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

A/N: *tip-toes into thread* Sorry for the incredible delay in updating today, everybody. I went to go see Megamind with some friends and then I did most of my homework and didn't get a chance to update until now. ;) You all are right. Even though they know it's a trap, that's not gonna stop them! ;) :) I'm glad everybody is still enjoying the story. We're nearing the climax of this "episode" now and I really do hope you all enjoy. After this chapter, there's only one left and the epilogue. Just to warn you, there's a pretty big cliffhanger at the end of this chapter, so don't say I didn't warn you. :P This chapter is only about 4 pages long, but it's full of action. Please enjoy and tell me what you think!

Previously in Habeas Corpses...

"Play the video again and take King's audio out," Shaw ordered. Ryan's fingers flew over the keyboard. The video played again, but all they heard Castle say was what he did before, but his mouth was still moving with nothing coming out.

"Is he whispering?," Lanie wondered.

"No," Avery scooted Ryan out of the way, "He's mouthing something. Fortunately, I can read lips."

Avery zoomed in on Castle and played the video again, this time the complete focus was on Castle. When Castle mouthed the words again, Avery relayed the information, "He's trying to tell us, 'It's a trap'."

"A trap?," Lanie was confused, "A trap for who? Us?"

"Most likely," Beckett sighed, "It doesn't matter though… we're trained. We'll be ready for anything King can dish out. As soon as we find out where they are, we make our move."

"Couldn't have said that better myself," Shaw smiled and took out a file, "And I think I might know where they are…"

Now in Habeas Corpses...

Chapter 13

Somewhere in the suburbs…

"I hope your detective girlfriend is as clever as you think she is, Rick," King commented, taking the camera out of its stand.

Castle remained quiet. King let out an amused laugh and left the room with Johnson taking his place. Once Castle saw the lawyer, he figured now was his best chance to try and manipulate him to help, "Johnson? You know that this isn't going to end well for you, right?"

"King has a pretty good record of getting away with things," Johnson remarked, "I'm not too worried."

"How'd you get involved with him in the first place?," Castle asked, "You two don't exactly swim in the same social pond."

Johnson gave him a look like he was crazy that he'd give up information like that, but Castle kept prodding, "Come on," Castle lifted up his wrists in the cuffs shackled to the wall, "Do I really look like I'm getting out of this situation anytime soon? You said yourself that King is good."

He looked like he was deciding to answer Castle. After a minute or so, he finally did, "I needed the money."

"You needed the money?," Castle didn't believe it, "You're a lawyer. All you do is make money. Why would you go to a life of crime-?"

"I didn't go to a life of crime," Johnson cut Castle off, "It was a one-time thing… then he offered more money to kidnap you, so I had to take it. And all we lawyers do is not just make money."

"Coulda fooled me," Castle leaned up against the wall and licked his lip. The blood was starting to dry now.

"Zip it, Castle," Johnson retorted, "Money and my job are all I have… I've got nobody and nothing else. So, if I have to dabble in the underworld to get more money and get away with it – great."

"You're not going to get away with it, Johnson," Castle replied, "He's going to pin everything on you. He's not just going to kill me. He's going to kill you too."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Johnson didn't believe him.

"Don't believe me? Fine," Castle waved his hand, "Just think… did King give you any plans as to what you should do after all of this is over?"

Johnson hesitated, "We're talking about it after everything."

"Whatever you want to believe," Castle rolled his eyes.

"Just shut up, you don't know what you're talking about!," Johnson was getting defensive.

"So, you mean to tell me that a stand-up guy such as yourself doesn't have a problem against killing two people? Three, if you count your partner?," Castle remarked.

"I do what has to be done in this world," Johnson replied, "Charles was getting too close for comfort. That wasn't just for King. That was to protect me too."

"Protect you?," Castle asked, "Were you involved in something else?"

"Why am I even having this conversation with you?," Johnson stopped himself from revealing more information, "You work with the police."

"Well, I'm not exactly in the best position to be relaying all this information to the cops, am I?," Castle made a good point.

"This isn't my first brush with crooks," Johnson revealed, "I know what I'm dealing with… and if all else fails, when everything goes down, I can just plead habeas corpus."

"Whatever you say," Castle looked smug, "Because to me, it looks like King plans to kill you with me."

Before Johnson could reply, King came back in the room, "Having a stimulating conversation in here, I see."

Castle chastised himself. Of course he'd be listening in, "Damn, so much for manipulating Johnson into anything."

King knelt down to Castle, "Nice try, Castle, but Johnson knows I would never do anything like that to him."

