CASTLE

Flowers For Your Grave - Chapter 12

Richard Castle was back at his apartment for his poker game ritual with fellow writers, Stephen J. Cannell and James Patterson. Some drinks, some poker and a lot or murder talk. Ah, good times.

"Castle, I'm kinda glad that you killed off storm. Less competition.", said Patterson as Rick only hummed in reply. His mind was preoccupied. "That's $20 to you, Cannell.", he continued.

"You're bluffing, Patterson." came his reply. Ah, they knew each other well.

"Cough up some of that TV money and you'll find out." said James.

"Ah, bet's to you Ricky." said Stephen. Nope. No reply. He was still lost, thinking about something. "Castle? Castle! Bet's to you.", he said a little louder breaking him out of his little reverie.

"Oh, sorry." was all he said.

"I know that look-- Story trouble." said Patterson. Little did he know that this was nothing related to the fictional character Castle created and killed recently in his latest book.

"Yeah, you never should've killed off storm. That was a big mistake. I-- I would've retired him. Or crippled him. I mean, the man was money." thought Cannell aloud which earned him an incredulous look from Richard.

Obviously his two bestselling novelist friends didn't agree with him on that one.

"You don't see me putting a bullet through Alex Cross' head." said Patterson, referring to the protagonist of a series of books he wrote about a former F.B.I. agent and psychologist, working in Washington D.C.

Shane Scully was a street-wise LAPD detective created by Cannell who doesn't always play by the rules, follows his instincts and puts his life on the line to catch criminals.

"Yeah, my boy Scully's gonna be fueling my private jet. Long after people have all forgotten about storm." said Patterson.

"Oh, you know what? Just for that, I'm gonna call." said Rick throwing in a few chips.

"So what's the problem, Ricky? Maybe we can help." asked Patterson.

Now Rick obviously couldn't tell them about the actual case. Confidentiality issues. So he tried to find out their opinions a different way.

"I'm working on this thing. It starts with a famous author. Some psycho starts staging murders like the way he does in his books." he started.

"That's pretty self-aggrandizing, isn't it?" said Cannell with a snort.

"This is Castle we're talking about." shrugs James with a laugh from Stephen. Beckett really wasn't the only one who thought that.

"So... The crime scenes are clean. Doesn't leave any fingerprints. Doesn't leave any D.N.A. But the psycho writes the author a fan letter with his prints all over it. Well, that leads the cops to his apartment, where they find enough evidence to convict him." said Castle.

There was a long pause as Castle waited for them to respond. The two novelists were waiting for him to continue because obviously this couldn't be the end.

"And then?" asked Cannell with raised eyebrows, signalling him to continue.

"That's it." was his reply.

"That's it?!" asked Patterson, completely appalled. "Yeah they arrest him."

"That's terrible. No wonder you're blocked." said James. He couldn't believe that this was the same Richard Castle. The Richard Castle he knew was known to come up with the wackiest plots and the most unpredictable twists.

"And here's another thing--The guy doesn't leave his prints at the scene of the crime, but he sends a letter with his prints on it? Ah, you lost me there.", Cannell pointed out. Damn, why didn't he think of that? Rick mentally chided himself. "And what about the twist?!"

"Yeah, right. Like, uh... like, maybe somebody set this kid up!" exclaimed Rick!

"That's what your story needs--The character who thinks the kid's innocent, keeps digging until he finds the truth.", said Patterson as they finally saw a worthy storyline.

"Oh I know just the guy!" said Castle as his eyes shone a little brighter and a wide smile spread on his face.