Presumptions

Chapter 12 - The Search For Rick Castle

He is in a single room with a bed, cooler with ice and water, a tray with some snacks, one black painted out window with vertical steel bars covering preventing access thru it. There is a pot-a-potty for his use and he is handcuffed and ankle cuffed. He had limited mobility but could still get around this small room of his captivity. There was only one door to the room and that was securely locked from the outside.

The whole time he was in transit to his current location, they had kept a hood over his head. So Rick had used his other senses to determine what was happening. He knows they boarded a plane, and many hours later, they arrived at their destination. Guessing their air speed times the estimated hours in the air he figured over a thousand miles travel from NYC.

He had overheard some of the communications from the cockpit and as he was seated behind the pilots, his seat belt buckled. The fact he could overhear the cockpit dialogue, meant he was in a small plane close to the pilots. His captors should have been smart enough not to let the comms be heard over the speakers in the plane. On takeoff, he heard the control tower vectoring them to a heading due south. So Rick now concluded he was headed either to Mexico, or South America. Given their fight had been with the Columbian Cartel, Castle now concluded he was headed for Columbia.

12th Precinct

They had a murder board up with all that was known about Rick's abduction, which was not much. Kate was too close to this, so she asked Espo to be lead and she would just provide inputs she saw they might need. As they looked at the board, they were discouraged by the little info they had on it. Then the elevator to their floor sounds and out steps two persons. By their look and badges, it is FBI. Kate instantly recognizes one of the two men.

"Det Beckett, we meet again."

"Wil Sorenson, what are you doing here?"

"We are taking over the case as a kidnapping Kate."

"No, I won't let that happen, this is my case and I will not turn it over to the Feds!"

"I'm sorry Kate, but you have no choice here. Montgomery has already been notified by our Director about us assuming jurisdiction for the kidnapping. We are taking over as this is a case involving a celebrity and the FBI does not want this to be another celebrity abduction as was the now infamous Lindbergh baby kidnapping. The FBI powers that be will not let such a notorious case happen yet again. That case thru the decades has left a black mark on the FBI. Frankly, I think that writer monkey's celebrity status is over rated, but it is what it is. But I am here to just observe for now, until such time I deem we must step in."

"Get the hell out of my precinct Wil!"

"Kate", says Espo, trying to calm things down, "the FBI has better resources than we do, they can be a big help here."

Kate is silent for what seemed like a long moment, looking at Sorenson, and then at Esposito.

"Okay, but I want to be kept informed on every development."

"I can live with that Kate, but a word in private please."

She nods her head 'yes' and then goes to a vacant interrogation room, Wil Sorenson following close behind her.

When they are in the room, Wil speaks, "How are you Kate? Nice to see you again."

"Wil, on this case, there is not to be any familiarity. You will remain professional or I will have you up on harassment charges."

The last case they had together, Wil had worked his way back into her life, despite the ever annoying presence of Rick Castle. Wil had guessed that Kate was attracted to the writer. Still, he had managed to sleep with her the night before he left to go back to Boston. He never contacted her after that night. This was the second time Wil had left her. She realized then that Wil was always in it for just the sex. She did not trust the man's intentions. So she had stated her conditions for the conduct of the case.

"Come on Kate, don't be that way. We have always been great together and we can be that way yet again."

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. There will be no third time is a charm here Wil. You will keep this case professional. Do you understand! Besides, I am engaged now, so you will not attempt any come on, is that clear?"

"What? Don't tell me it is with writer monkey!"

"That would be correct."

"So he finally got to you. I knew from that last case together. Okay then. Have it your way Kate, but I am sorry that I have not contacted you since that last night together."

"You told me back then that you wanted us back together. That you were wrong that first time in leaving me for the job. Yet you never stuck around after that second time. I fell for it then and slept with you again for one night; hoping it would be different, after which I never heard back. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and wanting different results. I was insane to believe in you back then. I'm over that."

"Kate, you know how busy it can be. That is how law enforcement is, I have not had a chance to make contact."

"Really, it's been years Wil! You think that even just a small email would have happened."

"I wasn't keeping count Kate, but apparently you were. That means something!"

"Yeah it does, it means we never were going anywhere! Except for a one night stand that second time around, so there is nothing more to say! I'm engaged now Wil, and I am spoken for, so keep your distance."

"Yeah, I heard about that. You were with two other men after me, before you got engaged to Writer Monkey. It won't last Kate, you and I both know it. I know you are still interested in us", his reply is boastful and he says it smugly.

"This talk is done. Heed my warning or I will bring you up on harassment charges so bad you will be assign to nowhere cases", but Kate is surprised that Wil knew about Demming and Josh. He was keeping tabs on her like some latent stalker. Her caution screen goes up even more.

"Really, how is it going to give your harassment claim credibility when I say we were sleeping together for over six months. That you are just getting revenge for me breaking it off. Not only that but you slept with me for one night long after our breakup. Who is going to be in the bad light when I reveal that?"

"Really, Sorenson. I know people and they will vouch that you slept with all of them. Some will even testify that you coerced them somewhat dubiously into sleeping with you. You want to play hard ball Wil Sorenson, do it, and see where it gets you", the look on Kate's face could kill.

That look and statement from Kate has Wil Sorenson rattled, and he replies, weakly, "Who do you know Kate?"

"Any untoward behavior on your part and you will find out. These are credible women and they are in the numbers. Enough to bring you down Sorenson."

