Chapter 4
A/N: See note below.
A/N 2: Castle finally makes his entrance!
Seven years have passed and her success rate climbs into the stratosphere. It actually soars. Her re-dedication and drive to her profession has paid off. She has the highest rate of case clearance in the whole department. The lack of men in her life has freed her up to bask in her professional achievement. She still gets nagged by Lanie over her lack of any man in her life.
Kate enters the precinct feeling pretty good this morning. She spies Espo on the phone. He turns his head toward her.
"So Espo, did we catch another case?" Kate asks as she sits down in her chair.
"Well not exactly, it's a kidnapping and it falls within our jurisdiction. We are doing most of the legwork for the feds." He says grudgingly as he drops the phone back on the hook.
The Captain looks out into the bullpen and spies Kate standing at her desk.
"Beckett, can I have a word?" He asks sticking his head out this office door.
"Yes Sir, give me a second." Kate says as she stows her bag in her desk and walks into his office.
"Detective Beckett I'd like to introduce you to FBI Special Agent Will Sorenson he is heading up this investigation." Roy introduces.
As she shakes his extended hand, he looks her up and down liking what he sees in front of him. All she thinks is
"This guy is such a tool it's pathetic and this is how my day starts"
Kate got up then left the Captains office not looking back after the introduction. Roy looks over to Sorenson.
"Is she always like this, so standoffish?" Will asks.
"Listen, Sorenson, She is the best detective in the 12th, hell maybe even in the whole NYPD so lay off." Roy defends Kate's behavior.
Sorenson decides that maybe he was a just a bit of an ass when he gave her the once over. Though, He meant nothing over it just a bit of fun. He would approach her with his tough FBI facade next to see if she responds. Walking out of the office he hears.
"Tread carefully Agent." Roy warns as Sorenson leaves the Captain's office.
Kate is at her desk reviewing the phone records on the kidnapping case. He walks up to her desk. Then he re-introduced himself, this time with more authority.
"Hello Detective Beckett, my name is Special agent Will Sorenson, FBI, New York field office at your service." He says waiting for some sort of response.
Kate looks up from the records.
"What do you want...some kind of medal? I know who you are. You are the guy who is going to make my job just that much harder. So please excuse me while I try to solve this case?" Kate responds.
Kate returned back to the records in front of her. Then yet again he gives her another interruption, not hearing her clearly that she did not want him around.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go over the facts of this case with me?" He asks.
Kate again bristles at this unwanted intrusion.
"Agent Sorensen is it?" Kate asks.
"Yes, that's right." He responds hopefully he has gained her attention.
"Okay listen Agent and please listen carefully. There is a little 4-year-old boy that has been kidnapped from his parents. My only goal in life is to get this boy back safe and sound, got it? Anything else like talking to you is a distraction! It takes MY TIME away from finding him! Do you understand now Agent?" Kate says sweetly but strongly words her response.
Sorenson looked down at his shoes.
"Yes Detective, I got it." The Agent says.
Kate temporarily mollified looks at him again.
"Is there anything else Agent?" She asks with the vibe of go away.
"No that about covers it." He says contritely.
Ryan and Espo look to each other and in a whisper.
"She sure put him in his place." Espo says as Ryan just nods.
Since the kidnapping case was 22 hours old Kate decided to go interview the parents. She would need to be taking Sorenson with her because it was his case. She had a couple of questions to ask the Robertsons.
"Sorenson let's go. I need to interview the parents." Kate says matter of factly as she gathers up her belongings.
Ryan, Espo, run the financials on the Robertson's accounts. See if there are any discrepancies." Kate says as she exits the bullpen towing Agent Sorenson along in her wake.
"Its late let's go, I'm driving." Kate says in the elevator.
They leave the 12thwith Kate driving. Will thinks that he will be able to figure her out by the time they get to their destination. He again looks her over while sitting in the passenger seat. Kate ignores his presence. The silence in the car is incredible. He can hear himself think.
"Detective, are you seeing anyone?" Sorenson asks with much bravado.
Kate thinks to herself
"What a dick, only two minutes into the ride and he is already hitting on me again."
She grips the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles start to turn white. She could not wait for this ride to be over.
"Agent Sorenson do I need to remind you that we are on a case right now?" Kate again speaks in a cold tone.
"Detective, I meant no offense. What's wrong with getting to know you a little better?" He asks as he started to try his smooth moves.
"Listen to what I am going to tell you and remember it. I am 'married' to my job. I have no interest in crossing the line with any man especially one who is in the same profession." Kate says as coldly as she can do.
"Detective what happened? I am actually very curious. Since, I think there is a warm human being inside there somewhere. It had to be traumatic to cause you to hide so much?" Will asks with compassion.
"Actually, Agent Sorenson, my personal life is actually just that personal and none of your concern. As for your information, something tragic did occur, it motivates me to want to find justice for all our victims! So please, no more 20 questions." Kate says with exasperation.
