Disclaimer: I don't own Castle... the characters of this amazing show belong to the genius Andrew Marlowe and ABC. :P

A/N: I guess you guys like my twist! And I'm glad that you all think it's pretty unique. I thought so. ;) I finally found some free time to post the next chapter to this little gem. The end to this chapter doesn't really have that much of a cliffhanger; it depends on what you think a cliffie is. :P I hope I'll be able to post chapter 8 within the next few days if homework/studying and my friends allow it. :P I really can't wait for the new Castle tomorrow night, 3XK - that promo reminded me so much of what's to come in this story and the fact that I wrote Castle in the situation he's in before this episode even aired is pretty freaky and cool at the same time. :P All right, y'all had enough with my little musings, you wanna read on, so go on. Please comment if you can. :)

Previously in Habeas Corpses...

"Kate?," Martha started, "Could we speak in private for a moment?"

"Yeah," Beckett said and let Martha lead the way upstairs to get away from the rest of the police. They were almost done canvassing the scene. Once they were out of any and all earshot in Castle's bedroom, Beckett spoke again, "What is it Martha?"

"I know that man," Martha pointed to the sketch.

"You-you do?," Beckett was shocked, alternating her gaze between the sketch in her hand and Martha, "How?"

"Well," Martha started slowly and took a deep breath, licking her lips, "He's Richard's father."

Now in Habeas Corpses...

Chapter 7

Unknown Location

There was hardly any light filtering into the room. The only means of light was one ray of sunshine that managed to peek through the small dirty window on the other side of the room. It appeared to be some dark basement. In the middle of this space was Richard Castle, unconscious and tied to a chair – the only difference from the last time he was tied up was this time he had rope around his wrists and ankles and they bound him a lot tighter than Alexis did for his research.

Castle jerked awake with a grunt and immediately regretted it. A shooting pain ran through his neck and up through his head, "Oww."

"Nice to see you finally awake," Johnson said, sitting on a wooden table against the wall on the right of Castle.

"Well, I wouldn't have been out if you hadn't hit me over the head with the butt of your gun," Castle remarked, "So… why did you kill Sullivan?"

"Who says I did?," Johnson smirked.

"I know you did," Castle tried to adjust his vision to the dimly lit room, "And if my current situation means anything, I don't think I'll be any threat to you to rat you out."

"True," Johnson stood up, "It was nothing personal… just a job."

"But wasn't he your partner?," Castle asked.

"Yes, but money is thicker than friendship," Johnson said, walking closer to Castle.

"You need a writer," Castle commented, "That was horrible."

"Maybe I do," Johnson turned around and started walking toward the only exit in the room, "Too bad you won't be around for the job."

He started out the door. Castle yelled after him, "Wait! Why did you kidnap me? What do you want from me?"

"It's not me," Johnson replied without turning around, "You'll be meeting the big boss soon enough."

With that, he slammed the door shut leaving Castle in the empty room alone. Castle sighed; his heart thudding harder and harder in his chest. He hung his head and closed his eyes thinking about his mother and daughter, Kate, Esposito, Ryan, Montgomery, and Lanie – his family.

Castle's Bedroom

"I'm sorry," Kate looked like a fish opening and closing her mouth, "I, uh… did you say that this man is…"

"Richard's father, yes," Martha nodded, finishing her sentence for her.

"But Castle told me that you didn't know who his father was," Beckett was confused, "No offense."

"I only told him that," Martha replied, "There was one thing I didn't lie about what I told him about his father and that was that when I met him, I loved him a lifetime."

"What's his name?," Kate asked.

"Nick King," Martha said, "He didn't used to be like the way he is now, it all changed several months into our relationship."

"What happened?," Beckett was genuinely interested. Martha took a seat on the edge of Castle's bed and patted the spot next to her.

Once Beckett took a seat, Martha began, "We met while I was traveling for one of my shows. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet… then eventually he discovered gambling."

"He got in debt?," Beckett asked.

