A/N1: Hello peoples and WELCOME to the 28th Chapter of Absolution. I had tons of fun writing this chapter as it focuses more on Kate and the 12th's view of Castle's abduction. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enoyed writing it!
Thanks to Bella my badASS beta for being my sounding board and editor!
Rick let out a low groan as the pain in the back of his skull yanked him into consciousness. 'What's happening?' he groaned inwardly. 'Goooood, my heaaaaaaaad!'
"Come now, Mr Castle. Wakey wakey," the drawling and vaguely familiar voice said. "It's impolite for the guest of honour to not to join the party."
Rick blinked several times and eventually his blurry vision fell upon Peter Hargraves, the first Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department. His eyes snapped open in shock and horror at finally having his long held suspicions confirmed and he made to respond but totally forgetting about the gag and retching violently his chest, heaving and the restraints cutting painfully into his ankles and wrists.
'This is a nightmare' he thought. 'God where am I, uuugh!'
"Whyryudoinths?" he managed to get out. "Ngh"
Hargraves laughed manically. "Sorry didn't quite catch that," he shared sarcastically, cupping a hand behind his left ear. "Didn't your mother teach you not to talk with your mouth full?"
"Asssssssssshhhle," the writer groaned, struggling against his restraints.
Rick's whole face exploded in pain as Hargraves clenched his fist and brought it down crashing his knuckles into the Writer's jaw. He felt something crack and a secondary pain shot through his face.
"Swearing isn't nice either, tsk tsk language," Hargraves. "Now are you going to behave yourself if I take your gag off?"
Rick shot the other man a deep look of disgust and tried to tell him in his gaze the words forming on the tip of his tongue.
"Fg yuuuuuuuuu," he groaned once again fighting against his restraints.
"Obviously not, well you can sit there and suffer for the time being I need to make some phone calls."
Rick could only groan.
Kate arrived back at the 12th precinct building shortly before eleven thirty PM and headed straight up to the Homicide Department. Usually at this time of night the bullpen was empty, but since Rick's disappearance it had come alive and was now packed with FBI Special Agents all assigned a specific task in the task of tracking their colleague down.
"Kate, this is Chris Parnell. One of my right hand men in this investigation," Frank said to Kate introducing the agent to the brunette. "Chris's speciality is telecommunications and overseas the team that put the trace on Rick's phones and the phones of our suspects."
"Hi nice to meet you," Kate said to the older agent shaking his hand politely. "Thanks for all your work it means a lot."
"No problem detective."
"And this is David Woodson, his speciality is computer technology and criminal profiling and has been overseeing the team tracking the online communication between Rick and out suspects and has done the majority of our stakeouts."
"Good to meet you detective, I've heard a lot about you from Ricky," the agent shared with a smile as he shook Kate's hand firmly. "He's your personal cheer squad."
Kate rolled her eyes. "He does tend to go on about a lot of things and when I find him I'm going to twist his ear," she replied dryly. "He's got to learn to zip it."
"Ah, he's just enamoured with his girl, Detective," Woodson replied with a chuckle. "I'm the same with my wife."
"Uh Detective, sorry to interrupt but could I have your cell phone?" Parnell asked. "My team need to put a trace on it. I'll return it once we're done."
"Sure, here you go," Kate answered, retrieving her iPhone from her jeans pocket and holding it out to the special agent. "No messing with my Angry Birds scores, I worked hard on those."
The federal agent chuckled heartily. "Noted, no messing with Angry Birds, check," he said with a grin.
"Alright, let's bring you up to speed," Frank said to Kate. "Head into the break room and I'll be by in a minute."
Kate made her way into the break room and sat down on her favourite chair and waited til Frank, Ryan, Esposito and Gates returned each carrying bulging files documenting their investigation. Esposito dropped his files down on the table and immediately drew the blinds and shut all the doors.
