Here is a third chapter to this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as the first two. There will likely be two or three more chapters after this one. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Castle arrived just as Esposito did. He was surprised to see that he'd brought along Ryan and Montgomery. Locking the car doors and turning on the security system, he walked over to his friends.
"Ready?" he asked Esposito.
"Seriously, Bro? Two months salary on the damn engagement ring?" Esposito asked.
Castle nodded solemnly. "And don't forget the three on the wedding ring," he reminded him.
"I am so screwed," Esposito shook his head.
"We all are, so suck it up, gentlemen," Montgomery said with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Castle asked.
"Beckett," all three answered in unison.
"What's Kate have to do with this," Castle asked, clearly confused.
"Our female Rambo gathered the ladies around and showed off that rock you got her," Ryan said, his face clearly showing his disgust over what had happened. "My sweet deal on the ring I got Jenny, and saved me a fortune, just got shot to Hell."
"You just had to spend $10,000 on an engagement ring, didn't you, Bro?" Esposito glared.
"Karen came home and slipped in the fact that her wedding ring looked a little skimpy, after 28 years of it being the best thing since sliced bread, and mentioned that her birthday was coming up soon," Montgomery told his tale of woes.
"So, since the Rick Castle Happy Engagement/Wedding Ring Finance Company is in business, we're all going to go in there, cry like babies when it's all done, and have rings for our Honey's that won't get us permanent nightly couch patrol duty," Esposito explained.
"And allow you to remove the cup you've been wearing," Ryan snickered.
"Don't remind me," Esposito shuddered, remembering the cleaver incident, and the poor decimated beef ribs. The poor guys never stood a chance!
"Have I mentioned, Castle, that I can't sleep anymore when I'm not cuddled next to my wife?" Montgomery slipped in. "A tired Captain, makes for a cranky Captain."
"Message received loud and clear, Gentlemen," Castle replied. He ushered them to the door of the establishment. "Shall we?"
The four men walked into the jewelers and the three less monetarily endowed of them let out some awed whistles. They looked all around from the center of the place and didn't know where to start.
"Back so soon, Rick?" a well dressed man in his mid-fifties walked up to Castle and shook his hand.
"It's never too soon when you have all the best stuff, Chester," Castle smiled. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Chester Grenauld, the best jeweler in New York. Chester, these are my very good friends Javier Esposito, Kevin Ryan, and Captain Roy Montgomery."
"Ah, yes," Chester said with a pleased smile. "I read about you in the article Rick wrote. It's a pleasure to meet you. I assume you are looking for something specific, gentlemen?"
"These two are looking for engagement rings, and Captain Montgomery is looking for a new wedding ring for his wife," Castle explained.
"Excellent," Chester said. "I have a wide assortment right over here," he continued as he walked behind a display case. "As you can see, the cuts vary, and I have single, or multiple settings available. Feel free to look at any you care to, and if need be, I'll be happy to remove one for your inspection."
The three men looked at the large display and were definitely in awe. Kevin was the first to say anything. He pointed to a single setting ring, that had a slightly larger than average diamond.
"How much is that one?" he asked.
Chester looked at the ring in question. "$27,500," he replied.
Three NYPD sphincters spasmed and almost lost control when the price was revealed.
"My car is less than half that!" Ryan squeaked.
Castle looked at the ring in question. "Actually, that's a reasonable price," he commented. He knew his jewelry. "That diamond has a unique facet in a non-traditional setting."
"Good eye, Rick," Chester said. He'd taught Rick all about high end jewelery when the author was doing research for one of his novels a number of years back.
The three shell shocked guys looked at Castle.
"Okay, Bro, how the Hell did you get away with only $10,000 for Beckett's ring?" Esposito demanded. At the rate he was going he could kiss the honeymoon goodbye as all the extra money would be going for the damn rings!
"I only spent $25,000 on the down payment for my house, Castle," Montgomery said, looking a bit pale. He was already mentally saying goodbye to the 30th Anniversary cruise he'd been planning for a few years. "My raise with the promotion won't even help!"
"Promotion?" three sets of eyes looked at him.
"I just found out," Montgomery. "I'm getting promoted to Deputy Inspector next month, but I get to keep command of the 12th Precinct."
"Congrats, Cap," Esposito said, offering his hand, like Ryan.
"Ditto," Ryan said.
