Where a Lie Leads - Chapter 5
AN: A final thanks to all of you for all of the reviews and follows. I'm glad many of you have enjoyed this story. Here is the final chapter – I like to write (and resolve) things fairly quickly. Ok, blah, blah, blah, on to the story.
DISCLAIMER: None of these characters are mine, but they are memorable. Thank you Mr. Marlowe.
Castle is on the phone and he is not saying much. It appears to be a very one-sided conversation. Kate knows this can't be good. The Castle she knows is garrulous and joyful. This quiet Castle is somewhat disarming. He isn't giving anything away. She has long since got off the swing and been pacing in the grass, throwing glances at Castle as he sits on the swing, listening to a voice on the other end of this strange phone call. But he glances at her every so often, and there is something in his eyes she is not used to seeing.
Terror.
They have been through so much together these last three years; gun shots, explosions, drug deals, Russian mobsters – and that's just been the easy stuff. They've done the 'hey-I-think-you're-kinda-cute-dance worse than freshmen in high school. Through it all, she has seen much in those blue eyes. She has seen anger, sadness, joy, surprise, frustration, love. Her favorite, of course, is love. And while they have been in some frightening situations, while she has seen Richard Castle afraid, she has never seen the pure fear in his eyes that she sees right now.
Suddenly, she hears him speaking. She can't make out much of what he is saying. He's quiet again, and then she hears him more clearly.
"I understand. Thank you. No, no, I understand."
He hangs up the call. He stands up but doesn't walk toward her. Instead, he holds on to the chain link holding one of the swings up. He has a far-away look.
"Well?" she asks.
For another few seconds he says nothing. Then, grabbing her hand yet again, he simply says "We have to go."
She pulls her hand free, stopping him in his tracks.
"Wait a minute, Castle. We're not going anywhere until you tell me what's up. And we're not finished talking anyway – we're finally making some progress with . . . with us."
Undeterred, he simply grabs her hand, yet again, and starts walking back across the street to hail a taxi in front of the book store.
"Kate, you said you trust me. You said that your love and your trust could carry us. Well, it starts now. You have to do exactly what you said you could do – and that's trust me. I know we have a lot to talk about. A lot, Kate. But not now."
With that, he literally drags her to the cab that has pulled over, opening the door.
"Get in."
She stares at him for a moment, then quickly slides into the passenger's seat and scoots over behind the driver. Castle hops in. Before she can say another word, the car is in motion with instructions to head to the Old Haunt bar, and Castle is back on the phone.
"Espo. How are you, my man?"
"Castle? Castle!" He leans across the desk to Ryan. "Yo bro, a voice from the past." Turning his attention back to Castle, he continues.
"What's up, Castle. Where'd you disappear off to?"
"No time for that, my friend," Castle replies. "Beckett and I are 10 minutes away. I need you and Ryan to meet us at the Old Haunt. No questions, Espo. I will explain everything shortly. But it's important, okay? And stop saying my name – trust me."
"Okay, Okay. We'll be there. Love the cloak and dagger stuff."
Castle hangs up, telling the cabbie to speed it up. Kate looks at him with a hundred questions screaming at her. He is clearly flustered, but at the same time, in complete control. She opens her mouth to ask a question, but – without even glancing at her – Castle shuts her down.
"Not now, Kate. Just trust me."
The rest of the cab ride is in silence. Kate occasionally glances his way, while Castle simply sits back, the thumb and forefinger on his right hand massaging the bridge of his nose. He doesn't look at her, doesn't glance at her. She is relieved when they pull in front of the old bar now owned by Castle. They get out of the cab and enter the bar. Castle stops at the bar counter, giving Melissa a tight hug. Castle hired the 26 year old as a favor to a friend after buying the establishment last year. Beckett waves hello to her, as she and Castle head to the booth in the back of the establishment typically reserved for three specific police officers from the 12th Precinct.
Minutes later, Esposito and Ryan enter the bar and head to the back, nodding at Melissa behind the bar counter.
Ryan slides in next to Castle while Esposito sits next to Beckett.
"My man," Ryan exclaims, putting his arm around Castle. Castle smiles – a genuine smile, one of the few this day – and fist bumps Esposito across the booth.
