Fate's Surprises
Chapter 2 - Back To The Future
Fast Forward Six Years
Uniformed officers Beckett, Esposito, and Karpowski arrive at the crime scene to secure it. The three uniforms were all assigned to Homicide Division and were thankful for the assignment. All three were striking to become Homicide Detectives and what better way then to be assigned as uniforms to Homicide. Not just homicide, but primarily to Alpha Team, and to the other homicide teams when needed. Alpha is the top dog in the Homicide hierarchy of Homicide Teams, so working with Alpha helped the three uniforms in getting their detective gold badge.
The uniforms did all the grunt work for the Homicide Detectives, one of these duties serving as the personnel who secured the homicide crime scenes. They also secured the bagged evidence from the scene, took photos as needed, completed an evidence inventory list and chain of custody. These uniforms also transported all the evidence bags to the Evidence Locker at the 12th precinct. There they are kept for secure storage till needed for the continuing investigation, court trials, and other requirements for evidence. The uniforms also tagged and bagged all the crime scene samples collected by CSI as augment to the Forensic team. They also transported those samples to the NYPD ME Laboratory as needed, or to specialized labs like the FBI Lab.
Head Detective for Alpha is Detective First Grade Mike Royce. His immediate partner being Senior Detective First Grade Jordan Shaw. These two were the senior squad for Alpha. The Junior squad being filled by Detective Second Grade Willis and Detective Third Grade Johnston. Rumor had it that Shaw might be leaving Alpha, making an open slot to be filled. Shaw apparently so good at her job that she is being courted by the local FBI office for a position there. Being offered a Federal Agent Job from a local PD position was always an offer that had to be earned. Shaw was the best female homicide around and was a role model for Beckett and Karpowski, the only two other females, both uniforms, assigned to Homicide.
If Shaw chose to move up to a Fed job, her departure would allow Det Willis to partner with Royce moving into a senior slot and putting on First Grade. A junior position would then open for a brand new probationary homicide third grade to partner with Johnston. All three of these uniforms were looking to make detective and get that junior slot when it became available. They all knew if the junior slot became open, one of the three of them would get a gold shield and promotion to probationary third grade Homicide Detective.
Timing was of the essence here. They all were trying to show their best efforts on case. All were trying to stand out, knowing that an opening for a probie Homicide might happen in the near future. The most recent contribution by a uniform tended to be the one remembered. Kate had the better chance as some of her most recent past achievements had been noticed, not only by Royce and Shaw, but by the Captain. So all wanted to do something significant for this case. All of them wanted to stand out as detective material. These three uniforms were also blessed with having Royce as their Lead. Mike was the best when it came to training uniforms to become detectives. Willis and Johnson being former protege's of Royce.
Shaw herself had been trained by Capt Roy Montgomery when he was lead Alpha and before he became Captain of the 12th. Royce had been a transfer from the 51th precinct and was been trained by the 51th Captain. Royce had come to the 12th on a personal invite from newly promoted Montgomery when he became captain. Royce and Montgomery had been uniform homicides together. Montogomery had picked up Detective quicker than Royce, but the two were well aware of each others' capability and were close friends. Roy wanted someone he knew and trusted to replace him as lead Alpha. So when he put on Captain he made that happen. That also allow Shaw who was a Second Grade at the time to get her Detective First Grade promotion and move on to the senior squad of Alpha, as partner with Royce.
After that first crime scene the uniforms had worked on, shortly there after, they were called to a yet a second murder scene. Beckett saw then a common link between their first crime scene and this recent second crime scene. She was probably the only one of saw it and had to tell Royce and Shaw.
"Detectives, may I speak to you about our last murder case and this current one?"
"Speak Beckett, I trust that your input will help in providing a lead."
"Det. Royce, the last homicide and this one are connected."
"And how is that Beckett? None of us have been able to come up with a link between the two", asks Shaw.
"Both crime scenes are from scenes of cases written in two best selling novels authored by Richard Castle."
"And you know this how?"
"I am one of his fans and have read those novels."
"Can you bring them in to the precinct."
"My brownstone is not far from the 12th so I can drop by there and then grab the books. I can have them here later."
"Good, bring them in."
A Significant Lead
When Kate Beckett returned to the 12th with the Castle novels the team needed, she photo-copied the parts of the written description of the crime scenes resembling their crime scenes, then provided four copies to Alpha. One for each team member. An hour or so later, Beckett is called to Royce's desk.
"Good work Officer Beckett, you have provided the big lead that we needed here. It pays to be well read I see, as you have just demonstrated that. I am writing you up for a commendation on this one Beckett."
"Thank you Detective Royce."
"Don't thank me Beckett, a commendation for you on this is well deserved. I am going in to brief the Capt on this lead and I will make sure you get credit for it."
Royce leaves to brief Montgomery.
"Officer Beckett, a word please", Shaw tells her.
Beckett sits in the chair by Shaw's desk.
"Speak freely Kate, I just wanted to reinforce Mike's comment and to let you know in private that I am seriously considering the Fed offer. If I take it, that will open a new slot for Alpha to promote a uniform to probationary grade three status. I will throw my support your way when asked by the evaluation board for my recommendation."