Montgomery turned to Castle. "That article of yours has sure opened some eyes in the department," he told him. "These two may be sergeants soon, and they told me that they are looking to add a lieutenant to the Precinct and Beckett may get the nod."
"Skipping sergeant?" Ryan asked.
"Unusual, but they're considering it. Besides. She pretty much carries the load of a sergeant anyway, and they know that, too," Montgomery nodded. "Don't tell her yet. It won't change the fact that you guys will all be a team. Just some added responsibilities around the Precinct."
"Yeah, yeah, the article is a gold mine for us, but back to the important stuff," Esposito rushed to the topic at hand. "You can't honestly say that $10,000 is what you make in two months, Bro."
"That's what I'd like to know," Ryan jumped in. "Why are we going to be filing for bankruptcy after this afternoon, and you're sitting pretty?"
"Because I know Beckett's taste in jewelry, and the item I got her fits within that taste rather well," Castle told them. "Besides, do you really want to know what I make in two months, from book deals, investments, interest income and the like?"
"No," Esposito said firmly. "I think we want to avoid feeling like pathetic bums this afternoon."
"Alright, let's get this over with," Montgomery said to his detectives. "Just one thing, Castle. What are the terms of you helping us?"
"Simple," Castle shrugged. "Pick out the rings you want, make arrangements with Chester for the equivalent of two months of your salary to be paid on fair terms that you can afford, and I'll cover the rest. As for paying me back, I consider the debt paid in full."
"Huh?" they looked at him blankly.
"You guys at the Precinct are the best friends I've ever had, and the money I've made from knowing you guys and writing the Nikki Heat novels is icing on the cake. This is the least I can do," he told them simply.
No matter how much they protested, the most that they could get him to bend was agreeing to their making donations as able to a specific inner city literacy foundation that he supported. They didn't feel right about accepting such generosity, but at the same time they knew that for Castle it really was just wanting to do something nice for his friends.
"You're disgusting, Man," Ryan said as they exited the jewelers. "Just standing there smiling while you write out a check for $32,000 to cover the excess. I'd be either dying of a stroke, or crying like a baby if I wrote a check like that."
"I cry when I write my rent check each month, Bro," Esposito shook his head. "Thanks, though, Castle. This really helps out a lot."
"No problem, Guys," Castle shrugged. "Hey! Anyone up for poker at my place tonight?"
"No can do, Bro," Esposito said with a grin. "Beckett said she has plans for you."
Castle's eyes lit up. "Really? Any clues?" he pleaded.
"Are you nuts?" Ryan asked. "I'd rather face the Terminator in a dark alley buck naked with no weapons than cross our own version of Rambo! You get to be a good little boy, Castle, and find out when she's ready to tell you."
"Damn straight," Esposito nodded in agreement with the sentiment. An angry Beckett made the Terminator look like a cuddly teddy bear by comparison.
"Damn!" Castle muttered. He watched as Esposito and Ryan got in Ryan's car and left, leaving him with Montgomery.
"Castle," Montgomery said when the other two left.
"Yes, Captain?" Castle asked. He had realized a long while back that he respected Montgomery more than almost anyone he knew, and it was very easy to give the man the honest respect he was due, title and all.
"I just wanted to let you know that that article you wrote was a real shot in the arm for morale," he told the wealthy author. "Almost all we hear in the news are stories about cops who are colossal screw ups, or disgraces to the department. There are those out there, but to see an article that lets the world know about the rank and file in the department, and that we have someone of your caliber and social set appreciating what we do and sacrifice? It means a lot, and even though the five of us that you mentioned are appreciative, I wanted to let you know that a lot of cops have been calling me to ask me to pass along their appreciation for what you did. We have a tough job, Castle, but you've made it a bit easier to go out there and do it."
"I'm glad I could help," Castle said solemnly, his tone of voice and facial expression showing just how serious he was. "And, Captain? I meant every word."
After Montgomery got in his car and left, Castle stood there and smiled. He'd wanted to do the article for some time, but had always hesitated, not sure if his friends would appreciate the spotlight. Now he was damn glad he'd written it and had it published. Whistling a happy tune, he got in his car and drove off wondering what Beckett had planned for him.
A/N: Well, there's another chapter down. I hope you enjoyed this one. It probably deserves to be longer, but I want the chapters to be a bit manageable, so this is what I came up with. Next up will be some time with Beckett and her planning. Gregg.