"Alright, take me from the beginning," Kate said reaching for the thick file labelled 'Richard Rodgers S.A FBI'. "Don't leave anything out and don't under any circumstances spare my feelings. I want to know everything about this case. Don't snow me with bullshit. Treat me like I'm an independent detective with no personal connection to this case. Don't be afraid to upset me and don't treat me with kid gloves got it?"
"Got it," came the reply.
"Alright start from the beginning," Kate instructed the group as she flipped open to the first page of Rick's file. "Take me from when Rick first came to you."
"I'll let Kevin and Javier tell that story. I didn't come in til a few weeks ago," Frank replied.
"Okay boys, shoot." Kate said.
"Castle came to us that day you went and saw your real estate agent abouwd leasing out your apartment," Ryan began. "He told uz to meet him at the Old Haunt the following night. We met him there and for five hours explained to us what he's been doing since he first looked at the official NYPD files of your Mom's case back in '09. He showed us the copies of those files he'd made and bits and pieces he had collected from his own research and investigation..."
"He told uz about this mysterious Mr Smith who had periodically been in contagt with him since just before Montgomery's funeral last year telling him he had to keep you off your Mom's case for your own safety," Esposito continued. "This Mr Smith had never given him direct concrete information to put him on the path of the person who ordered the hit on your Mom, but gave him subtle hints of which direction to head in. This came to a head three months ago when this Mr Smith called him and asked him to meet him where they had met before after the Laura Cambridge homicide and at this meting Mr Smith gave him a file which is labelled with blue stickers..."
Kate flicked forward the file and came to the file Esposito was speaking about.
"Go on," She urged.
"This file contains the papers missing from your Mom's NYPD case file and official autopsy report from the Medical Examiner working the case for the thirty fourth precinct the night your Mom died," Esposito continued. "Kevin and I have compared it to the one left in the archive box and found at least two dozen anomalies, leading us to believe another report from a totally different case was used. We're still trying to track down the M.E listed on the report but the name doesn't exist in any databases. FBI, NYPD nothing, so we're convinced some mystery person working in the coroner's office that night covered it up whether it is the M.E itself or someone in admin."
"But what really interested us is the warehouse fire in October '01," Kevin said jumping in. "You know the warehouse fire in Jersey that the NYPD kept a lot of its archives and where your Mom's files were supposed to be kept..."
"I know of the case...go on."
"Well the attending fire chief was a Nic Warrington, a veteran of the first Gulf War and a receiver of countless service medals etcetera. He was listed on the case report as the supervising officer but Chris and David has personally interviewed him and he's given a sworn statement that he didn't attend that particular scene as he wasn't rostered on that night another warden Rod Halstead was."
"That name's familiar," Kate revealed. "Castle and I went to his station after I came back from sick leave."
"That's what he told us" Ryan said taking over. "This Nic Warrington was listed as the Chief attending officer at three more fires in March, August and December '02 in apartment buildings where several prostitutes who worked the Washington Heights beat lived. In two of those fires the March and December ones, two children belonging to two of the prostitutes died. Nic Warrington swears in an affidavit he wasn't on duty those nights and has said Rod Halstead was. Chris and David interviewed Halstead himself and they said his reaction was highly suspicious. He got rather angry when they pressed him for information and he has signed an official affidavit saying it was Nic Warrington on duty that night."
"So who do you think is lying?" Kate asked tucking a bang of hair behind her ear.
"Halstead without a doubt," Esposito replied at once. "Chris and David and their team interviewed Warrington's wife and best friend and they both said in a statement that he was never on duty on those days. Warrington has kept everything work related from his time in the FDNY and he has his work rosters from that time and he definitely wasn't on duty."
"So did you arrest Halstead for falsifying official reports?" Kate asked Frank as she flipped through the file in front of her. "Two kids died..."
"No because all the other officers on duty that night have sworn Nic Warrington was the attending chief and one officers word against seven other 'eyewitnesses' isn't enough to get a warrant," Frank replied, making quotation marks with his fingers. "Though it's David and Chris's opinion those officers have been 'got at' and have been forced to keep quiet. They're trying to get at least one of them to speak but they're all tight as clams."
