He is just one floor below her. Only one floor, but she has no idea what's happening just a couple of dozen steps away. He's as out of reach as the surface of the moon. Isolation and worry are rapidly driving her nuts.
Dammit, Kate, you're professional!
If you want to help Castle, quit whining about what you don't know and do your job. Find the evidence that will clear him.
She chokes back a sob, fat tears slide down her cheek, and her breathing becomes rapid and shallow. A sharp pain pierces her chest like an arrow, triggering a volley of wrenching sobs.
This must be what a broken heart feels like. I think that I left a thousand shards on the floor of that courtroom when the judge denied bail. Worst of all was the look of defeat I saw when he glanced at me as they led him out.
There is no one else near holding when she walks up from the hallway. She's trying to be stealthy as she walks.
If I don't make much noise, maybe I can get a glimpse of him before he knows that I'm here.
Through the bars, she sees a man who's pale and bedraggled. He's sitting on the cot with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. She approaches the holding cell slowly, and by now she thought he'd notice her. But he seems oblivious to what's going on around him. She doesn't know for sure but she thinks he could be weeping quietly. He's lost all hope. She moves closer and sees that he's not crying, just staring into space, his body rocked by occasional tremors. She stops at the door of the cell and just observes him for a minute before he looks up, and their eyes connect in a combination of sadness, longing, and worry.
The overwhelming pathos draws a gasp from Beckett. For a moment she almost sees the old Castle, the caring Castle, but it evaporates quickly; his face turns stone cold in the matter of a split second and he staggers to his feet, all business.
"Detective Beckett," Rick says coldly.
She can't really blame him because they did drag him down here under the suspicion of murder without giving him a reason as to why. He knows by now that he's accused of killing her boyfriend, which she doesn't want to believe, but the evidence speaks.
"So, detective what brings you down here? Are you slumming it with the riff raff?"
She gives him a look of annoyance. Surely, he knows that she doesn't think that low of him.
"Actually, Mr. Castle, I'm just checking up on you to see how you are doing. To make sure you're comfortable, are being fed, and have everything you need to make your stay here a little bit more pleasant."
"Oh, I see! You think this is funny, don't you?"
"No, Castle, I don't think it's funny. What I think is you killed a man last night and now you're here answering for your crime."
"Seriously? You actually think I killed your boyfriend?"
Kate stays silent. She doesn't want to give away anything that she found out in her investigation so far, but maybe she can give him a crumb or two to put his mind to work to try and find an answer to this. If anyone can make sense of the senseless, it's Richard Castle.
"Mr. Castle, it seems that in our initial investigation into the murder of Doctor Davidson, we've come across some clues that suggest he might have been in the company of another woman prior to his death."
From a sitting position on the cot, Rick stands. He seems intrigued by what she just said; maybe he thinks he might be able to help her.
"Is that so, Detective?"
"It is. I have had my suspicions about Dr. Davidson's fidelity of late. And the clues we found on his body just about confirm what I know is true."
Kate had decided before she came down to holding that she would actually listen to what he had to say and then make an educated decision on whether or not he was innocent or guilty.
"You know, Detective, I can never resist a good story. Tell me what these clues are and I might be able to clear not only myself but your conscience as well."
Kate looks up and down the corridor; once she is satisfied that there is no one within earshot she motions Rick to come closer.
"Castle, this is an active investigation and I really should not be divulging this information to a prisoner who is suspected of the crime I am investigating. But against my better judgment, I am going to give you two clues that might help you, and help me solve this crime."
Rick stands there, waiting for what she wants to tell him.
"The reason I know that Dr. Davidson had been in the company of a woman other than myself was because the medical examiner found flecks of scarlet red nail polish on his clothing Not only that, there was a faint smell of a very expensive perfume. This leads me to believe that not only was he unfaithful to me, but he was also deliberately doing it whenever he wanted."
"Is that so, Detective? I do have one question that you might want to answer."
She watches as Rick's mind goes into overdrive trying to process the clues, and she knows what he's going to ask next. When he looks at her, she's ready with an answer.
"The nail polish is a Tom Ford brand. Very expensive stuff. The perfume costs more than I make in one month. And that's only for a 7.6 oz bottle of the stuff. It's Chanel Coco Mademoiselle."
The second she finishes her statement, Rick's hands grab the cell bars, gripping them so tightly that his knuckles blanched. There is an immediate change in his demeanor. His face loses what little bit of color had remained, but he's quick to come back with an answer.
