BURNING FLAMES OR PARADISE
CHAPTER EIGHT
I KNOW PLACES
Just grab my hand and don't ever drop it
My love
MARCH 2008
Slipping back into a relationship with Rick had been easy, even with the additional aspect of him knowing about her mom's murder. Despite his help and perspective, they hadn't made any progress over the month and a half since she'd shared it with him, but she knew it was only a matter of time. Rick was smart, perceptive, and he had the ability to pull her away when she started going down the rabbit hole.
He agreed that it wasn't a random crime, but they couldn't find anything to prove even that.
She felt good about their relationship, and about where she was on a personal level, until the last week of March, when a wave of murders had the entire precinct scrambling.
Two members of the city council had been murdered in spectacularly gruesome matters, two weeks apart, and they had yet to find even a person of interest. The mayor was putting pressure on the chief, who was pressuring the captain, who turned around and put his own pressure on his team.
Kate, Esposito, and the entire homicide squad was scrambling to find anything to help point them in the right direction. And, to make it even more stressful, just an hour before the second victim was called in, they'd welcomed a new detective to the floor.
Esposito took to Kevin Ryan immediately, and even Kate had been impressed with the younger detective when he'd kept his composure at the grisly crime scene.
As usual, canvassing yielded nothing useful, so Kate was pouring over the nearby traffic cam footage long after her shift ended. She lost track of time, only paused to refill her mug with cold, hours-old coffee. It was during one of these brief breaks that she heard her desk phone ring, and she grabbed her mug, cursed when half of the liquid splashed over the side and all over her hand. She'd deal with that in a minute; the call could be from someone with information to help the investigation.
"Beckett," she panted after sprinting across the bullpen, snatching the phone on the last ring before voicemail.
"Kate."
"I can't talk now," she snapped at her boyfriend. "I'm in the middle of a big case."
Rick let out a grunt of acknowledgment. "The councilmen?" When she didn't answer, he continued. "I know you can't say anything about it. But I watch the news, and I know you. It's not hard to connect the dots."
Kate pressed play on the camera footage. "Look, I gotta go, Rick. The brass is all over us about this."
"All right, I guess I won't count on you remembering any plans for the foreseeable future."
She paused the footage when she heard his tone. She'd heard it before, when they'd previously been in a relationship. When she'd missed a prior commitment.
"Shit. What did I forget?"
"Alexis's debate competition. Don't worry, I told her you had something come up at work and you were probably in an interrogation and couldn't call," he said, his voice flat. "She did great, by the way. She won. Even beat seniors. That girl could debate the wings off a fly."
"I'm so sorry, Rick. But this case-"
"Don't worry about it," he interrupted. "I'll let you get back to work. Even if you are the only one here."
Kate froze at his words. How did he-
She spun around to see him standing at the elevator, phone to his ear. She hung up her own phone, wincing at the dejected look on his face. "What can I do?" she asked when he approached her desk, his eyes flicking to the overflowing murder board.
Rick shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Nothing. It's who you are. It sucks from a relationship standpoint, but it's what makes you such a successful detective. I'd just feel a lot better if others had stayed, too. Otherwise it almost looks like you're intentionally drowning yourself in your job."
"That's not true," she argued. "The night shift will be here soon. Everyone else stayed late, I just...stayed later."
"Uh huh. When's the last time you ate? Or drank something other than that nasty coffee?"
Kate smiled at his comment about the coffee. While she was used to it, but his observation of the precinct coffee tasting like a monkey peed in battery acid wasn't far off. It did the job, though.
"I'm fine," she insisted, opening her bottom desk drawer to show him the bags of candy and granola bars she stocked. "I have food."
Rick winced. "No, I mean real food. Never mind," he continued before she could argue. "I'm getting us dinner, and I'll help you look this stuff over." He leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. "Be back soon."
Kate was resistant at first, but once she had a few bites of a pastrami sandwich in her, she felt herself perk up. She could concentrate on the footage better, and even allowed herself a short break to celebrate when Rick pointed out a car that was caught near both crime scenes around the time of both murders.
An hour later, she'd sent a warrant request for additional footage from nearby businesses, and was going to split the one crowded murder board into two when Rick stopped her with a hand on her arm. "I just want to-"
"No, Kate," he said around a yawn. "It's after midnight. You're exhausted. Come home."
She raised an eyebrow. "'Home?'" she repeated.
"You know what I mean. Let's go. You'll be back here in a few hours anyway, and you'll feel better if you sleep in a comfortable bed."