"So how do you think Rod Halstead is involved with my mother's murder?" Kate asked.
"Directly, he has nothing to do with it, that much we're sure of," Frank replied. "We think he's part of a conspiracy to cover up a massive drug and prostitution ring based out of Washington Heights. Those apartment fires where the children of two prostitutes that worked the area died? We think the person who ordered the hit on your Mom or the Dragon as everyone seems to be addressing him heads it up and got one of his lackeys to set those fires and your Mom discovered this and that is why she was killed. I've personally interviewed the mothers of those children and their workmates and they both speak of 'The Dragon' who controls the drug and prostitution scene in Washing Heights and the greater Manhattan area and doesn't hesitate to kill anyone who gets in his way."
"And let me guess, none of them know who he is," Kate said dryly as her eyes flew over the writing in front of her.
"Well that's what they say," Frank answered. "One woman Shanya Peterson not one of the mothers who works the area where your Mom was found, knows who the dragon is and she let slip that she witnessed her murder and knows who ordered the hit but nothing, not even FBI witness protection for her and her kids would get her to open her mouth."
Kate let out a frustrated groan. "So we're there...just there on the point of finding out who this person is and...god that's frustrating!"
"You're not kidding," Ryan and Esposito chorused.
There was a long silence as the rest of the group allowed Kate to read the files in front of her.
"I want to go and see this Shanya Peterson," the brunette said after a moment of contemplation. "I-"
Immediately Frank, Gates, Ryan and Esposito voiced their opposition.
"No way!" Esposito exclaimed loudly. "Kade, these people are owd to kill you. They've already knogged off at least a dozen people through various methods and two kids. If they're willing to kill two kids they won't hesitate to trying to knog you off again. We're not going to let you walk into the crosshairs again."
"Javi, the crosshairs have been on my back since I entered the service. It doesn't matter what I do, whoever the dragon is, is still going to make a play for me. I may as well go out and do what I can," Kate told her friend. "You four brought me back into the fold because you thought I could do something, let me do it or take me back to Dad's right this instant. You want me to help find Rick and I think questioning this Shanya Peterson will help. If I don't get help doing it, I'll go and do it on my own. You back me up or back off."
"W-ell a-alrighd," the Latino detective capitulated, flopping back in his chair.
"Besides it might help this woman if she's questioned by someone that has a personal connection with the case and someone that's not a man. I mean has she ever been questioned by a female special agent?" Kate asked turning to look at Frank.
"No. she hasn't." The federal agent replied.
"Well do you have any female special agents you feel are up to being my 'protective detail?" Kate asked, hooking her fingers in the air. "I've noticed a few out there," she added jerking her head in the direction of the bullpen.
"I know of one in particular, but I'd have to bring her in from Washington," Frank replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Well ring her now and get her on the red eye, because I want to move first thing in the morning." Kate instructed the agent.
"Kate, are you sure this is a good idea?" Gates asked gently as Frank whipped his cell phone out and began making a call. "The Dra-"
"Sir, I know the Dragon wants to kill me, they always have and will continue to do so whether I sit on my ass or not," Kate told her boss. "I may as well do what I can to help things a long a bit. And they have my man, I'll be dammed if I'm going to sit on my ass and let him take Rick away from me. I've waited years to find him and I'm not letting him go without a fight. Screw the Dragon, if he wants a war he's damn well got one."
Gates smiled. "I like your attitude," she said. "But I will admit I'm still not entirely comfortable with you taking such an active role."
"Come with me when I talk to Shayna Peterson then," Kate invited. "I know you and it would be good to have someone along who's been on the case for longer than I have."
"Alright then."
"Okay, see you at JFK tomorrow morning."
"So what's happening?" Kate asked Frank.
