When they parted she placed her hand on her boyfriend's chest before telling him, "I think that was enough."
"Are you sure?" Castle asked.
"I'm sure," Beckett replied simply. When he started to lean in towards her she said, "Castle."
Pausing at the warning note to her tone Castle sighed and said, "Alright," before they looked at Julia to see what she was doing. "Do you have enough?" he asked her.
"I don't know," the little girl said, handing the pail over to him.
"I think that's enough," Beckett said, trying not to laugh at the sight of all the shells inside.
"You could decorate two castles with that," Castle said as he playfully shook the pail to make the shells rattle.
Julia laughed and asked, "Can we make more?"
"I think one is enough for today," Beckett said gently as they made it to the sand castle in front of their things.
As soon as she could Julia knelt and began setting the shells on the castle before her mother and Castle were helping her. When they finished she said, "Do you like it?"
"Now it's perfect," Castle said.
"It's very pretty," Beckett said with a smile as she looked at her boyfriend since he was staring pointedly at her.
"Now what do we do?" Julia asked.
"You don't want to go back in?" Castle asked her.
"Kay," Julia said eagerly. She saw her mother bringing back her vest and she groaned saying, "Don't wanna Mommy."
"Oh, I knew that already," Beckett said. "But you need to put it on."
Though she was going to protest Julia giggled when Castle stretched out her arms and she looked up at him before he helped her mother putting on the vest. "Thank you," she told him.
"You're very welcome," Castle replied. "Want to go on my back?"
"Mommy-" Julia started to ask eagerly.
"Go ahead but make sure you hold onto him tight," Beckett said. When her boyfriend; kneeling to take Julia on his back; paused and looked at her she rolled her eyes and said, "But don't hold his neck too tight."
"I won't," Julia said, smiling as she wrapped her arms Castle's neck.
They went into the water together and swimming around her boyfriend who was treading the water Beckett said, "What were you thinking of doing tonight?"
"I'm going to leave the plans up to you two," Castle replied. "Whatever you want."
"Can we have a picnic?" Julia asked hopefully.
"Would you mind making dinner?" Beckett said to her boyfriend.
"I think we can order out," Castle replied.
"Okay, then we should get back to shore so we can start," Beckett said.
Castle smiled when Julia began splashing the water with one hand and swam after his girlfriend up to the sand where he let the little girl down. "What would you like?" he asked Julia.
"Pizza!" the little girl nearly screamed, jumping up and down.
Beckett sighed and said, "Rick
"Rick can you take Julia for me?" Kate said, as she walked up to him out of her daughter's room.
Shaking himself inwardly and wondering how he had managed to stand back up Rick nodded and took Julia's hand before he watched Kate walk away from them down to her bedroom. He felt a tug on his hand and looked down at the little girl before she smiled at him briefly and then began to speak.
"Can you come live here?" Julia asked.
Rick was glad that they'd paused at that moment as he was sure he would have tumbled down the stairs in his surprise. He was going to answer the little girl when she started to talk again before he could.
"Uncle Junior was here," Julia explained seriously. "He said Mommy had to be pr… tec… ted," she pronounced slowly. "She's a doll."
"He was joking," Kate said as she walked up behind them.
"I can't really do that Julia," Rick then said. "It wouldn't be right, and the neighbors would be scandalized."
"But-" Julia began.
"He's right honey," Kate said gently. "We'll be alright though."
"Kate, what about your sister?" Rick then asked before they could go down the stairs.
Pausing in mid-step Kate looked at him and said, "We got a telegram yesterday she was in Oakland and heading out on the ferry this morning. She should be home soon."
Hearing the door opening downstairs Rick said, "That might be her."
"Auntie Rose?" Julia asked eagerly.
"It is," Kate said before they headed downstairs to the entry.
"Katie!" a woman said, stepping inside the house. "I've just heard what happened to Junior it's not…?"
Nodding Kate embraced her twin sister tightly and said, "I've told Ma already and Julia."
