Thirteen:
Labor Day Weekend:
Junior agent Katherine Beckett and Senior agent Rachel McCord were boarding a plane from Omaha to Salt Lake City. They were following leads on a case of jury tampering that had involved several Federal trials. They were gathering evidence against Jerry Markbright, who was running a not-so-discrete business that offered to make trial outcomes to please anyone with sufficient funds to use his service. His 'consultant' business was a cover for the nefarious acts that they would perform to guarantee the outcome. They have been criss-crossing the country trying to find evidence that would corroborate the single whistle blower that came forward two months ago.
Kate's mind drifted off to her holiday weekend last year at Castle's home in the Hamptons. How a romantic getaway turned into another case that they solved together. She remembered just how out of place she felt standing in front of his 'beach house' and how much he tried to assuage her concerns. How he would be her 'one and done'.
That thought brought her back to her near confrontation with Castle at JFK nearly two months ago. How she hid in the woman's restroom to avoid having to face him. How ashamed she was as to why she had returned to New York in the first place. That weekend was spent riding upstate and tracking down the 'husband' she didn't know she had. Rogan O'Leary was not an easy man to find as he was always hiding from people that he owed money or had wronged in one way or another. It took the better part of a day, but she finally tracked him down at a bar owned by his 'fiance'. To say he was surprised to see Kate would be an understatement. His fiance however was not pleased. Rogan had told her that his 'wife' had been in a coma for years and that he didn't have the heart to divorce her.
A look at Rogan and his fiance made Kate realize just how stupid she had been during her 'wild child' phase. How that could have been her standing there with a 'loser' that used people to get what he wanted. The upside of confronting him in front of his fiance was he couldn't try to argue his way out of signing the dissolution papers. Kate was sure that knowing just how badly she wanted him to sign the papers, he would have tried to extort something in exchange. She thanked the not so happy couple and wished them well as she left the bar and returned to the city, closing an embarrassing event from her past.
McAdams tapping her shoulder pulled Kate back from her thoughts. She handed her a folder containing information on the person that they would be interviewing once they arrived in Salt Lake City. They discussed a strategy for how they would conduct the interview and what they hoped to find out as the roar of the jet engines muffled their conversation. She wondered how much longer she would be assigned to cases like this before agent Cochran brought her into the investigation of Bracken.
X-X-X
Rick sat in his lounger sipping a beer as he watched Alexis running along the beach with her new boyfriend only known as Pi. Castle was less than pleased when he arrived at the airport to pickup Alexis to find her in the arms of her friend she met while in Costa Rica. He loved Alexis and trusted her to do the right thing, so he kept his opinions to himself. That didn't stop him from using his old agency contacts to find out everything that they could about the young suitor. It turns out that Pi was the son of one of the wealthiest families in Spain. Roberto Pi Estevez was an Oxford educated free spirit who was taking a year off before continuing his education at either Harvard or Yale. With his family's money and his grades, he could decide.
Despite being a couple of years older than Alexis, Pi seemed to be more immature than her. Rick had to smile at that thought as everyone always considered her more mature than him even as a child. Pi lived with Rick in his loft for over a month when Castle suggested that maybe he should find a place of his own when Alexis returned to school. Rick tried to mask his disappointment when Alexis announced that she and Pi were going to get their own apartment near school instead of living in the dorm. While he didn't like it, he had to trust her. Especially after everything that she had went through in the last year.
The Labor Day weekend used to serve as a sort of unofficial end of summer for Rick, usually spent with Martha and Alexis. Last year Alexis had went off with her friend and Martha was in LA for a TV episode being filmed, so he spent it alone with Kate. It turned out to be one of his fondest memories of his time in the Hamptons. Rick couldn't help but wonder how she was doing and if her new career was everything that she thought it would be.
Rick was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Lanie yelling that Espo was ruining their dinners by burning the steaks. Castle could only chuckle as he watched Javi hold up a badly charred t-bone with his fork standing by the grill. Lanie admonished Rick for turning over his duties as host to an 'amateur grill-master' like Esposito. Rick laughed and walked over to the large grill taking the cooking tools from the detective. Kevin and a very pregnant Jenny laughed as Javier slinked away from the grill like a child who had been scolded.
