Something Old, Something New
by Castlefan6
A/N: By Request, PRE-Series Hookup, SEQUEL to Diminished Recall. Picks up exactly where that ends. COMPLETELY AU except for the conversation that prompted this and the use of some character's names. For CeCe, Friend, and Co-Writer with Pen2Paper.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only
I hope it's close to what you wanted.
A/N: Laurie's occupation was a songwriter, she said she had been lucky a few times. For the sake of this fiction, please assume the songs written by Diane Warren, were the work of her, under her pen name of DW. Thx
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Chapter 5
12th Precinct
Montgomery's Office
Same Time Frame
Roy's private line rang, he knew who it was before he answered, "Montgomery" and waited to see if he was going to get the help he needed, or if he should be shopping for that boat he was waiting until he retired to purchase.
"He wasn't happy Roy, and he's adamant one fuck up from your girl Wonder and he's gone, and gone for good this time. Talk with her, in fact, talk to the whole God Damn precinct, let everyone know what is on the line. If the pressure keeps up, you know my chances for another term are slim to none, and God help you if that happens." Weldon said,
"Well, since we're on that topic Bob, let's get something straight, and this is your job. Tell Boyle if he EVER threatens my job with the success or failure of a closure of a case or cases, he won't have to wait to fire me, he can stick this job up his sanctimonious ass until his tonsils tickle. I don't give a rat's ass about your campaign, I was a cop long before you ran the city, and if I was a betting man, I'd bet I'd be holding the door for you on your way out.
"You played your trump card, Castle. It's my job to see that he get's what he needs, and run interference from the normal bull shit, but tell Boyle, that all news releases will come from the 12th precinct. Rick and I will work on them together. I don't need him promising shit we won't be able to deliver on, that would make it worse for you and us." Roy said he had lost any fear of getting fired, now more pissed off than anything else.
"I understand Roy, but you need to cool off, Boyle is still the commissioner, and he can and will fire you for insubordination," Weldon said,
"That's why I said it was YOUR job, you reel him in. I have my hands full trying to solve three murders at the same time while keeping nicety nicely because adults can't get along. I'm aware of the consequences of my actions, but remind Boyle I have over 18 months accrued leave that I can spend on my boat and leave both your asses up a creek.
"You were a punk ass kid when I made you a Marine, now it looks like I have to do it again, this time as the mayor." Roy spit out, and Weldon knew he was not only hot but serious. He was going to have to reel Boyle in a great deal or he would wind up with a real ClusterFrick. There wasn't another Police Captain he trusted more than Roy, and Boyle had jeopardized that.
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Rick's Beach House
The Hamptons,
Immediately after Weldon's Call,
Rick knew he had to go back, he had to help, it was Roy and Bob for God's sake, two brothers. The only thing he dreaded was telling Laurie, that he would be tied up at the precinct for lord only knew how many hours. He was stretched out on the bed, already showered, awaiting her, to complete her evening routine. Why she bothered, he didn't know, she was radiant and beautiful with or without makeup.
She walked out of the shower, and into the bedroom, just a towel wrapped around her, as she dried her hair with another towel. One look at Rick and she knew something was up,
"OK, Rick, tell me what's going on sweetie?" she said as she sat down beside him, He had risen to a sitting position, and locked on her eyes.
"I thought I heard your phone ring, is that part of the problem Rick? It's OK, baby, tell me what's going on" she pleaded,
"It was Bob" he paused as she looked confused, then said, as in "Mayor Bob?"
"Yeah, that one. I guess he's getting heat, a lot of it from some very serious supporters about three murders that haven't been solved, or even a clue of who committed the crime yet." He said slowly,
"Does he want you to come back to help on the cases like you did with Kyra's? If so, then we can leave in the morning, I'll just reschedule my visit to Toronto for when you're working, I should only be gone two or three days depending on how well they like the songs" she smiled, as she heard him exhale a breath he had been holding,
"You'd be OK with me going back, you know I would be working with Lanie, and Detective Beckett, along with Roy. I made it clear that Roy was the only one that could give me orders, so, I'll"
She pulled his head to hers, and kissed him deeply, "Baby, are you worried that I would be jealous, that is so sweet Rick. I know our lives won't stop, just because we're in a relationship, and as much as I would love it, I can't be by your side every minute of every day. You have a career, and a gift, for criminology, if your friends need you, you know you have to help." She said, and smiled into his deep blue eyes staring at her,
"What? Did I do something wrong?" when he hadn't said a word for a few minutes,
"No Laurie, you did everything perfectly, you're so understanding, and I would love just to close the world off and let us live as hermits here in our own little world, but I know we can't. You know that it's over with Lanie and me and"
"Rick, I trust YOU, I don't trust any other woman, but I trust YOU completely. I've seen beautiful girls throw themselves at you, and you always stayed true, even when things weren't going well between you and Kyra. Baby, I know where I stand, and believe me, I count my blessings every day. I love you, and I know you love me, that's all I need to know, that's enough." She said as he kissed her deeply, removing the towel,
It took several showers to finally be clean enough to go to sleep. She cuddled into him, and he had his arm around her, "I haven't even left, and I miss you already" he said,
She rose, and looked into his eyes, "I miss you already too, but this time, I know it's me you're coming home to, I can live with that." She laid her head on his chest and fell asleep listening to the beating of his heart, the one she had finally captured.
