Homecoming: Chapter 3
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DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters are not mine at all, but they are memorable. Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. The others? Yeah, they're mine
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8:47 a.m. Monday Morning, April 23, 2012, at Martha's Loft on 425 Broome Street in New York City
"Whoa . . . who turned the flashlight on?" a groggy Richard Castle asks, shielding his eyes against the invading sunlight bursting through the window in the guest room.
"Rise and shine, my Love," Kate Beckett tells him as she continues to pull the curtain open. He risks a squinted-eye glance at his fiancée, and is rewarded with a view of long legs barely covered by a San Francisco Giant t-shirt.
"Let me say again how much I approve of your sleep attire," he offers as a good morning greeting.
"Not enough to engage in some long overdue Broome-street nocturnal activities," she counters, as she walks into the guest bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. That brings him springing out of bed and half sprinting to the bathroom to join her.
"Wait a minute," he exclaims. "Since when did you become the articulate wordsmith of this esteemed relationship, m'lady?"
"Feeling threatened already, Mr. Castle?" she giggles as he playfully swats her rear. She turns to return the favor.
"No, but I am surprised at how long we slept," he tells her. "It's already almost 9 o'clock and we are just now climbing out of bed?"
"A welcome change, don't you think?" she replies. "Given all we have been through recently, I don't think we can be blamed for a little extended shut-eye."
"True, true," he agrees, reaching for his toothbrush. "Strange sleeping in this room, though."
"Well, your room is no longer your room," she laughs, and he joins her as they both are reliving Martha Rodgers' walk-through of Castle's old home, highlighting the 'enhancements' his mother has made.
"As if my home needed 'enhancing'," he laments with a manufactured smile.
"You have to admit, the purple drapes and life-sized wall photograph of Martha on stage in her bedroom was a nice touch," Kate laughs.
"Sure . . . a nice touch of insanity," he argues. "Anyway, let's find something else to speak about this morning instead of my mother's gaudy decorating skills."
"Ok," Kate agrees. "Let's talk about the ramifications of another Bracken entering politics."
"Actually, I think it is safe to say that Elizabeth Bracken has been into politics for a long, long time," Castle counters as Kate brushes her teeth. "One of the things Bob mentioned last night – that I am going to push him on a bit later this morning when I meet him for lunch – is that Mrs. Bracken was not exactly a silent partner during her husband's political tenure."
He spends a half minute brushing his teeth as well, then spitting out residue before continuing.
"You have to wonder exactly how much Mrs. Bracken knew of her husband's transgressions," Castle remarks.
"She never struck me as the naïve or unassuming type," Kate adds. "She is a smart woman, based upon what I learned last night."
"So – while I was asleep, you spent some time with google last night, I see," he tells her, as he washes his mouth out and wipes his face.
"Well, that was quite a bombshell you dropped on me last night," Kate remarks.
"A bombshell that Bob dropped on me," he corrects her. "So ironic that he has no idea about the hand grenade he threw into our lives last night with that one. Still, perhaps it is nothing."
"And perhaps I have a certain bridge to sell you," Kate mutters. "You and I – our lives – with us it is never 'nothing', and you know it."
"Well, I will know more later today," he reminds her. "And if I find anything new, I will be sure to tell you. What about you? Surely your lunch will be . . . let's just hope it is a happier occasion."
"I'm sure it will be," she agrees. "Is that the whole reason you are meeting with Bob? Just to talk politics?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes," he answers. "My original goal was to give him a little grief and bust his chops about Sandra," he smiles. She smiles with him, knowing how that conversation would go.
"Talking about Sandra, however, became political, and turned into talk of his governor run, why he's running . . . and before you know it, we aren't in Kansas anymore and we are talking about one Elizabeth Bracken."
"It's not like we can do anything about it, once you think about it," Kate mentions, as she begins to brush her hair.
"True," he agrees. "And when it comes to Mrs. Bracken running for her husband's old seat, I think you and I are just reacting to something people back here in New York have known for some time. I wonder how we missed it."
"Uh . . . I think you and I have been a little busy, Rick. A sex-trafficking ring, an assault on your women's campus –"
"Our women's campus," he corrects her.
"A card-carrying drug, you falling dead . . ." she continues, undeterred.
"Yeah, we've been busy," he smiles. "Any idea what Alexis' plans are today?"
"Last I heard before we came upstairs, Martha was going to take her shopping and to meet some castmates."
"Poor Alexis," Castle smirks.
"For the castmates, yes. For the shopping, I'd say no," Kate remarks. "What's wrong with shopping?"
