Chapter 2 – Where's Kate

Rick had thought of hiring a PI to find Kate, but with just her first name and what he knew of her, there was not that much to go on. He decided to do some of his own digging and see where it would lead. Where to begin he thought? He knew her mother had been murdered one year ago on the night they meet. He did a web search of 'Homicides, NYC' that just brought up statistical data on the numbers and kinds of murders committed in the city. He then searched 'NYPD Homicide Cases', again, more statistical date on numbers and kinds of homicide cases, number solved, number unsolved, number of cold cases. He called the NYPD and asked how he could get information on murder cases from a year ago. He was told open cases could not be discussed since they were were ongoing investigations but cases that were solved could be petitioned by Freedom of Information act. However, he needed to say which ones in particular. There could be no "fishing" for past cases indiscriminately. As frustrating as it was, he took consolation in that he had just started, and vowed to persist in his quest.

Beckett's Home

She had missed her period and wondered if it was due to the stress in her life. It was not unusual to have a late period due to stress, at least for Kate. It had happened before. She thought about Rick and the night they were together. They had used protection so she was not expecting a pregnancy. Was she sure? They had gone three rounds that night and she could not recall if they used protection for each one. Even with protection she had heard of people getting pregnant, leaking condoms, pills that did not work, and other rare occurrences of pregnancies due to peculiar circumstances. Should she take a test? And what if the test is positive and she is pregnant, what would she do? She had not been with anyone since Rick. He would have to be the father. Should she tell him if it happened? Could she tell him? And how should she tell him? She could not just show up out of the blue and say she was pregnant. What if it was just a one night stand for him?

She calls Maddy.

"Kate, how many days are you overdue?"

"Five Days."

"Give it a complete week and then if no period, do a test."

"What if I test positive, what then?"

"Let's figure that out once we know for sure. Stay calm for now. Okay?"

"Okay, play it cool, not panicking, at least not for now."

A couple days later Kate purchases some test strips. Kate purchased four to be sure and would use all four. When she tested, all four showed positive. She was devastated. This was an event that she did not plan. Finishing up at NYU this June, she had gotten an approved application for the police academy. She was scheduled for the Fall class. This recent incident puts a damper on those plans if not a hold. What was she going to do? She calls Maddy once again.

"Don't panic Becks, you have options."

"Like?"

"Abortion for one."

"Don't know if I could do that."

"Well, it is an option and you can find out more about it. My current steady boyfriend, the one I met on our night out, is pre-med and works in one of those clinics in a depressed neighbor-hood. Josh can tell us how to do it. He says they get lots of unwed mothers that come in and they get the procedure for free as it is funded by the government and private groups like Planned Parenthood. If you want we can meet for dinner one time and you can talk to him about it. Sound like a plan?"

"Yes, thank you Maddy."

"I'll call and let you know, how's your schedule look?"

"During the day is fine, I'm between classes till next term, but working night shifts till closing hours all this week ."

"Okay I will call."

Days later they are having a early dinner that fit in with both Kate's, Josh's and Maddy's schedules. Josh Davidson tells her of all the programs available for unwed mothers and that these are funded by outside sources as it is considered a health issue. Illegal abortions back in the day when abortions were outlawed had caused major deaths to the young women who sought them. But today with abortion being legal, it was a well controlled procedure and women rarely died from it unless there were unusual circumstances.

Kate is doubtful at first about having an abortion, but Josh brings up the fact that as a single parent it would be difficult to raise a child alone. What type of life could she give her child? Reluctantly Kate consents and Josh gets her an appointment in three days. The doctor would be one that Josh had worked for, Doctor Diane Fredricks, since Josh felt a female doctor might make Kate more relaxed during the whole procedure.

At The Clinic

Three days later Kate is sitting outside one of the surgical rooms in a health clinic at one of the depressed neighborhoods in the NYC metro area. There are many unwed mothers in the waiting room. Kate got to hear a lot of their stories. Most were pregnant by a boyfriend, some of whom left after hearing of the pregnancy. Others had boyfriends who proposed marriage or promised to be there for mother and child. A few were there as a result of sexual abuse; those tended to be the worst of the cases. Kate was in the category of one-night stands that resulted in pregnancy, one of the smaller groups.

As she waited to be called into the surgical room, all she could think about was her mother. Would she have advised this abortion to her? Most likely not, Johanna, her mother, would have insisted she have the baby and then would have helped to raise her grandchild. Then she thinks, what if her mother had aborted her! Kate would have never known of her mother and the love she was so good at giving. It is then she makes a different decision.

