CH17
"Kate?, …. Kate!, …. Earth to Kate." Lanie is talking to her.
"What? Sorry." Kate tells her.
"You spaced out on me for a minute. You ok? Anything you want to tell me. Something about last night perhaps?" Lanie digs a little.
"I'm fine and nothing happened last night and NO I didn't get laid." Kate decides to end this conversation before she says something that will really get Lanie going.
Turning to Espo and Ryan. "Get her prints, we need a name. She looks like an Angela to me. Then dig into her past. I want to know everything about her. Once we ID her, check DMV find out what kind of car she drives. And what woman this age doesn't have a cell phone. See if you can trace its location. Hopefully she has an app for that."
Kate turns to Lanie. "She's barefoot so if she was walking somewhere like that maybe she brought it along with her. And find out what is in her blood. Not enough marks to be a junkie so maybe someone else shot her up. Oh and check her head for any wounds. Maybe they knocked her unconscious before they dumped her here."
Kate heads back to her car. "Where did you go Angela? Who practices human sacrifice? And burn them alive? It looked kind of wooded so not downtown. But they got you here somehow. So they know enough to bring you here. Now how far away did they go to dump you? And I'm sorry about your parents. I know how that feels." Kate talks to herself.
"We have to get you ready for school pumpkin." Rick lifts her up. "I take that back, looks like Kate has already taken care of that." As Rick notices the minor amount of make-up she is wearing.
"You are growing up fast pumpkin. … You like Kate don't you?" Rick asks her softly.
"She's terrific dad. I wish she could stay." Alexis blurts out not really meaning to.
"She is staying for the next 5 days." Rick reminds her. "But you don't mean just 5 days, do you?"
Alexis shakes her head.
"I'm not sure that's up to you and me pumpkin. Kate may have other plans for her life."
"But she needs to be here. She's not going to find love or magic if she isn't."
Rick is silent for a moment. "You already love her, don't you?"
Alexis nods her head and buries her face in her father's neck. "You could love her too."
"It takes grownups a little longer pumpkin. And between you and me, I am trying." Rick tells her.
Alexis pulls her head out to look at him. "Really?" With hope in her voice.
"Really. Just don't tell her that. You might scare her off. I don't think Kate thinks with her heart much." Rick warns her.
"She can learn dad, we can teach her." Alexis hopes her dad will help her.
"I'm trying pumpkin. I got her to accept to go out on a date with me tonight." Rick informs her. "Which reminds me I need to see if your grandmother is available to watch you tonight."
"I can go ask her." Alexis volunteers.
"You young lady need to eat your breakfast while I get changed. I'll ask her after I drop you off at school." And Rick puts her down. "Now eat while I go change then we need to get you to school. Kate went to a lot of trouble to make you look pretty on your first day. We don't want to mess that up, do we?"
Alexis shakes her head and starts eating while Rick heads for his bedroom for a quick shower.
After dropping Alexis off at school he heads for the main library. He wanted to get to work on what he gets before picking up Alexis from school and his date with Kate tonight.
At the library he heads for the section that holds his books. He tries telling himself he's not vain just curious to see if they are checked out being read by someone.
Then he heads for the reader room. He takes the third tape out of the third drawer in the third cabinet and goes over to the third reader. Opening the case he palms the item he finds and runs thru the tape looking at what is on it.'
He selects three random pictures and makes copies of them to take with him. After putting everything back he picks up his three copies, folds them up and pockets them.
Once home he inserts the flash drive he just got into his laptop and runs a scan on the disk before opening the first file.
While he is reading. "I don't like these two Jack. I thought the other three were bad. These two could be real trouble."
"I agree. They are older than the others but have the same skills as the other three. Plus they have the money necessary to buy whoever they want or think they need."
"Opening a business who's only reason is to kill people to keep other peoples secrets without actually knowing what those secrets are or even care, ..." Rick trails off.
"Ok, Jack, this is where you earn your pay, access the bank accounts listed and move all the money into a single account that you set up. Then move the money every 18 hours or less on your own without my prompting. I don't want them to ever get their dirty hands on it again.
Next it says here that they own this property and this one here. Input paperwork for Eminent Domain for both properties. That should keep them busy for a time. And it will allow us to see who is on their side in any attempt to block it." Rick tells him.
The term "eminent domain" was taken from the legal treatise De Jure Belli et Pacis, written by the Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius in 1625, which used the term dominium eminens (Latin for supreme lordship) and described the power as follows:
"...The property of subjects is under the eminent domain of the state, so that the state or he who acts for it may use and even alienate and destroy such property, not only in the case of extreme necessity, in which even private persons have a right over the property of others, but for ends of public utility, to which ends those who founded civil society must be supposed to have intended that private ends should give way. But it is to be added that when this is done the state is bound to make good the loss to those who lose their property."
