Chapter 9
"Well Kate we now come to another interesting part of our story...I know, I know you want to know what it is we will get to it all in good time. I can't believe how impatient you are." Castle said with a chuckle.
"...Richard the Minstrel was most impressed with the riding skills of his constabulary companion as they rode along the road. Yet he was even more impressed at the silent challenge she had thrown out to him. They had been riding alongside each other for a while before she cast a meaningful glance in his direction and then urged her mount faster, daring him to keep up. Before he knew it the fair Detective Beckett had put several lengths on him and was stretching further away.
The Minstrel was ever always up for any challenge and this one from the fair Detective Beckett was no different. Truth be told he welcomed it, he relished it. He watched her disappearing ahead. With a cocky smile on his face, he dug his booted heels into Derrick's flanks. Instantly his mount responded to the command and he surged forward, eating up the distance between himself and the fair Kate.
In next to no time Richard the Minstrel was drawing alongside the redoubtable detective. She looked over in astonishment. The Minstrel wiggled his eyebrows at the fair Detective Beckett earning a dark look from her. They rode together, their mounts thundering along the road scattering pedestrians every which way in order to get out of the way. One or two of the more irate sent colourful curses at the riders which the fair Detective and the Minstrel either did not hear or chose to ignore.
The steadfast Detective's Ryan and Esposito now found themselves not only having to keep up with their boss, the fair Detective Beckett but also the ruggedly handsome Minstrel. They could only shake their heads while trying not to fall behind too far.
All too soon the four detectives and the Minstrel arrived at the scene of the crime. As was usual it was the fair Detective Beckett who was the first to arrive. Richard the Minstrel being the gentleman allowed her the dignity of her position to arrive first. He rode up moments later. The fair Detective was standing and waiting for him.
"You ride well, my dear detective." Richard the Minstrel said as he dismounted. "It did not escape my attention that you did not stop at any intersection in your haste to arrive at this place."
The fair Detective Beckett arched an eyebrow in the Minstrel's direction but wisely did not rise to the bait the man had dangled in front of her. She turned away from him and took in the surrounds. Before her was a large garden that fronted a multi storey apartment building. The flower beds were well tended with the plants flowering in spectacular colours, the lawn was well manicured and gave off the aroma of recently having been cut. The main pathway from the street broke into three separate paths, one which led directly to the front door of the building while the other two snaked to the left and to the right of the building.
All ready present were a contingent of uniformed constabulary going about the business that the uniformed officers did at scenes of crime.
At about this time Detectives Ryan and Esposito finally arrived. They dismounted and approached their boss. The fair Detective Beckett cast a glance over her shoulder at the new arrivals.
"You took your time." She said.
"Traffic accident." Detective Esposito said simply as if that was all the excuse that was needed.
"A fruit cart overturned." Detective Ryan added. "Terrible mess, apples and oranges everywhere."
"Yeah, a real fruit salad." Esposito said.
"Seems a pair of reckless riders barrelled through an intersection with out giving way."
The Minstrel observed the banter between the two male detectives in silent amusement. The fair Detective Beckett looked from one detective to the other without saying a word. She turned to face the approaching uniformed sergeant.
"The body was found in the bathing pool, Detective." The sergeant announced. He motioned the newly arrived detectives and their accompanying Minstrel to follow him. All five people took the left handed path.
The path led all the way to the back of the apartment building and opened up on a wide expanse of lawn to the left and a large bathing pool to the right. At the far end beyond the pool was a wide paved area where tables and chairs had been set out for the occupants of the building to relax and enjoy the fresh air. There were a couple of people standing there with a pair of uniformed constables.
Richard the Minstrel saw the body floating in the middle of the pool. It was a young woman who was dressed in a yellow ball gown. A long bladed knife protruded from the middle of her back.
The fair Detective Beckett came to stand at the edge of the bathing pool. The Minstrel stood beside her.
"Death of A Promenade Consort." the Minstrel said in a low voice. The fair Detective Beckett glanced at the Minstrel and then looked at the body as it floated in the water. The Minstrel was right, this looked like it had come the pages of his book Death Of A Promenade Consort.
"The gardener found the body about an hour ago." The sergeant reported. He consulted his notebook. "Her name is Kendra Pitney, she lives in the building."
