PART FOUR

JOAN OF NEW YORK

X-X-X-X-X

The next day finds Joan and Det. Beckett in the interview room at the precinct. Cousins Frank Unger and Angelo Morton are there, waiting nervously for word on their impending extradition to Maryland to face criminal charges in that state.

Unger asks, "Hey, aren't we suppose to wait for our lawyer?"

Joan replies, "We would if we were going to question you about your criminal behavior. Currently you are each facing felony counts of obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact of vehicular homicide. Because of your co-operation in solving the Paul Oaklyn case, you are looking at minimum prison time for those crimes…"

Morton protests, "Felonies? For what? It's not like we ran down that old lady."

Beckett responds, "You helped cover up a murder. What did you think would happen when you got caught? You're lucky to have this deal on the table."

Joan says, "Actually, there may be a way to remove those felonies and settle for say…a misdemeanor charge of interferring with a police investigation. Probation and a fine with no jail time. Interested?"

Before the cousins can respond Beckett snaps, "Ms. Girardi, what the hell? I don't know how things are done in Arcadia…"

"Yeah, this goes way outside the norm, but Alexis is waiting at your desk for me and after she drops me off back at her place, she plans to hook up with Lord Redfield. Familiar with the name?"

"Castle has kept me up dated on his daughter's romance with the English baron. What's that got to do with anything?"

"Alexis is in danger, and I believe Mr. Castle's life is also at risk. Time is short and I have to go for a hail Mary pass if I'm to keep everyone alive. You and I need to have a word in private."

Beckett stares at Joan Girardi wondering if this young woman is insane, or if there really is something to what she is babbling about. "The conference room."

The two women rise to leave but Unger calls out, "What about us?"

Joan smiles. "Be patient boys, we'll be right back. And don't worry, you're going to be earning those reduced sentences."

X-X-X-X-X

Alexis Castle enters her home and slams the door behind her. Martha enters from the kitchen and sees her granddaughter in tears, utterly devastated.

"Alexis, darling, what's wrong?"

Alexis begins to sob and Martha takes her into her arms. "Sweetheart, tell me."

"Oh Gram, it's just awful…"

"Alexis, where's Joan? Did something happen to her? The baby…?"

To Martha's dismay, Alexis' sobbing increases. She leads her granddaughter over to the couch, but she is unable to get any sense out of the tearful teenager who continues to sob on and on. At that moment Rick Castle enters the apartment with a cheerful smile on his face…

"I'm home. You should have seen the artwork my publisher came up with for the next Nikki… Alexis?"

Castle rushes to the couch and takes his sobbing daughter into his arms. He tries to get a response, but the crying continues. He turns to Martha…

"Mother, what's going on?"

"I don't know. Alexis came home in tears a few minutes ago and I haven't been able to get the reason out of her. Joan isn't with her, and Alexis was taking her to that specialist…"

"Alexis, did anything happen to Joan? Where is she?"

"I'm not sure. She said something about going back to her original hotel, but I don't care. I hate her! She's ruined everything. I wish I had never met Joan Girardi!"

For a beat Rick and Martha stare at each other in surprise. Castle asks, "What happened? This morning when you left to take Joan to the doctor, and then to the precinct, you were the best of friends. What could have changed that so quickly?"

"Oh Dad, it was one of the most horrible moments of my life. Joan asked to see me privately in the conference room. Kate was there too, although I can't imagine why Joan wanted a witness to my humiliation!"

"Humiliation?"

"Joan told me the most bizarre story. The last semester break of law school before her graduation, Joan got an opportunity to travel to England for a brief vacation. Joan's husband couldn't come, but he encouraged her to go and have a good time. Yeah, 'good time' is right. While she was in London, Joan met William! Dad, she said they had a brief fling even though he knew she was a married woman and…and, he's the true father of her child!"

Martha and Castle go silent, stunned. Several beats go by before Martha responds, "This can't be true. The girl must be making all of this up, but I can't imagine why."

Castle says, "Actually, if you do the math, the timing works out. Still, the co-incidences here seem too much to believe."

Alexis shakes her head. "Joan…had proof. Photos of her and William out on the town, dancing, drinking, going to parties. She said she was ashamed of her behavior, but when William flirted with her and persued her, she wasn't able to resist his…charm! Later, when she returned home and found out she was pregnant, Joan realized by the timing the baby's father had to be William. She wrote to him to tell him the news, but got back a nasty letter from his solicitor to never approach him again or he would sue. She showed me the letter…"

Martha says, "And just by co-incidence Joan showed up in New York and met you while Lord Redfield was in town? Oh please…"

Alexis shakes her head. "Joan said none of this was co-incidence. She has kept track of William while hiding from her husband the truth about the baby. When she read in the London gossip columns that I was dating William, she thought about telling me then what he was like, but she didn't want to risk a scandal that might come back on her. When she read that William was following me to New York, she felt she had to do something. That's the real reason she took the assignment to come here even in her current condition. She wanted to see how William would react when they met again, and Joan wanted to see if…I was in love with William."

Castle asks, "And are you?"

