This is a short chapter to wrap up the episode.

Chapter 32

When the video taken from the electronics store was scrubbed, the team learned that Jamal was at the shop, that Darcy Cho had bought a knock off bag, and that most importantly, a second woman had purchased a face SJP Chanel bag from Jamal within a short time frame. The woman was unidentifiable but for a yoga mat and a take away coffee cup from Java Loft which Rick googled on his phone. With the coffee shop near the bag store located, they then searched for a close by yoga studio that had a yoga class finished by 3.00 pm. With an aim to make head way on the murderer, Beckett and Castle hastily made their way to the yoga studio which was a block away from a Java loft.

The studio was on the first floor over a row of shops. At the top of a flight of stairs there was glass doorway. Without pause, Beckett pushed open the door and entered the yoga studio. Behind her, Rick stopped in his tracks to absorb in awe the sight that was before him. Scattered about the studio were at least twenty women all in skimpy skin clenched clothing. They came in all sorts of shapes, sizes and ages which created a natural smile of appreciation and fondness for the fairer sex. He adored women. And then he heard it.

"Castle." Beckett summoned.

"Coming." He hurried after her to the counter where a young woman was behind the desk.

Beckett held up her police badge and a photo of the woman they searched for. "NYPD. Do you know this girl?"

The receptionist gave the photo a casual glance then looked at Beckett and Castle with a suspicious expression. She cautiously replied, "Diana Edwards. Why, what's she done?"

Curious, Castle asked, "What do you mean?

"You're the second cop that's come in looking for her." She pointed at the photograph.

Beckett asked, "Another cop was here?

"Yeah, he just left a few minutes ago"

Beckett looked at Rick, "Baylor", she said and turned back to the receptionist, "We need Diana's address right now."

….

They hurried from the yoga studio and decided as they descended the stairs that hiking on foot to the woman's apartment was going to be quicker than going back to the car and driving to the address. They jogged along the street, turned a left and hastily paced a further two blocks. The apartment was in a small building.

"Should we call it in?" Rick asked.

Kate gave him a look. "What's to call in, Ricky?"

"We could be going into a dangerous situation."

Kate decided not to answer and forged ahead. As a tenant was leaving the building he held the door open for them thereby letting them inside the building.

"Great security." Rick remarked as they waited for an elevator. His breathing was still fast from their run but he noticed that Beckett had already recovered and her cheeks were blushed. Out of the elevator they made a short walk to the apartment door. Kate rapped on the door.

Beckett loudly called, "Diana Edwards, NYPD. Open up."

They waited for a response inside. Castle asked, "Can I kick it down?"

Beckett replied, "Sorry, Kitten." She knocked hard and again called, "NYPD."

From inside the apartment they heard the thumping of foot falls and woman yelled back, "Okay, Okay. Take it easy." The door partially opened, and a face appeared.

Beckett showed her badge, "Detective Beckett, NYPD. Are you Diana Edwards?"

"Yes."

Kate pushed the door, barged into the apartment.

"Hey!" Diana screeched, but allowed the detective through.

Beckett searched the living area of the apartment then turned about facing Diana. She asked, "Is everything OK?

"It's fine." Diana slipped the chain from the door and opened the door wide.

Beckett calmly said as she entered the apartment with her guy poised, "We have video surveillance of you purchasing a Chanel bag on Canal Street two days ago."

"Wow, I know you guys are cracking down on the knock-offs but-"

Castle said, "Where's the bag?"

Diana pointed "Over there." Beckett and Castle looked about then rushed across the room and dived on the bag. Beckett placed it on the counter and ripped open the side pocket.

"Excuse me. Hey." Diana objected. "What are you doing that for?" Diana almost screeched. Beckett found the passport and looked to Rick. They had finally found the cause.

"What's going on?" The woman asked totally confused.

Castle said, "You are a very lucky lady."

"I don't understand, am I in trouble?" Diana asked.

Castle said, "No. But from now on, always buy retail."

Beckett made a call on her cell phone, "Detective Beckett. I need a unit at Ninety-First and Broadway."