Rick had invited them to spend the weekend with him and was surprised when they accepted. They had become his best friends over the last five years and they all shared a feeling of abandonment by Katherine Beckett. They made sure to never mention her by name yet her absence was felt by all for different reasons.
With his book tour starting in a week or so, this would be the last chance he would be able to hang out with them for a while. Because he had no pressing reason to stay in New York, he agreed to extend his tour outside the US. There was a plan to translate Rick's novels into Mandarin and release them in China. Gina and Paula were still working out the details, but hoped to have something firmed up before the US portion of the tour ended. If things worked out as planned, he would return to the US and begin to promote the new Nikki Heat movie. His goal was clear – stay as busy as possible so that he didn't have time to dwell on his failed relationship or the woman that had held his heart and mind for nearly five years. While that may work for his waking hours, he couldn't control what he dreamed about and the dreams were more and more painful.
His relationship with his mother have been off since their confrontation in May. Martha continues to believe that there is another reason why Kate would give everything up without any reason. Knowing that she would be badly outnumbered if there was a debate about the subject with the people Rick had invited, Martha decides to stay in New York to work at her school.
Alexis, however, did not believe in Kate. She wished that he would get over his school boy crush on her and realize that Beckett had done nothing but hurt him. She knew that he deserved better than Kate and had been very vocal about it since her return from Costa Rica. Rick had been more than happy letting everyone think that somehow Kate had made him a better man, but Alexis knew the truth and Lanie had found out first hand that there was more fire in the little Castle than just her hair.
It had happened just after the bomb case, over a year ago. Alexis was interning with the Medical Examiner and caught the end of a conversation between Kate and Lanie. Beckett was complaining that Rick was acting like an ass, bringing a flight attendant to a crime scene and ignoring her. Of course Lanie took her side and said something to the effect that he needed a strong woman like Kate to 'keep him in line'. Alexis walked into the examination room after hearing the last part and the two women immediately stopped talking. The younger Castle may have kept quiet if it wasn't for the sympathetic looks they gave her, as if being Richard Castle's daughter was something to be pitied for. Kate quickly walked out of the room seeing Alexis glare at both of the women.
Alexis knew the truth. Martha Rodgers was a lot of things, but a keeper of secrets wasn't one of them. While Rick refused to tell her why he was behaving so strangely, Martha was unable to do so. When she confronted her father, he promised that he would take care of things himself and made her promise not to say anything to Kate. Reluctantly, she agreed but fought to contain her anger whenever she saw the woman. Lanie on the other hand, was not part of the promise.
Embarrassed that she had been caught talking about the girl's father, Lanie tries to defend her comment. "Sorry about that, but you know that your father can't seem to stay out of trouble without Kate around to keep in in line."
Alexis stood there and tried to calm herself by counting to ten before speaking. She only made it to three. "Is that what you think Dr Parish? That my father is some sort of bumbling imbecile with a Peter Pan complex without your 'friend' to keep him in check?" Lanie could have sworn that she saw smoke come from the young girls ears as she growled. "You're just like her, thinking that you're somehow better than him.. I'm sick of hearing how he's a better man being around detective Beckett. The truth is the exact opposite. You've met my mother and grandmother. You've seen how they are. You see how I am. Ask them who influenced me. Don't bother. You're just like the rest of them. You see what you want."
"That's not true Alexis. I just don't understand why your father's acting the way his." Lanie offered weakly in her defense.
"Why don't you ask detective Beckett. She knows why. I, I can't be here right now.." Alexis turns to walk away before she breaks down in tears, but stops to ask one final question. "Didn't you every wonder how lying came so easy to a woman who prides herself as being a champion of the truth?"
Lanie started to take a step towards the young woman, but stopped as Alexis ran away sobbing. The M E knew that the younger Castle was fiercely loyal and protective of her father and that her callous comment had done irreparable damage to their friendship.
Alexis never returned to the internship with Dr Parish..
It would be another month before Lanie found out why Rick had started acting so strangely.
Alexis was right – Kate had lied to everyone about her memories of being shot.
X-X-X
Kate and Rachel were just finishing dinner when she received the call. Not recognizing the number, she answered in her usual manner. "Beckett."
"Kate, it's been a long time.. How are you?"
