CHAPTER 1 - Beginnings

He looked up at the knock on the door and smiled. "Come in, Jacobs."

"I had heard that you were leaving but I couldn't believe it! For what it's worth...Gideon is beside himself and went to Strauss, but she said it was your decision."

"Yeah, well, with the divorce and everything I am distracted and am doing no one any good. I think for now I need to spend time with away from this place; who knows, maybe I'll come back to Law Enforcement someday. I'll keep up with my certifications. I've already started the paperwork to change my name...I'm leaving the life behind. Maybe I'll write the great American novel…something with heaving bosoms. Oh, while I am thinking about it...here." He handed over a card with a grin and a wink.

Supervisory Special Agent Jack Jacobs looked down at the card and laughed before looking up to find himself alone in the office. Startled, he looked over as the elevator doors closed. Glancing back down at the card that was good for a free sundae at Dairy Queen he shook his head and pocketed it as he left the room, turning out the lights and closing the door to the office of one of the best (and unorthodox) profilers he had ever met.

TCOP

Deputy Director Jack Jacobs thought back on that time fifteen years later and grinned. He had kept up with his old partner even if he hadn't approached him. He respected his desire to leave it all behind and admitted to himself that at times he was jealous. He didn't know if he could have dropped it cold turkey but then he wasn't as imaginative as his friend. At least he had been successful. Since he had been named Deputy Director he had tracked the re-certifications and saw that even though it was no longer the other man's day to day job he maintained his weapons accuracy and was still ready if ever he wanted to come off his inactive status.

As he pondered his friend his phone rang. "Jacobs," he answered as always, "Sir? I can come down right away...uh, yes, sir, I do know how to contact him. I'll be right there." Jack's concern shown on his face as he secured his desk and computer before heading to the Director's office. He just hoped things weren't as dire as they sounded.

He knocked on the door frame. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

The Director of the FBI was a military veteran and a longtime member of the Bureau. He had risen through the ranks learning the ropes along the way. His nomination for Director had been unanimously approved by the subcommittee and he had been voted in on the first ballot less than a year ago. Dakota Thorne was still physically fit and was a commanding presence. He looked up at his Deputy and smiled. "Come in, Jack. I've someone I want you to meet."

As the younger man entered, he looked over the visitor. The man looked to be about Thorne's age but of a much slighter build. Where Thorne was built like a wrestler, the other man looked like a boxer. Jake looked to his director not noticing the glimmer of a smile on the visitor's face.

"Jack, before we begin I want to ask you something and I need an honest answer." At the younger man's nod, went on. "How well do you know Rick Rodgers?"

Jack thought for a moment. "I know he no longer exists, sir. He disappeared about 15 years ago. He was a Columbia grad, entered Quantico and trained to be a profiler. He was on Agent Hotchner's team with the BAU and worked extensively with Agent Gideon before placing himself into inactive status due to some family issues. He was my training officer when I was a rookie agent and then he left."

Thorne chuckled. "Now, Jack...tell me the rest of the story."

The visitor joined the conversation. "Jacobs, would you like me to continue and fill in what you have told us?" At the nod of the other man he continued. "Richard Alexander Rogers was born to Martha Rodgers. He grew up moving around a lot until he attended a private boarding school and was accepted at Columbia University. While in college he was a member of several clubs and majored in Psychology and Criminology. When he was a Senior he wrote a novel and it sold fairly well. After graduation, he wrote a second and it sold much better. He graduated Magna cum Laude and joined the Bureau. He made SSA rather quickly and then became the second best profiler in the FBI, only beaten by SSA Gideon. A couple of years later he found out he was going to be a father and married. Two years later he found her with another man and filed for divorce and sole custody of his almost two year old daughter. He then left the Bureau and changed his name to Richard Edgar Castle and has written eighteen more bestselling novels. He is known in the genre as the 'Master of the Macabre'. Three years ago he was approached at a Book party for his latest novel by the NYPD as they had a couple homicides that were posed to be from his books. He helped resolve the case and has been acting as a non-paid civilian consultant since, working closely with Lead Detective Kate Beckett of the 12th precinct.

"He and Kate are now not only partners but are now romantically involved. His daughter, Alexis, will be graduating next year. Oh, and he has re-certified his weapons permit and just successfully passed his latest Bureau mandated physical fitness exam." He leaned back in his chair and grinned at the FBI agents faces.

Thorne leaned back and chuckled. "Damn it Jackson! You know way too much about our internal operations! Tell me why the CIA is so interested in Rodgers...err, Castle."

The CIA Director of Special Operations Jackson Hunt looked thoughtful for a moment before replying. "Dak, let's just say it's not so much the CIA as it is me. I've watched Richard for a long time...I knew his mother and was always fond of her."

Jack sat and watched the interplay between the two older men. He saw what looked to be regret in the visitor's eyes for a moment before they cleared. Turning to his director he decided to ask the question. "Sir, why are we worrying about Rick?"

Thorne looked over to Hunt and nodded. "Jackson, I trust him. Let's bring our young friend up to speed."

Jackson nodded and looked toward the Deputy Director. "Using Rick's tools let me tell you a story about three misguided cops..."