"I've seen you on a real date, Castle. I'm not sure I want to go out with someone who gives his number to other people when he's on a date."
She's hears him calling after her, "Not my finest moment, Beckett," but she's opening the door without another glance behind her and hurrying up the street before he can catch her.
When Kate gets back to the precinct she heads straight to the time line on the white board. Given that most of her involvement with this case has been limited, at best- she's held the press off at the crime scene, and processed the paperwork associated with the interviews the detectives have run- she hasn't actually been able to take a close look at the board.
"Getting inspired, Beckett?" asks Detective Jones lazily from his desk. She doesn't mind Jones. He gives the impression of arrogance, boredom, but she thinks he might be someone who really cares about justice. And he's never checked her out, that she's noticed, and in this boys club, that's something.
"Uh-huh. Just wanted to take a look."
"Well, MacKenzie has the guy in interrogation one, now, if you want to be a fly on the wall-"
"The guy? They caught him?"
Jones nods. "Just some dealer, wrong time, wrong place, kind of thing. I think MacKenzie's pretty close to a confession."
"But what about the husband?"
"The husband?"
Beckett nods. "Mm-hmm. The husband. I have a- a source- who-"
"Who what? Spit it out Beckett."
God. Why can't she talk? She's good, she knows that, but she's so junior, and she's been taught to look at facts. She wants to be the one breaking this case open, but what if she's wrong- what if Castle is wrong- and they've got a suspect in there- she needs to be right, get it right. She can't mess this up, because the career she wants- needs- demands that she not make stupid mistakes. But, she realises, the career she wants will only exist if she takes risks, takes the leaps. So what if she's wrong? Adele Matthews still deserves every lead be looked at. "I was talking to a guy. Off the record. He knows the couple. And he suggested we take a second look at the husband. A second look at the financials. Apparently Aaron and Adele did not get along nearly as well as Aaron suggested when we interviewed him." Beckett bites her lip, sure she'll be blown off.
"Your source. Who you are yet to name. Your source thinks this, does he?" He narrows his eyes and she's sure she'll be shut down, but instead, Jones nods. "Okay. Let's go pick the husband up, bring him back in for another round of questioning-" Beckett smiles, but Jones points his finger at her. "I'm not saying you're right. But we'll check it out. And Beckett? If something comes of this, your off the record source might have to go on the record."
Beckett watched, amazed, as Jones got out of his chair, headed for the door, and turned to her. "You coming, Beckett?"
It's nine o'clock at night two days later when they break the husband. Most of the detectives working the case look too tired to care, but Jones offers a high five as he walks past Beckett to the elevator, the sparkle in his eyes apparent when he leans in. "This is it, Beckett. What we live for. Welcome to homicide. And well done."
She can only smile. "Thank you Detective."
And all Kate can think of is calling Castle and letting him know his theory was right. She's ignored his calls over the last three days- about eight of them- she'd barely even thought of him, truth be told, so thrilled to be in this homicide case, discussing the details with the detectives, sitting in on the interview as Jones and MacKenzie grilled Aaron Matthews. And now this want comes over her in a wave and she sees his eyes again, hears his voice in her head and she doesn't call, just texts- what's your address?
Kate's text comes just after ten, and he's just walking in the door to find his mother reading with Alexis on the couch. He wonders briefly if he can ignore it, but he really doesn't want to, so he replies. It's just bad timing. He'd usually be home well before ten, and more to the point, Alexis would be in bed and his mother would not be there. But it was parent teacher interview night at the school and he'd drawn the short straw and gotten the last interview. His reputation is one thing, and indeed there are a few granules of truth to it, but in reality he rarely has company over, and if he does, he makes sure his guest comes over well after Alexis is asleep, and leaves well before she gets up.
So Rick texts his address back, and crosses his fingers that she can't get here before he can get Alexis into bed and his mother out of there.
"Hey sweetie," he kisses Alexis' forehead, then sits on his mother's other side. "Mother. Thank you once again. You're a life saver."
