A/N: Quick mentions, TORONTOSUN, I hope this chapter fulfils that request of yours and ShannonJethroGideonCastleSnape, I really tried to make your little request work here too.

For everyone else, thank you, once again for all your support and I must apologize again, I will be late in my replies to your reviews this time around too. I promise to get to them, and any and all private messages, as soon as I can, so please bear with me. To everyone who followed or favorite this story, thank you to you too. You're all amazing, each and every one of you. :)

Chapter 14

Like the tick of a clock, once noticed, it's hard not to hear every single tick as the seconds rigidly pass by. Tick. Tick. Tick. Richard Castle. Alexander Rodgers. Richard Castle. Castle. Rodgers. Castle. Rodgers?

Ever since Kate heard the news, those names were all she heard. Over and over again. Like a stock ticker, the names were displayed on repeat, personal only to her mind's eye. It was her own private hell; she didn't know what to think. What was she supposed to think? The man she was seeing just turned out the be the main suspect in her murder investigation. Not that he was ever really a suspect—more like a person of interest—but how could she stop from seeing or treating him as such now? Yes, he may have been super sweet to her, but hey, even the coldest of killers played with their prey before they feasted. Was that what she was? If not the next victim in his deranged little game of reality reenactment, at least a source of intel on the police investigation against him?

Alex was the man she saw leaving the Tisdale building. There was an envelope with the image of a black pawn, that was, obviously now, from the illustrious publishing company that protected Richard Castle. That book he gave her for their first date—oh god. But, no, the one that probably irked her the most, besides all that, was how he taunted them by helping them reopen his case. It was like he was telling them they weren't good enough detectives, almost letting him get away, that he had to point out the flaws in their case. No wonder his knowledge on the Castle books was so detailed—he wrote them!

And now, here he sat before her in the sterile interrogation room, staring her down. For a man about to face a murder charge, he did not seem very surprised. Well of course not, he probably did it. But no, that's not it either. In fact, he seemed rather ... indignant?

How dare she? Yes, in the back of his mind, he kind of knew this was coming. Oh, who was he kidding, he had this coming since Gina first called with the news. If there was anything to be surprised about it, it was how long it took the police to finally get to him. For NYPD's finest—no matter how much he may not like Kate at the moment, he would always consider her New York's finest—they sure took a while to figure out it was him. He could've killed a good number of people by now.

No, Alex, what are you doing? Why was he acting this way? He didn't do anything wrong! How often did he have to reiterate that to himself? And yet, why was he acting all offended as if he had committed those murders?

It's because she really believes he did it.

That little voice in his head won't shut up. As much as he told himself the truth, there was that part of him that was scared Kate didn't believe him or won't believe him—not that he ever had the chance to explain himself. And so, no matter how many times he tried to console himself or how many times his mother and daughter may have said otherwise, he still doubted himself. Though their courtship was short and fast, he had hoped she learned about who he was and would understand that there was no way he could have committed these acts she's accused him of. The fact that she didn't believe him, despite all the time they spent together this week, hurt. He thought she understood him. I guess I was the only one who was feeling that connection.

"Yo, what's Beckett doing?" Esposito asked his partner Ryan, from behind the one way mirror in the observation room adjoining the interrogation room.

"I don't know. They're both just kind of staring at each other. I'm not sure what either is thinking," Ryan responded.

"I just can't believe that guy in there was the guy Beckett was with earlier today."

"They're not an item, are they?"

"That guy better hope she didn't consider them an item. 'Cause if he hurts Beckett? He'll be dead meat before he knows it."

Ryan enthusiastically agreed in response. Both men stared back, determinedly, through the mirror, hoping to see if there's a break in the standstill. If that Alexander Rodgers in there did anything that might even be considered hostile, well, they got their boss's back in an instant.

Kate had decided; she would not be the first one to break. Sure, they may have been sitting here a good five minutes, probably, in complete silence, but she would not be the first one to give in. If he ever really cared for her, he should be busting his chops right now, trying to explain to her what the hell is going on. Because in these few minutes and the many that led up to their time here, she still could not make sense of how the man that is central to her case, is the same person she had been seeing romantically all week long.

How could the man who took her on the most enchanting dinner she's been on yet, be the same person that murdered three in cold blood? How could this same man who was so sweet and caring with his mother and daughter, also be the guy who attempted to put all the blame on some innocent, mentally unstable boy that, due to his very mental capabilities, can't even defend himself? How could these two people, so distinct in names and personalities, possess one body?

