CH76
After lunch they had some time to make a final choice of a wedding venue. They had already selected a wedding date. January 18 would hopefully mean a little snow in NYC for there to be a white wintery view out the windows.
The Lighthouse
With the feel of a sophisticated New York loft space, The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers is a unique waterfront venue with sweeping river views of the Hudson and Statue of Liberty. Boasting 10,000 square feet of flexible venue space, sleek hardwood floors, period lanterns and exposed ceilings, The Lighthouse's distinctive ambience, combined with the luxury cuisine of Abigail Kirsch, creates the perfect location for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, celebrations, galas and corporate events.
The Lighthouse's highly trained team of sales and event managers will help to create elegant affairs for up to 800 guests that possess both style and grace.
Whether it's a picturesque sunset wedding ceremony or an extravagant bar/bat mitzvah, The Lighthouse's floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the New York City waterfront provide a breathtaking backdrop for any occasion.
With a chic "old New York " feel — complete with gleaming period lamps, pressed tin wainscoting, and exposed ceilings — this waterfront venue features an all-season terrace and expansive glass doors that allow your guests to enjoy cocktails while taking in unforgettable water views of the Hudson River.
In addition to the fine catering and superb service provided by the tri-state area's most trusted caterer and event planner, Abigail Kirsch, The Lighthouse's specialized team of event professionals and recommended vendors will handle even the smallest of details to ensure a beautiful and memorable celebration.
Florist
Atlas Floral Decorators, Inc.
200 West 57th Street, Suite 202, New York, NY 10019
212.707.8355
Flowers to create the isle for Kate and her father to walk down. A gazebo area for the wedding all made out of flowers. Flowers lining the far walls with still more flowers hanging from the ceiling above the guests.
Photographer
Natural Expressions
475 Park Avenue South, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10016
212.616.5008
Music
New York Fun Factory Events & Entertainment
381 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10001
212.686.0940
Lighting
KVL Audio Visual & Lighting
Chelsea Piers, Suite 300, New York, NY 10011
212.336.6135
Invitations
Ceci New York
130 West 23rd Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011
212.989.0695
Invitation printed in 2 color letterpress and 1 color foil. Duplexed to a full color watercolor hand-painted liner and backing. Custom-made Ceci architectural flap envelope. Hand calligraphy and matching custom Ceci stamps. Everything tied together from her vintage postcard save the dates to her thank you notes.
Wedding Cake
weddingcakesidea dot com/perfect-wedding-cake-designs/wedding-cake-fontaint-designs/
(If it works, view the Cinderella multi-tier cake complete with pumpkin carriage)
It was time to get ready to go to Bracken's little fund raiser. Kate had to get dressed and pick a purse big enough for 4 tasers while Castle went and picked up one of his Steyr machine pistols along with a couple of extra clips along with the explosive charge and the remote detonator.
"I thought we weren't taking weapons?" Kate notices his weapon.
"We're leaving them in the car. This is just a backup in case something goes horribly wrong. You should go get your X95 along with a couple of spare clips too." As Castle loads them into the car.
Kate comes back with her weapon and places it next to Castle's.
"You clean up nicely detective Beckett." Castle likes her dress.
"Why thank you Mr. Castle." Kate plays along.
"Bike locks?" Castle is just checking.
"Already in my little oversized purse for this type of event." Kat tells him showing off her tote bag of a purse.
"You drive dear lady." Castle offers her the driver's seat of her car.
They make it to the event without incident. "Drop me off over there." As Castle points.
Once parked. "I suggest you enter late thru the door as planned. Jack will tell Jill everything that is going on around him. This should give you a clue as to when to start locking doors. The faster the better." Castle tells her.
"I'll be ready. Be safe babe." As Kate kisses him. Kate meanwhile gets out of the car and walks for the parked town cars and the single limo parked out front.
Kate pulls out the little ball Castle had given her and slides the center circle a little, like he had shown her, and gets a small click out of it. Then tosses it and watches it roll towards the underside of the limo.
