Back at the apartment Rick made sure Alexis was sitting comfortably before taking Kate to one side, far enough away so that his daughter wouldn't pick up the conversation.

"How do you want to handle this?" he asked quietly, ready to fight if necessary.

Kate surprised him. "In this instance, I think you should."

"Really?"

"Yes." She shook her head slightly. "Rick, I don't want to upset Alexis any more than we have already. I'm not that much of a bitch."

"You're not a bitch at all. And you called me Rick."

"Slip of the tongue."

"I liked it."

"Let's get on with it, shall we?"

Rick nodded, with just a slight lift to the corners of his mouth, then went back into the living area to sit down next to his daughter. "Kitten, you okay?" he asked.

She nodded, blowing her nose on a tissue. "I'm fine." She smiled shakily. "I don't know what's got into me."

"It's okay," Kate said, lowering herself into the armchair opposite. "It's natural."

Alexis sniffed. "I'm okay now. What do you want to know?"

Rick wondered if he'd ever felt more proud of her. "You said you met Keith Neidermann."

"Yes. Kazia introduced us."

"Is this Kazia Bazyli? Long blonde hair, almost to her waist?"

Alexis nodded. "That's her. She spends hours straightening it."

Rick's mouth twitched at one corner. His daughter obviously considered that a total waste of time. "And she's a member of Polidori's."

"Yes."

"Then I think you'd better start at the beginning."

Alexis took a deep breath, wiping her nose again before speaking. "Like I said, I know Kazia from school. We're not friends, not like Becky or Claire, but … she's okay. A bit strange, but okay."

Rick pushed a strand of long red hair where it had come loose from her ponytail off her shoulder. "Go on."

"We've hung out a few times, nothing major. It was when we were having coffee and studying after school one day that Keith turned up. She introduced us."

Glancing at Kate, he asked, "What did you think of him?"

"Sad. He sat with us for a while, told a few jokes, but … it was all an act. I could see it in his eyes. So very sad."

"When was this?" Kate put in quietly.

"Just after Christmas."

"What did you talk about?" Rick wanted to know.

"Nothing much. He didn't even mention Polidori's, just asked what we were studying, and about school, whether I enjoyed learning. He was interested to hear who my father was, but that was about it. They left after about half an hour."

"And you didn't see him again?"

Alexis looked down at her hands. "Not to speak to … no."

"Kitten?"

"Dad, I …" Alexis stopped, biting her lip.

"What is it?"

"I have to tell you something, and I …"

Rick's mind raced through all the possibilities, including the least likely – pregnant, married, pregnant and married … He swallowed. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."

"I … went to Polidori's."

"You did?" He couldn't believe the relief that washed through him.

"It was only the once," she went on quickly, mistaking the look on his face for annoyance. "It was after meeting Keith. Kazia insisted, said I'd enjoy it, that I'd …" Her own forehead creased. "I didn't. It was too … weird. I didn't even have a drink. I just took a look around and left."

"It's okay, Alexis."

"And I felt so guilty about it I grounded myself for three weeks."

His eyebrows raised. "You did?"

"I thought a month would be too much, but a fortnight wasn't long enough."

He'd thought he couldn't be prouder of her, but he was wrong. "Right." Something occurred to him. "Was that when I managed to get those tickets for 'Wicked'? And you said you couldn't go because of school work?"

She nodded. "And I really wanted to see that show."

He took her hand and smiled. "It's okay. I'll get some more."

"Thanks, Dad." She grinned shakily.

"Alexis, you said Kazia loved Keith?" Kate didn't want to break into their moment, but felt she had to.

"That's what she told me."

"Were they sleeping together?"

"She's only fifteen!"

Kate hid the smile that threatened. "That doesn't stop people. I take it they weren't?"

"No." Alexis sighed heavily. "Kazia wanted to, but apparently Keith said no."

"Good man," Rick murmured, glad that Kate had taken over. He just didn't feel comfortable interrogating his own daughter.

"And what about him?" Kate asked, ignoring the aside. "How did he feel about her?"

"Oh, it wasn't love. More … amused toleration."

Kate's lips twitched and she glanced at Rick. "I can tell you come from a literary family."

Alexis shrugged. "I think she was just a … a …"

"Diversion?" Rick suggested.

"Yes. A diversion. Someone pretty enough to be seen with so nobody else would bother him."

"You got all this from one half hour meeting?" Kate asked.

