166. Chapter 166

After Kill the Messenger

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I'd get shanked by a lifer if I claimed to own Castle. Rating: K+ Time: See above.

He's not like them. Beckett frowned. Where the hell did that thought come from? She looked at the writer whom she was starting to consider as her partner. He was sitting looking at the murder board, doubtlessly bored.

Kate's attention went back to the reports on the murders of Olivia Dibiasse, Caleb Shimansky, and Brady Thompson. Frank Davis, who had orchestrated the murders, was trying to make a deal. He had already given them all of the information he had on the men he had used in the two murders, and was trying to use everything he had on the Wellesley family to make better deal. The dirty guard was under arrest, but the lifer who actually killed Brady Thompson was already in prison for life. The murder would probably enhance his reputation in the prison. He'd killed and gotten away with it.

Lenanne Wellesley, who had ordered the original murder wouldn't stand trial. She had already been found to be incapable of managing her own affairs and the DA had ruled she would be unable to understand the charges against her, or help in her defense. There's a little part of me that doesn't believe that, and a part that would like to see that cold hearted bitch in jail anyway.

Blake Wellesley's senatorial campaign had taken a hit from the scandal, but it was too early to tell if it would be fatal to his campaign, or just a three day media wonder. Winston Wellesley wasn't the public figure his brother was and he hadn't broken any laws. He had only lied to his brother's daughter about her paternity. Another cold hearted bastard I'd love to see in prison. In fact, the whole Wellesley family should be…No! I'm a cop. I can't be thinking that way.

On the bright side, such as it was, both Paisley Shimansky and Valerie Thompson had filed wrongful death lawsuits against the Wellesley family. Blake's supporters were desperate to keep that out of the media, so a large settlement was in order. The first instalment was Blake's "generous" donation to the respiratory charity.

Kate shook her head wondering how this could have happened. "Hey, Castle. Why do rich people think they can get away with things like what Lenanne Wellesley did?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You're rich, aren't you?"

"Why Detective Beckett! Are you implying that I go around ordering my minions to cold bloodedly murder people? Are you going to put me in the box and sweat me? Or have Esposito water board me until I confess?"

"Don't tempt me." Castle pouted when she said that, "Seriously. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that the rich are different from you and me. Is that true?"

Castle laughed. "Ernest Hemingway famously replied to Fitzgerald, "Yes, they have more money." And, "he continued", if you look up the quote in Fitzgerald's writing, he said that money, if you were born to it, made the rich soft, where poorer people were hard, trusting where poorer people were cynical. Not complimentary about the rich at all, and not what most people think Fitzgerald meant at all."

"I should have known better than to quote a writer to you. I'm lucky I didn't get a seminar on F. Scott Fitzgerald, courtesy of Richard Castle."

Castle bowed slightly to her. "Always available to tutor you, Beckett. But, seriously, I can't tell you why Lenanne did what she did, any more than you could tell me why some dirty cop did what he did. Some rich families, such as the Kennedys and the Rockefellers, have a long history of history of public service, running through generations. Bill Gates, who could buy the Wellesleys, now devotes his time to his charitable trust. I can't really answer your question. The only person who can answer that is Lenanne Wellesley herself."

Beckett sighed. "And I can't really see Lenanne Wellesley sitting down and having a heart to heart with me. She'd think I was another Olivia Dibiasse, some woman with the gall to talk to her like we were both human beings."

Castle smirked. "If it makes you feel any better, I'd think that Lenanne Wellesley would have a lot of gall to think she's better than you. You're a hundred times the human being she is."

The compliment made Beckett's heart thump. Damn it! Why does he have to do that? Why does he have to compliment me that way? I'll be just fine if I can just limit Castle to being my partner her at the precinct. Okay, maybe at some point we can become friends. He has a lot of good qualities. I know, I've seen them. If there were nothing but good qualities, something could come of our relationship. But he's arrogant, self-centered, undisciplined, and usually completely out of control. And in spite of what he's just said, he's rich and that makes him different. Okay, it's not just that he rich. He's also famous, good looking and really quite sexy. And he can be a lot of fun. As every woman he's ever been near can attest. So there's no possibility of me ever having any kind of meaningful relationship with Richard Castle. He's a two time loser at marriage and an inveterate skirt chaser. Jesus Christ, I mean he signs women's boobs in public. How could I ever expect a man like that to want what I want out of life? No. Richard Castle is definitely not my type.

But why do I keep thinking of him that way?

Castle studied Beckett's face. I'll never understand Beckett. I paid her a compliment, and a perfectly truthful one at that. She is worth more than all of the Lenanne Wellesleys on the planet. And just for a fraction of a second she glared at me. I suppose she thinks that complimenting her is intruding into her private life. It's a shame, really. Beckett is without a doubt the most remarkable woman I've ever met. I find myself thinking about her at odd moments. Thinking about her in ways that a man with reputation like mine shouldn't be thinking. I'm starting to think of words like "Always" and "Forever" and even "For better or for worse." about Beckett..

It's obvious she isn't interested in me. It's too bad. We just might…But we won't.

Author's note: While I'm at it, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reviewed this and my other stories. I don't always reply, but I do appreciate greatly each and every word. Thanks.