Coming Out or Going In
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: From a fan prompt (Castle was lent out to Robbery temporarily to work cold cases while Demming is on suspension. Lead Detective Joy Park, a woman with a big secret causes friction between our couple. COMPLETELY AU, Some Scenes and events used to enhance the story,
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take MANY liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events from other Canon episodes to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Chapter 4
12th Precinct, Robbery Division
7:30 AM
/_/
Rick had re-read the report, case files, and updated notes from both the original case as well as a homicide case of a Bail Bondsman the year before. The murder was solved, Karpowski's team had gotten a tip of the wife being jealous, checked out the surveillance equipment they had found hidden in the office phone, and unfortunately for the wife, she had recorded her murder for hire deal with one of her husband's clients.
The motive for the murder was fuzzy, some thought it was infidelity since her husband had been sleeping around, another train of thought had it tied to a million-dollar jewel heist from twenty years ago, Mike Royce was interviewed on both cases. He was fresh out of the academy when the original heist had taken place but was the arresting officer in two other cases the hitman was involved in. The common factor, the hitman was the original jewel thief's son, coincidence, maybe.
Rick knew the connection between Beckett and Royce and didn't want to throw anything in her face, especially without any evidence. Royce had moved to Los Angeles, became the head of security for a rock star, but there were holes in his story than didn't add up during either time of the crimes.
"Hey Rick, what's going on, you look as deep in thought as I have ever seen you?" Joy came by after roll call, "You'll never guess who was late, Rick looked at her and started to say Hernandez when their voices combined into one, yep Hernandez.
She laughed, "Still got that channeling effect on me, I can read what you are thinking and you can for me, so what's up Rick, you look troubled," she asked as they headed to her office.
"Well, it may be nothing but then it might be something, anyway we would need to go to Los Angeles for a couple of days and I'm not sure what Roy would think about that. I mean I'll cover the expenses, it's just it's a cop or former cop that we may need to talk to." Rick said sadly,
"I see," Joy said as she closed her door, "care to share, I know there's more to it than that." She locked on his eyes, and saw some pain,
"Well, it's a cop that was close to Beckett, he was her TO in fact, and I think perhaps more, anyway she moved up and he retired, but people always wondered how he got the money for his fancy cars, he claimed his wife was heavily insured when she died of cancer," Rick said
"What do you think Rick?" Joy pressed
"I only met him once, he spent most of the afternoon with Beckett, in fact, I don't think they even made it back from lunch, so I have no idea. He seemed like a nice enough guy, had a ton of stories, but something just seemed to be off, I don't know, maybe it was just me." He smiled,
"Well, I can see you have a lot of feelings for her Rick, and I may be wrong but I think she cares for you as well, as for the TO, could it be just a bit of jealousy creeping in and he had nothing to do with either case?" Joy asked trying to be fair,
Rick laughed, "Jealousy, no Joy, Royce was before my time before I even met her, but again she's the one that has made it clear, there will never be anything between us, not once, but several times. She's free to do whatever, sleep with whomever she pleases, I have no hold on her. I do know that if she get's wind of us investigating Royce, it won't go well. She still has him as some God-like figure" Rick's voice trails,
"Well, Rick I know you don't understand, but my TO is a bit of a God figure to me. I was lucky, he wasn't trying to get into my pants, he was the force I needed to kick my ass when I sluffed off and encouraged me when I was down. He found out about Cathy you know I always take the anniversary of her death off, when he found out, he sent me flowers and the card read Cathy is proud of you and so am I, see you tomorrow, Fletch"
"You were lucky Joy, I know you had all kinds of guys climbing over you in college, it was good your TO was a gentleman," Rick said,
"Yeah, all kinds of guys crawling over me until it leaked out, I was pregnant with your child, it didn't help things to see you, Cathy, and me coming and going from each other's apartments at all hours. They much have thought we both loved you," she laughed, then a tear came to her eye, "We did, but you know,"
"Yes, I know, I always knew, now what to do about this case, it's an old one and will earn Roy some huge points if we can solve it,"
"Well we have a meeting with Roy in 15 minutes, so we can bring it up to him then. By the way, when were you going to tell me you bought our floor the latest model of the coffee and cappuccino machine that you purchased for homicide? I walked in and three detectives were already using it, I guess they used to sneak to the Homicide floor to get coffee, now they have a newer, better machine of their own, Thank You."
"You're welcome, can't have your force working without the right tools", he laughed
"Rick, if we flew out to Los Angeles on Friday, then came back on Late Sunday or early Monday, it wouldn't such a tough sell to Roy, especially if it's not costing him anything, he has everything to gain"
"How about Thursday, since we lose 4 hours coming back in time zones, so if we left Thursday evening, we would have time to contact who we needed to on Friday afternoon and follow up anything on Saturday. Most of the information needed we can have sent to us electronically, but the face to face with Royce, well we need to keep that as part of the surprise.