The fair Kate nodded her head.
"Let us remove her from the water." She announced. "Ryan, Esposito commence the interviews."
All three men nodded their heads and quickly went to do the fair Detective's bidding. Then the fair Kate turned to look at the Minstrel.
"Minstrel you stay here and observe." She commanded. "And do not touch anything."
The fair Detective Beckett did not wait to hear the Minstrel's response. She turned away and made her way over to the other side of the bathing pool to where the gardener who had found the body was being interviewed by Detective Esposito. He watched silently as a man jumped into the bathing pool and slowly drew the body of the young woman to the edge. Another man stood at the edge and together they pulled and pushed the body out of the water. A third man assisted the second man to lay the body upon a blanket that had been spread out to receive it.
Richard the Minstrel had watched the constabulary physician examining the body and making notes on the clip board she held. As much as he wanted to obey the fair Detective there was something more powerful that was compelling him to disobey and leave the spot where he hand been standing and observing. Curiosity.
He slowly approached the physician and the body she was examining. The Minstrel crouched down and studied the body carefully. Dr Lanie Parish looked up and saw the crouching Minstrel.
"May I be of assistance?" Dr Parish asked politely but her displeasure at his intrusion evident upon her petite face.
"Greetings Doctor, I'm Richard the Minstrel. I'm consulting." The Minstrel explained with a smile upon his face.
"Richard the Minstrel, the author?" The good doctor's face widened in surprise having found herself in the presence of a literary luminary.
"Indeed, on my better days."
The good doctor smiled and extended her hand which the Minstrel shook.
"Doctor Lanie Parish, constabulary physician."
"A great pleasure to make your acquaintance, Doctor Parish."
"I love your books, you have quite the talent with the details of death."
"That is most kind of you to say, my good doctor." The Minstrel said with a bow of his head.
The fair Detective Beckett was making notes in her note pad of the interview with the gardener when she looked in the direction where the physician was examining the body of the girl. Her eyes widen in surprise at espying the Minstrel crouched beside the body talking to the physician. The look of surprise quickly transformed itself into a look of annoyance as she excused herself and quickly made her way over.
"Did I not tell you to remain over there, Minstrel?" The fair Detective Beckett said, frowning at the Minstrel.
"I was bereft of company." The Minstrel replied.
The fair Detective shot the Minstrel a glare before turning her attention to her friend the physician.
"Have you a cause of death, doctor?"
"Not until the full examination." Doctor Parish said. "What I can tell you is that this was not a stabbing."
A puzzled look appeared on the fair Kate's face.
"Unless I am mistaken but is there not a knife sticking out of her back?"
"Lack of blood around the wound suggests that she was dead before it was inserted." Richard the Minstrel interjected, his gaze focused upon the body. "No foam around the mouth, so we know she did not drown."
"Truly you are good." Doctor Parish said, sounding impressed.
For her words of praise the Minstrel graced the good doctor with an appreciative smile. He cast his gaze to the body again and did not see the exchange between the two women. The fair Detective glared at her friend for encouraging the man. The good doctor merely grinned back.
"Truly, she was killed first and then posed. Just like the others." He said.
"I know. May I have a word with you Minstrel?"
The fair Kate walked a little away from the doctor and the body. Richard the Minstrel rose from his crouch and joined her.
"Something amiss, my dear Detective?" The Minstrel said.
"Do I need to remind you that this is a homicide investigation and not a day out at the fair ground?"
"It has not escaped my attention what kind of inquiry we are conducting." The Minstrel replied. Suddenly his face lit up. "Gadzooks! That is an idea, a fair ground of the macabre!"
"Nobody says gadzooks any more, Minstrel."
"I'm trying to return it to everyday vocabulary."
The fair Kate rolled her eyes. Suddenly she realised that she had been side tracked by this exchange. Remembering why she had called him aside she rolled her eyes again. She shook her head at the man standing before and frowned at his grin.
"When I issue you with an order I expect you to obey it." She said tersely.
"Then you do not know me very well." He shot back. "You do know that in my book the dress was blue?"
"Do not change the subject Minstrel." The fair Kate snapped. The man was becoming more and more exasperating.
"Did Tisdale and Fisk know each other." The Minstrel pressed.
