A/N: so I planned on Charlie and Ethan being late - before I saw 6x23. Anyone who's seen it will know why this is bad and if you haven't - well then maybe you shouldn't and just accept the ending of 6x22 as your 'going into hiatus' episode! Literally can't bring myself to write a post ep for it yet, so you're stuck with another update for this!
"Where is she, Castle?" Kate asked, the worry evident in her voice. She checked her watch for what felt like the hundredth time in the past ten minutes - Charlie and Ethan were almost an hour late now, Kate was due back at the precinct any minute.
"I'm sure she's just..running late. Or forgotten," Castle reassured. "Maybe her and Ethan lost track of time.."
"Yeah..that must be it," Kate agreed unconvincingly. She didn't believe that for a second, her sister might be the complete opposite of her but even she wouldn't simply forget to turn up to lunch - they'd only arranged it that morning! "I'm going to give her a call." She picked up her cell phone from the table and dialled Charlie's number. "Straight to voicemail - something's happened!"
"Hey, Kate - calm down," Castle soothed. "I'm sure there's a simple explanation."
"Castle - she's over an hour late, she hasn't called and I have no idea were she is! Oh my god, what if we missed something when we checked out Ethan?"
"Stop," he said sternly. "I know you must be worried but she's a grown woman, call Ethan, call your dad, we'll call Alexis. If no one has seen her, then we can start panicking, okay?"
"You don't have to panic with me, Castle," she laughed, not missing his use of the word 'we'.
"I know she's not my sister but I care about her too, you know."
Kate smiled at him. He really was amazing, it was usually her keeping everyone calm while he ran around like a headless chicken and yet now it was the other way around. "Okay," she agreed, I'll call the precinct, get them to give me Ethan's cell number. Can you call Alexis, see if she's heard from her?
She'd spoken to Velasquez, who had pulled up Ethan's file and given her the number with no problem. She hung up with a quick thank you and dialled the new number.
"Ethan de Castro," he answered on the third ring.
"Ethan, hi," Kate breathed out - at least if Ethan was answering they hadn't disappeared completely. "It's Kate, Charlie's sister, is she there?"
"Oh Kate, hi. Uh no, she left two hours ago, said something about meeting you for lunch," he said. "Why, is she not with you?"
"No, she's not," Kate replied, feeling deflated. "We were supposed to meet about an hour ago and she isn't here and not answering her cell."
"Oh god..um, well she asked me to lunch with you guys but I couldn't make it, I've got meetings and appointments all afternoon. She came into the office with me for an hour or so but then she left to meet you.."
"Okay. Um well I'm sure she's fine but can you get her to call me if you see her? Or if you hear from her then give me a call on this number?"
"Of course and uh, can you call me if you see or hear from her, please? I mean, I know we've only been dating a few weeks but I'm pretty crazy about her.."
Charlie was a lucky girl. "Of course, thanks, Ethan."
"Any luck?" Castle asked when she cut the call off.
"No," Kate said. "I know I should stay calm but after speaking to Ethan I don't know if I can..he said Charlie went into the office with him for an hour or so earlier before leaving to meet us. Ethan couldn't make it so Charlie was coming on her own.."
"Alexis heard from her this morning, they arranged to meet for dinner, Alexis has a final English paper due and Charlie said she'd help..do you want to call your dad?"
"I don't want to worry him," Kate fretted. "I can't imagine she's with him, not without telling me she wasn't coming to lunch."
It suddenly hit Castle like a ton of bricks. "Oh god, Kate..I'm sorry I didn't realise..here I am telling to calm down and that there's a reasonable explanation when this is exactly what happened with your mom. I'm sorry-"
"It's fine," she brushed off. "I mean yeah, that's going through my head but it always does whenever someone is five minutes late. But..where is she?"
Before Castle could offer up an answer, Kate's cell rang. "Charlie?" She answered without checking the caller ID.
"Er no, it's Esposito.."
"Sorry, Espo," she sighed.
"Everything okay?"
"Just..Charlie was supposed to meet us for lunch and she hadn't showed. What have you got?"
"We've found Maddox," Espo told her. "We sat outside his hotel for a bit and we saw him head back in. We've got uniforms on all exits so he hasn't left again."
Kate took down the address and cut off the call. "Espo and Ryan have found Maddox. What if it's him, Castle? What if he's got Charlie, thinking she's me or using her as leverage to get to me?"
"Think rationally, Kate. How would he even know you had a twin sister? I'm sure she's not with him but do you want to go over with Espo and Ryan, check his room out for yourself?"
Kate nodded, picking up her phone again. "Espo," she said when he answered. "Hold up, Castle and I are coming too."
"Okay, we ready?" Kate whispered down the hall. Her, Espo, Ryan and Castle were outside Maddox's hotel room, joined by three other officers. Hotel management had given them a card, allowing them to unlock the door without having to break it down. Despite reassurances from Castle and the boys, Kate knew Maddox was behind this. It had been him trying to kill her a year ago at Montgomery's funeral and he wasn't giving up. If he couldn't have Kate, he knew taking her twin sister was the next best thing, knowing Kate would do anything to get her back.
"On my count," she said quietly. "One, two, three.." On three, she swiped the door card and burst into the room, Espo and Ryan close behind with their guns drawn too.
"NYPD, put your hands above your head!" Espo shouted into the room.
Their suspect turned slowly, hands raised above his head where they could see them. "Cole Maddox, you're under arrest," Kate said, holstering her gun and slapping the handcuffs on his wrists. She was going to make damn sure she got him for everything she could.
A/N: so I had this chapter all planned out and then got halfway through writing it and realised I think I hate it? So I'm leaving it there for now, thought I'd let you guys read it and see what you think. More specifically: where do you want this 'Charlie gone missing' thing to go? Want a few chapters out of it or want it done and dusted quickly? I have ides for either way so your thoughts are appreciated!