For such a grand icon, the imposing veneer behind the shiny badges gave way upon closer inspection to nothing more than a worn out building and people stretched too thin. If One Police Plaza was this dilapidated, it's no wonder he used to have a spring poking his ass in an official vehicle driven by a top detective. Even the cheap pen left the document with a glob of ink as he signed his name. He tossed the pen aside (much as he had been tossed aside by a certain NYPD detective) and shook the police commissioner's hand.
"Rick, let me tear this up. I heard what you said about wanting some distance from all the death and mayhem, but don't make it formal and permanent. Let's keep our understanding in place so you can come back to consult in the future."
"I can't go into it, but things need to end -officially. His final act was using his influence to get an official task force started with Sorenson as lead agent. " It was a bitter pill to swallow, much worse than dry aspirin on an empty stomach.
The top cop lowers his voice, "What about the task force? God knows you have a vested interest to be involved with it." The two men start walking down the corridor. "If the feds don't want you to be a part of it, I can push back."
"No, that's not a problem. I know the mayor asked for a favor to keep everything classified, and I appreciate keeping it here and under wraps. You've done so much for me, including getting my concealed weapon carry permit expedited." Castle gets lost in head even as he plasters on a fake smile as they move through the halls. The emotional toll is heavier than he expected. It's not like he worked with the brass, but the respect he gained - he earned - is ending. He will miss that just as much - maybe more than the woman that has his guts in a knot. He can feel another chapter of his life closing, and just like when he killed of Derrick Storm, what follows is going to be hard and probably life changing. If he could only rewrite the plot to find a way to...
He snaps back when they stop outside a door that boldly state "Clearance Required to Enter" Before he can thank the commissioner for the personal escort, a woman's footsteps threaten to send him back down the rabbit hole.
She scolds him, "If you are bothering the commissioner to find a way back into the 12th precinct I assure you..."
"Captain! I am certain that you are going echo my sentiments to assure Mr. Castle that he is welcome at any time and in any capacity he wishes to lend his unique expertise to the NYPD." He doesn't bother to mask the glare that accompanies the words. "I know transitions can be rough, but closure rates at certain precincts have been suffering, much like our budget, and we wouldn't want to turn away any valuable assistance."
Gates shoots a fleeting look at Castle before groveling to her superior. "Of course, I only meant he should not bother you or the mayor, that approaching me directly to work out the details would be best."
Castle is coiled too tightly to enjoy the scene. He merely shakes his head and lets the woman off the hook. "I've signed papers terminating any further interaction as a civilian consultant. I'm through."
Agent Sorenson comes out of the closed door interrupting any further conversation, "Commissioner?"
The federal agent stares at the commissioner; the top cop stares at Gates, and the captain is too shocked to do anything but stare at Castle. Rick looks down, studying the worn linoleum and committing it to memory for a future scene that will probably never get written.
The man in charge finally breaks the standoffs. "I've got to get back upstairs before my keepers come looking for me." He clasped Rick on the shoulder and gives a genuine handshake. "If you ever need anything, my door is open to you." He nods to the others and ascends back up the hierarchy.
"Captain, I believe you are early for your appointed briefing. We will get to you as soon as Mr. Castle..."
"She is a busy woman. Talk to her. I'll wait." Castle walks away. (Beckett walked away first.) It hits him anew that he is walking away from all of them, not just Beckett. Normally he'd want to find a cup of coffee - even bad coffee for old time's sake - but now all he wants to do is find a bathroom before he pukes on his shoes. He'll do anything to put off facing Beckett's past lovers. When Esposito called to tell him Sorenson was involved, he wanted to say screw it and give up. Only after reminding himself he's doing this to face his own demons did he push past the debilitating heartache and keep plotting.
To distract himself he imagines the briefing Gates is getting. She isn't going to like it. She has to sign a confidentiality warning, blindly follow orders allowing certain detectives to decline working cases if they are needed by the task force, and she is going to have to play the canary trap that obviously was developed by a story-teller.
He reviews the parameters of it. The dragon needs to find Beckett before he can manage a second chance at killing her. Rather than keep her supposed location a closely guarded secret (and possible put Lanie or Jim in danger) everyone will have several unique locations to pass along to those who show a persistent effort to find out where she is. A surveillance "trap" will show which residence has a bad guy showing up thus tipping the hand of who might be passing along information to the dragon. The cover story is that Beckett got fed up with rehab and skipped out. It is simple and easy as long as the players can remember which sites were told to which person. Thank god his portfolio has a good diversity of real estate because he pressed several of them into use. He had a guys working nonstop to install hidden cameras. Castle wanted advance alarm systems installed for the inner circle but it had to be cancelled to get everything else done. Maybe that's a good thing if anyone is watching them.
