A/N: Slightly innocuous, but I changed Alexis's age in Chapter 3 from 16 to 14. A reviewer pointed out that she should be 14 if I'm aiming to follow the canon timeline and I am. I had chosen an arbitrary number when writing this (16 sounded like a more mature age), and I don't have a beta (I'm not even sure I know what they are or how to get one, but I see authors talk about having one?), so please excuse the alteration. Her change in age shouldn't affect the story in any significant manner; I just wanted to inform y'alls of this modification (but if anyone notices any other inconsistencies, please feel free to send them my way and I'll be happy to make the change if it fits with what I'm trying to do with this story). Happy readings. :)

Chapter 6

Kate couldn't stop smiling, as she breezed into the precinct that Wednesday morning. Her trip to the library was made in the effort to get some peace of mind. Never would she have expected to run into him. Alexander Rodgers.

After her interview with Jonathan Tisdale, she did not feel like returning to the precinct, having only more questions and no solid answers. So instead—who knows what compelled her—she decided to return to the NYU Library because just maybe, she might be able to get some work done there. Little did she know, the exact opposite would be happening. After the initial awkward introduction and she got to talking with Alex (or should she be saying Prof. Rodgers?), they ended up talking for two hours before he had to run off to lead some writing seminar. But not before he asked her out on a "real date," as he called it, for the next night. It happened so fast, she found herself agreeing to his request without even thinking about it. She couldn't censure herself for not taking longer to consider her answer because the silly adorkable smile he gave her sent all further thoughts out the window. And now I have a dinner date tonight with this man I just met yesterday.

"Yo Beckett, we got it."

"What?" Okay, was she just daydreaming and staring off into space? At work?

"The warrant, Beckett," replied Hispanic detective, Javier Esposito. If he noticed her distractedness, he chose not to comment on it. "The warrant came through for more information on Richard Castle. Ryan is on the phone with them now."

"Thanks Espo," Kate sighed, as she mentally kicked herself in the rear. Looks like her case is finally getting somewhere. And pretty much when she finished that thought, she noticed Kevin Ryan, Esposito's partner, hang up the phone and turn around to face them.

"Alright, we got somewhere. Sort of. It seems Black Pawn is better at protecting their authors than we expected. They're still not giving up who 'Richard Castle' is but they're willing to release his fan mail to us," said Ryan, as he updated them on the situation.

"Okay, I guess that's better than nothing," Kate acknowledged. "When is it coming in?"

"Later this evening, I think."

"Good job Ryan. Pick them up if you have to but can you go see if they'll come any fast—" Kate found herself cut off when her phone suddenly rang out, crying for her attention. Dammit, please let it not be a new body drop; they were finally getting somewhere. Half holding her breath, she picked up her phone, "Beckett. Uh-huh. Got it; midtown. Okay, we're on our way."

She could see her boys looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to confirm what they already assumed. "Never mind, Ryan. Give instructions to someone to make sure Castle's fan mail ends up in the conference room when we get back. We got a fresh one."

Katherine Beckett, NYPD. Yeah, he definitely finds that hot. Rodgers can't get his mind to stop thinking about Detective Beckett when he woke up that morning; he still couldn't stop thinking about her as he idly flipped the pancake he precariously balanced on his spatula for his daughter's breakfast.

She was so easy to talk to yet educated and intelligent. They spent hours talking about books, travel, culture, everything—but it wasn't enough. Quite simply, she was a fascinating woman. And he's got a real date with this enchanting person. He couldn't stop the goofy smile that blossomed on his face even if he wanted to. Where should he take her? They talked so much yesterday, how does he not know if she likes Chinese food, or Indian food, or Italian?!

"Hey Dad. You're up early," Alexis greeted him as she descended the staircase, but his focus was elsewhere and he didn't notice his daughter. "Dad?"

Alexis had to sidle up to her father and physically nudge him a bit to get his attention. "Your pancakes are burning," she teased.

"Wha?"

"Pancakes, Dad. Seriously, what's on your mind this morning?" Alexis asked as she walked back around the kitchen island to sit on the bar stool facing her father.

