Chapter 14

They concluded the tour in the Mode cafeteria. The orange and white theme continued, but the cool blue lighting made Castle feel like he was in a creamsicle in a freezer. After grabbing some coffee and something to eat, he selected a table in the middle of the room. More than one head turned towards them with hints of envy. Castle was accustomed to the attention though if he were to be honest with himself he wasn't sure if it was his fame or the pastry that Betty was eating.

"So tell me about your family," he said.

"You mean Daniel hasn't told you all about them?" she asked.

"Just the broad strokes," he replied. "I'd love to know more."

Betty sighed at his puppy dog look and gave up. "What would you like to know?"

"Why don't you tell me about your nephew?"

"Justin's a great kid," she smiled. "He wants to be an actor."

"Theater, film or television?"

"I think his heart lies in musical theater. He's even auditioned for a part in Billy Elliot. You should see his playbill collection."

An aspiring actor stays after an off-Broadway performance in hopes of getting the star's autograph but instead finds the body of an understudy bludgeoned by a sandbag, Castle thought. "What's his most prized playbill?"

"He had a Gypsy autographed by Ethel Merman."

Castle let out a low whistle. Having grown up surrounded by the theater, he knew how valuable that collectible was. "Had?"

"He sold it and used the money to help buy a professional hair dryer chair so Hilda could open her own salon in the back of the house."

Castle recalled from Daniel that Hilda was her older sister, a single mother who got pregnant at prom. "An underground salon?"

"At first," Betty admitted. "Then she got busted by a borough councilman for not having a business license after she gave him a haircut."

"Ouch," Castle said as a scene popped in his mind. The detective goes to see the prime suspect's ex-girlfriend who's running an underground salon. He ends up getting some information and a haircut for twice the price. "So what happened to the salon?"

"I think Archie, that's the councilman, felt bad closing down Hilda's business so he suggested that she sell some candles and stuff. That way she can say that it's a boutique instead of a salon, and now they're dating," she said taking another bite of her pastry. "Hilda's Beautilities Plus will have its grand opening next week complete with a ton of hors d'oeuvres made by my dad."

"Ah yes, your dad's cooking. Daniel said something about it being his passion."

"Definitely," she agreed. "His coffee cake is famous throughout the neighbourhood, and his chicken mole is to die for."

Castle's mind conjured up the scene of an older man entering a restaurant's kitchen. As the rotisseur, he arrives early to prepare all the things that need to be roasted, broiled, grilled or fried. After putting his apron on, he heads to the meat locker only to find the chef's dead body hanging from two meat hooks.

Oh, gotta remember that one, Castle thought then turned his attention back to his companion. "So what about you? Any boyfriends?"

Betty's eyebrows disappeared behind her heavy bangs then she shook her head. "No. As you know, last year things got complicated so this year I've decided on no romantic entanglements. It's number three on my list."

"What are numbers one and two?"

"Ask for more responsibility at work and move into the city. Like Mrs. Meade once told me. I've got to take some risks if I want to achieve my goals," she said. "So do you think you have enough material for a story?"

"Actually, I have enough ideas for several stories," he replied. "Thing is, I'm just not sure they're right for a Derrick Storm story."

"Does it have to be a Derrick Storm story?" Betty asked innocently.

Castle blinked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Don't get me wrong. I think that the Derrick Storm novels are great, but A Rose Everafter is my favourite of your books," she said with a small shrug.

"Well, no matter what I end up doing with the material I've gathered, I want to thank you for a very interesting morning," he smiled.

ooOoo

Author notes: The Ugly Betty episodes referenced in this chapter are 2.9 "When Betty Met YETI", 2.6 "Something Wicked This Way Comes", 3.8 "Tornado Girl", 3.11 "Dress for Success" and 3.1 "The Manhattan Project".