12th Precinct, Present Time

To Serve and Protect

Chapter One – A Day In The Life

Capt Kate Beckett-Castle downed the two aspirin's trying to ease her migraine brought on by the brief from Alpha on their recent homicide scene. She longed to be back as a Homicide, in the field where she belonged; to be back once again directing her Team as lead homicide detective. After more than 7 years of being C.O. of the 12th Precinct, she was starting to wonder if she should retire. Did she have her twenty in so she could just pull the plug on what has been a stellar career? Top of her class from the Academy, fastest female to make homicide detective, and tons of citations, medals, and awards.

Still, the last two years with all the 'defund police' and 'woke-ness' upheaval had been a disaster for the NYPD, not to mention the impact of the whole covid pandemic. It was 'do more with less' and in a 'politically acceptable' manner. Any indications of a mis-step, an impropriety, a mis-spoken word, a show of disdain for others, or disagreement with the powers that be, could spell an end to a career. This scrutiny applied, to not just the frontline Patrol cop, but up to the Precinct Captain, Police Commissioner, and even the mayor, depending on the case at hand.

Fortunately for Capt. Kate Beckett-Castle, she was distinguished enough to have some armor for protection from all the socio-political madness currently happening. As a female in a man's world, with loads of accolades, the pundits attempting to put her under such scrutiny had to be cautious. She was intelligent, independent, female, and very accomplished, aside from being a mother and a police captain. Hers was a politically desirable profile fitting the current day narrative for what a female should strive to become! A competent leader of men in a man's world, quite the role model for young females and just about anyone who needed a definition of 'accomplishment'.

Had she been a male, with the same qualities, detractors and pundits would have come after her with no second thoughts. But her profile spelled everything that was politically desirable and acceptable to the public. So anyone choosing to target her, did so with care. Perception and Public Opinion were the key to being shielded from bad press. Kate could easily turn the tables on them given her politically correct and socially acceptable profile of a strong women in authority. She had learned to play those cards very well.

In her first two years as captain, she learned enough of politics to avoid the land-mines, let alone disarm them. She could hold her ground with any politician such as the mayor, top city officials, city alderman, even including dealing with a lax DA and ADA's. All of them finding out quickly about her political savvy, after just one encounter with her. She was the favorite C.O. of the police commissioner and he often sought her help to push a political agenda or issues that 1PP needed for the Police Force. She had even been approached by political parties to run for State Senate, but Kate knew her best place to be was here at the 12th. It was hands-on here at the 12th and she could serve the people better in her current position.

Not only did she command one of the most distinguished precinct of the NYPD, she had the highest rated homicide case closure of the whole Police Force. As a female role model, she taught at the Academy as a guest lecturer, and was invited to many a seminar as a most distinguished speaker on police matters. The PC had told her personally and professionally that she needed to apply as one of his Deputy Police Chiefs so that when an opening occurred she was in a position to eventually fill it. It was a stepping stone to become a future PC of the NYPD. The position of PC had been held by many prominent persons, including Teddy Roosevelt. As PC, it had added to Roosevelt's resume and helped to catapult him to the position of President of The United States. Frank Reagan the current PC was doing a good job and was likely to be around for some time before stepping down. Still, Kate wondered if she should position herself for the job.

Kate however was frustrated with all the politics and stress associated with being a Police Captain commanding a precinct in these present and most difficult of times. Being a future Police Commissioner was far from her thoughts. She longed to just retire and be there for her husband and four kids: her eldest Alexis, Lilly now 5, her twins Reece and Jackson, all of 3 yrs. They were her rocks that kept her grounded and sane from all that happened in her official and personal life.

Family

Her husband, Rick Castle, was the best thing that had happened to her aside from her four kids. Well, one is not really a kid. That was her eldest daughter, step daughter that is, Alexis, now a grown woman. Then there is her three kids with Rick, who were Rick's pride and joy. After raising Alexis as a single dad, he loved sharing parenting with Kate of their three kids.

Alexis is now Editor and Chief of her own on-line newspaper, The Scroll. It had, in just 4 years, built a viewership of some 6.5 million paid subscribers internet wide. Alexis knew that the number of subscribers were very much smaller than the actual readers who frequented the on line paper. Portions of the paper were open to all to read, but other items, such as certain syndicated columns, special articles, and the like, were only for paid subscribers. The Scroll had maybe two to three times that number of actual readers, majority of whom did not subscribe so missed the many specials of the paper. The paper had many an on-line award for its objective news reporting and hard hitting editorials. Their opinion section had featured many a guest author sharing all points of view, from all sides of the political spectrum.

The online newspaper managed everyday to draw fire from all sides. That is how one knows that one is 'objective' when it becomes an equal opportunity target for the pundits whatever their political leanings. With no political objective other than to present facts to the reading public, the on-line newspaper had thrived. It let the readers decide for themselves what the truth was from the facts presented by The Scoll writers. Many critics tried to vett them, but the high standards of verification and confirmation for any article published by The Scroll produced factual reporting.

