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Office of the Police Commissioner
7:45 A.M.
Frank Reagan and Alexis Castle finally get their laughter under control after a moment.
"Gates is early," Frank Reagan replies, "She must've set a new record. Please tell her to wait."
"Of course, Sir," Baker smiles and closes the door.
"She's never going to live that nickname down," Alexis shakes her head.
"I forgot to tell Larry that comparison was off the record, oops," he replies.
"You just forgot, huh," Alexis gives him a look.
"That's my story and I'm sticking to it," he feigns innocence, "Still, it might have been worse, I could've compared her to the Tasmanian Devil chasing Bugs Bunny."
"Stop trying to distract me," Alexis says trying hard to control her laughter.
"Alright," Frank smiles broadly, "I believe you were describing you were describing a number of coincidences that took place recently."
"What is it you always say," Alexis recalls, "Sometimes, coincidences require a lot of planning."
"A line for which your father never gave me credit," Frank mocks irritation, "Even though he had Derek Storm use it in almost every book."
"When are you going to let that go?" Alexis says smiling.
"Not as long as I can tease your father with it," Frank chuckles lightly, "Do you remember what I aways say is my favorite thing about his Storm novels?"
"Uncle Frank," Alexis huffs in exasperation.
"Just go along with me," Frank says in the warm grandfatherly voice that always soothed her.
"Action and romance are fun," Alexis relents, "But the great part is how he'd hurt the villains most by making it seem they were having a run of bad luck."
"Planned coincidences," Frank smiles.
"Are you going to take credit for that too?" Alexis smirks.
"Oh no, that's all him," Frank shakes his head, "And I must confess his plans were so good that they might have inspired some of our own over here."
"Seriously?" Alexis throws a you got to be kidding look.
"Yeah, but keep that to yourself, okay," Frank says playfully.
"Not a word, promise," Alexis crosses heart, smiling, "But seriously, those are just stories, fiction."
"Written by someone with a 197 I.Q.," Frank replies, "I think that gives them at least some consideration."
"A 197 I.Q., my dad," Alexis stunned.
"I know it's hard to believe," Frank sighs, "Hell, when his teachers saw the numbers, they kept giving him different tests but got back equivalent results."
"Hard to believe?" Alexis blurts, "That's an understatement."
"He did write two bestsellers before he was 21," Frank reminds her.
"Yeah, well," Alexis sputters, "I always thought he was smarter than he let on but…this is my dad…the original boy that wouldn't grow up.
"Well, Albert Einstein was a bit that way himself," Frank recounts, "Even if he only clocked in at about 160."
"Okay," Alexis says exhaling, "What about the stuff Larry wrote about you playing games with him which turned him from naturally observant to hyper-observant."
"To be honest," Frank shrugs, "Your dad was born hyper-observant. All we did is help him refine the talent."
"Really?"
"Do you know how the emotional quotient scale works?" Frank asks.
"Sure," Alexis replies, "It goes from 27 to 108, and a lower number translates to a higher EQ, sort of like golf score."
"Exactly," Frank confirms, "And your father has been measured at a 35."
"Hold on," Alexis raises her hand in stop motion, "An IQ like my dad's usually come with an EQ in the high 90's, emotionally clueless."
"He's a rarity," Frank replies, "His IQ and EQ give him this amazing ability to read people like a champion surfer or sailor reading the waves and currents."
"And that's what makes him an excellent planner?"
"Don Kent always says that it made Rick his best student," he responds.
"Dad does say he picked up a lot from Uncle Don," she nods her head.
"Even as detective Don was a brilliant strategist," Frank adds, "As a young officer in the Corps, he was one of John Boyd's acolytes."
"John Boyd?"
"An Air Force Colonel who passed in '97," he explains, "Possibly the best military theoretician America ever had but ignored by the services, except the Marine Corps."
"I sense some Devil Dog pride there," she tases him.