"It's good to see you, my friends. It's been too long."
"Too long – yeah, it's been three months, Castle", says Esposito. "What gives? "
Both detectives want to ask exactly how – and why – Castle and Beckett are together. It's common knowledge that she told him she "needed time" in the hospital, and just as common knowledge that Castle took that as an opportunity to divorce himself from the 12th Precinct. Before they can ask, however, Castle speaks up.
"I'm really glad to see you guys, and there will be a lot of time for us to catch up. But right now, I'm afraid there are far more important things to talk about."
By now, Beckett, who has mostly been quiet, speaks up.
"Okay, Castle, you dragged me away from an important conversation." She stops herself, giving a quick don't-even-ask glare at both Esposito and Ryan, who wisely choose not to push their curiosity. "What can be so important? And who were you on the phone with?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself", Castle says, as they all look up. An older gentleman, smartly dressed in a suit and overcoat, nods to each of them.
"Mr. Smith, I presume," says Castle.
"Mr. Castle. When I suggested a meeting place where we would not be bothered, I thought you understood that a public place – such as this bar with your friends – would not fit that description."
"There is no safer place I know, Mr. Smith", Castle replies, and invites Mr. Smith to take a seat. "No one outside of the four of us sit in this booth. We have all the privacy we need. And these people need to hear what you have to say."
After making introductions, Castle turns the floor over to Mr. Smith.
"Go ahead, Mr. Smith. We're all ears", says Castle.
"I will get right to the point," Smith says, speaking softly. "I don't want to sound melodramatic, but I strongly suggest you pay close attention to everything I am about to say, because we may not have a second chance to have this conversation."
That certainly catches everyone's attention. Mr. Smith then continues:
"As I said to Mr. Castle, I am . . . I was a friend of Captain Roy Montgomery. How Roy and I came to be friends is not important right now. What is important is that a few months ago, right before he was murdered, Roy sent me files - files that can hurt some very powerful people. The agreement was these files would never see the light of day as long as Detective Beckett remains alive."
The booth explodes with exclamations of surprise from Esposito, Ryan and Beckett. Castle, however, is unmoved. He has heard this part on the telephone already. Mr. Smith continues again:
"Unfortunately, these files got to me too late to prevent the attempt on your life, Detective Beckett." He says this looking at Beckett. He says this with no malice and no compassion. His tone remains purely business.
"However, now that they know these files exist – because I have shared their existence with certain people - they have called off any future hits on you, Detective Beckett. And that extends to each one of you as well."
It is almost comical how quickly four sets of eyebrows rise on the three detectives and Castle. Now the conversation turns to new territory even for Castle. This he has not heard yet from his earlier phone call with Mr. Smith.
"I need you to understand the rules. They are very simple. Detective Beckett, you stay clear of this case. Your mother is dead. I won't insult you by insinuating that I understand how you might feel. But know this – each of you - know this:"
He pauses as he looks each one of them in the eyes before continuing:
"She cannot go near this case. If she does, they will kill her. They will kill her, and they won't stop there. Hell, for all I know, they may not start there. They may start with you, Detective Esposito. Or you, Detective Ryan. "
Neither detective responds. Their only answer is silence, and a clenching of their fists on the table.
"They may start with your father, Detective Beckett. They may start with you, Mr. Castle."
Then he drops the bomb.
"Mr. Castle, they may start with your daughter. They may go after your mother first. The point is – they will kill Detective Beckett, and they won't stop there. They will kill everyone she cares about, if she doesn't stop. You know they will do this. These people aren't surgeons. They subscribe to the scorched earth policy."
He points to Beckett, and then looks directly at Castle.
"They will kill her, they will kill her friends, they will kill you and your family, and not even your illustrious father will be able to stop them, Mr. Castle.
"My father ?! What do you know about my father ?" Castle cannot contain the surprise and anger rising in him. He doesn't even know his father. What in the world is Smith talking about! But before Castle can even process this, Smith sucks all of the air out of the room when he drops the second bomb.
