CH28

While Kate was burning DVD's of the information on the laptop:

Gina Cowell and Paula Haas were meeting in Gina's office to talk about Richard Castle and his latest personal attachment they have noticed he is having with a homicide detective, named Katherine Beckett. They don't know much and not 100% he is involved with her. But ,...

They fear his association with her will lower book sales and damage his image among the buying public. Particularly with young to middle aged women. His biggest selling market.

A homicide detective did not seem sexy enough to be accepted by the general public.

Gina had offered herself up as an alternative. She was young enough still. Sexy enough in her mind at least. All they had to do was set up a rendezvous with enough cameras who are willing to take discreet pictures and a public statement written up by Paula.

And it didn't help that Gina was interested in Richard. He was handsome and rich and could keep Gina in the type of life style she so desired that his money could provide. Not that she shared this information with Paula.

Now they just needed some romantic location to get Gina and Castle together at.

They had decided on 'The Loeb Boathouse Central Park, E72nd and Park Drive North, NY, NY. 10028.

They would get at least 4 people with cameras. One in a boat just off the restaurant. The others would be strategically placed to get the best shots.

They made a reservation for tonight at 8:00 pm. And had requested a table next to the water. So the person in the boat could get in close enough.

Now they just needed an excuse to get Richard to show up. Something big enough to get his attention. And Gina had just the one in mind.

Rick was at home trying to get some writing done. It was not coming easily to him today. And he was struggling. Alexis was at school, so he was all alone today. It was not unusual for him. It had been that way for some time now. But this time his mind was distracted by a certain detective.

He needed to come up with a way to spend some more time with her. But she seemed to work some crazy hours. There was a Fuddruckers near her work. Maybe he could convince her to have lunch with him today.

Calling Kate to arrange for lunch had turned out to be easy.

Off to the shower he went, got dressed and headed out for his lunch date.

Castle had arrived first and waited for Kate to arrive before asking for a table. Spotting her a few moments later as she entered.

"Hi Beckett!" Sounding happy to see her.

"Hi Castle. Thanks for the invite. There are some things I wanted to talk to you about anyway."

"Oh. Anything big?"

"One is. The other is just information for you."

After getting seated. The waitress asked what they would like to drink.

"I'll take a strawberry lemonade, please." Castle tells her.

"That sounds good. I'll take the same." Kate tells her.

"So, you have something big?"

"Yea. We found out who had hurt Jessica as bad as she was."

"REALLY? That's great. Who was the jerk?"

"His name was James Rook."

"Never heard of him. Someone important?"

"He was the leader of a street gang in NY."

"Was" Rick notices the use of past tense.

"Yea, we did a raid on his location. He was killed in it."

"I'm not sure if I'm glad he's dead or if I would prefer he rot in prison for the rest of his life."

"I know. What he did to her. I can't imagine the pain that girl must have gone thru.

You said she had your number. How long did she have it before she finally used it?"

"6 Months at least. Why?"

"I was just wondering what her life would have been like if she had phoned you earlier. It's so sad."

"Maybe I should have gone back to check on her. I just wasn't sure I was right. Seems I was."

"Don't beat yourself up Castle. You had no way of knowing. There are just some things we can't prevent."

"Yea, I guess. Did you get the guy who killed her?"

"We have video of the guy we think did it. But we can't ID him. No pictures, no car, no prints, no DNA. He's what we call a ghost."

"Can you send the video to me."

"I don't know Castle. It's an ongoing case. I can't just give out information."

"I understand. How about a photo of him?"

"Why would you want his picture? It doesn't show his face."

"Maybe not but I have some friends that might be able to get something out of it. Please. Jessica deserves something. She deserves better."

"Ok, Castle. I'll send it to you on your phone. Just be careful with it. Or you'll get me into trouble."

"I swear. It will not lead back to you." And Castle crosses and X on his chest. Which gets a smile from Kate. She finds it amusing the way he and Alexis do that.

Getting their drinks. Rick orders a ½ pound Elk burger. While Kate selects a Turkey burger. Kate adds a strawberry milkshake. Which gets Castle thinking. So he adds a Banana/Strawberry milkshake.

While they are waiting, Castle gets a call on his cell phone. Not leaving Kate he answers.

"Castle."

"What do you want Gina?" While mouthing 'Publisher' to Kate.

"Really! Yea I can find time to talk to you for about ½ an hour about it."

"Where again."

"I've never heard of it. What is it?"

"A restaurant? Why do you want to meet to discuss a book deal at a restaurant?"

"Yea, I can meet you at the bar and talk for a moment."

"NO, I'm not having dinner with you." Irritated the direction this conversation is going.

"Fine. The bar at 8:00."

"Yes, I promise to listen to what you have to say?"

"Bye."

"Gina is my publisher. Something about getting a new book deal from someone. Not sure I want to change what I write. But I guess I can listen."

"Did she tell you anything about it? Who is it?"

"She didn't say. Just that she wanted me at this restaurant to discuss it."

"A restaurant? Really Castle. A business deal over a meal?" Kate wonders.

"Where is this restaurant?"

"Something called 'The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park." Never having heard of it he just shrugs his shoulders.

"Castle. That is one of the most romantic restaurants in town!" Kate is starting to get worried. Was someone trying to muscle in? And why does she suddenly care all of a sudden?

"Romantic?" Now Castle is worried.

"Yea, they have gondolas you can go on. Like the ones in Venice Italy. Supposedly you can get them to sing to you while they take you around the lake. Very romantic, Castle."

Now Castle is really worried. Does he have good reason to be though? Gina is just his publisher. She edits what he writes before Black Pawn will publish them.

Coming up with an idea. "You want to come Beckett?"

"Come with you to your meeting?"

"No, no. After. The meeting is at the bar at 8:00. We could stay and eat at 8:30. Maybe go for a nice romantic gondola ride."

"You want to take me to dinner and a gondola ride?"

"Please! It'll be fun. And I've never been there. We can find out if their food is any good."

"8:30 tonight?"

Castle just nods his head. "Please, Beckett. I'll take you right back home. No funny business."

"So now you want to take all the fun out of this date do you Castle?"

All Castle can do is open and close his mouth a few times. Not sure what to say.

Kate is laughing now at Castle's expense. "Sure I'll go with you Castle. You want me to meet you there?"

Not yet recovered. "Uhm,.. Uhm, Yea. That would be great." Now smiling.

Kate for her part is now also smiling. Maybe if Castle plays his cards right she'll invite him up for coffee after.