Chapter 6
Kate has a firm grip on Martha's right arm as she leads her to the back door of her unit. Opening the door, she guides her into the back seat and places her hand on her head, ensuring she enters without hitting her head. Rick looks on at the exchange and is still in shock.
"Kate, I can't really believe that she had anything to do with this...could she" He replays this in his head over and over again.
Kate turns to round to the rear of the car. Rick makes a grab for the passenger side door. Kate sees him move, then she quickly uses the car's remote fob to lock that door.
"Rick you can't ride with me. Martha is a prime suspect in a murder. I can't have you comprise my investigation any more than you already have." She said while giving him a sad look.
He did wrong in her eyes when he told his mother not to say a word inside the theater. She is still mad at him. She does still love him. She walks up next to him, then place a light kiss on his lips. It means to show that she still cares for him but she needs to see this through. They would get through this together. She makes her way to the car and uses the key to unlock the door, knowing that Rick would try to take an advantage of her using the fob again. Within seconds she is behind the wheel and driving away all the while looking at Rick's disappearing figure in the rear view mirror noting the sad look on his face as she does.
The ride to the precinct had been a quiet one. It is not like Kate to try to get some facts from Martha. Kate knows there was no use. Martha just sits in the rear seat looking stone faced. She did not open her mouth, even once. Kate is caught between a rock and a hard place. She has to do her job. She still has some sort of allegiance to her mother-in-law. This makes it that much harder for her.
There are certain facts to consider. First, she has caught Martha red handed with the murder weapon plus standing over the victim. Second, Martha was looking down at the victim with an unreadable visage on her face. These facts alone has forced her to take her to the precinct. On top of all that Martha' declines to speak without her attorney mitigated any leeway Kate has. Thus, in silence they drive to the precinct.
Pulling up to the 12th she opts to transfer Martha to the 4th floor via the underground garage. She did not want any prying eyes to catch sight of her. She parks then exits the car with Martha in tow.
Kate wants to have Martha talk voluntarily. However, Kate is forbidden to speak to her at all. If she did then the case would be thrown out. Kate knows procedures too well for that to ever happen.
As they walk to the elevator Martha just looks at Kate with a look.
"How could you accuse me of taking anyone's life?" Martha thinks with disgust.
Martha lets out a sob. She is in way over her head. It seems it will only get worse.
Javi and Kevin are both at their desks when Kate walked off the elevator with Martha in front of her. They watch the scene unfold before them. It's heart wrenching. They look at each other with disbelieving eyes.
"Yo, Beckett what's up?" Espo asks.
"Yeah, Boss, what's going on? Why is Mrs. R. having red stains on her hands and why is she here in cuffs no less?" Ryan adds.
"Guys, I need to have a clear head for this. So I need you to keep any of your comments to yourself until I get Ms. Rodgers into the box." Kate says as she escorts Martha into the interrogation room then exits to confront them.
Martha left alone in the room begins to shake as the Captain looks in from the observation window.
Ryan and Espo just keep looking at each other.
"Ms. Rodgers? She never calls Martha that...ever." They think as they look at each other.
"Espo, Ryan, You need to make sure no one enters that interrogation room without my permission. That includes Castle!" Kate says shocking both detectives.
"Yeah, sure Boss, whatever you say." Ryan speaks up for the both of them as Espo nods.
Kate walks quickly into the ladies room there she lets out all her worries and fears. She has been in that room crying for over 15 minutes before the captain enters.
"Kate, are you alright?" She tenderly asks.
Kate looks at her boss with watery eyes.
"No, I'm not. It is tearing me up inside. I just escorted my mother in law into the interrogation room. It is not looking good. I caught her in the aftermath of a multiple stabbing." Kate sobs. "I caught her red-handed in front of her own son. I fear what this will do to Castle!"
"Kate, you are in no condition to do any interrogation. Since this is your family, I will conduct the interrogation myself. I need your action report before I do interrogate the suspect. Are you able to get yourself together to do your job, detective?" The captain asks pointedly.
Kate looks at her captain then she knows her duty.
"Yes, captain I'll start filling out the report right now . Mrs. Rodgers has invoked her right for a lawyer to be present. It will take some time before he will arrive. I will have that action report for you before he gets here." Kate says getting a hold of herself.
"Okay detective you clean yourself up and I expect that action report as soon as possible." The captain says as she leaves the room.
Kate puts herself back together. Other than the red face and puffy eyes, she looks good. Those are the only traits which would give her away. Kate walks straight to her desk, then turns on her computer. She is wondering why the boys were still at work? Why didn't Castle call them?
The captain watches from the observation window. Kate knocks on the door, then hands her the folder which contains the action report. She does not even glance into the interrogation room. What she thinks she will see will break her heart all over again.
"Detective, I have your statement. Now go home. There is nothing you can do here anymore. I will take over. You report to Agent Sorenson explaining this latest wrinkle to this case. Then, as far as I'm concerned, you can take a few days off. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, captain." Kate responds.
"Good, so dismissed detective!" The captain says as Kate slowly exits the room.
She is immediately confronted with both of the boys.
