THE QUEEN OF HEARTS

CHAPTER SIX

Madison Queller proud owner of the blue ribbon restaurant Q3 was not in a good mood. The numbers for the restaurant that she had just gone over were, as usual, quite good. So that was not the reason for her discontent. She was pissed because she had nearly blown everything she had been working on this past week with that stupid doctor.

She had underestimated his paranoia and wariness. She hadn't expected him to be somewhat ready for her. Ready to defend himself.

She had waited until she felt it was dark enough to make her move. She wore the padded jacket and pants that she had worn the other two times. Along with the knit cap pulled tightly over her head, it was pretty hard to tell from any distance that she was a woman. And the scenario she had built made it more logical that a man would be the killer.

But for some reason it was almost like the doctor was ready for something. When she used her lock punch to break the lock she was able to access the apartment with very little noise. As she entered the doctor's eyes grew wide when he saw her, but that slight delay in his reactions was enough for her to shove him back toward the center of the living room.

He stumbled but as he fell back onto the couch he flailed a wild swing her way. It managed to pull her cap almost off, and she knew he saw her blonde hair. She swung the lock punch and connected with the side of his head and then tried to role away from another blow. For a big man, he wasn't much of a fighter. He got up and took a couple of awkward swings at her, but her personal defense classes allowed her to snap kick him back onto the couch

That gave her enough time to pull her weapon out of the pocket of her jacket. He tried to move out of the way of her shots but she hit him with both rounds. Not the twin center mass hits that she was used to, but it should have been enough to fulfill that next step of her vengeance. She left in a hurry since they had made too much noise.

There hadn't been any word in the news pertaining to the doctor's condition, but she was confident that he wouldn't survive.

If he did, she'd deal with it.

Maddie glanced at the framed picture sitting on one corner of her office desk. It showed a young Maddie standing next to a nice looking young man with dark hair. As always happened when she looked at that picture, a tear slid down her cheek.

"Don't worry my love, last night's little hiccup won't alter anything. I'll have completed our vengeance against that bitch soon enough." She glared at another framed picture of her and a pretty young woman. The woman was tall and slim, with long brown hair flowing over her shoulders.

"You may think you had your reasons Katie Beckett, but I'll never forgive you for destroying Brent Edwards, the only man I truly loved. You are going to pay, and when I'm through with you, you'll know the pain I've endured for the past two years and all those years since high school. I will enjoy seeing you fall apart when I take the last man who ever loved you away from you.

Madison took the pen she'd been using while going over her books and held it up like a gun. She pointed it at the picture of young Katie Beckett and phantom fired. There was that gleam in her eyes when she did it. It was the gleam of madness.

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With a full stomach and a half glass of vodka in her hand Kate Beckett-Castle leaned back into the comfort of her husband's chest while the two of them sat back in the comfort of the expensive couch that dominated the living room of the loft. The normal restfulness of the couch brought forth a sigh from the comforted woman, but her mind refused to relax.

"Do you think that it might be conceivable that Brent could be our killer?"

Castle was amusing himself by playing with Kate's hair. It was his new favorite pastime. Well, second favorite. "His body was never found."

She shook her head in confusion. "Yeah, but that's really holding onto a grudge. It's been like 17 years since I broke it off with him." She frowned. "Besides, he had Maddie if he wanted. I don't really remember because I was so mad at both of them that I didn't have much to do with either of them for months. Actually I never talked to Brent again, and until graduation I rarely talked to Maddie. It was over that last summer that I sort of forgave her."

Kate snuggled closer into her big comfy huspillow. "Of course, that fall I went to Stanford and Maddie went to a fancy chef's school in France."

Castle hummed in thought. "So, as far as you know, Maddie didn't keep in touch with Brent?"

Kate shook her head as part of her answer and to get him to stop tangling her hair into knots. "No, she was overseas fulfilling her dream. I wouldn't think that she would have had time for any type of relationship, even a pen pal type friendship." She turns just enough to see his face. "Why do you ask, what are you thinking?"

"It's just that when I talked to Maddie about Brent and how to get a hold of any parents who were still around. She seemed a lot more knowledgeable about someone whom she hadn't had any contact with for over a decade and a half."

Kate shook her head again. "I can't imagine why? Like I said, as far as I know their little impromptu dance at my expense was all they ever did together." Kate huffed. "But as I said earlier. I wasn't talking to or paying any attention to either of them at the time."

Castle shook his head this time. "It's just that she seemed more emotional when talking about Brent and his death, than you'd think if there hadn't been anything between them."

Kate shrugged. "I couldn't say. Like I said I didn't make up with Maddie until that summer and Brent and I didn't cross paths. For all I know he might have already been looking into the service or some sort of R.O.T.C. program."

