Kate gets home still a bit shaken but the memory of being comforted by Martha's strong arms relaxes her. Her phone alerts her to a new text message. She is surprised by a text.
"Did you make it home alright?"
Kate smiles then pulls in and bites her lower lip, then responds.
"Yeah I made it thanks for your concern."
Kate types.
"That's great…Alexis is a bit sad though"
Rick responds.
Kate wonders what happened.
"Why?"
The answer was swift in reply.
"She wanted you to stay for a movie too, something about "Twilight"?"
Rick types.
Kate thinks for a moment.
"You should tell her we will do it on the next family night"
Kate giggles out loud.
"So you want to try this again?"
Rick responds quickly.
"Oh yes…other than my breakdown I had a perfect time Rick!"
Kate types biting on both of her lips now.
"Great when will that be?"
Rick quickly types.
Kate thinks a moment.
"My next time off is scheduled for four days from today…is that good for you?"
Kate again giggles...nervously hoping he will respond in the positive.
"Four days is fine Kate…I'll will tell Alexis. You have really made an impression on her. I'll see you then…Please have pleasant dreams."
Rick types.
"Great it is a date"
Kate writes back. Rick quickly responds with an emoticon a smiley face.
Kate takes off her dress, carefully hangs it up and then gets ready for bed. She can not wait to share this earth shaking event with Lanie.
\\\\\
Three days later…Kate has lost any leads to the mysterious shooter. She was called into the Captain's office.
"Detective Beckett, it has come to my attention you have exhausted all your leads on the Castle attempted murder case?" He asks.
"Yes, Captain it seems the suspect runs across a traffic camera then disappears out of view of any camera in the area. Canvassing the area turned up no leads. He just vanished." Kate says a bit discouragedly.
"Listen up Detective we can not find all the criminals…put it in the cold case file now. As of now any new cases that come your team is the first up." He orders.
"Yes Sir" Kate responds then exits the office.
Kate sits down at her desk then looks over at her partners.
"Guys it's over…pack up this case it's heading to the unsolved ones" Kate orders.
"Boss we just got…" Ryan says.
"Ryan I know you are trying to help…Iron Pants in there has sent word by me. It's over…pack it up." Kate orders.
The boys look at each other…they know that Kate never likes to admit defeat. So they busily pack up all the files and box it up neatly. Espo takes it downstairs to the archive.
Kate sits at her desk as her phone chimes. Kate opens the snap chat app and she sees a short video of a chimp offering her a banana. The caption reads:
"This is for you!"
Kate smiles for the first time for today. She quickly types back.
"Let's have lunch?"
Rick's response is quick.
"Where…?"
Kate bites her lip as she types
"Remy's"
Rick was quick with another emoticon .
Kate sets her phone down then gathers her things.
"Guys I'm leaving for lunch call me if a body drops." Kate says.
Ryan looks at Espo who has just returned from the archive.
"She seems to be in a good mood? What changed Bro?" Espo asks.
"I don't know bro…she gets a text now she leaves. It is so unlike Beckett…
"That, and the fact that she is actually eating!" Ryan replies.
"Scary, do you think it is a sign of the end of days bro?" Espo asks as he sits down.
"Well it is the end of something that is for sure." Ryan says busying himself with more paperwork.
\\\\\
Kate is dreading to tell Rick that the NYPD no…not the NYPD… but she has let him and his family down.
Kate enters the diner as spots Rick in a corner booth. He rises when he spots her.
"Hello, again my detective." Rick intones as he lets her get settled.
He sits next to her. Kate feels so comfortable sitting next to him. They order then Rick looks at her.
"I see you have some news on the case?" Rick asks.
"Yes Rick…But it's not good I'm afraid." Kate says dipping her head down.
Rick gently places his hand under her chin then pushes her chin up so she could see his so expressive eyes.
"So Kate, please tell me what's the bad news?" Rick asks knowing that she has news for him and it's not good in anyway.
Kate feels he is comforting her more than she is doing it for him.
"Well Rick…My boss has declared your case a dead end. It is being classified as a cold case. He does not want to expend any more NYPD resources on it. Rick I'm so sorry…I have let you, Alexis and Martha down" Kate says looking down again.
"Kate…you did your best…It must have been some sort of random mugging …it happens, please try to move away from what happened." Rick says hiding his disappointment.
"Not for me…" Kate says eyes blazing. "It's like he just disappeared into thin air. He shows up on only one camera and then poof he is gone. Canvasses were made a number of times. There were no leads. I am so sorry Rick…It is like he had this planned."
"Planned" Rick asks, and then thinks to himself.
"Yeah Rick he was just a little too elusive. It's like he knew the exact location of the security cameras."
Their food comes at this moment. This distracts them. Kate leans over and looks at Rick's meal. She snatches a fry from his plate.
"Hey…I would have gladly paid for an extra plate of fries. You food stealer you" Rick says in mock outrage.
Kate giggles as she swipes another french fry.
"Come on Rick you know fries taste better when they are taken off someone else's plate." Kate says.
Rick smiles then swipes things off her burger.
"Hey,…that's not fair!" Kate yells.
"Well turnabout is fair play I always say" Rick says smiling.
"Well Rick the joke is on you…I do not eat those things you stole…So there!" Kate says in a teasing tone.
Again Rick looks aghast as Kate smiles.
The rest of the lunch was spent with Rick relating the pain of physical therapy and how much he disliked it.
The lunch ends and they part ways. Kate is feeling much better than before meeting Rick.
\\\\\
A week passes with no new murders. Kate is fed up doing paperwork. She heads down to the OCME.