"That's the wrong question, Babe," he chuckles. "The question is not what is wrong with shopping. The question is what is wrong with shopping with my Mother."
"She's lucky her spring break fell so late this year," Kate reminds him. "If we asked Alexis if she'd rather shop with her grandmother or go to school, she would –"
"She'd choose school," Castle interrupts, bringing laughter to the bathroom.
"I can tell I won't win this one," Kate grins. "And I hear a cup of coffee calling my name."
"As do I," Castle concurs as the duo step out of the guest bathroom and start dressing for activities for the day.
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9:03 a.m. Monday Morning, April 23, 2012, at City Hall in Bob Weldon's Office
"Hmmm, I know the highly-esteemed mayor of New York City knows how to tell time," Mayor Sandra Clooney tells him. "About half an hour earlier than usual, Bob."
"Couldn't be helped, Sandra," Mayor Weldon offers with a smile she cannot see, but senses is there. "My apologies for the early call, as I have somewhat of a full day today, and will be with a certain ex-author you and I are friends with for lunch. Now's the best time."
"I figured the two of you would connect," she replies.
"Last night," he tells her.
"And two old friends need consecutive days to catch up?" she teases.
"Lots to talk about" he smiles in return. "His main topic of discussion – believe it or not – was you,"
"You don't say," Sandra tells him, chuckling.
"I do say," Weldon grins. "Told me you and I are far too close and too trusting for two people who don't have some history."
"He's not a stupid, man," Mayor Clooney remarks.
"No, he's not," Weldon agrees.
"You have not mentioned my plans?" she asks.
"Not at all, Sandra," he replies. "That is your business, yours to tell who you wish, when you wish. My lips are sealed."
"Mmmm, they are?" she smiles into the phone.
"Oh you are a wicked woman, Sandra Clooney," Mayor Weldon exclaims in mock offence. "If I thought you were serious –"
"Someday perhaps," she chuckles with him.
"Holding my breath," the east coast mayor remarks.
"Just make sure Mr. Castle gets on the plane and returns here to my city," Clooney tells him. "We have much greater need of him here than you do there."
"I would have to reluctantly agree with you on that," Weldon tells his west coast counterpart. "All the more reason to pull him into your plans."
"Point taken," the San Francisco mayor acknowledges. "Now, I'm sure that isn't the only reason for this early morning call . . ."
"Right as always, Ms. Mayor," Weldon chuckles, as he sips on a bottle of water.
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10:25 a.m. Monday Morning, April 23, 2012, outside Martha's Loft on 425 Broome Street in New York City
The gray Ford sedan is parked across the street just beyond the unloading zone. The windows are tinted, hiding the four occupants sitting inside. The car itself is nothing special, blending in with the surroundings.
"She hasn't come out yet?" the voice on the other end of the phone call asks.
"No, not yet," the driver responds. "They arrived last night, and while a lot of people left last night, she stayed."
"Not surprising," the other voice replies. "Let me know as soon as she comes out, and once she does, you know what to do."
"Understood," the driver replies, quickly realizing he is talking to himself, as the phone call has been disconnected.
"Hung up on you, again," a voice from the back seat chuckles. These conversations tend to be short and direct. Suddenly, the laughter in the car stops as the lobby door to the street opens up at 425 Broome Street.
"Heads up, looks like someone is coming out," the passenger replies.
"That's Castle right there," one voice remarks. The group watches as Richard Castle walks out of the door hand in hand with Kate Beckett. Behind them, Martha Rodgers is with Alexis Castle. Richard Castle whistles to flag down – unknown to the watchers – a total of three cabs.
"The detective is with him," another voice says.
"Ex-detective," the driver corrects. "And there is his mother and daughter."
"Time to move," the passenger in the front seat barks. "Simmons wants this to be smooth and by the book."
Suddenly, Richard Castle reverses direction, releasing Kate Beckett's hand and quickly walks back into the building.
"Can't believe they came back to the city," the driver remarks as he puts the car into gear. He smoothly pulls out and slowly moves forward before executing a quick U-turn and accelerating towards the three women now standing next to the street.
It happens so quickly that none of them see it until it is too late. The car rapidly pulls up beside them on the street, slamming to a stop with squealing brakes. The back door opens, and two somewhat large men barrel out of the car, moving far more quickly than their size would seem to allow.
"What the –" Kate Beckett exclaims, quickly reading the situation. Clearly this is a snatch and grab. The only question is who is getting grabbed.
"The first man moves quickly toward Kate Beckett. She nods her head in acceptance, and defiance.
