Richard Cassel is a crime writer.
A writer.
There is an inexplicable common problem among them, that is, in the works of these people, the heroine may not be powerful, but she must be sexy.
Very unfortunate.
Beckett hates it most when people say she is sexy, because she wants to prove that her ability to be a detective is not based on her looks, but on her professional level.
Cassel chuckled and said, "We are best friends, right?"
Lake glanced at Cassel and said, "No help."
Cassel was stunned: "I haven't said anything yet."
Lake chuckled: "Did you investigate Beckett's mother's case without permission?"
Castle was a little confused: "Beckett told you?"
Lake shook his head: "You are a wealthy man, what else can you ask me for? This is simple reasoning. Great writer, we also make a living by reasoning."
Although Lake often prefers simplicity and crudeness, his reasoning still has a certain basis.
Besides.
He had a cheat. When he was on vacation in Europe, Cassel, as history would have it, met Beckett at a cocktail party who asked him to go back for investigation.
Calculating the time, it's time.
Cassel said, "Okay, I can help..."
"No help."
"…"
"I don't get involved in any emotional issues, and..."
Lake simply refused. Other people's family affairs and emotional issues were private, and Lake hated getting involved. The most important point was, "I remember half a month ago, when you came to ask me about Beckett's mother's case, I told you not to touch it. Why didn't you listen?"
Lake has seen the book.
but...
Lake couldn't remember who Beckett's mother's murderer was.
and.
Not only Lake, even George had thought about helping Beckett solve the case, but after getting to know Beckett, Beckett directly told the two of them not to interfere. She wanted to investigate it herself, even if it took a little longer.
Lake and George respected Beckett very much and nodded immediately.
after...
Lake and George did not ask about the case anymore.
"This case is a thorn in Beckett's side."
Lake said to Cassel: "If you really want to help Beckett, give her an apology, a sincere one, and she will choose to forgive you. Beckett is a good woman."
Cassel: "…"
From a personal perspective, it would be difficult for Lake to refuse Cassell's request.
but...
God knows whether his interference in this matter would cause Beckett, who was supposed to be together and would become a member of parliament in the future, and her husband Cassel, a serious literary writer, to disappear without a trace.
Lake doesn't want to take the blame.
Castle sighed, "Okay, thank you."
Lake smiled and glanced at Cassel: "Believe me, maybe in the future you will thank me for not interfering in this matter."
Cassel looked at Lake.
Lake pulled the handbrake and unbuckled his seatbelt: "I'm here, thank you."
Cassel looked out the window.
Star Building.
...etc.
Cassel rolled down the window and yelled at Lake, "Damn it! It's an hour's drive, and you drove back in less than half an hour. Do you want me to get a series of tickets like that?"
The words haven't finished yet.
A patrolman who had been following behind all the way appeared in front of Cassel with a dark face: "You, suspected of dangerous driving, get out of the car and come with us."
Cassel: "…"
The next night.
In a police bar not far from the Star Building.
Three people are drinking.
Lake.
George.
Kassel.
Lake and George clinked their glasses and drank, then drained the wine: "New York Bourbon is still the best. Washington Bourbon, the taste is hard to describe."
George said, "I've seen the report. Congratulations."
Lake said thank you.
Cassel on the side looked a little unhappy: "Hey, hey, hey, I'm talking about my problem, can you guys respect me for a moment?"
George raised his hand.
Lake sighed and said to Cassel, "I already told you, no need to thank me."
The corner of Cassell's mouth twitched: "A two thousand dollar fine, why should I thank you?"
"Did Beckett go get you?"
"…Yes, but…"
"So, you're welcome."
"…"
Cassel took a deep breath and looked at Lake thoughtfully, his eyes filled with astonishment and a hint of disbelief.
Lake shrugged. "You asked me to help you, so I did. Besides, it only cost me two thousand dollars. Believe me, if you did it yourself, it would cost you much more."
Cassel was skeptical: "Really?"
Lake pointed at George and said, "If you don't believe me, ask George. Last year, there was a guy just like you who wanted to solve that case. But when Beckett found out, he completely cut off all ties with him. What was that guy's name?"
George shook his head: "I forgot about it too. Later I heard that he was transferred to the countryside."
"New Jersey?"
"right."
"…"
Daily Milk New Jersey achievement completed.
Lake and George clinked their glasses again, and Cassel, coming back to his senses, joined in.
The three of them drank it all in one gulp.