"I…I thought I might be, but now I realize I completely misjudged 'Lord Redfield'! Last night in the hospital room, William pretended he didn't even know Joan even though it was clear she was trying to hide her hostility for him. I wondered why, thought maybe it was my imagination, but now I know the truth!"

Martha asks, "What did Redfield say when you confronted him with this?"

Alexis gives a brief, bitter laugh. "Haven't I had enough humiliation for one day? I'll never talk to that man again. I sent William a text telling him we were through because I knew the truth about him and Joan."

"You didn't give him a chance to defend himself, to explain or deny?" Martha says.

"What's there to deny? I saw the proof, and why would Joan lie to me? I guess…I should be 'grateful' I got the real story before it was too late. Before William and I…" Alexis' voice chokes off in more tears and she flees to her room while crying hard.

Martha and Castle watch the teenager go and then turn to each other with identical expressions of suspicion. Martha says, "This story is as fishy as a three dollar bill."

"Mixed metaphor, but I agree. I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

X-X-X-X-X

William Grayman, well known social leader amongst the younger set in London, would be unrecognizable to his many acquaintences as his face is contorted with an insane anger. That bitch! Who the hell is this Joan Girardi, and why did she decide to crap on his life? The why doesn't matter all that much - he will get it out of her after he has tortured her into a bloody mess. Redfield storms along in the parking garage where his rental car is stored, intent only on the violence he will do to this meddlesome crazy woman. Fortunately he remembers Alexis mentioning the original hotel Joan was staying at, and a quick call confirmed she is back there. In his mind, Redfield is already forming a plan...first, as soon as she opens the door, he will punch her unconscious before she can scream, then comes the gag, the ropes and the razor he will take to her face...

So intent is Redfield on his plan, he realizes too late he is not alone. He spins about and sees two men wearing identical ski masks and each carrying a baseball bat. Redfield backs away, silently cursing himself for carrying so much cash, and wondering just how far these muggers will go.

The first one snarls, "Got a message for you Redfield from Rick Castle: Stay away from his daughter!"

The two men take a step closer.

"Wait, wait...there must be some mistake. Mr. Castle never expressed an objection..."

The second man laughs. "Do you think he would in front of his kid? You ain't the first fortune hunter he's had us 'persuade' to move on."

Another step closer.

"But...this is unnecessary. Alexis has already broken up with me!"

The two men hesitate for a moment, exchanging glances.

"Ya think...?"

"Nah, it has to be a lie to save his hide."

"I can prove it. Here, look at my cell phone. I still have the break up text." Redfield says as he nervously offers his phone.

One of the masked men takes the phone and reads aloud, "'I know the truth. Joan's child is really yours. You disgust me, and I never want to see you again'!"

The other man chuckles. "Wow, no abbreviations or emoticons - she must have really been pissed with you."

Redfield catches the phone as it is tossed back to him. "Then you see, there's no reason to...to complete this job."

The two masked men again look at each other, considering their options.

"Technically, the job was to force him to go back to London."

"I'll be on the first flight back this evening, I swear!"

A brief hesitation before the two men shrug. "Easy money. Okay, 'Lord', back to England and never cross the path of the Castles again. If you do, me and my partner will take it as a professional and personal insult. Got it?"

"Yes. I see now I underestimated Richard Castle, but I should have suspected what kind of man he is by the type of books he writes. In many ways he and I are a lot alike, and I understand he means business. I'll keep my promise."

"See that you do."

The two men begin to walk away but Redfield calls after them, "How much do you get for a bash job like this?"

The men pause, looking back. "Why?"

"I might have some business for you."

"Five hundred apiece for a beating, as long as it's something simple."

"I have just over fifteen hundred in cash. There's someone I want taught a lesson, someone who crossed me, and since I'm leaving town..."

"Who?"

"A young woman named Joan Girardi. I can give you a detailed description and her hotel room number."

"Sounds okay, but why the extra money? We'd do it for a thousand."

"She's very pregnant. I understand that involves extra risk, so more money."

The two men pause to ponder. One says, "If we get caught hurting a pregnant woman..."

"Yeah, but the money sounds good. Okay Redfield, fifteen hundred and...that Rolex on your wrist."

Redfield doesn't hesitate to smile and nod. The watch is a fake, and he will have the satisfaction of revenge on Joan Girardi...

X-X-X-X-X

Castle's knock at the hotel room door is quickly answered, but he is stunned to see who opens it...

"Beckett? What are you doing here?"

"Hey Castle, the front desk told us that you had been by several times tonight. We just got back from the airport."

Castle follows Beckett into the hotel room and sees Joan resting on the bed, propped up by many pillows.

"Since when are you and Joan a 'we', and what were the two of you doing at the airport?"

"We were making sure William Grayman actually took a flight back to London. Hopefully, this is the last we have seen of Lord Redfield."

"No tears from me on that score, but speaking of tears...Alexis has been crying her eyes out over that man. Joan, why did you tell my daughter you were carrying Redfield's child? Unless...?"

"Hey...! Like I'd ever let that lunatic touch me." Joan says with a look of disgust on her face. "All of that 'evidence' I showed Alexis was fake - photoshopped pictures and forged documents."

"But why?"