"You know it," he smirks, "Boyd advised the Corps in the 80's on updating its doctrine, helping it become the most intellectual military branch.
"He inspired an entire generation of officers. At the Quantico Marine Corps Research Center lobby there's display that's practically a shrine to him."
"Has he written anything I would have heard of?" she asks.
"Boyd didn't publish," Frank responds, "Rather he distilled lessons from historical events and great thinkers into incredible teaching presentations."
"Like Boyd, Don's as much a teacher as a leader. He'd give Rick reading assignments. Then they'd discuss it for hours often using Boyd's OODA Loop concept."
"Sounds like a toy."
"Observe, Orient, Decide Act," he chuckles, "The side than can repeatedly and accurately loop through it on multiple levels and topics concurrently the fastest, wins.
"You, Beckett, Martha, Gates, and even I have often misjudged your father by confusing how he speeds through as impetuousness or carelessness."
"Great, my dad is Grand Admiral Thrawn," Alexis says exasperated.
"Who?"
"Star Wars character," Alex smirks sarcastically, "One of my dad's favorites which makes sense now."
"From your tone, I take it that doesn't sound good," Frank replies.
"Hey, at least I didn't say Darth Vader," Alexis smirks.
"Well," Frank smiles broadly, "He did like dressing up as Vader for that sci-fi convention."
"SuperNovaCon," Alexis smiles warmly at the memory
"And you as a little pint-sized Princess Leia," Frank recalls, "Your Aunt Mary couldn't take enough pictures."
"I remember."
"Of course," Frank smiles mischievously, "I think the costume you chose this year would have gotten you a very stern lecture."
"You know about that, huh?"
"I'm the Police commissioner, I know everything."
"Then maybe you can tell me why my dad kept so much about himself a secret."
"Shouldn't you be discussing that with him?" Frank asks.
"Maybe, but I can't find him."
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Outer Office
Office of the Police Commissioner
7:45 A.M.
"I don't appreciate being called that," Captain Victoria Gates says to Detective Baker as the younger woman sits back at her desk.
"Yosemite Sam?" Baker gives wry smile, "My apologies, Captain."
"Do you know how long the commissioner will be?" Gates asks.
"You are about 15 minutes early," Baker responds, "And he's still speaking with his Goddaughter."
"I didn't know the commissioner had…" then it hits her, "You don't mean?"
"Alexis Castle," Baker confirms.
"Oh," Gates loses all bravado.
"If you'll excuse me," Baker says, "I have to get these personnel files ready for the Commissioner. Have you heard about Captain Block?
"No," Gates says warily, "What happened to him?
"Nothing bad," Baker replies, "He turned in his papers which means The Commissioner will need to assign a new Captain to the Paid Detail Unit.
"That position is like a revolving door. I guess it would be mind-numbingly tedious, but someone has to manage officers trying to make extra money in uniform.
"I understand its mostly dealing with fighting over things like who works security at Knicks games and who gets stuck directing traffic in front of NYSE."
Gates' stomach just dropped fourteen floors as Baker hides a devious smile.
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Office of the Police Commissioner
7:55 A.M.
"If dad is really as brilliant as you say," Alexis continues, "Then why does pretend to be less than he is?"
"It started out as just chance, then a sort of defense mechanism," Frank recounts, "And finally it became a habit."
"I really don't understand," Alexis responds, confused.
"At first no one realized how intelligent your father is because His ADHD masked it.," Frank explains, "To many teachers and administrators, he seemed like an underperforming, even mentally challenged child because he couldn't conform to the regimented and, to him, the slow pace of classes."
"Dad always jokes, that when it was time to study, he wanted to play and vice versa," Alexis recalls, but with sadness in he given context, "Still, how could they make such a monumental screw up?"
"I'm afraid," Frank says sadly, "Your dad was a victim of a perfect storm of three circumstances that exasperated the situation, making it almost impossible for him not to fall through the cracks."
"What circumstances?"
