Chapter 16
Full Disclosure
"Mr. Smith, my name is Esposito, this is my partner Ryan. We have some questions, but before we start, we need you to understand you're in a very, very narrow window of time." He paused to allow the man time to consider his words.
"Your current problem is the attempt on the life of Detective Beckett, but we all know there's much more."
Again, the partners sat a bit longer in silence, they wanted to let the idea that they knew a lot more and the implications of what was going on. They wanted it to happen sink into the managers head.
He missed their point, "I didn't try to shoot anyone, that accountant guy hit my hand causing the gun to discharge."
"Mr. Smith you don't look stupid but you sure sound stupid." Ryan glared at the manager.
"Yeah, you forgot the part where you were pointing the gun at Detective Beckett."
"I want a lawyer. I know my rights." The banker was asserting himself, but it looked like a weak attempt at blustering. They had a cure.
"Does the word Delaware mean anything to you?" Esposito stood and glared down at the suspect and then turned away.
The banker looked to Ryan, "What does Delaware have to do with anything?" Smith's blustering had quickly shifted to confusion.
Esposito was already exiting the room, with Ryan following, he turned, "Before we make that call for you I want to show you something."
The banker sat an stared at his hands, wondering where this was going.
XX
She walked in the room and his eyes tracked to her. She had no idea a glance could wield such power, it felt like a current, the rush of joy that he was awake, alert and looking to her. Tears erupted freely for the first time.
The doctor turned to her and started to explain, "Detective, Mr. Castle is..." He looked at the tall dark-haired beauty, her badge on her hip. He recognized her immediately. He'd seen her before, on other cases. She was all business, direct, courteous but always professional. What he saw in her face was something totally different. First were the tears, but beneath them a deep concern and then relief.
"Detective, can you excuse me, I need to take this message." He said as he pulled his cell from his pocket, "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Thank you," was all she could get out.
As the doctor left the room, she moved quickly to the table, its back now elevated slightly like a hospital bed, "Castle...I'm so glad you're OK?"
"Kate," he reached out and took her hand and pulled her towards him.
"Hey stop crying, I'm fine. Really I am." Trying to sooth the melting woman before him.
"I was so scared...damn you Castle'" laying her arm across his waist.
When the doctor stepped back into the room, there was another surprise. The Detective had pulled a chair next to the bed, she'd laid her head on the patients stomach and was clutching one of his hands. He heard the man speaking, "Kate, I'm fine, really...calm down." with his free hand he stroked her head.
"Doctor, we're ready to see you," Castle said to the doctor.
Kate sat up when Castle spoke. She wiped away her tears, her face changing, her eyes switching to the police eyes as she bored into the doctor.
"You seem to be OK, but before you're released I want an x-ray and MRI done, just in case. The diagnostic's will assure you'll get a clean bill of health."
"It takes a pretty good hit to the head to knock someone out and you were unconscious for almost an hour."
"How long will the test take? Castle asked.
A couple hours depending upon the radiology departments work load, if everything is negative, you should be released in about three hours."
"Mr. Castle if you have any symptoms in the next 24 hours, headaches, dizziness, cognitive issues, anything out of the ordinary get back here as soon as possible."
"Is there someone to stay with you?"
Beckett spoke for the first time, "Doctor good to see you again, I apologize for my abrupt entry, I was just very concerned...either his daughter or I will be with him."
"Well again, if you see anything unusual, bring him back."
"Thank you doctor, I will."
"I'll see you after we complete the diagnostics." The doctor quickly left.
"Can I yell at you now?" Her emotions clearly back under control.
"What happened to my frail friend?" He asked with a smile.
"She just got mad...thinking about what a stupid thing you did!"
"Why would you do that Castle? Why?"
"He had a gun pointed at you Beckett, I was not gonna let him shoot you." His voice was soft but firm.
"You could have been shot Castle! You have a daughter to think about."
"Kate, if the gun had been pointed at Alexis, I would have done the same thing."
"I couldn't just hope for the best, something had be done. "
"I'd do anything in the world, for either of you."
Before she could respond, Alexis burst into the small room.
"Dad, you're OK?"
"Of course Pumpkin, I just bumped my head." He looked at Kate who was giving him a hate stare.
She moved to her father and gave him a kiss. "Well that's a pretty big bandage for, just a bump. "
"How'd you do that?"
Beckett had been leaning forward intently speaking with him, now she sat back and crossed her arms and set her chin, "Tell her Castle, tell how you ...you bumped your head."
"Dad?" The young girl looked at him in earnest expectation.
Beckett maybe you could explain, "I'm getting tired." He closed his eyes.
