A/N: Hi! This one gave me fits, I had a hard time getting it to come together. There's a little bit of a surprise in this one – it surprised me too. But I always feel that at least for me that what comes first is best. Even if I wanted to change it, that change wouldn't work as well. I'm sure you'll figure it out when you get there, I won't spoil :)

I hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 10

Vulcan Simmons was a drug runner in Washington Heights, as I'm sure you know.

Johanna was standing in front of the whiteboard, lecturing like a school teacher to her rapt students. Said students nodded acknowledgement.

We – my colleagues and I – got into a confrontation with him once. I don't recall exactly what was said, but we were threatened. We left soon afterward. Not because we were scared – though we were, I'm almost surprised we weren't all shot where we stood that day. No, we left because we wanted to study up on Simmons. And what we learned didn't quite jibe with your average drug dealer. Let's move on, we can get into details after we've gotten to everyone on the board.

Ryan nodded. Sometimes getting the basic gist of everything was a good way to start. They'd get to the nitty-gritty soon enough.

Johanna moved on to the next name on the whiteboard.

Joe Pulgatti. I was the last of a long line of lawyers he'd called for help. The only reason I was last was because I actually agreed to listen to him. He was in prison for the murder of a man named Bob Armen. He swore up and down that he had been framed. Now don't get me wrong, Joe was indeed a crook, he was a Mafia enforcer, teaching 'lessons' to those who screwed up. I'm not saying he didn't kill anyone ever, but he told me he preferred to keep them alive to 'learn' from their mistakes. Bob Armen – as we discovered later, was an FBI agent, working undercover in the family Joe worked for.

"So, you know he was guilty of a lot of crimes," interrupted Ryan. "How do you know he wasn't lying this time?"

It had been hours. No one had thought about food – the shock of seeing the ghosts and then hearing the story from them had thrown the doctor and cop for a loop. Neither wanted to interrupt the flow of things with something as trivial as sustenance.

Fair question, Detective. And I wasn't sure myself until I did some digging into some of the things he told me in the letter I got from him. There were enough discrepancies in the official version of what happened that I was intrigued enough to talk to him in person. The murder turned out to be an attempted kidnapping gone wrong. Three professionals were grabbing members of all the families in New York City.

"I know this was way before my time," Ryan interjected again. "But shouldn't there be records of all this with the police?"

There are a couple of reasons for that, Kev," said Kate. The families wanted to keep it quiet to deal with internally. Most did pay the ransoms – especially if the kidnappee was important in the family – but they were working on finding out who the kidnappers were in order to dispense their own justice.

"You said a couple of reasons." This time it was Lanie who broke in. "What else? What are the other reasons you think are there?"

Johanna took up the narrative again. She pointed to the names and photos of Raglan and McCallister on the board.

These two – Detectives John Raglan and Gary McCallister are the ones who framed Joe. I'm not sure how Joe knew – I was killed before he could tell me – but they and someone else were the kidnappers.

"Cops?!" Ryan was incredulous. "Are you sure?"

I am, answered Kate. After Mom died, I went into a tailspin – I've told you some of this Lanie."

The medical examiner nodded.

I left Stanford and transferred to NYU and then got into the police academy. Once I finished there and got my badge, I dove right into the case. I went down to records every night after my shift. It wasn't until Captain Montgomery caught me that I made copies and took them home. I glommed onto Raglan right from the start. 'Random gang violence' just didn't set well with me. Arguably I was just looking for someone to blame and the guy who told us about her murder was as good as anyone to accuse – fair or not. But then I saw that during that time Raglan had been making deposits into the thousands of dollars. A hell of a lot more than a cops biweekly paycheck should have been. So I dug deeper.

"How did that get you to him being one of the kidnappers? And McCallister too?" asked Castle. They hadn't been through everything Kate and Johanna knew, since they wanted to tell the whole story just once – though they knew they'd have to repeat it to Esposito, as well as go over each section multiple times.

Kate was pensive, as if she didn't want to tell them.

"Kate?" Lanie prompted.

Again, Captain Montgomery caught me looking at the records. He saw me digging into Raglan and the oddities I found there. He kicked me out of records, but I knew he knew I wasn't going to stop. This was my mother for God's sake!

She paused, again not wanting to fully explain to these people that she loved about the person that they all loved.

I don't know if it was guilt, or he just wanted to make things as right as he could, but Montgomery eventually told me about the kidnappings.

"Wait, if the Mob families were 'taking care of things' with the kidnappings," said Kevin. "How did the captain know?"

Kate looked stricken.

This is probably going to make you walk out, but Montgomery was the third kidnapper.

XXXXXX

Stunned silence. A dropped pin would have clattered like a fork dropped onto a plate.

"Wait a minute. Are you suggesting Montgomery told you this?" Ryan asked.

I'm not suggesting anything – I'm out and out saying Montgomery told me he was involved in the kidnappings.

