Ch. 12 No One Is As Lucky As Us

"Hey you." Rick gave her a quick kiss and grabbed her hand.

"Hi Beatrice. Well let's go." She fell in step beside Beatrice and walked with Rick on her right.

When they stepped up to the Shake Shack, her stomach giddied up. Her mouth watered at the thought of a sweet strawberry shake.

"Do you want to eat in?"

"It is too nice to eat in." Kate walked in and said that they would be outside.

Beatrice sat down at a small table and Kate sat next to her. Rick pulled his chair closer to Kate's and tugged on his white t-shirt. Beatrice wore a light yellow, cotton shirt and a pair of white Capri pants. Kate kept stealing glances at Rick's muscles which were on nice display, thanks to his shirt.

"So, how is work going today?" Beatrice looked over the menu and they followed suit.

"Alright. Just wish I was getting further, faster. They have the best burgers here, by the way." Kate knew what she was getting before she even looked at the menu.

"They sound delicious. I think I will get the cheeseburger, with an order of fries, and an ice tea." She set her menu down and looked Kate over. "What are you going to get?"

Kate looked to Rick and smiled. "You want me to say it?" When she nodded, he continued. "Ok. You will have the single burger with ketchup, mustard, and pickle. An order of cheese fries with a strawberry shake. How did I do?"

She laughed. "Nailed it." She looked at Beatrice's unaware face. "It is pretty easy to know what I will get. He can pretty much order for me." Kate smiled back at Rick. "Want me to do yours?"

"Please." He relinquished his menu and looked to her.

"Ok. You will have a double cheeseburger, plain. An order of fries. And for a drink you will have a half and half."

"Half and half?"

"It's half lemonade and half iced tea. How did I do?"

"Nailed it."

Beatrice smiled at them. "You guys know each other so well. It's lovely."

"Thank you." They said in unison.

"Wow." She laughed and they joined in. "After lunch I have some errands to run but I wouldn't mind dropping Rick off if you want."

"No need. But thank you. I got him." Kate winked at him and Rick's eyebrows shot up. "Not that. Get ahold of yourself."

They ordered their meals and enjoyed them with complete satisfaction. They talked about music, movies, clothes, and love.

"When I married Ted, my dad was furious. He liked him but thought we were moving too fast. But when you know, you know. Anyway, my Ted went to my father and explained how he loved me and that he would always protect me. He said he would love me till the end of time."

"That is so romantic. What did your dad say then?" Kate waited in anticipation.

"Alright. He gave him permission and was more than happy to walk me down the aisle. After Ted and I were together, we tried to have kids but I couldn't. It killed me but Ted was alright with it. He said 'As long as I have you'. He was sweet that way." Beatrice rubbed her wedding band back and forth and smiled at the memories surrounding her.

"You two must have been really in love."

"Oh, we were. It was a special time. He always wanted to live in the city but we never got around to it. So I moved in honor of him."

"Beatrice that is so sweet."

"You are a brave woman." Rick smiled and took a sip of his drink.

Kate sucked down her milkshake and laughed when Rick gave her a childish grin.

"Well, I had a very nice lunch. We should do this again sometime." She went to reach for her wallet but Kate dismissed it.

"It is my treat." Kate went to reach for her wallet but Rick dismissed her.
"No mine." He paid and they parted ways from Beatrice. He started to walk to her car but she stopped him.

"I thought we could walk through Central Park." She grabbed his hand in hers and started to walk him down Columbus, made a left, made a right, and they were there.

"Alexis stopped by."

"She did? What did you two get into?" She laughed but stopped when she saw his face. "What?"

"She said that you wanted to talk to her. What about?" He tried to be overly serious but he was struggling.

"Yeah I do. It's about Sal. I need to get a statement if I can get him. You can't help, but she can. What did you think I was talking about?"

"Your case. I thought you were going to say something."

"I can't. You know that." She tugged on his arm and he laughed.

"You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. Sorry. I just worry about you." He kissed the top of her head and smiled.

"I know you do, and I worry about you. Like, I know you have to go back to work tomorrow. I am so scared that, I wanted to keep you home." She blushed and watched a little girl with pigtails chase after a bird.