"First, Rick attended public schools in those days," Fran explains, "I know he's told you how he had keep changing schools right up to that semester he transferred into Bobby's school when Martha's acting career finally gained steam."
"I remember," Alexis recalls sadly, "He wasn't at any school long enough for anyone to try to help him."
Her father never sugarcoated the struggles of his childhood back then, constantly moving apartments, staying with friends, or sometimes in a theater where her grandmother knew the manager, but despite the sadness, her father's honesty made her appreciate even more the life that he'd tried to give her.
"Also, it was the 1970's," Frank continues somberly, "The city was in a fiscal crisis. Every department was dealing with cutbacks and manpower shortages, NYPD and public schools included. teachers and administrators were too focused on keeping surviving the chaos."
"So, they didn't have the time or money to help him even if he stayed in one place," Alexis nods, her voice growing even sadder, ""And what was third?"
"ADHD research was still in its infancy," Fran answers, "Doctors were still calling it hyperkinetic reaction of childhood, and up until 1968, they called minimal brain dysfunction. Even today schools have a difficult time understanding kids like your father, imagine how it was back then."
"How did they finally figure it out."
"By chance when he was eight," Frank explains, "Columbia University had an ADHD research project. Part of it actually was to administer IQ tests, and let's say your dad gave them one heck of surprise."
"Sounds like him," Alexis chuckles, "Where they excited?"
"But not in a good a way," Frank recounts, "All they saw was how studying their prize find would boost their careers by generating research papers, grant proposals, and various proposals even before they told Rick the results.
"And in their rush, they failed to appreciate with whom they were dealing. The original consent your grandmother signed legally mandated confidentiality, and with Martha's full support, your dad refused to cooperate because he didn't want any more attention than necessary."
"Why?"
"By then, Rick understood how cruel people could be," Frank answers in a tone of both sadness and anger, "And he was terrified this would be one more thing to make it harder to fit in and more of a target of bullies in addition to stuff he already dealt with."
"Being illegitimate, poor, the son of an actress, and always being new kid," Alexis recalls, her was shattering thinking of her happy-go-lucky dad as a lonely little boy who just wanted to be accepted. A glance at Frank Reagan's expression and she knew he was thinking the same.
"As I said, it was a defense mechanism," Frank continues, "But the researchers played on his conscience, saying how he could help other kids like him, so they struck a deal Rick agreed so long as they kept his identity confidential.
"And that worked until the head researcher leaked his name, thinking that once Rick's identity was out there, he'd could take come forward to claim credit for discovering him. But the idiot was found out, fired, and had to sign an NDA to avoid prosecution."
"But how bad was the fallout?" Alexis asks, "I mean with the bullies."
"They really didn't notice," Frank replies, "There was no internet then or 24-hour news cycles, and kids don't generally read academic papers."
"So, he was still safe?" Alexis submits.
"Not in his mind," Frank counters, "After that, he doubled down on hiding how smart he was even intentionally handicapped his grades to fit in, but once his name got out, even more people showed up to study him, endangering his secret so your father played along for a price."
"I know, they had to still keep his name confidential," Alexis responds, hating people she never met.
"For starters, but after a few years he wanted more," Frank grins, "Remember all those elite boarding schools that kept admitting him and putting him on scholarship despite his mediocre academic record. Part of Rick's conditions were that they had to pull strings to get him admitted."
"Seriously," Alexis chuckles at her father's ingenuity.
"But they had to agree to not let the other students know," Frank continues, "He was just another student on a financial scholarship whose actress mother pulled some strings."
"But dad says that he was bullied for that too," Alexis counters, "Other kids never let him forget he was somebody's charity case."
"The lesser of two evils in his mind, one that was easier to solve," Frank shrugs, "Whenever he got tired of the bullying or the other students started to get wise to how smart he was,
he would get himself kicked out or just transfer."
"I always wondered why he was able to keep doing that," Alexis responds, "Whenever I asked him, he dodged the question."