Unfortunately, in these present times, accuracy of reporting was an exception rather than the norm with the main stream news. Politicized 'Opinion' Columinist were taken as the truth of the day, although it was an opinion, a point of view from the author. Yet these opinions often masqueraded as 'news' now a days. A bulk of the reading public not able to distinguish news from opinion. To that end, The Scroll had opinion columns from both sides of the political aisle.

Alexis had become one the youngest journalist ever to get a Pulitzer. She recently did so with an on-going series exposing all of the falsehood and controlling tactics from the medical experts, big pharm, and politicos of the pandemic. The series she had written on the matter went by the long title "Dangers To Constitutional Rights in the Name of Public Health". The title had spoken for itself and had drawn criticism from health organizations, medical associations, and all the political factions, including the top two, the Dem Party and the GOP. She had as many supporters as she had detractors on her series, depending on which side of the fence her critics were coming from.

Still, many independent readers trusted how The Scroll wrote on the issues of current importance to the public. Her father, Rick, and step-mother, Kate, were proud of her achievements, despite all the hate and vitriol aimed at her. But Alexis is also, along with all her accomplishments as a journalist, the most awesome big sister any sibling could have or want. That distinction Alexis prized more than her Pulitzer. Having grown up as an only child till Kate married her father, Alex loved her siblings dearly. Every spare moment she had, Alexis shared with her siblings. She was like a second mother to them. Alexis loved her family, it was what she always hoped for when growing up. She now had what she wanted.

It was on days like this current one that Kate Castle sought relief from all the madness the world had to give. On days like this one, Kate realized that she couldn't live a day without her family. They were her anchors and that is what allowed her to get back to the reality of her job; armed with aspirins and a moment's pause for reflection on the current situation.

Ending Her Day

It was not a good reality right now. Crimes rates were up due to all the 'defund police' hysteria, release of felonies instead of prosecutions, and all the issues related to the 'woke-ness' trend, all magnified with the Covid pandemic, but the 12th was getting by, just barely. The 12th had kept their crime rates consistent.

Kate had made some internal policy changes and shifted personnel to cover more critical actions, shifted funding from excess programs to deficient programs, attempting to keep up needed services for their public. The precinct work-force had responded by working harder and more efficiently than ever before at their jobs. Many did not even put in for overtime pay, giving their additional hours out of sense of duty. If a report need to be finished and required additional minutes, it was completed without charging to the work hours. Thirty minutes more to book an arrest, done, again without charge. Such devotion to duty allowed the 12th to stay within the precinct labor budget. All this was not official, since there had been no submitted overtime request from those officers. Their actions kept secret among the 12th personnel and not known openly. These efforts had helped to keep the 12th's crime rate level. For the staff of the 12th Precinct it is duty above and beyond the call.

All the other precincts crime rates were up, and the PC had sent his other CO's to study what Kate had been doing. Most of those CO's realized the results were partly because many of her police officers had done extra unpaid hours but kept it hidden from the higher ups and the public. Still, Homicides were up across the board, and even the 12th had a slight bump, but still the lowest of all other precincts.

The current case that Capt Castle had just been briefed on would stir the political winds. It was a case that would be reported on the media. The public reactions to the case would rise with the already disturbed public concern on the increase in crime. In all this craziness, Kate needed to call her husband. She speed dials him.

"Hey Kate, what's up hon?"

"Just needed to hear your voice."

"Tough day?"

"Yeah it is."

"I'll do something about that tonight", he tells her all the while his voice getting deep and sultry. From the tone of his voice, Kate knew he had gotten her unspoken message that she needed some physical intimacy from him tonight.

"That's why I called."

"Hurry home then, circumstances permitting. I'll have dinner ready and the kids prepped for bedtime and sleep."

"You read my mind."

"Always..., love you babe."

"Same here, love you more."

Kate could not wait to make it home to her husband and kids.

That Night

She needed him tonight and he had responded. Once the kids were asleep, they get in their bed for some intimate alone time. They cuddle for a while and then he kissed her, not just kissed her, but devoured her. He was as needy for her as she was for him tonight. After more than 7 years of marriage, they were still like teenagers together. The love making always as passionate as their first time. Before they were married, they had been living together. But it had not come easily.

She had denied Rick for so long. She had been with other men before him and he had seen her with them. Rick knew she had been sleeping with her past boyfriends. They both were not virgins. Rick had two failed marriages, and Kate had as many, if not more, failed-going-nowhere relationships. She had hid in those relationships with men she did not love. Fearful of becoming yet another conquest of the playboy Rick Castle, she had held him off that way for years, until she could not. Now she regretted not being with him sooner and their marriage was filled with their mutual desire to catch up for that lost time.

Rick was thrusting into her with abandon, she responded by matching his rhythm. They were climbing that peak, and got there together. Never had Kate experienced a shared orgasm with any past lover, they usually climaxed first, many times leaving her wanting. The first time a mutual orgasm had happened to her, was with Rick, and there had been many more of them afterwards. Most of the time it ended like this, simultaneous sharing of body and spirit, as both went over the top together. It was always perfect for both of them.

Once sated, both remained entwined with one another, and fell into a deep calming sleep. She was ready the next morning to don her Beckett persona and be the tough and capable detective that Rick was so proud of about her. She was ready for another tough day.