Kate took another breath before moving into the interrogation room again. When she walked in Cassie sat up slightly, her attention drawn to Kate. Kate walked slowly over to her and sat down opposite.
"Cassie, for me to get you out of this you need to start talking." Kate pleaded with the girl.
"What's the point? It's jail or going back to that fucking family, and to be honest with you I would rather rot in prison than go back to that household." She said her tone neutral noting giving Kate much to work with.
"You won't be going back to them Cassie, you walked out on them, they haven't seen you in weeks. They have already started to look after someone else." Kate stated trying to get some reaction from the girl, thankfully she took the bait.
"What? Someone else is there already?" Cassie questioned.
"You need to explain to me what's been going on Cass." Kate leaned across the table and whispered.
"You shouldn't have left me there. I had to get away from them and no one was there to help me. You hadn't come to see me in so long and no one else believed me." Cassie replied, and for the first time that day she sounded small to Kate. It was true she hadn't gone to see the girl since the shooting but as far as she knew the girl was doing fine, she had other things to worry about.
"I know, and I'm sorry Cass but the last time I saw you, you were doing well and everything was starting to go back to normal." Kate reached over to grab her hand but the girl recoiled quickly and sat up abruptly like she had been hit by lightning.
"Do I need a lawyer?" Cassie asked looking up from the table where her gaze had been fixed and straight into Kate's eyes.
"I really don't want it to come to that Cassie, I want to protect you, help you but to do that I need to know what has been going on." Kate said softly not breaking the girls gaze.
"It started happening a little bit before you stopped coming, then it started getting worse when I knew you weren't coming back. He was the worst and then she blamed it all on me, saying it was my fault that these things were happening. She wouldn't feed me for days saying it was what I disserved for what I had caused. I tried to tell the social worker that visited but they were the picture perfect family and the young ones said that I had started using again and that I would go out for days and not come home. Of curse they believed them because I was a troubled child and it was common for kids like me to fall back into old habits. When it all got too much I packed my bag and went to the overpass. I started using again...and don't give me that look because you know what that house it like Katherine. The new habit meant I needed money and quick so I started doing favors for people and that's when your guys found me." She trailed off her eyes going back to the table.
"Cassie why didn't you tell someone else?" Kate inquired
"No one believed me! You were not here to back me up and tell them that I wasn't crazy or a vindictive bitch. They kept saying that I would have to be put in a psycho ward if I wasn't careful." Cassie raised her voice to this looking slightly flushed.
"Cassie, I am so sorry. Please I am going to help you ok?" The girl just nodded mutely as Kate stood up to leave the room. "Do you want anything to eat or drink while your here?" The girl nodded her head no, and with that Kate left the room.
As she slid into the viewing room she saw Castle and instantly locked eyes with him. She walked strait over to him and kissed him soundly on the lips.
"What was that for?" He asked her when they finally came up for air.
Still in his embrace she shifted so she could look into his eyes when talking, although he supported all her weight as he was still leaning against the table. "That was for being you, for looking after Alexis and me when we needed it."
"That's what I do, no need to thank Me." he chuckled back at her, moving some hair from her face.
"No you don't have to, but you do and sometimes I think I take it for granted." She murmured into his neck.
"Well, I like doing it, so I guess your stuck with it." He smiled.
"What am I going to do about Cassie? I can't let her go to jail but she is looking at facing some serious time." Kate sighed out.
"Do you think she is telling the truth, about the family I mean?" Castle questioned, shifting so that Kate was sitting on the table next to him, lacing their fingers together.
"Back when I was looking after her, we made a promise never to lie to each other and I know she wouldn't break that." Kate leaned against Castle as she spoke.
"She really trusts you doesn't she?" Castle asked.
"Yeah she does." Kate replied, they then fell into a comfortable science while trying to work out what they could do about Cassie. After a moment or two Castle began to speak.
"Ok you can call me crazy but hear my idea out before you interrupt ok?" Castle started, waiting for conformation from Kate before he continues, when he got a slight nod he launched into it.
"What if Cassie came to live with you, or more us in the loft?" Kate made a noise to interrupt but Castle put up a hand to stop her.
"What did I say about interrupting? Think about it, you could talk to the people about letting her off under the condition that she is left into your custody. She trusts you probably more than she trusts anyone right now Kate and I could not imagine a finer role model for this girl. We can make sure she stays off the drugs and doesn't go back to that dark place she was in. She can also start going to therapy, and not a shitty therapist wither, the finest money can buy. You can help her Kate and I can be beside you the whole time." Castle finished quickly as if it was a race to get all the words out.
"Rick, it's a nice gesture but that's asking a bit much of you. I mean you don't even know the girl, I wouldn't want to put any strain on your and Alexis' relationship either." Kate let out quietly.
"It won't, to be honest Alexis will probably be glad I'm distracted and you seem to trust her, that's enough for me." He said firmly.
"Wait here. /I will see what I can do." Kate said as she left the room.