"Castle! Do not give her that tired thing. You weren't tired a minute ago."
He opened his eyes, "I dove across a desk because some creep had a gun pointed at...at Beckett."
"You did what?" Now Alexis looked incredulous at what she'd just heard.
"You dove at a man with a gun?"
"What if he'd shot you Dad? Did you think about that?" Clearly upset at his choice.
"Alexis, I did think about that." Now seeming honestly tired.
"But as I just told Kate, I will not, I could not let anything happen to either of you." He laid his head back and closed his eyes.
Alexis took his hand and kissed it. "I don't understand, but I kinda do" She then kissed his cheek.
He felt a tug on his right hand, though the bandage blocked his view on the right side, he knew the touch and wove his finger together with hers. He was a happy man, his women were safe.
XX
Ryan walked in an laid a single piece of paper on the table in front of the banker.
"Take a look at this, and then I have only one question and we'll call your lawyer."
"What is this?"
"It's a breakdown of the States that have the death penalty and, those that don't. What I want you to see is that many of those with the death penalty don't execute anyone. Except for two, Virginia and Delaware. Not only do they have it, they use it."
"So what's that suppose to mean?"
"This is the what it means. We discovered that with 48 hours after Lilly Francine's death, Mark Wade was found dead in Delaware."
"Delaware is 185 miles from New York, barely three hours one way. The day Mr Wade died you came into work late."
"I don't know a Mark Wade." With some defiance in his voice.
"So Lilly selects a outside computer course, taught by Mark Wade, which by the way is paid for by the bank, and 48 hours after her death the instructor of her class is killed in Delaware."
The banker said nothing.
"What do yo think the probabilities of that happening, without any connection to," Esposito took a long pause and added, " and let's say your bank?"
"I don't know this Wade guy, I told you that already."
"Mr. Smith I'm already bored with this dog and pony show, so here's the offer, you can cut a deal with us here and now. And we mean now."
"You know New York doesn't have the death penalty." Ryan paused to let the offer sink in.
"Or," Esposito started, "I can go call you lawyer and at the same time call the DA in the County of New Castle, Delaware, and suggest that we have a suspect for them in the murder of Mark Wade."
He continued, "My guess is you somehow lured Mr. Wade to Delaware and killed him."
"Based on my understanding of the law that would equal special circumstances for purposes of the death penalty".
"So the questions is, how lucky do you feel?'
XX
A week later the press conference was held. Detective Beckett stood next to the tall blue-eyed man. Their fingers bumping from time to time.
Roy Montgomery was addressing the large press contingent waiting anxiously for the details behind the arrest and confession of Jack Smith for two murders as well as bank fraud.
"Mr. Smith has confessed to the murders of both Lilly Francine and Mark Wade. Their deaths came after Smith began to fear that his scheme for skimming thousand of dollars from the banks customers would unravel."
"Mr. Wade was lured to Delaware with the promise of a large payment for his assistance, instead he was murdered by Mr. Smith."
"Ms. Francine was killed at her apartment when Smith showed up, feigning an emergency at work, and strangled her."
"The break in the case came when Detective Beckett added Mr. Castle to the team as a forensic financial expert. I'm going to turn the podium over to Detective Beckett and let her explain that part of the investigation."
"Thank you sir," she said as she stood at the microphone, acknowledging her boss.
"Mr. Castle and my team studied the electronic records of Lilly Francine's computer and discovered she had uncovered a number of errors in the banks records and the transfers to accounts set up with fraudulent documentation."
"She made the mistake of trusting her employer with the discovery. As more and more financial records were reviewed, it was clear there were a number of accounts involved. Thanks to Mr. Castle's expertise we were able to track the accounts and determine how the theft had taken place."
A reporter shouted, "How long has Mr. Castle been with the NYPD?"
"Mr. Castle is not employed by the NYPD but has acted as a voluntary consultant."
Another shouted, "Who's his employer?" Kate swallowed, she didn't want to lay his life out before the New York press corp but thought this could only help.
"Until recently he was employed by Anderson & Webb." She saw a small group of reporters exit from the back of the crowd, as soon as she said the words. She had no doubts where they were going. She thought to herself, have fun Linda Gallo, you witch.
"Is it true Mr. Castle was injured at the bank during the interview of Mr. Smith?"
"Was Mr. Castle injured because Smith pulled a gun on you?" The question from the back of the crowd.
"Yes he was knocked unconscious after he helped disarm the suspect."
"Was the gun pointed at you or Mr. Castle?"
And then came the question she feared, "Was he protecting you?"
"Yes!" And the always in control Detective, looked sheepish with her answer.