"The Agent I was telling you about will be here no later than eight in the morning," the federal agent replied. "She's going to get on the first flight out of Washington and is packing to go now. She'd drive but can't get anyone at this hour to mind her kids. Her husband is off on a special project himself."
"Great, so now what?"
"Read the files," Frank instructed. "Read them in chronological order and you should come to the same conclusion we all have. It'll take a couple of hours I ought to warn you."
"I don't care if doing all this is going to help me find Rick, I'll do it," Kate vowed. "Right now he's my biggest worry. I want to find him over who ordered the hit on my Mom."
"Hopefully one will lead to the other, Chica," Esposito told his friend as the rest of the group pushed their chairs back and got to their feet. "Kevin and I will keep you fed and pumped up with caffeine alright? Just give the word."
"Thanks a lot Javi, really thanks," Kate said reaching out and grasping her friend's hand giving it a squeeze. "You're the best friend a girl could have, you and Kevin are."
"Anytime Chica."
Kate remained in the break room til the early hours of the morning furiously reading the file Rick, Ryan, Esposito, Gates and Frank's team had put together. It was the most comprehensive report of a law enforcement nature she'd ever encountered and she devoured the information within like every new book of Rick's. Her eyes barely left the pages and she only took breaks to go to the bathroom or consume a snack brought to her by Ryan or Esposito. Finally though at four thirty in the morning she turned the last page, took in the very last piece of evidence and promptly burst into tears.
Esposito who had come in to keep his friend company immediately rushed to her side and enveloped her in a hug. "Hey, what's up Chica?" he soothed as the female detective cried her eyes out violently hiccupping into her friend's shoulder. "This isn't like you."
"I-I-I-I'm s-so sc-cared Jav-Javi," Kate choked out. "R-Rick and I-I h-had j-just st-tarted b-being tru-ly h-happy t-t-ogether the'n this h-happensssss! I-I've already l-lost Mom and R-Roy if-f h-he d-dies it's g-going to k-kill meeeeeeeeeee!"
And with that the brunette totally broke down, her whole body wracked with the grief she had been suppressing for the last thirteen years. Esposito wrapped his arms around her and held her fast providing the companionship of a good friend by allowing her to purge all her feelings.
For several long minutes Kate cried clutching at Esposito's shirt.
"I just need him J-Javi," Kate squeaked with a hiccup. "God, I w-was so w-wrong to b-be m-mad at him like that. It was ob-vious h-he only d-did all thi-s b-because he l-loves me."
"Hindsight is twendy twendy, Kade. You can't change it," Esposito said, pulling a box of tissues across the table and giving them to the brunette. "He felt rodden for keeping you in the dark. He really did."
"He can't have felt as bad as I do for slapping him and punching you and Kevin," Kate replied with a small hiccup as she blew her nose loudly. "Dad was so mad at me when he found that out and I've felt horrible about it ever since. I so wanted to ring you and Kevin afterwards and apologise but I was too embarrassed."
"That's alright Chica, we know you didn't do id on purpose." Esposito said with a grin.
"Thanks, but I'm really really sorry. I can't say that enough."
"I know that don't swed id," Esposito told his friend with a grin. "Kevin and I should have known bedder than to grab your arms when your concentration was on something else."
"You're a good friend Javi, really you are," Kate told her friend. "When this whole mess is over and done with I'm finding a way to pay you boys back. I'll pay off your mortgage, buy you a new car pay for that wolf tattoo you've been going on about since I met you."
Esposito laughed. "My mortgage is paid off, insurance paid for a new car and if I was going to get that tattoo. I would have by now," he said with a chuckle. "If you really feel the need to 'repay us' take us out to a fancy restaurant or pay for our drinks at the next karaoke night Writer Boy has at the Old Haunt."
"Javi, he lets you and Kevin have freebies that wouldn't work," Kate reminded her friend with a watery chuckle. "But dinner it is let's just find Rick first huh? Nothing before."
"You got it, Chica."