"Not so much debt as he discovered that he liked that world – the mob world, more than reality," Martha replied, "He could gain power there and make money – I was the one providing for us before he…"

"Before he changed?," Beckett provided for her.

"Yes," Martha nodded, "Anyway, after about a year, he was so far gone into that world – I had to get out."

"Did you run?," Beckett tilted her head to the side, genuine interest and concern for the older woman emanated from her gaze.

"I had to," Martha said, "I found out I was pregnant with Richard and I didn't want him to be a part of that world or for Nick to instill any of that into him."

"Did he know about Castle?," Beckett asked, gesturing to the sketch still in her hand.

"I don't know," Martha shook her head, "I think he was suspicious because I acted a little out-of-character for the last part of our relationship, but I don't think he did… after the man he became, I don't think he'd have let me leave if he knew about Richard."

"Thank you for telling me all of this, Martha," Beckett stood up, "At least now we have a name to go with the face."

"Do you think Nick has my boy?," Martha asked, looking up at Beckett.

"I don't know," Beckett really didn't know, "But we'll find out… Castle's gonna be okay."

"I know he is," Martha stood up and composed herself, "You and your friends are on the case – he's as good as home."

"The more we know about Nick King, I think the better chance we'll have of finding him," Beckett said, "Would you be willing to give us everything you know about him?"

"I already did," Martha smiled, "I'm sorry, dear, but I haven't even thought about Nick in years. I have no idea what sort of business dealings he's been involved in or if he's gotten worse since the last time I saw him."

"All right," Beckett understood and started for the door, but Martha stopped her, "Kate? Could you-?"

"Could I what?," Beckett turned around.

"Could you keep what I told you a secret?," Martha said and Beckett furrowed her brows. After a brief pause, Martha clarified, "I mean, could you keep the fact that Nick King is Castle's father a secret?"

"For right now," Beckett said, "But Castle deserves to find out eventually – especially if he's being held by him."

"I know," Martha nodded, "I guess I just hoped he could be spared of having to find out that his father is one of the biggest mob bosses in the underworld."

"From gambling to the mob," Beckett shook her head, "Corruption is a funny thing."

"Yes it is," Martha replied and joined Beckett by the door, "Now, go on, get down to the precinct and find my boy."

Unknown Location

Castle had no concept of time. He didn't know how long he had been sitting bound tightly in his chair. The little light that had been streaming through the window wasn't a good enough indicator for the writer to figure out the time of day.

He rolled his head around to try and get all the kinks out of it – what he could really use would be some Tylenol. Rick turned his head to see who was at the door when he heard it open. The dim lighting in the room only allowed him to see a silhouette of a tall man with a gun in his hand.

The mystery man spoke, "I see you're still awake, Richard."

12th Precinct

"Did you find any more useful information at Castle's place?," Ryan asked when he saw Beckett approach their desks. Alexis was sitting in Castle's usual chair, Esposito hovering over her protectively.

"Nothing on the scene, but I've got a name to go with this face," Beckett held up the sketch with Castle's note.

"How'd you find out?," Alexis sat up straighter.

"Anonymous source," Beckett replied, "But now that we have a name, we can start searching about him."

She handed the evidence to Esposito and said, "Dig up everything you can on a Nick King."

"On it," Esposito gave her a nod and took off.

"The media circus is still surrounding the precinct," Alexis said, "Can't you guys make them go away?"

"We've got Uniforms warding them off," Ryan said, "But they won't back off. Montgomery said that they're all insisting that we call in the FBI because Castle is such a high-profile case."

"What do you think?," Beckett sat in her chair and looked up at Ryan who took Esposito's protective spot over Alexis.

"I'm not sure," Ryan shook his head, "I think it might be a good idea."

"What about you, Alexis?," Beckett asked, "Do you think we should bring the FBI into this investigation?"

"Anything that can get my dad back faster," Alexis replied, "I know you guys are on the case and Dad is as good as home, but if bringing in the FBI means he comes home safe sooner, than I think it's the best idea."

