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Chapter Three
Castle dragged himself out of bed and made his way into his bathroom with only two collisions. One with the door frame, and one with the edge of the sinks counter top.
After his shower he stood in front of the large mirror and stared with pride at his now three day old beard. It was a little patchy, but it was getting there quickly. It really did add to his criminal appearance.
He took the chance and gave Kate a quick call. It didn't surprise him that she was running a little behind and couldn't take time to talk. Kate didn't sleep well in strange beds. The only way she was comfortable in a bed that was not one of hers was if she was in a bed with Rick. She always slept well, when they actually slept, together.
They exchanged quick "I love yous" then promised to make time to call each other that night.
Rick decided to stop at one of his favorite breakfast café's. He wasn't in the mood to fix his own food, and he wasn't quite sure, if what Demming was trying to talk him into, he might not have a good meal for a few days.
He didn't bother to buy out a bakery this time when he made it over to the precinct to the disappointment of many who saw he come in empty handed.
Demming was waiting in Kate's office when Esposito led him into the Captain's office.
Castle frowned as he and Javi stepped in and closed the door behind them. "How did you get into Kate's office?"
Espo rolled his eyes. "She left me and Tom a key in case we needed anything from her files."
"And did you?"
They both shook their heads. "She doesn't keep any files on cases that old in her office." Espo said.
"But we felt we could use the privacy to discuss this." Tom added as he dropped the file on the desk in front of him.
The three of them went over the case file that Tom had retrieved from the basement file room. They familiarized themselves with the official transcripts from the trial and threw ideas back and forth as to how Robinson had managed to set up a robbery that failed yet there was no stolen loot to be found when they got caught.
While they were going through the files Castle found himself getting more and more into the idea. It was like he was living a movie plot where he was the person putting one over the criminals rather than them putting it over the cops.
After spending hours working out a basic plan, Demming leaned back in Kate's chair and gave Castle a searching look.
"What?" Castle answered Demming's look.
"I like what we've come up with here, but do you think you can pull it off, Castle?"
Rick waved his hand in the air. "You forget, I grew up with a Broadway actress. I write fiction. From a kid to my adolescence and into my adulthood I spent more time in imaginary scenarios than I ever involved myself with mundane reality."
Demming looked over at Esposito and Javier just nodded. To Castle it felt like there was something that two of the three of them knew, and he was the one without the clue.
"You know," Tom started. "This letting your beard grow will help fitting in as a prisoner. It gives you a more rugged look." Castle could've sworn that Espo was biting down on his lip.
Demming leaned back in Kate's chair. "It's just…"
Castle frowned. "What?"
"Well, since you asked." Tom spread his hands out. "It's just… your hair."
Castle let his eyes switch back and forth between Tom and Javier. "What about my hair. I have great hair. Just ask my wife."
"Hold on." Tom held his hands up. "I'm not saying there is anything wrong with your hair… if you were going on a date." Demming shrugged. "It just doesn't say… tough guy."
Castle instantly took offense that he couldn't look like a tough guy because he liked to have well styled hair. Kate like his hair.
Rick glared at both of them. "Don't you worry about my hair, I'll take care of it. I know guys who are tough guys. When do you need me?"
It was obvious that Demming was holding back laughter, but he quickly regained a concerned expression on his face.
"Get here by seven in the morning. It will take me some time to get everything set up with the warden. I've talked to him about it, but there was nothing confirmed. He did manage to transfer Robinson's former cell mate last week once I put forth this possible idea."
Castle stared at Demming. "Don't you worry about how I'll look, you'll think I was Westside mobster muscle." Rick was so incensed he missed the smirks on both Demming and Esposito.
Castle stood up. "I'll be here tomorrow at seven sharp and you won't even recognize me."
Rick walked out of Kate's office, slamming the door as he left.
Demming looked over at Esposito. "Do you think that Kate might be upset with this?"
Espo nodded. "Oh yeah, so I wouldn't mention anything to her until we have him back out of the cell. Then Castle can explain it to her."
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Rick paced a figure eight in the living room carpet. He munched on a cold hot dog that he'd just pulled out of the refrigerator. He wasn't really even aware that he never bothered to heat up the dog in the microware.
