A/N There is a major spoiler for Raging Heat in this chapter. I am really sorry. Our internet went out in high winds last night so this chapter didn't go up at its usual time. It's about three hours later than usual.

After the Vows

Jim Beckett's Journal

Chapter 12

Dear Johanna,

I was watching the news and suddenly I saw a major game changer. There has been an attempt on Bracken's life. Unfortunately he isn't dead, which certainly would have saved Katie the pain of living through his trial for your murder, but he is seriously hurt. The news had no details about what happened so I called Katie. She used one of her contacts on the Attorney General's task force to get more information.

Bracken was stabbed multiple times. That seems like poetic justice and would be even more so if he were dead. No one knows who did it, but a guard found him in the showers and got him some medical help. Bracken is critical and I - oh this seems terrible but I can't help it. I am praying for that man's death. After taking you from me and almost taking Katie from me, he more than deserves it. Whether he dies or not, the killing of Donovan and Katie's attempted murder are cast in a whole new light. I don't know what to say about Pulgatti. Since he was a mob enforcer, perhaps someone besides Bracken wanted him dead. It is a whole new mystery. Perhaps what has happened does flow from the drug trade cutting its ties with Bracken, and not the other way round.

Katie has been at the precinct, but Captain Gates has her doing paper work, which Katie detests. Rick is with her. He has his laptop so that he can write, something he really needs to do. Any information about J.J.'s case, Portman, or Creason, has to come from Ryan. There has been some. Before Creason disappeared off the radar, there were some credit card charges leading northward. One theory is that he went to Canada. The DEA has contacted the RCMP to trace that down.

Since J.J. had no chance to cover his tracks before Rick and Katie took him down, the investigation of him and his contacts has been much more fruitful. The 12th has a whiz of a computer tech. Her name is Tory Ellis. I met her at the party the kids threw after the wedding. She managed to recover a lot of files from J.J.'s computer, even many that supposedly had been erased. I can't say that I understand how that works. It has something to do with files not being completely gone unless they've been overwritten several times. However Tory did it, she found that J.J. was up to his ears in the drug trade. I can't imagine why a dry alcoholic would participate in something like that. Perhaps AA was part of his scam. Other than his legal knowledge, he may not be anything of the man he pretended to be. There were lots of contacts as well as production and delivery schedules on his computer. There was banking information as well. That information is being shared with the DEA and Ryan says they are having a field day. I am hoping that with Federal resources added to those of the NYPD, there will be enough boots on the ground to bring the organization down. That would certainly make Katie a lot safer. In a strange way, having J.J. try to kill her may end up keeping her alive. That is a twist I don't think would even turn up in one of Rick's books.

Rick has been trying to write a follow-up to Raging Heat. It is really a natural progression. Art has been slowly imitating life. Since Rook asked Nikki to marry him at the end of Raging Heat, Rick may move the into the engagement stage. I don't know. He won't tell me. I do know that he has to make up his mind in a hurry. From what Alexis tells me, Gina, his ex-wife and publisher calls the Castle loft on a regular basis. She has some sympathy for the time he lost while he was missing, but he still has a contract to fulfill. From what I hear, Gina can and will make his life a living hell if he doesn't meet his obligations. There may be some financial penalties as well.

You would love this. There has been some initial talk about making a television show out of Derrick Storm. I don't know what that would look like financially for Rick. I don't know what rights to the character he has retained. I don't think Rick knows either. He lets his agent, Paula Haas, handle those matters for him. I've met her at a couple of functions. She is a sharp woman and seems to genuinely like Rick. Of course it is in her best interests to do a good job for him. Obviously, the more he makes, the more she makes. If the show does happen, it might be a drain on the time Rick and Katie like to spend together on cases. I don't know how television works but I imagine Rick would consult in some capacity. I'm hoping that wouldn't take him away from Katie too much but I know the kids can work it out. They've certainly dealt with much more difficult problems.

My own work continues to go well. Katie talked to Roselyn Karpowski. She tells me that Roselyn has a passion for equal rights for women. Roselyn's mother was was one of those women who was always told to stay in her place. She hated the idea and so does her daughter. That's why Roselyn enjoys, as Rick would say, "kicking ass and taking names." I met with Roselyn and she wants to help with the suit. I think she'd do it even if I didn't pay her, but to pay Ryan and not pay her would send the worst of possible messages. She'll be picking up some hours when she can. There are definitely some women who will not speak freely to Ryan, talented as he is, just because he is male. My hope is that they will talk to Roselyn.

Martha has been out with her celebrity chef again. Now in addition to canapes, we'll be getting a couple of side dishes for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure whether that's good news or not. There is a lot of food out there that is so faddish that I can't recognize it. You know me. Give me turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie and I'll be happy. Alexis tells me that one of her pies will be pumpkin. "Pumpkin" was one of Rick's pet names for her when she was younger, because of her red hair. Carving pumpkins for Halloween and eating pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving are both Castle family traditions. It is wonderful to be a part of that.

Forever love,

JB