"Boss, what is going on? Is that Mrs. R. in interrogation 3?" Ryan blurts out first.
"Yeah, I am afraid it is. I'm off this case…Gates' orders. I need to depend on you guys. Martha is involved in the murder of her ex-husband." Kate says.
"What no way... Mrs. R? It has to be a mistake. Who fingered her?" Espo asks.
"Yeah, whoever it is they must be mistaken." Ryan says.
"Guys, the witnesses are not mistaken. Both Castle and I are those witnesses. It is not looking good. So did Karpowski get this one assigned to her team?"
"Yeah, she did… boss, you don't want us snooping around her investigation, do you?" Ryan asks.
"Yeah…guys, that is exactly what I want. Get with Perlmutter and see what the exact murder weapon was. Then call me. I think I will go see my father. I need you to hold Castle together. He should be in soon. Please keep him from doing something well…Something only Castle would do okay?" Kate pleads.
"Yeah, boss we will keep him in line." Espo says.
"Yeah boss we have this, try not to worry!" Ryan comforts.
Kate begins to leave as the elevator opens. Rick with their family attorney steps off. Ryan is quick to grab Rick's hand as he gazes at Kate with disgust. Kate only looks even more pitiful than before. Espo speaks up.
"Yo Castle, your mom is in room 3. The captain is going to conduct the investigation. You are not to enter. However, Ryan here will escort you to the observation room. You will not speak or disrupt this interrogation. The captain says she is only going to tolerate your presence because it's your mother. However, any disruptions and you will have a date with Rikers." Espo warns.
Rick gulps as Espo looks menacingly at him. He glances back to see Kate disappearing into the elevator.
Espo escorts the lawyer into the interrogation room.
"I would like a moment to confer with my client." Jeffery R. Harris attorney at law says.
Espo shrugs his shoulders, then exits the room, to meet the captain.
"Captain the lawyer for Mrs. Rodgers is here…They are conferring now. LT is at the door." Espo says.
"Very good detective, You may go home…Tell detective Ryan after he escorts Mr. Castle from the premises he may leave too." The captain says.
"Yes, Sir." Espo says, then departs.
Espo walks over to Ryan who is still eying Castle as he waits to be allowed into the observation room.
"What's taking so long?" Rick sighs.
"Bro, I feel for you… I certainly do, but the captain has spoken. You will get your turn soon. I'm sure your lawyer will do a good job defending your mom." Ryan says.
"Where did Kate go? I thought she would stay to gloat" Rick says darkly which turned Espo's mood sour quickly.
"Bro, that is so not true! She sat in that bathroom for 15 minutes crying. Is that the action of someone who wishes to gloat!" Espo growls.
Rick suddenly ashamed of himself, looks at his friends.
"I'm so sorry, Espo. I don't know what came over me. I know Kate is only following procedures. I should find her and apologize. It's just I am so certain that my mom did not do this. She is an innocent victim in all of this. I know it!" Rick says.
"How do you know that?" Espo asks.
"The victim was my client and the only reason he was in that theater was he was going to surrender himself over to Kate away from the police precinct. He was being hunted by the real murderer of his most recent wife. He told me he did not do it. I believed him. I was with him as we made a narrow escape from whoever was hunting him. So I know whoever was trying to kill him means someone else is involved. They are using my poor confused mother as a pasty." Rick says getting angry all over again.
Ryan looks at LT as he motions them to enter.
"Come on Castle the interrogation is starting." Ryan says, motioning him to follow.
"Wait, Castle, does the captain know about what you just told me?" Espo asks.
"No, I was interviewed by Roselyn. I don't see her here." Rick says looking around.
"Okay, well let me get your statement, then hand it over to the captain. This might change the course of this investigation. Now repeat what you said from the top." Espo says as he writes down everything quickly since Rick has met with Walter.
"Okay, Rick I need you to look it over then sign it." Espo says.
Rick quickly skims through his statement, then signs it.
Okay, Rick sit tight I'm going to give this to the captain.
Rick glances worriedly at the closed door as Espo slips inside. A few moments later the captain comes out to talk to Rick. They all four enter the captain's office, then closes the door.
"So Mr. Castle this is a pretty exhaustive in details. So, were the police notified when this shooting occurred?" The captain asks.
"Not exactly, I needed to get my client to safety. However, once he was safe. I did contact the NJ State Police. They still have my car." Rick grumbles. "I've just got that new car too."
"Okay Mr. Castle… I can not verify your statements now, Rest assured I will. However, I know you would not corrupt the course of justice, even for your mother. However, eyewitnesses do not tell the whole story. I'm going to believe you that the victim was in mortal danger." The captain says.
"So are you going to let my mother go? Since she has no motive." Rick says.
"Well, Mr. Castle…I think if she is not charged, then the murderer will strike again. This time it could be your mother. We need to look like we are booking her. I need you to look as upset as possible." The captain says.
"Captain, that is quite easy for me to do. I'm quite upset even now." Rick says.
"Good. So we are agreed Martha will be accused and arrested for show. Then Espo and Ryan are to escort her to a safe house." The Captain says.
The men all nod their heads…