He was going to have to show up at the precinct early tomorrow morning and he was going to have to be ready. He wasn't sure he was really ready for this, but the little boy adventurer in him was jumping up and down. This was going to be better than going out with one of the homicide teams.
He'd never actually been in a prison cell before. He was a little uneasy about the company he was going to share the cell with, but he didn't think that he'd be under any risk of bodily harm. If the prison movies he'd seen over the years were at all accurate, he would just have to worry about the recreation times out in the prison yards. That was always where the "rat" was taken out with a shank in the back.
Suddenly his phone rang. He fumbled taking it out of his pocket and almost dropped it. He glanced at the picture of the beautiful woman on the screen as thumbed the accept slide.
"Hey beautiful."
"Hey lover, what ya doing?" He smiled at Kate's playful tone.
"Just finishing up my dinner." He swallowed the last of his wiener. "What are you doing?"
Her tone changed quickly. "Pretty much what I've been doing since I got here. I'm being bored."
He chuckled. "Not the most exiting presentations I take it." He imagined he could see the movement of her hair swishing along her cheek as she shook her head."
"Aargh. I feel like I'm being punished for some wrong doing. The food is barely eatable, the meetings are boring, the seminars are poorly put together and boring, and the speakers don't seem to have ever talked to a crowd before… and they are boring."
Castle gave her a supportive laugh. One that expressed consolation instead of mirth. Though he was amused by her whining
"Would you mind if I put in my resignation and come home."
This time his laughter expressed his mirth. "That'd be just fine by me…"
Just then he realized that he had to make up a reason why he wasn't going to be home. He quickly fell back on an often situation that would pull them apart with little advance warning.
"But, as it so happens I won't be home for a few days."
"What? Why?" Her voice was a combination of surprise and irritation.
"I'm not really sure how Gina found out about your seminars, but she got it in her head that it would be a great chance to do some extra publicity. I was going to call you tonight and let you know that I'll be out of touch."
"Okay, what does the task master have you doing now?"
"Apparently somehow, through her witchy magic, she was able to put together a few days of promotions out on the west coast."
"Really, what kind of promotions?"
"As you know Black Pawn is working on a bunch of repackaging on the Storm books and they plan to have me appear on some of the daytime shows to plug the new omnibus collections and the latest Heat books."
"How long are you going to be out there?" She sounded annoyed. "How long are you going to be gone?"
Castle crossed his fingers. "I be back after the weekend."
"Great." The timber of her voice betrayed her feelings. "I'll be able to come home from a horribly bland and boring week, to an empty loft. Lucky me."
Rick chuckled to try and break her mood. "It won't be that bad. Just a day or two that you can use to catch up with whatever you missed at the 12th, and you can have Lanie over for a girls night in." He paused for a couple beats. "Just don't drink all the good stuff."
Kate harrumphed over the phone. "You're just lucky I don't generally like your "good stuff". But I guarantee that if Lanie comes over we are going to seriously hurt your liquor stock."
Castle smiled as they talked for about fifteen minutes more, than Rick begged off claiming that he had to get packed then get some sleep as he had an early flight in the morning. They exchanged I love yous and hung up.
Castle wandered into his bedroom and stood there running through what Demming, Esposito, and he had talked about in Kate's office. Obviously it was too late to contact one of the guys he knew that might be able to help him with his convict look disguise.
He stepped into the en suite bathroom and rummaged around in the under cabinet that supported the sink and countertop. He soon found what he was looking for in the far back corner. It was a home haircutting kit that he bought years ago before he could afford the terribly expensive haircuts that were now his signature look.
He flipped open the box, and stared at the implements within. Well one thing was for sure. He definitely wasn't going to have his normal signature hairstyle once he finished.
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Rick shuffled into the 12th precinct early the next morning. He was stopped in the main lobby by a young patrolman when he attempted to enter the elevator to take him up to the fourth floor. He had to show the young policeman his driver's license to show who he was.
He hadn't been seen around the precinct nearly as much as he had been around before Kate became the captain, but his name was still well known. He claimed his "look" was part of a prank he was going to play on a friend later in the day.
Once he was allowed onto the elevator he made his way up to the fourth floor and Homicide. He stepped out of the cab and immediately walked over to the captain's office.
