Two Weeks before the wedding
The set up that Agent Shaw described to Rick and Kate is, in the very least, interesting . Castle is sitting at his desk trying to imagine just what could be happening in his mother's mind as she plans out a script that includes the probable death, at least in act one, off stage, of her son
He almost opens a new file on his computer to write down notes on the plan when he remembers the admonishing words of Jordan Shaw 'Nothing is to be put into any electronic format that can be captured by Tyson. No record of any type. He is talented, evil, and will be one step ahead of us if we open any door for him'
Castle knows so very well how Tyson can and has manipulated the records for his own personal agenda. So it will be so very easy for Tyson to capture any electronic device and therefore discover their plan.
So instead of making notes of the plan, Rick begins a new chapter for Nikki Heat. This new book has not even been given a title yet and Castle is still developing the outline for her next adventure. At this point in her story we wants to bring her and Rook together permanantley just like he and Kate are preparing to become one, as husband and wife
Richard Castle's mind drifts back to that first day he met Detective Beckett. How she entered his life on the back of three unfortunate victims. How he saw something in her that he had never seen in a woman before. How he wanted to discover all her secrets. How he found himself wanting to help her instead of bed her. She taught him the importance of finding the truth for the victim's family.. Now he and her are working toward finding the truth for families in other places
His thoughts bring him to decide that he will write a new story. The real story of Nikki Heat, Kate Beckett. He will write a biography of the extraordinary detective told from the eyes of the man who loves her.
He has begun typing and is almost to the point in his writing that he becomes zoned out and no longer conscious of the surroundings when he is taken from his world of Kate Beckett and back to real life when there is an insistent knocking at his front door.
He looks up from his keyboard then placing the laptop on his desk he grudgingly moves to his living room and ultimately his front door
He knows it cannot be an uninvited guest since the building has a doorman and security, so it is probably a neighbor or one of Alexis' friends or even one of his mother's Broadway friends
He grabs the handle and quickly swings the door fully open only to be taken back by the person standing opposite the opening.
The large framed Richard Castle is overshadowing the other man. He is looking at a tall but extremely thin man. Probably in his late twenties. Jet black hair obviously combed back using slick hair cream of some kind making his hair appear as if it were applied on his head with high gloss enamel paint. The man is wearing horned rim glasses and is sporting long side burns stopping sharply just even with his ear lobs
He is wearing a short sleeved wrinkled white shirt buttoned at the neck. He has on a thin black tie that matches his black pleat front pants and his scuffed, well worn but polished lace up shoes. On the pocket of his shirt is clipped a plastic name tag identifying him as a missionary from a church
Before Castle can even speak the visitor begins
"Good day sir. My name is Deacon Paul and I am with the New World Congregation Community Church. I am a missionary sent down from our group in Wyoming and I am here to invite you to come to our gospel meeting that has started down at the local River of Life church house. I have a brochure for you to let you see about our outreach programs and…"
Trying not to be rude Castle speaks up "Thank you so much for coming by, but this is really a bad time for me. I am really busy and…"
"Oh yes sir I totally understand but before I go I just wanted to introduce myself as I said I am here from Wyoming and want to give you this brochure on our church and describing the new lesson we are starting" He hands a folded pamphlet to Castle "We started a new series. We are looking, in this series on the importance of the history that The Jordan has our lives"
What Castle thought her heard was this man emphasizing the word Jordan in his statement
"So, sir if you don't mind, let me just leave this with you. It has my name and phone number of our church if you find yourself in need of me or my counsel at any time, I will personally be there to help lead you to your destiny with the Jordan River. Please just keep this and call me any time day or night?"
"Yes, of course I will and thank you for stopping by" Rick comments as he takes the booklet from the man and closes the door
Castle walks back to his study holding the pamphlet in his hand. He sits back down at his desk then looks at the folded paper. The front cover shows a picture of water flowing and the statement "Following The Jordan"
Opening the inside there are images of typical dessert scenes as normally depicted in many religious brochures
Then Castle notices there is no address. There is no meeting time nor any indication of where someone would go There is, however, a phone number on the page. He is beginning to believe that this was Jordan Shaw's way of introducing her agent to Castle and giving him a contact phone number if he were to need to get in touch with him.
Castle sits back down at the desk in his office and is acting as if he does not have any interest in the paper just handed to him and he pretends to tosses the paper into the trash can beside his desk but actually places it into a compartment that only he knows is there has. He plans to later show Beckett so she can also have the information
Present Day
The Old Haunt
Preparing for the Wake
Paula Haas has spent the better part of the last two days meeting with Bryan, the manager at the Old Haunt to make sure that all preparations are in order. She wants the Wake to honor her client and friend.
She makes sure that the caterer is set up in the right location the pictures of Castle are placed all around the room. The booth where he wrote "In A Hail Of Bullets" is cordoned off so no one will sit there.
She arranges a sound system for people to use to make comments on Rick. She works with Lanie to assure that Kate is well taken care of along with Martha and Alexis.
Even though Kate and Rick never officially got married, Paula is making sure she gets the honors of a wife.
It may be New York and almost everyone takes cabs or rides the subway, that just happens to have a stop almost next door to the bar, she arranges valet parking
NYPD is providing security with uniformed officers at the door and inside to assure dignity is maintained at all times.
Paula is finally satisfied with all of her arrangements and the fateful day arrives. She is still stressed as she watches the sound system being set up, the caterer bringing in tables and setting up serving stations. Dishes, silverware, napkins and serving trays of food..
After all the preparations are finished the appointed time arrives and the guests begin to arrive. The friends from the 12th are there early. They want to stand in honor of the man who entered their lives a a pain but went out as the best friend many of them had.
The evening progresses as dignitaries begin to enter the bar.
The mayor and the Chief of Police arrive first. Soon several judges and their wives make appearances. The evening would not be complete without several mystery writers arriving to pay their respects.
The room soon fills with mourners and the din of noise rapidly grows.
What is not noticed by the assembled crowd is the two caterers, One man and one woman. They have stood quietly behind the serving lines assuring that the tables are kept stocked with food and condiments.
No one in the room pays any particular attention to the two hired to dispense the food for the evening. Also not noticed by the assembled group is the two surveying the crowd, watching for the appearance of the almost widow Katherine Beckett.
Before the evening is complete these two have plans for the widow that is not particularly pleasant for her