Kate sighed, but she still shut off her computer. "Fine. Good night, guys," she called out to the night detectives. She was careful to ignore their stares when Rick followed her to the elevator, but once the door closed, she laced her fingers through his and leaned against him. "Thanks."
"Any time."
He hadn't planned on telling Kate about the new character he'd been writing. But seeing her work, not just with her team six months before but also by herself, had given him an idea. He was sure the captain would say yes, but he didn't want to go behind her back. Kate worked hard, had rightfully earned respect from the entire precinct - and more, according to his poker group - and the last thing he wanted to do was undermine her.
But he'd have to plan it. The timing needed to be perfect.
He started planting the seeds, making comments about how dedicated she was, how much he'd loved actually helping her, and not just helping her team while she avoided him.
The perfect opportunity came on his birthday, however. She'd requested the day off so she could spend it with him, but after just a few minutes at the loft she'd been called in to interrogate a suspect in the city councilman murders.
He ignored the knowing look on his mother's face when he stated how bummed he was that he couldn't accompany her.
"Next time," Kate had said as she shrugged on her coat, and Rick grinned at what was likely a slip.
He held out his arm, steadied Kate as she slid into her boots. "Next time, huh? I'll hold you to that."
Kate had just rolled her eyes and kissed him.
She was tied up with the end of the case for several days, confirming the confession, presenting the evidence to the DA and, in her words, "enough paperwork to drown me." So it was almost a week before he saw her, and while they had talked a few times, he felt his question needed to be asked in person.
Long after the takeout was eaten, they laid in bed, dozing after a frantic, desperate round. From Rick's spot at her side, he could see glimpses of photos and notes between the slats of Kate's window shutters. He knew that behind those shutters, against the window, was the murder board she'd created about her mother's murder.
He was tempted to ask Kate how many people she'd asked for help, but he knew the answer already. It was just him.
She stirred beside him, hummed as she leaned into the absentminded caress of his fingertips along her arm. "Watcha thinking about?" she purred, stretching against him, her foot brushing against his shin.
He slid his hand down her arm and threaded his fingers through hers. He tore his eyes from the shutters and nuzzled her hair. "Nothing. Just staring off into space."
She turned in his arms, hooked her leg around his, smiling when he moaned at her rocking pelvis. "I can think of better things to do," she teased, her lips on his.
He nudged her to her back, setting into the cradle of her hips. He wasn't ready, needed more time before he could do another round, but if he was going to ask her what he'd been thinking, he needed her undivided attention. "I did have a thought," he admitted.
She quirked a brow. "I'm doing something wrong if you can still think right now."
"Well, I've had it for a while."
She pushed him off her and sat up, pulled the sheet over her bare chest, obviously shielding herself from something potentially bad. "Okay?"
Rick followed and took the opportunity to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You know I've been writing a new character," he began, and at her tentative nod, he continued. "And I hadn't told you anything because I wasn't sure what I had. But I think I have something solid. I just need to do some research for story details."
Kate was silent for several seconds. "What kind of research?"
He could see her concern, her worry that he was about to give her bad news, or worse. "It's not bad," he tried to reassure her, but when she just continued to stare, he raked a hand through his hair. "Okay. The character's based on you."
"What?"
"Hang on, let me tell you more."
Kate shoved her finger to his chest, her eyes blazing. "You have no right, Castle. I told you my story, but it's mine. It's not something you can use to sell more books," she snapped.
"I won't," he insisted. "Not without you being involved. Let me tell you what I have. I won't publish anything you're not comfortable with, I won't even send it to Black Pawn if you don't want me to. But I think I have something good," he continued before she could protest more. "I think Nikki Heat has a lot of potential?"
"Nikki Heat?"
Her eyebrow rose again, and Rick breathed a sigh of relief. If she was pointing out the name, maybe it meant she was open to the rest. And maybe she'd be okay with his other request.
Rick took her hand in his. "I have her story mostly outlined. She's a homicide detective with a secret but tragic past, and the case is mostly outlined. But aside from the little I've seen, I don't know much about police procedure."
"And?"
"And, I was hoping I could consult with you."
Kate shrugged. "Sure, I could look at your outline, review any drafts. You can run anything past me."
"That's the thing." Rick tensed, prepared himself for the worst. "I need to see it. In action. For real."
"Rick, what are you saying?"
"Can I shadow you? Not for long, just a few weeks would probably be okay. Just to see the day-to-day, every step of the investigative process."
