48. Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Castle again found his wife's side of the bed empty when he woke, and he went looking for her. He found her filling her coffee cup, and she reached to get another mug for him.

Once the coffee was safely in the cups, he hugged her from behind and asked hopefully, "So, last night… The being angry on my behalf… The snuggling… The multiple times you said, 'I love you'… The mind-blowing sex… Does that mean I'm forgiven?"

She leaned back against him, her head moving to one side to allow him to easily leave little kisses on her neck, and answered. "You're forgiven, but it doesn't mean it won't take a long time for me not to be hurt and angry when I think about it. And I'm not sure Derrick Storm will ever be on my reading list again. I'll miss that. Those books were important to me. But you're more important than any of those things. Not forgiving you can't change anything anyway."

"Kate, I'm so sorry. I…"

"Stop apologizing. We both could have died…twice in just the past few days. Or one of us could have been left to live without the other. It puts things in perspective. We both said 'for better or for worse' and we seem to take turns delivering a little from both sides."

"Yeah, but this was kind of a big one."

"It pales in comparison to losing you." She turned in his arms to face him, and they shared several long, slow kisses before more or less melting together in each other's arms for a long moment.

"You're already dressed," he observed, nuzzling her hair.

"I woke up early and decided I might as well be. You need to get ready to go, too," she answered, pushing out of the little cocoon they had created. When he looked less than happy, she responded, "Hey, you're the one who insisted I go to the doctor, and made the appointment so early…and insisted on going with me."

"When we got you out of the water, I had to breathe for you before you started breathing on your own; and you coughed up that nasty river water. It scared me again, and I'll feel better if he checks on you. I'll go take a quick shower."

"I'll get a decent breakfast together while you do. We haven't eaten too well most of this week."

After the tests he required and having blood drawn, the doctor agreed she could go to work; but he recommended limited activity for a few days and a follow-up visit in a week, just to be on the safe side. He promised to call if any problems surfaced after the results of the blood work came back.

xxxxx

After arriving at the precinct, Beckett spoke to Gates and they worked out how to handle the paperwork. This time, rather than simply helping with the typing, Castle's writing skills came in handy in helping with the narrative aspect of the report.

The rest of the week was blessedly uneventful, so it was easy for Beckett to follow doctor's orders, as well as to leave on time. She and Castle went to the library one night and did some research on New York politicians without leaving a trail of library records behind them.

"We need the internet," he finally admitted on their way home, "but it can't look like we're the ones looking. We need another anonymous computer. I might get laptops for Ryan and Esposito, too. We need to let them know what we're doing and make it easy for them to help if they're okay with that."

"I hate to think of dragging them into this, but I'd feel better if somebody else knew."

"Me, too. I'll see Ben again tomorrow."

"How do you know Ben?"

"Junior high. He had a few shady friends in high school, but once he got married, he changed his ways, mostly. He runs a legitimate electronics business, but he does a little cash business on the side for friends who want something under the radar. I don't think he's buying stolen property, just getting merchandise from people who buy overstocks or buy out stock from places going out of business and accept cash for what they have left. Then those people only accept cash, and nobody pays taxes on any of it. It gives Ben some extra money for the kids to have music lessons or take karate or a family vacation now and then. I have cash in the safe. I won't even have to go to the bank."

"Speaking of the safe, do you think Sophia…"

"I checked while you were talking to Alexis the next day, and it doesn't look like she found anything behind it. A couple of things in the safe were out of place, but everything behind it was right where we left it. If she had found that, I think she would have thrown it in our faces, like she did with the safe and the computer files for Nikki. I didn't find any bugs, either."

"Yeah, she did seem to enjoy gloating," Kate grumbled.

"New subject?"

"Please."

xxxxx

A few days later, after a meeting at Black Pawn, Castle came home with another package he'd had delivered there. This time it was several new laptops. And then he showed Kate the fake IDs for everybody in the family, using their doctored passport pictures. Alexis was a brunette. Kate's hair was shorter and blond, and she wore glasses. Jim's hair was a salt and pepper light brown, and he had a moustache and wire rim glasses. Martha's hair was as white as it probably would be naturally without the hair color, and Castle wore glasses and had a short beard and a moustache, looking professorial. According to the ID's and new passports, they were the Selden family…parents and son, and the son's family.

"Fake ID's?" she asked. "Seriously, Castle? Oh, and I'm a blond? Isn't that your playboy go to image? Did you give me fake boobs, too? Honestly, don't you think you're taking this a little too far?"