Sighing Rose brushed away the tears on her cheek before she looked down at Julia who was hugging her and said, "Horrible news… you're looking into it?"
"I am," Rick said, startled when the sisters shared a glance.
"Rosie," a voice said behind them. Johanna stepped out to them and embraced her youngest child tightly saying, "Patrick?"
"My husband is back home, he's taken our things, but he'll be here soon," Rose replied. She looked around at the four and said, "Have you eaten? Julia looks a bit peaky."
"We're about to eat now," Johanna said softly.
"Let's go," Rose said firmly. "Junior would want us to keep up things for him, especially now."
Rick was a little behind the family, wondering if he should leave to return to his case, but when Kate looked back at him he followed them to the table where they began eating the oatmeal that was a little cool by then.
"Horrible Ma; we've left it for too long," Rose said, making a face. "I'll take care of a fresh batch," she said, jumping off and taking off her green hat.
"Oh no Rosie-" Johanna began to say as she stood.
"Sit Ma," Kate said, stepping over to help her.
"Then I can ask are you sure you want to look into this?" Johanna said to her daughter. "You're not a police officer."
"No but I knew Junior," Kate said firmly.
Seeing the determined set of her jaw Rick turned to Kate's mother and said, "Though I really don't know how my boss would take this, Kate's right she knew Junior best out of us all and she was with him to this morning."
"You didn't see anything did you?" Johanna asked, saying that before Julia was with her aunt at the stove.
"No," Kate said, shaking her head with a sigh. "I was asleep as our party last night went long and was a bash."
"Keep her safe Rick," Johanna told him seriously.
"Of course," he said in the same tone. "She'll be back of course."
"What about-" Johanna began to say before there was a knock on the door.
"Is it Uncle Patrick?" Julia said hopefully.
Rick stood up but before he could go out to the entry Rose's husband; Patrick Darby; was walking inside and he wasn't surprised to see the man dressed to the nines. Patrick and Rose were returning from their honeymoon, though their marriage was one of convenience as the whole family knew. Both were attracted to those of the same gender as themselves and Patrick had offered for Rose's hand so they could both put on a proper façade for society; especially himself as he was the manager of a bank downtown; and still have their separate relationships. "You look spiffy," he told the man after shaking his hand. "Paris?"
"Of course, it's the city of lights and fashion… it was delicious," Patrick said before they sat down together at the table though he sounded strained and nowhere near eager. "And of course, we didn't forget our niece," he said when Julia came to stand next to him, smiling at her though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Is the box for me?" Julia asked shyly.
"I think it is," Patrick said, pretending to shake it listen to it.
"You'll spoil her," Johanna said with a slightly weak smile.
"I'm so sorry," Patrick said after Julia went to her mother and he could speak to his mother in law. "We heard as soon as we came from Oakland."
"Who told you?" Rick asked, having been listening to them.
"Mickey Patterson," Patrick replied.
"Why was he at the pier?" Rick asked with a frown.
"I asked the same," Rose commented as she was setting down the pot of oatmeal. "He told us that he was going to see about some space in Oakland for a club there."
"Did the police ever find out how his place burned down?" Patrick asked as they were beginning to eat.
"The fire department looked into that and they had no idea," Rick replied. "But he still got money for the loss and he's moving to Oakland so he's alright."
"What did your aunt and uncle give you?" Johanna asked Julia who was drinking from her cup of milk.
"A dress!" the little girl said happily.
"Here," Kate said, standing up and going over to the box she had set aside. She held up a green dress with white at the shoulders and black accents around the waist and hem.
"It's beautiful," Rick said.
"Isn't it?" Patrick said. "We saw it and thought of Julia together at the same time because of her gorgeous eyes of course."
"When can I wear it?" Julia asked.
"Hopefully soon," Kate replied.
"We should go for a jaunt, all of us," Rose said before she sighed.
Knowing the woman was thinking of her brother Rick said, "There's always the park."
"Of course," Kate said, giving him a brief smile.