"As to any connection, we have yet to find any."
"What about motive?"
"He's a serial killer, Minstrel. He doesn't need a motive." The fair Detective Beckett was desperately trying to control her rising anger.
It was at that moment a thoroughly out of breath dispatch orderly came bounding up to the fair Detective Beckett. She was grateful for the interruption. She snatched the proffered missive from the orderly. Remembering her manners she thanked the orderly before dismissing him. She may have been angry at the Minstrel but there was no call to take it out on someone else.
She opened the note and read it. Some of her anger ebbed away upon reading the note.
"They have managed to match the finger prints to a name." The Fair Kate announced. "Kyle Cabot. He lives all the way over in the Brooklyn municipality."
"There you have it my dear detective, my little request to his Lordship the Mayor has borne fruit." Richard the Minstrel said, trying not to gloat.
The fair Kate looked at the Minstrel but bit back the sharp retort that was on the tip of her tongue. It would not have been lady-like had she allowed the words to pass her lips. She turned from the Minstrel and called Detectives Ryan and Esposito to her side where she informed them of the new development to their case.
The fair Detective Beckett may not have been all that eager to thank him for his intervention by using the auspices of his Lordship the Mayor but the Minstrel did note that the two men were not beyond showing their thanks, even if it was silent nods.
"Let us away." The fair Kate announced.
The three detectives and their accompanying Minstrel departed from the scene of the latest crime as swiftly as they had arrived.
It took an hour and maybe more for the fair Detective Beckett and her companions to reach their destination. And on this ride the fair detective did not ride furiously nor did she challenge Richard the Minstrel to another race. Not that the Minstrel did not try. There was a moment during the ride when he decided to issue a challenge.
"Come on, my dear Detective, last one to the destination is a putrescent egg." The Minstrel called out as he readied to spur his horse into a fast gallop.
"You have forgotten one minor thing, Minstrel." The fair Kate replied.
"And what would that be, my dear detective?"
"I know our destination and you do not."
"A minor detail." The Minstrel scoffed.
"Would not want to have you ending up lost in the wilds of Brooklyn, Minstrel."
"You are no fun at all, my dear detective." Richard the Minstrel grumbled.
The fair Kate allowed a small smile of victory to grace her lips.
Along the way our quartet of crime fighters, well our trio of crime fighters and consulting Minstel, did collect a squad of six uniformed constables to assist in the apprehension of the suspect. The troop of riders arrived at the abode where Kyle Cabot resided.
Richard the Minstrel dismounted from Derrick and gave pause to inspect the dwelling that he beheld. Decrepit did not even begin to describe the single storey building. There were tiles missing from the roof and many of the wooden planks were coming away from the their frames. The windows had countless panes of broken glass and the front door was ready to come off its hinges. Doubtless the place should have been condemned and torn down long ago and despite the appearance the dwelling did not look out of place amongst all the others in the street. Truly this was a part of the city that Richard the Minstrel loved that he would not be seen in unless he was accompanied by a legion of armed companions, as was the case at this moment in time.
"Minstrel, stay here with the horses." The fair Detective Beckett said, giving him a meaningful look.
"Scout's honour." Richard the Minstrel replied.
The Minstrel watched from his vantage point on the street as the fair Detective Beckett drew her hand held double shot crossbow, motioned to all the officers to follow her and she raced up to the front door. Moments later the constabulary flanked either side of the front door. A moment after that the fair detective banged her fist upon the door.
The Minstrel watched with barely suppressed amusement as the door upon which the fair Detective Beckett banged upon, creaked loudly as it came off its hinges and then slowly fell inwards to land on the floor with a crash.
"Kyle Cabot, New York Constabulary." The fair detective called out through the now open door way, once she had recovered from the surprise of the door falling in.
When no response came, the fair detective gave a curt nod of her head and bounded through the open doorway. Detectives Ryan and Esposito were right on her heels with the uniformed constables pouring in behind them.
Richard the Minstrel bounced on the balls of his feet as he stared at the house. He could hear the constabulary moving and rummaging through the house. He could not help but feel left out on the excitement going on inside the house. Making sure that the horses were tethered the Minstrel sauntered into the house. He made sure to keep clear as the police went about their business.