"I suppose there's more of my father in me than I realise. I sort of put two and two together." Alexis smiled. "And he seemed so sad, I asked Kazia about him the next time we saw each other. That's when she told me about his ex-girlfriend."

"Elizabeth Rossi."

"Yes."

"Did you know her?"

"I never heard of her until Kazia told me."

"And their relationship, Kazia and Keith. If it wasn't sexual, could she have been jealous of anyone else?"

"I don't know. We haven't talked for a while. Not since I …" Her mouth closed quickly.

"Not since you told her what you thought of Polidori's?" Rick said.

Alexis nodded. "I probably could have been more polite about it, but something about that place …" She shivered. "Anyway, I haven't spoken to her or her brother since."

"Brother?"

"Her twin. Jerzy." An odd look crossed her face. "He tried to hit on me."

Rick felt a spark of pure parenthood flare in the pit of his belly. "Did he, now."

"He didn't get anywhere, Dad," Alexis assured him. "He's too … creepy."

"That word seems to come up a lot."

"Was he jealous of his sister's involvement with Keith Neidermann?" Kate asked, seeing the pool of potential suspects widening.

"Oh, no. They were all part of the same group."

"Who else was in it?" Kate pulled her small notebook out of her pocket, her pen at the ready.

"Kazia, Jerzy and Keith, of course. Then there was Rhiannon – I don't know her last name, but she's about my age, maybe a year older. And Peter Trask."

"Trask?" Kate and Rick exchanged glances, each aware of the other's thoughts. Elliot Trask was the name of Keith's psychiatrist.

Alexis had noticed the look, but not the meaning behind it. "Yes. But he was more Keith's friend than anything."

"You met them all?"

"Just the once. At … at Polidori's." She looked guilty again.

"Would it help if I punished you?" Rick offered. "You know, take away privileges or something?"

"Oh, yes, please." She was all eagerness this time.

"Then I won't. And that's your punishment."

"Dad …" She sounded for once like the fifteen year old she really was.

"No. And that's an end to it."

She sighed. "Okay, Dad."

Kate looked down at the scrawl in her notebook, and steeled her lips. This reminded her too much of her own youth, when her father would do pretty much the same thing. She remembered feeling anger towards him, because she felt she was being unjustly punished, but later on realising he could have made it so much worse.

When she knew she wasn't going to smile, she lifted her head. "We need to talk to Kazia again," she said to Rick. "And her brother."

"You really think she might have done that to Keith?" he asked. "I know she didn't seem concerned, but … did you see her? She's maybe eighty pounds wringing wet. And even if Keith wasn't the muscular young man he used to be, there's no way she could have overpowered him on her own."

"Then perhaps her brother was involved too. Or one of the others of the group. We still need to talk to them."

"That might be difficult," Alexis put in. "Kazia and her brother are embassy brats. Their parents are something in the diplomatic service."

"Immunity?" Rick asked, glancing at Kate, one eyebrow lifted.

"Probably." Kate shook her head. "I can speak to the Captain in the morning, see if he thinks they'll co-operate."

"And if they won't?"

"We'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it." She looked back at Alexis. "Is there anything else you can remember that might help? Any other friends Keith might have mentioned?"

Alexis shook her head, just as the door opened and Martha bustled through, her arms full of brown paper bags.

"Rick, darling, the taxi driver is waiting. I didn't have enough cash on me, and he wouldn't take your credit card."

Her son got to his feet, taking his wallet from inside his jacket as he did so. "What happened? Did they run out of food?" he asked as he passed her, the smell almost overwhelming his taste buds.

"I didn't know what everyone wanted, so I got a bit of everything." She shook her head. "And you have no idea what I had to promise to get it."

"Too much information, Mom," Rick said, almost out of the door.

"I have to go on a date with the maitre'D," she added over her shoulder as she headed for the kitchen area. She smiled at Kate and Alexis. "Although that won't be any hardship – he's rather cute."

---

After eating what was admittedly some of the best take out food ever, and talking most definitely of anything and everything that wasn't related to the case in hand, Alexis announced her intention of heading to bed. "I have school in the morning."

"I can write you a note," Rick offered.

"Dad, you keep offering, and I keep saying no."

"One day you'll thank me."

"Not today." She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. "'Night."

"Goodnight, kitten." He lifted his body enough to look at her. "And no more grounding yourself without telling me, okay?"