As Julia began to ask about that the family finished their meal and Johanna began to clean up before Rick and Kate stood.
"Ma," Julia sobbed softly.
"Honey what is it?" Kate said as she hurried to her daughter to pick her up.
"Uncle Junior won't come with us," the little girl then began to cry.
"I know, I know I thought the same myself," Kate whispered, caressing the back of her head.
"But we won't forget him while we're out there, so he's with us still," Rick said, coming over to them and placing his hand on the little girl's back.
"He is?" Julia asked tearfully.
"Of course," Rose said, looking over at them from the sink with Johanna. "Just like your grandda."
Nodding Julia said to her mother, "Are you gonna stay?"
"I need to go honey but…" Kate began to say before looking over at her sister.
"We'll take you out for a stroll on the beach," Rose said, hurrying over to take the little girl. "And we can show you the new toy Patrick picked up in Paris."
"Toy?" Julia asked, smiling weakly at her mother as she was wiping away her tears.
"Come, let me show you," Patrick said before he led them over to the entry. He opened a black box that was there, and he then pulled out a small box.
"What is it?" Julia asked in confusion.
"A camera," Patrick replied, handing it over to her. "Mind you watch the lens. Now we'll take this and take a lot of pictures there to test it out."
"You can go," Kate said with a smile.
"In the meantime, I'll go with her to take this dress upstairs," Patrick said, looking at his wife.
"I'll be up in a minute so you can try it on darling," Rose said to Julia before the two left. "Katie," she said to her sister.
Whatever either of the women said after that was lost to Rick as he was hissing out loud and bending over once more.
"Nice throw," Beckett said in amusement.
"I know, and I had to practice this mainly on the ocean, not easy," Skye said with a laugh.
"You never did this on a river?" Castle asked, looking out at the River Maigue they were standing at near Adare Manor two days before his and Beckett's wedding.
"Never had the chance," Skye replied. She smiled and said, "Though really there never was a place I could do that."
"Don't they have mountains around you?" David asked.
"Yes, but we went up more for the snow and not the rivers," Skye said.
"What about Perris?" Mary asked her.
"That's true," Skye said to her wife. "We'd go to Lake Perris and I'd practice there, so it's close enough."
"Where's that?" Rebecca asked.
"Southeast of LA, close to Riverside," Mary answered. "It's artificial though."
"Right but a big lake," Skye replied. "Alright I've had enough of these," she continued, brushing off her hands. "And am starving."
"Are you getting nervous about tomorrow?" Rebecca asked.
"No," Beckett said firmly as her friend had addressed that to her. "I'm eager for it already."
"That and everyone else getting here," Castle said, not surprised his wife nodded in agreement.
"Are we set on our plans before the big day?" David asked Castle.
"What are you men doing?" Mary asked.
"Golf," Castle said first. "And then we'll… take off our pants and run around the course."
"Oh god," David said with a laugh as he put his face in his hand. "I thought you were serious."
"I'm that good an actor," Castle replied as the women were laughing at them.
"I guess you can thank your mother for that," David said.
"She'd say the same thing if she heard you say that," Castle said.
"And us women?" Skye asked.
"Spa and tea," Beckett replied, watching her husband and David passing out the food they'd gotten for their picnic next to the river. "Hopefully that will work."
"I don't think it's if it works," Mary commented, taking her sandwich from David but still looking at Beckett. "More if it's what you want to do."
"It is," Beckett replied.
"You didn't want to join them?" David asked Castle.
"I had the thought, but I didn't really want to hear them gossiping-" he started to answer before he was cut off by a napkin being thrown in his face. Castle laughed slightly and said, "Okay, then I wanted them to have the chance to talk among themselves."
"It'll be interesting to see all of us together," Skye commented. "The last time we were was back in the Hamptons at your first wedding. Well I should say all us women."
"The kids will enjoy it tomorrow," Rebecca said.
They all laughed at the obviousness of that statement; Rebecca included; and turned the conversation to their trip once Castle and Beckett finished their honeymoon.
