kate's phone. It took her several moments to get it out of her back pocket.
She put it to her ear. "Beckett."
"Dammit Kate, now you've got me all paranoid with your boyfriend conspiracy crap."
Kate sits up. "Josh, what are you talking about? Where are you?"
"I'm at home, and you've got me so worked up I keep thinking I'm seeing the same car following me since I left the restaurant."
"You said you're home now? Is that same car anywhere you can see?"
"I don't know. There is a car parked down on the street that looks kind of like the one that seemed to be following me."
Kate tried to tamp down her apprehension. "I think you should call the police and report that car. I'll come over and we can find out who is in it."
She heard him walking back and forth. "I don't know. That will make me look like some paranoid jerk when it turns out to be nothing but my own imagination that you fueled with your fanboy killer theory."
"Okay," Kate tried to calm him down. "Can you see him? Is the car still there?"
She heard some rustling of movement. "Yeah, at least the car is still there."
"Okay, stay put, lock your doors. I'll come over. I'll get there as soon as I can. What's your address?" She repeats it so Castle can write it down as he tells her. "Okay, I'm on my way, but if it at all looks like he's leaving his car. Or you're uncomfortable with the car being parked where it is. Call the local police."
She heard the anger in his voice. "Yeah, yeah, just get here."
Kate grabbed her coat from the closet, pulled Rick's off the hanger and threw it at him.
They both hurried to the garage and got in her car. She sped off toward the address that Josh had given her.
"So, what was all that about. I assume it was Josh."
She nodded. "Yeah, he thinks someone has been following him and the car is parked outside his place right now."
"So why didn't he just call the police?"
She ran her hand through her hair in frustration. "He's upset and he's worried that the police will think he's some sort of paranoid crying wolf."
Castle shrugged. "Well, I can sort of see his point. It is a pretty farfetched scenario."
She shot him a look, then returned her attention to the road. "Yeah a farfetched scenario with two bodies already attached to it."
Kate pushed her speed as much as she dared, but she didn't want to alert their possible suspect if he was indeed there by coming in with sirens on. Of course, the longer it took for her to get there the more her agitation rose.
As they turned the last block to Josh's place she could see the flashing lights of police patrol cars.
"Shit, I'm too late." She gunned her car for the last block and came to a screeching halt next to a black and white.
She leapt out of her car, pulling her badge out as she sprinted up the stairs exposed by the open door. She was at Josh's apartment in seconds.
The door to the hallway was open, the lock appeared broken. She guessed that a professional lock punch was used to breach. She stepped inside the apartment holding her badge in front of her.
"Detective Kate Beckett, whose in command here?"
A tall, lanky veteran uniform came over to her. "Are you the detective in charge?"
Kate quickly shook her head. "No, I'm from the 12th precinct, but the occupant of this apartment is a friend of mine and he had called me earlier thinking that someone was following him. So I came over to see if I could help."
"Well Detective, you are a tad late. From what I can tell the perp broke in and there was a struggle. Neighbors called the police, said they heard shots fired. The ambulance just left. He looked in pretty rough shape, but he was alive when he left here."
"Thank you officer. I'm just going to look around a bit until the assigned detective arrives."
"Suit yourself. I assume you know that the ambulance was from Metro General, just down the street." Kate just nodded.
Kate walked around. She had pulled on a pair of evidence gloves but she had no intention of touching anything. As she walked around she noted that there was several pieces of furniture tossed around. Several tables, and other pieces of furniture were tossed around. It looked more like the furniture had been knocked out of the way rather than used as a weapon. Josh was a big man, so Kate hoped he gave as good as he got until the gun had been brought into play, but she had never known him to be very physical. Except when he attacked Castle when she was in the hospital for her shooting. When her father told her about it that pretty much ended it with Josh.
Finally, Kate saw what she was looking for. Sitting on one of the couch cushions was a playing card. It was the four of hearts.
Kate stopped the officer in charge. "Here's my card." She handed him her card. "Please give this to whomever comes to investigate. This assault is related to a murder case we are currently dealing with at the 12th. I'd appreciate a call tomorrow so we can set up the transfer of the case to our precinct."
He just nodded as she placed her card in his hand.
Kate quickly left the building and settled into the driver's seat.
Rick looked over at her. "What do you know?"
She wearily nodded to him. "It's our guy alright. There was a playing card on the couch. It was the four of hearts."
Castle shook his head. "So, what now?"
"I'm going to go over to the hospital and see if anyone can give me any information as to his condition."
It took over a half an hour to get any information on Josh at the hospital. And that only happened because Dr. Kovacs was on duty that evening. He had found Kate waiting around for information, so he went and found out what he could.
