By the time Jack returned to his apartment, it was nearly 9 p.m. He quickly cooked a steak and sat at the dining table, recounting his day's experiences to Hannah.
Hannah, already intrigued by the messages Jack had sent earlier, now deeply regretted her decision to go shopping that day.
She wasn't particularly interested in the bridesmaid murder case but was fully invested in the juicy gossip. After all, Castle had always struck her as someone with a less-than-reliable love life, treating marriage and divorce as casually as eating and drinking.
"So, did you find out what turned Castle into a playboy?" Hannah asked, her eyes gleaming with gossip-fueled curiosity as her hands busily tapped away on her phone.
Jack leaned over to glance at her screen and saw that she was messaging Lanie, the medical examiner they'd met earlier. It was no wonder rumors spread so quickly—he was witnessing it firsthand.
"Not entirely, but it could be one of the reasons. What surprised me most was that someone like Castle only had one serious relationship in college, and it seemed like it almost led to marriage. Life really is unpredictable. If only they had…"
Jack's eyes suddenly lit up as he and Hannah spoke simultaneously:
"John Nolan!"
"Rookie John! Haha!"
The two men weren't just lookalikes (obviously); their early life experiences were remarkably similar. Both came from single-parent families, excelled in school, and had long-term college sweethearts.
"So, if Kyra hadn't been so opposed to marriage—or if she'd ended up accidentally pregnant—Castle might have become a loyal family man," Hannah mused, tilting her head in thought, looking adorably contemplative.
"Well, in that case, New York would've lost a beloved bestselling author," Jack said with a laugh.
But when he turned back, he noticed Hannah staring at him intently, her gaze unreadable.
Feeling a pang of emotion, Jack reached out to pinch her still-baby-soft cheeks. "Don't worry. Even if this is just a dream, I'll work hard to find you when I wake up."
Hannah snorted lightly and pressed her smooth cheek into his warm palm, rubbing against it gently. "I'll find you first, leaving no chance for anyone else."
"Hahaha." Jack forced an awkward laugh, trying to mask his embarrassment.
The next morning, after clocking in at the Federal Building, Jack—spurred on by Hannah's relentless hints—took her out for the day. Neither had any pressing cases, and Jubal had taken time off after his eldest daughter's bone marrow test results turned out to be a false alarm. Relieved, he'd decided to spend two days with his kids.
Their first stop was a visit to their soon-to-be new office outside the city. Renovations were progressing well, with electrical and plumbing almost complete. Jack liked to check on it frequently, not just to monitor progress but because the space would serve both as an office and a dormitory for the team.
Once JJ officially joined, Jack planned to move out of his luxury penthouse. He hadn't yet decided whether to buy property on Long Island or follow Danny's example and get a house on Staten Island. In the meantime, the dormitory would suffice.
The small building had ample space—enough to accommodate a mid-sized supermarket if needed. Jack planned to allocate a room for each team member as a perk, ensuring everyone had a place to rest during busy times.
And, of course, setting up a kitchen was a must. He hadn't cooked in ages and was determined to equip it with a high-powered stove, a range hood, and a massive refrigerator.
By the time they arrived at NYPD's 12th Precinct, it was nearly noon. They bumped into Beckett by the elevator, just returning from the medical examiner's office.
The two women greeted each other warmly—but their smiles were as fake as they come. It wasn't about phony friendships; it was just that one knew the other was there for the drama, and the other knew she knew.
Jack could sense Beckett barely suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. But what could she do about these two bored FBI agents?
As they walked into the detective's office, they found Esposito and Ryan leaning side by side against the evidence board, whispering excitedly over a novel. Their topic? How explicit one of the book's bedroom scenes was.
Beckett, frustrated and with no outlet for her irritation, strode over, her long legs closing the distance in no time. "Shouldn't you two be doing a background check?"
"Of course we are. We're investigating the bride's background," Kevin stammered, snapping the book shut. But the title was visible, adding several lines of exasperation to Beckett's already furrowed brow.
"All day yesterday, I kept feeling like the name Kyra Blaine sounded familiar. Then I suddenly remembered—Castle's second bestseller, Eternal Rose, was dedicated to her."
Before he could finish, Esposito grabbed the book and flipped to the dedication page, reading aloud: "Dedicated to Kyra Blaine—without you, the stars and moon lose their light."
Both men turned to Beckett, wearing identical smug grins.
Beckett fought the urge to roll her eyes, striving to maintain her icy, authoritative facade. "Do you two braid each other's hair and discuss which Jonas Brother is cutest when I'm not around?"
The Jonas Brothers were America's equivalent of a classic boy band, adored by countless teenage girls.
Jack's nickname for Esposito and Ryan—"the comedic duo"—was well-earned, as they immediately began bantering.
"Of course not. But now that you mention it, definitely Nick."
"Kevin's the most talented."
"No way, Nick's the cutest."
"What about Joe?"
Jack, exasperated, snatched Eternal Rose from Esposito's hand, flipped through it, and then handed it to a curious Hannah. Turning to her meaningfully, he said, "So, when Castle's first bestseller was published, he and Kyra probably hadn't broken up yet. That means their breakup wasn't for something as cliché as greed or social status."
He spoke quietly but loud enough for Beckett, pretending to be busy at the evidence board, to overhear.
(End of Chapter)
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