"Why?" Lanie broke in. "Why would he tell you and not the rest of us – or confess to his superiors?"

I think he had a plan to make a deal and turn in Raglan and McCallister…

"He did testify against McCallister," Ryan mentioned. "Raglan had been killed by then."

Kate nodded and continued her story.

Montgomery wasn't much past a rookie when he fell in with those two and still pretty green. They told him that in order to clean up the streets, they had to really do it. But I believe – based on the website Castle found all those years ago and the photo with Lockwood – that it wasn't until then assistant DA William Bracken got wind of what was going on that things got heavy. That's going to be a bitch to prove, though.

"Wait a second… You think Bracken knew about the kidnappings?"

A new voice entered the conversation.

"Yes."

All eyes turned to see Javier Esposito coming into the room accompanied by Martha Rodgers.

XXXXXX

"Baby, what are you doing here?" Lanie exclaimed in surprise, standing up and giving him a hug and kiss. "You said you had meetings all week." She looked at her watch and her eyes widened that it was past 4PM.

Returning the hug, Javi answered, "I do babe, we just finished early today and though I trust Kevin with my life and yours, I had to see what the hell was going on with Castle for myself."

He turned to the writer with a glare, completely ignoring the ghosts in the room. Whether he saw them or not, Kate couldn't tell, but she decided to wait him out – see what kind of questioning he'd give Rick.

"Mr. Castle," he said a little coldly.

"Captain Esposito," Rick returned, holding his hand out. "It's too bad we couldn't have met under better circumstances."

Espo just nodded and turned to the whiteboard as Rick lowered his hand.

"Mother? I didn't hear the doorbell."

"You were busy," she replied with a small smile. "You probably wouldn't have heard a thunderstorm."

"Come in, meet everyone," Rick stepped aside to welcome Martha inside the room.

"Oh, no, the six of you are going to be getting into the thick of things – if you're not already. I'll leave you to it and order pizza. Once you've hashed everything out – " she lowered her voice. "And Captain Esposito gets over the shock of his life…" she nodded towards Kate and Johanna. "Call down and I'll bring it up." She turned back toward the doorway and stairs.

"Mother, this whole thing affects you too," Rick said. "It's your chance to get your house back."

Martha laughed.

"Back? Richard, we've shared this house with Johanna since we moved in whether we knew it or not." She shook her head. "I'm not complaining or frightened any more. But I know nothing of police work – or the kind of research you do for your books. I know you'll say I'm not in the way, but I would be. I don't know…"

"Mother, any insight you could give would be welcome. You know that. But I won't push you. These are strangers to you after all, and I know you're not quite back up to snuff." He said the last in a whisper so as not to hurt Kate, who was still feeling guilty about what she'd done to Martha.

"Thank you, Richard. I wouldn't mind talking to Kate and Johanna before they leave us. And if we can get Johanna's husband here, that would be wonderful for her – and for Kate. I'd like to be the one who brings him up here if he can be convinced to come. I know there's more you have to discuss before that can happen, so I'll leave you to it."

She turned and left the room, leaving Rick watching after her.

XXXXXX

"Mr. Castle."

Rick jumped at Esposito's bark.

"Yes, Captain?" he moved to the board and faced the man.

"This is all information that you should not have," he indicated the whiteboard. I know you do 'research' for your books, but this is not stuff you would have found on the web."

Rick looked over at Kate in a slight panic. She shook her head, wanting to see if Espo would turn and see her.

"Where – and how did you get it? Was my wife right? Have you been following Jim Beckett around? As well as the rest of us who were close to Kate? Who do you know at the precinct? Did you bribe someone to get a copy of my files?"

Captain Esposito was getting right into Rick's face much to the writer's consternation. He made a mental not right then to never commit any sort of crime in the 12th precinct – not that he would have anyway, but he didn't want to go up against this man in interrogation.

He held up his hands to stop the captain and get a word in edgewise.

"No, I didn't bribe anyone," he insisted. "I wouldn't do that. I haven't seen any files; other than the research I've done with…"

"Really? You sure? Because there's a shitload of stuff on your board that's in my file. And the stuff in my file is only in my file. I've never shared the whole thing with anyone. Sorry, Kev," he interjected to Ryan, who just nodded. He'd figured there was a lot more to it than Javi had told him about.

Espo eyed the board, his eyes narrowed. Rick thought he would be able to see steam coming out of the captain's ears if that were a real thing.

"Jim Beckett gave me Kate's files. He'd never looked at them, saying he just couldn't – and that he probably wouldn't be able to make head nor tails of it even if he was in a mental place where he could go through it. I'm going to ask you again, Mr. Castle, and I want a truthful answer. Where and how the hell did you get Kate's file?"

From me.

XXXXXX

Esposito whipped around so fast he pulled a muscle in his neck. He stared at the apparition in disbelief.

"You…you…you…" he stuttered, ashen faced. He turned to his wife and friend – looking for signs they were pranking him.

