Chapter 3

Castle turned back to look at Kate, the smile never leaving his face. His thumb continued to stroke the back of her hand. He was not certain but he thought he saw the corners of Kate's lips were curved ever so slightly upwards in what looked like the begging of a smile. Maybe it was wishful thinking, he thought to himself. His smile deepened as he determined he would do all he could to put a smile back on her face.

"Now where was I?" Castle said as he returned to the story he was weaving. "Ah yes..."

...Before that fateful meeting in his office the following morning, Sir Roy had taken the opportunity to speak to the sergeant of Kate's patrol and a couple of others who had dealings with her. Sir Roy was pleased to learn that Kate was an impressive and hard working patrol officer, with an excellent arrest and conviction record. She was well respected by her colleagues and superiors. Sir Roy was more than pleased that his first impressions and judgement about this young woman had proved correct.

And so it came to pass Kate, dressed in the neatest and crispest uniform she had in her wardrobe, with her sword, sharp and polished hanging from her hip, presented herself to the Sheriff to hear what fate and Sir Roy had in store for her.

Kate had hardly slept the night before. She had tossed and turned in her bed wondering what she would do with her life if she was thrown out of the constabulary. Truth be told she had no idea what she would do. Being a constable had become her all consuming passion.

When worries and concerns became too much for her, making sleep more than ever elusive Kate reached for the tome that she kept by her bedside table. She found that reading was comforting and helped her to forget about the concerns of the world that troubled her. The book she held in her hands was one by her favourite author, one of his earlier works, entitled Coven of Fury.

Opening the book to the marked page Kate started reading eagerly and soon lost lost herself in the world of an angry coven of witches out for blood.

When she had been in the deepest and darkest depths of despair following her mother's murder and with her father sinking deeper and deeper into the comfort of the next wine cup, unable to help himself let alone help his only daughter, Kate had found this author. She quickly fell in love with his works. The stories of murder and mystery, high adventure, of love and loss provided a solace she desperately needed. Along the way the stories that he weaved provided a shining light upon the path that she finally chose to follow.

She would be for ever grateful to the author, Richard the Minstrel.

She had read over a hundred pages by the time sleep slowly crept up and captured her.

Come the morning she had hardly eaten breakfast managing only a cup of coffee before heading out of her quarters and for the meeting that awaited her. She had slept in and would be late for the meeting if she did not hurry.

Sir Roy was seated behind his large desk that was made from teak and polished to a near mirror finished. A few trinkets and family mementos were arrayed around the desk giving it a bit of a homey feel while still reminding one and all that the man who sat behind this desk was all business. On the walls of his office were framed parchments, commendations and awards that he had received during his career in the constabulary.

For a moment he sat and regarded Kate who stood at attention before him. His hands were clasped together resting upon Kate's personnel file which he had finished reading just before Kate was shown into his imposing office. A small smile appeared on his face.

"I have heard good things about you, Beckett." Sir Roy announced.

"Thank you, sir." Kate replied.

"Tell me truly, why you chose to become a law enforcement officer?"

"I want to help and protect the people." Kate said automatically, giving the same answer she had given to the recruiting officer when she had fronted seeking to join the constabulary.

Sir Roy leaned back in his seat and smiled some more.

"You could have done the same thing if you had become a lawyer or a physician, could you not, Beckett?"

"Yes, sir."

Kate tried not to look worried as she looked at the Sheriff. This meeting was not going the way she had imagined it. She had expected the Sheriff to be angry. She had expected the Sheriff to be shouting. She had expected the Sheriff to be threatening to dismiss her from the constabulary. None of this was happening. The Sheriff seemed calm and collected, even a little amused if the smile on his face was anything to go by.

"So I ask you again Constable Beckett, why did you chose to become a law enforcement officer?"

Confused, Kate cast her eyes to the floor as she took a moment to formulate an answer that would appease the man's curiosity. Suddenly she lifted her head, holding it high and fixed Sir Roy with a steady gaze, a look that was not dissimilar to the one she had given him the night before.

"I want to catch criminals, sir." Kate said simply.

Sir Roy nodded his head, motioning Kate to continue.

"I want to stop criminals preying on innocent citizens. I want to stop criminals bringing heartbreak and misery. I want to bring lawbreakers to justice."