"Okay, it's me," she thinks to herself.
Without warning, a large handgun appears from the large man, who stands some eight to ten feet away from the ex-detective with the gun pointed at her head.
"Uh uh uh, Detective," the man warns, his weapon never wavering in his hand. "We aren't after you today."
The other man quickly brushes Martha Rodgers aside, grabbing the red-headed young woman with her. Alexis screams as the man picks her up off the ground and carries her back to the sedan, her legs kicking wildly, where the man in the front seat passenger side has gotten out and moved into the back seat. Alexis is roughly thrown into the back seat with him, and her abductor quickly squeezes in with them, slamming the back door shut.
Kate Beckett, while standing still as told, drops her gaze to the front license plate on the car.
"Amateurs," she thinks to herself, mentally memorizing the letters and numbers on the plate. Quickly she averts her eyes back to the man holding the weapon, who has already moved back to the car and is sliding into the front passenger seat.
As the car pulls away, the look of fear on Alexis Castle's face is something that Kate will not soon forget. The only thing worse is the face of Richard Castle when he walks out of the lobby door, having retrieved Martha's notebook that she left on the desk of the security guard.
The first thing he notices is his mother, who is frantically in the street trying to flag down a cab. The second thing is the absence of his daughter. The third is his fiancée who is moving quickly toward him, a stern expression on her face.
"What happened?" he asks, a bit of fear rising in his voice. "Where's Alexis?"
"Rick," she begins, her voice more serious than he has heard in a long, long time. "Rick, it is important you stay with me, do not panic. Steel yourself. I need you to stay with me."
She grabs his face with both hands, her eyes poring into his.
"Alexis has been taken, Rick," she begins. "Now you have to stay calm – you know why!" she tells him sternly, still holding on to his face.
"Are you with me, Rick?" she asks, her gaze hard.
He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for a count of three before opening them. When his eyes open, Kate is relieved – and pleased – to see a fire there. There is no fear. No panic. Only anger. This is good. He needs to be angry. It will keep him focused. It will keep him conscious. Him passing out now would be disastrous.
"I'm with you," he tells her.
"Good, because I got the license plate," she tells him. She takes her phone out and – by memory – calls Javier Esposito at the 12th Precinct.
"There are cameras here as well, so we should get quite a bit of information," she tells Castle as she listens to the call being placed.
Richard Castle, however, has other ideas. He too, is dialing a number on his phone. His mind has quickly moved through his options.
Someone has taken his daughter. It is not likely for money. If it were, someone would have moved on his daughter back in the Bay Area. No. The fact that she has been taken here – in New York – means the problem is here in New York.
The second thought – which occurs almost simultaneously, is that someone wants to keep him here in New York. Which means they don't want him back home on the west coast. It's just the way he thinks now. He has seen an assault on his campus, and he has seen an attempt to have his campus framed. This is about the campus, he thinks. Right or wrong, that is his mindset. Which means taking someone from his security force and bringing them out here is out of the question.
He hears Kate speaking on her phone. Her voice sounds very far away.
"Javi, I need your help," she begins.
At the same time, Castle's call is placed and answered.
"Richard, what can I do for you?" a voice answers.
"Sam, I need a favor," Castle replies. "A big one. I need Willie out here in New York. As quickly as you can part with him, and I will bring him out here on a charter. It's important."
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A/N: So a lot has happened here in these first three chapters. Here is what we know so far:
First, we know that Elizabeth Bracken is going to be running for office in the upcoming fall elections in November, for her deceased husband's old Senate seat. She will be running against the current governor of New York, who has thrown his hat into the ring.
Second, we know that Mayor Bob Weldon is hoping to be elected into the soon-to-be vacated governor's position in New York.
Third, we know that Alexis has been kidnapped. Why she has been kidnapped, we don't know.
Fourth, we have to remember that Councilman Barry Adams on the west coast is/was the step-brother of Wiliam Bracken on the east coast. And Bracken and Adams kept in touch. They had plans together. It follows that Susan Adams knew of William and Elizabeth Bracken, and that Elizabeth Bracken knew of Barry and Susan Adams.
That's our launching point for this story. I have had this story in my head for a while now – how to do a retelling of the kidnapping of Alexis Castle, for different reasons, with different characters. To me, it didn't make sense for that to occur in California. I hope you follow – and enjoy – the logic that caused it to happen now, back in New York.
Thank you for all who have commented so far and are following and made this story a favorite. I appreciate all of you. I hope you are enjoying the summer.