904. Chapter 904

After Private Eye, Caramba

Episode 7.12

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: In spite of being a neurosurgeon, the town mayor and a lion trainer, I do not own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: This is a prequel to chapters 818 and 877.

Kigali, Rwanda. July 4, 1994.

She had been hearing the rattle of automatic weapons' fire coming closer and closer, and now she could hear the occasional blast of mortar or rocket propelled grenade fire. The war was definitely headed this way. Although the house was a US diplomat's residence and as such had diplomatic immunity, she doubted the US flag outside would be much protection. That left her with a shotgun and a single box of twelve gauge shells to protect a dozen children from the diplomatic community and more than thirty Rwandans who had come to the residence hoping for sanctuary. There was also the man from the State Department, Mr. Demming, as he insisted being called, but he was hiding in the basement and crying.

"Miss Beckett?" Therese asked. Therese, the daughter of a French diplomat, was the oldest of the children at fourteen and had been a huge help to Kate. "What is happening outside? The children are very frightened."

From the look on Therese's face, she was frightened as well. Kate knew the adults were frightened as well. "I don't know, Therese. Since the electricity was cut off and the radio batteries died a week ago, we have no idea what's happening. I hope it's the Rwandan Patriotic Front, or UN peacekeepers or anyone but the militias." Kate had watched the local militias go on a murderous rampage. Before the batteries had died, BBC Radio had said somewhere between a half a million and a million Rwandans had been murdered.

"Miss Beckett, there is a Jeep coming down the street." That was Georges, a local college student. "I think a European is driving."

Kate wondered how he could tell the nationality of the driver, then remembered that the locals referred to any Caucasian as European. She picked up the shotgun, made sure it was loaded and pushed the remaining shells into her pocket. "I'll go see what he wants."

"I'll go with you." Therese said. "He won't shoot at women, will he?"

"Therese, you should stay here." But Therese had already headed for the front door.

Kate managed to get out first and stood on the porch, watching as the man stopped in front of the residence. "Hi." He called out. "Is this the Ambassador's residence?"

Kate nodded. "It is, but the last we heard, he was holed up at the Embassy because of the fighting. I'm Kate Beckett of the New York Ledger. Who are you?"

The man reached for something and Kate almost shot him, but all he had was a camera. She could hear the whir of the camera's motor as he took photos of her and Therese. "I'm Rick Castle, New York Sun. I've been looking for you, Ms. Beckett. You're editors back in New York are worried sick about you. They want you out of here on the very first plane. I can take you to the airport. I'm embedded with the RPF so they'll let us through. Grab your things and let's go. Finding Kate Beckett alive will be the biggest scoop to come out of Africa since Stanley found Dr. Livingston. This is great."

"Like hell." Kate said, then turned and walked back into the house.

In seconds, Castle was in the house. "Did you hear me? You can go now. Get on an airplane and get out of this open air shooting gallery. What's the matter with you?"

Kate whirled around to face him. "What's the matter with me? What's the matter with you? The streets and fields are full of dead bodies. I have a dozen children here, and thirty Rwandan adults, that have been depending on me to defend them. I am not going to abandon them just so you can get a scoop. Now get lost, Mr. Castle. When I can walk to the airport with my friends I will, but I will never ride with you. Get out! Get out now." She walked away from him so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes.

Castle walked out, but to her surprise, soon came back. He was carrying a backpack, an SKS carbine and an automatic pistol. He opened his backpack and pulled out a bag of chocolates. "Anyone hungry?" He turned to Therese. "Some chocolate, Mademoiselle?" Therese smiled and called the others.

Kate looked at Castle's weapons. "I thought journalists were noncombatants. Why the weapons?"

He smiled. "I've found that very few people other than journalists consider us to be noncombatants. A lot of people in wars like to shoot at unarmed people. It's safer."

Seeing that Therese was handing out the chocolates, Castle grabbed his camera and began taking photos and doing interviews.

"Determined to get your scoop, aren't you?" Kate asked, but with a smile.

"Even if I have to walk all the way to the airport with you and your friends, Miss Beckett. "

"You'll have to." She replied, but thought that a Jeep ride wouldn't be that bad.