Beckett offers Castle a file saying, "Read this. It's how Joan got me to co-operate with her scheme."

Castle sits in a chair and begins going through a very detailed report. Joan comments, "That information was gathered for me by an old friend who happens to have amazing hacking skills. Some of it came from public sources, but most required a little over-the-legal-line digging, so no names from me."

Castle glances through the pages, shaking his head in disbelief. "I see what you mean. Private bank statements, police reports, and secret information from a New York investigation company involving me...and Beckett?"

Kate hands Castle printouts of the photos taken of them earlier in the week, kissing outside the hotel and gazing into each other's eyes with a look that clearly spells out the true nature of their relationship.

"Redfield wanted photos like this of us?"

Joan responds, "He mostly wanted information on your financial situation - wanting to make sure you weren't squandering all of that money you make from your novels and movie deals. The investigative service Redfield hired was especially thorough and tossed in a few days of surveillance that gave him some potential blackmail material. Why exactly are the two of you keeping your relationship such a big secret?"

"It's complicated." Beckett mutters.

Castle continues reading the file. "Redfield's finances are a mess. He's on the edge of bankruptcy. So he was just a fortune hunter, going after Alexis' future inheritance?"

"Not so future. Once he was sure he had Alexis in his back pocket, and his ego would never allow him to think otherwise, your life expectancy would have shortened considerably."

"Joan, that's a helluva leap. I'll admit the guy gave me the creeps..."

"Read further."

Castle dives back into the file and a frown crosses his face. "He's been a suspect in two murders in England?"

Beckett says, "'Suspect' may be a bit strong. Neither death was officially labeled a murder..."

Joan adds, "But, his girlfriend while he was at university broke up with him and a month later she supposedly fell out of a tree while picking apples. Last year his Lordship was being sued by a neighbor and the man drown in a fishing accident. No witnesses to either death. After this monster made Alexis his, I wonder what 'accident' he had in mind for you, Mr. Castle?"

Castle gulps. "It's like something out of 'Pere Goriot'. And you say Redfield is on his way back to England and Alexis is safe?"

Beckett nods. "Joan had an interesting idea on how to give Redfield an incentive to leave quickly and never come back."

"I know about the tale of Redfield fathering Joan's baby, but what else?"

Beckett replies, "A couple of scary leg breaker types paid Redfield a visit, telling him that psycho dad Rick Castle wanted him out of his daughter's life. It worked like a charm."

"And he believed that about me?"

Joan says, "Redfield never doubted it because it's exactly the kind of thing he would do."

Beckett complains, "But we had to use those two jerks from the Oaklyn case who will now walk away from their crimes with just a slap on the wrists."

Joan grins. "Actually, I'm thinking of that as a win. Both Unger and Morton have signed confessions to Class A misdemeanors, which is far more than what we were going to get."

Beckett asks, "What do you mean?"

"Neither of the cousins confessed to the felonies facing them, and our only evidence was the testimony of Denise Cobb, a self-confessed murderer. Any lawyer worth his salt will plead insanity in her defense. Even if I could have gotten my boss to file charges based on that, her testimony would have been laughed out of court. We went from no chance of winning to a couple of trial free confessions. A definite if minor victory."

Castle says, "Okay, I'm up to speed but Joan, why didn't you come to me with all of this?"

"Two years ago in Arcadia, when a man was threatening to kill Alexis, you nearly beat him to death. I don't blame you, but I didn't want to risk that again."

"I could have just shown her this file, let Alexis see the truth about the creep she was dating."

"Because all teenage girls who think they are in love are open to logical arguments against the creeps in their lives? If you showed Alexis that file she would have resented you for interferring in her romance and would have listened to any lie Redfield would tell her."

"How would he explain all of this?"

"Oh...he hired investigators to do a background check because he holds an old and honored title and it's his obligation to make sure no scandal gets attached to that name. You do have a bit of a reputation, Mr. Castle."

Beckett chuckles. "She has you there, Castle."

"And the murders in England?"

"What murders? Both are listed as accidents. Alexis would have seen all of this as an attempt to control her life, deny her independence, and that would have driven her into Redfield's arms for sure. In this case the big lie worked better than the truth ever would have."

Castle hesitates considering what Joan has said. Reluctantly he nods his agreement. "Thank you Joan. Alexis may be hurting now, but not as much as she would have if Redfield had gotten his hooks into her. I'm just sorry this has spoiled your friendship with her."

Joan smiles. "Alexis has a good heart. In time I think she will forgive me, but even if that never happens, it's worth it to see her safe."

Beckett says, "What I hate about this is that Redfield got off scot free. He will go back to England, find another heiress and then..."

Joan replies. "You're forgetting the tape we made of his little transaction concerning me."

Castle asks, "What's this?"

"After scaring off Redfield, our two faux leg breakers got an offer to do a little bashing on me. If Redfield looks like he's about to drag some unsuspecting girl down the aisle, I have a friend in England who will make certain she sees the tape of what kind of man she would be marrying." Joan says, thinking of a fellow instrument of God who owes her a favor. "Trust me, from this day forward, Lord Redfield's life is not going to go well."

THE END

(Please review.)