"I think it's cute that you want to hog me. But I am still staying with you. Don't worry." He kissed her hand and led her to a bench.

"I don't want to sit, I want to walk." She tugged on his arm and he followed after her. "I hate to get back to work because of Cliff."

"Cliff?"

"This guy. He is from the F.B.I. He thinks he is better than others and you should have seen the way he was looking at me." She shuddered and looked up to him. She saw his clenched jaw and scowl and smiled. "Are you jealous?"

"No." His brow furrowed and he knew he couldn't have been fooling her.

"Yes you are. Rick," she stopped him and stood in front of him. "You don't need to be jealous. I love you and only you." She stood on her tip toes and gently kissed him. "Mmm. That was nice."

"Yeah it was." He lifted her chin and slid his lips on hers and gently flicked his tongue against her lips. "You sure you have to get back to work?"

"Yes. Unfortunately. But I have victims who can't rest in peace. You want to come with me?" Desperation made its way across her face and he had no choice.

"OK. But I know that I need to stay out of your way." He kissed her once more as he turned her back to the direction of her car.

Rick and Kate dropped their hands the minute they stepped off the elevator. She saw Cliff sitting near her desk and poking around her belongings. She was angry and was relaxed to know Rick had her back.

"Don't say anything." Rick rubbed her arm and made her readjust her emotions.

"Got it. Thanks." She smiled and calmly made her way to Cliff. "Excuse me?" She sat in her chair and he dropped his hand off the little knick knacks.

"Sorry. Just trying to get a feel for you. Where have you been?" He crossed his legs and gave no look to Castle who hovered over him.

"Lunch. Why did you get new developments?" She flipped through the files and messages on her desk and motioned for Rick to pull up a seat beside her.

"Nothing new. But I thought you were devoted." He wore a big cocky grin.

Kate was about to say something but Rick jumped the gun. "She is the most devoted person you will ever meet. How dare you question her." Kate smiled to herself and made a mental note to thank Rick later.

Kate picked up the old files on her desk and raised her brow to Rick. "You up for a little studying?"

They both stood but Cliff stopped them. "I thought you might be interested in knowing that Dale Zane is in the box with your boys. And, we are reviewing the footage at the home. Facial recognition." He smiled once again and let Kate and Rick walk away.

"Why is he so smug?" Rick glanced back at Cliff one more time before following Kate into the Conference Room.

"I don't know but I need to get that info about Dale as soon as possible." She set the files on the table and told him she would be right back. She walked into the viewing room and listened to Ryan and Espo work Dale.

"So you knew Sylvia Peters. Our first victim or should I say your first." Ryan laid a picture of Sylvia on the table in front of Dale.

"Then again it isn't your first. Is it?" Espo rolled up his sleeves and leaned on the table.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Yes I dated Sylvia but we broke up."

"When was this?"

"About a few weeks ago. She told me it was off but then called for me to meet her at some run down motel room. I went there but she was already gone. I don't know about anyone else."

"If you broke up why did you go back?"

"I missed her. She was insane but she was good for me. I went there but then the bitch was no where to be seen. I thought it was a joke until I heard the cops were looking for me."

"Why were you so hard to find Dale?" Espo sat down and Kate knew that he thought Dale was innocent.

"I was staying at my cousin's. I ran and have been there ever since. You only found me because my job needed me back. I couldn't take off anymore without being fired. I thought my name would be cleared by now." He didn't look guilty. He just looked frustrated. His black hair hung loosely around his shoulders and his steel grey eyes were just numb. He was strong looking with a muscular build.

"Well, clearly you are still a suspect." Ryan and Espo were leaning off and Kate had to go in and question him about the Vet place. She ran and tapped on the door. The boys emerged and she nodded to Dale and they let her be.

"Hell Dale. I am Detective Beckett and I would like to ask you a couple of questions." She sat down and clasped her hands together.

"You don't look like a cop to me. But sure, go ahead."

"Thank you." She checked her mental list of questions and proceeded to ask them. "How did you and Sylvia meet?"