Castle happened to look towards the doorway when he thought he heard something and saw a black man at the doorway of the apartment holding a gun up. "Whoa!"

He grabbed Beckett and threw himself behind the kitchen counter as a gunshot sounded. He landed beneath her, cushioning her fall. Diana ran to her bedroom. Beckett instantly crawled out of his arms and sat up grabbing her gun. She hissed at Rick, "Call 911."

Mukhta Baylor yelled, "Give me the passport."

Beckett quickly demanded, "Put down your weapon now."

"Give me the passport."

Beckett said, "Baylor, any minute now this place is going to be crawling with cops, don't make things worse than they are."

"Give me what I want and I walk away," Baylor replied with a thick accent.

Castle who was seated on the floor beside Beckett, murmured, "I've written this scene about a hundred times. We give him what he wants, you know how it ends? Badly. And by 'badly,' I mean us dead."

Beckett hissed back as she tried to peer over the counter, "Just stay down."

Castle sharply replied, "You stay down."

Beckett sat down, "I can't shoot him from down here."

"Well, he can't shoot you either."

Beckett whispered, "I can't see him."

Castle said, "Shhhh, he's moving."

Beckett said, "I've only got two rounds left. I need a clean shot, I got to get eyes on him somehow. What's with you and phones?

"I'm not playing games." Baylor called.

Beckett said, "I don't have an angle on him from down here.

"I will kill you both." Baylor threatened.

Castle said, "Okay, when we shoot he shoots. He'll be exposed. I'll set the pick you take him down."

Beckett said, "Set the pick with what?"

Castle said, "This." He reached for a bottle of champagne from a bar fridge.

Beckett said, "You're gonna get yourself shot.

Castle said, "Not if you make your shot count." He replied giving the bottle a good shake. He slid to the other end of the counter,

Beckett hissed, "Castle."

Castle said, "Just be ready." He said as he commenced to untwist the wire to release the cork.

"This is your last warning." Baylor called.

Castle looked to Beckett, "Now. I'd say this deserves a toast. Go." He said and released the cork. It went with a pop and liquid squirted from the top. He saw Beckett rise from behind the counter with her gun poised. She put two bullets into the intruder who fell heavily.

"Call an ambulance Castle. I have to keep him alive."

…

Castle softly closed the door to Beckett's apartment and locked up for the night. She'd left the kitchen light on for him in case he decided to come over. At almost 1.00 am, he'd almost decided against leaving the loft. He left his keys and wallet on the kitchen counter then turned on his iPhone flashlight. With the lights off and using the light from the phone, he made his way to the bedroom which was slightly lit up by the light of the city coming through the open curtain. He kicked off his shoes, pushed down his jeans, pulled off his sweater and socks then crawled onto the bed where Kate was sound asleep. She was curled up in the middle of the bed, more so on his side, well beneath the blankets that he pulled down a little to find where her face was. He smiled, lightly brushing back her dark hair. He kissed over her temple.

Kate moved, a smile forming.

"Castle." She dreamily murmured.

"I came, Kate."

"Stop writing."

He smiled. She was growing accustomed to him writing in the night. "I've stopped." He answered.

She furrowed her brow. "Meredith is gone?"

"She's gone home." He confirmed.

"Good." She blindly reached to his shoulders, "Keep me warm."

He fell into the bed beside her, covered his body with the blankets and dragged her close to him. She giggled.

Castle hugged her, "I had my first gun battle."

Beckett rolled into his body, laughed at his enthusiasm, "And your last gun battle."

"Don't be so pessimistic, I think I handled myself pretty well."

Beckett said, "Yeah, probably saved my life with a bottle of grog."

Castle said, "Probably. I definitely saved your life, and you know what that means don't you? It means you owe me."

Beckett keenly asked, "Owe you what?"

Castle said, "You know exactly what I want, don't you? You know what I really, really want you to do?"

Kate rolled over and pushed him onto his back. "I know exactly what you want, kitten."

"Pussy. I want pussy." And with that he grabbed her upper arms and tackled her to her back, thoroughly enjoying her struggle to maintain dominance and her laughter. He so loved hearing her laugh.