Beckett immediately recognized the voice, Will Sorenson. "Will, I have to admit that you're the last person that I expected a call from." She remarked, her tone neutral.
"I'm working out of the Salt Lake City office now. I saw that you were in the building today.." There was a long and uncomfortable pause before he continued. "I thought.. Maybe we could meet for a drink and catch up. How long has it been?"
"Almost five years." Kate replied flatly. "I don't think that would be a good idea. I'm preparing for an interview with someone tomorrow and I want to be ready."
"Come on, just one. You can tell me all about your new job. I have to admit that I was shocked to see that you were a Fed now. Where are you staying? I can meet you at the bar there if you'd like."
"I'm not sure that they have a bar.."
"That's ok Kate. I'll bring my own booze.. What hotel are you staying at?"
"The downtown Marriott. Room 723." Kate blurted out before she could stop herself. She didn't know why she felt the need to see anyone from her past, especially one who had caused her pain. McCord sat there listening to Kate's side of the conversation smiling.
"Great. I'll see you in an hour." Will replied as he ended the call before Kate could change her mind.
Beckett sat there and stared at her phone as Rachel laughed. "Wow Kate, we're only in SLC for a couple of hours and you've already got a 'hook-up'?"
Kate tried to give her partner a scowl. "It's not like that. Will and I were together about seven years ago.. He's a FBI agent. He had a chance at a promotion and took it.."
"But you weren't part of it?" McCord inquires, already knowing the answer by the look on Kate's face.
"I had only been a detective for a couple of years at the time.. He asked me to give up my job and follow him to Boston. I might have considered it, except you know that a FBI agent that wants to have any type of career will be constantly moving from one place to another. I couldn't give up my career for his. I would have hated him eventually."
McCord nodded her head in understanding. The life of a Federal agent was a nomadic one. Rachel hadn't been a long term relationship since college. The job was a cruel mistress, requiring total dedication. The senior agent learned to be satisfied with a brief encounter here and there.
They arrived back at the hotel about thirty minutes later. After exchanging pleasantries, Kate took the elevator to her floor wondering why she invited Sorenson to her room. Once inside her room, she kicked off her shoes and began pacing back and forth as she looked at the watch on her wrist.
The knock on the door stopped her pacing as she went to answer it. Will smiled at the surprised look on Kate's face as she opened the door. "Long time no see. You look great!"
Kate could only offer a wan smile as she gestured for him to enter. Will looked almost exactly the same as he did the last time she saw him. He walked to her and took her in a familiar embrace. Kate's entire body stiffened at first contact and Will released her as soon as he sensed it. "What brings you to SLC?"
Beckett walks away towards the small table in the corner of the room and begins to sit down. "Jury tampering case. There's a guy we need to interview that may help.."
"Oh, I see." Will replies as he follows her across the room pulling the chair that served double duty with the desk nearby and sits down. "So how long have you been a Fed? I never thought that you'd ever leave New York."
"A couple of months. I've been assigned to a special task force for the AG's office."
Will scans the room stopping on the bed with her unopened suitcase still sitting on top. He pulls the bottle from his brown paper bag that he carried in and shows her. "Still up for that drink right?"
Beckett gets up and walks to the glasses sitting on top of the mini-bar. Handing one to Will, she sits the other on the table as she returns to her seat. "Salt Lake City, huh? How long have you been here? The last time we talked you were leaving Boston and going to DC."
Will grins at her questions. "I've been here about a year now. I'm a supervisor and have a team of agents.. You look good Kate, real good." He pours himself a drink and grabs her glass from the table and does the same. Sliding the glass to her, he lifts his in a toast. "To old flames and missed opportunities."
Kate lifts her glass and takes a large sip of the amber liquid. She felt the warmth of the liquid as it made its way down her throat. They managed to keep their conversation steered towards safe topics for nearly ten minutes as they both finished their second drink. Kate starts to relax a little seeing Will as the man she once thought was her 'one and done'. It was nice to be able to talk to someone from her past that she didn't feel guilty about how she left them behind. A sad smile appears on her face as Sorenson continued his story about some recent case.