"Through her dad. He hired me to work construction on one of his buildings that are coming up. She was there asking for money and we clicked."

"When was this?"

"About two months ago. She didn't want anyone to find out we were seeing each other because her dad would have fired me."

"OK. Why did she break up with you?"

"Said she needed to sort her life out and she didn't think that life included me. When she called I was surprised but she seemed so desperate that I went. She was gone, so I left."

"We checked the surveillance footage. You didn't show up. Explain that."

"I snuck in the back. Not so hard, the door was propped open. I didn't want anyone to see me."

"Where did you go after you left the motel?" Kate didn't put him fully in the clear but he seemed honest. But she was sure to keep him in the back of her mind.

"I went drinking. When I got the news, I bolted. I know you would think I had done it but I didn't. I loved her."

"Did you know she volunteered at the New York State Veteran's Home at St. Alban's?"

"Yeah. She complained about it all the time but the place seemed to be changing her. She started to actually like it there. Said the girls she was with were good people."

"Did she ever talk about a guy named Paulie?"

"That name. She hated hearing that name. Yeah, there was this guy who hung around the place and tried to stop a few of them. But she said no one talked to him but this girl." He slid the picture of Abby closer to Kate. "But she said that girl was bonkers."

"Why would she say that?"

"Said that she could help him that he asked her to because she was special. Turned out she had problems."

"Did you ever see this guy?"

"No. But Sylvia was sure spooked by him."

"Thank you Mr. Zane. Please be sure to stay in town." Kate let him leave and went to the Conference Room where Rick, Ryan, and Espo were pouring over the files.

Ryan looked up and smiled with a glimmer in his eyes. "What did he give you?"

"Just that this Paulie guy tried to stop a few people but only Abby bought it. And that Sylvia started to like working there. I buy his story. But something doesn't add up. I need to find out who this Paulie is." She sat in a chair and pulled out a file marked Serena Rogers. She was fifteen and was found dead behind a carnival booth. Her friends said she split up from them and they never heard from her again. Again two shots.

"They seem to have all one thing in common. How they die and their hair color. But what I don't get is this Paulie guy. You sure he wasn't just some nut?" Rick looked at Kate over a piece of paper that he held in his hands.

"I don't know. But Abby believed he would kill Gwenie. I have those knick knacks being tested for prints. Hopefully something will come through." She set aside Serena Rogers file and picked up Florina Tutley's. Again, same death, same hair color. She was thirty and found dead in an alley. Like Sylvia was. But that was all that was the same. She rubbed her eyes which had started to become blurry.

Rick caught her squinting and looked at her with a curious face. "What's wrong?"

She looked up and caught the eyes of Ryan and Espo's as well. "Nothing. Just a little blurry."

"You still haven't had your eyes checked. You complained about your eyes about a year ago." Ryan looked over at Rick and shrugged his shoulders.

"I will but I just haven't gotten around to it. Let's get back to this." She motioned to the pile of files and saw Cliff walk through the room and leaned over her.

"Can I help you?" She was nervous with him looming over her and she could feel his breath on her face.

"I need to talk to you and only you." He left the room and left her with no choice but to follow.

She stepped outside the door and followed him into the break room. "What is this all about?" She crossed her arms against her chest and stood her ground.

"Why does it seem that you don't want to work with me?"

"You seem to work by yourself just fine. You have no problem in pointing out that you are supreme." He motioned for her to sit with him but she shook her head.

"OK. I only acted that way because you intimidate me."

"What?" She walked over and sat across from him. She didn't bother to cross her legs and ignored his looming eyes.

"You are exceptional. You know that don't you?" When she seemed stunned he went on. "Not only are you exceptional at your job, you have people that have your back, and you are not bad on the eyes."

"Um. Thanks?"

"I know I come off as a jerk but please. I am really not so bad."

"OK. But we are a team. Understood?" She stood after he surrendered but was caught off guard at his next question.

"One more. That man you came in with… Are you two together?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned around with the spin of her heel. "Yes."

"Lucky guy."

She nodded and motioned for him to follow her back to the Conference Room. She looked over another file before tossing it aside in a fit of frustration.

