* * *Disclaimer: I don't Own any of the characters or the rights to the show (sadly) * * *
Reference to "Poof! You're Dead" Season 3 episode 12
"The Case of The Carpathian Ruby"
Chapter 3 "We make this look good"
225 Mott St, New York: "Lord Willy's" is a quirky English tailor. It's North of Little Italy and is known for suits with eccentric button offerings and classic English sixties slim cuts for gentlemen who want to look their best (at least that was the description online). It was also the last place Esposito expected to find himself on a Friday afternoon. However, it was the address on the card Hayley had given him and she was the boss.
"If you want to go somewhere more…" Ryan began trailing off as he looked up at the large redbrick building. All the stores nearby looked incredibly pricey.
"Naw, man its cool. If Hayley says this is the place, then I guess we should give it a try." Javier answered as he looked up at the purple sign that featured the silhouette of a man in a suit holding an umbrella aloft. The bell tinkled over head as they entered the store, Ryan took the lead.
"Hello?" they called.
"Two seconds gents I'm just in the back." Called an English voice from somewhere below. The guys looked at each other and turned slowly taking in their surroundings. It was a small show room with a few pristine suits proudly displayed on mannequins. Ryan naturally walked over to one with a waistcoat. Well, Javier thought, he was nothing if not consistent in his style choices. He shook his head and smiled as he turned to a very classic black tux.
"Fancy the classic Bond look?" Asked a voice from behind him. Esposito turned and appraised the man who had spoken. After his career in the Army and well over a decade on the force his natural instinct was to assess every situation and every person for a threat. The man didn't look like much of a threat at first glance. He was slim and spoke in a gentle manner, but there was something about the way he held himself. Something familiar.
"You know I think I could pull it off, but I would never get to play him in the movie" he indicated his face as he said that.
"Oh, I don't know about that Mr Esposito." The man answered with a wry smile. He was tall and incredibly pale with a pronounced widows peak. Impeccably dressed of course, that went with the job description. The man wore a navy-blue suit with a patterned silk Ben Sherman tie. Tortoise shell glasses. "Did you know the inspiration for James Bond was a Dominican gentleman named Porfirio Rubirosa, he was a playboy, race car driver" the man paused looking Esposito in the eyes "and a soldier like yourself."
"How the hell?" Esposito asked. He was taken aback for the moment; he wasn't used to people getting the drop on him. Then realised why the man seemed familiar. He had a soldier's bearing; he'd seen it hundreds of times.
"Dear Miss Shipton called about an hour ago. Instructed me to give you both the full James Bond experience." The gentleman seemed incredibly amused by the statement. Ryan walked over to them. Not just a soldier then. An intelligence operative like Hayley. This was not a man to underestimate.
"How'd you know Hayley?" Ryan asked as he flicked through a rack of ties. For someone as observant as Ryan he wondered how he hadn't seen it. Then again Ryan had never been a soldier.
"We used to work together back in London." The man replied.
"As in…." Ryan began.
"Let's just say I was her Q." the man chuckled as he moved to the front door and flipped the closed sign. Esposito doubted the man before them just acted as a quartermaster. "So, chaps, is it just the suits today or the full works?"
"Full works" they chorused.
Meanwhile on the other side of town.
"Thanks for detouring with me Hayley." Alexis said as they rode the elevator up to her Dad's Loft.
"No problem." She replied. They took the short walk along the corridor and gently rapped on the door. They could hear Beckett in the background "Babe can you get the door, I'm feeding the twins?"
"Coming!" Castle yelled. His face broke into a huge smile as he saw Alexis. "Hey come in, come in. Close the door though, Jo has taken to running everywhere and I don't need her making another escape. The kid's like Houdini." The child in question peered out at Alexis and Hayley from behind the sofa. She had long brown hair like her mother and bright blue eyes like her dad and half sister Alexis.
"Did we come at a bad time?" Hayley asked surveying the chaos. It had been a while since she had visited. Alexis had been her roommate for a few years now. Hayley wondered why Alexis didn't just use her key. Looking around at the loft, there were dozens of photos of the youngest Castles, however there were an equal number of photos of Alexis and her father at various ages.
"No of course not, we've always happy to see you." Castle said. Joannah darted from her hiding place behind the sofa and ran straight to Alexis.
"Lexi!" she giggled. When she was really little, she couldn't quite manage to say Alexis and the nickname stuck. Alexis smiled down at her half sibling who shared her pale skin and light blue eyes.
"Jo Jo the Magnificent" Alexis replied in a bow to the girl. Joannah giggled and ran to the sofa to grab her top hat and magic wand. The girl placed it on her head at a jaunty angle and waved the wand at Alexis with her tongue poking out in concentration. Alexis pretended to turn to stone.