If the outside of the dwelling was enough to curl one's lip in distaste the inside of the house was more so as the Minstrel discovered upon entering the house. He resisted the urge to put a handkerchief across his nose to ward off the stench that assailed his nostrils but soon enough the stench was forgotten as he espied the colourful childish drawings from his books. There were pictures of Alison of Tisdale pinned to the walls.
The Minstrel heard the fair detective being called to inspect a room that Ryan had discovered. He followed quietly. His eyes widened in surprise upon discovering a veritable shrine to himself. On the walls was a collage of pictures of the Minstrel and childish drawings. By one wall was a bookcase crammed with the Minstrel's books and only his books.
"Truly this is a disturbing scene." Richard the Minstrel muttered aloud.
Upon hearing his voice the fair Kate turned on her heels. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the Minstrel.
"I was never a scout." The Minstrel explained to her unasked question.
The fair Detective Beckett opened her mouth to admonish the Minstrel for once again having failed to obey her orders but it was in that moment that Detective Esposito chose to call out to her. Flashing another glare of her emerald eyes at the misbehaving Minstrel she strode over to the main room of the house where she found Esposito holding up a white blouse that was bloodied and had a pair of holes in it.
"That would be Alison's blouse I shouldn't imagine." The fair Kate remarked.
"Tis not all I found." Esposito informed her. He picked up a hand held double shot cross bow by the handle using his thumb and forefinger so that the fair detective could see it.
The fair detective made to walk over to where Esposito had found the incriminating evidence but a loud banging emanating from a cupboard close by caught her attention instantly. Turning on her heels she brushed past the Minstrel who had materialised behind her and went to the cupboard. Silently she motioned to a pair of uniformed constable to cover her. Raising her weapon in one hand she opened the door with her other.
Ensconced in the confines of the small cupboard was a young man curled up. He was hitting the wall of the cupboard with his back. He was clearly agitated by all the people in his abode.
"Get out of my house, get out of my house." Kyle Cabot shouted.
"Reveal your hands!" The fair detective commanded.
The two uniformed constables moved in and grabbed hold of Cabot and pulled and dragged him out of the cupboard despite his shrieking protests.
Richard the Minstrel stood in the observation room adjacent to the interrogation room which as it happened was the very same interrogation room he had been in when the fair Detective Beckett had questioned him about Alison of Tisdale's murder. The Minstrel was looking into the interrogation room through the large spy hole. Standing beside the Minstrel was Sir Roy, the Sheriff. The two men had been watching the fair Detective Beckett try to interrogate Kyle Cabot. It had been an exercise in futility for Cabot spoke not a word through out the time the fair detective was in the room, throwing questions at him. All he did was move back and forth in his chair as he stared into the distance. In the end the fair detective gathered up the files she had brought into the room with her and departed.
A moment later the fair Detective Beckett entered the observation room.
"He will not speak." The fair Kate said with a long sigh. "State medical records show that he ails from pervasive developmental disorder." She passed the file to Sir Roy who opened the file and inspected it quickly.
"Truly that explains his fixation with me." Richard the Minstrel said. "PDD manifests at times with a single obsession."
"Indeed, your super devotee also has a history of delusions." The fair Kate remarked. "And guess who his case worker was?"
"Alison of Tisdale." The Minstrel declared.
The fair Detective was a little taken aback at the speed the Minstrel was able to piece the puzzle together.
"That is so, Minstrel. Her files show that Cabot was under some heavy medication to keep at bay his ailment."
"Limited intelligence. Thinks he has a personal relationship with his hero." Sir Roy mused. He looked at the fair Kate. "It would appear your profiling was indeed correct, Detective."
The fair Detective Beckett took back the file from Sir Roy and reached for the door. The Sheriff moved to follow her from the observation room. Richard the Minstrel was suddenly confused and it showed upon his face.
"Tarry a moment." He said. "Is that all?"
"What more do you want Minstrel?" Sir Roy replied. "We found evidence in his dwelling. We can connect him with the three victims, two from the tavern where he worked and Alison of Tisdale was his social worker. Call the Crown prosecutor and get him some legal aid."
With that the Sheriff departed from the observation room. Richard the Minstrel was not finished. He looked to the fair Kate.