His phone rings. There is no escaping it so he might as well face it. "Spit it out and get it over with."
"Rick, you are in so much trouble! I tried covering for you, but he's mad - personally insulted that you snubbed him and didn't attend."
"Gina, I told you no parties while Beckett is laid up recovering from a sniper's bullet to the heart. That includes galas to meet and greet the new CEO. I offered to come in before the event and was refused, so he will have to get over it."
"No Rick, he's really pissed. I tried to intercede on your behalf but he is going to make an example of you and doesn't care that you're our golden boy. He said..."
"Gina, this will have to wait. If he wants to schedule a meeting, fine, otherwise, I've got better things to do than get in a pissing match with the latest leadership team." He ends the call. The book was done on schedule and he's kept up with the minimum number of publicity appearances (but no nightclubs), so Black Pawn can shove it up their ass. In the greater scheme of things they just don't rate very highly in his life right now.
He absently rubs his hands, then wrists. He glances around and meanders back towards the task force. He doesn't want to attract unwanted attention. Everything is wearing him down and it shows. He is used to making life and death decisions for fictional characters, but doing it in real life sucks. It makes him appreciate just how extraordinary people are (not just female homicide detectives, but also soldiers, doctors and first responders.) He can finally admit how shallow his previous frivolous lifestyle seems by comparison. He downs some water and heads back to the task force room in time to see Gates exit and the FBI agent waves him in.
Richard Castle steels himself to deal with her former lovers. Will Sorenson and Tom Demming in the same room are enough to make his empty stomach dry heave again. If they could just get Dr. Motorcycle boy in the room his inadequacies would be complete. The former partner studies the floor waiting for them to fire the opening salvo.
"Rick, I'm sorry. I wasn't nearly as close to her as you are so I can only imagine how hard all this is for you to deal with." Castle looks up in shock as Demming clasps him on the shoulder.
Sorenson nods in sympathy, "Whatever you need, Castle, we're here for you"
He sits, mute, their compassion harder to take than the smug posturing that marked his last meeting these each of these men. That they think he has the same intimate connection with her threatens to undo him. He manages to shake his head but nothing more.
Sorenson hands him a letter. Oh, god help me. It's her handwriting but the cursive is strained. He checks the date - shit, a week after her boyfriend did emergency surgery to save her life. He doesn't want to read it. He wants to stick it in a drawer like the others and he certainly can't read it in front of them. He looks up wondering why they would do this to him when they seemed so genuine just seconds ago.
"It's how I got involved. You know how Detective Demming got here, but you don't know if I pushed my way in. You have every right to kick me out of the task force, but I'm hoping you'll let me stay after you read that."
Castle finds his voice, "I don't have any say in the matter. I've severed all ties with the NYPD."
Both men nod, but the federal agent continues to plead his case, "We both know you set up this task force even if you are backing off to forestall any hint of impropriety that could affect the findings. It's still true that everyone is looking to you, so you're still in charge as far as we are concerned. You've got Beckett's best interest at heart and you've proven your worth as her partner. You need to hear what she has to say."
He can't hide the slight tremor in hands as he takes the note.
Hey Castle,
I wish I had your gift with words because this message is too important to get wrong. There is so much I want to say, but it needs to wait until I'm stronger - if I make it. Forgive the drama but I feel like I deserve the physical pain - it is the anguish I know I brought into everyone's life that really hurts.
All I can manage right now is the basic story so this doesn't haunt you. You saw all the flowers. My dad read me some of the online get well messages and told me about the financial donations to the NYPD Benevolence fund and blood drives. I'll write notes and post them as soon as I can, but you - this letter- comes first.
Here's the rest of the story: I also got lots of get well cards but all I managed was to glance at the return addresses to see who they were from. There were gifts being dropped off too: books and a stuffed Humpty Dumpty were the earliest ones delivered. Then there were the gag gifts of cop humor like a DVD of the Big Chill with a note ("Something to keep you from being bored while you CHILL out!" A rubber duck with a police cap sitting on a doll size beach chair joked "A hell of a way to get to sit by the ocean," a cookie cutter in the shape of a gun ("Can't have you forget about us while you're slacking off - Our favorite cookies are peanut butter!") and a puzzle of a tree full of crows (No CROWing about being Wonder Woman!)
I seem to be rambling but I'm trying to explain how overwhelming everything is to me. It's why I didn't figure out what was happening. You would have seen it immediately, so I'm glad I told you I needed a few days and would call. I can't drag you down with me.
I'll just say it: Sorenson figured it out. He came to visit and snuck a donut with sprinkles to me. It made me smile because it's what I did for him when he was shot. He commented on the gifts and didn't like that someone dropped off In A Hail of Bullets and Flowers For Your Grave. I thought he was just being petty because they were written by you, but he also didn't like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.