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Montgomery's Office
Two Days Later,
7:00 AM
Rick had driven Laurie to the airstrip, Janice and Diane were going to spend some time in Toronto while she had her business meetings, then fly home when they were completed. He knew it was going to be hard to say goodbye to her, but he didn't realize how hard it was. She backed away from him slowly as their hands broke their hold, then she turned and blew him a kiss just before going onto the airplane. He noticed her dabbing her eyes, as much as she tried to hide it. It was going to be a lonely few days.
Rick had gotten the overview from Roy, he knew the commissioner, perhaps big cheese himself would be there, so he needed to spend time alone with Roy. "So, Roy how bad is the heat you're catching?" he asked, as Roy opened his flask, and offered it to Rick, who just shook his head no. He added a healthy splash to his coffee and took a big swallow.
"Well, you see who called you, don't you? I kind of lost it with that wimp-ass punk, I reminded him that you had carried his ass for five miles, and he wasn't as injured as you were. Boyle insinuated that if I couldn't get these solved, he would install a captain that could.
"I told Wimp that I had 18 months accrued vacation that I would use to buy the boat I had dreamed of, and he could tell Boyle he could stick the job up his sanctimonious ass until his tonsils tickled." Rick burst out laughing, "I bet Weldon almost wet himself," Roy looked over at Rick and started laughing as well.
"Yeah, like that time in the theater, when you had him convinced that I had gone section 8 and was going to kill one of my squad every day until I talked to the president of the United States. I have never seen him that scared before" Roy laughed,
"Yeah, some crazy ass good times Roy, none of us would have made it home if it hadn't been for you. You're a damn good cop, we'll figure this mess out" Rick tried to bolster his confidence,
"Well, so you know I've talked to Beckett, Karpowski, and their teams, you shouldn't get any shit like you did when the bridesmaid was killed. I know it was a tough time, and the last you needed was for Beckett to be pulling her Atilla the Hun routine.
"If that happens again, I'm driving her to HR and fire her personally," Roy said. Rick had seen him upset, but this had really rattled his cage, and he wouldn't want to be the one to piss him off, male or female.
So, what are the details, Roy?" Rick asked as he freshened his coffee, from the Gallon Take Out Container he had brought for him and Roy.
"The first murder happened about three months ago, in Central Park West. Bob and Linda Kesler were bound, gagged, and beaten. Intruders wore masks. Took roughly $175,000 in jewelry. Then about three weeks later, at York Street and 5th, Mr. Otto Bruner and his wife refused to open his safe, and the thugs broke his wife's arms. Then three days ago, Susan Delgado, her daughter found her stuffed in the wall safe after she didn't answer several calls" Roy said, as Rick looked at the pins a map Roy had in his office,
"You have three high-end neighborhoods, all in separate sections of your precinct, but they follow the same MO, did the same team investigate the scene?" Rick asked
"No, Karpowski's team caught the first one, then Beckett's the second and the most recent. They didn't even know they were working on similar cases until all hell came down from City Hall. I pulled them in and formed a task force under the command of Karpowski, for all of the crimes." Roy said,
"You assigned Rose as the lead detective, I bet that pissed Beckett off to no end" Rick smiled,
"Did Lanie do all of the autopsies?" Rick asked,
"Not at first, when we made the connection, I had her look over Perlmutter's report. Surprisingly, for a guy with the personality of a popsicle in the July sun, he was very detailed and accurate. It's the same MO Rick, we have serial robbers who are now killing and enjoying it, so Weldon is catching hell, I know." Roy said, looking out the door,
"No matter how much hell he's catching Roy, screaming at the people who will save his ass isn't the answer, why didn't he call me three weeks ago, if he was so fricking smart?" Rick asked,
Just then a knock on the door and there was Boyle, Weldon, and the two lead detectives, Karpowski and Beckett. Coffee is on the back table, I'll be right back, I think you wanted to talk in private Commissioner?" Roy gave him the same glare Rick had seen many times when someone in the unit had F'd up, and almost cost someone a life.
