The Other Path Chapter 99

Rick's eyebrows fly toward his hairline. "Winston Mayweather decided to cop a plea?"

"Uh-hmm," Kate confirms. "When he realized he could be facing a federal death penalty, saving the homeland from the mongrel scourge went out the window in favor of trying to save his own ass. He's flipping on everyone in Rightful Heirs, including Brinkerman, that was involved in the bombing and any other terrorist activity. The deal won't keep him out of prison but it will keep him off death row."

"I imagine that when some of the other prisoners find out what he did, death row may not be a matter of location," Rick speculates.

"You may be right. But whatever happens to Mayweather now, my end is finished. So I'm back on leave."

"Miv will appreciate that. But," Rick adds, studying Kate's face, "I'm not sure how much you do."

"I admit I got a rush getting Mayweather. I love being here with you and Miv." A yip sounds from the furry mound curled up at Rick's feet. "And Cronut. But catching the bad guys is an important part of my life. You know that."

"I do," Rick acknowledges. " I never pictured you as a stay-at-home mom, not in the long term, anyway. And that wouldn't be the kick-ass Kate Beckett who snapped the cuffs on my heart. But there must be a way to strike a balance, at least in Miv's early years."

"If you have a solution, I'd love to hear it."

"Perhaps what worked during the terrorist crisis could be extended," Rick suggests.

"How?"

"You remember when Agent Shaw was here, she talked about getting on a plane six times a year to go track down serial killers?"

"You were paying a lot more attention to her than I was, but I remember that. Still, what does what Jordan Shaw does have to do with me?"

"You could take it as a model. You stepped in, very successfully I might add, in the NYPD's time of need. Gates saw how well it all worked out. So there's no reason why you can't do it again. Miv won't be nursing forever. She'll eventually be moving on to other baby yummies. And when she's a little older you can pump if need be. You already told me that's allowed. When your regulation maternity leave is over, why not continue serving on tough cases, like Agent Shaw. And you could continue teaching at the academy too. That would keep you on the official NYPD roster."

Kate's front teeth dig into her lower lip. "I'm not sure 1PP would go for that."

"Hey, you're coming off a major victory. It's the perfect time to ask. Keeping supercop around to crack the tough nuts would be outstanding PR. And they do love great PR. Otherwise, I'd never have been allowed to follow you around."

"That's true," Kate concedes. "That does sound like a plan you and I and Miv could live with." The dog yips again. "And Cronut too."

Ten months later

Kate surveys the track her husband is wearing in the floor. "Pacing like a caged lion isn't going to make the reviews come out any faster. We could all go for a walk. You could use the distraction you get from people-watching. Miv giggles at every bump in the sidewalk and Cronut is ecstatic to go anywhere." On hearing his name, the dog fetches his leash. "See."

"Nothing much better than Miv giggles," Rick considers. "And I can't disappoint the pooch either. OK. Paula will call my cell if anything pops anyway."

"I don't doubt it," Kate replies drily.

Rick's phone sounds an alert as the Beckett-Castle contingent approaches the park. The device almost slips from his fingers as he snatches it from his coat pocket. "Yeah. Really? Can you read it to me? All right, yeah. I can bring it up on my phone and read it myself."

As Kate settles on a bench with the stroller next to her, Rick hands off Cronut, giving him two hands to access The Time's Book Review. "So what does it say?" Kate prompts.

"Given Richard Castle's well-known pulpish proclivities, the reviewer was apprehensive when opening 'Beneath the Façade.' His fears, however, proved to be unfounded. While portraying often unperceived but pervasive influences on everyday life, Castle creates characters that command attention and rend the heart. While an author who can traverse the gap from genre writing to a novel of significance is rare, Castle has made the leap."

Rick sinks to the bench beside Kate. "Wow!"

Kate reaches for his hand. "You did it, Babe."

"Maybe. We'll have to see if the da," he glances down at a too attentive Miv, "darned thing sells."

"No doubt Paula will be watching the sales with an eagle eye," Kate figures.

"No doubt," Rick agrees. "But while you're still on a break between major cases, we might as well take the opportunity to celebrate the situation as it stands. How would you feel about barbecue? We can't take Cronut into Smokey Saucy, but I can put in an order we can pick up after Cronut finishes gallivanting about."

Kate squeezes her husband's fingers. "Sounds good."

A year later

For some reason, Kate had always pictured the Pulitzer ceremony as like the Oscars or Grammys, with a red carpet and designer gowns. If anything, she was relieved to find that the awards are given at a lunch at Columbia University. She suspects that Rick might enjoy a little of the kind of glitz she'd rather avoid, but if he needs applause, he can always make an appearance on Kimmel. Also, the size of the audiences at Rick's book readings pleasantly surprised Paula. He did one at the hall in the Historical Society and every seat was filled.

Kate had to do a little maneuvering to clear time for the ceremony, such as it is. Fortunately, she sewed up her latest case and rescheduled her academy class. Neither Alexis nor Martha would miss Rick's ascent into literary glory, leaving Kate without a family babysitter. Fortunately, Super-Sitter agreed to take the assignment, and Miv can't have much better than the baby whisperer.

Rick's usually impressive appetite appears to have vanished as the various pronouncements go on. He tightly grasps Kate's hand as his category and his name are announced. "Babe, you did it!" she whispers in his ear.

"Yeah, I guess I did."

"I always knew you could, Richard," Martha declares.

His disbelief morphs into a lopsided grin. "Of course you did, Mother. But I still have some work to do."

"You're already working on your second GAN," Kate points out, "along with giving Black Pawn its Heats and Storms."

"Very true," Rick allows, "and your special cases with the NYPD help the Heats along. Heat and Storm are my parallels to Rook's romance novels. But Rook won two Pulitzers for his serious work. So if I'm going to catch up, I have a way to go."

"You'll make it, Dad," Alexis asserts. "I know you will."

"You're my son," Martha declares. "I don't see how you can miss."

Rick wraps his arm around Kate. "It doesn't matter. My wife is the love of my life, and I have an incredible family. No man could wish for more."

Finis

A/N That's it. Kate will continue working on the momentous cases and guiding the next generation of cops. Rick is the author he's always wanted to be. And I'm guessing that Cronut will get plenty of peanut butter. As usual, I'll be starting a new story. Set your way-back machine to "Knockdown." This time, after the kiss, Kate and Rick can't ignore their feelings. Join me for "Under and Over." Love, Sally