CH11
"KATE? … KATE! ….. Earth to Kate?" Lanie is calling to her.
"Huh? … What? Is something wrong?" Kate asks still holding the vic's hand.
"You tell me. You spaced out on me for almost a minute there. Are you alright?" Lanie sounds concerned.
"Yea fine. I'm fine." And Kate puts his hand back down.
What was that? I've never done that before, and it all seemed so real. Like I was the vic as I played the game pieces instead of him. Or with him.
Discolored fingertips. Game pieces. "Espo bag that game and don't touch it. Lanie I need you to find out if he has been poisoned. I also need you to look at the wives fingers ASAP. Tell me if her's look like his." Kate gives orders.
"Ryan I need you and CSU to search this place. If those game pieces are coated in some form of poison we need to know what kind and how it was done. And remind Espo not to touch it or anyone else for that matter." Kate tells him.
"Got it boss." Ryan heads off.
It is at this moment Kate's cell phone rings. "Beckett."
"Kate!" Kate can hear Alexis on the other end crying barely getting her name out.
"Alexis, what's wrong?" Kate's mind is instantly off the case and on the crying child on the other end of her phone.
"Kate please, help me." Alexis is crying between each word.
"Alexis what's wrong? Where are you?" Kate is focused on her phone not paying attention to the eyes that are now watching her.
"I'm in my room. My mother is in my home. She is yelling at grams. Kate I don't know what to do." Alexis is still crying thru the words.
"Is your door locked sweetie?" Kate asks.
"Yes." Alexis answers with just a little less crying.
"Good you stay in your room sweetie and don't open the door to anyone but me. Just sit there and wait for me, I'm coming. Just stay there sweetie everything will be alright." Kate hangs up.
"I gotta go guys. Be careful with that game and get the wife to the hospital and find out what is on those pieces." Kate tells them.
"Beckett where are you going?" Espo asks.
"To help a friend and kick someone's ass, I'll be in the precinct as soon as I can." And Kate strides out the front door and drives to Castle's home.
"You know who she is talking about?" Espo asks looking at Lanie.
"I have no idea but I know the look on that face. Someone is about to wish they were dead." Lanie replies.
Espo can only nod his head.
Kate is tempted to turn on the lights at least but she can't bring herself to do it. She does however illegally park and use her NYPD tag to not get towed.
Kate presses the elevator button close to a dozen times waiting for one to open. Kate does however pull her badge to prevent the person behind her from getting on. "Sorry police business." And Kate presses 48.
Kate has 48 floors to think up what she is going to do to this bitch. With Ryan and Espo's help they will never find her body. And with an ME on her side even if they do it'll never get back to her. Kate is tapping her fingers on her gun at her hip all the way up.
The elevator door finally opens and Kate races down the hall. When she reaches the door to Martha's apartment she goes down to the next door remembering that Alexis's room has a door that leads out into the hallway.
Kate knocks quickly on the door. "Alexis it's Kate open the door sweetie."
"Alexis sweetie are you ok? Can you open the door for me?" Kate calls out thru the door.
She soon hears the locks turning on the door and it opens for Kate to see a still crying Alexis.
Kate swoops in and wraps her arms around her and squeezes her tight. "Oh sweetie are you alright?"
Kate however does not get much from Alexis so she lets go of her just enough to look at her. "Is she still here?" Kate asks meaning Meredith.
Alexis nods her head this time.
Kate picks up Alexis and closes and locks the door she just came thru and walks over to the interior door and puts Alexis down.
"I want you to lock the door after I go thru, you understand?" Kate asks her.
Alexis nods her head. "She is going to yell." Alexis warns her.
"That's ok sweetie, she can yell at me. I'm just going to yell back. Now close and lock the door after I leave and don't let anyone in but me, you understand? Only me." Kate tells her.
Kate opens the door and steps out and closes the door. "Lock the door sweetie." And Kate doesn't move until she hears the locks tumble into place.
Kate strides thru the Library/Office and is headed for the living room. She can hear words being spoken but isn't trying to listen to what is being said. Stepping out into the living room. "What the hell is going on in here?" Kate yells out.
"Katherine." Martha calls out like she had just been saved from being eaten alive.
"Who the hell are you?" Meredith demands.
Kate places her hand on her gun at her hip and taps the badge attached near the front of it. "My question exactly." Kate answers.