With the magnetics now activated it soon leapt up off the pavement and attached itself to the underside of the limo. Satisfied with the result Kate moved on.
Castle approaches one of the catering service trucks and stands far enough away to observe without being seen.
"Looks like the staff is dressed in that fashion there. They also seem to have ID tags that you will need to duplicate." Rick tells Jack.
"Ready." Jack tells him.
"Let's start by looking like one of those guards over there. As soon as we reach the truck change when I say change." Rick tells him.
"Ready." Jack changes his appearance.
Rick walks towards the truck giving a head nod to the guard way off to one side. Once at the truck Rick steps in-between the truck and the building. "Change."
Rick steps to the back of the open truck and takes items out of the truck and walks into the building. Then repeats this two more times following the others. He then helps others start setting up the glasses to pour the champagne into.
Once all the glasses are set up and inspected a set of four is placed on trays waiting to be filled.
Finally each server has his four filled and Rick heads out into the large open space. It has been decorated with Bracken's campaign posters along with a lot of red, white and blue all over. There are a number of large circular tables for the dinner to follow.
Rick is on his third tour with the champagne when he spots Bracken without a glass in hand. Since Rick has three still on his serving plate he drops two of them off on a table and walks to him.
As Rick holds the glass in place to go around a couple standing together, he drops in his little pill and offers the glass to Bracken. Bracken looks at him and notices his outfit matches all the others and his security card (compliments of Jack) and takes the glass.
Rick heads back to re-fill his serving platter again and continues to offer Champaign to people around Bracken two more times.
Rick has watched Bracken sip from his drink at least twice so far. Getting an idea Rick goes back to re-fill his serving plate and approaches Bracken with a fresh set of four glasses and offers him a new one.
Bracken quickly drinks the one he has down and places it on the tray while taking a new one. Rick meanwhile empties his plate serving to others.
Castle then wanders around collecting empty glasses from people. Now with a full plate of empty glasses he spots another worker headed for Bracken to collect his glass.
Rick quickly walks that way and trips one of the guests who dumps the other guys tray and glass shatters everywhere. Rick then purposely steps the wrong way and bumps into another person and drops his tray. Rick then stumbles and ends up grabbing hold of Bracken to help keep both of them from falling down.
Rick promptly injects Bracken with his mic/homer. "Owe!" Bracken complains.
"Did some of the glass hit you sir? We're very sorry. I believe there is a first-aid station over there. Perhaps they can look you over for any glass that struck you. …. I'm going to go get something to clean this up with." And after making sure Bracken is fine heads for his exit door.
Bracken meanwhile heads for the supposed first-aid station, that doesn't exist.
Rick hits the door and steps thru finding Kate on the other side. Rick leans down and pulls out two tasers out of her bag while Kate secures the door.
Rick has put his two tasers away and just as Kate turns to him. "Change." Rick tells Jack.
Kate takes his arm and the two now well dressed couple head off down the emergency exit hallway.
As soon as they step outside they are met by two security guards. "ID's please?" One of them asks. Neither have their weapons out.
"Of course." Rick responds and reaches behind him and pulls out a taser. Kate has done the same only she pulls her taser out of her corset. Kate shoots the one on the left while Rick shoots the one of the right.
Holding the trigger down to expend the full charge, the clip is ejected and the tasers are put back in place, empty now.
Castle then pulls out the remote detonator and presses it. Getting a satisfying sound after he does.
The two continue their walk and head ninety degrees away from the car only to double back to it.
Jill and Jack took out any security cameras that were within their respective ranges. And they were soon in Kate's car headed for the 12th Precinct. It was a police car after all. When they got there they planned on driving by and head home.
"Jack kept us pretty much up to date as you were going. Is the mic you planted on him working?" Kate asks.
"It is working nicely. They are only just now getting to wonder were Richard went after the crash of champagne glasses." Jack informs them.
"I hope Bracken isn't very attached to his kidneys." Castle points out with a grin.