Some U.S. states use the term appropriation (New York) or "expropriation" (Louisiana) as synonyms for the exercising of eminent domain powers.
"Construction of paperwork requested is in process. Paperwork should be ready for application in about an hour." Jack replies.
"Take your time. I can't take it anywhere today anyway. How about a train trip for tomorrow round trip?" Rick asks.
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Rick's plans are interrupted when he gets a phone call and rushes out of his apartment almost forgetting to lock the front door. Using Jack he makes a single phone call and has a heated conversation with the person on the other end. Getting the answer he wants he concentrates on his driving and prays the cops don't pull him over before he gets there. It would cause a delay and that was unacceptable.
Kate, Espo and Ryan are back at their desks following up leads. They don't have an ID on their vic yet and without that things are a little slow. It'll be hours before Lanie is done, let alone how long it will take to figure out what drugs are in her system.
Kate answers her cell phone. "Beckett."
"Kate?" Alexis is crying into the phone.
Kate is on her feet in an instant. "Alexis, what's wrong? Alexis talk to me sweetie, please." This had gotten the attention of everyone on the floor. Not that Kate is noticing.
"My mom is here, she's trying to take me with her." Alexis kind of mumbles out while crying.
Damn it! Kate knew she should have shot that bitch. "Where are you sweetie? Can you tell me where you are?" Kate prays that she knows.
"I'm at the principal's office. Please Kate, I don't want to go." Alexis is still crying.
"What school are you in sweetie?" Kate kicks herself for not already knowing that.
"Greendale Elementary. Please Kate don't make me go." Alexis begs her while crying.
Kate covers the phone with her hand. "Espo I want a unit at Greendale Elementary. Have them arrest one Meredith Lee. She's presently in the principal's office." Kate tells him and watches him hit his phone before going back to Alexis.
"I'm coming sweetie. Try to stay right where you are. You understand? Don't move, I'm coming." Kate tells her and hangs up. "I gotta go guys I'll be back as fast as I can." Kate pulls her gun out of the desk drawer and prays Meredith will give her cause to use it.
Kate is standing at the elevator waiting. "Beckett, dispatch says a unit will be there in 5 minutes." Espo yells at her just as she steps into it.
Kate knows she shouldn't but this is just too much. But that bitch is screwing with her little girl so she lights up the lights and hits the siren to make it there faster.
Kate isn't paying attention but she has a death grip on the steering wheel while smoke comes out her ears.
Kate parks next to the unit that is already here and runs inside in search of Alexis.
Finding the principal's office turned out to not be too hard. Opening the door she finds inside two officers who have Meredith in cuffs between them. Two other women and another woman exits an office holding onto Alexis.
Almost simultaneous "YOU?" From Meredith with pure venom in her voice. "Kate!" As Alexis rushes for her and Kate picks her up. "Are you alright sweetie?"
Alexis is no longer crying and nods as she tries to bury herself in Kate.
"Can we talk in your office?" Kate asks the lady that came out with Alexis.
"Of course." And escorts Kate with Alexis in her arms to her office.
"That's my daughter." Meredith croaks out.
Kate ignores her and closes the door behind her. "I'm Kate Beckett. I'm a homicide detective with NYPD."
"I'm Lisa Simmons. I'm the head principle here. Alexis hasn't stopped talking about you since the officers arrived. I'm aware you are not her mother, …." And is interrupted by Alexis.
"Yes she is." Alexis tells her.
"Alexis, shush, let her talk sweetie." Kate pays no attention to WHAT Alexis had said.
"I want to make sure you understand. Our records that Mr. Castle provided us indicate that Meredith has no legal standing in regards to Alexis. I want to assure you there was no way she was leaving here with Alexis in her custody.
In addition one of my secretaries has already contacted Mr. Castle about Meredith's attempt at taking Alexis from school. I'm told he is now on his way here.
I'm aware you are with the police Ms. Beckett but I can't allow Alexis to leave with you either. Not without Mr. Castle's approval." Lisa explains what she knows.
Kate lets out a heavy sigh, squeezes Alexis and kisses the back of her head. "Thank you Ms. Simmons. I don't have words for Alexis's safety." Kate is grateful and it is reflected in her voice.
"I handle children every day. It doesn't take much imagination to say Alexis thinks a lot of you and your actions tell me what you think of her." Lisa explains with a knowing grin.
Kate blushes, squeezes Alexis and kisses the back of her head again.
