Title: Castle – Star Witness

Summary: While still struggling to come to terms with the assassination attempt on her life, Detective Kate Beckett is challenged to reassess her life and discover some stability. A/U.

Pairings: Kate Beckett & OFC; Richard Castle & OFC; Javier Esposito & Lanie Parish; Kevin Ryan & Jenny O'Malley. This is not a Caskett story.

Rating: MA for Mature readers 15+.

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction that has been constructed using characters from a television series and a few original ones to add to the story. No profit is gained and no copyright infringement is intended to creator Andrew W. Marlowe or Production Companies ABC Studies, Beacon Pictures, Experimental Pictures and Milmar Pictures.

WARNING: This tale features consensual sexual interaction between two females. If this is not to your liking, please wait at the next bus stop and ride to another site.

A/N: Please take the time to review and nourish the Muse. Thank you for the reviews, follows and favourites. This is a short chapter.

Chapter Four

Friday 28th October, 2011.

Kate Beckett exited the lift at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and was pleasantly surprised to see Torri headed her way. She was more than shocked with her heartbeat increase when the brunette looked at her and smiled.

"This is a nice surprise Detective Beckett. Are you here for trial prepping too?"

"I am and I gather you have just finished."

"I have, but it may have been a waste of time."

"Pardon?"

"Trevor received a phone call from Hillary's attorney as I was leaving his office and I have a feeling Robards was looking for a plea bargain for his client."

"I guess I'm about to find out."

"No doubt and it was good to see you again."

"Yeah, I'll see you on Monday."

"You will, goodbye."

Walking down the corridor, Beckett knocked on Trevor's open door and stepped inside the room.

Getting up from his chair, the ADA strolled over towards her, "Good morning Kate, I have good news."

"You've struck a deal with Hillary."

"You must have run into Torri?"

"I did and I hope it's an adequate deal."

"It is; life with no possibility of parole."

"That will do."

"Allocution is scheduled for one o'clock Monday."

"Well this is a short visit, I'll see you then."

"See you Kate."

-o-

Beckett observed an ashen faced Hillary being led into the courtroom by officers and nodded when Esposito commented from his position beside her, "He's not so smug now."

Looking around the gallery, Beckett was disappointed not to see Torri amongst the large contingent of reporters.

Judge Madison entered the court and took up his seat behind the bench and Trevor stood. He outlined the Prosecution's case then presented the facts and evidence. He closed with the reminder that Hillary had been motivated by greed and he disposed of Sasha Allen because of his preconceived and unfounded notion she posed a threat to his scheme.

"Thank you Counsellor. Mister Robards, do you have anything you wish to add?"

Standing, Peter Robards, a slim blond, gestured for Hillary to get up, "No Your Honour. My client accepts the facts as true and pleads guilty to all charges. Mister Hillary wishes to address the court and make full admission."

"Proceed."

"Your Honour, I admit to plotting the commission of the act of deception by fraud. I signed cheques belonging to Sasha Allen and deposited the amounts into my own account. When she discovered what I had done and informed me she would advise Torri not to renew her recording contract, I felt my carefully constructed opportunity to receive an extra five million dollars, was in peril."

"Do you confess to systematically gaining Miss Allen's trust and making false allegations of theft?"

"I do Your Honour."

"Why didn't you simply disappear with the money you had already stolen?"

"I became enraged when I overheard her phone conversation with Torri. I was appalled when Sasha spoke about regretting her relationship with me and introducing me to Torri. Torri would have been mine once she signed the contract, but Sasha ruined it all by telling me in the hotel room that Torri was starting her own record label."

"Again I ask, why didn't you just walk away?"

"During the phone call, Sasha proclaimed her love for Torri and said she missed her. I couldn't have her speaking like that to the wonderful woman I worshipped. Sasha revealed her true nature and had to be taken care of before she poisoned Torri's mind."

"Is that all?"

"Yes Your Honour."

"Clive Richard Hillary, I accept your plea of guilty to twenty counts of forgery, one count of trespassing, one count of administering a stupefying drug, practicing law without a licence and one count of murder in the first degree. It is the ruling of this court that you be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. You will be transported to a secure facility nominated by the Department of Corrections. In closing, I wish to enter into the record that I find you to be a man without morals and your crimes committed due to your selfishness and conceited opinion of yourself. You are an abomination who thought nothing of the life you took in order to fulfil your own misguided needs. Officers, remove the prisoner from my courtroom. We are adjourned."

The public gallery emptied as journalists raced out and Beckett stood up and moved into the aisle. Esposito followed and Trevor turned around to face them.

"That was a good result Detectives," he happily remarked.

"Yo Beckett," began Esposito. "Did you know Sasha was gay?"

"She wasn't Espo."

"But Hillary implied she was in love with Torri."

"She was bi-sexual."

"Oh okay, that explains her involvement with him then."

"I expected to see Castle here," noted Trevor. "I didn't think he'd miss the photo opportunity."

Smirking, Beckett replied, "He's out with the flu."

"I see and I better get back to the office. I'll call you later Javier and organise trial prep for the Falls' case."

"You got it Counsellor."

-o-