Wil swallows hard. Apparently Kate was mad enough with him to have looked into Sorenson's behavior with other women, and there were many. It could be a bluff, but Sorenson did not want to find out, particularly since he knew that Kate always had solid info before she acted on a matter. He saw the resolve in her and her tone echoed that resolve. Wil was not about to test that in Kate. He was not about to stir the hornet's nest.

He back peddles, "Okay Kate, let's just keep it professional and civil. I am happy that you and Writermonk.., er, ...man ..., are now together. If I have overstepped, I apologize and ask you to forgive me."

Kate saw that she had made her point and that she had won the argument, "Fine, let's get on with the case. We need to get Castle back."

Kate goes back to her desk, allowing Espo to be in charge, as he takes the two Feds to their temporary desks on the Homicide floor. Kate was trying to calm down. Seeing Sorenson had dug up some very painful memories. Kate realized now that she had indeed been involved with men she did not really love. Wil, Tom, Josh, all were left in the wake of failed relation- ships with her. At least with Demming and Davidson, they had proclaimed their affections for her.

With Wil Sorenson, he had never been that way. He would have sex with her and when it was done, would just roll over and never say anything. Not even a 'thank you, I enjoyed that', or a 'you were great' comment. Wil would just sleep it off when they were finished. No post play, and the morning after, if they woke up at the same hour, just silence. Often he or she were off on a case before the other woke up and would leave without so much as a 'goodbye' or 'see you later' left on a note by the bed.

How had she ever fallen for Wil Sorenson?

Kate realized then that it was her ego. She wanted a display of affection from Wil! One that Wil never seemed to show. She had interpretted their physical intimacy as some sign of Wil's affection for her. When in reality, it had all been for the sex. Maybe that last night together was her way of trying to find out if Wil could be someone more. When they parted with no contact after that last rebound night, she knew that Wil had wanted only one thing from her. That had hurt reopened old wounds of uncertainty and doubt about her ability to be in a serious carnal relationship. That one deep cut to her psyche had added impetus to her need to seek out other men, like Tom and Josh, trying to find what she had lacked. Kate had gotten with men she did not love before she realized what she needed had always been there all the while. Rick was her one all along, she just refused to see it.

She knew now how truly selfish of a man is Wil Sorenson. She knew he flirted with other women, even when they were together. She had learned of Wil's carnal conquests after her first breakup with him. She did not learn from his betrayals, or perhaps, so insanely sought a sign from him that she meant something to him. She knew now most definitely that it had been her ego.

But that experience with Wil had caused her to be even more suspicious when Castle first had come into her life. She had shut Rick out for a long time because of that sense of lost she had felt from her past failed romantic unions. It was in part the reason for her failed unions with Tom and Josh. She carried a lot of baggage with her in those relationship. She wondered how she had managed to match her baggage with Rick's. But it had worked, despite all their up's and downs, they were now engaged.

But thru it all the mess she had with these men, Rick Castle had remained with her. It seemed that no matter how hard she had tried to shut him out, no matter how painful it had been for him to see her with others, Rick Castle remained there for her. By sheer endurance and effort, Rick had made his way into her heart. Castle was as solid as a rock for her! Still, initially, Rick too had been tight lipped about his affections for her. So when Rick finally did proclaim his love for her, he owned her heart! Kate could not, would not, now share that heart with any other man. Rick truly is her one and done...a lover's rock for her.

CIA Columbia

Word had gotten to Sophia Turner on Rick Castle's kidnapping. They had only recently found out the connection with Castle and the Columbian Drug Cartel. It was through one Dr. Josh Davidson, who was an ex to Rick's now fiancee. Davidson's testimony had shut down the DWB as a drug delivery mule. The one venue that the Cartel had created, unknown to the DWB charity. The Cartel had then continued to exploit that means of delivery for their drugs .

So when Rick Castle name came up, relative to Davidson and the DWB, it was known to the CIA. Thru his relationship with Agent Turner, Castle had done things for the CIA. Things that his celebrity status had allowed him to do. These actions by Rick had lead to the success of a couple of their missions. He was, and is, considered a valuable asset to the CIA. So anything involving Rick Castle became a matter of noteworthy interest to the Agency.

Additionally, Sophia Turner still carried a torch for Rick Castle. They had been together for about a year, and it ended when the two had finally slept together. It seemed that the unresolved sexual tension between the two had become resolved once they had done the deed. But Sophia still remembers her time with Rick with much fondness. She still did care for Rick in her own way.

Despite mutually agreeing to the breakup, Sophia remembers her time with Castle. Those had been the best for Turner, so Sophia secretly welcomed any contact with Castle. Truth be told, she had considered the danger she had placed Rick in with their relationship. So Turner had decided that ending it was for Rick's greater good, or so she told herself about the breakup. Yet here he was, kidnapped, as a result of his engagement to one Kate Beckett. The homicide detective had done to Rick what Sophia had tried to avoid, putting Rick in grave danger. This despite Agent Turner's efforts to protect Castle from harm, it seemed Rick just attracted such danger.

Word from her handlier was that Rick was in Columbia to serve as bait for drawing out Dr. Davidson. Castle's fiancee was an ex of the doctor and that gave the Cartel leverage with him. Castle's abduction would serve as a means for the Cartel to draw the doctor out of hiding. They would use Castle as barter for the doctor.

Sophia knew that Castle was just a tool that the Cartel intended to use. The doctor's past relationship with Castle's now fiancee would be exploited. Agent Turner knew Rick was in grave danger. She would now attempt to recover him so as to remove him from that danger. She had gotten word that Rick was being held in one of the Cartel's many safe houses in the city of Bogota. Turner now needed to find the location of that safe house. The agent was determined to rescue her former lover.