When they'd finished eating Skye stood up and said, "I've a mind to take a walk. Anyone care to come with?"
"I'll go," Beckett said as she stood herself. "Anyone else?" she asked, looking back at the others.
"I guess it's just us," Skye commented before she and Beckett started to walk. As they were going along the river she said, "So you're this eager for marriage again."
"This eager?" Beckett echoed, looking over at her questioningly.
"You know what I mean," Skye replied.
"I didn't expect it… Rick?" Beckett asked, looking at her husband.
"Sorry, I decided to join you," Castle replied. "Unless you want me to beat it." He opened his mouth as he realized what that would sound like and said, "I mean leave."
"I think you were the only one thinking of it in those terms," Beckett said, giving her husband a look.
"So I'll go?" Castle asked.
"No, it's alright," Skye said first. "We're not off to gossip as you said."
"Which was a joke," Castle replied. He smiled as the two women looked at each other and rolled their eyes before he told them, "You two look so much alike."
"I don't think that much," Skye said. "Where did that come from?"
"That's what I'd like to know too," Beckett commented.
"The way you rolled your eyes," Castle said. "But you know why people call you sisters."
"I guess," Skye said, putting her hands in her pockets and shrugging her shoulders. "We'll have to get used to it," she told Beckett.
"I guess so," she said absently. "But that's not what you're thinking is it?"
"No," Castle replied, not surprised his wife was able to guess that. "Your temperament, you'd be suited to being sisters."
"I'll take that," Skye said before looking at Beckett and sharing a smile with her.
"Would we have fought over clothes?" Beckett asked jokingly though she understood what her husband meant, and her question was an agreement with him.
"Nope," Skye said simply, emphasizing the p in that.
"Good to know," Beckett said with a laugh. She turned to her husband and seeing him kneeling to the water she began to speak saying, "Rick
"He's been doing this for a while today," Kate was saying to her sister. "Help me take him into the parlor-"
"No! No parlor I don't need to lie down," Rick said, standing up. "I just got a bit dizzy."
"Maybe you-" Rose began to say.
"No, I don't need to do anything," Rick replied, becoming concerned. He wasn't sure what he was seeing when that happened, only aware of the fact he was seeing nearly everyone in his life though they were dressed in strange clothing. Looking at Kate he had to admit that she looked incredible still in whatever she wore. Shaking his head at her concerned expression he told her, "I need to go."
"We do," Kate replied.
Though he had a protest to that plan Rick finally stopped speaking and he said, "Alright but you should say goodbye to Julia."
Turning to the stairs Kate saw that her daughter was coming down them with Patrick and she smiled, seeing the little girl was wearing her new Paris dress. She was going to tell her she looked beautiful when Julia ran to her and hugged her tightly before she looked up at her and started to speak.
"Are you gonna go?" Julia asked.
"We need to," Kate replied. "But I'll be alright."
"Stay with Uncle Rick," Julia told her mother sternly.
"I will honey, stay with your aunt and uncle," Kate replied. She kissed her cheek and said, "And you look beautiful Julia."
"Thank you, Ma," the little girl said with a smile.
"She's right, you're all berries," Rick said, smiling at her as well.
Julia giggled and hid a little behind her mother before she waved to them, watching her mother go over to her aunt.
"Keep safe Katie," Rose told her sister.
"I know," Kate said simply. She hugged her brother in law and said to them, "Have fun."
"We will," Patrick said firmly.
Johanna said nothing as her daughter hugged her, only speaking when they parted telling her, "Come back home tonight."
"We will," Kate assured her. She grabbed her coat and went with Rick outside to the car, slipping on the deep blue coat with fur at the collar while he was cranking the car started. "I'll drive if you need a break," she told him as she got into the car at the same time he was.
"We'll see this isn't my car," Rick reminded her. He watched her wave to her family who was on the steps up to the porch before he said, "What about Mary?"
"She'll be at her home," Kate said as he was referencing her sister's 'friend' that they all referred to within the family as her sweetheart.