"Okay, Dad."

Kate watched her slowly climb the stairs, then got to her feet. "I'll be right back."

"Down the corridor, second on the left," Martha said, gathering up the plates.

"Right." Except she wasn't heading for the bathroom. On the second level of the duplex most of the doors were closed, but there was light spilling from under one of them. She knocked tentatively. "Alexis? Can I come in?"

"Door's open."

Kate pushed, stepping into a bedroom that was such a reflection of the girl that she had to smile. Old stuffed toys rubbed shoulders with fencing equipment and electronic games, while on the nightstand stood a photo of her father. Not one of the publicity shots, but an honest, smiling picture of the man. Tucked into the top of the frame was a strip from a photobooth, four pictures, again of Rick, but this time with a baby in his arms. A very young baby. He appeared … almost shocked, but in the last, his head dipped down a little so he could look into the eyes of his daughter, the look was pure love.

"I was eight days old," Alexis said, walking out of the en suite and seeing Kate's interest. "Dad wanted something just his, so he took me out, had these done."

"You were very pretty."

"I was red and squally," Alexis corrected. "But he didn't care. Mom said we should have had some done professionally, and there are lots of me in albums." She touched the strip tenderly. "But these are the first."

"Your Dad really loves you."

"I know."

"He doesn't want you to get hurt."

"I know that too." She busied herself getting out pyjamas from the chest of drawers.

"He worries about you."

"And I worry about him. I don't want to see him get hurt either."

Kate's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are we talking about the same thing?"

"I'm not sure." Alexis turned around. "Don't hurt him."

"I've no intention of doing anything like that."

"No, I know. But intentions don't always come out the way we plan." She stepped forward, the nightclothes grasped in her hands like a shield. "He's not what you think. I know he comes across as all … brash, and childish, and … everything. But he's not really."

"I know." As she said the words Kate was surprised to realise she meant them.

"It's an act. He's done it for so long, he thinks it's real, but … I know better."

"You should. You're his daughter."

"Maggie knows too."

Kate felt herself bridling. "I'm sure she does."

Alexis smiled a little. "You'd like her if you got to know her."

"I don't think we've got anything in common."

"You have my Dad."

She shied away from the subject. "Alexis, this isn't why I came up here."

"I know." She smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You wanted to tell me that bad things happen to good people, and that you and my Dad will find out who did this."

"Pretty much, yes."

"I'm fifteen, Kate. And I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were."

"And I know you and my Dad will solve this."

"You have a lot of faith in him. In us."

Alexis shrugged. "He's my Dad. And you're you. He has a lot of faith in you too." She glanced at the photo by her pillow. "You know, sometimes I wonder what Dad would have been like if he'd had a father of his own to look up to, to want to be like."

"Do you want to be like your father?"

"Better him than the deep-fried twinkie, don't you think?"

Kate couldn't help the chuckle. It seemed even Alexis thought of her mother in that way.

---

"Did you find everything okay?" Rick asked, wiping a plate before adding it to the stack in front of him as she descended the stairs.

"What? Oh, yes. Fine."

"Is she in bed yet?" There was just the trace of a smirk to his lips.

Damn him, she thought, but with little real heat. How does he know things like that? "Nearly."

"Then I think I'll pop up and say goodnight." He put the tea towel on the counter.

"I thought you already did."

"I just want to make sure you didn't say anything I'll regret." He almost ran up the steps.

Martha chuckled, shaking her head at her son's antics. "Coffee?" she asked, holding up the jug.

"Mmn, yes, please."

"Good." She poured. "And we can have a little chat."

"Look, if this is about my intentions towards your son then I've already –"

"Told Alexis you haven't any?" Martha finished.

"Exactly."

"Odd, but I don't think that's what your heart is saying." Martha swept to the couch, putting one of the mugs down on the table before she arranged herself elegantly on the cushions.

"Martha, I don't … any relationship with Castle … with Rick … outside of what we do now, well, it would be too complicated."

"Like you and that FBI agent?"

Kate felt a frisson of anger burn up her spine. "He told you."

"Of course. Well, not in so many words, but I'm his mother. I can read between the lines."

"Then you'll understand when I say this is a topic I don't want to discuss."

"That's fine." Martha took a sip of her coffee. "I don't think Rick feels that way."

"I wouldn't know. We haven't talked about it."

"No?"

Their conversation of earlier in the day suddenly blossomed in Kate's mind.