"You're welcome of course- always happy to spend time with my favourite granddaughter-"
"Gram! I'm your only granddaughter," comes Alexis' sleepy reply, and then anxious- far too anxious for a nine year old to Rick's mind- "What did my teachers say about me, Dad?"
"Oh," he teases. "They said Alexis is noisy and disruptive and she hates to read and she won't go to bed on time!" He reaches across Martha as if to tickle his daughter and she squeals with laughter.
"Dad! They did not."
"They did not," he agrees. "They said you're a joy to have in the classroom."
Martha extracts himself from between them. "Well, if my presence is no longer required, I shall take my leave- I have places to go and people to see-" At this, Rick wrinkles his nose. He does not want to hear this. "So, farewell my dears." She kisses Alexis, makes her way to the door and opens it- to find Kate on the other side, hand poised, ready to knock.
Kate is flustered when she realises she can hear voices on the other side of the door. How can he not be on his own at ten thirty at night?This was a bad idea- she should have called, not texted, or not called or texted at all. Let it be. He could have read about Aaron Matthews in the paper, and she could have blocked his number to avoid him- and quite without willing it, she finds herself reaching up to knock- and the door opens.
Kate can see her confusion mirrored in the older red headed woman's eyes. "Hello… Officer?" And the woman turns and calls out, "Richard. The police are here-"
"No, no," flusters Kate, but the woman isn't listening, and suddenly Rick is there and from behind him a second red head appears- a child- and she thinks shit and suddenly the idea of being there at all is ridiculous, and what she was thinking, wearing the uniform over instead of changing into jeans before she left the precinct?
Rick looks vaguely uncomfortable. "Kate. Hi. I see you've met my mother, Martha. And this is Alexis-" he indicates the girl- Kate thinks she looks about eight and God, she did not know he had a daughter. Crap. He turns to Martha and Alexis; "Mother, Alexis, this is my friend Kate. She works for the NYPD. Alexis, stop looking so worried. She's not here to arrest me." He turns back to Kate with a wink- "You're not, right Beckett?"
"Right." She tries to smile, but it's more a grimace. "I'm not."
"On that note, then, I shall take my leave- Goodnight all." Kate swears Rick just rolled his eyes as his mother sweeps out of the apartment, waving at them as she leaves. Rick gestures at Kate to come in, and she reluctantly crosses the threshold.
"Dad! How come you're friends with a policewoman?!"
"Uh- well-" Rick starts, but Kate has an answer.
"Your dad helped me on a case, actually."
"You did?" Alexis looks delighted.
"I did? I did. Did I?"
"You did," Kate affirms. "We got the guy."
"Well how about that! Alexis, did you hear that? They got the guy!" Alexis giggles as Rick pulls her in for a hug. "Okay sweetheart. Up to bed, and I'll be in to tuck you in, in a minute." He releases the girl and she heads upstairs with a shy goodnight to Kate, sneaking a glance back at them halfway up the stairs.
Rick turns back to Kate, and she starts to apologise. "Sorry. I shouldn't have come. I'll go. I just- I wanted to let you know, in person, that we got the guy, and that it was thanks to you."
"Hey, no. You're welcome here. I was just surprised. And I just got home myself, thus, my mother. Baby sitting." Kate takes a step back towards the door, as though to go, but Rick shakes his head. "No, stay. Really. I'll pour you a glass of wine." He moves toward the kitchen, and before Kate can protest again, he's poured two glasses. "I really want to hear about the story. The case. Don't go anywhere! I just have to check on Alexis."
Kate's head is swimming. Who is this guy? On one hand, he gave her his number when he was on a date with someone else, he's happily alluded to his playboy lifestyle, apparently finds the cop thing a turn on. On the other hand, he didn't actually hit on her when they met for coffee, he just got really into the case- helping her solve it which, career wise, was a big deal for her, not that he would have known that. And now this. Inviting her in when his daughter is here- the daughter she didn't know he had- and radiating enthusiasm for the story, or as she preferred to call it, the case. And while he did ask her out to dinner, he hasn't made a single physical move toward her apart from kissing her cheek the night they met. And part of her wishes he would.