Kate finally has time to speak to Lanie. They have been doing phone tag due to her rotating shifts.
"Kate, why are you in my autopsy room?" Lanie asks.
"Why Lanie, can't a friend meet a friend at the end of a tough day? Have I broken some unwritten rule?" Kate fires back.
"No Kate…There is no rule…It is just so damn unusual…You normally won't come in here unless you are dealing with a case. This is not about a case I have not heard about is it?" Lanie inquires.
"No Lane it is not about a case…" Kate says sitting up on the autopsy table swinging her legs.
Lanie looks dubious.
"Okay Kate spill, what is this all about?" Lanie explodes.
"Well remember that time you helped me buy that dress what did you tell me?" Kate asks.
"Oh…to fill me in on that date…! Oh honey since I arranged that leave of one day Perlmutter has had me running ragged. You would think he would have compassion just a little bit." Lanie admits. "So how was it?"
"Rick can cook really well. We had a wonderful meal…I sort of ruined the dinner though." Kate says.
"Oh honey you did not think of your mother did you? I'm so sorry for you…I never should have forced you…you are not ready" Lanie says.
"Lanie stop…It was okay really…Martha, that is Rick's mother knew exactly what to do. It was amazing Lanie…I was enveloped in those most loving arm's of Rick's mother then it no longer felt so bad." Kate says "…then get this they want me over my next day off for another family date."
"So your maudlin side did not scare them or him off?" Lanie asks.
"No Lanie…it is incredible…Rick constantly texts me just to make me smile." Kate says.
"It sounds like he is stalking you…" Lanie says.
"Lanie it is nothing like that…He is attentive but he seems to know when I need a little boost to my lagging morale it's like he has an emotional radar system connected to my feelings. Get this Lanie I had to tell him that the Captain has closed his case as a cold file. He spent all his time comforting me. Like, he knows something about my dislike of cold cases. He is so intuitive." Kate says.
"Well he is a mystery writer…they do seem to know things. I'm happy for you Kate." Lanie says rushing over to give her friend a hug.
\\\\\
Kate leaves Lanie to return to the bullpen. As she enters the floor Espo and Ryan are rushing toward the elevator doors.
"What is going on?" Kate asks.
"Boss, we have a live one." Espo responds.
"Actually we have a dead body in central park. It was just been called in. I was just about to call you." Ryan admits.
Kate and company race to the crime scene. As Kate appears there is something familiar about the victim. He is a male aged 25 to 36 tall brown wavy hair, two bullets in the abdomen. He has bled out at the scene. Arriving at the murder scene Perlmutter is hovering over the body.
"Good afternoon detective…" Perlmutter greets Kate.
"Okay Perlmutter what are your findings?" Kate asks.
"Well the victim died just a few hours ago. You can see the blood has not gotten too tacky yet. Liver temperature is indicating 2 hours or less. I can not make an accurate time of death until I get him back at the lab. There are two wounds consistent with a 9 mm. Cause of death is exsanguination." He reports.
"I found two 9mm shell casings in the grass over here" Ryan reports.
"Have uniforms canvass the area…see if anyone had heard or seen anything." Kate orders. "Ryan, try to find any cameras in this area please"
"Right Boss…" Ryan says.
"Espo what do you have for me?" Kate asks.
"The victim's name is Richard Walker age 33 and investment banker. He lives over there at the Continental Arms Hotel/ Apartment complex. According to this driver's license room 1500." Espo says.
\\\\\
"Okay Espo let's go visit the next of kin." Kate says.
Kate and Espo show the doorman their badges then they were led to the private elevator which only goes to Room 1500.
They get off then knock at the door. A leggy blonde in a sheer robe answers. Espo looks appreciatively.
"Hello My name is detective Kate Beckett and this is detective Javier Esposito. Is this the residence of one Richard Walker?" Kate asks.
"Ricky? It sure is…come on in…" The blonde says.
Kate and Espo enter then look around. This definitely looks like a rich playboy's abode. It is a far cry from the homey feel of Rick's loft.
"So you are?" Kate asks.
"Oh just call me Tina. Ricky should be back soon. Brutus and George are such good dogs." Tina says.
"So you say Mr. Walker is walking his dogs?" Kate asks.
"Yeah he does sometimes do that when his regular dog walker flakes out like today. Would you like a drink?" Tina asks as she pours herself one.
"Tina we have some bad news…Mr. Walker was shot in the park a few hours ago. I am so sorry to inform you he is dead. What is your relationship with the deceased?" Kate asks.
"Ricky is dead?" Tina says as she gulps down her drink.
"Yes I am afraid so…I know this must come as a shock. Would you please answer some of our questions?" Kate asks with compassion.
"I am Tina Louise an aspiring actress. Ricky and I live here together. He is my boyfriend. We have been seeing each other about 6 months now. I live in a different apt…1301. This is Ricky's place…We are not that exclusive yet, but I am hoping..." Tina says.
"I see" Espo says "So can you think of anyone who wanted to hurt him?"
"Ricky was mad at his dog walker…I think his name is Sam. They had a terrible fight over the phone." Tina says.
"Can you think anyone else?" Kate asks.
Tina shakes her head.
Espo and Kate get up to leave.
"Thank you for your time Tina…I'm so sorry for your loss." Kate says.
"Hey detectives, what about George and Brutus…?" Tina asks as she gives them a picture of the victim along with his pets.
"I am so sorry no dogs were seen in the area. We will contact animal control" Espo says taking the picture.
Kate and Espo leave with a picture of the two missing Rottweilers.
Espo gets on the phone with the uniforms to have the missing dogs added to their inquiries.
Kate gets back to the precinct. She is tired but on the hunt…