Rick had been drifting in an out of consciousness for hours. He was pulled back into consciousness by someone, his captor roughly ripping off his gag in the process knocking out one of his teeth and causing more blood to pour from his head.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGH!" he bellowed. "What the fuck are you doing?"
Once again Hargraves clenched his fist and pounded it into the Writer's jaw. Again, and louder this time something in the Writer's jaw snapped and a pain that made his eyes water and nose run exploded threatening to pull him into unconsciousness. Instinctively the writer went to cradle his face with his hands and found he had been unbound.
"You're a fucking psychopath," he groaned, grabbing at his face. "Jesus Christ, why are you doing this?"
"Because it's time to wake uuuuuuuuuuuuuup!" Hargraves declared with a grin. "We're expecting a visitor you see and it's rude to sleep in the middle of a party."
"Seriously, you have a screw loose," Rick moaned taking a change to flex his jaw and instantly regretting it as a crunchy pain shot up his face. "You've broken my jaw you asshole!"
"You're lucky I haven't put a fucking bullet in your skull," Hargraves spat. "But that regrettably is a privilege reserved solely reserved for my employer."
Rick rolled his eyes and that simple action caused a fresh wave of pain to wash over him.
"Does Robinson always require his brown noses to call him 'the Employer'?' he asked sarcastically spitting a mouthful of blood onto the cement floor. "Is it his version of 'your Majesty'?"
"You dare-" Hargraves began.
"Yeah, I dare you jumped up piece of shit," Rick said. "Why don't you stand up and be your own man? Or did Robinson pick you because as a deputy commissioner you're used to licking the boots of your superiors?"
Hargraves didn't bother with his fist this time he brought his food back and sank hit toe into the Writer's ribcage. The onset of pain was excruciating and literally knocked the breath out of him and he snapped into the foetal position opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish in an effort to breathe.
"You'll n-ever w-win," he managed to get out. "Too many people k-know who you arrrrrrrrrrrr' you c-can't kill them alllllllll."
Hargraves got down on his hands and knees and looked into the Writer's face. "Watch us," he snarled.
"Has anyone tried ringing Rick lately?" Kate asked hours later just as the sun began to rise.
"No, not since last nighd," Esposito replied. "Kevin and I tried. It rang but eventually went to voicemail."
"I'm going to get you to try once Frank gets back from JFK," Woodson informed the female detective. "If his phone is on, we can track the GPS on it, provided the tracking app is turned on."
"No one's tried tracking it before now?" Kate exclaimed loudly. "His phone is on and we would have found him by now! Jesus!"
"Kate, we have tried tracking it down but the signal keeps bouncing off two dozen different cell towers all in a two hundred mile radius of the precinct," Woodson informed the agitated detective. "That should not be happening. I'm hoping if you ring and he picks up or someone picks up, the signal might go to a more specific tower. You know full well I can't send enough people out to investigate the area around those cell towers. One there are not enough people here to undertake such a monstrous job and two Frank wouldn't allow it anyway. We have to be practical and sensible if we're to bring Rick back you know we do."
"Kate, maybe you should go bag to your Dad's for a while you loog exhausted," Ryan said to his friend gently. "You need to rest."
"No Kevin, what I need to do is find my partner," Kate snapped. "If Javi was missing you wouldn't put up with me telling you to 'go home and rest' would you?"
"W-well no-no I wouldn't," Ryan conceded. "Bud-"
"No buts, I'm going til I drop Kevin I don't care what you, Gates, Javi or Frank say. I want to get my man back and no one is getting in my way."
Ryan gave a little smile. "I can't say I'm surprised to hear you say that," he said tiredly. "I want to find our boy too Kade but I'm dead on my feed. I've been up for thirty six hours."
"Then go home Kevin, get some sleep."
"No," the Irish detective said firmly. "Like with Javi, you and Castle are my pardners 'til the wheels fall off' okay?"