"Oh nothing darling. I'm sorry. Just, you know, stuff," Rodgers replied, but he couldn't keep the grin off his face.

"Righttttt. I'm guessing you sorted things out with Gina?"

"Gina?"

"Well, you looked pretty down yesterday after you talked to her."

"Oh it's nothing to worry about, honey. But since you mentioned it, that reminds me; I need to call her. Here, help yourself to the pancakes."

"Daddy, these are burnt."

But when Alexis looked up, her father already left the kitchen area and was walking towards his study. So instead, she just reached over to his plate of pancakes and stole the ones off there. He was already leaving, so he probably wouldn't mind. Alexis noticed his slight change in demeanor when she mentioned Gina, but figured, if something really serious was going on he would tell her, right? She didn't like this feeling of uneasiness and doubt but her father was smiling this morning so maybe it was just all in her head. Alexis tried to brush it off as she continued her meal before glancing at her watch, noticing it was about time she headed off to school. Her father still hadn't return from his study but she didn't want to bother him with her goodbyes. I hope everything's okay.

"Alex?"

"Hey Gina. I wanted to call to see if you have any updates on my situation?" Rodger's morning was going so well, too well that he almost forgot he was in the middle of a murder investigation until his daughter inadvertently reminded him.

"Oh good. You're just in time; saved me the hassle of calling you," Gina replied when she confirmed it was Rodgers on the other end of the line. "I've been on the phone with the police all morning. Do you want the good news first or the bad?"

Inwardly, Rodgers groaned. "I'm not gunna like this am I? Alright, just hit me; doesn't matter which."

"Well, good news is we had our lawyers look at their warrant and it showed they only wanted information on Richard Castle that would be pertinent to their case. So I guess the bad news would be we had to turn over something, which would be your fan mail in this case, but for the most part, we were able to get away with not telling them the real 'Richard Castle' is you."

"Phew. I can live with that," he responded, releasing the breath he had been holding.

"But Alex, I don't know if that's the end of it. The detective I talked to, Detective Ryan, I think? Anyways, I managed to get some more information out of him and it looks like someone is killing people like the way you do in your books. Alex, I don't think you're in the clear yet; there's something about this whole case that's unsettling to me."

"No, yeah, I understand. Thanks Gina. Is there anything I can do in the mean time?"

"I would say lay low, but it's not like people even know who you are in relation to Richard Castle," Gina laughed humorlessly. "Just, don't be yourself? I know you, Alexander Rodgers. Don't go poking your nose into things that doesn't need poking and don't do anything stupid until this whole thing blows over. Even if you're not involved—"

"I'm not, I swear!"

"I know Alex, I believe you. But if somehow something, anything, gets traced back to you, we don't want to give them further unnecessary cause for your arrest."

"Aww, you're actually worried about me, Gina?" Rodgers teased, hoping to lighten the serious conversation they've been having.

"Careful Alex. I'm just trying to protect my assets. You go, and with you, those nice little paychecks I get from your sales leave too. But hey, who knows, maybe with this blow in your cover, the sales will increase from your infamy?"

"Oh you wound me, Gina."

"Well, regardless. Be careful. I have to get back to work now, but I'll contact you with more updates if I receive any."

"Thanks," he responded honestly. "Sincerely, thank you."

"No problem, Alex. It's what I'm here for. Talk to you soon." And with that, she hung up the phone, leaving Rodgers, once again, immobile in his office with all the thoughts swirling around in his head.

Now he knows why the police are targeting him. Someone is aping his books, murdering people in the way he kills them in his novels. No wonder the police are desperate to get in touch with Richard Castle. For all they know, it could be the man himself who dreamt up these murders. They're probably thinking Richard Castle somehow snapped from all the secrecy, or whatever, and decided it was about time to test out his novels in the true crime market. Ooo, that would be an interesting plot for a new novel. No No, focus, Alex.

He needed to get away from this a bit. He has a lecture presentation to finish and a date to plan ... with a detective ... who solves crime for a living. Light bulb. Does Kate know anything about this case?