"We have company." Someone called from the front of the house.

Rick and Kate ran to the windows and peered out between the blinds. Standing there, looking at the house were a dozen shabbily dressed men. All appeared to be armed.

"I only count three rifles and those appear to be old bolt action rifles. The guy with the white shirt and slacks may have a pistol in his pocket. The rest have machetes or clubs." Castle said softly.

"I've never shot at anyone before." Kate whispered back, raising her shotgun to her shoulder.

"If those guys come in here, this might be the best time to start."

Kate looked down the barrel of her shotgun, aiming at a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder, hoping she wouldn't have to shoot.

The men stood there arguing for several minutes and then began moving towards the house. As they reached the white picket fence around the house, a burst of automatic weapons fire from quite near stopped them. They froze for a second and then ran away. Both Rick and Kate sighed with relief.

"Who are you?" Demanded a male voice from behind them. "Are you from the UN? The State Department? The Military?"

"I'm Rick Castle, the New York Sun."

"What? You're only a newsman?" Demming said dismissively.

"You don't get your photo in the paper." Castle said under his breath.

"This is Mr. Demming of the State Department." Kate said. "He's been hiding in the basement and crying ever since this started."

Demming turned red. "I was not hiding. I was protecting myself."

Kate laughed sarcastically. "If that's your story…."

"How did you get here anyway?" Demming demanded.

"I'm embedded with the RPF. I have a Jeep outside."

"Good. Then take me to the Embassy. I have important information to give them."

"I'm not headed for the Embassy. I've never gotten anything useful from a State Department briefing and I doubt I ever will. Sorry."

Demming got angry. "I represent the United States government! I demand that you take me to the US Embassy."

Castle smiled. "Would you like me to recite the First Amendment to the Constitution? The part about the free press? I know it by heart."

"The United State government has…"

"Done absolutely nothing to stop the Rwandan genocide and has blocked efforts by others to do something. I'm not feeling very friendly to the US government right now, Mr. Demming." Castle said.

Demming began getting angry again, then he stopped and smiled. "Actually, that's not entirely correct." Demming pulled out a UBS stick. "I have evidence here that a low level CIA employee facilitated the purchase of weapons by the Rwandan Patriotic Front to fight the genocidal militias. Which is entirely against US policy of course. You get me to the Embassy, and you'll be the only newsman in the world with this information. You'll have the biggest scoop since the Pentagon Papers."

Castle smiled. "Let me see it."

Demming shook his head. "This is US Government property and it's classified. I can't show it to you."

"Sorry. I'm not driving you through a war torn city and risking death and then find out that all you have on that is some obscene limericks about your bosses."

"War torn?" Demming said. "I thought you said the RPF was here?"

"Sorry. Why, not ten minutes ago we saw a large force of heavily armed militiamen go by. Who knows? Maybe they'll be back later."

Demming reluctantly handed over the UBS drive. "Be careful. That's the only copy in existence."

Castle pulled out a laptop and plugged the drive in. "Hmm. Look like you're right. Some spook named Jackson Cross has been helping the RPF buy weapons."

"Now can we get to the Embassy and…?"

Demmings last words were cut off by a gunshot. Castle looked around in surprise. "I thought I heard someone trying to get in. Oh! I accidentally shot up your UBS drive when I pulled out my pistol. Too bad. It's useless now."

"You did that deliberately!" Demming screamed.

"He did not. I saw the whole thing. It was an accident." Kate turned to Therese. "Isn't that so?"

Therese nodded vigorously. "True. I myself was certain I heard someone at the door. It was an accident. Is that not so, Georges?"

Soon everyone in the house confirmed that the shot had been an accident, even people who couldn't possibly have seen anything.

Demming stomped away angrily, having seen his chance to finally impress his bosses disappear. He had no idea the impression his bosses would have of him once Kate Beckett's story and photos were published.

After Demming left, Kate smiled at Rick. "Mr. Castle, we have some of the Ambassador's Scotch here. Would you like a glass?"

"Will you join me?"

"Of course."