Shattered Lies

Chapter 7

"Was it something I said? Something I did?" Demming asks.

"No, nothing like that," Kate insists. "You're a good man, Tom, and under different circumstances I'd…"

"Different circumstances like you not having a thing for Castle. Come on, Kate. You know I'm not blind, and I hope you don't think I'm stupid. Did you know that before I asked you out, I asked him if you two were together? He said you weren't."

"He was telling the truth."

"Sure. I just posed the wrong question. After my training in interrogation, I should have known better. I should have asked if he wanted the two of you to be together. I should have asked you too; only I was afraid of what your answer would be. Did it take a bullet to his chest to make you come clean?"

Kate shakes her head, her lungs expelling long-held air. "No. I met up with an old friend on the Balthazar Wolf case who wasn't afraid to throw some truth in my face - and Castle heard it. Then - it doesn't matter how it happened. I'm really sorry Tom. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Yeah, well you did, but I let it happen. I don't have Castle's money, but maybe my squad can chip in to buy our own espresso machine. See you around, Kate."

Kate watches the tall figure walk toward the back stairway. It seems like guys are always getting hurt around her; Tom, Will Sorensen, hell, poor Frankie Fishbeck - and Castle. She's dangerous, very nearly fatal. Maybe she should push Rick away again too. But she can't, and even if she tries, she knows he won't let her. Not this time. She saw the words on his lips, and they were almost on hers."

Rick is propped up in bed spooning up - something. "They're letting you eat!"

"Opinions vary. The aide who delivered this insists that it's jello, but it doesn't jiggle. How can jello not jiggle?"

Kate shrugs. "Secrets of a hospital kitchen. I could sneak you in some soup - the good stuff, from the Soup Nazi."

Castle points to a camera mounted unobtrusively near the TV screen. "Big brother is watching. Probably a good thing, in a way. It was able to keep Mother from bringing me that green slime she refers to as a healthful smoothie. I think I'd rather get shot again. On the other hand, Alexis offered a triple fudge ice cream sundae. She promised she'd make me one as soon as I get out of here."

"And how long before the doctors let you go?"

"One of the residents told me I'd be here a couple of weeks, but Slovnik, he's the one with gray hair and the wingtips, said that if I behaved myself, I could go home sooner than that."

Kate can't help grinning. "Castle, when have you ever behaved yourself?"

The creases in his forehead deepen. "Kate, I'm going to do my best to try. There's a lot - we have a lot…"

Kate pulls up a chair beside his bed. "I know. And I promise we will. But, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not the safest person to be around these days. Hey, in the hospital, with their security, is one thing. And even so, my appointed guardian is out in the hall. But chasing around trying to solve a case together, I don't think we can do that. Not until this thing with the Spinellis is settled."

"And when will that be?"

"Castle, I don't know."

Kate is scanning through mostly worthless reports on her computer screen and trying to decide whether to get her bowl of M&Ms out of her drawer when Ryan's voice penetrates her thoughts. "Beckett, I think we have something. After Lanie identified the shooter who tried to kill you, we went after his financials. He was keeping almost everything offshore, but we pushed enough paper at the Caymans to get some cooperation.

"We traced a transfer to his account to a bank in New York and got a court order to get the name of the company, Conchiglie, that sent the money - $100,000. Our case liaison with the Southern District on the Spinellis says it's one of their shell corps. There are two stockholders, Rico Spinelli and his brother Gino. The corporate offices are in a building on Barker Street in Little Italy."

"Conchiglie is not the most brilliant name for their cover. It means shell in Italian. And it's a very traditional location."

"If you don't count that it's between a Starbuck's and a mega Chinese market. Javi and I thought we'd scope the place out."

Kate grabs for the jacket slung over the back of her chair. "I'm going with you."

"Beckett, you shouldn't. For you, going into Spinelli territory is like walking into the lion's den. If there's still a hit out on you, anyone hanging around the Spinellis would be looking to make a fast buck. And there may not even be anything there. You know a lot of those corporate addresses are just maildrops. Look, Javi and I will call you if we find anything."

Kate slips her jacket back where it was. "This really sucks, you know?"

"It does," Ryan agrees, "but it would suck a lot more if you get yourself killed."

"Kate don't keep me in suspense," Castle implores. "Besides great clam linguine, what did Ryan and Esposito find in Little Italy?"

"More like who. Dominic Spinelli."

"The old man himself? Don Dom? Ooh, try saying that three times fast."

"Once is enough."

"Anyway," Rick continues undiscouraged, "maybe the Don decided he had to administer a little fatherly discipline, or figured that the kids screwed the pooch and he had to take charge of their operation himself."

"It could be either, Castle - or just a family visit. Ryan and Espo have the Conchiglie building under surveillance, and the Southern District is working on a warrant to intercept calls in and out of the place. One way or another we're going to nail the Spinellis for shooting you, Wolf's murder, and maybe a whole lot more."

"If ever there was a silver lining to getting shot, I guess that would be it."

Kate gets up and leans over the bed, locking Rick's gaze with her own. "I might have a better one."

"Do tell."

"I'd rather show."

Kate's lips descend on Castle's. The kiss is soft, tentative, but deepens as long-repressed passion takes hold. Rick plunges his fingers into Kate's hair as a cough sounds from the doorway of the room.

Kate pulls away and turns toward the sound. "Captain!"

"I just wanted to see how Castle is doing, but it looks like the answer is pretty well. You know, there was a pool on when you two would finally get together. I lost big. I thought it would be a month. My wife Evelyn had two years. She's going to score a huge win."

Rick reaches for Kate's hand. "Not as huge as mine."

"Yeah, well just keep out of the range of hitmen - both of you. I'd hate to see the Montgomery family lose its windfall now."

"Yes, Sir." Kate agrees. "We will do our best.