Chapter Twenty-Four

"I promise you I will learn from my mistakes"

Esposito:

It was Monday evening at the precinct. Beckett was just getting ready to leave and Ryan was already gone to some cake tasting thing him and Jenny had to do. It was time. I picked up my phone and input the number I had called so many times in the past month. "Hello," the woman answered.

"It's me. Everything is calm at the moment so I think I should do it soon."

"That's probably a good idea. When for this time?"

"Saturday."

"Perfect."

She had been more help then she would ever know. I needed someone with connections and she was a perfect candidate. She was also a female so she understood. "Thanks Madison," I told her.

"No problem."

The Dragon:

Richard Castle knew who I was. That could be very dangerous. I thought the whole matter would be kept quiet for good after Lockwood killed Roy. I guess I was wrong. The nosy writer may know who I am but he doesn't know I'm not alone. I have a co-conspirator whom Castle thinks is his friend. Castle may think he has connections, but I have connections he wouldn't even dream of.

It was time to act on it. The writer and Johanna's daughter must die.

I called Richard Castle's number and waited for him to pick up. "Castle," the writer answered.

"Hello Rick." He made a small gasp like voice and I knew he knew exactly who I was. "I'll make you a deal Rick; meet me in the alley way Johanna Beckett was murdered in at midnight or Kate Beckett dies."

"I'll be there," the writer answered without question.

He was either a very brave or very stupid man.

Castle:

This would all be over soon. I would meet with the dragon and hopefully keep Kate safe. I was more then thankful my mother and daughter were out of town for a couple days again. If my mother knew the name of the man I was going to meet it would kill her.

I went to the safe in my office and took out the gun no one knew I owned. I was getting the bullets when my phone rang again. I was afraid it would be him again, but it was just Kate. "Beckett?" I asked answering.

"Castle, I need to talk to you," she said.

"When?"

"Now can you come over?"

"I'll be right there."

Beckett:

He got there shortly after I called him. We sat on my couch while I took deep breaths. "I'm done Castle." He gave me an inquisitive look and I continued, "It's been almost thirteen years since my mother was murdered. I was never able to accept it. I tried so hard to find the man behind it Castle. She was my mother and I will always miss her, but I've got to stop putting us in danger by looking for her killer. I was shot, you were almost set on fire; I'm done. I have learnt from my mistakes, I can't chase this anymore."

Castle didn't say anything; he just had a blank expression on his face. He knew more then he was willing to admit. "Castle, I don't know what you know about her murder, but you have to let it go. You have to walk away like I'm doing."

He looked at me seriously and spoke softly, "I can't do that Kate."

"Rick please," I started to plead, but he got up and left.

It was almost funny how we had come in a full circle. When Castle first started looking into my mother's case he couldn't let it go and I told him to stop, then I was the one who couldn't let it go and he was begging me to stop, and now he's back to not letting it go. If he got himself killed I don't think id be able to live with myself. I took my head in my hands and sighed.

A/N: So Esposito has been plotting with Madison, the dragon has a co-conspirator, and Castle is meeting with said dragon. What in the world is going to happen? Mwh ha ha ha ha ha!

~Rose