"There was always another school waiting," Frank recounts, "Wanting to be the one to get the credit being able to list someone like him as one of their success stories."
Alexis mulls over what she's learned so far about her father, then a thought occurs to her.
"Did my dad hide how smart he was when hung out at the precinct and your house?" she asks.
"No, he didn't," Frank replies shaking his head, "He never flaunted it or was arrogant about though I have to admit it, Rick wasn't without his challenges…some of them not exactly his fault."
"What challenges?"
"A mind like Rick's," Frank explains, "Isn't something that he can turn on and off. It's constantly taking in information and processing at high volumes. He needed a release for all that mental energy, a way to siphon it off to keep from going into overload to the point he just couldn't function."
"But he couldn't do it at school because people would find out his secret," Alexis realizes.
"At first he wanted to work cases with us," Frank explains, "But an amateur kid detective helping out the police only happens in fiction."
"Well, you didn't ban him from the precinct like Beckett did," Alexis says the female detectives name with a bit of venom.
"Luckily for our sanity," Frank replies, "He discovered writing. Creating fictional people and worlds helped him burn off a lot of his mental energies though it didn't keep him from driving us crazy with questions."
Alexis laughs at that and the fact that, thinking how he continues to drive people, including a certain female detective batty with questions.
"It's ironic," Frank notes, "As a kid he hung out at the 12th because there he felt he didn't have to hide who he was, but when dad started hanging out there as an adult, he felt he did.
"But why, he wasn't dealing with kids anymore?" Alexis asks confused.
"On their first case," Frank recounts, "Beckett dared him to 'tell her story'…profile her, and he picked her apart. She dismissed it as a party trick. "When Roy later he talked to her in private, she was on the verge a serious melt down, paranoid Roy or someone had told him all those things."
"And Uncle Roy told dad," Alexis surmises, "And he toned himself down even more, [makes a disgusted face] for her."
"Mostly for her," Frank concedes, "But he also still wanted to fit in, and as a civilian outsider among cops, that's no small order."
"But something's changed, hasn't it?"
"Who is your father's favorite Shakespearean character," Frank Reagan asks.
"Henry V. He always says," Alexis smiles then quotes her father, "Give rousing speeches, score one of history's great military upsets, and win the heart of the beautiful princess. Pretty good way to spend an evening."
"And the name of the princess?" Frank asks.
"Catherine of Valois," she sighs and rolls her eyes, "But might I point out her name started with a C not a K."
"I don't think Rick cares," Frank laughs lightly, "But remember, that King Henry is also in two other Shakespearean plays, Henry IV parts 1 & 2."
"As the Prince of Wales, Prince Hal," Alexis nods.
"There's also The Black Shield of Falworth," Frank adds, "Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, 1954."
"One of dad's favorites," Alexis recalls, "Dan O'Herlihy plays Prince Hal who only pretends to be a foppish, playboy prince to put the conspirators at ease."
"Yes," Frank smiles, "Your dad likes to compare that version of Prince Hal to Bruce Wayne pretending to be harmless to throw off the bad guys."
"I know," Alexis rolls her eyes.
"And like in plays and that film," Frank sighs, "There comes a time that Prince Hal has to grow up."
"Meaning?"
"Since he's been working with Beckett," Frank explains, "Hiding behind his writing isn't enough anymore. He's realized the positive good his talents can do to help people and after that, he can't just return to doing it just in his imagination."
Alexis' expression gets a bit dark, and she picks up the newspaper again.
"Fun fact," she reads angrily, "The Police Commissioner doesn't have to be a professional police officer, and until the 1960's, they all came from civilian life."
"This isn't about Beckett at all, is it! This column is all about help dad make his bones so that he can prove he has what it takes to succeed you!"
"Make his bones?" Frank looks taken aback, "Where'd you even learn that."
"My dad, Pop," she smirks, "And you."
"Well," he responds with a sheepish grin, "I'm not going anywhere just yet."
