Chapter 9
Kate has been talking to Rick for about 25 minutes. She has a good description of the man who shot him. During the brief exchange in the alleyway, Rick had been able to tell her that the man wants him to turn over all his cash and his Tag Heuer Vanquish watch. Rick was going to comply until he reaches for his watch. The mugger must have thought that Rick is reaching for something else. That's when he fires at Rick and takes off running down the alley empty handed.
Kate has enough of a description to issue a BOLO for his detention and arrest. Looking back at Rick she is drawn to his eyes once again. She looks deeply into them. She sees what she thinks is concern for her. She tries so hard to look away but finds that his eyes are like magnets. Just as she is going to become deeper entranced in his web the only thing that rescues her is Alexis tugging on her jacket. She breaks her gaze from him to look at Alexis. She is pointing to the doorway and within seconds, Martha enters Rick's room.
"Ahhh Katherine, It's so good to see you once again." She says.
Rick lets out a sigh as he heard his mother's voice.
"It's my pleasure, Mrs. Rodgers." Kate replies.
"Katherine, what have I told you? Please refer to me as Martha." She lightly scolds.
"Yes, Martha." Kate replies contritely.
"So how is our boy here?" Martha asks.
"He is stable and doing so much better" Alexis replies entering the conversation.
"Well, what other news is there?" Martha asks her granddaughter who seems to know more about her father's condition than anyone else.
"Daddy is doing so well that he might be able to leave here by the weekend." Alexis responds with a big smile.
Martha looks to Alexis as if not to believe her as Kate nods head to confirm her statement.
"Guys, I am right here in front of you. I was the one that was shot remember?" Rick says with much consternation.
"Oh hush you, I'm having a conversation with Katherine." Martha says.
Kate lets out a little giggle as she looks at Rick pouting like a little boy.
"I don't giggle, what's wrong with me."
She looks at Martha then Rick once again. Now she knows that the papers have it all wrong. This man is a loving father, dedicated son, and best-selling author. She thinks that with what she sees unfolding in front of her this man if she has to guess probably doesn't even need the income he makes from his books. He just seems very grounded, open and down to earth.
Martha ending the conservation reaches over to her son.
"Richard, how are you feeling? You gave me quite a fright…If it was not for the heroics of this young woman here, we would not be having this conversation." Martha states.
Rick looks astonished. No one has told him how he got to the hospital until now.
Martha hugs her son then watches the interaction between the detective and her son. She's not stupid. She knows a connection when she sees it laid out right in front of her. She considers the circumstances then decides maybe she should just give them a little push and take Alexis out for brunch to see what develops.
"Richard, Katherine, Alexis and I are going to brunch at a great cafe nearby. So for now, we will say goodbye. We will be back when the evening visiting hours start." Martha says leading Alexis to the door. Alexis breaks the handhold to walk over to her father's bedside.
"Daddy, I love you and I will always have you here with me." Alexis says as she places her hand on her chest and makes a circular motion above her heart.
Rick extends his arms but as he does so he winces in pain.
"Alexis, no more running away even if it is to see me…also, mind your Grams. I love you too, more than you will ever know." Rick says as he hugs her.
Kate feels her heart melt seeing this loving exchange between Alexis and her father.
They walk out of his suite. Rick gives them one last wistful look then they are out of sight. Rick now trains his eyes on the beautiful detective standing in front of him. He feels there is a story in her eyes. He needs to learn all about her. So he carefully starts to put his plan in motion.
Kate feels like the inquisition will shortly start. She looks at Rick one last time and as she does there are those damned midnight blue eyes of his searching for hers.
"How does he do that?"
"Well, I should get going myself." Kate extends her hand in for a handshake.
Rick looks at her with a puzzled look. She would not possibly go now! He needs to know more about this amazing woman. She's tough and kind both at the same time. She has the looks of a supermodel, but she doesn't seem to care. She wears these amazing 4" spiked heels that make her even more statuesque. Though as amazing those heels are, he is unable for the life of him to figure out how she would be able to run in those when chasing down the bad guys.
"You know, Kate. You could stay and talk to me for a little bit longer. I will be lonely for most of the day and talking with a beautiful woman might just distract me to keep my spirits up." Rick pleads not only with his mouth but with the double whammy of his eyes too.
"She was falling for him and there was only one way to stop this."
"Mr. Castle as tempting as your offer sounds. I actually have a job to get back to doing. While I am extremely sorry for what happened to you, besides updates to find your mugger I think that our contact ends here and now." Kate professionally responds.
"Detective, are you sure about this? I would like to know all about the heroics my mother alludes." Rick again pleads adding the lost puppy dog look to the package.
It is a triple whammy, velvet voice, pleading eyes, and puppy dog pout. Kate's resolve is crumbling under this cuteness assault.
"Mr. Castle this is my choice. I will call you from time to time with an update on the progress with your case. I must stress this: it will be only in an official capacity." Kate says firmly as her inner voice is screaming loud enough to give her a migraine.
"What are you crazy? Go to him!" Kate stuffs the voice back in her locked box.
"Well if you say so, if that's it then it was very nice to meet you, detective." Rick says defeatedly as he extends his arm forward to shake her hand.
His arm hovers for a second while she decides to shake it or not. Decision made, she takes his hand and shakes it. Offering a faint smile she hesitates but does not remove her hand right away. She feels a charge running up her arm. It feels like there are 5000 volts running up her right arm and heading directly to her heart. Before she realizes what's happening she breaks the handshake and retreats from the suite. Kate leans up against the wall after she left his room."My god the dream I had...that handshake, in my dream it felt a lot like that!"
