Very Castle Celebrations
Chapter 30
"It's about time," Kate declares when Castle informs her of Jenny's pregnancy. "Those two went through so much while they were trying. I'm happy for them, but I hope they'll sleep while they can."
Castle can feel the grin erupting on his face. "Exactly what I told Ryan. But we need to compare notes on what else he told me. Did you hear who the body was and whom she might be linked to?"
Kate shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Barely, Castle. The cops on the task force were retreating into corners where they wouldn't be heard. Not that whispering about it will change anything. Too many people in the city know about Lisa's death."
"Her name is Lisa?" Castle repeats. "Ryan didn't tell me that. Real name or aka?"
Kate shakes her head, "Real, I think, but considering the kind of work she was doing, there's no telling. It could just have been a name that whatever big shot she was with, liked."
Castle realizes that little as she might think it is, Kate knows more than he does. "Any idea who Mr. Big might be? God, I sound like an episode of Sex in the City."
Kate shrugs. "Nothing solid. The thought is that he's a connection to a foreign bank that's serving as a conduit for the purchase of influence. That could hook him to a lot of politicians looking to fill their campaign coffers."
Castle notes that what Kate is describing doesn't sound like a legal way for a public servant to amass a war chest.
Kate clarifies. "If the influence is being solicited from foreign actors or nationals in exchange for campaign contributions, it is very illegal, but to prosecute, the money trail would have to be unraveled. From what I understand, Lisa was working on helping the Southern District figure out whom to subpoena."
Castle is beginning to understand the scenario that would would have led to Lisa's demise. "From the way she ended up, it seems like she was close to succeeding. I wonder if she got the chance to pass on any of her information. The way she was dressed, it looked like she might have been caught out in the middle of bedroom espionage."
Kate shrugs again. "I don't know Castle. That could be why the lid is on so tight. If she did manage to pass something on, the feds don't want it leaking out. And if she didn't, the murderer wants to sabotage any further investigation. I believe you're right. We find whose secrets Lisa was after, we find the murderer. But if the Southern District already had that information, I think a judge would be issuing a warrant. Sometimes confidential sources play it pretty close to the vest. That's how they stay employed."
Castle is sure there must be another way of going after the killer. If politicians are getting campaign money illegally, that fact would eventually pop up in the research of the other side. He's heard that the vice president is considering a run for the presidency when the current president's term is up. That would be a reason he'd need large sums of money. Now Castle just needs someone close enough to the VP's potential opponent to have the skinny on whatever financial hijinks might be taking place. He knows just the guy. And his upcoming high stakes poker game will be just the lure he needs to procure the man's services.
Jackson may just be the next Las Vegas wonder or at least he might be in about 21 years. From his perch in his high chair, he seems to take in every card being dealt while his ears note the clink of every chip. Castle wouldn't want him anywhere near a serious game, but the dry run he is doing with Kate, Alexis, Cary, and mother holds enough fascination. Skill with cards appears to run in the family. Mother can read Castle like a book and does so loudly and at length. Alexis is no slouch either. She has a real talent for detecting tells. Unfortunately, she has several of his, down cold. Kate, on the other hand, is more inscrutable to the other members of his family. There are things Castle can see, the shifting colors in her hazel eyes and the fervor with which she pushes her hair behind her ear, but somehow the redheads have yet to pick up on them. It's just as well, there are other things he'd rather not have them pick up on. Husbands and wives need a few secrets from the rest of the world.
Kate takes the next hand and Castle the one after it. Alexis is obviously exaggerating the stretch that accompanies her yawn, providing a transparent excuse to go do more exciting things with her boyfriend. Mother retires a few minutes later.
Kate slides the tip of her shoe beneath Castle's pants leg. "Jackson should be getting sleepy anytime now. Once we put him to bed, maybe we could put away the chips to play for more interesting stakes. How about a game of strip?"
Eager to take her up on her offer, Castle studies Jackson's eyelids for any sign of drooping. Unfortunately, the baby seems wider awake than ever. For now, he and Kate will have to play holdem of a more platonic kind.
Castle's phone dings with a text from Carl Ward, the ultimate insider of the vice president's loyal opposition. He's accepting Castle's invitation to a game for much more than plastic markers. When Castle looks up, Jackson has finally succumbed to slumber's call. The evening's promise is definitely on the upswing.
Castle doesn't know whether to be peeved or grateful that both he and Kate were wearing multiple clothing layers in response to the November weather. Almost all of both sets of garments now lie piled on chairs beside either him or Kate. Not that he cares how much he won. He doubts that Kate does either. The joy is in the losing since the more either one of them loses, the more they expect to win. They are approaching the finish line fast. He has just his shirt, and she is down to bra and panties. The turn of the "river" card gives him 3 queens. That should just about do the trick. But Kate has 3 kings. That's even better. One game is over, but another is just beginning.
Kate lets him keep his shirt until they reach the bedroom, then claims it, undoing each button at tortuously slow speed while her tongue traces the skin she reveals. Straddling him, she unclasps her own bra, leaving her silken bikini in place. As Castle cups her, he can feel the heat and the moisture through the thin fabric. He moves from beneath her and pushes the barrier aside, allowing access for his mouth.
Kate's whole body bucks. She shoves the twin triangles down her legs and kicks them to the foot of the bed. Plunging her fingers into the more abbreviated version of his hair, she pulls him tight against her blazing need. She must be almost subconsciously wary of waking Jackson, because he can feel her suppress a scream as she erupts. She is still pressing against him, moist and simmering, as if to urge him in. He needs no invitation. He thrusts in time to the rise and fall of her hips, while the tips of her breasts beg his palms for attention.
He bites his lip. They can't wake the baby now, not now. Every part of his being joins in the silent explosion, and they collapse breathless together.
A/N Guest, a registered companion is a type of character on Firefly, akin to a geisha or a courtesan. She is a legal and highly respected practitioner of the art of pleasing both men and women. Companions are well educated, and their health is checked every year. They also tend to be quite beautiful. Nathan's character was in love with one and vice versa. It was unconsummated, at least until the graphic novels.