"You spiked his drink?" Kate smiles.
"Yup the doofus fell for it, even after I told him to watch what he drinks." Castle was happy with himself.
Bracken was running out of people and now even he has a problem. "If the idiot had only turned in those crooked cops instead of blackmailing them. None of this would be happening." Castle is mostly just talking to himself.
However when Castle turns to look at Kate all he sees are tears rolling down her face. "Stop the car Kate. Please, just stop the car."
Kate finally does what he asks and puts the car in park while Castle unbuckles his seat belt and leans over to Kate. Wiping away tears. "What Kate? Talk to me. What did I say?"
"It just occurred to me that if my mother hadn't been killed I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't have you or Alexis. I wouldn't be married to the most perfect man on the planet. I wouldn't have a huge beautiful house. I wouldn't be trying to have a baby. And I wouldn't have Jill.
I don't know what my live would be like, but it wouldn't be this." Kate didn't want to think about what almost wasn't. If only?
"You wouldn't have the pain of losing your mother. You're father wouldn't have his pain. You would have graduated from College and be doing just what you wanted to at that time.
And you don't know you wouldn't have me or Alexis. We might still have crossed paths, just for a different reason. And I'd like to think you still would have caught my eye. …. We might still be dating instead of being married. But who knows.
And I'm not worried about what might have been, so long as I have you. You're a beautiful woman Kate, and yes that might have gotten my attention, but it's not what kept it.
I married you because of who and what you are. You have an inner strength that most women lack. You have determination and a drive that makes you who you are. And you have a passion that you only needed a way to let loose.
You thought your heart was broken. I think your heart was in perfect shape. I didn't fill your heart Kate, you did. All you had to do was open the door you were hiding behind to see what you were missing. Alexis and I were the lucky recipients to be on the other side when you did.
We gladly gave you just what you were looking for when you opened it just a crack.
Would I dearly love for your mother to be alive? You bet your sweet ass! I'd give up every penny I have to be able to prevent you from every having that pain. The money that I have, …. that we have is just a tool.
You're happy now and so are Alexis and I. That is what makes us rich Kate. Money just amplifies it a little." Castle decides to stop talking. There was one more thing to talk about, but he decided to wait for that one.
Kate wipes away her tears. "I love you Castle, and I don't want to know what life is like without you or Alexis. Speculation now about what might have been is pointless. I love you and I'm right where I want to be." Kate smiles and leans over to kiss him.
"I love you too. So take us home Kate and I'll prove it." And Castle arches his eyebrows a couple of times.
Kate just smiles and kisses him again, secure in the knowledge she was going to be made love to by her husband tonight.
Kate had started driving again after having wiped her tears away. "Kate stop! Stop, stop, stop." Castle calls out.
Kate stops the car in the middle of the road, fortunate that there were no cars behind her. "What?"
"Back up a little." Castle tells her. And Kate puts it in reverse and starts backing up with Castle looking out his window for something.
""Just a little further, …. just a little more, …. Stop! There, do you see what I see?" Castle nods with his head.
Kate does see what Castle sees and it has made her blood go cold and her hairs are now standing up too.
"He has a girl with him. He seems to be doing something to her." Castle points out.
Kate grabs for the radio with the intent of calling for backup, but Castle stops her with his hand.
"Castle he's more than dangerous, we need backup, and lots of it." Kate thinks he is nuts.
"And tell them what? That there is a space man on the loose killing people?" Castle counters.
"Castle we barely killed the last one and I had Javi, Ryan, 7 uniforms, a K-9 unit and 4 FBI men with me. If we hadn't cut his head off he'd have killed us all." Kate was scared, really scared.
"Yea and you know what its weakness is this time. So we aim for the head and only the head." As Castle reaches for their weapons and extra clips in the back of the car.
"This is a bad idea Castle. A really bad idea." Kate hates this plan, but he did have a girl with him. And if they were going to save her from being another Angela, they had to do this.