Castle shrugged. "Just saying, it's possible that Maddie had been keeping in touch with Brent more than you might think over the years."

Kate sighed. "Even if they had some sort of pen pal thing going. So what? How does that help us?"

Castle kissed her head. "Well, if you talk to her, you might be able to really cross Brent off the possible suspect list. If they had been corresponding she would be in the best position to know if his death was the real thing."

She gives him a raised brow with a smirk. "I imagine you have a suggestion?"

"You doubt?"

"Never babe, never."

He grinned. "Why don't we invite her over tomorrow for dinner? You can use the justification that the loss of all these old friends has made you realize that you and she hadn't gotten together is years." He kissed her head again. "Make it sound like you're getting nostalgic for those more carefree years."

Kate gave him a 'look'. "She's not stupid, you know. I think I have a better idea."

"Oh, what's that?"

"I think that you should be the one to invite her over for dinner. You can tell her it was my idea if you want, or whatever fiction you think will make her believe our dinner offer is innocent. You're known to be pretty good at that fiction stuff."

"Are you staying that you don't really wish to reconnect with Maddie after basically forgetting about her after that case that brought you two back together five years ago?"

She frowned at herself. "It's not that I don't want to reconnect with Maddie again. It's that I don't want 'you' and Maddie to 'reconnect' again."

That just brought forth gales of laughter from Castle. "Don't you trust me, babe?" He gasped out between chuckles.

Kate snorted. "You I trust. Her, not so much."

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As soon as they entered the precinct Kate went over and checked in with Roz Karpowski. Apparently they hadn't had any more information from the folks at the 28th. Roz was still waiting for various reports.

"You haven't gotten the results from CSU yet?" Kate asked.

Roz shook her head. "Nothing yet."

Kate fumed. "We really need that report. This is the best chance that we have for some actual forensic evidence from the scene. It's clear that there was a scuffle at the apartment. We can only hope that our perp left us some personal information that he didn't intend to."

She made her way back over to her desk, where Castle was still sitting in his chair. He was on the phone. He put the phone away and looked up at his wife. He grinned and patted his lap. She rolled her eyes at him and sat in her own chair.

"Who were you talking to?"

He smiled. "It was Alexis. She was reminding me that we had a lunch date today."

Kate had a sudden look of panic on her face. "Crap, I don't think I can get away for that, babe." She placed her hand over his."

He shrugged. "That's okay. I don't think Alexis figured you'd be able to anyway."

Her hand suddenly squeezed his quite firmly. "I told you I'm not letting you out of my sight."

Rick chuckled. "You just left me for 20 minutes while you conversed with Roz."

She gave him her favorite glare. "We're in a police station. I highly doubt our killer will choose this as his next murder scene."

"And, Alexis and I will be walking a few blocks down the street to Remy's. We'll be in a crowd in broad daylight the whole time."

"What about a drive by shooting. I don't think you should go."

He took both her hands in his. "Kate, don't let your fears interfere with that sharp mind of yours. A shooting out in the open has not been a part of his methodology. Way too public."

"Yeah, well he was sloppy at Josh's. Maybe he's getting desperate, maybe he's on some kind of time limit."

Castle chuckled. "He's been waiting for how many years? I doubt he's under any time pressure. It's likely that he'll back off a bit to see what evidence comes out of Josh's apartment." Castle's head suddenly jerked. Like he'd just thought of something he'd forgotten. "By the way, is Josh being protected?"

Kate nodded. "Yeah, he's under police protection. There is a guard at his door at all times and a list of medical personnel who are cleared to enter his room." She took a slow breath. "He's currently in an induced coma to allow him to heal better. They have some list of certain numbers they want him to meet before they bring him out of the coma."

Castle gave her a look of support. "That's pretty rough, but I have faith that he'll pull though, if only to continue to provide competition for the affections of my wife." He was trying to keep the mood lighter, but it didn't work on Kate. She looked up at him and a tear escaped one eye.

"Sorry, not funny." He wiped the tear with his thumb.

With a sad smile he stood up. "Where are you going?"

He patted her hand. "While you're checking with the hospital about Josh, I'm going to go to the break room and call Maddie to set up a dinner party. Hopefully, she'll be available to come over tonight."

Kate nodded. "And what else?"

Castle smirked. "And I'll probably make my beautiful wife a cup of coffee."

She patted him on the cheek. "You're so smart."

He headed for the breakroom while Kate phoned the hospital.

Rick was in the back corner of the breakroom sitting at one of the most out of the way tables. He pulled out his phone and looked Maddie's number up again. He expected her to be too busy to answer her phone, but hoped she'd be able to return his call soon enough to see if Maddie could come over tonight for dinner. And if that wouldn't work when would be the first opportunity that she might have.