Josh was physically beat up, but that was minor. The major problem that Josh had to deal with was the two gunshot wounds he suffered. One hit him right of center in the chest, and the other hit him in the lower abdomen. Kate knew that their killer liked to put two center mass.
"Where you able to get any prognosis?"
Dr. Kovacs dripped his head. "He's currently in critical condition, but there is hope." Kovacs gave her a weak smile. "As you should know, Detective."
Kate just nodded. She gave her card to the doctor. "If there is any major change, please have someone contact me."
The doctor who'd had a lot to do with saving her life smiled. "Certainly, Detective."
Kate led Castle out of the hospital.
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It was pretty late by the time they got home. She knew she should get some sleep before she had to get up and go into work, but her mind was spinning and wouldn't give her the peace to be able to fall asleep. The main thought that kept running through her mind was the fact that her husband, Richard Castle was next. He would be the five of hearts.
They had stripped down to sleep shorts and Ts and were cuddled up against the padded backboard for the bed. She was tightly nestled against Rick with his arms around her middle, just under her breasts. Somehow his hands would occasionally find their way upward to fondle one or the other. Each time she would give him a look, but didn't tell him to stop.
"What am I going to do, Rick? We know I'm the reason that two people are dead, one is in critical condition. And the most important one has a shoot me sign over his head."
He leaned over and kissed her head. "You aren't responsible for the actions of a deranged person. It's obvious, by his actions that you won't ever see him until all the competition is gone. It's clear that he feels unworthy of you and the only way he can compete is to get rid of anyone who ever meant anything to you."
She sighed. "Why would he fixate on me? Where would we have crossed paths?"
This time Castle sighed. "Most likely that would be my fault."
"How so?"
"Nikki Heat." He rubbed her arms. "It's a common problem in fiction with larger than life characters. Often they can become an obsession for a person who has no life of their own so they imagine themselves with their fantasies. It's no secret that you are the inspiration for the character and our murderer has done his homework. He knows that Kate Beckett is even more extraordinary than her fictional counterpart." Kate punched him in the arm. "And he has decided that the only way for him and you to be happy is to eliminate all those pesky past distractions."
Kate had rolled her eyes during much of Castle's dissertation. "Are you through yet, Sigmund?" She wiggled in tighter against him. "Even if some of what you say is true, that's not what's important. What's important, what's of the utmost importance is finding him and stopping him from completing his mission." She laid her head on his shoulder. "And we both know what that is."
She could feel him nodding his head. "The five of hearts."
"The five of hearts." Kate picked up one of Rick's hands and put it on her breast. "From this point forward until this lunatic is caught, you are not leaving my sight." She smirked, though she knew he wouldn't see it in the darkness. "I will resort to handcuffing you to me if I have to."
Castle snorted a laugh. "We already did that."
"And we overcame being locked in a basement with a tiger."
"Damn, we're good." He could hear her muffle a giggle.
She took his hand and kissed it. "And I have decided that no matter how boring I get, nor how ugly I become in my old age. You don't get to leave me…ever."
Castle was silent for too long in Kate's opinion. Just when she was about to say something he spoke up.
"Works for me. I'll have Henry write something up that we can both sign and have notarized." He turned her head and kissed her soundly on the lips.
"Good," was all she said.
Unfortunately Rick didn't' know when to shut up. "Of course, I'll have to add some protection from you leaving me. Like when my back doesn't allow me to carry you up the stairs anymore."
"You aren't able to carry me upstairs now because of your knee. Besides, why would you need to carry me upstairs? The bedroom is on the first floor."
"Or when I'm so old, Little Ricky can no longer salute your obvious charms."
"Hmmmm."
"Kate?" He shakes her a little. "Kate?"
"I'm thinking."
Rick huffed. "Why are you so mean to me?"
She grinned in the dark. "Because you are so easy." She pinched him in the stomach. "And I wouldn't' have it any other way."
She rolled over until she was on top of Rick. "Can you guess what I want to do now?"
"Have your way with me until this poor old man collapses into a near coma of satiated exhaustion and bliss?"
She giggled. "Close. I want to have my way with you until you collapse into a near coma of satiated exhaustion and bliss…twice."
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Rick flipped her over and began to fulfill Kate's request.
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Two very tired partners dragged themselves into the precinct that next morning. The boys came in right after them. All found their desks without difficulty, but it was a close one for Kate.
Esposito nudged Ryan and nodded toward the couple the cat dragged in. "My, doesn't someone look a bit tired this morning?"
Ryan piped in. "Yeah, actually it looks like both didn't get a good night's sleep."
Esposito responded. "I wonder what they were doing all night that has them so tired?"
