The Mettle of a Man
Summary – How far would Castle go to protect his friends at the 12th and at what personal cost to himself and his relationship to the team? This takes place between "The Belly of the Beast" and "Veritas". Does not include any spoilers for "Veritas".
Author's notes – Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favs. Yeah, I thought about using Jordan Shaw as the FBI agent, but it wouldn't have worked – you'll see why. BTW, I'm never too sure about how long to make chapters, but I do like to close on a cliff-hanger.
Disclaimer – Don't own Castle; Marlowe, ABC, and Disney do. Just writing for fun and because I have these weird plot bunnies that pop into my head.
Rated strong T for language and innuendo.
Chapter 4 – The Take Down
Beckett felt like screaming at the unfairness of it all when she saw Castle in the doorway. Surely he had understood her – that something bad was happening at the 12th and he needed to call for help.
"What, no 'I missed you' kiss?" he asked, wagging an eyebrow at her.
Weaver stepped out from behind the door and pointed the gun at Castle, motioning him inside.
After Castle stepped inside and the door closed, he stared at the man for a minute. "Specs Weaver," he said finally, raising his hands slightly. "What's it been – 10 – 12 years? I heard you retired a couple of years ago."
Weaver opened his mouth in surprise and then closed it. "Stumpy, I would say it's good to see you again, but under the circumstances…" he said, motioning Castle and Beckett back into the bullpen with his gun.
"Like I said earlier, no funny stuff, Detective," said Weaver as he took the plastic bag and note from Beckett and pointed to the chair she had been sitting in.
Kangwon quickly zip-tied her hands behind her back and placed duct tape over her mouth.
"Sacks on the desk, Castle," said Weaver. "Giamundo, see if he's carrying and check the sacks."
Giamundo moved to where Castle stood and quickly patted him down, pulling a cell phone and wallet out of his pocket and putting them on a desk.
"Hey, watch the hands," said Castle. "Do that again and you're buying me dinner."
Giamundo leered at him and pushed him into an empty chair. "Nah – all he's got is a cell phone."
He opened the sacks and peered at the contents. "Just cheeseburgers, fries, and drinks."
Castle examined the murder board curiously. "Jim Collier – I take it he got on your bad side," he said looking at Weaver.
Weaver frowned at him. "He got a little greedy." He studied Castle. "Your fiancé?" he asked motioning the gun toward Beckett. "So you finally decided to settle down?"
Castle shrugged but didn't answer and looked curiously at the plastic bag Weaver held. "So which will is that? Groves, Frisch, or Teller? Do you have the other ones? I ran into the ME on the case and she was more than happy to fill me in on the details."
"You have a good memory," Weaver said.
"And I read really fast too," Castle quipped.
In the meantime, Giamundo opened the note that Brandy had given Beckett and chortled slyly. "Looks like your fiancé has somethin' going on on the side," he said to Beckett and then read the note out loud. "'Ricky, thanks for your help with that sex scene. Your advice was perfect. Call me. B.'"
Beckett stared at Castle in disbelief. She knew he was helping Brandy with a book she was writing, but this…?
"What can I say – women can't keep their hands off of me," Castle said innocently.
"As much as I'd like to discuss your love life, we're on a deadline," Weaver said.
Castle looked at him expectantly. "Have you made the call yet? You know, to get the cypher?"
Weaver sighed in exasperation. "And why is that any of your business?"
"You might be surprised," Castle answered matter-of-factly.
"We don't have time for this," said Kangwon. "The plane leaves in 3 hours."
Weaver shook his head. "Yeah, we do. We need to set up a meeting and the sooner we do so, the better."
He pulled the will out of the bag and opened it, and then pulled out his phone and quickly dialed the number of the law firm listed.
Weaver started slightly as Castle's phone on the desk started to ring. He then picked up the phone and saw the number he was calling from on screen and stared at Castle.
"You mind if I answer that?" Castle asked. "Could be important."