Kate just smiled. She was so lucky to have friends like Kevin and Javi.
"Okay," she echoed.
Eventually exhaustion overcame Kate and she went into the break room and lay down on the couch, quickly falling into a deep sleep. She awoke seemingly hours later when she felt someone grasp her shoulder and shake it.
"Kade, you gotta wake up Chica, It's time to move," Esposito's voice urged pushing through her cloud of semi consciousness. "Everyone's here now and we need you to plan our next move."
"Ngh g'way Javi," Kate groaned, snuggling into the cushion and the rug someone had put over her during her slumber. "M'sleepy."
"Kade, Frank's back from JFK and he's got that agent with him, and you know her. We all know her."
The female detective rolled over and opened her eyes a crack. "We do?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Yeah, come on she's in Victoria's office going over the notes, I went over to Angelo's and got you a coffee," Esposito said, holding out a steaming cup of her favourite brew. "This is it girl, shit just got serious."
Kate pulled herself to a sitting position and took the coffee from her friend immediately gulping down a mouthful of the fortifying liquid. "Thanks Javi," she murmured. "What time is it?"
"Eleven thirty."
"AM?" Kate shrilled. "Javi, we could have gone out hours ago and-"
"Kade, you needed the rest and I had good reason not to wake you before now," Esposito explained patiently. "Frank and his team needed to formulate a plan, you don't think we're going to led you go out there on your own do you? Wait til you hear it. It's totally badass Castle would so be into this."
The grin on her friend's face lifted Kate's annoyance at him letting her sleep in and she couldn't help but smile herself.
"Alright...let's do this," she said, totally throwing off the blanket and cracking her spine. "I want to find my man."
"I think once we find our boy you're going to need some alone time with him," Esposito teased. "You don't want an audience when you start making babies."
Kate rolled her eyes and playfully clipped her best friend around the ear. "Shut up," she scolded. "Rick and I aren't at the making babies stage yet, Javi. We'll let you know when we are though if you like."
The Latino detective made a face. "Nah thanks, I love you guys but I don't need that sort of detail," he countered with a chuckle. "C'mon, time to see this Special Agent."
Kate took another sip of her coffee then followed Esposito from the break room and next door to Gate's spacious office. The normally quiet and reserved office was a hive of activity and of all the faces in there Kate had become acquainted with over the past few weeks on, albeit a new one stood out.
"Jordan Shaw?" she exclaimed incredulously. "This is your 'agent from Washington'?" she added to Frank.
"Yup," the older man replied.
"Hey Kate, good to see you again," Shaw said brightly. "Wish it was under better circumstances."
"Exactly," Kate answered, still slightly surprised and overwhelmed by the female special Agent's presence. "I had no idea you were the Agent Frank was speaking about last night. Have you two worked together long?"
"Oh yeah, on and off since I joined the service," Shaw replied cheerfully. "I've always worked the ViCap program though I came through the academy before Rick and was stationed to the department in Los Angeles while he came in after me and went straight to Washington then New York. Though I only found this out this morning. I had no idea he had been with the feds."
"Well now you do," Kate said dryly. "I had no idea til ten days ago either. I knew he had worked for the FBI but didn't know he had been and actual Special Agent."
"Well we're all learning new things Frank, Chris and David have been filling me in about the whole case , how are you doing?" the auburn haired Special Agent asked in concern.
"Oh I've felt better," Kate admitted with a tired sigh. "Sucks not having Castle around and the thing iswhile we suspect who has him and why they have him we've got no solid proof as to who and where. Not yet anyway. And the longer that goes on the more likely it looks like yet another person in this damn case is going to bite the dust."
"Hey that's nod going to happen," Ryan declared loudly from the other side of the room where he was going over some notes with Woodson. "We're on the ball Kade, none of this negadividy shid alright? Not until we have something to be negadive about."