"Good, because Montgomery is already making the call," Ryan said, "Oh, and Montgomery told me that even though we're on Castle's kidnapping case, we can't forget about Mr. Sullivan."

"Especially since they're more than likely connected," Beckett agreed.

"I think whoever killed Mr. Sullivan probably has my dad," Alexis stood up, sounding every bit the detective.

"Exactly what I was thinking," Beckett nodded, a little pride swelling inside her for the young Castle.

"I just started the research on this Nick King," Esposito came back, "But so far, I've got nothing, absolutely no information, record, or file on him. It's like this man doesn't exist. Are you sure on the name?"

"Positive," Beckett replied, "Just because we don't have a file on him doesn't mean he doesn't exist. It looks like we're bringing the FBI in on the case. I'm sure they'll have something on him, he can't completely fly under the radar."

"Is there anything more I can do?," Alexis looked hopeful.

"Not right now, sweetie," Beckett shook her head, "You told us everything you knew about what happened this morning."

"Wait," Ryan looked as if an epiphany had struck him, "Does Castle have any cameras in his apartment for security purposes?"

"He doesn't keep them running all the time," Alexis shook her head, "It runs on a cycle, but maybe by some stroke of luck, the camera was running last night. I hadn't even thought of it."

"I'm surprised none of us thought of it," Esposito said. This case really was rattling them more than anybody cared to admit, "Ryan and I will get on it and see what we can find."

"Okay," Beckett said. She watched them jog away and then looked to Alexis who was staring at her murder board. Kate followed her gaze to see Rick's name on the board with 'KIDNAPPED' written in all caps above his name with his publicity shot that was on the back of Heat Wave. She shut her eyes and tried to shake the image out of her head. Never again did she ever want to see "Richard Castle" written on her whiteboard.

She excused herself to Alexis when she heard Montgomery call her to his office, "I'll be right back, Alexis. You'll stay here?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Alexis nodded, "Maybe I'll be able to figure something out while you're gone. Dad always said he'd sometimes get struck with an epiphany after staring at this board."

Beckett gave her a small smile at the thought of how Castle would always light up whenever he thought of something to help advance the case. She especially loved it when he'd figure something out at the exact second she did – she'd just never admit it to him. Kate squeezed Alexis' shoulder once again before heading to her boss' office.

Unknown Location

Castle didn't answer the man. As soon as he got closer to him, he instantly recognized him as the man from the sketch. Rick may love to be sarcastic, but with this guy, he wasn't about to take any chances. He kept his mouth shut.

"Not feeling very talkative, huh?," the man asked. He pulled a chair seemingly out of nowhere and sat right in front of Castle, "All right, I'll start then. My name's Nick King."

Castle still wouldn't answer.

"Nick and Rick," Nick cocked his head to the side, trying to get Castle to reply. After another moment, it was apparent Nick was getting agitated and started waving his gun around in the air, "Look, if you don't start talking soon, I'm gonna have to persuade you to talk."

"What do you want from me?," Castle immediately spoke up.

"There," Nick put the gun down to rest on his leg, still in his hand, "That's better."

"You didn't answer my question," Castle repeated, "What do you want from me?"

"Not much," Nick pursed his lips, "Tell me what you know about Johanna Beckett's murder… and don't skip on any details, I know how you writers are with the details."

TBC

Thanks to those of you just reading as well. I appreciate you all too!

Clois and Caskett Forever! :D

Things are really starting to get interesting, aren't they? This case is stressing them all out, but at least the FBI is coming into the case. ;) I couldn't resist not bringing you-know-who into the story. ;) If you don't catch my drift, just re-watch the trailer. :P To answer some of your questions, Nick King doesn't know about Castle and vice versa which makes a very interesting and unique situation. I hope you all are enjoying this story. I had a lot of fun writing my first Castle story and I hope to maybe write another one in the near future after my next Smallville one. ;) Please comment and let me know what you think! I love to read all the reviews. :)