So he was surprised when he wasn't able to leave the intended message.

"Hello?"

"Maddie? It's Rick Castle. I'm surprised you were able to answer the phone?"

There's slight chuckle. "Well it is my phone. To what do I owe a call from the famous Richard Castle this time?"

"Ha, ha, very funny. Seriously after talking to you the other day, and then talking to Kate about it, we realized that it's been literally years since you and Kate have had a chance to get together. It's a shame when that happens to friends."

"Well we did pursue pretty different career choices."

"That is true, but you do live in the same city so different careers shouldn't be the excuse. And don't say 'being busy' either. Kate knows that she's as much to blame as you would be so we're trying to offer the first olive branch." Castle laughed. "And since I'm now part of the Beckett package, we are inviting you to come over to our loft tonight, if possible, for a casual dinner and conversation."

Maddie almost jumped out of the chair she was sitting in. She couldn't believe her luck. The prey was literally inviting the predator into their lair. She had to play it cool. She couldn't risk blowing this opportunity.

"That sounds lovely, Rick. Let me double check my schedule and get back to you. It shouldn't take more than 10 to 15 minutes."

Castle grinned. "That sounds great, Maddie. I truly hope you can make it."

"I'll let you know, one way or the other, Rick. Ciao for now."

The connection dropped. He moved over to the expresso machine and began to make the expected brew for his beloved.

She had just gotten off the phone with the hospital. After getting the runaround for several minutes she called Dr. Kovacs directly. She left an ambiguous message guaranteed to make him curious enough to call her back. It only took ten minutes for him to return her call.

Unfortunately there had been no new information as to Josh's condition. He was still being kept in a medically induced coma to speed his healing. They were hopeful that he would eventually recover, but like herself before, he would have a long process rebuilding his body. She could only imagine how Josh might face that. Knowing his lack of patience with many things, she figured it would be a good bet that he would be as lousy a patient as she had been.

Suddenly there was a steaming, wonderful smelling cup of coffee sitting in front of her. She didn't need to be told who that was. She turned with a big smile on her face. She glanced at Gate's office just to be sure she actually was at 1PP for meetings.

She pulled him right down to her level and plundered his lips for several seconds before releasing him on unstable legs to find his chair.

"You seem to be pretty blasé about the rules your captain had installed to allow your ruggedly handsome husband to continue being your precinct partner."

She grinned and shrugged. "When the cat's away…"

He shook his head. "Cat? More like a panther, or tiger." He gave her a concerned look. "And to think, you might decide to become a captain someday yourself."

She shrugged again. "Maybe, but if I do I'll know all the tricks to watch out for."

Rick's rejoinder was interrupted by the elevator depositing another passenger. It was Alexis. Her face lit up in a huge smile as she spied her father and Kate sitting at her desk. She rushed over toward them, her eye catching a smiling Kate.

Alexis swept past her dad and zeroed in on her new mother in law.

"Ohmygod Kate, your hair!" The young woman stood, her mouth open.

Kate laughed. "Yes, it is my hair, or what's left of it."

The excitable redhead squatted down by Kate's feet. "I can't believe you cut it. It looks great!"

Kate blushed. What was it with everyone telling how great she looked with her new haircut? How bad had she looked before?"

Alexis ran her hand over her own long hair. "You know, I've been thinking that it might be about time to change this long straight look I've had…like forever. The more I've thought about it the more I'm ready to make that change. But now that I see your new cut I'm thinking that I would like something like yours."

Kate was blushing now. "Well, I'm glad you like it."

Alexis jumped in again. "Do you think something that short would look good on me?"

Kate shrugged. "Alexis, you have a good face, and could easily wear just about any style."

"How did you decide on this style? When did you decide to make the change?"

Kate had to bite her lip not to laugh out loud. "Well, I was getting tired of all the fussing I was doing with my hair so I consulted with my new stylist and basically gave him permission to do whatever he wanted."

Alexis looked shocked. "Wow, you must really trust him." Kate smirked and snuck a glance at Castle. "So who is this great new stylist you have, and can you put me in touch with him?"

"Well he doesn't really take on many customers. He's pretty exclusive."

"Oh come on, Kate. We're family now. You have to tell me. Even if he turns me down I'd like to know."

Kate looks over at Rick and he gives her a shrug. "Well…" Kate crooks her finger, signaling that Alexis come closer. When the young girl does, Kate whispers in her ear.

The look of shock on Alexis' face was comical. "You're kidding?"

Kate shook her head. "Seriously?" Kate nods. The redhead looks at her father. He shrugs.

Alexis gets up and stands behind her father. A strange expression on her face as she fingers the ends of her long hair.

Rick's phone suddenly wants his attention. "Castle." He responds.

"Rick, it's Maddie."

