Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't

OOOOOOOOO

Kate was busy processing it all.

Daniels was at the hotel by 10.

T.O.D is 10.30 to 11.00

Daniels never left the hotel after that.

He's not our guy.

…

OOOOOOOOO

45.

This game was friendlier. He wasn't interested in winning and both Daniels and Stevens seemed happier when it was more even. They loosened up when their pride wasn't damaged.

"Where's Tim?" he asked, trying to find an avenue of conversation. That and he wanted to make sure that ass wasn't going to find Kate without him there.

"Left."

"Hope he wasn't driving," he absently put another ball away.

"Not your problem." Stevens cut him off.

"A little jumpy aren't you?" Castle murmured. "Your man over there was talking about pigs earlier. What'd you do to piss the police off?"

"Not your problem!" Daniels pushed at his shoulder.

"Whoa," he straightened. "Chill. I was asking because I might have blown off a few traffic cops on the way in. I don't want to get any surprises if they show up here."

Stevens grabbed Daniels' shoulder.

"Maybe we're a little on edge, they've been on us all week." Steven explained.

"That deserves a beer," Castle acknowledged. They were even more close-mouthed than he thought. Hopefully another drink would loosen their lips.

"I'll say," Castle looked over at the new voice and saw Carrik standing behind him. Carrik met eyes with the keeper and indicated a new round.

"You boys playin' nice?" he demanded of his crew.

"Sure we are," Daniels grunted, avoiding eye contact.

"He was asking about Tony." Stevens offered in explanation.

"Wait," Castle held up a hand. "Who's Tony?"

"A friend of mine," Carrik's eye's were bloodshot. "He passed away earlier in the week."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Accident? I almost get in one every time I drive in the city."

Daniels shuffled uneasily.

"He could handle his bike," Carrik snapped. "Somebody killed him."

Castle straightened and looked properly sober.

"I'm really sorry to hear that, man. I hope they catch the guy."

Daniels started edging off.

"They better hope I don't find him first." Carrik scowled. "Daniels! Where're you going?"

He jumped. "Thought I'd get a drink."

"I already ordered," Carrik really wasn't a happy drunk.

"Guess I forgot," Daniels looked uncomfortable.

"You okay man?" Stevens asked his friend. "You've been off all week."

"Must be the stress. Losing Tony."

"Like you were friends," Carrik muttered accepting the beer the keep brought over. "Surprised you don't throw a party."

Daniels started to leave but Carrik grabbed his shoulder and spun him round. "Where do you think you're going? What's your problem?"

Daniels tried to shrug him off, his face tight in anger and fear.

"Should have let the cops take you off my hands. You and that slut of yours. I saw your little show. Threw herself at pretty boy here," Carrik turned on him. "You enjoy it?"

"Uh," Castle hedged. He was orchestrating this. He wasn't supposed to be involved.

"Guess not. Figures she'd be no good. What do you think Stevens? Out of ten?"

Stevens made no reply.

"You think I didn't know?" Carrik was angry now. "Tony knew. Tim told him his sister was screwing you. You were probably with her the night he got whacked!"

Stevens looked like he was ready to take a swing at his leader.

"Don't lie to me," Carrik roared smashing the bottle. "Don't think I don't know what you pricks say about me. You think I don't pay attention? You're wrong. Stacy was with you. And where were you Daniels? Find yourself something better?"

He advanced on Daniels, stepping through the shards at his feet.

"Celia!"

Stacy's call froze Carrik in place as he looked up and saw his girlfriend heading for the exit.

"Where are you going?" he bellowed.

Her eyes were frightened as she looked at Daniels. Daniels looked back at her with something like desperation before Carrik's fist caught the side of his head and he toppled.

After a solid kick that Castle heard break ribs, the drunk started across the room towards his girlfriend.

Kate started moving to intercept the girlfriend before she could run. She was the one and if she got away she would just go to ground and they'd never find her.

At the pool table Stevens had snapped after watching the collapse of his friend had launched himself at Carrik. She saw to her relief that Castle had moved a safe distance away, putting himself between the two struggling men and Celia.

Carrik was heavy and slow, but he had muscle and he didn't seem to be affected by Steven's hits. It would only be a matter of time before one of Carrik's blows connected and Stevens joined Daniels cold on the floor.

And she didn't have her weapon.

"You boys better be on your way," She said loud enough that there was no doubt she would be heard over all the background noise.

She hastily slipped the rings off her right hand.

"You're a cop?" Stacy spat.

Hearing this Celia snapped her eyes to Beckett and bolted. Beckett had a lot more experience running in heels so she managed to ensnare Celia before she made it ten feet from the door. Celia whirled and struck with her fingernails, but Kate brushed her hand aside easily and used Celia's momentum to turn her and pin her against one of the lintels. Holding her struggling wrists with one hand, she extracted her cuffs with the other, shaking them out and securing her suspect.

Carrik bellowed and left Stevens for Castle. The few members of the gang that hadn't already quit for the night fixed on Castle angrily. Three joined Carrik and she saw Castle extract pool balls from his pocket and aim them.

One hit a face. The howl echoed clearly over the din.

His friend shielded his head so Castle aimed for the knee.

She never got to see if it was effective as a snarl from behind her had her turning in time to miss the bottle Stacy had swung at her head.

"You really don't want to do this," Kate warned, her eyes flicking over to her partner's fight. She needed to get there now.

"Oh yes I do," she grated, her second swing wide and clumsy. Her chin was fully exposed and Kate considered a jab to it but instead she just put her weight into her shoulder and launched a solid upper to Stacy's lower torso, banishing the air from her opponent and sending her to her knees.

Stevens didn't like that. Looks like he cared for her more than Stacy thought. Who knows, if Stacy had enough air left to pay attention she might be moved by it. Happily Ever After.

She thanked the stars they were at the bar where there was a shortage of weapons. No pipes or bats. No sets of mechanical tools to use as missiles. Guns hadn't made an appearance yet, but she wouldn't put a blade past them.

Stevens came hard and fast, forcing her to retreat a few steps. She dodged his shots and aimed her returns at his lower back and kicked at his knees. He was a lot better than his girlfriend or his boss and his shots were tight. Pain lanced throughout her shoulder as he clipped her when she sidestepped. She ground her teeth and dropped to a one legged crouch, sweeping his feet out from under him, following with a heavy elbow to his diaphragm.

He landed hard and it took him more than a few attempts to roll to one side where he wheezed.

Stacy had regained enough breath and she crawled for him.

Kate left them and ran for her partner.

…