"I'm serious as a heart attack. Whoever this guy is, he had my wife shot, Kate…right in front of me. Remember that? He's not going to get to my family again if I can help it. If we never need these IDs, we just won't use them, and that's fine. I wasted my money. But if we do, these could give us the time we need to disappear for a while. Mother has the materials and the skill for everything we need to become these people. And if we don't need them, they could come in handy for undercover work. Whoever this man is, he's ruthless, and…"

"And you don't want to lose any of us. I get it. You take your role as the head of the household very seriously, even though I can kick butt all by myself. And, in spite of all the teasing, we all know that; and we respect it, and appreciate it, and love you for it. But, Castle, I expect you to call me out if you see signs of the rabbit hole. And I'm going to call you out on the paranoia."

"Okay. I guess I do sound a little paranoid, but I…"

"I've got to say, you're sliding in that direction right now. What's next? Martha gets us wigs, beards, and makeup to keep behind the safe? We all start packing go-bags to hide in there?"

"Okay, okay. I hear you," he said, holding both hands up in a look of agreement…almost. "It's getting too cloak and daggery for you. But I'm still glad we have the new computers…and I'm not sorry the IDs are there, either.

"Okay. I'll let the computers slide, Rich Guy. Fake IDs and thinking about disguises does concern me a little bit; but they're here now, so we might as well keep them. Oh, and Martha is going to hate that ID picture, by the way."

"I know," he answered with a smirky smile, looking pleased with himself."

Kate smiled and said, "You shouldn't be mean to your mother."

"And she shouldn't be mean to me."

Kate just shook her head and smiled. "We'll tuck them away in a just-in-case box or something."

"And that's all I intended. I just…"

"You're still my hero, you know," she told him.

"And you're mine," he answered with a smile.

She planted a kiss on his lips in return.

"I'll get one of the new computers set up under another name tonight, then we can use the internet anonymously…and judiciously."

Over the next few weeks, they did do some research online, looking for local, state, and national politicians whose careers started in New York City around the early nineties. They were careful to keep it relatively non-specific and didn't work in long sessions, but they had amassed a list longer than they had expected. Their next project would be to see if they could find any connection to Washington Heights or Vulcan Simmons or drugs. Simmons seemed to remember Johanna Beckett and her murder. He wouldn't remember her so well so long after the fact if there weren't some sort of good reason for it.

xxxxx

As they were working on a bombing where five people were killed, Beckett was developing a cough, and Castle wanted her to see the doctor again, but she was fighting it.

Castle was also worrying about Alexis and the toll her internship might be taking. When he and Beckett went to see Lanie to discuss the evidence she called them about, he saw Alexis near Lanie's office, outside the examination area, and walked over to check on her. She looked exhausted and overwhelmed.

"Don't you want to go home and get some rest, Honey? You don't have to be here at all, you know. I could take you home now."

"And would you stay at home, even though you don't need to be here, either? Everybody here needs rest, Dad. Dr. Parish wouldn't let me help at the crime scene this time. She said she didn't need to see that kind of carnage at her age and she certainly didn't intend to cause an eighteen year old nightmares. I've been cataloging and storing all the victims' personal effects. That and keeping the files organized is all she'll let me do."

"Knowing your heart, I'm sure that's enough of a struggle. And seeing what Lanie is having to do, I'm sure it's taking a big load off her shoulders."

"I'm not going home before my shift ends, Dad. I want to be here for whatever she needs. Then I'll go home and get some rest, I promise. Don't worry about me. Just help Kate catch whoever did this.

In spite of her mild protest about being at work, Castle could tell his daughter needed the hug he gave her.

"We have a lead. You ready to go?" Beckett asked Castle as she gave Alexis a hug, too. "Are you okay, Alexis?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Dad can fill you in."

Kate kissed the top of her stepdaughter's head, and Castle gently squeezed the girl's shoulder before they left. Looking over his shoulder, he told his daughter softly, "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad," she answered as she picked up several files and a few loose papers and turned toward Lanie's office.

"She's dedicated. I have to give her that," Beckett said on the way to the car. "I'm proud of her, too."

They closed the case a few days later, allowing a television reporter's arrest. The paperwork had been completed that morning, and the file was ready to turn over to the District Attorney, a case of a publicity stunt gone very wrong.

Leaving Gates's office after delivering the file and summarizing the latest developments, Castle said, "You need to see a doctor."