The door was unlocked, and the lights were on, but the blinds had been shuttered. He didn't knock he just pushed the door open and walked in.
Sitting behind the desk was Lt. Demming. Castle couldn't help but think that Tom was trying the desk on to see how well it would fit him. Esposito was sitting on the couch.
Javi gave him a double take. "Woah! You downgrade pretty well there Castle."
Demming nodded. "I'm surprised that you were able to get up to this floor."
Rick chuckled as he scratched at his three day plus beard. "I almost didn't. Some rookie patrolman tried to keep me off the elevator. I had to show him my driver's license to prove who I was."
Demming grinned. "Well, you should probably give me your wallet, keys, and such for safe keeping. Knowledge of this little undercover operation will need to be kept on a very down low. We can't risk some loose conversations might compromise everything by allowing the possibility of the plan getting back to Robinson."
Castle frowned. "Does he still have friends here?"
Demming shrugged. "I wouldn't think so, but why take any risk."
Castle nodded and emptied his pockets and gave his stuff to Esposito rather than Demming.
Demming just smirked at that. "Well, let's go." They left the office and Tom led the way down the back stairs. "I talked to Warden Blanchard and he said he'd be able to place you in Robinson's cell."
"Doesn't he have a cellmate already?" Castle assumed that anyone not in solitary confinement would be expected to share a cell with another prisoner.
Tom shrugged again. "Apparently, his former cellmate was moved a couple days ago."
Rick raised a brow. "Do you know why?"
Demming smirked. "He had to be sent to the prison hospital."
Castle stopped where he was half way down the stairs. "Why?"
Tom grinned as he continued on. "The story is he slipped on a bar of soap in the shower."
Rick glared at the Lieutenant, but followed him down to the exit door at the back of the precinct building.
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Kate was annoyed as she made her way to the next meeting room. It was just like Gina to pounce on any chance to twist Rick's arm to do extra publicity for Black Pawn. She knew that it wouldn't even be for a new book since they weren't going to release his next book until this fall.
She loved his writing, but sometimes she wished that he wasn't so willing to promote so often. Especially now that with her being the captain he wasn't able to spend much time at the precinct like he used to when he was part of her team.
Her greatest regret on becoming the captain of the 12th was the fact that she couldn't work side by side with him nearly every day. She was stuck behind a desk most of her days while he was actually getting more writing done.
She shook her head, then had to tuck it behind her ears. Maybe being the captain wasn't the best move she could have made. But then, she really didn't have anywhere else to go. It was the next, and only step she had open to her.
She hated being drowned by paperwork now, she couldn't imagine what it would be like if she ever wound up at 1PP. Just the thought of that caused her to shiver.
"Hey Kate, are you in room 10 for the next meeting, or in room 20?"
Kate glanced behind her to see Jean catching up with her.
"I'm in room 10 first, then some other room that I don't remember, then after lunch I'm in 20."
Her former Academy friend smiled. "Oh good. Let's find seats in the back so then we can whisper crude remarks about the speaker."
Kate managed to hold back a laugh, but let her smile indicate she liked the idea.
Kate gave her a sideway look. "I like the way you think."
As they walked toward the next meeting room they were headed toward, Kate gave her friend from old a side long look. Jeanie Harper had always been a more studious person than Kate was. And as she found out. Jean had been a captain for three years now, though Kate had to take into consideration that Rockford wasn't Manhattan.
Still, Jean had been more reserved in her manner and didn't seem to like a lot of the physical action that being a detective required. She complained about the paperwork like everyone did, but she was thankful that she no longer had to throw herself into dangerous situations and deal with life or death possibilities. Especially since she was married with children.
Kate looked at the young woman and wondered if that would be her in a couple of years.
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"Now I'm going to have to fill you in on your rap sheet." Tom gave Castle a glance as they pulled out of the precinct garage. "You are going in as a small time B and E thief who has been in jail at East Side Penitentiary. The reason you are being transferred to the same prison that Robinson is in is because you are also supposed to be having your parole hearing this coming weekend." Demming smirked. "So in the name of convenience and saving a few bucks, it was decided to place you in the same prison that Robinson is in."