"But Uncle Don might," Alexis counters, "He'll be able to retire soon on full pension and he will not be able easy to replace. And you're not the kind of person who would be smart enough to have at least some names as replacements."
"But unlike Chief Gates," Frank argues, "Your father is not a cop."
"But I'm sure you've had some time to figure something out," Alexis replies, "And I would prefer him working for you rather than chasing Beckett into gunfire, so I guess I'm glad you talked him into it."
"I do think he's wasting following Beckett around like a puppy," Frank concedes, "But I haven't talked him into anything, and I can tell you that breaking his leash is all his own idea."
"Why now, all of the sudden?" Alexis returns to her original question, "Let me guess, that's not for you to say and I have to ask him."
"Yes," Frank concedes, "But I have a feeling it isn't all of a sudden. This has been coming for a while now.
"What do you mean."
"Did you hear about your dad getting Douglas Stevens, the driver from your kidnapping, to talk?" Frank asks.
"Yes," Alexis replies softly, "I couldn't really believe he'd do that."
"We all have three lives," Frank nods, "One public, one private, and one secret."
"From One Hundred Years of Solitude," Alexis nods, "Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1967).
"Publicly," Frank continues, "People see the funny, charming kid who wouldn't. grow up, but nevertheless a loving father, dutiful son, and loyal friend with heart of gold. Privately, he's the brilliant writer whose skills and intelligence make him a force to be reckoned with, and then there's secretly."
"And you're saying that's what showed in the room with Douglas Stevens, right?"
"On very rare occasions I've seen that part of him," Frank answers, "The first time was when he faced Hindley. most recently was when we realized who killed Joe, and I could see in his eyes he had worked out a plan to deal with them if we couldn't make the charges stick."
"But you weren't there to see it this time," Alexis counters.
"But I have a very fair idea," Frank explains, "When your dad walked into that room. His face was serious but neutral, giving away nothing. Stevens was injured but defiant, but I guarantee you Stevens knew to be afraid before you father even began to speak.
Rick evaluated him and understood, choose his words carefully, used very few of them, and spoke in calm and even voice. He explained he who was, what he wanted, and the pound of flesh he would take if he didn't get it. Pragmatism and efficiency took over."
"Uncle Frank," Alexis responds, "Whatever you say or don't, I know deep down my dad's quit hiding had to be triggered by something Beckett's done to hurt him again."
"Alexis, I know how badly you want to protect your father," Frank takes her hand, "But sometimes all we can do for those we love is to be there for them and give our support."
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Terminal 2, Gate B16
2401 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Access Rd,
Arlington, VA 22202
Monday, 13 May 2013, 7:30 A.M
8:00 A.M.
Exiting the restroom, Kate makes a right towards the curved, glass walled historic lobby of the airport that holds the conference center.
The flight attendant told her to take the escalator by terminal door 3 to get to the main taxi stand area.
Luckily, she had no baggage to claim, just carry-ons consisting of a purse, leather briefcase, and a Modoker luggage garment bag.
She was so on edge, even before reading the column that she was afraid she'd spill or rip something, so she brought a complete change of clothes."
Then she suddenly recalls the bags were part of a matched set Rick bought for her, and then quickly curses herself for the thought. She needed to focus.
"Detective Beckett," female voice calls from behind her in a British accent causing Beckett to turn around.
She's a stunning young woman of African descent, Kate guesses her to be in her late 20's. About 5' 8, Her shoulder length hair fell past her sounders. had had bangs.
"Yes," Kate replies and moves towards her.
"FBI Special Agent Diana Barrigan," the woman displays her credentials, "Would you please come no me."
"Are you on the Task Force?" Kate asks.
"Good God, no," the Brit replies chuckling, "I work White Collar in New York. I'm down here on temporary assignment."
"Then may I ask what is this all about?" Kate asks at stop at a nearby conference room door.
"Actually, I was doing a favor for a friend," Diana then opens the door lets it swing wide.