Asking for Dr. Fredricks, she tells her she has changed her mind. She can not do the abortion. Dr. Fredricks is understanding and thanks her, saying that her slot is now opened for another women who is on standby for the procedure. The clinic can fill her vacant slot even as early as today.

That night Maddy calls her.

"I heard you couldn't do it."

"Sorry Maddy, but thanks for the help and thank Josh for me."

"Kate, we are behind you no matter the choice, but Josh now tells me there are free programs to do the delivery. He has already signed you up."

"Again, thank you and Josh for your help."

"One thing Becks, you may want to put the child up for adoption once you have delivered your child."

It was yet another big decision that Kate had to make.

Castle's Loft Weeks Later

"Your young lady, Mr. Castle, is a hard woman to find!"

"That is why I went to you Phil, the best in the business for finding lost or missing persons."

Philip Malone beams at Castle's compliment. He is a retired detective specializing in missing person cases and has over 30 years experience in the field.

"So how did you track her down?"

"Wasn't easy, all we had was her first name, Kate, and your artist rendered picture of her. We found out who she is and that she has a squeaking clean record. No arrests, nothing that could show up on police records.

"Clean record?"

"Not so much as a jay walking citation, but you said she had gone to Stanford up to sophomore year and then transferred to NYU. We checked those schools and got an identity, Katherine Beckett, and the story checks on her mother's murder. By the way, she's got an acceptance for the Police Academy when she graduates this summer with a Criminology Science degree, top of her class. She is scheduled for the Fall/Winter classes and has a choice to be in the early class, or the later class. She should do well at the academy."

"Great, got an address for me."

Before Phil hands Rick the card with Kate's address on it, he says, "By the way, she's pregnant. Tried to get a abortion and then chickened out at the last moment. She is due in October and is now starting to show. Means if she goes to the academy, it will be the late winter class. You the father?"

"Well the timing is right and I know I was the only man she had been with in a long time."

"So how are you going to handle this Rick?"

"Well, this puts a whole new path in my quest to reunite with her. I will have to think about how to do it."

"Well if you need additional help, I'm here Rick."

"Thanks Phil, here's your bonus check for finding her."

Phil happily takes his bonus and then is gone.

Starting to Show

She was having the usual morning sickness events as is normal for a woman in her condition. The baby bump was starting to show and getting more pronounced as the days flew by. She continued to work as she needed the money. Her boss at the restaurant was being helpful and accommodating her to help Kate with the pregnancy. Often when she got sick on the job, her boss let her rest for awhile. It was an act of concern and kindness on the part of her boss.

On a rare day off, she had been sitting at her kitchen table alone, stressed again from her life's troubles. Her dad had relapsed for a third time and was back in the rehab facility for the duration of the recovery. She was trying to forget her problems and was reading the papers and came across the article on Rick Castle on page six. He supposedly is dating his publisher, one Gina Cowl. It is rumored to be a "romance" of epic proportions the article reveals.

Reading the article had her thinking that maybe she had been just a one night stand for him. Yet she had felt a connection and by the way Rick had made love to her that night, she had a hunch that he may have felt the same. Kate had thought of contacting Rick and letting him know she was pregnant, but now, with this news, how could she? She knew that Rick's divorce had wounded him emotionally. He was damaged and needed to heal. Maybe this budding romance with his publisher was what he needed to recover from his divorce. She did not want to ruin it for him should this new woman be the one he is looking for.

Her cell phone rings and brings her out of her thoughts. By the caller ID, it is Maddy.

"Hey Maddy", she speaks into her cell upon answering the call.

"How is momma to be doing?"

"Coping as best I can given my current condition."

"Becks, I know I said this before, but I need to say it again. You got to let Rick know about what happened since that night."

"Maddy, I just read an article in the papers about him being involved with his publisher. I can not ruin that for him."

"Becks, you can not believe those gossip columns. For all you know it is one of those stories meant to sow interest in him to boost his sales. Girl, he doesn't have to give up anything, he just needs to provide support for his child. You aren't asking him to marry you!"

"Maddy, it was a one night stand. That's all it was, we are not a couple."

"Yeah, but you felt a connection, and from what you told me, he may have felt the same."

"Maybe it was just my libido clouding my judgement."

"Kate, you need to tell him."

"This conversation is over Maddy, please don't bring it up again."

"Okay Becks, I am backing off for now. But I will bring it up again, the man needs to know, it is the right thing to do!"

Just then Kate hears a knock at her door.

"Maddy, there's someone at the door, let me get back to you."

"Okay, you get a break this time, go answer your door."

When she answers her door, she is shocked! The very man she had been talking with Maddy about just minutes ago was at her door.

"Rick, what are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"Kate, we need to talk!"