"It isn't in my chest, Castle. It isn't anything to worry about."

"Well, I'm going to worry you about it until you check on it and make sure."

With a full Beckett eye roll, she took out her phone and grudgingly called to make an appointment. There had been a cancellation, and they were able to give her an appointment right after work.

"Are you happy?" she grumbled.

"Yes. Are you ready for lunch?"

"Yes. Remy's? I need comfort food before I can talk to you."

"Strawberry shake sound good?" he asked pushing the call button for the elevator.

"It might help."

"Usually does," he said as they entered and the doors closed. Then he took his place beside her and mischievously kissed her head. "I'm just trying to take care of you. Sometimes you forget to do that."

"I know. I'm sorry I was grouchy about it."

"I love you."

"I know," she answered, unsuccessfully trying to hide her little smile.

"You love me, too," he said with a little smirk.

"I know," she answered and bumped his shoulder. Then she smiled at him, he leaned in for a quick kiss on her lips, and by the time the doors opened in the lobby, all was right in their world again.

She sent him home that afternoon and went to her appointment alone; and when she arrived at home later, she waved a prescription bag at him.

"Sinus infection," she told him. It was wreaking havoc with my throat and causing the cough. I have medicine, so it should be all better in less than two weeks."

"Must be a wonder drug. I feel better already," he said with a smile.

"You're such a goofball. What's for dinner?" she asked, getting water to take her medication.

"Chicken parmigiana," he said, opening the oven door and making a show of fanning the aroma of their main dish toward her.

"Mmmmmm. What can I do to help?"

"Kiss the cook. Everything else is done," he answered, closing the oven door.

"That's easy."

He wrapped his arms around her, and they engaged in some playful kissing as they waited for the chicken to cook.

Alexis came down the stairs and caught them again. "Is that all you do in the kitchen anymore?" she asked, pretending disgust.

"No, but it's the most fun part," her father answered and grabbed Kate's arm, noisily kissing up it from the wrist to the shoulder in a manner worthy of a cartoon.

They all laughed at that, then Kate retrieved her arm, pretended to need to wipe it off, and asked Alexis to help her set the table.

Martha came in just as they were plating the food and proceeded to tell them about the progress at her school, and the plans for the opening. Application process, advertising, etc. She had really done her homework, seemed to know exactly what she wanted, and was actively putting it together.

"Mother, I'm really impressed," Castle told her. "I've seen you on stage, but I'm looking forward to seeing you get other people there."

"Thank you, Richard. It's exciting. I think I'm going to enjoy it."

xxxxx

Coming home after closing out the paperwork at the end of a case a few weeks later, Castle was all but squealing. "Zombies, Kate. We had a case with zombies!"

"They weren't real zombies, Castle," she answered with a grin at his glee.

"Don't kill the mood. The case was full of zombies. And there are zombie walks, Kate. Will you dress up like the walking dead and go with me for one sometime? Just one. That would be enough. Please?"

"Maybe."

That netted her a huge kiss from the ten year old sounding grown man…with the warm, broad solid chest, and the impressive biceps holding her, and the decidedly grown-up talent for kissing. Kate Castle would probably be roped into a zombie walk before long. The man did have persuasive powers.

Later that night they were on another online information hunt. They had narrowed their list of possible politicians down to about twenty but hadn't given up.

"We have a lot of people on this list. Roy said 'him', so I think we can be pretty certain it isn't a woman. If he's a politician, we might eventually find him in this list," Kate commented.

"But, if he isn't a politician, we're back at square one," Castle answered.

"We need a break from this. And we need to tell the boys what we're doing. I think we need to tell them about Smith, too."

Castle turned off the laptop and plugged it in to charge. "Tomorrow night? We can invite them over here tomorrow night and talk to them then. And give them phones and laptops. Then they can help you tell me how paranoid I am."

"Okay. Let's do that. Um...not necessarily the paranoid part, but you're right...Javi is probably gonna go there. Do we show them what's behind the safe?"

"I haven't decided yet. I wouldn't worry about it if they knew, though."

"We'll decide before tomorrow night," she said.

xxxxx

Their next case took them to an alley where a young Hispanic man, Orlando Costas, had been shot. Lanie told them he was shot in the shoulder by one gun, and in the head, execution style, by another one. After gaining information from his girlfriend, they found his car a couple of blocks from where he was shot. Inside it there was a GPS, and the last thing programmed into it was Captain Montgomery's address.