16. A Life Concealed

Dead.

The word echoed through the minds of Kate Beckett, Rick Castle, Javier Esposito, and Kevin Ryan.

Word of this was all ready starting to travel through the 12th Precinct. Their Captain Roy Montgomery was dead.

Murdered.

But by who? And why?

Despite being Captain of the 12th Precinct's homicide division and having others work under him, the four people who were huddled around the desks now, three cops and a writer, were the ones Montgomery trusted the most and were closest to.

Without a word, the four of them sprung into action.

It was dark by the time the team arrived at the NY324 hangar bay. It was lit up by lights from CSU and the ME's office.

"Lanie," Beckett called out, "Lanie tell me, how bad?"

Lanie sighed as she walked over to her best friend. How much could she take she wondered. Her mother's murder, the murder of her former mentor, Mike Royce, and now this. Only to add to matters, Beckett was pregnant and stress was not good for the baby. Lanie could try to minimize the damage and keep the truth to a minimum but she knew that wasn't an option. Beckett would find out either way and it was best she heard the news from her.

"Two gun shots to the chest," said Lanie, "Both of them hitting the arteries. Montgomery bled out in a matter of minutes. You guys, I am so sorry."

"May we see the body?" asked Beckett.

"Beckett, I…" said Castle, stopping himself as he knew there was no use.

"Castle, I need to see him," Beckett told him.

Ryan swallowed, "I'm gonna go check with CSU," he said, himself not ready to face the dead body of his former boss.

Lanie simply nodded and took the three of them to where Montgomery's lifeless body was still on the ground.

He looked so peaceful like he wasn't afraid to die.

"How long," asked Beckett.

"Close to three hours," Lanie replied.

It was all ready past ten P.M. which would have put his death around seven in the evening.

Ryan returned to the group, refusing to look down. "CSU's all ready been combing over the place. Other than Montgomery's footprints, they've found nothing."

"How is that even possible," asked Castle.

"Because this wasn't random," said Beckett. "The guy was a ghost but it was a close rage shot. Whoever did this wanted to make sure Roy died."

"Who would even want that?" asked Esposito.

"That's our job to find out," said Beckett.

She could feel the weight of responsibility falling on her shoulders. With their Captain gone that left her in charge until they could find an interim or someone permanent to replace him.

Beckett made her orders clear: the boys would remain at the scene for another hour and then call it a night while she and Castle would go to Roy's home to inform the family.

She always hated that part. No matter what time of day or night it was, the families had to be informed and considering how personal this case was, Beckett had wanted to be the one to do this before they found out from anyone else.

"Are you ready," Castle asked as they stood in front of the house.

"I'm never ready," Beckett easily answered, "I'm just glad you're here."

Castle gave a comforting smile before Beckett rang the doorbell. She knew it was late, that Roy's kids were probably in bed but it couldn't be helped.

The wife answered the door.

"Kate," said Evelyn, "Thank god. I was just about to call you. Have you seen or heard from Roy? I've tried calling but he won't answer."

Beckett took a breath, "Evelyn, this is my partner Rick Castle, may we come in?"

Evelyn began to tremble. "Detective Beckett," she said getting formal, "where's my husband?"

"Evelyn, please," Beckett insisted.

Evelyn shook her head, "No," she said, not to Beckett's insistence that they come inside but to something else entirely, "No, he's not…tell me he's not…"

"I am so sorry," was all Beckett could say as Castle helped Montgomery's wife inside for fear that the news might be too much for her to handle.

He worried about his own fiancé too but Beckett nodded to him, glad that he was able to support the unfortunate new widow.

The three of them took seats on the couches in the living room, Castle making himself slightly comfortable in the home by offering to go get glasses of water for everyone.

"How, how did it happen," Evelyn asked.

"He was shot twice in the heart," Beckett said not expanding on the details.

She did go into detail when she was asked and after those moments were talked about Beckett was in full cop mode, going through the typical routine that she usually went through with family members of the deceased, asking questions about where Montgomery had been, why he had taken the time off from work, people who may have had a problem with Roy, any changes in his behavior lately, anything that may lead them to his killer.

"Now that you ask," said Evelyn, "there was. He seemed preoccupied lately. He wouldn't tell me what it was but I could tell that it bothered him. He had this look on his face, it's one I've only seen when we go to confession so I know whatever it was weighed heavily on him but he wouldn't talk about it."

Beckett made a note in her notepad to check out what it was.

"We won't take up anymore of your time," said Beckett, "We know it's late," she said as she and Castle stood.

"We're sorry for your loss," Castle said to Evelyn.

