Into The Belly of The Beast

Alexander Richardson hangs up from his call to Richard Castle

He stands up from his desk and walks over to the window and looks out over the city. The windows that are triple pane, vacuum sealed tempered glass with dead air space between the glass to prevent sound traveling from inside to the outside. Window frames with anti eves dropping electronics connected to the metal to keep the "other side" from hearing whatever is being said inside. The special treatment on the glass itself that prevents prying eyes from seeing who is inside or being able to read their lips. Even infrared detection cannot penetrate the windows and see what is going on inside. Nothing inside this room can be detected from outside this room. It is secure from prying eyes and ears

He is over sixty stories above the street yet he knows that spies are everywhere. Even up here in this crystal tower he cannot rest his mind. The Spy planes, satellites, long range cameras, listening devices that are almost undetectable. The snipers who watch for an opportunity to remove a target. The trained assassins who get up close and personal. The information gathering without leaving the safety of your cubicle. All his years living in this clandestine world has finally taken its toll. He wants for it to end.

He wishes sometime "They" would just go ahead and remove him. It would be over. His wife passed away five years ago. His daughter has had a breakdown caused by the job. The daughter he now wishes had not gotten into the 'business' with him. He should have insisted that she not join him here

Now he is faced with the loss of his girl to the what the old timers have named the "Hotel California". That is what it's called by the employees of the company. It is a treatment facility where agents are taken when they burn out. It's called that because you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.

To add to his misery now he is told they are coming to get her and her sister. They are under the assumption that Kate is some how involved in Andrea's breakdown. They think that these two are twins and are acting in unison. They are a team. He has not been able to convince them that Kate Beckett is not connected to Andrea. The higher ups in the company think that Andrea kept her twin a secret and she probably is an agent of a foreign power.

He cannot get anyone to understand that Kate is not involved in any covert activity. Kate is too high profile. Covert agents do not have their picture made and published in the newspapers and on television. Covert operatives do not hang out with famous mystery writers. Secret agents do not go to Las Vegas and get married with television crews around. Undercover agents are not New York Police detectives.

But those above him will not be convinced otherwise. They plan to come and get Kate and Andrea

Alexander Richardson cannot let this happen. He cannot let them have his daughter. His only child. He cannot let them have his daughter in law either. The only child of Jim Beckett. And now his son's bride and love of his life.

He devises a plan with the help of Richard Castle. When the cleaning team arrives tomorrow, he will have a surprise waiting for them.

Richardson specifically told his superiors that he would supervise the operation and to have the team check in with him. When they arrive, Castle, Beckett and her two detective partners will all be waiting. Richardson will introduce the group and tell them that they will not be taking Beckett anywhere because if they do, they will have to take Castle, Ryan, Esposito and Richardson as well. There will be too many people involved for them to be able to keep it quiet. There will be a video stream being sent to a secure location where it is being recorded. But more importantly there has been an electronic file placed in the hands of someone who will release it to the media if anything happens to any one of them. The file has details of several operations that Richardson has been involved in over the last three decades culminating with the disaster of the mental control software. The software that did bring out the monsters from the ID.

He has told Castle that they will meet at The Old Haunt and finalize the plans

He locks his computer workstation, turns off the light in his office and walks out closing the door. As he passes the reception desk outside he speaks to the lady sitting there "Beth I am leaving for the day. I will be back tomorrow. I am expecting visitors from corporate in the morning so I will be here early"

"Very well Mr. Richardson. I will see you tomorrow"

He steps out into the hall, closes the corridor door, and walks toward the elevator. When the elevator doors open there are two very large men standing in the cab. The larger of the two speaks up "Mr. Richardson, we are from corporate headquarters. We understand there is a housecleaning problem in your office. We are here to take out the trash"

Why are they here now? It's too early

He's not ready for them right now

The front door of the bar opens and in walks a tall, long legged, very attractive woman. She has long flowing auburn hair. Haunting green eyes. Smooth olive complexion and a face that can light up any room.

Every man in the bar notices this lady the moment she enters the door.

The bartender looks up and greets the woman. "Welcome to TJ's Tavern Can I help you with something?"

The woman smiles back while scanning the patrons in the bar. "I'm looking for someone"

"Aren't we all? Maybe I can help you. Anyone in particular?"

"No. I don't see her right now. I'll just wait here at the bar until she arrives"

"She? OH! I understand. Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"Just sparking water thank you" The woman finds an empty stool where she can keep an eye on the front door.

When the bartender sets her water down, he comments "This one is from the man at the other end of the bar" pointing toward the far side of the counter top

She looks down then across the countertop to the bartender "Tell him, Thanks, but no thanks. And if anyone else offers, please tell them no. I am not interested."

"Yes Mam!"

A few minutes later the door opens from the street and in walks another woman. This time there are some audible whistles heard from the patrons. The woman on the bar stool stands up and the two walk to the back and step into a private booth.

The bartender is stunned. There are now two gorgeous women in his bar. Two women with identical features. Same hair. Same eyes. Same height. Identical twins he assumes. Both women are ravishing. Every man in the place is mesmerized.

"Hello Angie, how are you?" the first woman asks of the most recent arrival

""Very well Andrea. I assume there is a problem we need to deal with?"

"Oh yes. There seems to be another one of us"

"Another? A triplet?"

"No. One who looks almost exactly like you and I though. I think she may be another sister."

"Who is it?"

"Her name is Beckett, Katherine Beckett. Actually she got married. Her last name is now Castle"

"Is this the New York cop who is the model for the Nikki Heat character? I've heard the name"

"One in the Same. I was in Las Vegas last week and I saw her at a book signing party for the writer, Richard Castle and I thought this is crazy. Here is another one of you and me. Then I find out that my adopted dad is really Richard Castle's real father."

"So he really does have a natural child? Have you ever confronted him about you being adopted?"

"No this is just one more lie that he told to me. Along with all the other things that I have had to love with I just never felt like confronting him about that"

"So Andrea, what do you have in mind?"

"I'm ready to end it all. I told the therapist I wanted to die."

"Wow, what did he say about that?"

"Of course he said he could not help me kill myself. I told him I wanted to disappear. So that's what I am going to do. Want to join me?"

"Sure. How are you going to accomplish this?"

"Oh! With the help of Kate Beckett. She just doesn't know it yet"

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