Unfortunately for Kate, as much as she would have liked to carry on their silent staring contest, she knew she had to get started on the interrogation. It won't be long before his lawyer showed up, and sooner rather than later, she wanted—no, needed—him to spill his guts before his attorney shut him down.

"You've been informed of your rights, Mr. Castle. You have the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford one, we will provide one for you."

"My name isn't 'Mr. Castle,' it's Rodgers. Alex Rodgers. You know that. And I have an attorney. He will be here shortly."

Looks like Kate was the first to break their tête-à-tête. But given that introduction of hers, he immediately regretted dismissing the opportunity to speak first. He stayed silent out of respect for her, and possibly in hopes that she would drop the whole hard detective act and just speak to him like he was used to, but it looked like that was out of the picture. Her words just brought back all the hurt and more.

He got that she was probably pissed at him—after all, who wouldn't be if the person they were dating turned out to be a person of interest in a murder investigation—but that was low, what she did. He was not Richard Castle, and he resented that implication of hers, especially in front of his students. Oh, god, his students. At least she had the decency to merely reference his alter ego in front of them, unlike here where she blatantly called him out by that name. But those kids are a smart bunch. Their curiosity would be piqued and he's sure it won't take much for them to connect the dots.

How could she do that? There was a reason why he didn't want people to know that he was the man behind the Richard Castle image. He spent years developing his credibility as a professor of literature, and though he was no Indiana Jones or Robert Langdon—he was by far a renowned expert—he was still a respected academic individual. He created the Richard Castle persona to give himself the freedom to engage in his hobby while also remaining the anonymous professor beloved by his students for whom he was an average person, not the apparently famous novelist. He wanted his students to take his classes for him, not whatever he may be if they saw him only as a mystery novelist.

"Well, until your lawyer arrives, you care to explain to me why you murdered Alison Tisdale?" demanded Kate Beckett, the serious detective before him. If he saw any hurt in her eyes at his betrayal, he only responded to the anger that was flaming on the forefront.

"Alison Tisdale? You honestly can't believe I had anything to do with that. I didn't even know the girl!"

"Really? You really expect me to believe that? Here, why don't I spin a story for you that sounds a little more likely," the way Kate spat out the word story almost had him cringing but his blood was starting to boil too much for him to respond to that. "I think, you noticed her as a grad student at NYU, part of the social work program. Maybe you fancied her but she said no to your advances. So what, couldn't take the rejection, Alex? So used to women just falling for your charms that the rejection stung just a little too much? You tried to forget about her, maybe with your writing, but then probably realized that this was one plot point you can't write away. So why not just delete it from existence? You already have the perfect cover. Even if they suspect Richard Castle, no one would know it was you."

"You're wrong," Alex interjected. He was furious now. It was one thing for her to conjecture and throw his "Castle" name in his face, but it was another thing for her to make such flagrant speculation. She's hurt, he got that, but to call him, in essence, a cheater and a liar? He would not stand for that. If she doesn't believe in him, even after their week together, then fine. But he will not have her believe otherwise, that he's some scum who just picks up any woman he fancies. "That is not how it is and you know it, Kate."

"It's Detective Beckett to you," Kate quietly responded, losing a bit of her steam for a reason Alex can't quite put his finger on. But as soon as that appeared, it was replaced with anger again. "Well, if that's not it, why don't you clue me in on what it really is."

"Dammit, Kate, how should I know?!" Even though she corrected him, she would always be just Kate, the soft woman he grew to really care for. "Don't you believe me? After our week together, do you really think that little of me? Like I'm some playboy who might respond to an interrogation like this with, 'I'd be happy to let you spank me'?"

"I don't know Alex, you tell me!"

"I am telling you, Kate—that isn't me. I didn't do this, whatever this is."

"And why should I believe you, huh? Considering that you make up stories for a living."

"Richard Castle is not all I am and you know that. You know me, Kate. Or at least I thought you did but I guess our relationship must have been a lie."

"Are you kidding me? You're actually bringing this up right now? After you've told me you just betrayed me by admitting to your Richard Castle persona?"

"Kate, listen to me—"

"Listen to you? Why should I listen to you? How am I even supposed to trust anything that you say?"

"How are you—. Because of everything we've been through this week! Sure it wasn't much—not like we were trapped in a freezer or faced off a bomb—but dammit Kate, I thought this week meant something. I am more than Richard Castle. If that means anything to you, if you care for me at all, please believe me."

