631. Chapter 631

After He's Dead, She's Dead

Episode 2.02

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I see….I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

"This is a waste of time, sir."

Captain Montgomery shrugged. "That's the name of the game, Beckett. How many times have we sat on stakeouts where nothing happened? Had interrogations that went nowhere? Poured over phones and financials for people who weren't involved? But we do it anyway."

Kate nodded. "But this seems…more of a waste than usual, sir." She glanced over at her partner, who just smiled at her.

Montgomery assumed a serious look. "Beckett, "Bomber" Boyle took out the Gitano brothers with a bomb that killed seven other people and wounded over a dozen. That was five weeks ago and we have nothing. What we do know is that Boyle is the most superstitious crook around. He buys lucky charms, has his palm read, does tarot and god knows what else. So if we can catch him by luring him to the famous Madame Katrina, the fortune teller, we will."

She sighed. "Yes, sir."

Montgomery scanned the room, making eye contact with everyone else. "Castle has kindly spread the word among some of his friends about the amazing Madame Katrina."

"Since Castle is known to believe in just about everything the news should spread pretty rapidly." Ryan said. Castle gave the Irish detective a slight glare and Beckett smiled.

Montgomery looked over at Martha Rodgers. "And Mrs. Rodgers has kindly offered her vast experience in all things theatrical."

The older redhead smiled. "It's Martha, please. I'm more than happy to help with makeup, costuming, a bit on how to be truly mysterious, and my friends are just dying to help."

"Martha, "Kate said, "I really don't need help with makeup or costuming, and what's this about your friends?"

Martha waved her concerns away. "Don't worry about a thing, dear. Richard and I will take care of everything. We can't have people blowing up other people, can we?"

Before Kate could speak, Montgomery spoke again. "Ryan and Esposito will be on site for when Boyle shows up, and are the techs ready?"

A tech sent over from One PP nodded. "All set."

Montgomery nodded. "Okay, then. We'll start first thing tomorrow."

Madame Katrina's office was located on the ground floor of a small office building not far from the precinct. When Rick and Kate arrived the next day, they found Martha, Ryan and Esposito already there.

"Beckett", Esposito said, "we'll be in the next room and we have video cameras and a monitor. When Boyle comes in, we can be here in seconds."

Martha smiled at Beckett. "Now, come with me, dear, and we'll get you all ready."

"Martha, I've been putting on my own makeup since high school and I can…" But Martha took her arm and led her into the back room.

When she came back out, Castle was amazed. She wore an expensive curly black wig that fell to her mid back as well as colored contact lenses that changed her normally hazel eyes to a deep black. She definitely had more makeup than Castle had ever seen her in, changing her appearance dramatically. She had her usual four inch heels, but her skirt was long, loose and flowing and very colorful. Around her slim waist was a silver and turquoise squash blossom belt worn over a long, embroidered peasant blouse.

"Wow! That is you in there, isn't it, Beckett?" Castle asked. "Very nice."

"It's…different." She replied. "But I'm not sure about all of the costume jewelry." Her wrists were heavy with bracelets, she wore three rings on each hand as well as large gold hoop earrings. "This ring is too big, for one. No one will believe this is a real diamond."

"Come here." Castle led Beckett to the window and took her hand. He ran the diamond down the pane of glass, leaving a definite scratch.

"It's real?" She was shocked.

"I know a guy." Was all Castle said.

"Castle, there's a Rolls pulling up out front. It can't be a client. We don't have any yet."

"Some of Martha's actor friends said they'd help you out. Dress rehearsal so to speak." Castle went to her desk and took out a file. "This is Carolyn Shay and here's her file. For real clients, the techs will have a couple of days to dig up a lot of information on them, so Madame Katrina can get to know them." There was a knock on the door. "Ready, Madame Katrina?"

Beckett nodded. "She must be a very good actress to be able to afford a Rolls, but I've never heard of her."

"Like I said, I know a guy. In this case, a Rolls-Royce dealer."

"Castle! What are you doing?"

"We want word of mouth. Customers in a Rolls? What could be better?"

Kate just shook her head, then got behind her desk.

"Break a leg. "Castle whispered.

Kate did all right with Ms. Shay who was playing a wealthy woman very worried about her health. Kate soon figured out she was playing a hypochondriac and tried to give her good advice about eating well, exercising and avoiding certain bad habits.

