Hello!
Basically this is going to be case centric as this idea has been bugging me for ages! I have no idea when this is set but probably before 'Always' (an awesome ep!).
Disclaimer: I wish! :(
"Roger and Angela Nichols found by their neighbour about an hour ago. They've got a single gunshot each to the head. Lanie says they were probably killed sometime between nine and twelve this morning." Esposito informed Beckett and Castle as they ducked under the yellow tape into the apartment.
"Thanks. I want forensics to check that desk. Its drawers look as if someone was searching for something. Anybody hear anything, the neighbour maybe?" Beckett asked crouching by the bodies.
"Neighbour was out shopping this morning, came round for a chat with Mrs Nichols at about one. When she didn't get a reply she called but then used her spare key to let herself in." Ryan joined the small group reading from his notepad. "They were quite close apparently. Oh and there is a teenage daughter, Melanie Nichols, goes to Beacon High School. Neighbour thinks she's a nice kid."
"Right, Esposito you look into the Nichols' financials and Ryan check into phone records, emails and see if anybody was threatening the family. Castle and I will go find the daughter." Taking a final glance at the bodies on the sofa Beckett turned to leave the apartment.
"Hello and welcome to Beacon High School. How can I help you?" The red-haired lady at reception asked the pair as they approached.
"I'm Detective Kate Beckett this is Richard Castle," Beckett showed her badge and gestured to the writer, "We're from the New York Police. We would like to speak to a Melanie Nichols. Could you please tell me where we can find her?"
"Of course, let me check." The receptionist clicked away at her computer before turning back to the detective. "She's in Gym at the moment. Miss Brown's class on the Astroturf, I'll show you the way."
Following the lady through various corridors, Beckett studied the school. It seemed to be pretty normal; they obviously took pride in their pupils. There were many photos of pupils holding trophies and cases containing vast quantities of silverware.
"Miss Brown is the teacher in the grey hoodie at the far end. I'll leave you to it." The receptionist smiled and walked back towards the door the trio had just passed through.
"Grumpy teenager has a fight with Mum and Dad and ends up shooting them?" Castle suggested as himself and Beckett crossed the field.
"That's a relatively sane theory Castle. You don't think there are aliens or ninjas involved?" Beckett laughed as Castle raised his eyebrow.
The gym class appeared to be playing a game that involved trying to take a guarded football from the opposite team. The astro was soaking from the morning's rain and as they approached one girl ran right into another and both fell to the floor in hysterics.
"Miss Brown, I'm Detective Beckett and this is Richard Castle from NYPD. Could we please speak to Melanie Nichols?" Beckett stood back as the teacher called over one of the pair of girls who had fallen. She was still smiling when she came over to Beckett.
"Hi, I'm Melanie pleased to meet you." Melanie shook Beckett and Castle's hand and ran her hand through her blonde hair as she listened to the introductions.
"Melanie, this morning your parents were found murdered in your living room. I'm sorry but can we ask you a few questions about this morning?" Beckett tilted her head with the question.
"Sure, ask away." Melanie had flinched but hadn't broken down in tears.
"Can you tell me what happened this morning from the time you got up to about twelve o'clock?"
"Well, I got up at seven. I had a shower, breakfast and got everything ready. I didn't really see my parents much, never do. Dad got up at eight, made coffee and checked his emails. I left at quarter past for school and arrived at about half past." Melanie ran through her morning quickly before remembering the times in the question. "I've only been out of the building at lunch, around one thirty."
"Melanie, can you think of anybody who would want to hurt your parents?" Castle glanced over to Beckett when he asked but she was still scribbling in her notebook.
"Not specifically but my Dad isn't in the most popular business." Melanie sighed. Before she could expand Castle had interrupted.
"He was a lawyer?"
Chuckling slightly Melanie shook her head. "He worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Some of his work involved companies that tested materials on animals. It's a line of work that is used to death threats and minor incidents."
"Minor incidents?" Kate repeated, not fully understanding.
"Oh you know: Cars being fire-balled, letter bombs, nutter with a baseball bat or a knife." Melanie winced slightly at the last description.
"Have you received any threats that seemed worrying recently?" Beckett asked leaning forward slightly. She had noticed Melanie's reaction to the word knife and was intrigued. Another point that interested her was the lack of tears. This girl had a tight hold on her emotions and wasn't letting anybody through the wall she had quickly constructed. Well, not yet anyway. As with any wall, if it isn't built properly it can crumble easily.
"Dad didn't usually tell me about that sort of thing. It does hang over me slightly though, I have known of other people's kids being followed home or being attacked by a protestor."
"Well, thank you for your help. Don't leave town and here's my card if you think of anything." Beckett flipped her notebook shut before handing the blonde teen a business card from her pocket.
"Thanks and please catch the asshole that did this. Oh and can we keep it quiet here at school? I don't want this spread around."
"We will and I understand. Everybody does not need to know." Beckett smiled before heading back into the school building with Castle in tow.
TBC...
When I say a football I mean an American football. I would have said rugby ball but this is an American show so I used the local term. UK readers think of a rugby ball. The game is capture the flag, I'm not sure if it's a British game or not but it is actually quite fun.
How was it? :)
Hattie xx