Twenty:

Breakfast at the hotel's restaurant the next morning was awkward to say the least. Mindy could tell by the rather cool way she was greeted by Rick that he was not pleased. She wasn't sure if it was their forced 'partnership' or the fact that she had kept her reason for being with him a secret. Mindy decided to forego dinner with Castle last night after his meeting with Mr Smith and ordered room service instead. Rick sat there nursing his coffee and staring off at nothing in particular. Little had been spoken by either one and he decides to address the issue.

"So you are my new partner?"

"I suppose so Mr Castle."

Rick has to laugh at the formal way she addresses him. "I think that we're a little past the Mr Castle phase considering that you're my new 'live-in'. How much have you been briefed on?"

Mindy can see that Rick isn't exactly pleased with their cover relationship. "I had nothing to do with the arrangement, but I suspect that your ex may have suggested it as a way to get you writing again."

Castle grimaced at the mention of Gina. 'Of course, she'd have a good laugh at seeing how uncomfortable this arrangement is making me.' He whispered to himself. Black Pawn was a legitimate publishing house, but had ties to the CIA and Gina was keenly aware of Rick's other career long before she married him. It made sense that Mindy would be an agent. She could move freely in places like China with her cover job.

Rick took another sip from his coffee and asks "So what's next? I'm afraid that I'm a little short on details."

Mindy smiles and reaches across the table to gently stroke his hand. "Well, we don't want to raise any suspicions, so you'll finish up your promotional tour as planned and once you return to New York, I'll meet you there."

"I'll only be in New York for a couple of weeks. I've already committed to doing promotional work for the new Nikki Heat movie that's coming out Christmas day."

Mindy appears surprised by his statement, but calmly comments. "That may be better for us. It gives us some time to map out a plan for how we are going to go after Bracken. I'll tag along with you on your tour and that will help secure your cover."

"I'm sorry, but this all seems a little over the top to me. I mean I understand about creating a cover and all that, but it is a little odd."

"Mr Castle, Rick, I know this seems a little bizarre, but remember someone with ties to Bracken has been trying to find out about you for almost four years. We need to give them something to take to him that will let him think that you're completely out of the picture." She stopped for a moment before voicing what she thought the real reason for his reluctance. "I can always suggest that they bring another female agent if you don't think that I can do the job."

"That's not it all!" Castle replies a little too quickly. In fact if the truth were known, she was a little too perfect. There was something about her that peaked his curiosity, the desire to know the rest of the story. She was exactly what he needed, but this wasn't the time. He still loved another.

He wasn't sure if he was 'in' love.

X-X-X

Kate was busy working on the details of a case with Rachael McCord when her cell phone rang. She did not recognize the number, but saw that it was local by the area code. Answering it in her usual manner, she simply states "Beckett", and assumes that it is someone within the department.

"Ms Beckett. This is Richard Hunter. We spoke a few nights ago at the embassy party..."

There was a long pause before Kate replies. "Yes sir, I remember."

"Good. I need to meet with you. I have a case that I'm working on and I think that your input would be of value.."

Kate was puzzled by his statement. 'Case? What case could he be working on that I would be of value?' She wondered. 'Unless he's working on Bracken.' "Anything to help sir." Beckett replies as calmly as she can.

"Good. I'll meet you at the coffee shop around the corner from your building at 3:00 pm. You do like coffee?"

"Yes sir. Coffee is fine. I need to clear this with my boss." Kate replies.

"I'd rather you didn't. If anyone asks, tell them that Fitzpatrick asked you to meet with someone. Can you do that?"

"Yes sir. I'll see you at three."

"Very well." Hunter replies and the call ends.

Kate sits there and stares at her phone for a moment wondering just who the mysterious Mr Hunter actually is and why he wants to speak to her. McCord sees her sitting there and asks. "What's up Kate? Is something wrong?"

Schooling her features, Beckett replies. "No, nothing's wrong. I've got to talk to someone about a case."

"Which case? One that we're working on?"

"Rachael, I honestly don't know. All I know is that I was summoned to speak with him."

"Do you even know who you're talking to?"

"Not really. I met him once. He's was with Fitzpatrick. They're friends, I think."

McCord grins hearing Kate's admission that she has met the Attorney General. "Well look at you.. Dating a billionaire and rubbing elbows with the AG. I underestimated you Beckett."

"I'm not dating Erik." Kate replies a little too quickly making McCord's grin a little bigger. "It was just an embassy party. That's where I met the AG."

"Sure. Right.." McCord replies, still grinning at Kate's weak defense. "We still have a case and I need your attention on this right now."

Kate gives her an embarrassed smile. "Sure thing boss."

Beckett has a difficult time focusing on her current case after the phone call. She can't figure out what she would know that would be of value to him – unless it was about Bracken. 'Maybe he's Cochran's boss and they're finally bringing her on the case.' She thought. At least she hoped so.

At 2:45, she got up from her desk and walked to the board to sign herself out. Having no idea how long she would be gone, Kate decides to call it a day. She couldn't focus on the current case anyway. She walked out of the building tugging her coat close to her. It was overcast and the winds whipping from the west was a sign that winter would soon be here.

It was 2:59 when she walked into the coffee shop. Kate quickly scans the room and sees Hunter sitting in a far corner near the emergency exit. His eyes were also scanning the room and spots her immediately. She offers a small smile and walks to where he sits. He rises from his seat as she approaches and extends his hand. "Ms Beckett. It's good to see you again." He shakes her proffered hand and gestures for her to take a seat. "Would you like a coffee?"

"Yes, please." Beckett replies noticing how similar Hunter is to Castle in his mannerisms. He walks up to the counter and orders their drinks, returning with two large cups of black coffee.