"I know you have the occasional lousy taste in men."

"Do you mean Will Sorenson?"

"He was never going to stay, Katie."

She took a deep, cleansing breath. "Martha, I appreciate your concern, honestly I do. But I don't have any designs on your son. He's not my type."

"Darling, he's everyone's type! As long as they're female, under the age of about seventy and breathing. And I have to say the age thing is a bit iffy."

"Well, not mine."

Martha held up a hand. "Fine. You can go on denying it, but I'm a woman. I see into the truth of these things."

"This time you're wrong."

"Are you so sure?"

Kate wondered why she was protesting quite so much, so instead said, "Martha, don't go trying your lifeskills on me. I'm a cop. You only get to see what I want you to see."

At that Martha smiled. "Yes, dear. Of course."

"Now, can we change the subject?"

---

She was in bed, the only light in the room coming from where the door to the bathroom was slightly ajar. He felt a tightening in his stomach. She hadn't done that in a long time, not since he'd convinced her monsters weren't coming to get her. He wouldn't be surprised if … yes, there it was. The old toy elephant she'd had when she was five, tucked under the covers with her, only one ear and a trunk showing.

No matter how much she might protest she was okay, that what he did never affected her, that these murderers he and Kate put behind bars were about as real to her as one of his novels … maybe it wasn't quite the truth he'd believed.

He stepped forward, watching her. His daughter. His flesh and blood. The fruit of his loins. The apple of –

"Stop it, Dad," she said quietly.

"I thought you were asleep."

"You're too loud."

"I didn't say anything."

"I can hear you staring."

He smiled. "No you can't."

"I can." She lifted her head to look at him.

"Sorry."

"Granted."

"I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"I'm fine, Dad." She yawned. "Just tired."

"Did you and Kate have a nice talk?"

"I like her."

"So do I."

"I know." She smiled and snuggled down into the pillow.

"Alexis …"

She opened eyes already cloudy with sleep. "What?"

"Do you … keep a diary?"

She tried to focus a little clearer. "Why?"

He shook his head quickly. "Nothing. Never mind. No reason."

A little smile lifted her lips. "It's okay, Dad. I haven't kept one for years. Not since I took it to school one day and Tommy Bates stole it out of my locker."

"I don't remember that."

"I didn't tell you." She yawned. "I dealt with it."

He stroked her red hair, fanned out on the pillow. "What did I do to deserve a daughter like you?" he asked softly.

"Not sure I want to know," she said, her words falling away as her eyes closed again. "Just lucky I …" She was already asleep.

"Oh, yes," he said, tucking the cover up around her a little tighter. "Lucky."

---

"How is she?" Kate asked, turning from studying the books on the shelf.

"She'll be okay," Rick said, heading for the wet bar. "But for now she's gone to sleep."

"Your mother asked me to wish you a goodnight from her."

He glanced at the clock, then at the door. "Why, where did she go?"

"Bed."

"Really? This is early for her. She doesn't normally get home until the birds are singing."

"I don't think she wanted to leave Alexis. In case she wanted something."

Rick had to smile. "She loves her granddaughter."

"And her son."

"Well …"

"Of course she does."

He grinned wider. "Hey, what's not to love?" Lifting a decanter from the bar, he said, "Scotch?"

"I can't. I have to drive home."

"You could always stay here." He added quickly, seeing the look on her face, "I have a spare room, Kate."

"No, that's fine."

"And if you stay, then we can go straight to the precinct. No waiting."

"No." She barely managed to stifle a treacherous yawn.

"Kate, you can't drive. Not in your condition." He put down the decanter. "At least take a look at the room. It's really nice."

"Castle …"

"Please?" He was doing the puppy-dog look again, and she had to sigh. Unfortunately it gave him the idea that she'd surrendered. He grinned. "Come on." He took her arm and urged her back up the stairs.

Opening one of the doors at the end of the corridor he switched on the light, filling the room with a soft peach glow. "Alexis' idea," he explained, stepping inside. "All mod cons, fully fitted bathroom, towels in the cupboard, extra blanket in case you get cold …"

"Are you trying to make me stay or buy the place?"

He grinned. "And I'm right next door in case you need anything."

"Is this where Maggie stays?"

The grin froze. "Well, no. She has the room the other side. It's where she always … it's traditional."

"So this really is the guest room."