She felt the hand on her shoulder, "Folks," Roy Montgomery injected as he stepped back up to the mike, "the team did a great job, together."
"They worked very hard to put together all the pieces of this puzzle."
"Detectives Beckett, Ryan and Esposito served the citizens of New York well in solving these murders." He paused and looked at his team.
"I want to publicly thank Mr. Castle for his help in this case, and his willingness to put himself in harms ways to protect one of my officers."
XX
"So Castle, whata ya gonna do with all your free time." Esposito asked as he handed the unemployed bookkeeper a cold one.
They were celebrating the closure of the case and a good news conference, knowing these types of days don't come as often as they'd like. Beckett remained a bit goggle-eyed as she watched the exchange between the boys, although Castle had yet to speak.
"Beckett, stop drooling." Ryan teased.
"What, I'm not doing anything." She protested.
"Wrong! You look at him like he's about to expire."
"Hey, she's good," Castle said as he walked over an put his arm around her.
Beckett smiled and said nothing.
"What's it going to be Castle? You on a job hunt of not?" Esposito pressed again for some info.
"I've got some things I'm working on, and a couple of things I need to get buttoned-up. Fortunately I have a little vacation time and sick-pay coming, it will cover me for a little while."
Eposito continued, "Well let me make a prediction, the news conference about the help you gave us...and the bullet-dodging for the...a starry-eyed," he paused in response to the immediate hate stare from Beckett, "a...the detective will make your phone start ringing like crazy."
"And those idiots who fired you will be wondering how they could be so stupid." Ryan added.
"I hope you're right Esposito, I have some high maintenance women to take care of." Beckett stood back and playfully punched his shoulder.
XX
The Flushing train was not terrible crowded. She held his arm tightly and they boarded.
"Beckett you are pretty clingy today, what's up?" Castle nudged her with his shoulder.
"I was really knocked off the mark during the new conference when they asked about you protecting me...I sorta lost it."
"You never loose anything Beckett."
She starred intently at him, "Almost the one I really love."
He knew where she was heading. "Kate, I'm here," Hugging her shoulder.
"I'm fine, your safe. Everything is good."
"I almost turned around to hug you." She looked sheepish in her confession.
"You can hug me anytime you want." Smiling broadly.
"No, you don't get it...I mean in the middle of the press conference."
Castle laughed, " Oh I could just see the papers, Detective freaks in middle of press conference..."
"OK, OK so you get it...I was so glad Roy saved me."
"I'm telling you Castle that has never happened to me before."
"First time for everything."
"Not that, trust me."
"Well well! If it isn't the love birds. And now twice in one week." Orletha gave the pair a quick hug.
"Hey Orletha."
"I'm always glad to see you two."
"Ricky I saw you and the beautiful Katie on the news today. You two are stars!"Stretching out the 'ar', then emitting a small laugh.
"So tell me about the protecting your woman, and that thing you did."
"Orletha it wasn't like that." He said shaking his head.
"Ricky did the guy have a gun?" Holding on with one hand to a nearby pole, and placing her other hand on her hip.
"Well, yeah."
"Then it was exactly like I thought...and you know it!"
"Orletha, she's worth it."
"Yeah well if you ever do it again, and survive, I'll kill you anyway." Beckett snarled at Castle.
Orletha started laughing at Beckett's threat. "Well he certainly does like to protect you doesn't he?"
"Orletha I don't know what do with him." Actually sounding exasperated.
"Oh yes you do! Now come sit with me."
XX
Dinner was good and Alexis was so proud of them being on TV together. "You guys looked so cute."
"Pumpkin, I haven't been cute for decades." He snorted.
"Yeah well cute enough to get that former witch boss of yours to chase you around." Beckett refusing to miss an opportunity to tease him.
"She did not chase me Beckett."
"Oh, Dad!" She turned and looked at Beckett, "I wonder if your head injury is more serious than they thought. It must be affecting your memory."
"You got that right Alexis!" Kate said as she carried a couple of empty dishes to the sink. On the return trip she stopped and kissed him on the head, " So lame!"
He grabbed at her as she went by, and then swatted at her.
"You guys this is getting disgusting." Alexis let her best whining voice go.
"Yeah Detective, clean up your act." Castle again tried to grab her on the next pass.
XX
They had been in bed for nearly an hour. Kate had struggled with sleeping. She'd fretted all week over the bank incident and what he'd done. Beyond the flattery of him jumping at a crook with a gun, was the fear of what he might do in his protective bent with her. She did not want him harmed. He'd risked his life twice in their short relationship and resigned his job because of her. If there was skin in the game, it was his.
"Beckett," the sleepy voice next to her exhaled.