Castle rolled his eyes. "I suppose that Robinson's former cell mate's injury was just a coincidental lucky break, a story fabricated so I could be placed in his cell."
Tom smirked. "Something like that."
Castle stared out the windshield for a few moments. "Why do I think that, if I don't get any useful information from old Miles, that I'll be riding the same transport to the same courthouse as Robinson will be riding?"
Demming chuckled. "Kate always said you had a good grasp of situational planning and seeing the variables that could possibly become problems."
Castle shook his head. "Well, it's nice to know that my wife thinks of me as something more than just a sex toy."
Tom frowned. "I could spend the rest of our trip without any more comments like that."
Castle just laughed.
The ride wasn't a long one and soon they were being escorted through the gates and onto the backside entrance into the prison. Demming cuffed Castle's hands behind his back, and began to lead him toward a guarded entrance.
Demming leaned over. "Now don't forget the bio we came up with for you. You are Spencer Marlowe, a small time B and E two time loser who has served three years on an unsuccessful break in, and the trial was botched by a wet behind the ears assigned public defender. Now you supposedly have a chance to right a wrong."
Castle glanced over at Demming, who had put on his stoic face. "So, if I'm able to get the information where Robinson hid the jewels. How do I get word to you guys so I don't have to stay in jail any longer than I have to?"
"It won't be quite that easy." Demming fought back a slight smirk. "You'll have to wait until we come to take Robinson and you to the courthouse. Since Robinson was from the 12th and he was caught by officers of the 12th, he will be escorted to the courthouse by the 12th." Demming let his smile grow a bit larger. "Stewart and Franklin from Robbery are going to be your escorts. You'll be collected once you are at the courthouse."
Castle glanced at the sun in the sky, and by its position he knew he'd already missed out on a one meal.
"So, do you know what's being served for lunch?"
Demming chuckled. "No I don't, but I can guarantee that you won't like it."
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Kate managed to hook up with Jean for their lunch break. Having run into Jean here and made a world of difference for her. The programs, seminars, and lectures were painfully boring but just having Jean around to gripe with made a huge difference. She was actually enjoying herself slipping caustic notes back and forth whenever they attended the same lecture. And on their breaks between seminars they spent time in the one of the lounges set aside for them.
Jean met Kate outside room 38 where she just finished listening to a droning lecture on tactics. Tactics that anyone who kept up with new advances in equipment and forms of hand to hand combat would have found the lecture incredibly out dated.
"So, I'm on lunch break now," Jean asked. "Are you?"
Kate nodded. "What do you have in mind? There are a couple small café's is the building, or if we have the time, maybe we can ask if there is someplace close that has edible food."
Jean laughed. "I say, let's just get a recommendation from someone at the front desk." Jean shivered. "I can't believe that people who work here would eat here every day."
Kate sidled up next to her friend and matched her stride. "Unless there is a lot of brown bagging going on."
Both left the floor and headed for the front desk. After talking to a young woman there, they got a short list of a few decent possibilities.
They walked out the front door, made a left and started walking, as they were directed. They came across a smallish sidewalk café called "Mom's".
Jean smirked. "Kind of pretentious don't you think?"
They both stepped in and took a table next to the front window. Kate looked around. "Well, for one I know that someone is going to actually cook our food. I can smell meat cooking on a grill. I don't think a place called Mom's is going to use microwaves to cook their entrees."
A perky young woman came to their table, and set two glasses of iced water. "Good afternoon." She handed each of them a two-sided one page menu. "What can I get you ladies to drink?"
Both chose coffee and then turned their attention to the menu. It looked like the kind of menu that regular people would choose from. No ridiculous pretentious names, no attempt at exotic foreign dishes, just filling food that when prepared right would satisfy most people.
Kate felt she had to take a chance and ordered their mama sized cheeseburger. She was curious to see how it might stack up against Remy's. Not that she expected anything to match a Remy's cheeseburger. Jean went for a club sandwich. Just because she was feeling adventurous and she was sure that no one could match Remy's fries, Kate decided to try the tater tots. Jean went for the fries. Kate nodded, because that meant she could try them out too. Since coleslaw came with nearly every meal, they would be having coleslaw also.
As soon as the waitress left the table with their orders, Jean leaned over and stared right into Kate's eyes.