"Thanks Jordan, I appreciate this."
"You deserve it Kate, you will make a great homicide. If you do, you will beat my record by a month and become the youngest and fastest female ever promoted to homicide detective. I also want Rosaline Karpowski to get her gold shield. There are only three females in Homicide and I am the only detective. Time for new blood, time for pioneers to break that glass ceiling and my money is on you and Roz."
"Thanks Jordan, no pressure here."
"If I didn't think you could handled it, I would not have mentioned this little secret. Keep it between us. All I ask is when it is your turn to nurture an up and coming female, do so. This is a man's world and needs more female presence. You, me, and Roz are pioneers here. What we do now will inspire younger females in the future to accept the challenge to become law enforcement. To boldly go where few woman have gone before. It provides them with a role model to pursue and to excel at."
"I will keep our talk secret and thank you again", Kate says, humbled by Jordan's talk and gesture of support for her. Fate had favored Kate this time and that had not always been so. She looks to Shaw for permission to leave and gets it.
"Go, you got his Kate."
Alpha Team Meeting
Alpha was having a meeting and it included their uniforms, as was the procedure for Royce. Some homicide teams, at the 12th and other precincts, did not include their uniforms at such case work meetings, keeping them just doing the grunt work. Royce always included the uniforms. How else were they to get training if they could not observe and participate with detectives in doing case work?
"So Officer Beckett, you think your author guy is behind these murders?"
"No sir, it is beyond clueless to write about a crime in a crime novel and then execute that crime, by the book, so to speak. My thought is it is one of his fans is using the novels to guide that person thru these murders. The perpetrator we are after is most likely delusional and a sociopath."
"Good analysis Officer Beckett. We may have a serial killer here. A third homicide taking after the details from yet another Castle novel will confirm that. Although I am hoping our second homicide is the last for this prep, it most likely is not. So Beckett, you need to bring in all of your Castle book collection so we can use them for our current cases, and sadly for a likely third homicide."
"I'm ahead of you there Detective Royce, a box with all those books is resting on top of my locker."
"Good work, but now I want to bring in this writer. Not just for questioning but to ask him if he gets scary fan mail. Our killer maybe one of those fans, as you said, and is sending the author scary fan mail that telegraphs these murders. Maybe fan mail that signals that fan's involvement in these two homicides."
"You want Johnston and I to bring this guy in boss?", asks Detective Willis.
"You know what Willis, take Beckett along. Let her do the invite to Mr. Castle for the interview. She should also participate in the questioning as she knows this author from having read his books. It will be good training and my reward to her for finding this lead."
"Got you boss. You know Beckett, to get the feel of being a Detective, how about you come in plain clothes and shed the uniform for the pick up your author", Willis tells her.
"Really!?..., thank you Detective Willis", Kate is pumped and can't wait to bring in Castle.
"No need for thanks. Just following our boss's training style. As a uniform he had me do the same when I came up with such a lead. I think this is a great way to train uniforms so I use it also."
"Okay then, you guys got your guidance, go forth then and execute', says Royce with some humor.
After the meeting the three uniforms are again thankful that they work for Mike Royce. He is a great trainer and a motivational leader. He inspires his uniform crew to always strive to be better and to move forward.
Picking Up Castle For Questioning
Rick Castle is at a book opening for his last Derrick Storm Novel. He is explaining to his 13 year old teenage daughter why he had killed off his popular character.
"You want to know why I killed Derrick? There were no more surprises. I knew exactly what was going to happen every moment of every scene. It's just like these parties. They've become so predictable, 'I'm your biggest fan!', ' Where do you get your ideas?', so forth and so on, predictable and boring."
"And the ever popular, 'Will you sign my 'chest?'", mocks his daughter.
"That one I don't mind so much."
"Yeah, well, FYI, I do dad."
"Just once I'd like someone to come up to me and say something new."
Office Beckett just then enters the book opening party at this time along with Detectives Willis and Johnston accompanying her and she comes up to Castle, "Mr. Castle?"
Castle takes out his pen, turns to the voice who spoke his name, and asks, "Where would you like it signed?"
"Officer Kate Beckett, NYPD. We need to ask you a few questions about some murders that have happened in the last weeks. We need to bring you in for an interview."
"That's new", Alexis says, grabbing the pen from her dad's fingers and giving him an eyeroll.
Rick stares at the female office and then realizes who she is. It's instant recognition by him.
"Kate, is it you? It's been years. So you finally got your goal. You are a police officer!"
Kate is stunned. Their first and only time being together was for a one night stand, six years ago. Rick Castle still remembered her from that night!
Detectives Willis and Johnston are surprised. Apparently Beckett, aside from being a Castle fan, also personally knows the author. Both can not wait to hear the story behind this!
12th Precinct Interrogation Room
Kate has been allowed to conduct her first ever homicide interrogation. She will not blow this one, realizing that in doing the questioning well, that will add to her resume for Homicide Detective.
"Mr. Castle. You've got quite a rap sheet for a best-selling author: disorderly conduct, resisting arrest."