"Why did you not say that in the first place?"

"I just did, sir."

Sir Roy almost laughed at her impertinent retort. His smile deepened.

"I think you will do nicely, Constable Beckett."

Sir Roy leaned forward in his chair. He opened the file before him and removed the envelope that sat on top of the file. He held it out to Kate. Kate stepped forward and took the envelope. She shot the Sheriff a curious look.

"These are your new orders, Beckett." Sir Roy informed her.

And it came to pass that a very stunned Kate emerged from the Sheriff's office. She had walked in thinking that at best she may be demoted and at worst being drummed out of the constabulary. But neither of those things happened. No, what happened was that the fair Kate was being transferred out of the patrol branch and to the investigation service. Sir Roy had promoted her to the rank of investigator. She could not believe it. It was too good to be true. Yet the proof was there in her hands in the letter the Sheriff had given her.

So for the first year or so Detective Beckett as she came to be known investigated cases that involved robberies, break ins, and all manner of petty crimes that the Sheriff's investigation service were tasked with. Some times it was hard work and at other times it was tedious work but all the same to Detective Beckett it was important work. It was important work for the victims of these crimes.

The fair Kate learned how to be a good investigator at the hands of experienced investigators who passed on their years of experience to this junior investigator, and were proud to see that she took on board what they had to impart and put it to good use. She worked hard and she worked long hours.

From time to time Sir Roy the Sheriff would look in on her to see how she was fairing in her new role and was ever so pleased that she was one of the investigation service's high fliers. One and all could see that it would not be too long before the fair Kate would join the elite investigators.

And then one day the fair Kate received orders to report to the investigation service's elite branch, the Homicide squad.

Now, you would imagine as this story has unfolded thus far, that the fair Kate was all work with no room in her life for some play or concerns about her domestic life. Nothing further could be further from the truth.

With her career assured the fair Kate turned her attention to her father. With quiet determination she helped him to relinquish the control wine had on his life. It was not easy at first and heartbreaking from time to time but slowly and surely wine lost its control and her father started on the path of recovery.

The fair Kate did not have too many friends. Most of her friends from her youth had fallen by the weigh side not able to understand the pain she was enduring by the loss of her mother while some others who still remained steadfast lost contact with her as they followed different paths in their lives.

However Kate did have one true and steadfast friend. Her name was Dr Parish, Lanie to her friends. Dr Parish was a constabulary physician. They had first met when Kate was still a patrol officer. One day Kate had been brought into Dr Parish's consulting rooms bleeding from some cuts the result of her patrol trying to break up a fight that had broken up in a tavern. It did not take long for the two women to become firm and fast friends.

From time to time Kate and Lanie would hit the hot spots of town to enjoy themselves and to unwind. They talked about things in their life and shared secrets as friends are want to do. Lanie learned of Kate's mother's murder.

These two good friends were not wanting in male admirers either, I hasten to add. Dr Parish was a happy and carefree young woman who liked the attention from suitors, and was not backwards in coming forwards about indulging herself.

There was many an eager and hopeful young man who would vie for the favours of the fair Kate. Yet she was not as eager as her friend to indulge in such meaningless, yet fun dalliances Over the next year or two the fair Kate did indulge herself on occasion when the mood took her but she did break more than a few hearts.

Along the way her own heart was broken when a man she fell in love with put his own career ahead of their relationship and moved away from the land of New York to further his career. He had begged the fair Kate to come with him and for a moment or two she was tempted. In the end she chose to remain in the land of New York. For you see, the fair Kate always put her own career ahead of her happiness..."

Castle paused in his story and stifled a loud yawn, covering his mouth with his free hand.

"Sorry about that." He said, grinning at the sleeping Kate. "Not a good idea to start yawning just as we're getting to an interesting part of the story."

He glanced to the door and found that his audience had gone. He could not remember when they had silently crept out of the room but then he had not been paying attention to the audience behind him. He did feel tired and for the first time in many nights he could feel the call of sleep upon him. He did not think Kate would mind if he took a nap. Castle rested his head on the bed and closed his eyes. A quick nap would refresh him and charge his literary batteries.

"Don't worry I'll get right back to the story in a little while, I promise." Castle said sleepily.

I would really love to know what you think about this effort.