He went on a rant and told me the movie The Big Chill is about friends gathering for a funeral. Sorenson pointed to items and put a different spin on the message: The rubber duck on a beach chair means 'sitting duck,' Humpty Dumpty can't be put back together, the pistol shaped cookie cutter means 'eat your gun,' and the group of crows is called a 'murder.' You get the idea. They are planning to finish me off.
I should have listened to you sooner, so I've got no one but myself to blame. I'm going to try to prove to you I've learned my lesson and make smarter choices. The first step is the hardest. I have to walk away from the investigation. There is no one I trust more than you and the boys, but I asked Sorenson to investigate quietly. He's far enough removed and has different resources that might not get on their radar.
Castle, I can't have them targeting you, or god forbid, your daughter. You've already tried to save me from myself and the sniper, but for the sake of Alexis, please take your own advice and walk away. If I've pushed you away then you'll never read this unless Will screws up and gets me killed (ha, cop humor.) I made him promise to be nice to you, but truth is, I know his poker face and he respects you even though he doesn't want me to know. I trust that you could write a good way out of all this, but all I can see is a hundred ways it could go wrong. Castle, there is so much more I need to say to you, but I'm trying to be smart about this. I'm asking you to do the same - please sit this one out, partner.
-KB
Rick gulps air and swallows down the bile. They aren't just going to kill her, they want both her and Jim to suffer, overwhelmed with despair, and they want to break their spirits so death will seem like a welcome respite from the weight of the world. Castle's anger is helpful. It redirects the injustice of it all at the dragon instead of Beckett side-lining him and reaching out to Sorenson. He shoves his emotions in a box (much like Beckett used to do.) He takes one last look at the precious words and carefully folds them up and places it in the inner breast pocket next to his heart so he can reread it after the nightmares wake him. This also makes him want to read the other letters, - the one Jim gave him and the one Lanie passed along - but that's an inner debate for another time.
The writer girds his loins for battle (Alexis would be mortified at the proverb.) He taps down the sentiment of comradery with these men in law enforcement because he is supposed to walking away. He finally looks up, searches the eyes of the two men. They're holding nothing back, letting themselves be an open book.
"We can't fail her." Sorenson is almost pleading with him.
Demming is almost whining, "So how are we going to work together if you're backing off?"
The detective seems so young and untested, but loyalty counts for more than experience right now so Castle placates him, "Unseen forces will guide our efforts in the right directions even if we aren't officially working together. Trust me on that, but be very cautious about trusting anyone else. There are moles at the federal level, in the NYPD, and many other pawns being manipulated by the dragon."
Now Sorenson wants answers, "What about Ryan and Esposito? Why aren't they here?"
"Simply because they are the obvious choices. They are completely trustworthy, if that is your unspoken question, but under no circumstances do you directly contact them. If you need something get with Ike Thornton who will connect with Esposito." Castle straightens his spine and focuses on the details. There is so many damn details to put in motion. If only he was really Derrick Storm, but now isn't the time for make-believe when Beckett's life hangs in the balance.
"Are either of you in contact with Jim Beckett?"
Demming quickly shakes his head and Sorenson looks down at the scuffed tiled floor. "Um, it's been years since I've talked to him, and then it was only briefly. I admit I avoided him when I went to the hospital to see Kate and he was there. I thought they needed time together so I made myself scarce."
Rick nods in understanding, but the federal agent is still looking down like some contrite kid. He's going to feel really bad when he hears what they are doing to Jim. Castle explains then lays down the law, "You can't try to investigate who is sending the alcohol to Mr. Beckett."
"But why? It overlaps with what they tried to do to Kate in the hospital. It's a solid lead..."
"It's an enticing lead to follow that will go no where," Castle interrupts. "It's a safe bet the bad guys are monitoring who tracks down the delivery service so they know when someone starts investigating and who is looking into things. It's what could tip them off that this task force exists. I suggest Ryan or Esposito look into it and have to drop it because Captain Gates is supposedly watching them too closely. It will be a plausible scenario to anyone watching for activity on Detective Beckett's case. We've got to delay tipping our hand while we investigate the big picture and not use resources on the little stuff."
"But what about Jim?" the agent knows about the man's history while Demming is clueless.
"Leave Mr. Beckett to me. Get the message to Beckett's team."
"I can see them at the station." The enticement of being in the loop has Tom eager to help.
Castle adopts a look Beckett often used in the box and pins Demming with it. He may be a decent guy (he's a good guy if Beckett dated him) but he obviously doesn't understand how conspiracies work. "Should you be seen interacting with Ryan and Esposito at the precinct right now?"