"Think she enjoyed Paris too?" Rick asked.
"Of course," Kate replied. "She could share with my sister." She saw Rick looking at her and explained, "The next room over was hers."
"Lucky," Rick said simply and with a nod before he got them to the road that would return them to Ocean Beach and the club.
"Will you look at all the guests now?" Kate asked.
"That's what the officers will do," Rick replied. "And Brad will be wrapping things up there… I hope. It's been a while since I left him."
"I'm sorry if we held you up," Kate told him.
"Don't worry," Rick said, stopping for a pedestrian who'd run out across the road. "We needed to notify the rest of the family and I needed the meal; only had a turnover Mrs. Finkleman handed me on my way out."
"I'm glad we could help," Kate said with a smile. She laid her hand on his shoulder and told him, "I'm glad you're on the case." A frown appeared on her face and she told him, "You're able to work on it?"
"Yes, I'll try to keep the fact that Junior and I were such good friends from my boss," Rick said as he made it to the beach and parked on the side of the highway.
"What about Brad?" Kate asked him.
"He will too," Rick replied.
Getting out of the car with him Kate said, "Why did you stop seeing all of us? Julia's missed you something fierce."
Rick glanced at her but didn't answer as he saw his partner was walking down the sand towards them, waving his hat. "He must have something," he said. He saw the frown on Kate's face at his avoiding the question, but he didn't say anything before they reached Brad.
"Miss O'Brien," the man said, tipping his hat to Kate. "You can go inside-"
"I'm helping you with the case," she quickly interrupted.
"Better to let her Brad," Rick told his partner. "What do we have?"
"Speaking to the bodyguards they said Mr. O'Brien liked to walk around on the beach," Brad replied, looking over at Kate.
"He would smoke; habit from when he hid it from our ma," she replied quickly. "And he's always loved the sea."
"We found a cigarillo end near the… near him," Brad continued. "Plus some ciggies as well."
"Full or butts?" Rick asked interestedly.
"Butts," Brad said.
"It sounds like someone was waiting for him," Kate said. "Because you didn't find those all near where my brother was."
When his partner looked startled Rick tried not to smile before he said, "You should know she's read every Sherlock Holmes there is."
"Alright," Brad said. "And no, the cigarettes weren't all by him, so you may be right."
"They're fresh?" Rick asked.
"Officer Ferner could tell," Brad replied. "But from the footprints we got Mr. O'Brien was having a stroll and was likely met by his killer. And we found the shiv."
"Where?" Rick said, a little annoyed he hadn't said that first.
"Across the road," Brad said. "Only happened a few minutes ago. And they're looking at all the guests now but that'll take time."
"Of course, it always does," Rick said. "Did you see any patterns in the sand?"
"Smooth as a rock," Brad answered.
"I'll take a look around then," Rick said. "Are the two bodyguards still here?"
"They are," Brad replied.
"Have them stay; I'll talk to them," Rick said. He paused and asked, "Are they opening up the kitchen?"
Shaking his head Brad said, "The two are using it to make breakfast."
"They do that," Kate said when her friend looked at her.
"Keep an eye on them," Rick said before he started to walk away to go down to where the body was found and then paused.
"I won't trample the sand," Kate said quickly as he was looking back at her.
Breathing out hard Rick finally nodded and said, "Alright." They walked together to the area of the beach where they could see there was blood remaining from the body. Standing a bit away from it he said with a heavy sigh, "I shouldn't have stayed away."
"He wanted to get in touch with you again," Kate said. She wasn't surprised when her friend looked at her and she said, "He told me after the party last night he was going to try to find you at your apartment. And after that he'd drag you over to the house to eat with us."
"I wish it hadn't worked out the way it had," Rick replied grimly. "Alright, let's walk around and see what there is." He led the way around the blood before they walked together up to the road, keeping his head down.
"Rick," Kate said then, having walked away from him slightly.
Going over to her Rick saw what she was pointing to and he nodded saying, "They may have been waiting here for a while… Did Tyrrell smoke?"