"Confound it, the reader would never accept such a scenario." The Minstrel explained.
"This is not one of your books, Minstrel." The fair Kate replied. "Out here in the real world, we find a fellow standing over a body with a weapon in their hand, more often than not he is the one who did it."
There was something that did not sit right with the Minstrel. There was something wrong about it. He followed the fair Detective Beckett out of the interrogation room he was girded to continue this line of thought with her..."
"Castle!"
The sharp sounding voice startled Castle from his story. It also startled Jim. Both men turned around to find Doctor Josh Davidson standing behind them.
"Can I have a word with you outside, Castle?"
Josh did not wait for Castle's response instead he turned and walked out of the room. Castle looked at Jim who nodded his head as if he was giving him permission. Wearily Castle rose from the chair and let out a long sigh. Slowly he made his way out of the room. He did not know what Doctor Motorcycle Boy wanted to speak to him about but he had a feeling it did not bode well.
As soon as Castle emerged from the room he felt a hand grab him by the front of the shirt and he was propelled roughly against the wall. Josh loomed in his face. The man was angry.
"What the hell are you doing Castle?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
Castle removed the doctor's hand from his shirt and he glared at him.
"No Josh you tell me." Castle said trying not to get angry at the doctor but not doing a good job of it.
"Why are you still in there?"
"Kate's my partner, where else would I be?"
"Is that all she is?"
Castle wanted to say 'yes' if for nothing else than to allay what ever was troubling the doctor but he hesitated. He hesitated. Maybe it was because he was tired from lack of sleep and his mind was not as sharp as it normally was. Maybe it was because the woman laying in that hospital room was more than just his partner. He hesitated.
Josh saw the hesitation on Castle's face and his own face darkened with anger. He took a step closer and grabbed Castle by the shirt again.
"Do I have to remind you she's my girlfriend?" Josh said his voice rising.
"And why are you not in her room right now?" Castle shot back. "Why haven't you been at her bedside these past days, eh?"
"I'm a doctor, I have patients..."
"I know, I know, your work is far more important than your wounded girlfriend laying in that hospital room." Castle sneered. "Saving the world is more important than Kate, I understand."
"Why you..." Josh growled. He wound up his fist ready to unleash it.
"You want a piece of me, Josh?" Castle said calmly as he stared at the doctor. "You want to take it out on me for me being at her side when she got shot and have been at her side ever since? Fine. Name the time and place and I'll be there, no problem. But not here, not now."
Castle saw the hesitation in the doctor's eyes but anger still roiled there. He could see that the man wanted ever so much to punch him. A part of Castle wanted to fight him.
"Richard, darling whatever are you doing?" Martha's voice called out as she approached.
Josh released his hold on Castle and stepped back. He glared at Castle as if to say that this matter was not over. Castle held his gaze steadily.
"Good morning Mother, Doctor Davidson and I were having a full and frank discussion." Castle explained smoothly.
Martha Rogers smiled as she looked at Josh and then at her son.
"Excuse me but I have patients to see." Josh said hurriedly and quickly walked away.
"Richard, really fisticuffs in the middle of a hospital ward?" Martha chided.
"Sorry, Mother." Castle said quietly.
Martha studied her son's face and what she saw filled her with concern. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
Castle pushed himself off the wall and walked back into Kate's room. Martha followed her son and tried not to let the concern she had for him show on her face. Castle quickly resumed his seat beside Kate's bed. Jim rose from his chair on seeing Martha. They exchanged pleasantries as they stood by the far wall.
"How is Kate?" Martha asked in a low voice.
"The doctors are happy with her progress." Jim replied.
"And Richard?"
Jim smiled as he shook his head. "He's hardly had a wink of sleep, I don't know what's keeping him going."
"Don't you?" Martha said, arching a single eyebrow. Jim gave her a puzzled look. Martha nodded to the bed. Jim followed her gaze and understood immediately. He chuckled softly. He nodded his head.
Castle took Kate's hand in both of his and he smiled at her.
"Well Kate, we come to the part of our story where the ruggedly handsome Minstrel is convinced the constabulary have caught the wrong person and he tries to convince the fair Detective Beckett the error of her way and along the way manages to irritate her..."
Your thoughts upon this piece would be truly welcomed.
Con