"Shit. No. Sorry Castle. I won't make that mistake again. Everything goes through Thornton."
Castle shoots the FBI agent a look that clearly says to babysit this guy.
"Earlier when you said 'unseen forces' will guide us, I'm assuming you know people who will talk to you that won't talk to us." Sorenson pauses and struggles with finding the right words, "Beckett wouldn't want you personally doing anything unlawful that might..."
Castle interrupts and waves away yet another person questioning his ethics, "You can't interview people like Pulgotti because they won't tell you anything. I'll find out what they know." He holds up a hand again to forestall the inevitable questions. "Beckett told me about inmates who act like she is their favorites school teacher. Personally I think they've got a crush on her, but regardless of the reason, I will get a message to Pulgotti and he can work the other inmates for information from the bad guys on the inside."
He continues, "I've already had Ryan pass along what Beckett and I uncovered on her mother's murder and the related cases of people who were killed by Dick Coonan. I trust you've had time to come up to speed on all these connections?"
Demming merely nods nods but Sorenson shows some respect, "You found a lot more than Kate ever did. It's really pretty amazing detective work, Castle."
It would be easier if they weren't being so deferential. All Rick can do is keep plowing ahead. "The canary trap - Captain Gates has the NYPD safe houses?" The federal agent nods. He was probably the one who briefed Gates since it would be awkward for Demming.
"Here is a list of the sites and additional people who are giving them out: Jim Beckett, Dr. Parish, and me. File it away for now, but you might need it for the tip line."
Sorenson scans it. "I'm concerned about these supposed NYPD safe house locations. Anyone who does a title search will show ownership that you are behind this."
"I encourage you to run financials on me and see what property comes up titled in my name and find out if that is a way around the canary trap. Then run the addresses I've given you. You'll find the ownership is obscured through several shell corporations." Castle doesn't want to come off as a rich asshole or tax cheat to low-paid government employees, but the federal agent has a valid point and he is right to raise the question. "Years ago as research for the Storm novels, I had my accountant set up dummy corporations and off-shore accounts. These shell companies regularly get shuffled around, but it's all legal and I insist taxes are paid. Since my blood sucking ex-wives, numerous frivolous lawsuits, and IRS audits have never uncovered them, I think my holdings and the extent of my assets are very well shielded." He shrugs his shoulders. He's rich. Thank god he's rich because he's willing to spend it all to get the dragon.
Sorenson looks a little chastised, "We need the real location of where Beckett is so if anything comes in we can act on it."
Snowball's chance in hell. If he can't see her, Rick is certainly not going to let the ex-boyfriends go visit her. "She may or may not be at one of those locations, but I'm not telling anyone where she is."
Castle plows ahead, "I need the phone number here so the tip line calls can be forwarded. The published number will go to my PR agent's office so anyone who wants to check can think it is just me behind this. I'm trying to make my reaction appear half-hearted - enough to show I'm trying to do something but not doing so much that I provoke the players before we are ready for them."
With that detail concluded, it's time to get to the heart of the matter. Both men are paying rapt attention. "It's important that your investigation is independent and not seen as a continuation of a vendetta by Beckett to solve her mother's murder. To that end there is additional information you need to know." Castle takes a deep breath and channels his mother's acting genes, "Captain Roy Montgomery maintained a quiet investigation into the conspiracy that includes the death of Johanna Beckett. That is what got him killed."
Demming pops up like he's been burned and Sorenson mutters some colorful expletives under his breath. When both men have had a few moments to regain their calm, the author continues, "Needless to say, you don't want to be found doing any investigating. It's why everything is tightly controlled. The next thing you need to know is that Montgomery kept a set of files at his home and I now have those file." It's mostly true the files were at his house and it keeps Roy's involvement on the right side of things. The task force is getting carefully selected information so Roy's history is unblemished.
Both men look like fish with their mouths opening and closing and no sound coming out. Roger Richardson's alter ego pulls the prize out of the briefcase and plops them down, "The captain not only knew who the mastermind is, but as you can see based on the stack of the files, he knew much more."
Again Castle pauses to let the men digest the bombshells. Once a little life is coming back (Sorenson seems particularly ashen in color having a much better idea how much this will mean to Kate,) the holder of the secrets cautions the men yet again, "I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job, but these file have been removed from official archives so follow every possible lead to ensure this information is verified and can stand up in court. I'll leave now so you can replace the mythological dragon with a name of a mere mortal."
With that parting guidance, Castle follows through on the one move he has promised himself: he simply puts the file on the table and walks away, only faltering to make sure the door shuts tightly behind him.
A/N: I'm curious: Does Beckett's letter change how you perceive her? Do you think RC is right to ignore her other letters?