"Now I have to bring you back to life." Jo smiled mischievously and ran headlong to Alexis and gave her a massive hug. The pair giggled. It was clear the little girl idolised her big sister.
Hayley watched the exchange with amusement. Castle noticed her watching and explained "Jo is in a Magic phase at the moment since Alexis took her to Drake's Magic Shop. Although the dinosaur obsession is still in full swing."
"And writing Daddy. One day I'm going to write books just like Daddy." Joannah grinned up at him. They were very alike. Alexis watched their exchange with a wistful expression.
Beckett came out of the bedroom and smiled tiredly. She walked over to Alexis and gave her a big hug "Oh it's so good to see you. It's been far too long."
"I just wanted to give you guys space, I know you have a lot on with the twins and changing careers. I just didn't want to get in the way. Plus, it's been crazy at the PI office recently."
"Hey" Beckett said as she looked Alexis right in the eyes. "You are never in the way. Besides you have Javi and Ryan to boss around. They're used to doing the grunt work. Come round more ok. We miss you." Alexis smiled and nodded, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"I miss you guys too. In fact, that's why we're here." She handed Beckett the invitation. "I called Gran on the way over and she said she is happy to watch the kids."
"Castle we're going to the Museum" Beckett said happily as she read the invitation.
"Cool, Dinosaurs." Said Castle and Joannah in unison.
"I was more thinking dressing up and food that isn't in tiny jars." Beckett replied.
"Well, Alexis and I had best be going, dresses to try on and what not." Hayley didn't have the heart to stay and watch them tell Joannah she wasn't going to see the dinosaurs.
"See you guys at the Museum." Alexis said.
Later that evening. Hayley and Alexis were finishing up some last minutes research on the new collection arriving at the museum. You should never go to meet a potential client without being forewarned.
"Ok, so there's only a handful of possibilities." Alexis said as she gave her hair a quick once over with her brush.
"Theft from the treasure of the Carpathian Mountains collection itself. Which would explain why we have been summoned during the pre-opening event. Or there's also a new dinosaur which arrived this week, maybe it's a fake." Hayley added.
"Then there's option three. Embezzlement or possibly Bentley has a personal issue for us to look into. If my dad was here, he'd be hoping for the dinosaur." Alexis smiled.
"I'm going to bet on the treasure." Hayley laughed. The weather outside had been declining all day and the heavens had finally opened. A crack of lightening flashed outside. A few moments later a low rumble of thunder began. The lights flickered.
"Personally, I'm just hoping we get to the Museum in one piece." Said Alexis as she peered out of the window.
Hayley was doing the last checks on her make up in the mirror, when another crack of lightning lit up the sky highlighting the silhouette of a figure stood in the door way. Both women yelped.
"Hey ladies, I know I clean up well but no reason to shout." Esposito stepped through the door way. "Are you guys, ok?" he asked worried for a moment.
Hayley looked at Esposito through the mirror about to throw back a witty retort. As she looked in his direction, she realised he looked very good indeed. The tux fit him perfectly his hair was a little damp from the rain outside, he was freshly shaved.
"Don't you look smashing." Hayley replied honestly. Esposito flushed a little. Hayley had chosen a Midnight blue silk dress that highlighted her long legs with a slit up the side.
"You too." He said quietly. Alexis turned and looked between them and shook her head. They were incredibly obvious. She cleared her throat to remind them that they weren't alone. "Uh you too Alexis." He said abashed. He was being truthful. At some point the sweet brainy kid he had met all those years ago had become a beautiful young woman her hair was long and styled in soft waves, it was lighter than it used to be.
"Thank you det…. Uh"
"Alexis, we have known each other long enough for you to call me Javier or Javi or even Esposito if you prefer.
"I know it's just a little strange." she replied bashfully.
"Hey guys, sorry we're late, my sister was late to come over and watch the kids." Kevin said, as he and Jenny rushed in. They were holding hands and both had matching black trench coats over they best outfits, a soaked umbrella hanging down at Ryan's side.
"So how did you boys like Merlin."
"Merlin?" Alexis asked.
"Hayley's Tailor friend." Ryan answered taking off her trench coat to reveal a tux like Esposito's. They walked up to each other and high fived. Then stood back-to-back steeping their fingers like guns and posed, in their best spy stance.
"We make this look good." They said in unison. The girls all rolled their eyes.
"Well now we have established you're both pretty enough for the party, shall we?" Hayley said smiling at their new business partners. This should be an interesting evening. If they ever get there in the storm.
Next Chapter: A Night to Remember