"Well Kate. Boys will be boys. Where have you been all these years? I tried to find you during that time."
Beckett ignores the question realizing the other Homicide Detectives are watching thru the one way window of their observation room.
She remains professional, "It says here that you stole a police horse?"
"Borrowed."
"Ah huh. Oh, and you were nude at the time, it says in the report."
Kate realizes this does not fit the character of the man she came to know from that one night they had been together. Even though it was just one night, they connected in a way that felt like a life time of knowing for Kate. Apparently, it may have been the same for Castle.
"It was spring", Castle responds facetiously, "I was undressed for the hot weather at the time."
"And every time the charges were dropped."
"Well, what can I say? The mayor is a fan, but if it makes you feel any better, I'd be happy to let you spank me", he flirting with her now with a racy innuendo.
Despite Castle's reply, Kate once again keeps it professional, ignoring the risque connotation of his response and not giving hint to their past history , "Mr. Castle. This whole bad-boy charm thing that you've got going might work for bimbettes and celebutantes. Me? I work for a living. So that makes you one of two things in my world: either the guy who makes my life easier, or the guy who makes my life harder. And trust me, you do not want to be the guy who makes my life harder."i
"Kate, you still have stunning eyes, but so sad. Your eyes have not lost their sadness."
Kate holds it together, not wanting to respond to him on a personal level. She feels flushed. Castle is bringing back some past emotions she had felt for him during their one night of passion that they had shared. She deflects his remark about her eyes by commencing to show him the crime scene photos from their two cases.
"Recognize these crimes scenes Mr. Castle?", she shows him the Alison Tisdale murder scene and then the Marvin Fisk crime scene.
"These are scenes right out of your two books 'Flowers For Your Grave' and 'Hell Hath No Fury', how is that?", asks Kate, "Looks like you may have a deranged fan."
"Oh, you don't look deranged to me, Officer. 'Hell Hath No Fury", only hardcore Castle fans have read that one", again he is pushing and he sees that Kate is hiding her emotions.
Kate remains official in manner and does not reply to his statement but asks, "Do any of these fans ever write you letters? Disturbing letters?"
"Oh, all my fan mail is disturbing. It's an occupational hazard."
"Because, sometimes in cases like this, we find that ...", Beckett trails off on her talk and then together with Rick, both say, "the killer attempts to..."
Then Castle finishes their talk by himself, "... contact the subject of his obsession. I'm also pretty well versed in psychopathic methodologies. Another occupational hazard. And do you know, Kate, you still have gorgeous eyes."
Kate again ignores Castle, but his comment and pushing is getting to her. She continues to hold it together as she says, "So I take it that you won't have any objection to us going through your mail?"
"Knock yourself out. Can I get them to you?"
Kate hears the tapping on the one-way window of the interrogation room.
"Excuse me for a moment Mr. Castle."
She goes to the viewing room behind the one way window.
"Great job interrogating Beckett, have Castle bring in his fan mail. And oh Beckett, one day you will have to tell us how you know Castle in a personal way."
Kate tries not to respond to the comment on her personal connection with Castle. She had hoped the two detectives would not bring it up, but they caught on to that connection.
"I've attended some book signings from him and he has signed my books", she offers as an explanation to the detectives, but it begs the question how Castle remembers her from the hundreds of fans who attend his book signings.
Thankfully the two homicide detectives had not pushed her beyond her simple and seemingly innocent response about her and Castle. The detectives all exit the Observation Room along with Kate. She returns to the interrogation room knowing now that there is no one watching them from the Observation Room.
"Mr. Castle, thank you for your cooperation, we ask that you bring in your fan mail."
"Kate, where have you been these past years? I looked for you for months, then I stopped. Meredith went against our agreement and sued for custody of our daughter. It was a years long legal battle, and my search for you was replaced by that. When I settled the law suit, it was three years later, and I had lost hope in finding you."
Knowing now that there is no one now in the Viewing Room to hear their discussion, Kate responds to Castle's question, "I too tried to get back to you. I had something to tell you about that night. However, helping my dad with his alcoholism, finishing my degree, going to the Police Academy, and then being a Rookie cop, all took time. I had no time to find you."
"We need to talk about that night Kate."
Kate hands him a business card, "My address and cell number are written on the back of the card. Come to my place tonight for dinner."
He inputs Kate cell number on his phone and then speed dials. She answers seeing it is Rick.
"Okay, I have your number now. I will let you know when I get off from work."
"Don't cook dinner Kate, not after working a full day. I will bring take out, any preference?"
"I remember that steak dinner we had that night."
"That restaurant is still operating and I can get a 'to go' from them as a favor. I know the Manager and Head Chef. Steak dinner it is, I will bring the wine also."
"See you later tonight then, Rick."
"See you then Kate."
Her choice of dinner was a means for both of them to recall that night and how it had ended. Kate was nervous about the reunion dinner. Would it go as well as that first dinner they had shared? There was a good reason for Kate to want the dinner to bring back the feelings from that event from years past. She needed to set the mood for their discussions about that night. It had changed her life and later he would find out how significant it had been for her. After tonight's dinner, Kate knew it would also be as significant for Rick!