"Well, Detective, that narrows your pool of suspects down immensely. The nail polish, although not the most common one, isn't that much of a clue. Anybody could use that brand. The perfume, on the other hand - well, that's going to put your mystery dame among New York's wealthiest women. Or maybe their husbands are the top earners. Now, if you don't mind, Detective, I'd like to get some rest."
Rick turns away from her, walks back to his cot, and lies down without saying another word, just staring at the ceiling.
What the hell came over him? Kate thinks. Something about the perfume really spooked him.
Just as she starts to walk away she hears Castle speak.
"Detective, would you be so kind as to call my attorney and have him pay me a visit? I'd appreciate it."
"Sure thing, Castle," Kate says. As she continues her walk back upstairs, puzzling over the significance of the perfume and Castle's reaction, she has a feeling that he's covering something up. But she has no idea what.
Castle's lawyer picks up on the second ring. "Marty Jones."
"Mr. Jones, this is Detective Beckett. I'm passing on word that your client Richard Castle would like to speak with you."
"That's very considerate of you detective. It's the least you could do after what you've done."
"What I've done? Counselor, I was doing my job. If I find a suspect with abrasions on his hands and physical evidence in his home, he's usually guilty."
"Oh, I see how it is, Detective. Now you're judge, jury, and executioner. I'll let you in on a little secret, Detective - your suspect is innocent. Just because he wasn't able to secure bail doesn't mean that he is guilty. Thanks for the phone call."
All Kate hears then is a dial tone. She secures her computer, takes her bag and coat and leaves for the night.
Xx
Arriving the next day, she notices that there is way too much activity going on within the first floor of the precinct. Patrolmen who usually don't associate with each other are talking in small groups. The homicide floor has a weird vibe as well. As she powers up her computer, she notices Karpowski and Stedner talking quietly together as they stare at her. Then her partners, Ryan and Esposito, are arguing heatedly as they walk into the bullpen and almost start throwing punches at each other. They only stop when they look over and see Beckett sitting at her desk. The second they do they both clam up and head to their respective desks.
Thinking that this is something personal that only involves the both of them, she'll play along, for now.
After about fifteen minutes of them glaring at each other and without having said a word to her, curiosity gets the better of her. Trying to stay casual, she asks, "So, guys, what's going on?"
They both startle and slowly turn to her. Esposito has a shit eating grin on his face and Ryan looks like someone just killed his puppy. Whatever it is, this isn't about her.
"Beckett, what time did you leave here last night?" Ryan asks her.
"I don't know, somewhere around eight, I guess. Why?"
"Then you don't know what happened in the Davidson case, right?"
Now we're getting somewhere! Maybe some witness came forward and told the boys how Josh really died that night, or they arrested a new suspect vindicating Castle in the process. Kate shakes her head.
"Well, there has been a new development."
"I'll say there was. I knew he did it!" Esposito barks out from his desk, not caring who hears.
Ryan just hangs his head. Kate looks at him with concern but he doesn't say anything more. Ryan looks like he's watching Superman die of Kryptonite poisoning. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was starting to cry.
"What my suddenly somber partner is trying to say now is that last night, after Castle met with his lawyer, he confessed to killing your boyfriend in the alley behind the pub," Esposito cheerfully says.
Her breath whooshes from her lungs as if she's been sucker punched. She tries to stand, falls back into her chair in an unsteady sprawl.
"What?" is all she can get out of her mouth.
"Yup, it's true. He had a long talk with his attorney last night and then this morning he was transferred to Central Booking. From there it's just the formality of a quick appearance in front of a judge and then on to a prison of his choice," Espo said.
"You know, Espo, sometimes you can be a real dick!"
"Truth hurts, don't it, Beckett?"
Kate tunes him out while giving him a hostile look and gathers up her stuff. She blows right past him and Ryan, heading for the elevator.
"Beckett, where are you going?" Ryan asks as she repeatedly stabs the down button for the elevator.
"I'm going to save my partner."
Xx
In the courtroom, Martha and Alexis are sitting in the row directly behind Rick's attorney. Then Rick is escorted out from the holding cell in the courthouse to the defense table. Not once does he look back at either of them. He sits there silent and impassive, staring at the judge's empty chair. Within minutes the court is called to order. The bailiff announces the judge and he takes his seat behind the bench.
"Good morning, all. We're here in the matter of the State of New York versus Richard Castle. It is my understanding that Mr. Castle has decided to change his plea from innocent to guilty?" the judge asks, looking directly at Rick.
"I have, Your Honor."
"Mr. Bello?' The judge addresses the prosecutor.