Ever since Cassel hooked up with Beckett, he became familiar with the police officers and realized that in some specific bars, you might not see anyone in police uniform, but the number of police officers is the largest.
so.
When Beckett had no cases, Castle would go to police bars all over New York to drink and listen to the police's gossip and stories to enrich his database.
The three of them sat in a booth in the bar, drinking and chatting.
Lake felt the rare peace and quiet.
This feels good.
Drinking a little wine with two good friends, chatting, bragging and gossiping.
only...
Talking and talking.
Lake's expression changed.
The style of the chat seems to be distorted.
Lake came back to his senses, his expression becoming increasingly strange as he listened to George and Cassel's thoughts on adopting their daughter and the taboos against their daughter falling in love. He couldn't help but cough: "Hey, hey, hey, the picture is distorted."
George and Cassell looked at Lake in confusion: "It's crooked, it's not crooked, just chatting normally."
Lake's face was expressionless: "Do you think I can interfere in the conversation between you two?"
Damn it.
Is it great to have a daughter?
It's not like I don't have one.
Catherine, female, twelve years old, race, vampire... no, vampire.
only...
She is a daughter, but they are of different races and cannot produce the same brain waves.
Lake opened his mouth and shook his head. "I finally get a break. By the way, aren't you going to talk about something I can get involved in?"
This kind of friend is so annoying.
If you can't even chat, I might as well go home and drink by myself.
George thought for a moment and said to Lake, "Then let's talk about that little Lolita from last time?"
Lake looked at George speechlessly.
Cassell became interested and asked George, "What's going on? Tell me about it."
Lake interrupted: "There's nothing much to say."
George didn't care and told Cassel the story of Sky and Lake's corner scam and what happened.
Cassel seemed to have thought of something and looked at Lake: "Is it that day when there was an ambulance parked downstairs?"
Lake rolled his eyes. "The ambulance stops at the building once a month."
The same thing.
The Star Building is full of wealthy people, and considering the time it was built, it is obvious that some of the wealthy people are old, so it is very common for an ambulance to come once a month.
There is an elevator in the building, which was approved by the building committee to be used as an ambulance elevator.
Cassel saw Lake and asked, "What happened next? What about that little Lolita?"
Probably not adopted.
Cassell felt that if Lake had adopted, he should know.
Lake said, "He ran away by himself."
Yes.
Let's see tomorrow if Skye is adopted by a good foster family.
If these two people hadn't mentioned it, Lake would have almost forgotten about it. After all, he and Skye had some connection, and since there was nothing going on these days, it would be okay to show some concern for them.
Cassel frowned and looked at Lake: "I remember you said that you loved your daughter very much."
Lake deadpanned, "So?"
Cassel shrugged: "I think George's suggestion is quite good. This way, the three of us can take them on a trip together if we have the chance."
George nodded. "That's a good idea."
Lake rolled his eyes. "Haha, you guys just want me to play with you. That's wishful thinking. Even if I'm willing to adopt, the child protection agency won't agree. I'm single, remember?"
Cassel looked at George curiously: "Can't I adopt if I'm single?"
George shook his head. "I haven't heard of this rule. Besides, I later looked at the information about Skye. Both of his parents are gone. If you want to adopt him, you just need to get the city government's stamp."
Lake blinked. "Is adoption that simple?"
This is not right.
Lake remembered that when he was five years old and was brought home by Karen and Thaddeus, the formalities alone took almost half a month.
WHY?
Lake blinked.
George said, "Of course, she doesn't need the signatures of her biological parents, so it's very simple. Besides, you also said that you and that little girl are quite compatible, right?"
Lake raised an eyebrow.
Adopt Skye?
From now on, I will be the adoptive father who can break the Great Demon King of Earth?
Quite interesting.
but...
After thinking about it, Lake smiled and shook his head: "Forget it, I even need a housekeeping company to send people to clean my house, so I'd better forget about adopting a child."
If Lake didn't have money, he doubted whether he could maintain good hygiene.
and...
Adoption costs a lot of money.
Moreover, a single man adopted a little Lolita, so there will be a lot of gossip.
Let's just forget it.
Lake weighed the pros and cons and decisively gave up the idea.
George and Cassell looked at each other, and seeing that Lake seemed to have made up his mind, they didn't say anything.
Just then.
Ding ding ding.
Ding ding ding.
Suddenly, one phone seemed to ring after another in the bar.
even...
George's phone also rang.
…