"Police!" Meredith shrieks. You called the police?" Meredith turns on Martha with new found venom in her voice.
"You will answer my question, who are you?" Kate tells her again.
"I don't have to tell you anything, this is my home. I have every right to be here." Meredith is not backing down.
"Only Richard Castle and his daughter live here, so last time, who are you?" Kate demands.
"I'm his wife and this is my home." Meredith answers her question.
"Richard Castle is divorced and doesn't have a wife." Kate reminds her.
"Oh poosh, I'm still his wife." Meredith tells her.
"Give me your Identification." Kate holds out her hand.
"This is my home I don't have to give you anything." Meredith is not backing down.
"You can either give me your Identification or I can arrest you and take you downtown and we can talk there." Kate threatens.
"You wouldn't dare!" Meredith screeches.
Kate simply pulls out her cuffs and dangles them on her index finger.
"Fine." Meredith relents and searches her purse. "Here." Meredith holds it and Kate snatches it from her.
"This says your name is Meredith Lee and your address is in California." Kate tells her and she pulls out her cell phone and scrolls until she gets the number she wants and presses dial.
"This is Kate Beckett, badge number 41319, I need any wants or warrants for a Meredith Lee". And gives the license number and address shown.
"Thanks." As Kate hangs up. "Seems you are single Miss Lee and you do not live here. You have been arrested on suspicion of drug possession and with intent to distribute. You will leave this residence Miss Lee unless Mrs. Rodgers wishes to press charges for your illegal entrance." Kate tells her.
"You have got to be kidding. This is my home you have no right to throw me out. Where is Ricky he can explain it?" Meredith is not getting it.
"You leave me no alternative than Miss Lee. Turn around and place your hands behind your back." Kate commands and she handles her cuffs with intent of using them.
"Fine I'll leave, but you will hear about this. I have friends." And Meredith grabs her bags and heads for the front door.
After exiting Kate closes the front door and locks it.
"Oh Katherine thank you." Martha seems about to collapse.
"Wait here Martha." Kate tells her and strides down to Alexis's bedroom.
Kate knocks on the door hurriedly. "Alexis sweetie it's Kate, you can open the door."
It takes only a moment before Kate can here the lock being opened and Alexis opens the door. Kate quickly scoops up the child. "Are you OK sweetie?" Kate asks her looking into her eyes.
Alexis nods. "Is mom gone?" Alexis still sounds scared.
"Almost sweetie, almost." Kate puts her down. "I want you to go into the living room and sit with your grandmother. Do not open the front door unless I tell you to. You understand?" Kate asks her. "Go on, I'll be there in a moment." As Kate shoos her down the hall.
Kate however goes into Alexis's room and waits, but doesn't have to wait long.
There is soon a soft knock from the door leading to the hallway. The one Kate came in from.
Kate goes over and unlocks the door and swings it open quickly. This catches Meredith by complete surprise.
Kate grabs her and twists her around and walks her across the hallway and shoves her up against the far wall while putting one of her arms behind her back.
"Miss Lee you are under arrest." Kate tells her as she puts the cuffs on her.
"On what charge, I've done nothing wrong." Meredith screams back.
"Attempted breaking and entering, placing a minor in danger, possible attempted kidnapping, disobeying the order of an officer and anything else I can dream up between now and your booking." Kate takes out her cell phone to call for uniforms to take her away. "I'll be happy to add anything Martha would like to add from before I got here."
"Ricky will have your badge." Meredith screeches at Kate as the officers take her away.
Castle might be mad for a moment when he finds out but Kate already knows her badge is safe. As she steps back into Alexis's bedroom thru the still open door and locks it behind her, then heads for the living room.
Once in the Library/Office. "Kate that women has cocaine in her system and she has some on her person as well." Jill tells her.
Kate stops. "Are you sure Jill?" Kate questions her.
"I'm positive Kate. I ran a scan of her when you had her in cuffs." Jill explains.
"I thought you couldn't scan people?" Kate asks confused.
"I didn't scan her to determine her health; however I did scan her and found a foreign contaminant on her and in her." Jill explains.
"Foreign contaminant? Have you been watching Wall-E again? You know I love that movie." Kate teases.
"You didn't use to know how to do that. Is this part of that new crystal?" Kate asks her.
"Yes it is. There was something that took place when you touched that dead man earlier that is also part of that crystal." Jill tells her.
"What was that? It was like I was living his moments just before his death." Kate asks her.