Kate scowled at the pair. Castle spoke up. "Guys, give her a break. Josh was assaulted and shot last night. He's in critical condition. She was up all night worrying."
Suddenly the other two partners were properly chastised. "Sorry Beckett, we didn't know? Do you know if he's going to be alright?"
Kate shook her head. "The last I heard, he was in critical condition and it will be awhile until they can evaluate his chances of survival." She turned to Rick. "Let's get some coffee." She grabbed his arm and drew him with her toward the breakroom.
Once inside Castle dutifully began to make her a cup of her morning life blood. She leaned against the counter as he did so.
"Rick, am I a bad person?"
He smirked. "You can be pretty bad ass when you have to be."
She shook her head, her short strands brushed her cheeks. "No, I mean last night. Someone who was, for a time, special to me was nearly murdered just last night, yet I spent the majority of the evening screwing your brains out. Who does that?"
He stopped and reached out to caress her cheek with his palm. "Someone who needs to release the tension and the pressure that has been building up inside of her for the last few days. A release that was needed before she exploded." He glanced around, then stole a quick kiss. "Kate don't beat yourself up. You needed… we both needed last night."
She laid her head on his chest. "God, I love you"
He blew a swirly into her hair. "How can you not?"
She pushed him away. "And just like that…" She grabbed her cup and headed for the doorway. She stopped at the threshold. "Are you coming?"
He startled, then followed her out of the breakroom. They had no sooner gotten back to her desk and he seated in his chair, when they heard the dulcet tones of their Captain.
"Detective Beckett, could you come in here for a moment." There was no question mark at the end of that sentence because Gates wasn't one to ask. She ordered.
"Be right in, sir." She turned to her boys. "Keep an eye on him. Don't let him go anywhere alone." She turned to Castle. "Don't leave this chair unless the building's on fire."
"What if I have to go to the bathroom?"
She glared at him. "Tie a knot in it." She stomped off to her captain's office.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes Detective, I did." Gates directed her toward a chair. Kate sat. "I just got a call from Captain Harkness over at the 28th. He says that you requested that he transfer an attempted homicide over to us as it turns out to be a part of one of our cases."
Kate nodded. "Yes, sir I did." She took a breath. "Doctor Josh Davidson was assaulted and shot last night. It is directly connected to the murder of Tom Demming. The case that Roz is handling, which is also connected to the DCPD and FBI murder case of Will Sorenson." Stared at the ground for a second. It really bothered her that her hair no longer covered her face when she did that.
"All three cases are the same case."
Gates gave her a stare. "Would you care to illuminate me?"
"With the attack on Dr. Davidson it became obvious that all three cases are essentially the same case."
"Do you have evidence that this is a serial at work?"
Kate worked hard to conceal her blush of embarrassment. "All the victims were former boyfriends of mine."
"Excuse me?"
Kate swallowed. She took another breath. "All three victims were men that I had intimate relationships with. Will Sorenson and I were together several months until he transferred to Boston. Detective Tom Demming and I dated for about a month. And Doctor Josh Davidson and I were seeing each other over the course of eight to nine months, though he was out of the country for more than half of that time doing volunteer work in third world countries."
There was no way to explain the expression on Gates' face. "I see. Well what I said before still stands. You will not be a detective of record on the case but you will be available to help Karpowski in any way she sees fit."
"Yes, sir."
"Fine, go and fill Karpowski in on everything you know and help her get all the information from the 28th. This is still Karpowski's case but you will act as liaison between the different precincts, including DC, to make sure that we have the best information possible to solve this before anyone else dies."
Kate stood up. "Since it's obvious that the next and final victim would have to be Castle, I'm not going to stand by and let that happen under any circumstances."
Without waiting to be dismissed, Kate walked out of her captain's office. She went directly to her desk grabbed Castle by the arm and dragged him out of his chair.
"Come on, we're going over to let Roz know what happened to Josh last night."
Castle followed his focused wife as they made it through the homicide division until they reached her desk.
"Well I'm guessing that you are here to explain to me all this stuff that keeps coming over the fax machine from the 28th with your name scratched off and my name on it."
Castle sat in Roz's guest chair, Kate sat on his lap.
Kate nodded. "Yes, those are courtesy of me." She took a breath. "Josh was attacked and shot last night. He's currently in Metro General in critical condition."
She turned and grabbed Castle's hand. "He called me last night saying he thought someone had been following him and thought he might be parked in a car outside his place. Castle and I went to his place but we were too late. Uniforms were already there, and hospital personnel had already been there. Apparently the neighbors had called in the disturbance."
Roz looked through some of the fax sheets she had in front of her, until she found one that had Josh's address on it. She jotted down the address and handed it to her partner Hank.