Will was good at reading people and he could see that Kate's thoughts were somewhere else. Reaching across the table he took her hand in his. "Are you alright? You looked like you were a thousand miles away." He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"More like two thousand, Will. Just feeling sorry for myself a little bit, I suppose."
"Anything or anyone in particular?" Sorenson inquires.
"It's just the whole situation.. I mean I love my job. I think that there's a future for me here, but.."
"But you wonder if it's worth the price you have to pay?" Will completes her question. Kate nods almost relieved that she didn't have to say the words herself. "I know better than anyone. I gave up the woman that I saw a bright future with. A woman that I loved.." Will offers a small smile as he spoke and starts to pour her another drink.
Kate was stunned at Sorenson's confession that he gave up the woman that he loved for the job, yet somehow that seemed to help her justify her actions with Castle. "Do you.. Do you regret it?" She asks in a small, whisper like voice.
"Everyday." He replies without hesitation. "But I chose to serve the greater good." There was a long pause as he took a sip from his drink. "Do you ever regret not going with me?"
"No, Yes, I did at first, but I knew that I was where I belonged."
"So what changed?" Sorenson inquires. Hoping to lighten the somber mood, he asks, "The last time I saw you, you had that writer-monkey tag along. Did you finally shoot him?" Will knew that she was a fan of the author, but seemed to be annoyed and frustrated by his presence in her life. Even then he could tell that Castle was infatuated with Kate and had fun teasing her about it.
Kate was feeling vulnerable at the time and for a fleeting moment thought about giving in to those feelings with her former lover. She would have to have been blind, deaf and dumb to not know why he showed up at her room to discuss the 'good old days'. She might have given in to those feelings if it wasn't for the disparaging remarks that he made about Rick. Richard Castle was no writer-monkey. He still believed in the unknown and in magic, but that didn't make him weak. She actually smiles as she remembers Castle telling her how her and Will would have never lasted, referring to it as a 'panda' relationship. That she needed a yang to go with her yin. His yang to be exact.
Will sits there and watches Kate as she thinks about his question. Misinterpreting her smile as confirmation of her dislike of the writer, he tries to caress her cheek with his palm. He feels her body stiffen at his touch as if she had been slapped. Sorenson quickly draws his hand away, not wanting to provoke her. Realizing that the writer-monkey, had somehow became more than her partner he comments before thinking. "No way! You, and the writer-monkey?"
"I think that you better leave now. It's late and I'm really tired." Kate looks directly at him and then towards the door.
"Look Kate, how was I supposed to know? The last time I saw you, you were ready to kill the guy for digging up your mother's case. You kicked him off of your team, remember?" Will offered in his defense.
Beckett sat there for a few seconds, trying to reel in her emotions but failing. "You're right Will. How would you know? We were together for nearly a year and you knew that my mother's murder was the reason I became a cop yet you never asked a single question. You accepted the story that the cops told me and thought I should move on. Rick was with me for six weeks and knew that I would never be satisfied until I knew the whole story. He hired the best forensic pathologist in the country to look at my mother's file and was able to prove that it wasn't an act of random gang violence as the cops tried to tell me. It was murder. A professional hit."
"Geez Kate, I didn't know.." Will tries to interrupt, but is silenced by Beckett holding up her hand.
"I shot him. Thanks to the evidence that Castle was able to obtain, we were able to tie my mother's murder to several other similar killings by the same person. We didn't know we had him in custody at the time, but he slipped up and said something that only the killer would know. I shot him before I could find out who hired him. That writer-monkey as you call him, gave $100,000.00 in an attempt to catch my mother's killer."
"I'm sorry Kate." Was all Sorenson could offer. It was obvious that she and the writer had become more than just 'partners', but he was puzzled why she would be here without him. Will had to assume that there had been a bad breakup and Kate was simply hiding away in her job. He had been with her long enough to know that for all of her tough talk, she was still fragile emotionally. Seeing the defeated look on Beckett's face, Will decides to honor her request and rises up from his chair. "I'll leave this here with you.." He looks at the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. "You're right. It is late and we both have busy days tomorrow."
Kate nods her head in appreciation and rises up from her seat. Walking to the door, she gives Will a weak hug and thanks him for coming. He simply smiles as he returns the hug and is soon out of the room leaving Kate alone with her doubts about everything she has done in the last four months.