Sitting them on the table he comments. "I didn't know how you liked it, so I got regulars. There's condiments over at the counter I can get if you like."

Kate couldn't help but remember just how seriously Rick took making her coffee, making sure it was exactly as she liked. She hasn't had a good cup of coffee in six months and she misses it. If she was honest with herself she misses Rick even more. "Black is fine. I don't drink coffee like I used to. Can't seem to get it right.." She takes a tentative sip of the black liquid in front of her and makes a small face.

"I could get you something else if you'd like." Hunter comments.

"No, this is fine." She pauses as she takes another sip of her coffee before speaking. "I can only assume that you're a very busy man. So why exactly do you want to speak to me?"

Hunter offers a small smile listening to her. "Direct and to the point. I like that." He reaches into a manila envelope that he was carrying and pulls out a couple of photographs. The same photographs that Smith had shown Castle. He slides the pictures across the table to her. "Do these look familiar?"

She examines the photos and sees how it looks as if Vaughn, Bracken and herself were in the middle of a friendly conversation. She can see how Vaughn has his hand resting on the small of her back in a manner that would give the casual observer the idea that they were more than acquaintances. Feeling a little embarrassed and defensive, she replies "Of course I do" a little too tersely. "What do you want?"

Hunter was not a man to be trifled with. He was only doing this because he felt that he owed it to his son. If she wanted to go down with the rest of them, then so be it. He shook his head knowing just how vulnerable she had made herself by leaving New York. Richard reaches across the table and gathers up the pictures, placing them back in the envelope. "I'm sorry I wasted your time Ms Beckett." He starts to push himself up from his seat.

Kate panics seeing Hunter call her bluff. She knows that Hunter wants something from her, but doesn't know what or why. She reaches across the table trying to grab his hand. "I'm sorry, ok? Those pictures aren't what they seem."

Hunter lowers himself back into his seat. "Ok Ms Beckett. What's the real story?"

"Out of the blue, I got a call from Vaughn asking me to an embassy party with him. At first I declined, but then he told me that the AG would be there. I thought that there would be a chance for he and I to talk about a case I was working on.."

"What case was that?"

"I'd rather not say."

Hunter starts to get up from the table again. "Now you're wasting my time Ms Beckett."

"Bracken." She replies, her voice barely above a whisper.

"There's no one in the AG's office working on Bracken." Hunter replies.

"Yes there is." Kate replies adamantly. "I spoke to him myself."

"Well somebody played you. I can assure you that there is no investigation of the senator by the AG, official or unofficial." Hunter pulls his phone from his pocket and makes a call. "Bob, it's Alex. Quick question. Is there, or has there been any investigation into senator William Bracken?" Hunter holds the phone out so that Kate can listen to his response.

Hearing that there was no investigation by the AG's office from the Attorney General himself pretty much confirmed what Hunter had said. Kate's whole body seemed to collapse hearing the news. "I'm such a fool." She mumbled to herself.

Hunter actually feels sorry for the woman sitting across from him seeing her looking so defeated. "Yes you are. You played right into their hands. You're all alone and he can control you as he sees fit."

"I wanted to bring him to justice so badly, that I didn't care who I was hurting." Kate comments, shocked by the realization. "Now he'll never be caught."

"Just because the AG's office isn't investigating Bracken, doesn't mean that someone else isn't"

"What do you mean?" She inquires.

"Exactly what I said Ms Beckett. You are off any investigation of the senator and if I hear that you are trying to do something on your own, I'll make sure that your ass is in the Yukon monitoring dog sled race fixing for the remainder of your time with the Federal government. And don't even think about quitting and going back to New York. You wouldn't get a job as a meter maid."

Kate could tell by the tone of his voice that this wasn't something for debate. She was pretty sure that Hunter had the 'juice' to make his threats into realities. "So what do you want from me?"

"Two things. The first is any and all information on your mysterious 'contact' from the AG's office, where, when, descriptions, everything. The second has to do with your relationship with Erik Vaughn."

Kate can't help but bristle a little at the insinuation that her and Vaughn were in some sort of relationship. "There's nothing going on with Erik Vaughn and myself."

Hunter arches an eyebrow suspiciously at her comment. "Is that so? Weren't you involved with him in New York about seven months ago?"

"I had a case. One of his business associates had been murdered. I was assigned to be his protection, nothing more."

"So you're regularly assigned to do a job that a uniformed officer could do?"

"My captain thought that it would be best if I looked after him due to his high profile." Kate replies.

"Were any of your fellow detectives assigned to this 'security' detail?"

"No."

"Don't you find that a bit odd?" He paused, hoping that some of this was starting to sink in. "There was another attempt on his life?"

"Yes there was. A sniper tried to shoot him."

"Must not have been a very good sniper." Hunter comments.

"He would have killed him but he moved at the last second." She knew why he moved, but she wasn't going to tell Hunter.

"I see. So you saved Mr Vaughn's life and he feels some sense of obligation to you? Is that why he calls you out of the blue and invites you to an embassy party?"

"I suppose that must be why." Kate replies emotionlessly.

Hunter sits there for a few seconds waiting to see if Kate is able to put the pieces together, his frustration growing. "It's a good thing that you had a team to work with or you'd never be able to solve a case. Look at the clues detective. Vaughn was nothing but a distraction to drive a wedge between you and Richard.. My sources tell me that things were strained between you two after that. Maybe things weren't so solid with you two.." He pauses to allow her time to think about what he has just said and finishes his coffee. "Why did Gates assign you to his security? Why was she always trying to get rid of Richard Castle? Think Ms Beckett. Think."

Beckett sits there in stunned silence as the pieces start to fall together. It makes sense. Captain Victoria Gates was a mole for William Bracken.