"You have the cypher?" Weaver asked in disbelief. "You?"
"What am I? All good looks and no brains?" Castle answered back.
"How did you get it?" Weaver asked suspiciously.
"Libby – Dr. Jenkins – gave it to me," Castle replied.
"You got the ice queen to give up the cypher?" Weaver asked again in disbelief.
Castle shrugged again. "Like I said, women find me irresistible."
"Dr. Jenkins?" Weaver shook his head in disgust. "Have you no shame?"
"Apparently not," Castle replied. He pointed towards his wallet on the table. "The cypher is on the back of my business card on the left side."
Kangwon opened the wallet and pulled out the business card. He then took the will from Weaver and sat down at a desk. After a few moments, he nodded. "Yes, this is the right cypher."
Giamundo snorted. "If we got the code, why don't we just knock him off right now?"
Kangwon held up his hand. "But it's not complete…"
Weaver looked at Castle. "What are you playing at, Castle?"
"Not playing," said Castle. "I've had a venture go bad and I find myself in need of some quick funds and a trip out of the country. You can have the first half of the cypher for free, but the second part will cost you a small portion of the proceeds, say $2 million?" He paused and looked at Weaver. "You are getting at least $20 million for this, right?"
Giamundo looked at Weaver and hissed, "$20 million – you said we'd be splitting $10 million once the job was done."
Castle shrugged again. "Oops."
Kangwon looked at his two partners. "I assure you that $10 million is a fair price. You can't guarantee that this will actually work."
"If they can, does that mean the selling price goes up?" Castle asked.
The North Korean agent looked at him. "Shut up." He turned back to Weaver. "We had a deal for $10 million and safe passage out of the United States."
"Don't worry," said Weaver. "We'll keep our end of the deal. And yes, Castle, I will give you the $2 million out of my share for the cypher," he said looking at Giamundo in an effort to stave off an angry outburst.
"And that's why I always beat you at poker," Castle quipped, smiling. "I'll text you the last part of the cypher once the money has been deposited into the account on the front of the business card and I'm out of the country."
Weaver narrowed his eyes at Castle. "So how do I know that this isn't a trap? That you don't have the Feds waiting downstairs."
"Believe me, Specs," said Castle, "I'm the last person who wants to call the Feds, besides you three," he pointed out.
Castle paused and shifted in the chair before explaining, "Let's just say I got caught with my hand in the cookie jar and it's time to move on. In fact, a little birdie told me that the Feds put out a BOLO for me an hour ago and frozen the accounts they can find. Captain Gates can fill you on the details, but you seemed to have taped her mouth shut. Which is a very good idea, I might say."
Weaver thought a moment more and then moved over to Gates and pulled the duct tape off of her mouth. "Is what he's saying true?"
Gates worked her mouth for a moment before glaring at Castle. "In the last couple of years, several high profile cases have fallen apart before going to trial and IA believes they are being fixed by someone internally."
Kangwon nodded as he brought up something on the computer. "What he says is true – there is a warrant out for him – arrest on sight, suspicion of contaminating crime scenes on certain cases. It says he withdrew $500,000 out of an account two days ago, so he's considered a flight risk."
"Castle – you, the all American boy?" asked Weaver.
"What can I say? Hell of a lot easier than writing books and royalties aren't what they once were. Now, do we have a deal?"
Weaver put the duct tape back over Gates' mouth and then nodded. "Yes, we have a deal."
"Good, and now that that is settled," said Castle, "we probably need to take this party elsewhere fairly quickly. I'm assuming that you have your escape plan – tickets and passports? I've already got mine."
Weaver looked over at the North Korean agent. "Are we set to go?"
Kangwon nodded. "Let me verify that the passports will be ready." He pulled out his phone.
Weaver turned back to Castle. "So how did you do it, Stumpy? Fix those cases?"
Castle hummed for a moment and then smiled, "Brandy was very helpful."
"So are you a serial womanizer?" Weaver asked.