"Shut up, Mr Castle. You need to listen to me. You are a writer. You're a smart man. You have a great imagination. You know how deep this rabbit hole can go. Surely you don't believe that Scott Dunn was an isolated, deranged serial killer after Nikki Heat. Surely you don't believe that case was nice and neatly wrapped up by you and your FBI friends last year. Surely you are not that naïve! Scott Dunn was a hired contract killer who loved playing games, who loved showmanship. For his own amusement, he disguised his contract to kill Detective Beckett under the guise of a psychopath obsessed with a fictional character based upon our detective here."
Beckett leans forward on the booth table, her hands desperately looking for solace in the long locks of hair, until she simply puts her hands on the table and her head back against the booth's headrest. She now understands the look of fear, the look of pure terror that she saw in Castle's eyes at the park while he listened to Smith talk. She sees that same look in the eyes of her two detectives. These men are brothers to her. They are family. She is only now starting to understand the full cost of her quest for vengeance.
Suddenly, she snaps back to the present, as she hears Smith finish:
"It will never stop - Mr. Castle, gentlemen - unless she stops. If she stops, then everyone continues on, business as usual. If she continues digging, they will find out – and they will come after her – and each of you – again."
They sit in stunned silence for the next few seconds. Mr. Smith stands up, ready to take his leave.
"I want all of you to know that I am a friend. Roy Montgomery was a man that I am forever indebted to, even beyond the grave. I know the news I have shared is far from cause for celebration. But now, at least you fully understand the rules of engagement. "
Looking at Castle, he ends the conversation. "I truly hope this is the last time we meet. Rest assured, your enemy does not know me. If they did, they would never have allowed this conversation to occur. And if something happens to me, then the files I have will reach the appropriate people."
With that, he leaves. The four of them are left to their own thoughts for the next few minutes. Castle is the first to speak. With his customary smirk, he breaks the tension in the booth in the way that – apparently – only Rick Castle can. He looks at Kate, who is simmering with anger, tears ready to boil over, quickly reaches to hold her by the cheeks, and plants a soft, slow kiss on her. This is the absolute last thing she has expected, but her body responds instantly. Before she can enjoy the moment, he has pulled away.
"I have wanted to do that for a long, long time, Detective."
Nervous laughter erupts at the table, but quickly dies down. Castle pats Ryan on the back, asking him to get up and let Castle out of the booth. They all stand.
"Everyone, follow me," Castle says, moving toward the restrooms in the back next to their booth, but stopping at the storage closet. Opening the door to the storage closet, he hits a board, revealing a panel. Sliding the panel up, he opens a second door, with stairs descending downward.
"Ok, cool, bro" smiles Esposito. "I always knew these old bars had little hidden areas."
"This one actually has two basements", smiles Castle. "No one in this bar knows about this second one – not even Melissa. The only other person who knows was Donny, and he – as you know – isn't here to tell anyone about it. It served its' purpose a long time ago when this establishment was a brothel and not a bar."
Descending down the stairs, they find themselves in a basement. It should be colder, but somehow Castle has managed to bring heat, air conditioning and plumbing to the basement.
"Did all this myself," he smiles proudly. "After Beckett's apartment was blown to smithereens, I knew we might need a safe-haven someday. Too many people know about my place in the Hamptons, and the loft isn't exactly unknown territory either."
Everyone is a bit nervous as they sit in comfortable, plush chairs at a large table in the basement of the Old Haunt. They are nervous because they are all now in new territory. Castle, Esposito, Ryan – each of them has known about Kate Beckett's quest for justice for her mother's murder. Each of them has always known that helping her crack this case had risks for each of them. But it crystalized in that moment when they realized – when they were told, point-blank – that they now were each intended targets in the firing line of their enemy. And not only them, but the people they love.
Javier Esposito sits, thinking about Lanie, the beautiful medical examiner with whom he has done the lazy dance almost as long as Castle and Beckett have avoided theirs. He cannot lose her.
Kevin Ryan sits, thinking about his fiancée, Jenny. They are planning their wedding, planning their family. He cannot lose her.
Kate Beckett sits, thinking about her father, and how he could end up joining her mother as a victim – and this time it would be her fault. She thinks about her two 'brothers' sitting with her at this table, and how she cannot allow them or their loved ones to be harmed.