"Okay, spill it." Kate gave her a confused look. "I want to know what it's like being married to a big deal celebrity. And I want to know how he wound up working with you for all those years." Jean leaned back in her chair then soften her voice to just above a whisper. "And I want to know how good the sex is."
Kate raised her brow. "You seem to want to know a lot." She smirked. "You don't see me asking you to tell me about your sex life."
Jean rolled her eyes. "I would if I could remember what it was."
Kate gave her friend a mild glare. "Now I find that hard to believe."
Jean chuckled. "How long have you been married?"
"We're celebrated our first anniversary about six months ago."
Jean let go a full laugh. "And that's why. I've been married to my man for going on ten years now. Sex is saved for "special times", like birthdays, anniversaries, and certain holidays."
Kate rolled her eyes but felt a sudden clench in her chest. "Oh you. I don't believe that at all. A good looking woman like you probably has to beat your husband off all the time."
Jean grinned. "With your looks, you'll probably be able to sustain the attention longer than most of us do. But eventually, it happens to all of us. Familiarly eventually cools off the passion."
Kate just shook her head, her long hair brushing over her shoulders. She couldn't see that ever happening to her and Castle… could she? She pushed it out of her mind and smirked. "Actually, Rick has to worry about me attacking him as much as he gets amorous with me."\
Jean snorted. "I don't find that hard to believe. While he is a hunk. You are gorgeous. I'll bet you had to beat off men with a stick."
Kate laughed. "Not really, all I had to do was this…" Kate gave Jean the glare she used to give to Castle early on."
Jean laughed. "I could see where that could make some guy think twice." She raised her brow. "But Castle must have been persistent if the two of you finally ended up together."
Kate leaned back in her chair. "I don't know how he put up with me. He almost gave up on me a couple of times, but somehow we managed to survive those times when outside interference caused occasional brain farts that pushed one or the other away for a while. But bless that man. He never actually gave up on me." Kate took a sip of her coffee. "There were times when I pushed him away so far that I figured he'd never want to see me again. But..."
"But he loved you." Jean gave her a soft smile.
Kate let a large grin take over her mouth. "Yeah, he did. And I loved him too, but there were times when I was too stupid to realize what actually was important in my life. It took time, but eventually I had that wake up call. I finally realized, that nothing I had been, or was going to be doing wasn't going to have any meaning if he wasn't there beside me to experience it together."
"Ah…" Jean cooed. "Your life was like a Hallmark card."
Kate laughed out loud. "More like a horror movie where the couple has to go through a myriad of mistakes, pain, near death experiences, and just plain stupidity until they finally realized that all they ever really needed was the love they already had for each other."
Jean furrowed her brown and bit her bottom lip. You're definitely a different woman now from the hard driven, no-nonsense, stay out of my way Kate Beckett that I knew back at the Academy."
Kate smiled. "I am a different woman now."
Jean rolled her eyes. "And I suppose it's all because of Castle?"
Kate chuckled. "Not exactly. He was instrumental for a couple of things. He got me to open my eyes and really see what was out there. What options that were out there for me that I could utilize to make things better. And I needed to reopen my heart if I was ever going to be happy. When my mother was killed, I took my heart and wrapped it tightly in psychological bandages because I felt I would never be able to love again because it would just be taken away from me. Rick showed me that no matter how badly you've been hurt, there are always chances to experience good also." Kate smiled. "Because of those two things I was able to accept what the world was offering me, and how I can use it to make my life better."
Jean smiled. "Sounds to me like making your life better consists mostly of being married to Richard Castle."
Kate grinned. "Yeah, it kind of does look that way doesn't it?" Kate leaned over the table toward Jean, and she leaned in toward Kate. "Just don't tell him that. His ego is big enough as it is."
They both broke out laughing.
Too soon their lunch time had expired and they needed to get back to the hotel where the seminars were taking place. Kate was thankful that she ran into Jean at this dreadful set of meetings and such. Without her to talk to, she would be stuck in a non-stop, unending loop of boredom that she doubted she would have survived.
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A/N: This was just a bit of a breather for the gentle readers. Coming up in the next chapter we'll be getting into Castle's trip to prison.
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All Readers are Appreciated, Review if you wish