"Don't give up. There could be something here." Rick rubbed her knee under the table and gave her a meager smile and squeezed her knee before withdrawing his hand.

"I know but I am no closer to knowing who this Paulie is." Come on Abby, tell me. She bolted upright in her chair and had one thought: the journal. She ran to her desk and pulled the diary from one of her drawers. She flipped through the pages she knew she read and stopped at one entry that she ignored the first time.

April 5th 2013

This guy, P for now, started talking to us but I was the only one who was nice enough to listen. He knew the guy we visited. I thought that was cool. He would have said more had G not pulled me away. I wanted to listen, he seemed sad.

April 6th 2013

He said I was special because I was the only one who cared. I felt bad for his loss but I had to get back to my work. He seemed angry.

April 7th 2013

He said he was mad at us. But I told him it wasn't our fault. He said that we would see. I don't know what he meant but I have no desire to talk to him again.

April 8th 2013

He said our time would come.

Paulie must have been related to Dez Bird. But is he our Red Two Shot? She carried the diary back to the room and let the men pass it around and read it for themselves.

Ryan and Espo didn't need to be told another time. They ran to check into Paulie.

"Beckett. Come here." Kate ran at the sound of Espo's voice.

"What did you get?" She leaned over his computer and leaned down.

Cliff followed after her and Rick followed him. Rick made a sneer when he saw Cliff look over Kate's bent figure. His eyes scanned her long legs and took her in.

"No Paulie Bird. No Paulie at all."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a Prince Door. That is why we never caught anything. His name didn't match Bird's. but we checked his mother's name and got a Patricia Bird. It's her maiden name, she kept it."

"Good job Espo. What time is it?" She couldn't see the clock and Espo clicked his tongue.

"You need to get that checked. And seven."

"Why don't you two go pick up this Prince Door." She let them leave and turned back to Rick and Cliff who stood by anxiously.

"What should I do?" Cliff tried to be as charming as possible but she wasn't biting.

"Gather as much as we can about this. We know that he threatened Gwenie because that is why Abby took her life. She thought she was saving Gwenie's."

"Why did she think that?"

"She was ill." Kate walked back to her board and looked over all her other vics.

"So. You think this Prince guy blamed the girls for his grandfather's death. But why kill them the same way as our serial killer?" Rick always served useful when it came to asking the right questions.

"Could be opportunity or maybe he didn't kill anyone. Think about it. He got Abby to kill herself by saying he had done it before. But, the other girls didn't talk to him. And why bother going through the task of cleaning up your crime scenes? These had the same markings as the other cases. That fact wasn't released."

"So, he could have gotten Abby to do the deed but didn't get to the others?" Rick sat on the edge of her desk and she slid next to him.

"Yeah. Seems doubtful." She got a call and was surprised to hear Ryan calling.

"Who is it?" She mouthed Ryan and Rick nodded.

"What do you mean?"

"Seems he has been dead for about a week or so. No one bothered to check on him. He doesn't live in the nicest of places. Besides he had paid his rent so no need to. No one reported him missing. Neighbors barely knew him."

"How?"

"Slit his wrists."

"Any note?"

"Just one saying sorry. 'He never meant for anyone to get hurt. That it was an accident. Please forgive me Abby'."

"He took himself after Abby took herself?" She caught Rick's and Cliff's startled looks but held her finger up.

"Seems so. We'll know more after his autopsy."

"Thanks Ryan. Hurry back." She hung up and held her head in her hands.

"So he is dead?" Cliff leaned against the brick wall next to the white board.

"Suicide. He felt guilty over Abby. He probably made an empty threat so they would confess but Abby took it as she could save everyone if she took herself out of the equation. She did say that he told her it was time. I bet he meant confess but she was ill." Kate rubbed her sore eyes and looked next to her at Rick.

"What do we do now?"

"You can go home and get some sleep. I have to notify nest of kin and then I will come home."

"No. I will stay." He yawned and she laughed.

"No. Go. I will be there soon." She hugged him goodbye and he kissed her head before leaving.

Cliff sat in the chair next to her desk and watched her make the call.

When she hung up she seemed stressed.