And she thinks about Castle, the man she loves, the man she has avoided loving for the past few years. She cannot lose him, or any of them.
And Rick Castle? He thinks of Alexis. He loves his mother, he is deeply in love with Kate Beckett, and he loves these two men at the table as younger brothers he never had. But his thoughts keep coming back to Alexis. Each of them have chosen the road they are on. Alexis has not.
Castle interrupts all of their thoughts with thoughts of his own.
"I met Mr. Smith on the phone this afternoon – less than two hours ago." He shakes his head as he recognizes just how much life can change in an hour or two. He walks over the wall where he has a private stash of scotch. He grabs the bottle, and reaches to grab four glasses. Before he can, he realizes Beckett is at his side. He smiles at her, and she smiles back, grabbing the glasses for him. He instead grabs a bucket of ice from the wall container.
"Seems like you have everything you need down here, Castle", she whispers.
"Everything, but not everyone. Until now."
They bring the scotch, ice and glasses to the table, and the four of them set themselves up with a drink. Then Castle continues:
"As I said, I met Mr. Smith this afternoon, on the phone. Some of what he shared with all of us, he had shared with me on that phone call. I knew then that I had to bring all of you into this." He looks at Kate, hoping she can see the apology in his eyes for what he is about to say.
"I had to bring them into it, Kate, because I love you. I love you deeply. You've known this, and we will find the time to continue our conversation. But you asked me if I trusted you. I don't. I want to, Kate, please believe me. I trust you with my life. But I don't trust you with yours, and I certainly don't trust you or anyone else with the life of my baby girl."
Kate nods in understanding. She doesn't like what she's hearing, but she cannot question the authenticity – or sincerity – of his words. Then he continues:
"I heard through the grapevine that your new captain comes from Internal Affairs. So I don't trust her. I know, that's not fair. But neither is what we have just sat through for the last hour. Anyway, Mr. Smith didn't reach out to a cop. He reached out to me. So I don't know who is dirty and who is clean."
Before any of the detectives can say anything, he reminds them of John Raglan's murder earlier that year, right after New Year's, where the mobster Pulgatti told them that "there's nothing more dangerous out there than a killer with a badge."
"We don't know who we can trust. We don't know who we are up against. But I – for one – am not going to just sit on my hands and hope and pray they keep this so-called agreement with Mr. Smith. I am not going to hope and pray that their integrity causes them to stay away from us. Not when the lives of my friends, my daughter, my mother, and the woman I love are on the line."
They all nod in agreement, and understanding. He lifts his glass, in a toast, grabbing Beckett's hand. She gives his hand a squeeze, and then places a quick kiss on the top of his hand.
Javier Esposito is the first to speak. "We can't sit back. The best defense is a good offense."
Kevin Ryan adds, "But we have to have a plan. We've got to play the long game here."
Kate Beckett smiles at her friends, with tears glistening in her eyes. "I can't ask you guys to do this."
Esposito interrupts her. "This is no longer just your fight Beckett. You know we have always had your back, but the stakes just got raised a wee bit."
After a few seconds of silence, Rick Castle finally speaks up. "Like I said, I knew this old room would come in handy someday. Kevin's right, we need a plan."
They clink four glasses in a toast. Then Castle says:
"So, here is what we are going to do . . ."
AN: Thanks for spending time with me. I hope you enjoyed this story. I think that Marlowe has done a marvelous job with the entire Castle mythos. I won't be so presumptuous to degrade any of his stories, but of all the storylines that I watched, Rise (S4:1) never sat well with me. While I always understood (just a little) why Beckett may have lied (so in character for her), I never accepted that an intelligent, intuitive man who followed her around for three solid years wouldn't see through such an important lie. To me, a guy who has had the history he had with his two ex-wives would have a stronger radar for deceptions. Then Castle withholds information from Kate regarding his conversations with Mr. Smith – and now before you know it, the entire season is predicated on two strong lies and deceptions each has made. I just don't know how (in real life, Hollywood or fan-fiction) any relationship really recovers from that. Regardless, I appreciate all of you allowing me to 'wander' and share an alternate take, wondering how things could have progressed differently had everyone been brought into the loop after Castle's phone call with Mr. Smith.