"I know, Baby, it's hard to swallow – at best," Lanie said, standing and moving to his side.

"Castle's got too much info that even if he had been stalking us without a bunch of cops noticing, there's no way he'd ever get these details – unless he had indeed broken into the precinct and stolen the file…" Ryan began.

"I would never…!" Rick spluttered.

"I know, Castle," Ryan replied, holding up a calming hand. "That's what I mean, you couldn't have gotten what you have without breaking in or unless you had help. Which you did," he indicated Kate.

Rick nodded, mollified.

Esposito was still staring at Kate.

"How is this possible?"

Luck of the draw, I guess.

"Beckett…"

Espo's reaction was a surprise to everyone in the room.

Gone was the gruff police captain demanding to know where Castle got his information. In its place was a man still in mourning for one of his best friends. Even Lanie was astonished and she knew better than most what the loss of Kate Beckett had done to him.

"Are you real?" he asked. "Because if you're not, I'm pretty sure Lanie and Kevin will help me hide Castle's body."

Kate smiled sadly.

No, Jav, you won't have to put cement shoes on him. I'm real.

"I'm right here, you know," Rick cut in.

Kate smirked at him. Even at such a poignant moment, she still found a way to tease him. It made him fall in love with her even more.

"How? Why? Why here? Why not the precinct where we could help you?"

I can't answer that, Javi, I don't know. The last thing I remember is a split second of pain and then I was here.

Kate looked to the side at nothing from Esposito's point of view. She nodded and the captain saw a shimmer.

Johanna Beckett had returned. She'd disappeared after Javier had come in – she knew Kate would be the center of attention for her friend and she was tired. But now it was time to return.

Javier Esposito, she began. It's nice to meet you. I'd shake your hand, but the most you'd probably feel is a cold sensation, and I wouldn't feel anything. I'm Johanna Beckett, Kate's mother.

XXXXXX

Esposito gaped. He looked at Kate then back to Johanna.

"You…you're the demon?"

Johanna laughed.

There's a police report about me?

"Uh, no, not that I know of. I looked in the Ledger's archives, I didn't search police files," Espo said lamely, looking a bit abashed.

Johanna laughed again; a musical sound that made everyone smile.

It wasn't funny at the time, but hearing it made the Ledger just makes me laugh. Yes, I suppose I am the 'demon'. Both ministers refused to believe I just wanted to move on – leave the house to the owners. I really think they wanted the exorcisms to fail so they could use me to show that Satan was alive and well in New York City, to keep their flocks in line. I'm not saying that all religious people are like that, but these men… What am I supposed to think? I asked for help, and they refused to do so.

Johanna had lost her smile; melancholy coming over her once again.

I guess it still really isn't funny. Anyway, I had wondered if I was meant for Katie, she continued directing her comments to Javier. Even though it was 10 years later, maybe who or whatever powers that be wanted me to wait for Katie and we could go together. But the portal opened for her and I couldn't go through by myself. Katie was helping me push through, but then Rick grew up enough to help us gather evidence against Bracken – even though he's not a cop, we figured he could help us get started. I decided I needed to come out and help. It's going to take some doing to prove the facts, and the more people – living and dead – to help, that's the best thing.

She noticed Rick wince at the word 'dead'.

Relax, Rick. I know it's off-putting for the living for Katie and me to lay it out like that, but it's true. We will either move on or haunt here forever. We're both hoping for the former – as I'm sure your mother is – but either way, we're not coming back to life.

Rick nodded unhappily. Kate was frowning as well.

Captain Esposito broke the tension.

"Okay, I have the file Kate gave me before…" he broke off, acknowledging what they all knew he meant, then continued, all Captain now. "I've been working on it over the years, let's see what I can add to what you have."

Lanie and Kevin looked at each other. They were shocked at how easily their husband and friend accepted the ghosts. Neither knew that Kate had given Javi all the information she had about her mother's murder, but it didn't surprise them that he hadn't shared. He kept things close to the vest anyway, and since this was an ice cold case they understood he didn't want to get in the way of anything current.

"Richard!" It was Martha calling up the stairs. "Pizza's here!"

"Thank you, Mother!" he called back. He turned to the others. "Let me run down and grab it, then we can discuss the case over dinner."

XXXXXX

The phone rang.

"Yes?"

"Sir, there may be some developments."

"What kind of developments?"

"I was finally able to get into the captain's computer files."

"And?"

"And he knows it's you."

"How?"

"It seems that Kate Beckett figured it out and gave Captain Esposito the information."

"Who else knows?"

"That I don't know, Sir. He may have told at least one of his subordinates a – Kevin Ryan. A Lieutenant. Apparently, they were partners as detectives and they're still friends."

"Is there proof? As in admissible in court?"

"Not from what I can see, Sir. Unless there's more to the file than what I've found."

"Keep digging. And keep me informed, no matter how inconsequential it seems."

"Yes, Sir."

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A/N2: So, what did you think? Let me know!