She did not even want to reveal that much of her life to anyone especially this clown. Though if she didn't he would be pestering her throughout the whole drive.
"Okay." Will says backing down then looks out the window for the rest of the ride.
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After interviewing the Robertson's they now have a clearer picture of the possible suspects involved in their son's kidnapping. Kate and Will head back to the 12th to run down the new group of suspects. After running down all the possible suspects, they come up empty.
They leave for the night and return the next day. She barely got any sleep before she has returned back to the precinct.
"Espo did you finish running the finances on the Robertson's?" Kate asks as she enters the bullpen after getting herself a cup of coffee from the break room.
"Yeah, why…?" Espo responds.
"Bring it over to me and let's go over it one more time alright." Kate orders.
Espo gets up then drops the financials on her desk.
"Ryan, would you please bring over John Elwood's employment information?" Kate asks.
"Who is John Elwood?" Sorenson asks as he enters the bullpen.
"He is a maintenance man employed by the Robertson's nanny. She was left in charge of the boy before he went missing." Kate explains.
They all meet in the conference room to go over all the records. With everything laid out in front of them, Will gets a little too close to Kate almost brushing up against her. She looks at him then rolls her eyes. Just then Kate decides she's had enough.
"Espo do me a favor and look over these records and see in there are any small variations while I am gone." Kate says abruptly standing up.
"Boss where are going?" Ryan asks.
"I need about an hour of downtime. I'll be nearby. Call me with any breaks okay?" Kate says as she quickly exits the room.
Espo knew where she is going. He knows that Sorenson has tried the old bump and feel routine sitting at the table with Kate. It has not gone the way the fool has planned.
"Esposito, can I ask you a question?" Sorenson asks as if in confidence.
"You can if it involves this case, anything else you can forget about." Espo answers.
"Oh okay then never mind." Will says bringing his attention back on the case.
"I do have a question." Ryan says as Espo glares at his partner.
"Okay Ryan what is it, I want to hear it." Will responds.
"Well, This is a kidnapping right?" Ryan asks.
"Yes, the boy is missing and presumed to be kidnapped. What are you pointing at Ryan?" Sorenson asks.
"Yeah, Bro spit it out!" Espo admonishes.
"You are set up for a ransom demand right?" Ryan asks again Espo glares at him.
"Yes, that is proper FBI procedure." Will responds.
"How many kidnapping cases have you worked?" Ryan asks as Espo wonders where in the world is his partner heading with these questions.
Will takes a moment to look at Ryan's angelic face.
"Well, Ryan I've been part of 15 cases so far why do you ask?" Will responds.
"Okay so in your vast experience would you tell me why there has been no ransom demand? Don't you guys get them usually between the first 24 hours?" Ryan asks.
Will looks flustered then looks at Espo who shrugs his shoulders.
"Well, Ryan in my previous cases we did get a ransom demand within 24 hours. I do not know why this time is any different. I see your point, though, it has been 42 hours since the boy is reported missing. It does break the pattern." Agent says with pushing his hand through his thinning hairline.
"So what is the likelihood that we find the child alive? I mean this Elwood character is a registered sex offender. When they escalate then tend to kill any witnesses. I think that this is what has happened here." Ryan states.
"Bro, No!" Espo gasps.
"Detective Esposito wait, Detective Ryan is right. The likelihood of finding the child alive after 24 hours with no ransom is very low. We do have to entertain that possibility, however, grim it may be." Agent Sorenson sadly says.
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Kate arrives at the morgue and waits patiently as Lanie finishes up her audio notes on the current body.
"Girl what brings you here?" Lanie asks.
What, can't a friend visit a friend?" Kate retorts.
"Kate Beckett, we both know that there are only two reasons you make an appearance here. First you want information on a body that's here. Second you're having a problem. I know that you're working a kidnapping case so the body excuse is out, so out with it." Lanie admonishes.
"Lanie, this Sorenson guy, he's driving me nuts." Kate relates.
"Why is he such a bother to you Kate?" Lanie asks.
Kate tells Lanie the story.
"The FBI has the lead on this kidnapping case and they sent a real cocky, full of himself, ass of an agent named Sorenson. Lanie this case is hard enough. There has been no ransom demand and we are already 42 hours into the case." Kate explains.
Lanie realizes the implications that this child could be already dead. She knows how Kate reacts to failure. It is never very pretty.
"Okay Kate, give me more." Lanie requests.
"This ass instead of concentrating on this very hard case has instead made passes at me." Kate says.
"Kate, why is this a bad thing?" Lanie suggests hopefully.
"Lanie you know me. I am not going to get myself involved in a relationship, especially with a guy who is in law enforcement." Kate says.
"Kate, come on give it a shot. Who knows maybe he could be the one." Lanie encourages.