"I don't think Beckett would aid or abet a criminal knowingly, but I don't know if she is in contact with him or not. I think the less who know the better" Rick said quietly,
"Agreed Rick, it's going to get out once we get back but if we can get some intel without someone heading us off and prepping a potential actor in the crime. How strong is your feeling that he had a role in the original, or the attempt to find after the murder was solved last year?"
"Well, I don't think he was involved with the original, but the murder and failed attempt to recover the jewels by three different people, two of which he had dealings with, and knew well, it leads me to at least question what he knows, I know Roz took over the case once Roy found out Royce had contact, he pulled Beckett's team which pissed her off for months."
"Well, let's grab a cup of coffee and get up there, our meeting is in five minutes." Joy said,
XxX
Homicide Floor,
Same Time Frame
Kate had not had the greatest of mornings, her alarm didn't go off, and she almost was late for work. She hadn't had time to stop to get coffee, Castle used to take care of that and a fresh bear claw, but he wasn't around now. She made it to work just in time BUT had to settle for the sludge, somewhat resembling coffee, that someone on nightshift had made. She had never learned how to master that damn machine that Rick had bought, he always made those as well.
Ryan was at his desk working quietly, he knew when she was in a bad mood and he wasn't about to step into any more trouble. He sipped quietly on his real coffee from Java Hut which just pissed her off more since she was missing her caffeine fix, hell who was she kidding, she was missing him, and knowing he was two floors below with a beautiful woman was killing her.
The ding of the elevator made her look up out of habit, and sure enough, it was him, but wait, Joy was there, as he stepped out to hold the elevator door open for her, then headed down the other aisle away from her desk approaching Roy's office. She followed his head movement, and the smell of his cologne, and a few moments later Joy opened Roy's door and they both walked in. Kate saw the blinds go down and even though she couldn't hear the door lock, she did observe LT take up position outside to prevent any interruptions.
She and Ryan had just caught another murder in the park, it appeared to be a love triangle from a local investment firm, but they needed to do some more work on the witnesses. The victim was left with just his expensive underwear on, which threw them for a loop. Why shoot the man, then take his clothes but leave his expensive watch and ring on his person?
"What do you got Kevin, anything new on Captain Underpants as you named him yesterday?" Kate asked
"Yeah, we got a hit on his prints, he has a security clearance, his name is Daniel Goldstein, 25, lives in SoHo, just around the corner from Castle." He regretted adding the last part when he looked up and got her eye roll at him,
"Run his phone and financials, see if you can get a hit on Social Media what the hell, he would be doing in the park in just his underwear, that might explain why he was shot," Kate said, almost on autopilot, after all these years, all these murders you start somewhere for each of them and this was the best place.
"I called his sister, she hadn't spoken to him in a couple of months, but as far as she knew there was no one in his life, in fact, she said, he was so shy and awkward, he would not show up to family functions if he got wind of her or his mom trying to set him up with someone."
"So, his Mom is still alive and he has a sister, anything else?" Kate asked,
"Mom passed last year, just the two of them and they weren't that close so she only said he worked at Pyro Investments, down on Wall Street, supposed to be some hotshot broker, making his clients a lot of money," Kevin said
"Well if he's on wall street he could be losing people money as well, see if any of his clients had big losses recently," Kate said,
"Eh Kate, I'm one guy, why don't you handle the wall street connection with your boyfriend, I'm sure he could give you the real truth," Kevin said, as Kate looked into Roy's office, blinds were still down.
"Oh, eh, yeah I'll call Troy, good call Kevin, sorry I got carried away dumping on you. Look do the leg work and we'll split up the time here in the office" Kate said,
"Sure, and Kate, you staring at Roy's door is no better than Javi trying to hear what's being said, you can't control it, and Castle is with her now, so let it go" Kevin chided
She gave him an eye roll, then grabbed her phone and called Troy to see if he was free for dinner, she really wasn't in the mood, maybe he would be busy and she could just get the info over the phone. She was tired of bad sex, forced conversations, and faked orgasms to keep his ego high.
"Hi Troy, yeah it's me, how are you? I know, I know, that's part of the reason I'm calling. We pulled the case of that stockbroker that got shot a couple of days ago, What? You know I can't tell you any of that information, especially when the case is still active. Yeah, well the victim's name was Daniel Goldstein, he worked at Pyro, right across the hall I think from you. Have you ever interacted or know anything about him? She asked trying to feign interest in him personally,
"So, it's come to this Kate, I mean I knew we weren't seeing stars with each other, but now it's down to can I help you with one of your cases? How romantic? Yes, I knew Danny, he was smart, but a nerd, shy as all get out.