Evelyn nodded her thanks, "And I'm sorry for yours. Roy spoke very fondly of you Rick and he saw you like a daughter, Kate."

Beckett let out a small smile, "We were lucky to have him as our Captain," she said as Evelyn walked them to the door.

Evelyn then smiled her widest smile that she had all night.

"Oh Detective Beckett, congratulations. Roy told me the two of you are expecting. That's great news."

Beckett smiled, "Thank you, I just wish this was under better circumstances. If you need anything don't hesitate to call whether it's me or any of the boys."

"I will, thank you."

It had been one of the longest days of her life, almost as long as when Detective Raglan had shown up at her and her father's doorstep to deliver the news about her mother all those years ago.

After their formal visit with Evelyn Montgomery she and Castle had stopped at Remy's for a quick bite to eat even though they had eaten back at the precinct prior to the call that changed their lives.

Now as they entered the loft all Beckett wanted to do was go to bed and pretend this day never happened.

Martha and Alexis were waiting up for them. Without a word Martha walked over to Beckett and hugged her.

"I am so sorry, Katherine," she said to her.

"Thank you, Martha."

"Can I get you anything?"

"I'm fine," Beckett said with a smile, "I think I'm just going to go to bed."

Martha nodded and Castle looked at his fiancé.

"I'll be there in a minute," he said to her.

Beckett smiled at him and to the other two in the room as she made her way to the master bedroom.

"How's she holding up, Richard," Martha asked when it was the three of them.

Castle sighed, "It's too soon to tell."

"Do you have any idea who could've done this," asked Alexis.

"Not yet," Castle replied, "but we're looking into it. Whoever it is, we'll find him. And knowing Beckett, she won't rest until she does."

"That right there, Richard," said Martha, "is exactly what you need to be worried about. It's not like it was before. Katherine is pregnant and as the father of that baby and her fiancé-." Castle shot his mother a look, "Oh please, I saw that big rock on her finger when she walked in here. I'm guessing you proposed this evening at the precinct before you got the bad news and given the sensitive nature of tonight, I didn't want to be the one to say anything. My point is it's your job to look after them both."

Castle smiled and placed a kiss on Martha's cheek, "I know, don't worry, Mother."

Without a word, Alexis came up to her father and hugged him. Castle thoroughly embraced it. After today it was exactly what he needed.

"Kate," said Castle after he had come into the room, changed into his shirt and pajama pants and made his way to the bed.

He heard her tears.

Castle got under the covers and placed himself against her back, his arm wrapping around her belly.

"Kate," he again whispered.

"I'm okay," she replied.

"Are you?"

Beckett positioned herself to her left side, her belly between them now, and looked at Castle. "Not really, no," she admitted. "None of this feels real, Castle. All night I've been expecting to wake up or I end up thinking that the phone call I got at the precinct was a mistake or that the body we saw tonight wasn't Roy's."

Castle moved a piece of Beckett's hair behind her ear.

"I know," he said to her.

"What am I supposed to do now, Rick?"

"You do what you've always done you honor the victim, you get justice for the family."

"And what if I can't? CSU didn't find anything on the scene; there were no prints, not even the bullet fragments. The guy is a ghost."

"Then you hold onto Montgomery and you slowly let go."

Beckett knew that Castle was right to an extent. Holding onto her mother's murder had nearly consumed her, she had flown across the country to get justice for Mike Royce but could she really go down the rabbit hole again? How much was too much?

Castle reached for her hand and took it.

"But you do these things," he said, "in a way that won't take the toll on your health or the baby's. I love you, Kate. If something happened to you or our baby I don't know what I would do." Beckett nodded and Castle continued, "It's different this time. I wasn't around when your mom died but I'm here now so if you're getting in too deep, I'll be there to pull you from the edge. You're not alone."

Beckett smiled at him, "I know. I don't know what I'd do without you and I don't ever want to find out so I'll tell you what, as difficult as this may all be, let's make a pact that we'll put the baby first. I don't want to risk losing him or her because of some stupid or selfish mistake that I do."

Castle smiled, "Baby first got it but since the baby is attached to you that means I get to put you first also. Revision pact, since there's not much I can do for the baby on my end, you put Little Castle first and I'll put you first and if there's anything Little Castle needs or you need for yourself or Little Castle, I'll put you first."

"I like that revision," Beckett said with a smile.

"Good, now that we've settled that, get over here so we can cuddle and fall asleep. You must be exhausted by now."

Beckett smiled one last time as she moved over a little more so that she was closer to her fiancé. He wrapped an arm around her and she placed a hand upon his chest, the two of them drifting off to sleep within seconds.