"Must come by it genetically," said Castle.
They both turned toward Kangwon who was arguing loudly in Korean on the phone.
Castle stood and motioned for the phone. "May I?"
Kangwon frowned at him but gave him the phone.
"Annyeong-hasimnikka," Castle said.
The voice on the other end paused for a moment and then said, "Castle, is that you? Are you doing research on these men? They are very bad and you shouldn't be doing that."
"I'm touched by your concern for my safety, Sly, but don't worry. I'm ditching them fairly quickly."
"So how did those passports work for you?"
"I'm about to find out." Castle looked at the men. "These 3 gentlemen need to leave immediately – what do you have in the bargain basement? We need a Caucasian male about 60, one Italian about 45, and one Asian about 40. I'll send you their pictures in just a minute."
The phone was silent for a moment. "Yeah, yeah, I've got some that would work, but it's going to cost a premium."
Castle looked over at Weaver who nodded. "Sounds good. Same pick up point, say in an hour?"
"You got a deal. Hey, sorry things didn't work out with your fiancé – you really know how to pick them though – she is smoking. Think you might send me her number so I can introduce myself? And send me a selfie of you and that blonde chick, especially if you go to the Riviera," Sly said.
"Sly, you're a beast," said Castle.
"Yeah, but I'm a beast who can deliver the goods. See you in an hour."
Castle hung up the phone and handed it back to Kangwon. "I guess we're good."
"Then it's time to clean up here," said Giamundo, grabbing Ryan by the hair and flipping open his knife.
"Whoa," said Castle, holding out his hands. "That is so not cool. You kill an agent who's gone off the reservation and they send you a fruit basket and a 'thank you' card. But you kill 4 New York police officers and they will hunt you down – it won't matter where you go."
"So you got any suggestions, pretty boy?" Giamundo asked.
"Yeah, lock them in the interrogation room," said Castle. "The cleaning people have already been here so no one is going to find them until Monday morning."
"You'd turn your back on your friends that quickly for money?" asked Weaver.
"What can I say? I've gotten use to the life of luxury and I'm not giving that up. And friends? With them – really?" laughed Castle. "A control freak who makes Libby look like a Disney princess, a macho spic, and a…a…short Irishman? Anyway, the interrogation room is down this way. It's soundproof so no one will be able to hear them."
"Well, we don't all have your luck and charm, Stumpy" said Weaver. "Kangwon, check us in for the flight."
He grabbed Beckett by the arm and forced her to stand up, pushing the gun into her ribs. "The rest of you, stand up and don't try anything; otherwise, she dies. Castle, lead the way."
Castle nodded and led them down the hall to the interrogation room.
"Sit down," said Weaver, holding Beckett tighter.
Giamundo quickly duct-taped the team's legs to the chairs they were sitting in.
"Castle," Weaver said as he pushed Beckett into a chair, "you want to have the pleasure?"
Castle smiled and knelt down in front of Beckett, running a hand down her leg and then duct-taping them to the chair. He stood and bent over her.
"I won't say that it hasn't been fun, kitten, but the thrill is gone. I guess I just have too much of my mother in me." He leaned in and kissed her roughly. "SWAT's outside," he whispered in her ear before Beckett head-butted him.
Weaver laughed as Castle wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Sure you don't want to take her with you – she's got spunk."
"Brandy might think it's a little crowded," said Castle as he paused his hand over the light switch in the room and looked back at the team. "And in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!"
He flipped off the lights and walked out of the room, shutting and locking the door.
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"We need to send Sly the pictures for the passports," Weaver said as Castle walked back into the bullpen.
"Do you mind if I eat? I missed dinner," Castle said as he opened one of the bags and took out a hamburger. He then opened the other bag and pulled out a drink, taking the lid off and stirring it and then placing it on the desk.
Moving away from the desk, he took a bite of the cheeseburger and chewed slowly, watching as Weaver took a picture of Giamundo.