"I'll leave Alexis in your capable hands while I take Meredith off your hands. I'm already going to see Castle when I get off work tonight. We can talk then." Kate tells her.
"I take it you and Mr. Castle are together?" Lisa asks.
"Kate is living with us." Alexis offers.
Kate's mouth hangs open. Alexis wasn't lying but Kate hadn't actually moved in, yet. (where did the yet come from?)
Ms. Simmons gets a knowing smile on her face. "Well as soon as Mr. Castle arrives I'll return Alexis to her class for the rest of the day. I'll leave Meredith in your capable hands." And Lisa gets up to take Alexis from Kate so she can stay in the office until Rick arrives.
Kate exits the office and turns to the uniforms. "Have you read her her rights?" Kate asks them.
"Yes sir." One of them responds
"Take her downtown and book her. You are under arrest Miss Lee! Again." Kate tells her happily.
"You have no right. She's my daughter." Meredith yells out. Not caring that Alexis is in the next room and can hear her.
"Get her out of here." Kate tells them.
"You will pay for this! Ricky will have your badges." Meredith screeches out.
"Ouch, that hurts. This is police brutality. You will all pay for this." All the way down the hall.
Kate bends down and holds out her arms that Alexis wastes no time in crashing into. "I think your safe now sweetie. I'm going to go back to work." Kate whispers to her.
"Thanks Kate. …. I love you!" Alexis a little more than whispers. Getting a smile from Lisa and the two other women.
"Oh sweetie, I ,... I'll see you when I get home tonight." Kate can't say it and where did the word HOME come from?
Kate shakes Lisa's hand and leaves.
Rick can see two cars leaving as he drives into the parking lot. One of them is a police cruiser. "How were the police involved?" Rick talks out loud.
Entering the office he is spotted by Alexis thru the open principal's office door. "DAD!" And Alexis runs into his arms.
"Mom was here trying to take me out of school." Alexis tells him.
"I'm so sorry pumpkin. I never thought she would do that." Rick spots the principle as she comes out of her office.
"Hi Lisa. I'm sorry, I never dreamed it would come to this. Where is she anyway?" Rick asks her.
"Mr. Castle, come on in and we can talk." Lisa invites him into the office.
Lisa then explains everything she knows from when Meredith arrived until Kate left with Meredith in cuffs.
Rick turns to Alexis. "You called Kate?"
Alexis looks like she is in trouble. "We have a deal. If I get scared or mom does something I can call her and she will come." Alexis explains.
Rick takes Alexis out of her chair and hugs her. "I love you pumpkin."
"I love you too dad." Alexis relaxes knowing she is not in trouble.
"Mr. Castle like I told Ms. Beckett, there was no way Meredith was leaving with Alexis in her custody. Her name is not on our list of approvals so she was safe the entire time." Lisa tells him.
Rick looks at Alexis and comes to a conclusion. "About that, can we add Kate to that list?" Rick asks her.
"Of course, let me get the paperwork for you to fill out." Lisa gets up to retrieve what she needs. Smiling all the way.
"Alexis I need to ask you something. It's very important so I want you to listen carefully." Rick tells her.
"I'm going to add Kate to the school list so she will have a say over things like what happened today. The school wouldn't need to try and find me if I was out of town. You understand?" Rick explains.
"Kate would be like she was my mother like you are my dad." Alexis answers thinking she has it right.
"Something like that, yes. But there are two more things I want to talk about. You know Jack and I do things. Some of these things can be dangerous sometimes." Rick starts with.
"That's why you have the gun you won't let me touch." Alexis answers.
"Yes, that is part of it. One thing is I want to put Kate on the contact list in case you need to go to the hospital. This means Kate will have authority over you like I do. Is this ok with you?" Rick explains.
"Means Kate would take care of me?" Alexis asks.
"Yes she would have legal authority to make decisions about what a hospital can do in case you are hurt. But I also want to make her your legal guardian." Rick tells her.
"Legal guardian?" Alexis is lost.
"If I can't help you for some reason you will live with Kate forever." Rick tells her.
"DAD?" Alexis doesn't like the sound of that.
"Pumpkin I'm not saying anything ever will happen to me but if my plane crashes or a car runs me over you will have Kate to take care of you. You love Kate, right?" Rick tries again.
Alexis is back in Rick's arms. "Don't die dad, please." And Alexis's tears start.
"I don't plan on it pumpkin but I need to know someone you love is taking care of you if I do. It would make me happy to know you will never be alone." Rick tells her.
"You promise?" Alexis asks.
"I promise pumpkin." Rick replies.
"Are you going to marry Kate?" Alexis asks innocently.
Rick is rescued by Lisa as she returns with the paperwork for him to fill out.