"Lanie, that's not going to happen I won't have another repeat of Peter. That hurt too much." Kate responds.
"Kate, if you don't let someone in you will never know." Lanie implores.
"Lanie I don't want to go there." Kate replies.
"Why are you afraid he could be the one and you're going to let him slip away?" Lanie asks thinking her friend is wasting her golden opportunity.
"Lanie, even I have standards. This guy is an asshole. Just everything about him screams unfaithful. Maybe it's his eyes. What should I do?" Kate pleads.
"Well if I were you, I'd pull him into the janitor's closet and have my way with him. When was the last time you had a man in your bed?" Lanie responds.
"Lanie, that's not the point. Not every woman needs a man for sex." Kate recoils at her friend's suggestion.
"Kate, battery powered devices only last for so long." Lanie warns.
"I'm going to go, being unsatisfied again." Kate huffs.
"Kate, that's not my fault!" Lanie retorts.
"Lanie, I meant this conversation." Kate says with a roll of her eyes.
"Yeah I know that." Lanie says with a smug smile.
Kate envies Lanie's life. Four years ago she made a stand and took control of her life. The man who wanted to settle his corporate offices in NYC actually called her for dinner during his search for his offices in the city. They hit it off and within months, they were engaged. They were married 4 months later and have been going strong ever since. She wishes she had what Lanie has. She briefly thinks about her time spent with Natalia, but she knew two things about her relationship with her. First she knew that Lanie had set up their meeting, and secondly while Natalia was a great lover Kate could not see herself going into something permanent with her. It had lasted just a little longer than the first time they had tried being together. Sure there was the occasional booty call after they split, but for the most part they had gone their separate ways.
Kate returns back to the floor. As she walks up Espo tells her what they found.
"Kate, listen, the Uni's…They found Elwood. The boy is dead! I am so sorry to give you this news." Espo says.
Kate feeling discouraged sits down at her desk.
"Detective, you did a basic behind the scenes job. We can not save everyone. Take the rest of the day off as soon as you file your team's report. I am so sorry this happened." Roy sadly says as he moves back into his office.
Kate holds back her tears as she consolidates the reports. She hands them to her Captain. On the way out she meets Agent Sorenson one last time.
"Hell of a thing…Elwood killed the boy about 12 hours earlier according to your M.E. He is being arraigned on kidnapping and murder charges. The DA will get him the needle for this. I know this is not the right time. I sure need a drink. Care to join me, Detective?" Sorenson asks.
"Yeah I'm not feeling too good about this either. I just don't want company. So sorry for your loss agent I hope you have better luck on your next case." Kate commiserates.
"Well, hopefully, the outcome will be a little better next time around. I'll see you, I'll see you around Detective." Sorenson hopefully says.
Kate just heads off to her apartment to sulk. Sorenson was right about one thing she sure needs a drink. She meets up with the boys and Roy at their favorite cop bar the Old Haunt.
"Well Detective, I really did not think I would see you out and about, especially not here. What would you have? I'm buying." Roy says.
"Sir I think I will have a stiff one…3 fingers of Scotch no ice." Kate says as the rest of the 12th oohs after she downs it in one gulp.
Kate feels the burn. Yes, she is sad that the boy did not live. Though as the captain says, you can not save them all. This makes her think about her mother's murder. Kate orders another shot this time she sips it as she walks around the room.
She gazes at the other patrons. She is interested in the corner booth.
"I would not sit there…that's his spot." the bartender says while cleaning some glasses.
"Would you like to clarify?" Kate asks.
The bartender points at the picture hanging on the wall above that booth.
Kate looks at the picture.
"My god is that…" Kate squeals.
"Yes, it is Rick Castle's spot. You know he wrote several of his best seller's sitting right there at that booth?" The bartender replies. "It is his spot. He believes that that booth brings him all sorts of good luck."
"You don't say! Huh, what a small world." Kate says gazing at his picture.
Kate downs the rest of the drink then bid her comrades adieu.
Kate wanders out then bumps into a man entering. Kate does not look up but continues on her way.
Rick comes in and notices Roy at the bar. He waves him over.
"Hey Roy, what are you celebrating?" Rick asks as he orders his usual.
"Not celebrating today Rick commiserating. You just missed my best detective. She seemed to be studying your picture." Roy adds since he is almost three sheets to the wind.
"Roy I hate to be the voice of reason, but I think you have hit your limit. Why don't I take you home? I'm sure Evelyn will appreciate that okay old friend?" Rick asks.
"Yeah you're right." Roy says as he downs his last drink.
Rick toasts him then downs it too.
"Come on let's go" says the older officer.
A/N 3: Many thanks to tvlover777 and tscott1224. I was not able to PM you tscott1224, but thanks for your support! I hope this is what you were craving! More Casket to come.