Then Weaver handed Giamundo the phone and stood against the wall.
The heavy-set man fumbled with the phone for a minute, wiping his sweating brow, before Castle stood and took it out of his hands.
"Here, let me," he said as Giamundo sat down beside the open drink.
Castle peered through the display at Weaver, pressed the button, and then looked at the results. "How about one without glasses?" he asked.
Weaver took off his glasses and Castle was about to take another picture when Giamundo fell over with a thud and jerked uncontrollably twice before going limp.
"What the hell?" said Kangwon, jumping away from him and colliding with a chair.
Weaver felt the room spin around him and looked back at Castle. "What have you done?" he asked as he too slumped to the floor, spasms racking his body as he blacked out.
Flipping open the knife he carried, the North Korean whirled and lunged at Castle.
The writer tried to move away, but his reaction was slowed by the drug in the air and the knife caught him in the forearm as Kangwon also fell to the ground.
Castle slid down the desk as his vision narrowed. "They're down," he said simply and then waited. He frowned as several tall, white rabbits quietly came into the room before darkness overtook him.
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Beckett could hear the others move in the chairs, trying to get free, and the negative grunts as they couldn't.
They had been sitting in total darkness for at least 30 minutes, so the light coming back on in the interrogation room momentarily blinded the team as several SWAT members rushed into the room. One man walked over to Beckett as two others stationed themselves by the door, the guns at the ready.
"We've got the hostages," said the man into his throat mike as he knelt in front of Beckett. "I'm Officer Ramirez. Is anyone hurt?" he asked as he removed the duct tape from Beckett's mouth.
"We're okay," she said.
He quickly cut the zip ties from her wrists and undid the duct tape around her legs and then moved on to free the others.
As soon as she was free, Beckett jumped out of the chair and rushed out the door, only to be grabbed by Sorenson and stopped.
"Kate, you can't go in there yet. We've got to secure it first," he said.
"Castle and the other men are headed to the airport," said Gates as she stood up. "Alert security to stop them."
Sorenson shook his head. "No, they aren't. This was a trap to catch them."
Ramirez's throat mike crackled. "Area secured. Sir, exactly who are we looking for? There's no one here."
Sorenson looked at Ramirez and shook his head again. "No, they should be there – Peterson should be in there with the suspects."
Sorenson rushed towards the bullpen only to stop short as he entered it.
No one else was there except for the SWAT team. The murder board had been wiped clean and now contained a note that read, "Sorenson – great interagency cooperation. We'll take it from here."
"No, no, no!" exclaimed Sorenson as he surveyed the empty room. "Damn it to hell. They said no one could enter the area for 30 minutes."
"Well, they lied," said Beckett.
"Get CSI up here and see if they can get any fingerprints," said Gates. "And Sorenson, you've got 5 minutes to explain what just happened."
The elevator dinged and the mayor, police commissioner, and Lanie rushed out.
The ME rushed to Espo and hugged him tightly. "Javi, I was so scared," she whispered into his ear.
As the three men started explaining what had just occurred to Gates and the team, Beckett noticed a white piece of paper in the trunk of the small elephant on her desk, rather than the usual dollar bill.
She discretely pulled it out and unrolled it. It simply said, "Meet me on the north side of the building. LJ."
Beckett pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Espo," she whispered, not wanting to interrupt the men. "I'm going to go down the hallway for a minute."
Espo nodded at her. "I've got your back," he whispered back.
Beckett quietly walked out of the room and then broke into a fast run as she reached the north stairwell.
She reached the first floor in a matter of moments and rushed out a side door and looked around.
A black van was waiting across the street. As she approached it, an average looking man in a suit got out on the driver's side.
"Detective Beckett," he said as he nodded at her and opened the side door.
Beckett started to step inside and paused for a moment.
"Detective Beckett," said a woman in a motorized wheelchair. "I'm Dr. Jenkins. If you'll step inside, I'll be glad to take you to Castle."
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