"The State has no objection, Your honor." Hell no, there's no objection. ADA Bello had not been looking forward to prosecuting a celebrity as popular as Richard Castle. His legal team made OJ's 'dream team' look like rank amateurs, and it didn't take much effort to imagine a promising legal career dying a miserable death on national TV.
Kate hears the statement the second she steps inside the courtroom. She can't believe her ears - there is no way he did this and she knows it. But why is he taking the fall for something he didn't do? She moves slowly up to the third row on the defendant's side and takes a seat. She watches the proceedings as they unfold in front of her, the prosecutor trying to make a name for himself with a slam dunk conviction of a high-profile suspect, and a defense attorney caught between a system that has already failed and a client determined to take the fall for something he didn't do.
The judge is not going to move quickly to sentence a suspect in a murder case who admitted guilt under somewhat questionable circumstances, so he needs to hear it straight from the accused. Again.
"Mr. Castle, it is my understanding that you wish to plead guilty for the murder of Doctor Joshua Davidson?"
The judge looks directly at Rick. This will be final.
"Yes, Your Honor. I'm the one who took…"
"… Objection!" Marty Jones shouts.
"Mr. Jones," says the judge severely, "you had better have a damn good reason for interrupting your client."
"I do, Your Honor. I'll explain to you why right now, with your permission?"
Marty whispers to Rick to sit back down in the chair, and he does. The judge nods for Marty to continue.
Kate, who had just stepped in and sat down less than thirty seconds ago, was startled when Marty screamed out his objection. But she waits to see how this plays out.
"Your Honor, I'm not sure that Mr. Castle was in his right mind when he made his statement a moment ago. What my client told me last night was that he was brutally attacked by doctor Davidson in the bar. What happened was an act of self-defense. Doctor Davidson assaulted my client - he was only protecting himself when he struck back. And it would also seem clear to me, Your Honor, that Mr. Castle was denied medical treatment when he was placed under arrest and even during his interrogation. Since the police delayed an unreasonable interval before availing my client of his right to counsel, I was only given this case less than twenty hours ago - I have not made my initial discovery concerning my client's defense."
The Judge looks at the prosecution's table and summons the assistant district attorney to the bench.
"Mr. Bello, from here it looks like the accused has been denied medical care while he has been in custody of the NYPD. He will have a doctor come to visit him in holding here. In the meantime, we will give the defense time to gather facts for this case for their defense. You will personally see to it that a proper discovery process is completed without delay.
"What I think happened here is that the NYPD was biased against Mr. Castle. Look at the condition of the man! He has blood on the side of his face that no one bothered to clean off before he came to court."
"Your honor, the team that arrested him should have seen to his well-being," the ADA states, not realizing that he has just opened Pandora's box.
The judge reads the arrest report and looks directly at the prosecutor.
"Mr. Bello, the 12th Precinct homicide squad are responsible for arresting Mr. Castle, is that correct?"
"That's right, Your Honor. Why is this an issue?"
"Counselor, are you aware that Mr. Castle has been shadowing Detective Beckett of the 12th Precinct for the past two and a half years? Don't you think that this is an issue? This team should not even be investigating this case."
The ADA turns towards the gallery and his eyes automatically go to detectives Beckett and Esposito. He realizes the mistake once he sees Esposito's head drop in shame. Beckett, on the other hand, keeps her eyes locked with his, not knowing what to say.
The judge needs time to sort this out.
"Mr. Castle, you are hereby remanded to the State of New York's correctional medical facility within this building. Here you will be checked out medically. Place the prisoner back into his holding cell. This case is adjourned for forty-eight hours. Mr. Castle, I'm afraid this is where you'll be for these forty-eight hours. Will this give you enough time to gather your facts, Mr. Jones?" the judge asks.
"It will, Your Honor," Marty replies.
"Very well. This court is in recess."
Kate is up out of her seat once her mind catches up with what just happened. She's quick to get to Martha and Alexis. As Rick is being moved back to his temporary holding cell in the courthouse, he sees Kate move into Martha for a hug to comfort her. Rick slows his walk watching them embrace.
After consoling Martha, Kate turns to Alexis, who is sobbing uncontrollably. She pulls her into a tight hug and that's when it hits her. She takes a slow inhale and knows for sure that the perfume Alexis was wearing is an exact match for the perfume that was found lingering on Josh's clothing. She tears herself from the hug and turns toward where Rick is being escorted back to the holding cells.
The bailiff escorts Rick the remaining steps to the holding area, disappearing out of her sight….