Johnson nodded at King before leaving the room. King looked back to Castle and cocked his head to the side, "Now, why did you go and put those thoughts into his head for?"

"I thought he'd deserve as much as a chance as I do," Castle replied.

"That's not saying much," Nick shook his head, "I don't leave loose ends anywhere."

"So you keep saying. You told me to lay off the cliché statements, but you seem to still use enough of them for the both of us. You're every bit a cliché bad guy. All you're missing is a thin black mustache to twirl," Castle retorted.

King shook his head in amusement, "You're something else, kid."

"So I've been told," Castle was glaring holes in him.

"Sit tight, Rick," King stood up, raising his gun, "I'm sure your detective girlfriend will be here soon, try to save you, and when she does, it'll be the end of the both of you."

12th Precinct

"Got him," Shaw was at the computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

"You got an address?," Kate got excited.

"Yup," Shaw smiled, "And it looks like your instincts were right, detective. He's got Castle in his house… not a smart move, but when you're a guy who's never been caught at anything, it's not a big deal."

"Good, let's gear up," Beckett jumped into action. Ryan and Esposito were hot on her tail.

"I'm coming, but I pray my services won't be needed," Lanie followed her friends.

"Hold on, Beckett," Shaw stopped Beckett from moving any further.

"Every second we stall here is another second away from getting Castle back," Kate argued, trying to push her way past her, "Why are you stalling?"

"I'm not stalling," Shaw replied, "I just don't want you barging in there without your emotions in check."

"I'm fine," Beckett assured her yet again, "He has my partner. Believe me, I've got my emotions in check."

"All right," Shaw stated, "Let's get Castle back."

327 Riverside Drive

"Hey, Nick," Johnson turned away from the window, "I think the police are here."

"Excellent," Nick smiled, looking out the window, "Get back into the other room. I'll be there in a second."

Johnson disappeared into the other room. Just as Shaw, Avery, Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan armed and ready with their 'POLICE' and 'FBI' bulletproof vests made their way over to the house, King left the window to go into the other room. Lanie opted to stay in the van.

"You guys know the plan," Shaw said outside the house, "Avery and I will stay in the front in case anybody tries to make a break for it. Ryan and Esposito are your back-up, Beckett. If we don't hear from you in five minutes, we're coming in."

"We got it," Esposito nodded. Avery and Shaw stayed outside on the porch, their guns held up, at the ready if anybody ran out. Ryan nodded his head to motion for Beckett to lead the way. She nodded an acceptance and jogged into the house, gun in both hands, and her partners faithfully right behind her.

"Marble walls," Ryan observed with a whisper. They moved swiftly through the room and noticed that on the other end of the room, there was only one door. Beckett signaled them that she was moving in. They were right behind her as she twisted the door handle and made her way into the room, her heart pounding in her chest. This was becoming too much like her dream.

"NYPD!," Kate yelled, gun raised.

"Kate?," Castle sat up on his knees, "Kate, get out of here!"

"Castle," Beckett ran up to Castle and knelt down, "Are you all right?"

"I won't be if you stay, you guys have to get out of here," Castle said as Beckett started fiddling with Castle's shackles.

"Where are your captors, Castle?," Esposito asked.

"I don't know, I think they're waiting to strike," Castle replied, "You guys have to get out of here before they kill you."

"We're not going anywhere without you," Beckett replied. She had to set her gun down to try and pick the locks to Castle's restraints. Esposito and Ryan kept their guns up in case King decided to pop out from anywhere.

Everything seemed to be going well, but everybody was on edge – King was nowhere in sight and that was very unnerving. Ryan was starting to get nervous, "Castle? Are you sure you don't know where they went?"

"No," Castle shook his head. His focus was on Beckett trying to open his cuffs around his wrists that were shackled to the wall. The next sound he heard was Esposito and Ryan yelling. His head shot up and Beckett whipped her head around to see them fall to the ground.

TBC

*looks innocent* I told ya'll it was an evil cliffhanger... don't worry, our favorite detective partners Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan will be okay. ;) They finally found Castle! And next chapter, it's time for the face-off. Please comment and tell me what you think. Oh, there's a little Easter egg in this chapter that has to do with one of the actual actors of the show. I wonder if any of you can spot it. :P And to those Smallville fans reading this, there's a familiar line in this chapter... I wonder if any of you can spot it. ;) I love reading all of your reviews. They truly do keep me going. And I hope I'll have some time to actually start another Castle story in the near future! Thank you all soooo much!

Thanks to those of you who are just reading this. I really appreciate you too. :D

Clois and Caskett Forever! :D