Kate signed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You've gotta be kidding me," she mumbled under her breath. She squeezed his hand. "I'll talk to Montgomery tomorrow."
Rick couldn't help but grin. Kate's captain was one of his poker buddies. He was sure that Roy would give his blessing. "Perfect."
At first, having Rick shadow her was annoying and more than a little inconvenient. Despite his insistence that he just do that, shadow, he tended to offer his theories and opinions. He even joined in on a few interrogations before Kate made him stay in observation.
Very quickly, though, he proved himself useful. It was their first case together when he'd convinced her to pursue a less likely suspect, because it made a better story. Despite her initial hesitance, he'd turned out to be right, and she'd uncovered a hole in the boyfriend's alibi, resulting in the man's arrest. Rick got along with everyone as well, and Kate knew that the brand new espresso machine he'd purchased for the department had something to do with it.
In fact, Rick's shadowing went so well, that Captain Montgomery agreed to let him extend his time with Kate, as long as he continued not to interfere.
Rick didn't go to the precinct every day; he had a book to write, after all. But he seemed to write it quickly, and when Kate pointed that out to him, he claimed that it was because of the constant presence of his muse.
As spring turned into summer and summer to early fall, Rick came to work with her less as he finished the book. He'd kept the title a secret, but since he wasn't budging on the name Nikki Heat, she was sure it would be a play on that.
Her suspicion was confirmed one evening in early September, when she arrived at Rick's loft for a planned movie night. She was greeted by a picture of a woman's silhouette, gun held in front of her, a row of buildings sharing the space. She raised her brows at her boyfriend's excitement.
"What is that?" she asked.
"The cover."
Kate just stood with her hands on her hips.
"You know, for Heat Wave."
"Heat Wave? You're calling it Heat Wave?"
Rick took a step back, his free hand raised in an innocent gesture. "I told you, her name is perfect for titles. Nikki Heat, Heat Wave. It's perfect. It takes place in the summer, everything's hot, especially her and Rook's relationship. Heat Wave."
Kate just rolled her eyes and started to step around him, but when she gave the picture another glance, she fixed her gaze on him once again. "She looks naked."
"She is. It's sexy."
"Oh my God, Rick, you're so immature."
Rick grinned and snagged the back of her shirt as she passed, tugged her into him. "I'm sorry I based her hotness on you, too," he muttered, one hand sliding down to squeeze her ass. "I write what I know."
She grinned, annoyance momentarily replaced by a surge of heat through her bloodstream, and she tugged at his belt. "Yeah?" She gasped when his lips found her ear and he whispered some ideas of more "research" he wanted to do.
They didn't get to the movie until much, much later.
"By the way," Rick grumbled the next morning as Kate emerged from the bathroom, showered and dressed for work, "I need you to keep October 11 clear."
Kate glanced up as she tugged on her ankle boots. "For what?"
"It's the night of the Heat Wave release party."
"And?"
"And, we're going."
"We?" she repeated, jacket in hand. She figured there would be an event, but she'd been planning on using work as an out. She'd finally gotten used to being the inspiration for the character, even put up with some teasing from her co-workers. But to attend the release party, as both the inspiration and Rick's girlfriend...it was a little intimidating for their first public event as a couple.
"What if I can't get the time off?"
Rick grinned. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be able to. Roy would cover your shift himself if he needed to. We can't have people speculating that there's trouble if you're not there."
Kate felt her face flush with anger. How dare he presume she could control her schedule like that, or that her captain would allow it. "No, we can't let people speculate," she repeated, putting as much sarcasm in her voice that she could.
"Oh come on, Kate," Rick called after her when she walked out of the room. He caught up to her in the kitchen, grabbing her arm to stop her. "It'll be fun."
She crossed her arms, fixed what she hoped was her best glare on him. "Fun? I've seen what happens at those parties, Rick. Women fawning all over you, shoving their boobs in your face, practically begging you to sign them. It's tacky and more than a little insulting."
"They won't do that if you're there," he argued. "They'll respect my girlfriend being there."
"Like they 'respected,'" she argued, air quotes around the word, "your relationship with Gina?"
Rick shifted his weight, looking more uncomfortable than she'd seen him in a long time. "Yes, because you're also a cop?"
Kate stared at him for several seconds, and finally cracked a small smile at his naivety. "Okay, fine. I'll come. But I bet a hundred bucks that you'll get asked at least once to sign a body part."
Rick grinned and held his hand out for her to shake. "Deal."