"Didn't I say that?" He seemed a little uncomfortable, and covered it with a cough. "Anyway, breakfast will be at eight, and –"

"I want to be at the precinct for seven-thirty."

"Right. Of course. Breakfast at six, then." A slightly pained look crossed his face as he realised what the time was already. "Better get my beauty sleep." He leaned in towards her, and for a moment she wondered if he was going to kiss her cheek, but instead he whispered, "'Night, Katie," before leaving the room.

"Don't call me Katie," he heard her hiss angrily at him as he closed the door quietly.

He grinned. That was better. The day wasn't complete without getting totally on her nerves. Walking into his bedroom he began to get undressed, and he'd stripped down to his boxers when the phone rang.

"Castle."

"Hi." It was Maggie Maguire.

He smiled, sitting down as he pictured her, all green eyes and short black hair. "Mags." His pet name for her. "How are things going in Tinseltown?"

"Fine, fine."

"Where are you?"

"My place."

"Your bedroom?"

"Of course. You?"

"Naked." He swung his legs up onto the bed and scooted back so he could lie down.

"So what else is new?"

He grinned. "That contract sorted out yet?" Maggie was stuck in Los Angeles for the time being, working on finishing her latest book and trying to get a film studio to not maul her last.

"We're working on it."

"Which is why I haven't let anyone buy the rights to Derrick Storm," he pointed out.

"They offered a lot of money."

"Never enough, Mags. Never enough. So, to what do I owe this honour?"

There was a pause, and he wondered if she'd taken offence, then she spoke again. "How's Alexis?"

"She's good."

"Only …" The pause this time was longer, and the overall impression he got down the phone line was of his friend chewing the inside of her lip. "I just got the idea … something might be wrong."

He half sat up. "Dammit, Mags, I told you not to practice that witchcraft on me!" Sometimes he wondered if she wasn't psychic. There had been times in the past when she'd kept them out of trouble simply because she'd felt they needed to be someplace else, and experience had shown him she was right more often than not.

"Then there is something wrong?" Her concern radiated from the handset.

"Not with Alexis, honestly."

"Then …" She waited for him to fill the gap. "Well?"

"All right. I'll tell." He explained in a few sentences, closing his eyes and letting his mind lay it out clearly for him, but knowing he didn't have nearly enough to have it make sense yet. "So she's not involved, at least not directly."

"But is Alexis all right? Do you want me to come? I can hop on a plane and be with you in a few hours."

Rick smiled. His Maggie, ever willing to step in at a moment's notice. "No, it's okay. She's fine. Just a bit shocked this sort of thing can happen quite so close to home."

"But you've dealt with murderers before. A lot of them."

"This time she'd met the victim."

"Oh, poor Alexis." He knew the expression on her face without needing to see it, and could tell what she was about to say before she came out with, "Tell her to call me. We'll talk. Any time. I'll make sure I'm reachable, day or night."

"Thanks, Mags."

"Look, are you sure I can't be more helpful there?"

"How's the negotiating going?"

The apparent non-sequitur didn't derail her. "My lawyers are handling it. I can be back in New York by midday tomorrow."

"You need to be there to tell them they're bastards and threaten to remove your name from the credits."

"I've already done that, Rick, but –"

"I'll get Alexis to call you as soon as I can. But you don't need to dash back."

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure. I can handle this, Mags."

"If you're sure. Okay. But don't do anything stupid, all right?"

"Since when do I do that?"

"Since about … oh, always."

"I'll try and be good."

"Huh."

"I promise."

"Right."

He heard a phone ring in the room next door, his mind recognising it as Kate's, but only peripherally. "Mags, don't you trust me?"

"No. I know you."

"Far too well."

She chuckled, and it warmed him. "Okay. Look, I also called to tell you I've emailed the latest couple of chapters to you. I'm … not happy with them, but I can't figure out why. Maybe you could take a look?"

"Sure. When do you need to know by?"

"The usual."

"ASAP."

"That's the one."

"Well, I'm not sure I can do anything until maybe tomorrow evening, but I'll –"

The door flew open and Kate stood there. "Castle."

Rick stared at her. "Do you normally barge into other people's bedrooms?" he asked. "I could have been having phone sex here."

"Put your pants on."

"Why?"

"What's going on?" they heard Maggie's voice coming thinly from the handset still in Rick's palm.

Kate held up her cellphone. "That was Ryan. Someone's broken into the morgue and taken Keith Neidermann's body."