He mouthed her name at Kate who nodded. "I'm glad you called me back so quickly. What can you tell me?"

She giggled briefly. "Well, I was able to shift a couple of things so I'd love to come by tonight for dinner."

"That's great. Kate will be thrilled." He looked at her as she raised her brow.

"I am also. Only I want to change up the menu just a bit."

Castle squinted his eyes in suspicion. "What are you thinking?"

"I want you to let me bring the entrée. I have a new dish I've been working on and I'd like to use you two as my taste testers."

"Taste testers?" Kate suddenly looked at Rick, worry on her face.

"Well, I thought that sounded better than Guinee Pigs." Rick rolled his eyes. "I just got in a large shipment of fresh salmon and I have an idea for a new dish. You and Kate both like salmon don't you?"

Castle nodded his head. "Yeah, we like salmon." He looked at Kate, she nodded.

"Great, I'll bring the salmon and I'll leave the sides up to you. Should I bring some wine?"

Castle shook his head. "No, believe me I've got the wine covered, and I'll come up with some au gratin potatoes, and asparagus. And anything else that comes to mind."

"Sounds great, Rick. What time do you want me there?"

"Why don't you be there around seven thirty, which will give you time for any reheating. I should be able to get home in time to fix the sides. I'll text you the address and tell my doorman Eduardo to expect you. If you need a hand at all he can help you."

"Thanks a lot. See you tonight, I'm really looking forward to this."

"Us too, Maddie. See you tonight."

Maddie Queller had to keep herself from squealing for joy. Now she didn't have to go through the process of tracking him down and finding a way to get him where she can carry on her vengeance. How often did the chicken place its own head on the chopping block?

She had to get home, she had a lot of planning to do. Now that her access to Richard Castle, the 5 of hearts, was secured she needed to find a way to keep Kate out of the way until she had disposed of Castle.

She knew that once she had fulfilled her vow to the memory of Brent she would have to disappear. Money was not a problem for her. Q3 had made her very rich. Not Rick Castle rich, but more than well-off. She had already began plotting her disappearance.

Some might say, just kill Kate also, but she couldn't do that. She promised herself and Brent's memory that Kate would pay for what she'd done to him by walking out on him and shunning him for all those years.

She needed to be alive to feel the pain… forever.

All she'd have to do is disable, or render Kate Beckett-Castle unconscious for several hours so she could have the head start she needed to disappear. She already had a small plane at a private air strip ready. Within a few hours she could be airborne to a destination of her choosing.

She walked out of her office and spoke to her head chef. "Maurice, I've developed a headache. I'm going to go home and take it easy for the evening. I won't be in at all tonight. I'll see everyone tomorrow morning some time."

"Yes, madam."

She quickly grabbed her things and headed out the door. She had a busy night ahead of her. She had her new salmon bake to prepare, and a lot of preparatory phone calls to make.

If someone saw her as she left, they might have been disturbed by the strange glimmer in her eyes.

Kate was at her desk, with her partners going over some of the information they'd just received pertaining to the case she'd basically abandoned to them. CSU had managed to find a print the second time around the scene. It belonged to a career criminal who had been known to have a beef with the deceased. Said criminal had been released from prison only three weeks ago. Apparently he didn't believe in wasting time. Neither did they.

Castle passed them as he left the elevator and they entered. Head nods acknowledged their passing. Castle glanced at Gates' empty office as he sat down. He grabbed Kate's hand and was about to kiss her hand, when an irritated voice rang out.

"Mr. Castle! I certainly hope you weren't planning to flaunt the rules that were set down to allow you to continue to play cop with your wife, by ignoring those rules?"

Castle refused to turn around. "Er, no sir. I was merely noticing my wife's nail polish, sir."

Gates came over closer. "It seems Detective Beckett isn't wearing any nail polish."

Castle nodded. "Exactly."

Gates gave Rick a disapproving stare. Castle slid down further in his chair. What he didn't see was Gates grin as she went back into her office.

Rick glared at Kate. "Why didn't you warn me?"

Kate spread her hands. "How was I to know what you were about to do?"

Castle just frowned as Kate laughed. "So, how was lunch with Alexis?"

Rick instantly changed. "It was good. I didn't realize how much I missed her."

"We'll have to plan something with her soon. I kind of miss her too."

Rick smiled. "That would be nice."

Kate leaned in closer to him. "Any more talk about Rick the stylist?" Even though she meant it in a playful way, it was evident that Kate was a little bothered by it.

Castle shook his head. "No, I think the idea of her father cutting and styling her hair kind of freaked her out. It was never brought up."

Kate nodded. "I think that's for the best." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "I don't want to share." She then grinned.

AN: Surprise! Okay, who guessed Maddie? Brent was just too obvious.

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