545. Chapter 545

After Get a Clue

Episode 6.06

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: How many clues do you need, to know I don't own Castle? Rating: K Time: See above, but actually before the episode.

Author's note: This is a sequel to chapter 408.

Dr. Joshua Davidson strode into Nichole Heat's Golden Arches tavern, located on Great George Street on the island of Manhattan and looked around. Seeing Nikki Heat, he walked towards her with a smile on his face.

Seeing him, Nikki turned her back.

"Nikki, dearest…." He began.

"I think under the circumstances, you should call me Mistress Heat, Doctor Davidson." She said coldly.

"Dearest Nikki, you must understand. I am a man of substance now. I am the personal physician to the newly appointed Royal Mayor of New York City, Sir Victoria Gates. I cannot maintain an open relationship with a tavern owner. Not if I hope to be named the head of the medical service for all of the city, as I do sincerely hope. But that does not mean we cannot be together, Nikki. All of the great men in England have mistresses and I would like you to be mine."

Nikki's eyes blazed with fury, but her voice was as cold as ice. "I do not seek to become some man's doxy. I seek a husband. I'm a one and done kind of girl."

"You could be one and when I'm done with you…" He said jocularly.

Nikki slapped his face. Hard.

Dr. Davidson just laughed. "As a known supporter of Washington and his rebels, you're in this city on sufferance and when your rebels are defeated, you'll need a powerful man to protect you."

Nikki smiled at him. "Then I hope I shall find a powerful man."

Davidson's face went cold and harsh. "Mayor Gates wishes to show that she has the common touch. She has decided to visit your tavern tonight. She will arrive at eight of the clock. Be sure that no scurrilous rebels are about."

Nikki was about to tell Davidson where the mayor could go, but she saw her lover, Jameson Rook, waving frantically at her from the kitchen.

"I shall expect the mayor and have everything in readiness for her." Nikki said.

When Davidson left, Rook dashed out from the kitchen. "Thank god I was able to stop you from refusing to serve the mayor tonight."

"Why should we care if that odious woman is here? I despise her and her kind. As should you, as we are patriotic Americans."

Rook smiled. "True, but Mayor Gates always travels with her bodyguard, the provost marshal, Thomas Demming. And she has a new boyfriend, a major in the Welsh Regiment, Eric Vaughn."

Nikki nodded. "But they say he won't submit to her."

Rook shrugged. "Well, you know why there are so many stop signs in Wales?"

Nikki frowned. "No."

"Welshmen will not yield."

Nikki rolled her eyes.

Rook went on. "However, when they drink, our Royalist friends tend to talk and boast. We may learn something useful tonight."

Although Nikki didn't like the idea, she agreed that they might, indeed, learn something useful to General Washington and his army across the Hudson.

That night Rook walked into the Golden Arches tavern to see that his daughter, Alexis, and her boyfriend 3.1416 were already there. His heart rose when he saw his beloved Alexis, sank again when he saw 3.1416 and sank again when he saw how Alexis was dressed.

"Alexis! What...How...Why are you dressed in that manner?"

"La, Father. I'm dressed as a simple tavern wench so that I may approach Mayor Gates and her party and, hopefully, overhear any nefarious plans they may have."

"But, I can plainly see your ankles and your dress shows off your…your…your…"

"Bosums, Father? You must know that I have them as they've been there since I was twelve."

"But you are dressed scandalously. I forbid you to dress like that."

"Too late, dear father. I am dressed like this. Besides Mr. Franklin is just back from Paris and he says this is the very latest fashion."

"You take fashion advice from a man who flies kites in a lightning storm?" Rook replied. "All of that….What did he call it?"

"Electricity, Father."

"That electricity did something to the old fool's brain. Electricity? What good will that ever be, I ask you?"

"Father, I must serve the Mayor and her party. See? I have their food."

Rook looked at the tray. "What is this? That is not the grilled ground beef and cheese that Mistress Nikki's Golden Arches tavern is famous for. Over eleven hundred served, after all. Those are…'

"Papaya steaks, Mister R." 3.1416 said. "I'm hoping a fruitarian diet will calm the spirits of the English and allow us to end this war. I call them McPapaya Steaks. Clever, huh?"

"They ordered it?" Rook asked, with distaste.

"Yes, Father." Alexis replied with a frown and rushed off in a huff to serve the food.

As 3.1416 went to prepare more food, Rook went to Nikki. "I don't understand what she sees in him. 3.1416 and Franklin are like two peas in a pod. Always fooling with one nonsensical thing or another.'

"Don't worry, Rook. Alexis is a very smart young woman. She'll be fine. And who knows, 3.1416 or Franklin's visage may grace a large denomination bank note one day."

Rook scoffed at that idea.

In minutes, Alexis was back in the kitchen. "I have news. I heard them speak of having received a communication from a spy in General Washington's camp." Alexis pulled a key from the bodice of her dress. "And I stole the key to Mayor Gates' office."

"We can't get to her office and back before she misses it. If only we could make a copy."

"You want a copy, senor?" Asked Senor Ochoa, a swarthy Hispanic who had joined the American cause. Ochoa pulled out his stiletto and grabbed a large beef bone and quickly carved a copy of the key. "Hurry back, now chica. Pretend to pick it up off of the floor and give it back to her."

In minutes, Nikki and Rook were headed for Mayor Gates' office. Once inside, they easily found the document. "It is from a spy in Washington's army. It's from Captain Benedict A. Sorenson." Nikki said. "He says that Washington is taking the bulk of his army south to Virginia to fight General Cornwallis. Sorenson recommends that the British army here in New York attack the troops that Washington leaves behind and then pursue Washington and catch him between them and Cornwallis."

With a heavy heart, Nikki put the parchment down. "This is a disaster. What shall we do?"

Rook picked up a blank piece of parchment, a quill pen and an inkwell. "I'm a well-known writer, using my cover as a reporter for the Royal New York Gazette and Advertiser, I can easily copy this Sorenson's handwriting and send another letter that says it's a trap. That Washington and the French have combined forces here and that he hopes to lure the British out of New York so he can defeat them and take the city."

In a trice, it was done and when Mayor Gates returned she found another letter from the spy Sorenson on her desk. She, of course, sent both letters off to General Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander in North America. Clinton wisely kept his army safely in New York as Washington marched south to face and defeat Cornwallis at Yorktown.

As for Rook and Nikki, they were wed after the war and lived happily ever after. However, McPapayas Steaks never became a favorite at the Golden Arches tavern.

Author's note: it's not that important at all, but I suspect many won't understand the line about stop signs in Wales. Look up the lyrics for the song Men of Harlech from the movie Zulu. Like I said, it's not that important. Unless you're Welsh.