Very Castle Celebrations
Chapter 6
Castle can see the glow on Kate's face as they enter the bullpen, even if it is just to be questioned. In his carrier, snuggled against Castle's chest, Jackson is sound asleep. With any luck, he will stay that way while they're at the 12th. If not, Castle and Kate can take turns walking their son around. Ryan might even want to have a go at infant-ambling. Kevin and Jenny are trying to have a child, and he's already been obsessing in very Ryan-like ways about all the things he'll have to master to be a good father. Castle can empathize with that. Even though Kate is much more attentive to Jackson then Meredith ever was to Alexis, he's still learning the ropes. Or maybe he's just older and doesn't have the knees to handle multiple hours of pacing wooden floors as well, anymore. Whatever the case, he admires Ryan's enthusiasm.
The boys want to talk to Castle and Kate separately; Castle will be with Ryan and Esposito with Kate. That figures in a way Castle's not entirely sure he likes. If anything, since Jackson's birth, he's felt more like a lion defending his domain. Not that he's ever seen Espo step over the line, but the brusque cop has seemed to come close now and then. Ryan is as hopelessly in love as ever with Jenny. To Castle, that's a much more comfortable situation, and one he can thoroughly relate to.
Ryan is all business as he goes through every detail Castle can recall about Michael Bloomingdale's demise. The Irish cop particularly wants to know if Castle noticed anything about the expressions on the other players' faces when Michael went down. That wasn't anything Castle had considered. His attention had been more drawn by what Caspar had told him about the Bloomingdale family, but Ryan does have a point. If someone was slipping small but steady doses of thallium to Michael, they might have enlisted an accomplice at Mother's school.
Castle closes his eyes to picture the scene. The looks of horror were almost universal when Kate announced that Michael had no pulse - except on one actress. Patience Conroy appeared triumphant. Given the techniques Mother teaches for actors to lose themselves in their characters, it is possible that Patience might still have been immersed in her role. Michael was the villain of the piece and Patience was playing one of the good guys. Still, Castle has to agree with Ryan that Patience's attitude could be a lead worth pursuing. Mother might have a solid grasp on just how much of a method actress Patience is. Ryan will be questioning the diva too, later in the day. Patience's behavior is well worth an inquiry to the person with the most knowledge of her acting techniques.
Esposito concluded his interview with Kate before Ryan and Castle finished their discussion. Castle's not surprised to find his wife staring at the murder board. Standing there beside her is like a flashback. He can't resist picking up a marker and adding the name of Patience Conroy, with a question mark. Ryan will no doubt clue in Esposito about why the budding actress is of interest. Castle promises Kate he'll explain on the way home, just as Jackson begins to stir. Fortunately, the baby will enjoy the walk back to the loft.
As Aprils in New York go, this one is pretty warm. There aren't many pedestrians about. It's too late for them to be hurrying to work and too early for the lunch rush. Castle and Kate stroll hand in hand, before deciding to stop for ice cream. The trendy parlor is as sparsely populated as the sidewalk. Kate requests dark chocolate gelato with a swirl of raspberries. Castle's choice of a peanut flavored frozen confection with stripes of fudge reminds him of homemade buckeyes given to him by a fan at a con in Ohio. He and Kate take seats at a tiny wrought iron table outside the door of the shop. He hasn't had much time for people watching, except during his forays to the park with Jackson. Even on those, he didn't take much of an opportunity to observe the other greenspace lovers. As slow as the stream of New Yorkers is now, he has a chance to imagine a backstory for each passerby. Sooner or later, he may commit his musings to print.
He also can't help thinking about Patience Conroy. There has to be a story there somewhere. Even if she has nothing to do with Michael's murder, she could also make an interesting character for a story. But deep in his brain somewhere, her reaction to Michael's death is niggling at him. Ryan can check her out, but Castle is going to do some research of his own - or rather with Kate. Spinning theories about homicides together puts both of them in the mood for even more pleasurable pursuits - especially lately.
Jackson lets it be known as loudly as his young lungs can manage that he wants to get moving again. It's not much farther back to the loft, but the joggling of the short walk will help settle him down. When they get back, his brand-new baby swing may help even more. For the motion loving baby, aside from being affixed to Kate's nipple, the swing is his favorite place to be. Mother has remarked that Castle was like that when he was a baby - and while he was growing up for that matter. He might not have been a jock, but he never wanted to stop moving. Castle is not sure whether he finds the similarity encouraging or terrifying, but for the moment, he and Kate can take advantage of it.
There is not much on the web about Patience Conroy. There are reviews of school plays she was in when she was growing up and notices of a few junior acting awards. Though not from a wealthy family, she might have had contact with the Bloomingdales. Her father was written up as the quintessential gentleman's gentleman, which would have made Patience part of the downstairs culture, at least by proximity. That alone is not a reason why she would harbor any antagonism toward Michael. The young man seemed to have no inclination to look down on the working class, regardless of what his social and financial standing might have been. If Patience did play a part in Michael's death, Castle is sure there is some factor he's missing.
Kate suggests that if Patience was associated with the Bloomingdale's somehow, maybe her relationship wasn't with Michael, but with one of the members of the family whom Caspar had alluded to, someone who resented Michael's intentions for how Bloomingdale money would be used. That scenario could make Patience a solid candidate for accomplice - if they can figure out who might have ordered the poisoning. Kate is right. They need to establish which Bloomingdale resented Michael and might have benefited most from his death.
Castle has to talk to Caspar again, but he'd prefer not to do it on the phone. And he wants to have Kate with him. There is an event coming up to raise money for the city's elite student debate squad. It's just the kind of gathering Caspar would find appealing. Debate was the only activity for which Castle could remember his old acquaintance showing any real fervor. Castle determines that the debate squad supporters are employing the same event planner who arranged many of his book parties. He should be able to manage to get himself and Kate at Caspar Bloomingdale's table. With Kate's skills, by the end of the evening, they'll know about anything useful Caspar has left to offer.