At the end of the session, Ms. Shay stood up to leave. "You're just wonderful, dear. You're wasted on the police force. You should be an actress."

Beckett just smiled.

For that day and the next, Kate practiced with Martha's friends, and then she started seeing real clients.

Marie Kropotkin was an-ex Las Vegas showgirl who had married a much older, very wealthy man. She was worried about her husband's health, which was excellent and about his financial status. The techs had managed to gather his financials which showed he had done very well in spite of the financial meltdown.

"What about Bernard's health?" Mrs. Kropotkin whined.

"Your husband's health is excellent." Kate said.

"Are you sure? He's seventy five."

"His father lived to be ninety one and his grandfather to one hundred and two." Kate said portentously, and accurately.

"One hundred and two? I'll be ancient by then." She wailed.

Mrs. Kropotkin left no happier than when she'd arrived.

"We should tell the precinct to keep an eye on Mr. Kropotkin." Castle said.

"For a not so accidental accident?" Kate replied. "I'll have Ryan and Esposito make a note of it."

The next client was a Mrs. Wohl, an elderly lady who was worried about how her Skye terrier was doing in the doggy after life. Based on what the techs had found, Beckett was able to assure her that Muggs was romping happily with all the other dogs she'd ever owned. Mrs. Wohl left a very happy woman.

Kate sighed when she left. "Maybe I should have told Mrs. Kropotkin that Bernard could go at any minute. She would have been happier and it might keep him alive longer."

"Now you're figuring it out." Castle replied.

The first customer the next day was a Mrs. Bronstein who had wanted to talk to her deceased husband.

"I feel a bit silly doing this. My children told me I'm being a foolish old woman." She began.

Beckett looked at her. "Did your daughter Gail say that, too?"

"No. I haven't talked to Gail. She's had some kind of stomach flu for weeks now. But she has the nicest doctor taking care of her."

Beckett nodded. "Your daughter is very sick. You should take her to St. Michael's, which is the nearest hospital to you. And don't let Dr. Alcott treat her any more. You must take her to St. Michael's today. You can't wait. Her life depends on it. Please. Go now!"

When Mrs. Bronstein had left, Castle looked at Beckett. "That was a little too doom and gloom. You shouldn't say things like that to people."'

Beckett just shook her head and called the precinct to have them check on Dr. Alcott.

The rest of the day went smoothly. But that night, Castle heard a knock on his door.

"Beckett. What brings you here?"

"Can I have a drink?" She asked, walking past him and into his office.

"Wine?" He called after her.

"Scotch."

She took a long drink when he brought her the glass. "Castle, something happened today."

"Okay. What?"

"When Mrs. Bronstein walked in, I could see her daughter standing next to her and I knew it was Gail."

"You saw a picture of Gail and…"

"There were no pictures of her children in the package from tech. And I could see the cancer in her stomach. I knew it was cancer. And I knew this Alcott was a crook."

Castle thought for a moment. "Okay, worst case scenario, you scared some people for nothing. Best case scenario, you save someone's life and get a crook off the streets."

"Castle! I couldn't have known any of that! It's impossible."

"Beckett, maybe something tipped you off to…"

"There was nothing, Castle. Nothing."

Castle put his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened slightly, then relaxed. He put his arms around her and she rested her head on his chest. "It's just not possible." She whispered. "This isn't me."

"No matter what happens, I'm here for you. Always."

She smiled and let him hold her for a while longer, then left.

They stopped at the precinct the next morning. Montgomery called them into his office. "Beckett, Dr. Jerome Alcott is a well known and very distinguished doctor." He said sternly. Then, "Who took a year off to teach at UCLA Medical School in California. Good work. The fraud people recognized the guy posing as Alcott at once. There are a dozen warrants out on the guy. How did you figure it out?"

"Her gut." Castle said, seeing Beckett had no reply. "Her talented gut."

Before Montgomery could ask for more, Esposito came rushing in. "We have a hot one. Theresa O'Connell, called and demanded an appointment today. She's the manager of the Connaught Pub, one of Boyle's favorite hangouts. She could be casing the place for Boyle. I set up an appointment for her at one in the afternoon."

By one o'clock, Castle and Beckett were ready. Theresa O'Connell was right on time. Castle opened the door for her. "Ms. O'Connell?"