"He did," Kate replied. "That brand," she added, nodding to the butt she'd found. She watched Rick looking around before she asked, "It doesn't bother you that there aren't any footprints here?"
"It doesn't bother you either," Rick said easily. "So we of course both know that they covered after themselves here."
"Which would mean they want us to believe they came from the club," Kate said. "But how would you prove that?"
"It would be near impossible, ciggies this brand are common," Rick said. "The lawyers could prove they weren't here and it was from during the day."
"In December?" Kate said.
"They would still try," Rick replied. "Let's head back to the club." He waited for her to join him and they walked together to the building where they found the two bodyguards inside the dining room eating together. "Will you find Brad?" he asked Kate. He wasn't surprised when she stared at him and he said, "I know but I'd like to talk to them on my own. I've seen them, but I don't know them."
"What will I tell him?" Kate asked.
"That I'm talking to Espinosa and Rowan," Rick said simply. When she left him, he walked over to the two men and said, "Gentlemen," removing his hat.
"Already talked to the police," Espinosa said as Rick sat down.
"Then talk to me as Junior's friend," Rick said, leaning back in his chair. "I heard what you told Detective Dunham but what I'm wondering is how Junior was in the past few days?"
"He was concerned," Rowan replied, his East Coast accent thicker as he spoke slightly tersely. "Said something about someone taking a job from him."
"Not that," Espinosa said quickly. "He said some egg accused him of taking a job from them."
"And you didn't know who this was?" Rick asked easily.
"He was somewhere else," Espinosa answered.
"We only stay with him here at the club," Rowan then said.
"But he told you about this," Rick said. He wasn't surprised when the two men glanced at each other and he said, "Are you paid well?"
"We wouldn't turn on Mr. O'Brien," Rowan said firmly.
"He gave us work after the war," Espinosa said firmly.
"40th?" Rick asked.
"160th, we started out in Los Angeles," Rowan said.
"Transferred to the 42nd and came up here before we shipped out," Espinosa finished. "You're 40th?"
"77th," Rick told him. "I can see why you'd be alright sticking with him." He thought for a moment and said, "Was it your choice not to go over ever to the O'Brien home?"
"It was, he was the boss," Rowan said first.
"But Mrs. O'Brien would send food for us… is she doing well?" Espinosa replied.
"As well as can be expected; her family is there with her," Rick replied. "So you noticed Tyrrell?"
The two men shared a look at the question before Espinosa spoke first, "Of course, he was hassling Miss O'Brien."
"Could you discern what problem he had with her?" Rick asked.
"Unable to," Rowan mumbled, eating then.
"She should tell you," Espinosa replied.
"Thank you, Mr. Rowan, Mr. Espinosa," Rick said, standing up. He shook their hands and said, "I'll call on you should I have any other questions." He waited to make sure the two indicated he could before he left them to search out Kate.
"What is it?" she said when she saw him walking up to her.
"What did Tyrrell speak to you about?" Rick said simply.
"I wasn't kidding before," Kate said simply. "He came over to me and asked if I was the dame they called the Lady in Blue. But he never gave me a chance to answer his yell because my brother had heard and called Espinosa and Rowan over. Are you going to try to find him?"
"We have officers going to look for him now," Brad said, walking over to them at that moment. "What made you think about that?"
"Coming back here," Rick said. "Have you gone into the office?"
"Not yet but that's because no one can find a key," Brad commented.
"I thought you'd break open the lock," Kate said.
"We're police, not thieves," Rick told her. "We need your permission."
"You have it," Kate said, waving her hand. "Excuse me I'm going to bring my hat with us."
"You going to come with?" Brad asked his partner, watching him looking after the woman.
"In-" Rick started to say before he saw someone running into the club.
"O'Brien!" the man yelled, seeing Kate and rushing straight over to her. "You bitch, your brother took everything from me!" he yelled again, grabbing at her and reaching for her neck before Kate; or anyone else; could react.