Unexpected Appearance Chapter 28

From her seat with Rick on one of the suite's couches, Kate gazes at the murder board. "I miss him. You know, Castle, when I first met Royce, I was in total awe of him. Later, I realized he was just making up stories to mess with me."

"So, you like guys who make up stories?"

"It wasn't just that, Castle. Mike heard me. He realized how important it was for me to find my mother's killer. But I guess you've always done that, too. Sometimes, you realized it more than I did."

"Kate, there are some things that shine like a laser through the cracks in the protective walls you put around yourself. Your need for justice, for your mother and others, is the brightest of them. Do you know what I thought when we first met?"

"That I wanted you to sign my chest?"

"After that. That you were a mystery I was never going to solve. Even now that I understand what drives you, I'm still amazed at the depths of your strength, your heart – and your hotness."

"You're not so bad yourself, Castle."

"Kate, I know you're waiting to break things off with Josh, but I need you to know that I'm on your side all the way, whatever happens – even if Montgomery fires you."

"You want to follow me around at the mall?"

'I can always hang out in the food court until you're on your break. But if you're still running true to form, you could be using that time to solve a murder. Ooh! The Mall Cop Murders! That could be another series."

"I just wish we'd hear from the boys about a break in this murder."

Rick checks his watch. "Eleven o'clock. That makes it two am in New York. If they get in early, you could get your call before sunrise. You should get some rest while you can."

"You're right." Her eyes are still locked on Rick as Kate pushes up from the couch. "Good night, Castle."

"Sleep well, Kate." He watches the door of her room close behind her. "One of us should."

Wrapped in a luxurious robe comped by the hotel, Rick comes out of his room to find Kate already at the murder board. She clips a printout, courtesy of a printer supplied by Maurice, to the board.

"Research on Kelvin North America?" Rick inquires.

"Uh-huh. I'm trying to figure out this heist. Charles Kelvin said that the last time the vault was accessed was 11:46 Tuesday night."

"That must be when the thieves stole the meltaway bullets," Rick figures.

Kate nods. "A load that would have filled all those metal shelves." She points at a rendering of the building plans. "The thieves would have had to take it out through the loading dock."

"But when we were onsite, there was a guard stationed there," Rick recalls. "There's no way they could get their booty out without inside help."

"Exactly," Kate agrees. "I called the security company. Luckily, they have someone in dispatch 24/7. She said that the only guard on duty at the loading dock that night was a guy named Reggie Walsh."

"And….?"

"He asked to be reassigned the next day."

"The plot thickens." A loud rap vibrates through the door of the suite. "Did you order breakfast?"

"No, I was too busy working."

Quickly locking gazes, Rick and Kate push the murder board into her room. Rick opens the door to Detective Seegar. "You're getting an early start."

"And you're late leaving town," Seegar notes.

"Mea culpa," Rick claims. "I couldn't bear to let our reservation at Spago's go to waste.

"If overpaying for dinner was all you two were doing, I wouldn't be here," Seegar retorts. "Even before I had my coffee this morning, a report crossed my desk about a theft at Kelvin North America. Your names jumped out at me. Now tell me, what does a theft of high-tech bullets have to do with a murder investigation?"

"We're not investigating a murder anymore," Kate declares. "Remember, we're off the case."

Sighing, Seegar shakes his head. "Are we really going to do that dance?"

"Look, we don't know anything more about the theft than you do," Kate lies.

"But if we stumble across something on our way to the airport, we'll be sure to let you know," Rick adds.

Seegar glares at the pair. "See that you do, Detective."

Kate nods. "Goodbye."

"Are you sure it's such a good idea to cut him out?" Rick asks Kate as the sound of Seegar's retreating footsteps fades.

Kate retrieves the murder board. "Castle, the only thing Seegar cares about is that robbery, not Royce's murder."

"They are inextricably linked," Rick points out. "Royce was killed with bullets stolen from Kelvin North America. We and Seegar may be after the same guy."

"Maybe," Kate acknowledges, "but a murder investigation has to move a lot faster than a robbery inquiry. I can't afford to have Seegar slowing me down. What we need to do is question that guard, Reggie Walsh. The problem is I can't just flash my NYPD badge. If Walsh has any security training at all, he'd know I have no jurisdiction here."

Rick grins. "Taylor was anxious to work on getting into his Raley character. And Herve was into Ochoa. Tony said you could be an actress. I suspect he would go for a masterclass in interrogation, especially if you're the one conducting it."

Reggie squirms next to Kate in the back seat of Zenith Studio's surprisingly accurate version of an LAPD detective's unit. "Like I told you, I don't know anything about a robbery."

From behind the wheel, Herve snorts. "Give me a break, Reggie. We know you're lying."

"You're a punk," Taylor adds.

"A dirty lag. A low-down rat bastard," Herve continues.

"Easy guys," Kate's clichéd version of a female detective counsels.

"Yeah, I mean, we all wear the uniform, right?" Reggie responds, hopefully.

"Yeah, and I hope yours makes you look good on TV," Kate says.

Reggie gulps. "What are you talking about?"

"The news cameras outside the division. The press just loves a good perp walk, Reggie. And if you're mixed up in this, I'm sure you wouldn't want to be seen talking to cops." Kate slips out of her severely cut jacket. "So, as a courtesy, I'm going to let you cover up with this." Reggie drapes the jacket over his head. "I wouldn't take it off until we get into the interview room," Kate counsels. "There might be reporters along the way."

"Thanks," Reggie responds gratefully.

Waving at the guard at the gate, Taylor drives into Zenith Studios.

Rick examines the details of the Stage 6 interview room. It's not an exact replica of the one at the 12th precinct, but in this case, that might be a good thing. Reggie needs to think he's in an LA division.

"The gate says they just drove in," a production assistant reports.

"All right, get ready, people," Tony instructs, "this has to be perfect in one take."

With Kate's jacket still over Reggie's head, Rick pushes him into a chair in the interview room set as the fourth wall is put in place. The crew watches a monitor.

Kate retrieves her jacket. "All right, Reggie. The only way I can help you is if you tell me the truth."

Rick stares down at him. "You're a security guard, and you know how the inmates treat former law enforcement in prison."

"You'll need protection," Kate adds, "and I'm the only one who can get it for you."

Reggie pulls at his collar. "I didn't do anything, but I'll tell you what I know."

Tony nudges the director. "Didn't I tell you this was gonna be great?"

Kate settles into her chair opposite Reggie. "I'm listening."