"Oh! You're Richard Castle! The famous novelist. I just love your books." She grabbed Castle's hand and leaned forward so he could easily look down her dress.

Beckett took an instant dislike to Ms. O'Connell. She was far too skimpily dressed, had obviously fake boobs, and seemed to be trying to see just how close to Castle she could get. And she was succeeding.

"Please, Mr. Castle, could you sit with me? I'm so terrified of these dreams I've been having. I really need a big strong man like you to protect me."

When Castle pulled up a chair about a foot from hers, she reached over and pulled his chair next to hers. From that point on, she completely ignored Beckett, telling Castle all about her dreams, in which she was always naked, while running her hands over him and doing her best to shove one boob clear through him, or climb onto his lap. Finally, Beckett told her that her time was up. Regretfully, O'Connell left, but not before she stole a kiss from Castle.

"Did you have to let her crawl all over you like that?" She snapped.

"Are you jealous, Beckett?"

"No." She was jealous and had to stop and think of a reason she should be angry with him. "We're professionals and we should act like it. You shouldn't allow yourself to be used like that."

"As a professional, I'm supposed to be an empty headed playboy who's always looking for a good time. Not someone looking for a killer. She's the best lead we've had yet."

"No she isn't." Beckett yelled. "She hasn't seen Boyle in months. She just came here to grope Richard Castle." Kate suddenly realized that was true. O'Connell wasn't with Boyle at all. She turned and went into the back room. She grabbed a cup and tried to pour a cup of coffee for herself. Her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn't manage it.

Castle took the cup from her hand and filled it, then handed her the cup.

This is starting to get weird. He thought. Weirder yet, a year ago I would have enjoyed having O'Connell crawl all over me. But not now. Beckett, you have spoiled me for other women. "Are you okay?" He asked her softly.

"No." She turned around and found herself in Castle's arms again. I not only knew she had nothing to do with Boyle, I was massively jealous of her with Castle. I have no claim on Castle. I was barely even polite to him at the beginning. I still don't know why he came back. Was it for me, or something else? I have no right to be jealous of anything Castle does. But I am.

She pulled away from him. "I'll be okay. We need to go now. We have no further appointments today."

The next day, a well dressed young woman had an appointment. Kate made sure that Castle stayed with her behind her desk.

Before the woman could say a word Beckett spoke. "You're worried about your husband, Theo. You think he's been having an affair with a hot brunette he met while he was in training. I'm afraid your fears are true. He's been with her since before he married you. He even snuck off to be with her when you went on your honeymoon to Hawaii. In fact, they're having mad, passionate, wet, hot, sloppy sex as we speak." She out her hand to her forehead. "He's saying…"Kate, Kate", and now he's screaming."

The woman shot to her feet. "I knew it!" She screamed

Kate laughed. "And how are things in Bunco, Detective Hiller?"

The woman stared at Kate. "Beckett? Beckett! What the hell are you doing here?"

"We're undercover. And I'm obviously not sleeping with Theo. I never have and I never will. I'm sure Rick will give me an alibi for the last year anyway."

Detective Hill began to laugh. "Thank you, Beckett. This is the first time I've been to one of these fakes and learned something useful and true. Thank you so much."

It was all over the next day. Boyle walked in and was told he was going on a long trip. When Ryan and Esposito charged into the room, he saw that was true.

Back at the precinct Beckett was doing the paperwork.

"Are you okay?" Castle asked.

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You see live people." Castle said in a low voice.

"I can't explain it and I won't try. I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation for all of this." She looked at him. "And why are you here when I'm doing paperwork? Shouldn't you be long gone?"

"I thought I'd stay and keep you company. Tell you what, I'll buy you a burger at Remy's, then I'll take you home."

"Castle, you don't have to coddle me. I can take care of myself and there's nothing wrong with me."

"I never said there was. So, how about the burger? With a strawberry milkshake?"

She smiled at him. "Strawberry? How could I refuse? But I'll go home by myself."

Castle left to get them some coffee and when she looked up, he was standing by her desk, but dressed in a tuxedo. "Castle, why did you change? Remy's isn't that fancy."

He made no reply, but smiled at someone behind her. She turned and saw herself, dressed in white with a veil and a bouquet of flowers. The other her walked to Castle, kissed him and then turned and smiled at Beckett. Then they both disappeared.

"Here's your coffee." Castle said.

"Thank you. And thanks for offering to take me home. I would like the company."