"Castle, I sorry, I'll lie still." Her voice was small.
"Tell me Beckett"
"Tell you what?"
"Kate...tell me." He rolled toward her, his hand snaking across her stomach. She scooted a foot to make contact with his leg.
"You scare me when you do nutso things...when you go crazy protecting me."
"Have you been thinking about this all week?"
"You think?"
"Of course I have, what'd you expect?" She was getting huffy, he knew the tone, the cadence of her words.
"I heard that gun go off and thought you'd been shot!"
"I don't think I've been so scared in years...and I hear guns all the time. But you...you were between me and the gun. I was thinking what is he trying to do?"
"Then I couldn't wake you up...and there was blood everywhere."
"I thought..." He heard her breathing do a hiccup, and her voice grow thick.
"Kate, my love," his hand found her face, he gently thumbed at tears.
"I'm OK." Her arms went around his neck, "Don't keep re-running the scene. We're good...we're safe Kate."
She was silent for a few minutes, her breathing slowed, she relaxed in his arms.
"Will you make me a promise Rick?"
"You need to tell me what it is you want first."
"I want a promise, I need a promise from you." Her tone urgent now.
"OK! I'll promise, as long as it doesn't involve me not protecting you."
"Damn you!" She huffed.
"Kate, I am not letting someone harm you. If it comes down to you or me, it's me. I want you safe.
She pushed away from him, "How can you even say that, I'm the cop."
"Castle, my job is dangerous! Are you going to follow me around? Keep me safe?"
"Would you let me?"
"No! nor would my Captain."
"Then stay home with me." He pulled at her, but she pushed him away.
"Castle you don't even have a job, have you forgotten?"
"Minor detail." He chuckled.
"You're trying to change the subject aren't you?" The huff returning to her voice.
"I am, that's true. You seem a bit out of sorts over the...the bank thing, but..."
"But what Rick?"
"Think about it. He had a gun pointed at you. He'd been distracted by the phone once already. I wasn't sure how we we're going to get out of there safely. But I thought, people often call back if someone doesn't answer, right?"
"If it rings again, I'm going for it."
"So tell me, what better chance would we have had?"
She didn't answer immediately, " You're right, you did the right thing, except your head on the drawer." She smiled weakly.
"Rick I just don't want anything to happen to you. I want you safe." She scooted back and kissed him.
"Just tell me you won't do anything crazy. Please."
"You have my word, sorta." She grabbed her pillow and smacked him with it.
"You're not going to take this serious are you Castle?" The playfulness was gone.
"Fine, I'll be serious." He looked away, as if looking for the right words.
"For all the years I've been alone raising Alexis I've lived in a bubble of love. She has been my everything, I've never felt much need for anything or anyone else." Another long pause.
"I was just too busy." He stopped again.
"Then you came along and..."
"And what Castle?" She knew what he'd say next, but wanted him to tell her again.
"You, know, you rearranged my orderly world, turning it upside down. You surprised me with a need I...I didn't even know I had."
"Suddenly you were a scarf around my long cold heart, and I found...I needed wanted the warmth."
"Looking back, at just me, not as a dad, but who I was...I was just out there alone...no, very lonely is more like it."
"And then there was you..."
She said nothing, just watched and listened, knowing he was not yet done.
"Kate, my existence, before you, was a mirage, a mere mist..."
"I can't go back to that back to that shadow world."
"When that jerk waved the gun at you he was really pointing it right at me, right at my heart."
He paused, "You think I was being stupid, I know."
"Others think of me noble or chivalrous." Shaking head, "But really, in a way I was just being selfish...protecting the heart of Richard Castle."
"Without you Kate, there is no me."
"Castle..." She nuzzled against him.
"Yeah, life would go on if something happened to you..." He paused again, stroking her hair.
"But for me it would be a sentence to the shadowy world, the world you saved me from."
She sat and watched him again. His voice was penitent, he was confessing his need for her, his weaknesses and love for her. But she also heard in it, the will to survive. This was not a fairy-tale, where they lived-happily-ever-after. It was a confirmation of an attachment of hearts. A need for her love, and, a deep abiding need for her.
She moved across the bed again, he had sat up as the conversation turned so serious. She placed herself on his lap, wrapping her legs around his back. Her arms rested against his neck, she was only inches from his face as she starred intently in his blue and now dark eyes.
"You will not be without me," as he leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
"I will do everything I can to be safe," now kissing the her other cheek.
"Are you trying to make cry," her eyes glassy, again.
"Castle...the things you do to my heart...," she gasped for a second.
"Rick, I love you so." This time it was her kissing as she focused on his mouth. The space between them disappeared.