"Hard? It is never easy is it?"

"No. She will be down here in a little while. I need to change." She stood and grabbed her keys.

"Why? You look good to me." He smiled and she let herself be flattered.

"I can't give news looking like this. I'll be back." She waved and headed to change.

"Thank you for coming down Ms. Bird." Kate motioned for Ms. Bird to sit in the couch that was across from the chair Beckett was sitting in. She crossed her legs, that were now in a pair of black slacks. She sat straight and her silk, white blouse moved with her.

Ms. Bird sat slowly and she looked at Beckett for her to go on.

"I am sorry for your loss. Now, I have some questions I need to ask you."

"Go ahead."

"First. Why did your son go by Paulie if his name was Prince Door?"

"When he was little I used to tease him because he was always hungry. I would say 'Paulie want a cracker?' The name just stuck."

"When was the last time you talked to your son?" Kate jotted down her responses to the questions.

"About a year ago. He never forgave me for the divorce. He even hated me more after he found out I was going by my maiden name again."

"Why did you change your name?"

"That name brought horrible memories. I didn't want it anymore. How did he die?"

"He took his life, I am afraid. Do you know why he would do that?"

"No. We haven't talked for a year."

"Do you know why he hung around the New York State Veteran's Home at St. Alban's?"

"He did?"

"Yes."

Ms. Bird ran her hands through her long blonde hair and wiped her brown eyes. "My father lived there. I only visited once. My father and I were never close but Prince was. He said he would be there for him because I wasn't. Another thing he blamed me for. I didn't arrange his funeral. I know that sounds bad but I left the home with the decision. Do you think he was angry enough at me to kill himself?"

Kate wanted to tell her no but that wasn't entirely true. "It seems he blamed himself for other things. He apologized for accusing someone else that he felt too guilty."

"Why?"

"Because this girl took her own life as well."

"She did? Oh, shame on him."

Kate knew that she would get nothing useful from Ms. Bird and let her go. She changed back into her dress but slid on her navy blue jacket that was hung in her locker. When she walked back to her desk there was a note there.

Detective Beckett,

I had to leave. Sorry I did not wait for you but the morning will come sooner than we think. Good night.

Cliff

She laughed and slid the note into her jacket and gathered her things up and left the precinct. As she walked out the precinct she remembered she gave her car keys to Rick.

Shit. Now I have to take a cab. As the cab was pulling down her street, she stopped the driver. She decided on surprising Rick with a bottle of wine. She couldn't remember if she had any left and knew that this would be a night she would need it.

The store was only a few blocks from her apartment and she decided to walk the way. As she was walking, she felt someone was watching her but every time she turned around, no one was there.

Get ahold of yourself. It's late. Dark. And you are imagining things. She tried to tell herself those things but fear kept rising in her. She heard footsteps and turned around the corner and stopped. When she looked back, the sidewalk was empty. She kept walking, with a more hurried pace. She was almost there when hands grabbed her from behind and pulled her into a side alley. She tried to scream but he held his hand over her mouth and shoved her body into the brick. He wrapped his hands around her neck and held her still.

"If you know what is good for you, you will drop this case. I have warned you, Kate." The man slammed her head into the brick and let her fall to the ground. He ran away and she lay there.

Kate gently touched the back of her head and drew her hand back and she saw blood. She tried to regain her breath and slid her phone out.

"Rick?" She heard music being turned down.

"Where are you?"

"I need your help."

"What? Are you ok?"

"I think I was just attacked."

"Holy shit! Where are you?" She heard him frantically move through her apartment and close the door.

She told him where she was and sat there, waiting. Who the hell was that?

She heard Rick yell her name and called back to him. She saw him run to her and leaned down next to her. He touched her head and called 911. After he called he held her to him and she smiled.

"I am lucky to have you."

"Yeah. No is as lucky as we are." He then tended to her, checked her for more injuries and then placed gentle kisses wherever she wasn't marked up.

"I love you."

"Love you too. Always babe." He kissed her on the mouth and caught her when she slumped into his arms.

"Kate! Kate!" He frantically yelled to her but she just laid there, slumped in his arms, and made no sound.