Kate can see Diana's friend sitting at the far end of a white conference table in the brightly lit white room.
He's dressed in a black, expensive suit, open collared white button shirt with what looks like a light breakfast in front of him.
"Hello, Kate," he says standing up, "I'd be honored if you'd join me."
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Mount Sinai-Union Square, Plastic Surgery
10 Union Square E #2l,
New York, NY 10003
8:00 A.M.
Man dressed in a dark suit enters the doctor's office He's 5' 9", a little on the chubby side with neat blonde hair and square head.
"May I help you?" the receptionist asks.
"Yes," the man replies taking out his credentials, "My name is Agent Otto Carson with the Internal Revenue Service. I'd like to speak to Dr. Kelly Nieman."
"May I ask what this is about?" the receptionist asks. The guy seemed pleasant enough with jovial face and smile, but she worried. He was with the IRS after all."
Just then, the Doctor herself walked in, a beautiful redhead standing 5' 7" but taller in expensive heals, wearing a pricy, tailored Navy skirt and blazer.
A simple string of pearls adorned her pale freckled neck. Her pale green eyes barely register any distraction as she gives the assistant following her a bit of a chewing out.
When she sees the man, her face takes on a no-nonsense seriousness, and moves towards the receptionists' table.
"I on see drug reps by appointment," flipping her dark red hair to the side.
"The gentleman is not a drug rep," the receptionist explains, "He's from the IRS."
"IRS?" the Doctor actually shows some emotion then.
"Agent Otto Hutchens," He repeats, showing his credentials again, "IRS Enterprise Corruption Division."
"Should I call my accountant?" she asks.
"That would be advisable," Hutchens responds, "You may also want to call your attorney as well."
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A number of readers have told tell me that they've never seen "Blue Bloods" which is a TV show that airs on CBS and premiered in 2010 at same time as the start of Castle's third season.
Remember that Castle started as midseason replacement in the spring of 2009.
So, I decided to put the response I gave them just in case.
I don't think it's necessary to have watched "Blue Bloods". I could have just made up the characters to fill the roles.
First, it's a thinly disguised dig Castlefan6 who used a version of the daughter, Erin as Beckett's romantic rival several times.
"He even includes Erin's daughter as Alexis' best friend. He changed their last name to Boyle which is Erin's married name on the show.
In the show, Frank Reagan is the Commissioner of the NYPD, played by Tom Selleck who does bear a striking resemblance to Teddy Roosevelt. His father, Henry Reagan, was the Police Commissioner at least two guys before.
Frank has three children. The oldest, Danny Reagan, is a police detective. The second child is Erin, a prosecutor. The youngest is Jamie Reagan. He's a uniformed police Sergeant. The third child, Joe Reagan, was murdered by a crooked cop shortly before the show began.
I contend that Rick's character was always smarter and a better investigator than Beckett, but the writers kept dumbing him down to make her look better.
That's just my opinion and I've given up arguing who was responsible because it's likely we never know.
In this story, like the mirror opposite of Tom Hagen in a way (Robert Duvall in The Godfather 1 & 2), the unofficially adopted son, in Rick's by a big cop family instead of mobsters.
I wanted to give Rick's backstory the changes necessary to support that goal, a "forge" if you will that would hone his natural skills into something more formidable.
In the show and fan fiction, Bracken is called the Dragon. In the game Dungeons and Dragons, he would be one of the Chromatic Dragons, the evil ones. I'd say he's a Green Dragon: highly territorial, greedy, and deceptive who loved secrets and intrigue.
I figured you match a dragon with another dragon. In D&D, the Metallic Dragons where the good ones. Rick might be considered a Bronze Dragon, inquisitive with a fascination for strategy and tactics, seeking to fight evil, often aligning with heroes.
He might also be a Silver Dragon, who likes to take human form to blend in with humans and elves. They were very smart and preferred not to fight unless necessary, preferring to outthink the bad guys first.
This chapter should complete the setup/prologue.