"It is hard to explain. Every person has a moment that is a part of them just after they have died. An echo of them if you will. I seem to be able to see this moment and allow you to see it as well.
And before you ask it has to be recent." Jill tells her.
"My mother." Kate catches on quickly.
"I'm sorry Kate. She has been gone too long." Jill tells her with a sad voice.
Kate takes out her cell phone and presses send. "This is Kate Beckett badge number 41319. Uniforms are bringing in one Meredith Lee on other charges. I want her searched for cocaine and have her blood tested for presence of cocaine." Kate tells them and hangs up.
If that bitch had gotten her drugged up hands on Alexis? Just the thought alone pisses Kate off even more. "I wish she had given me a reason to kick her ass." Kate talks to herself.
Then heads for the living room to join Martha and Alexis.
Alexis is the first to spot her. "KATE!" And Alexis jumps up and slams into Kate and wraps her arms around her as best she can.
Kate bends down to look at her. "Are you alright sweetie?"
Alexis nods her head. "Is mom gone?" Still sounding a little scared.
"Yes she is. I don't think she'll be back anytime soon." Kate tells her. Then as she stands up she lifts Alexis up with her and has Alexis wrap her arms around her neck.
Kate steps up to Martha. "Are you ok Martha." Kate is worried about her too.
"I'm fine dear. How did you know to come here?" Martha is lost as to how Kate knew to come.
"Alexis and I have a deal. If Meredith shows up and she's scared she is suppose to call me." Kate explains a little shyly.
"Oh bless you child." As Martha strokes Alexis's face. "And you to dear. I'm afraid I'm no match for Meredith. She is so used to getting what she wants when she wants it." As Martha places her hand on Kate.
"You two should be safe for now. I need to get back to work. I came out here from a site where I was looking into something." Kate tells them.
Alexis however has heard that. "NO! …. Don't go. Mom will come back." Alexis looks at Kate with sad and scared eyes.
"I had her arrested sweetie; I don't think she'll be back here anytime soon." Kate tries to assure her.
"But she'll just get out on bail. They do it all the time on TV." Alexis tells her still scared.
Kate thinks about it. Unfortunately Alexis had a point. Bail might be $100,000 but Meredith would only need a fraction of that to get out of jail and possibly be back over here in a heartbeat.
"Katherine dear?" Martha asks her.
Kate looks at Martha. She just practically begged her to take Alexis with her. But she has no legal right to Alexis's well being. Then she looks at Alexis who's eyes are also begging her to take her with her.
Kate puts Alexis down. "Fine, go pack an overnight bag while I talk to Martha." Kate tells her.
"YES!" And Alexis runs for her room.
"You sure about this Martha? I'm not family. I have no rights over Alexis." Kate tries to reason with her.
"Katherine dear, I may be old but I'm not blind. I know that dear child thinks a lot of you, and you her. Or you wouldn't have that deal about Meredith. And I'll thank you for what you did today for years to come no matter what happens.
If you think you need something legal I'll be happy to sign anything you want or just have them call me. If you get overwhelmed call and I'll take a cab and come get her." Martha offers.
"Give me your phone Martha." And Kate puts in her contact information into the phone. "If you just want to talk to her call her phone or mine. You also have my address if you want to come for a visit."
"You'll be fine dear. She is with the safest person I could think of except maybe for Richard." Martha tells her.
"Shouldn't we tell Castle?" Kate questions.
"He is off on a project and isn't answering his phone." Martha tells her.
"Project?" Kate is now the one lost.
"Him and Jack are off doing something together." Martha explains what little she knows.
"Jack, you know about Jack?" Kate is not sure why she is shocked but still she is.
"Of course dear, I'm a mother, unlike Meredith. I also know about Jill." Martha confides.
Kate's poker face leaves her completely behind.
"Not to worry dear, I'm good at keeping secrets I'm supposed to keep." Martha tells her grinning.
Alexis comes back into a room with a backpack filled with something. "You ready to go sweetie?" Kate asks her.
Getting a nod from Alexis.
Martha moves over to her and bends down a little. "You listen to what Katherine tells you. She'll keep you safe until your father returns in a couple of days. I love you dear." And Martha kisses her forehead.
"I love you to grams." Alexis replies.
"You call if you need anything Martha. Especially if Meredith comes back here, and don't let that woman in again." Kate tells her and takes Alexis's hand and heads for her car.