"If I care about you? You and I have nothing to do with this case and quite frankly, I can't believe you used me like that."

What was Alex supposed to say now? How was he supposed to respond to a comment like that? He wasn't getting through to Kate and honestly, he was starting to feel the anger deflate out of him. All that's left was bitter disappointment and a near broken heart.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Kate. I—"

Before Alex could say much else, the door to the interrogation room opened and in walked Alex's attorney. He hasn't needed to employ the services of his lawyer for much, but he's been around the man long enough to know when to shut up when he walks into the room. There was probably already a mouthful from his lawyer waiting for him when he left the interrogation, given how talkative he's been since he was brought in.

"Detective," nodded the lawyer in acknowledgement before turning to Alex. "I'm sorry it took me this long to get to you, just some minor complications with my associate. But now that I'm here, I must advise you to not say another word."

"It's okay Harvey. Thank you for coming."

"Of course," replied the finely tailored lawyer, complete in his expensive three piece suit. "Now Detective, unless you have any concrete evidence that Mr. Rodgers is complicit in your case, we are done here."

"As a matter of fact, I do." The folder that Alex didn't notice until now was lifted before Kate as she took out some photos to spread out on the interrogation table before them. "This is an image taken from the security cameras inside Jonathan Tisdale's building and we have a witness who can identify his presence there. If your client really has no involvement in our case, then why was he seen in the Tisdale building immediately after the murder of Alison Tisdale?"

Alex had no idea how they got a hold of that image—well, he probably had some idea—but he was more surprised that they even knew he went to visit Alison's father. That morning seemed like such a distant memory now and considering how nothing came to fruition after his questioning, he must have blocked it from his recollections. But with the looks his lawyer was giving him, it was like he just grew another head. He had to explain himself now, though it may be against his better judgment to do so.

"Hey I can explain. I just wanted to speak to the guy on some real estate but seeing as he's dying, I figured—"

Both Kate and his lawyer decided to speak at the same moment, cutting Alex off, but the voice he listened to was Kate. His lawyer was telling him to shut up and not say another word, but he needed to make Kate understand and she was finally asking him the right questions, ones he could answer.

"Who do you mean? Jonathan Tisdale? What makes you think he's dying?" demanded Kate.

"Well, those photos in his office … he's much thinner now. Like sick thin, not work-out thin."

"His daughter was just murdered!"

"He kept touching his hair though, like he was self-conscious."

"It was a piece?"

"It was a good one. But it's new to him. The chemo's relatively recent. And he was wearing make-up."

"He's trying to look healthier than he is."

Alex could see Kate was giving him some consideration. His lawyer was giving him a mean glare, telling him to shut up but he was finally getting somewhere with Kate, he didn't want to give up now.

"Maybe he probably didn't want shareholders to know," he bantered back, building the same rhythm they had before their whole affair turned sour.

"So he's got cancer; that doesn't mean he's terminal."

"But it would make more sense if he was. I thought you already knew all this about Tisdale. Did you interview the brother?"

"There was never a reason to …"

And right then, he knew he got her. Kate quickly excused herself from the room, during which his attorney mumbled something along the lines of how he could've better spent his time if he left this to his associate, Mike, what with Alex ignoring everything he said and blabbing his mouth off.

It felt like hours but really, only a few minutes passed before Kate returned with some paperwork, saying his family was there to pick him up. Alex tried to catch her eye, and see if their little theory building session had any effect on her, or if she still considered him a suspect, but Kate was studiously avoiding his gaze. She quickly left the room after she handed off the paperwork to his lawyer, and then Alex was left alone to his thoughts and a lawyer who was billing him hundreds just for these few seconds to read over the basic paperwork.

Martha and Alexis was waiting for him out by the elevators, when he finished signing every document his lawyer put in front of him. He didn't see Kate for the rest of the time he was in the precinct, but by the time his family came into the picture, he had to push all else from his mind. No matter where he stood with Kate at the moment, it was more important to him that his family was okay and no harm came their way from this little development.

When he swept his daughter into a crushing hug, she returned the favor with just as much fervor. For an instant, he felt comforted, as if all the weight has been lifted off his shoulders, what with Kate knowing his secret and all. But the minute he stepped off the elevators and out the lobby towards the steps outside, the camera flashes reminded him that the rest of the world now knows his secret too.

Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.