"Go to Josh's building and talk to the neighbors. Find out what anyone might have seen or heard. Especially descriptions of anyone who didn't seem to belong there."
He grabbed the paper and grabbed his jacket. "I'll grab a couple of uniforms to help me."
Roz nodded. "This guy has been a ghost so far. We need something that can lead us to a person."
Roz turned to Kate. "Do you have anything more you can tell me?"
Kate bit her bottom lip. "Just that, when I walked through the apartment I noticed that there had been a scuffle before the shooting. Make sure you get any CSU reports from the apartment just in case our perp left some of himself behind."
Roz laughed. "We can only hope."
Kate ran her hand through her hair. "And, I know it's the same guy. I saw a four of hearts lying on the sofa."
Roz furrowed her brow. "Who's the five?"
Kate jerked her thumb the same time Castle raised his hand.
Roz slammed her fist down on her desk. "We'll get this creep." Roz was fuming. "Ain't no way I'm letting him take away the best eye candy this station has ever had."
Kate just had a strange look on her face while Castle laughed.
The three of them spent the next couple of hours organizing the data, and photos they had from two of the three crime scenes. They still didn't have anything from the DC investigation except what they'd been told verbally. There was no hard evidence to add to their pile.
Kate was bent over the table in one of the conference rooms they had borrowed just for the ability to lay out what they had and to be able to keep the different crime scenes separate, but able to easily compare.
She pushed some hair behind her ear, it didn't stay put either. She would have to have a word with her 'stylist' to correct that in the future. Either it would have to be a little shorter so it wouldn't tend to get in her way, or a little longer so it would stay if she tucked behind her ear.
"Hey, Roz. Do you want me to call Chuck and see if he would send us copies of any of their crime scene photos, and copies of their CSI reports? This guy had to leave some of himself behind at one of these scenes."
Roz popped her head up. "That's a great idea. I asked once before, but with this latest assault we now know that they are all connected. Maybe that will be enough for the FBI to get the stick out of their butt and let us solve this for them."
Kate moved over toward her sister detective. Roz held up her hand. "I'll call him. I've already talked to him a couple times. He might not remember your voice."
Kate stood there with her mouth hanging open while Roz sped off toward a place with some privacy. Castle came over and tapped Kate on the shoulder. She turned and looked at him.
"You think you might lose Roz to the DCPD?"
Kate frowned at him. "No, Roz loves it here." Kate stared after the chunky detective as she slipped into the small conference room. The one they usually used to break the bad news to the families of the victim. She shook her head. "No, she would never leave." She continued to stare as she watched how animated Roz was on her phone.
Castle came up to Kate and winked at her. He nodded his head toward the small conference room and grinned.
Kate slapped him on the arm. "Oh shut up."
Roz was back after a few more minutes. "Well, Chuck said he'd see what he could clear with his bosses since we now know the murders are all connected. He asked if I wanted that two of hearts playing card. There were no prints on it, so it can't help in that manner."
Kate wrung her hands. "Well it will help show a definite pattern that can be attributed to the murderer."
Roz nodded. "That's what I thought." Roz stared at Kate for a few awkward moments.
"What?" Kate almost barked it out. Her nerves were almost at the end.
"I was just wondering?" Roz stepped between them. "If Sorenson was number two, Demming was number three, Dr. Motorcycle Boy was number four, and cutie here," she pinched Castle on the cheek. "Is number five. Who was number one?"
Kate stared at Rick who was having way too much fun with her embarrassment. She knew that Roz would just pester her until she told her so she walked over to her desk and slumped into the guest chair.
"His name was Brent Edwards and he was my senior year in high school crush."
Roz frowned. "A high school kid?" Roz looked over at Rick who just shrugged. "You mean between senior high and the time you were with Sorenson, you didn't have any boyfriends?"
Kate glared at the woman. "I had plenty of dates. I was just too busy to want to teach some needy college boy how to treat a woman. If I needed to blow off some steam I'd pick someone up at a bar. There I could usually depend on no strings attached."
"What about Rogan?" Castle asked. Kate just gave him her death glare.
Kate stood and grabbed Castle's hand. "After college I was way too busy trying to become a cop."
She pulled Rick's arm around her waist. "Take me home, Castle."
"Hey wait!" Roz's cry stopped them. "What happened to Edwards? Did you check on him?"
Kate nodded. "Yeah, Rick checked on him. He died in the service a couple years ago."
Roz frowned. "That's too bad. He would have made a great suspect."
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AN: I've had a couple of reviewers wonder as to why Demming called Kate after all those years. I say: Why not? He would have known he was in New York if not exactly where. She was a cop whom he trusted. Also, it works better for the story. ;)
Readers are always Appreciated, Review if you wish