653. Chapter 653

After Knockout

Episode 3.24

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: No one outside this immediate family needs to know I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Once the gunfire in the hangar had subsided, Castle let go of Beckett and she ran to the hangar. Castle followed her. He found her kneeling by Montgomery's body, crying.

"Kate, we have to go. We can't be here when the police arrive. This has got to be a complete mystery to everyone. They'll go over Montgomery's phone records and see he called you just before he died. He told me to have you tell them that he called you to say he had a new lead, and wanted to tell you about it tomorrow. You were at the precinct and then at your apartment. Got that?"

Kate nodded dully. Castle was pretty sure he'd have to repeat it to her later. He grabbed her under the arms pulled her up and quietly led her to her car. The whole way she was looking back over her shoulder towards Montgomery, even after they were out of sight of him.

"I think I'd better drive." Castle said softly.

Kate just nodded.

"Keys, please?"

She nodded, then reached into her pocket and handed him her car keys.

I've wanted to drive for years now. But I never wanted to have to drive like this. He thought.

Kate sat leaning against the passenger side door the whole way to her apartment, not saying a word.

Castle helped her out of the car and up to her apartment, thankful that there wasn't a doorman or a security camera.

He sat her down on the couch and found a bottle of red wine. He poured two glasses and handed one to her. "Have a drink. It might help."

She took a sip, but said, "Nothing will ever help. The man who made me the cop I am today, the man I respected more than any other cop, even Mike Royce, betrayed me. Just like Royce. Worse, he's been betraying me since the first day we met. He betrayed me by not telling me who killed my mom. And then he died to save me."

"I'm sorry. I wish I could have been more of a help. I wish I could have thought of something." Castle frowned and pulled out his phone. "I need to call Ryan and Esposito and let them know that Montgomery was the third cop and plan our next moves."

"They know. Ryan texted me just as I walked into the hangar."

"I'll have to get that erased from both of your phones, just in case someone wants to look at it. Don't worry. I know a guy. We can all meet him tomorrow before we go to the precinct."

Kate showed just a ghost of a smile. "You always know a guy, don't you?"

"Recently, I know some pretty awesome guys, and one extraordinary woman."

Castle called Ryan and explained what had happened and told them that Montgomery was dead and how he had died.

"So Lockwood is dead?" Espo asked.

"He is, but whoever is behind this is still out there and he can hire a hundred Lockwoods. We'll see you tomorrow and go over what to do next."

"I'm sorry." Kate said, as soon as he hung up.

"For what?"

"Kicking you to the curb. If I'd listened to you, Montgomery might still be alive. Maybe we'd have found some way to get this Dragon and keep Roy out of it. I'm sorry, Castle. You've been better to me than I deserve. I owe you so much." She reached across the couch and took his hand.

"Then listen to me now. Montgomery made a deal with the Dragon, whoever he, or they, might be. As long as you didn't investigate your mom's case, you stayed alive. When you shot Dick Coonan, that attracted his attention, but Montgomery convinced them to leave you alone because he knew Coonan wouldn't lead you anywhere. He was too cautious, too professional. But when Raglan started to talk, this Dragon decided to kill you."

"So, I still have a target on my back?" Kate asked.

Castle shook his head. "No, Montgomery sent some documents to a friend. As long as you stay away from your mom's murder, those documents will keep you safe."

Kate was confused. "How did Roy ever expect me not to look into Mom's case, especially now that it cost him his life?"

"That was my job. I'm to keep you from looking into your mom's case."

"What in the hell do you think you're doing, Castle? This is my mom you're talking about. My mom. Why would you even…"

"Would I be telling you this if I intended to keep you away from her case? One, I know you. I could never keep you away from the case. Your Dad came to me a couple of nights ago to ask me to stop you. He said he couldn't lose you after losing your mom. I tried to think of a way to stop you and I had to give up. I know I can't stop you. Maybe Josh could, but he's in Africa."

Kate suddenly felt sick. Castle has no idea what he means to me. He's the only one who might talk me out of this, but he doesn't know that.

"Secondly," Castle continued, "I'm betting that the Dragon won't keep his end of the deal. He'll try to find Roy's friend, get whatever the evidence is and then kill you."

"So what do we do?"

"You stop looking into your mom's case."

She shook her head sharply. "Forget it. I've told you, this is my mother we're talking about. I'll never stop trying to find her killer."

"Yes, you will. I'm going to investigate your mom's case."

"Be serious." Kate said quickly.

"I am. I have money and I know people that you could never get to talk to you or help you. I can use Espo or Ryan if I need something from the NYPD. And you stay completely out of the investigation."

She shook her head while smiling at Castle. "That's one of your dumber ideas, Castle. This Dragon is never going to believe that you're looking into her murder and that I'm totally uninvolved. You'll just get both of us killed. And Ryan and Esposito as well. Shit! I have to talk to them about this."

"You know they won't back out of this. They're in this to the end."

"I know, but I have to give them the option, otherwise I'd never be able to sleep at nights. Just as I have to give you the option. It wasn't your mother and you're not a cop, Rick. You really should leave me. I want you to leave." She took a deep breath and added. "At least for now."

He slowly shook his head. "Not a chance."

"Then you'll have to tell me. Why? Why are you doing this for me?"

"Because I'm your partner. Your friend. I told you that"

She shook her head. "That's not the right answer and you know it, Rick. So, I'll just ask you. Do you love me?" Kate waited a second while Castle just looked at her. "You know I can tell when you lie, and you should also know that I already know the right answer. So, do you love me?"

He nodded. "I love you. More than anyone or anything."

Kate smiled shyly. "Good. Rick, if I am to love you the way you deserve, I'd have to make you the most important thing in my life, and I can't do that right now. But please, stay with me, work with me on this and I swear, I'll make everything up to you when it's over."

"Deal." Castle frowned. "But how did you know I loved you."

Kate laughed softly. "I'm a detective. Everything you've done for the past three years tells me that you love me. I'm just glad we're together now." Kate glanced at her bedroom. "We should get some sleep. The next couple of days are going to be hard."

He stood. "Yeah, I should get going. I'll see you tomorrow at the precinct?"

She took his hand and led him towards the bedroom. "Sooner than that, Castle. Sooner than that."