"I agree wholeheartedly," Shaw concurred. "I'm here to help find your man and my fellow agent Kate and I don't back down from a case, to hell with the consequences. We go and question this Shanya Peterson with Victoria and go on from there while Frank works on getting a warrant from the DA's office."
"A warrant for what?" Kate enquired curiously.
"To search Hargraves home for a burner cell," Frank revealed. "Over the last week the calls we had traced from his office phone to that unidentifiable burner cell have stopped totally not one call. In fact the rates of calls to cell phone's period have been cut by a third. I'm not wholly confident about getting one but it's worth a try."
"Would it be worth trying to get a warrant for his private cell?" Kate inquired.
"Yes and I'm going to try for one of those too, I think personally it'll raise less suspicion if we can get his private cell records." Frank replied. "Chris and his team only need to have his cell for ten minutes to clone it, and then we can put a twenty four hour trace on it. There's been nothing on his office phone that's worth investigating and it's Chris' opinion he's using his private cell to communicate with the Dragon."
"What about Rod Halstead?" Kate asked. "Can we get a trace for his phone records?"
"I plan to but as we discussed last night I only think Halstead is a cover up job with no big long term involvement of your Mom's case." Frank replied. "Our main priority is to find Ricky and you questioning his Shanya Peterson are the first step and priority at the moment."
"Okay so where are we going with this?" Kate asked.
"Okay, Chris and his team are going to fit you, Agent Shaw and Victoria with listening devices so they can hear your entire conversation then we're going to Shanya Peterson's home in a three vehicle convoy me and Ryan and Esposito in one car, you, Agent Shaw and Victoria in the second and Agent Parnell and his team monitoring the conversation in a van bringing up the rear. You, Agent Shaw and Victoria will have full communication with myself, and Agent Parnell and you must at the first word vacate the area if we give you the say so alright? The minute things go awry you are outta there understood?"
Kate made a face but acquiesced to the senior agent's request. "Understood," she repeated. "Assuming things don't hit the fan what next?"
"That depends totally on what sort of information if any we get out of Shanya Peterson," Frank answered. "I've seen you in action with questioning witnesses and Ryan and Esposito concur you have a knack for getting the most unwilling of witnesses to spill what they know about a case so I want you to try and get Shanya Peterson to tell you everything she knows about The Dragon and that anything she volunteered gets her and her kids an open invitation to the FBI Witness Protection program alright? I want you to stress that. I want to know anything and everything about this bastard and why he has Ricky and where he's got him. If she tells us the name of his dog she gets into witness protection got it?"
"Got it," Kate parroted. "Are we going with vests?"
"Yes," Frank answered at once. "Everyone in this team is going to be wearing one. I don't want to take any chances, especially with you. These people have got trained snipers on their team and I don't want to lose anyone. Enough people have bitten the dust already since this whole mess started I don't want to lose anyone on my watch."
Within half an hour Agent Shaw, Kate and Gates were fitted out with a listening device and had their vests on ready to depart for Washington Heights. Esposito noticed the look of apprehension on the female detective's face and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Hey, we've god this," he said with a smile giving her a playful nudge with his elbow. "We've god your back and we will find Castle and get the son of a bitch who ordered the hit on your Mom alright? Don't swed it."
Despite her own reservations Kate couldn't help but feel lifted by her friend's optimism. "Thanks Javi," she said squeezing his hand back.
"Alright team, this is it!" Frank announced once the group had gathered in the basement parking garage. "Let's move Kate Ryan, Esposito and I will lead you. Agent Shaw and Victoria go next and Chris and his team will bring up the rear in the van. Don't break ranks and keep in radio contact at all times...understood?"
There was a collective murmur of agreement from the group. "Let's do this!"
Kate grasped the keys for the Crown Vic and with Shaw and Gates on either side of her strode toward the gleaming black vehicle the symbol and almost the definition of her and Rick's partnership at the precinct her chest full of determination.
It was time to go and get her man.
A/N2" There you go Christina it was before the end of the week...lol! Remember reviews feed the best! MWAH!