"Roz, I understand you're the lead on these cases, is that correct?" Rick asked, not even looking at Beckett.
"That's right Rick, I think I know what you're going to ask, Lanie will be up as soon as she and I quote 'finishes Jane Doe," Rick smiled,
"Thanks, Roz, does everyone have coffee?" Rick asked, turning around the room
"No, I don't Rick" Weldon replied, and to the shock of everyone in the room Rick replied, "Well get off your dead ass and get yourself a cup, this isn't city hall, no one is going to wait on you here, we have things to do"
Just then Roy and Boyle walked into the room in time for Rick to pop his old friend with the dead-ass comment. Roy just smiled, leave it to Rick, he was going to get his pound of flesh for the treatment that he had been subjected to. The funny part, neither Weldon nor Boyle could say a word or do anything, how do you fire a volunteer expert who is there to save your ass in the next election?
Lanie slipped in right behind them, and was surprised when Rick handed her a cup, "your tea, I know you don't drink coffee," he said, then turned and said to Roy. "Your show Roy might as well tell the boys and girls why we're here." And found a corner of the desk to sit against,
Roy took the floor and went over the fact of the cases, one by one, then the commonalities of each, the matter of death, and a pattern of increasing anger and rage in their treatment,
"Dr. Parrish, would you agree, I know all have been in different parts of our precinct, but is the MO the same?" he asked,
"Yes sir, and I agree with Castle, there has been an increasing amount of anger, and boldness is shown by the perpetrators, it started as a jewelry heist, with murder as a side effect. In the last case, they murdered for fun, regardless of if they had the jewels or not." She shot a side glance at Rick as she sat down,
"Thanks, Dr. Parrish, now we'll hear from Mayor Weldon and Commissioner Boyle, I'm sure their message is going to be how urgent this case is, we take every homicide in the 12th as a priority so we will have to assure them that everything is being done that can be done to solve this.
Thirty minutes later, Boyle turned the meeting back to Roy, having said exactly what Roy had predicted.
"OK, let's take 15 minutes then Leads Castle, Dr. Parrish, and I will reconvene. "he said, as he walked toward Boyle, and Weldon with Rick headed to the elevator doors,
"Roy, I'm sorry, I really didn't realize how strong I was coming off, I mean,"
"It's over Commissioner, but as I told you, that's the last time you or anyone threatens my job with a desired outcome to a case. You know my pay grade but there isn't one high enough for me to tolerate that. Mr. Mayor, you, Rick, and I will talk later, but you need to get some priorities straight,"
"It's already in motion Roy, Boyle's budget cuts have been rescinded, and you'll have what you need to solve the crimes," he said, as they reached the elevator, Roy turned and walked back towards his office,
Mayor Weldon turned to Rick and asked, "Is this Petersen all over again?"
"Worse, Bob, you're now Pedersen, watch your six, it won't take much for him to tell you to shove it, and from the supporters I've talked to, you're on shaky ground, let us do our jobs, and keep interference from the desk cops out of this investigation," he said looking straight at Boyle, who had become strangely quiet.
Rick turned and walked back to the large conference room where Roz had assembled her team and Becketts to go over the murder board.
"Good morning to those who don't know me, I'm Richard Castle, yes, the writer, and I'm here because Mr. Mayor reached out for help. Now that we have that covered, let's get to work.
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Sony Music,
Mississauga, Ontario Canda
Same Time Frame
Laurie was meeting with the VP of Talent Acquisition, Bob Sperling this morning. She had three very strong songs, she knew would sell, but the secret was to match the theme of the song to the artist who recorded it. That was what made a song sit and do nothing when recorded by one artist, only to hit the top ten when re-recorded by someone who felt the passion.
She walked in and heard the distinctive voice of Miss Celine Deon, there was no mistaking her, she had her own voice, tone, and delivery style. She met with Bob for about an hour then they decided to hear some of the demos. The first was the one she had written for Rick Because You Love Me. They had gotten about 1/3 through the song when Celine popped in and asked,
"Bob, have you picked an artist to cut that track?" she said.
"Hi Celine, let me introduce you to Laurie Hill, she's got some songs that we're very interested in, perhaps you want to meet with her and see which ones you like? I have another meeting, but I should be back in about 45 minutes,"
And so it began, Laurie listened as Miss Dion looked over her lyrics, and bar sheet, then went into a studio, the first cut coming out was pure magic. If anyone felt the emotion that she had felt when she was writing it at the piano in the middle of the night at the Hamptons, it was Celine.
She left the studio with four songs sold, and options for three more that she wasn't ready to release, they had some polishing to do. She called Rick, and couldn't wait to tell him, she was coming home tonight, God, she missed him so damn much.
TBC