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Rick feels that electricity too. He is captivated by this woman. He needs to find more about her. He has the right person for the job. He will call his old friend and set up a meeting for later today. Mayor Weldon. By the time he leaves he will know everything there is to know about her. He just wishes that she would see the possibility of what they could be.
Kate was just passing through the revolving doors at the front of the hospital. Having an all access parking pass which allowed her to park her cruiser just about anywhere she wanted, she walked across the parking lot and got in. She did not know what has happened. It felt like she is having a heart attack. It's weird. There is more than a connection when she shook his hand. It feels like a part of his soul is trying to see all of her. This would be her accomplishments, her pain, and worst of all her needs. She is having trouble breathing as she places her head on the steering wheel.
She stays like that for about 20 minutes until a security guard raps on the side window.
"Miss you need….Oh, sorry detective" The security guard says looking very sheepish. He should have recognized the police cruiser. She is here many times.
His apology, however, is unnoticed by Kate. She reacts with such fury.
"Why are you bothering an officer of the NYPD in her official duties? I should have your badge! Where is your supervisor?" Kate explodes.
The security guard backs away as apologizing profusely while leaving the detective to do whatever she would want to do.
Kate watches the guard trip over himself as he departs. She wonders where this anger has appeared from. This was not like her to get so mad over parking in a no parking zone. The NYPD has done this numerous times without question. She quickly pulled her shield from her waistband and exited her car.
The guard seeing her exiting the car turns and runs away. He could tell she is about to read the riot act to him.
Seeing him leave, Kate gets back into her car to start it, then drives away. She drives a short distance away especially out of sight of that guard, she pulls to the side and makes a phone call.
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"Hey girl, it's been a while. How are you? Where are you?" Lanie answers very excitedly.
"Lanie I'm fine. I'm wondering if you had some time to talk. It's nothing really I just need some girl time." Kate says exasperatedly.
"Kate what's wrong?" Lanie asks suddenly very concerned.
"Lanie, there's nothing wrong, so do you the have time or not?" Kate hopefully asks.
"Calm down Kate. I can meet you at that new burger joint near your precinct...Remy's I think it's called. Let's say in a half hour?" Lanie requests.
"Sounds great Lane, see you then...bye." Kate says hanging up.
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Rick has gotten the nurse to bring him the land line phone closer to his bed. It took some time but he remembers Bob's personal number. He dials it.
"Hello?" Bob says.
"Hey, Big Cheese do you know who this is?" Rick asks teasingly.
"Rick… Ricky is that you? Man, it is great to hear you…I am so sorry I have not visited. You know how it is being the mayor and all that. I promise I will stop by soon." Bob promises.
"Bob that is fine whenever you get the time is okay…" Rick says.
"Okay Ricky the pleasantries are over, why did you call?" Bob asks.
"Well, Bob I need to do some research. Being laid up in bed has given me time to think about new plots and characters. One character, in particular, is a smart savvy female detective. She is young and there is some sort of story there. Would you help out your old buddy and flesh out some of the details?" Rick asks.
Bob chuckles as Rick is perplexed.
"Oh, Rick you do not want any part of her! She is not like your usual conquests." Bob retorts.
Now, this has got Rick's story antenna peaked.
"How so Bob please tell me what you know?" Rick asks pouring on the schmooze.
Bob laughs again.
"Alright, Rick but do not say I did not warn you." Bob says laughing as he pulls up her service record. "She is Detective Katherine H. Beckett. She is the youngest to ever achieve the rank of detective in the NYPD. She is the protégé of Roy's out of the 12th before he died too. She is very dedicated and NYPD brass has their eyes on her."
"That is great Bob what about a family or social life?" Rick asks.
"Well, there is a bit of tragedy there on the home front…Dad's a lawyer but a recovering drunk. Mom's dead and out of the picture. It says she once had a serious relationship which went bad since then nothing of note other than several commendations. Speaking of that Martha called me. She wants me to award her another one for your case. Do you think I should do it?" Bob asks.
"Bob, if my mother takes the time to call you, I would take her recommendation seriously. In my case, I would. I would not be here without her heroics." Rick says solemnly.
"Okay, Rick that is good to know…I hope that helps you flesh out your character. I will be looking forward to reading your next book. I have to run Mike is giving me a signal. I will visit you soon.
"Bob one more thing before you go out and save our city?"
"Sure Rick what is it?"
"The H. in her name ...what's is stand for?"
Bob reopens her service jacket once more reads it before replying to Rick.
"Her H. stands for Houghton, does that help Rick?"
"Actually, it does thanks, Bob. "Bye, Rick." The mayor says as he ends the call.
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Kate pulls up to the burger joint that Lanie has mentioned. The place looks like a dive. She hopes the food is better than what she sees from the outside. Getting out of her car she is surprised by Lanie tapping her on her shoulder.
As Kate turned to her friend she notices a look on her face that she has never seen on her before. Lanie is scared for her friend.
"Lanie, you scare the shit out of me. Please don't do that again."
The look Lanie has seen is gone in a millisecond. Kate is good at hiding her feelings. She has had years of practice.
As they both enter the eatery they are lead to a table by the hostess. Sitting Kate looks at her friend.
"Lanie, I need help..."