I haven't forgotten; just want to finish my stories one at a time. This one doesn't look to end any time soon, but should be fun. A little angst, but mostly sexual tension, romance and humor.
Disclaimer: They are not mine.
Victoria Gates did not like being made the fool. Yet, as she sat behind her desk she could only describe her emotional state as foolish. Never in a million years would she have imagined that Kate would have chosen the job. That she would have chosen her partnership with Castle over her romantic relationship with him.
She was no idiot, and she well understood that stating they were not in a relationship anymore was a far cry from platonic. No, the issue of distractions and emotional involvement was still there. Yet with the partners back to only partners, she had very little claim to toss him out now. You can toss him out anytime you want to. Gates admitted to herself, You just don't want to because he's good for your team and he's good for clearance rate. She acknowledged that this was the crux of her dilemma, she hated to admit it, but she needed Castle.
She also knew that her refusal to allow Castle into the field would be short-lived. It was only a matter of time before some higher power was knocking on her door, informing her that the writer should be given full access to New York's finest once again. He's had plenty access to New York's finest, she couldn't help but think. The sad part was that at the end of the day, Gates thought Castle and Beckett were great together. She rubbed her temples in frustration as she thought about the sticky situation at hand.
It isn't like they can just turn their feelings off, she thought. But those feelings have been there a while and they've worked remarkably well through them, came her internal dispute. In reality, what has changed? Gates was conflicted.
She didn't have much time to think on the matter though, as she was interrupted from her thoughts by a pounding on the door. Mayor Weldon entered and made himself comfortable upon her invitation. Well, that didn't take long, She thought wryly to herself.
"Captain Gates! I'm needing a little favor and I know just the two to help me out." The mayor began.
"Whatever the city can do to help, Mayor Weldon, I'm sure we will be happy to do." Gates pandered.
"My first assistant's cousin was killed two weeks ago under mysterious circumstances." He explained somberly.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Gates offered.
"Yes, well. The thing is that the young man and his wife were both killed on their honeymoon," He paused for effect but continued , "and they are not the only couple to die in this manner. Two other couples have all died under mysterious circumstances as well."
"Yes! I remember hearing about that!" She commented, "who has jurisdiction over that?" She asked, not liking where this was going."
"It's a gray area." Weldon admitted, brushing her question off as if it were an unimportant detail.
"So how can we help you?" Gates questioned.
"Well, I've been able to get a team on the investigation, and they've identified a bridal company that links all three couples. There is a fourth couple setting sail on Monday for the Bahamas, and we'd really like eyes on these two. Not only for protection, but we'd like to catch these people in action.
Gates nodded, "I can give you Steger and Karpowski for the week if that's what you need…"
"Captain Gates," The mayor interrupted, "I was thinking about something a little more inconspicuous. Afterall, this is a lover's cruise. I was thinking that maybe my man Castle and detective Beckett could offer their skills." He grinned widely, attempting to use his clout and charm to sway the captain.
"You're wanting me to send my best detective on an undercover assignment, on a cruise ship, with a writer for backup." Gates deadpanned.
"Backup is up to you, I'm just asking that you consider Mr. Castle and detective Beckett for the job." He leveled her with his stare, making no attempt to disguise is blatant use of power,
"will that be a problem?" He pressed.
"No sir. No problem." Gates admitted begrudgingly.
They sat around the Murder Board where Gates ordered them to gather. Esposito and Ryan were leaning against their desks as they watched Gates work a new case. Castle and Beckett were both relaxed against the back of her desk, their hands brushing unconsciously. When Kate noticed the contact she shifted away quickly, attempting to regain composure. Her heart began to race, God just touching him does this to me. How am I going to do this? She wondered hopelessly to herself. She missed him already, and was intensely aware of his presence, his smell; She craved it.
"This is the Wingate Hotel." Gates explained as she stuck a photograph on the board. Beckett forced herself to focus on the case at hand. Three murders have occurred in connection with this hotel and Royal Bahamas Cruise-lines."
"We know that all three of our couples got married at this hotel, using wedding packages provided by them, complete with honeymoon cruises." Gates elaborated.
"That is the way to go when you get married," Ryan chimed in, "It saves so much headache to have everything handled by one company: the cake, the catering, the photography, the musician…." He looked around and hesitated, "and you don't care." He came to the realization as he took the blank stares of his colleagues in.
Gates continued as if Ryan hadn't interrupted. "All three murdered couples married at the Wingate, and all cruised to the Bahamas. Yet, we've not been able to identify a single suspect."
"The Tolmans." Gates spoke as she placed the first photograph up. Became very ill half way through their trip and were treated at a hospital in the Bahamas. It was determined that they'd eaten something bad while on an excursion and there was nothing to be done for them.
"The Bradentons" Gates moved on to the next couple, "were cliff diving when the equipment malfunctioned. The cruise line holds no responsibility because they were once again, off the boat and on an excursion when it happened.
"The Millers were different, as they were killed on the boat." She placed their photo on the murder board, "Plus, he was a close and personal friend of the Mayor." Gates motioned to the deceased male in the photo.
"It would appear that the happy couple wasn't happy, as on night three of their honeymoon he shot her and then turned the gun on himself. Given the circumstances, and the other murders foul play is suspected. Dr. Parish is taking a closer look at the gunshot wounds, we want to confirm that his was actually self-inflicted and not staged."
"So what does this have to do with us, sir? " Beckett questioned. The Atlantic Ocean was not exactly in their jurisdiction, nor was the Wingate Hotel.
"All three couples got married at the Wingate and all three died from unnatural causes on the 3rd night of their honeymoon. Now, we've gotten word that another couple has just gotten married. They set out for the Bahamas on Monday and Mayor Weldon wants you to join them." She was sure to emphasize the powerful man's role.
Given that he was friends with the man, Castle glanced guiltily from Gates to Beckett.
Four pairs of eyes shot up at her.
"Excuse me, sir? Us?" Beckett stuttered.
"Yes. The mayor has requested that you two go undercover as a couple." She motioned between them, the double meaning of undercover not lost on them "Will that be a problem?" She leveled Kate with a knowing glare.
"No sir." She spoke, an equal amount of bitterness in her expression.
"Ya'll have fun now." Esposito teased.
"Yeah, don't do anything I wouldn't do." Ryan chimed in.
"Oh, no." Gates interjected, "You're both going too. I'm not sending them in without backup." Or supervision, Kate thought.
"But I thought it was a couples only cruise?" Esposito asked.
"Well, they are very liberal and open-minded about couples." Gates offered, allowing her insinuation to set in. With that, she made her way to her office.
The full meaning of their assignment set in and at the boys spoke "oh hell no!" in unison.