"You might want to check with his boss and his assistant, I think they all are or wanted to be a couple somehow, I don't know. Sorry to hear about Dan.
"Kate, let's just say it was fun while it lasted, I know you're not ready for anything, and I don't want to waste my time on something that will never be, Good Luck with the case, Goodbye Kate," he said politely as she heard the phone disconnect.
Great, just fucking great, now she didn't even have a boyfriend that she didn't want to begin with, and worse, he dumped her. She was the one that always dumped the guy, how the hell did this happen?
"Kevin, inside tip, check out the connection between the victims assistant and his boss, might have been a love triangle from inside reports," Kate said,
"Tell Troy, thanks will do" Kevin responded,
"No need for that, he broke up with me, so we won't be seeing him again," She said as she headed to the breakroom, one more cup of the sludge, or perhaps someone would be there she could get to make her a good cup of coffee.
"Sorry Kate, are you OK?" Kevin asked,
"Fine, just fine, we weren't together that long, hell hardly at all if you consider the number of dates, so no big deal, I'm fine." She said, trying to convince herself as she did Ryan.
XxX
Roy's Office
Roy was in a good mood, Robbery had closed four cases, the most they had in any week in a long time, so his trend line was headed in the right direction. Granted 3 of the cases were petty and could have been solved by a blind man on an Easter egg hunt, but the numbers counted.
"So, you think Los Angeles is the key to this one Rick, Joy?" He asked,
"We do Captain, I know it's a long shot but Rick thinks, and I agree with him, something is off, with the behavior of an ex-cop, living in L.A. That's expensive and yes, he is chief of security for Gene Simmons, but hey I'm sure that income isn't what it was when the band was touring."
"Very well, Rick, are you sure you want to pay for this, I mean we can submit it, but no telling how long it will take for reimbursement," Roy asked,
"No Problem, Roy, I have to get out there anyway, it will be nice not to have to make the trip alone and worth the money, so does Joy, eh I mean Detective Park have permission to leave Thursday?" Rick asked,
"No, sorry Rick. She has to leave tomorrow, now get out of here and solve a really old cold case that would get One PP off my ass of months, See you when you get back, let me know if you need anything, and Detective, be sure to clue in LAPD, they are sensitive bastards," Roy smiled,
Joy and Rick grinned and decided to head to lunch before going home to pack, it was already after 1:00 PM. As they walked into Remy's they didn't notice Kate and Lanie sitting in a side booth, finishing their lunch. They may not have noticed them, but they were spotted by Lanie and Kate immediately.
"So, who is that gorgeous woman Rick is with, don't tell me she's the badass cop in robbery Javi is been telling me about? She looks like a marshmallow, but I guess she's got even the old farts off their ass working, or so the word is" Lanie said,
"Yeah, she's certainly got Rick under her spell that's for sure, and Roy seemed to be following right behind him," Kate said, not in a happy tone,
"Kate Beckett, which one are you jealous of, not being Roy's pet, or the attention a good-looking, and well-built young detective is giving Rick? What's the story with you and Troy, I thought you had a steady boyfriend? Lanie asked, knowing it would piss off her friend
"Well, Troy is history, he broke up with me over the phone this morning when I called him to get some information about our latest case, Captain Underpants as Kevin named him. I'm not Roy's pet, where do you come off with that, and there has and never will be anything between Castle and I, come on do I look like his type?" She threw it back at Lanie,
"Well sorry to hear about Troy, but apparently it didn't bother you too bad since you waited until I asked to mention the breakup, and please, you've always gotten away with crap no one else does with Roy. Rick was infatuated with you for a while, but after last year and the number you did on him, well, who could blame him if he's fishing in deeper waters now" Lanie said,
"Well, he and Park have a history for sure, I have no idea what, how or the type but you don't greet a casual friend by picking her up, twirling her around, and then kissing her in front of the Captain, so it was more than just a friend. You don't have to remind me how we treated him, I've already apologized, he accepted and said all was forgiven but he's changed Lanie, he's not the Rick he used to be." Kate replied,
"Changed? How? He seems like the same Rick to me, maybe not acting out some of his crazy theories so much, but he smiles, he still buys lunch for some of the guys, and the only difference I've seen is maybe he acts more grown-up than he did before he left. I mean he's always polite, but he doesn't crack jokes or even respond to one when he's around the homicide floor
"Seeing him with Joy makes me remember the first year he was working with you, everything was exciting and new, and he laughed a lot, just like they are doing now." Kate raised her menu to peek over and Lanie was correct, he was acting like he had when they first met, he seemed, what, oh happy, he seemed genuinely happy now, and it wasn't with her. She had work to do if she still had the chance.
TBC