A/N: This story takes place in an AU, about a month after Always. Kate is working on her first case back on the job, while Esposito has been back for two weeks. Beckett and Castle are still in a relationship and Ryan and Esposito made up after Esposito got off suspension.
Beckett fumbled around the nightstand, looking for the object that disrupted her peaceful slumber.
"Beckett," she answered groggily. She was supposed to show up later that morning for her first day back at the precinct, but it seemed a murderer thought differently.
"Morning Beckett," Ryan said. "We have a body, call Castle and get over here. Esposito is texting you the intersection now." With that, he hung up.
Call Castle. Beckett wanted to laugh at that. They had told the gang a week ago about their new relationship. 'Ryan must have forgot,' Beckett thought to herself.
The man she needed to call was spooning her at the moment. One strong arm was wrapped around her waist, making escaping impossible.
Beckett rolled over in her bed and kissed the love of her life on his bare chest.
"Come on Rick. We have a body to attend to."
"But I don't want to," Rick pouted. Kate laughed for real this time, kissing the pout off his lips.
"Fine. But if it's a really interesting case, don't expect me to fill you in on the details when you do decide to join us."
That did the trick. Castle shot out of bed and raced to her closet, taking a shirt, jacket, and pants that had acquired part of her closet. Beckett laughed once more before getting out of bed and changing, wondering what the day would bring for her.
"Good morning Beckett, Castle," Esposito greeted as the duo approached the alley off the intersection. "Lanie'll fill you in on the vic."
Beckett nodded at Ryan, who had just joined them, before turning her attention to her best friend.
"What'cha got Lanie?" Beckett and Castle asked at the same time.
"Vic is a male. Esposito's got the ID," Lanie started, smiling at the two lovebirds in front of her.
"Rahul Wilkins, 40 according to his license, lives not too far from here."
"Right," Beckett nodded. "Go on," she urged Lanie.
"Looks to be Indian. COD is a single GSW to the forehead, 9 mm by the look of it. I can roughly place TOD at 6 pm to 11 pm last night, I'll let you know when I get him back to the morgue."
"Okay great. Ryan, I'm assuming you got uniforms to canvass the area?" Beckett asked.
"Yep, I did. They should be done within the hour." Ryan replied. He knew that Beckett forgave him, but after everything that happened last month, he still wanted to stay on her good side.
"Alright. Let's head back to the precinct and start setting up a murder board."
Upon arriving at the precinct, Castle and Beckett had started on the murder board. Ryan was going through financials and Esposito was digging up anything on the victim that would help with the case.
"Beckett, you might want to check this out," Ryan stated.
"What's up?" Beckett asked.
"Financials for Wilkins only goes back to 2002. It's like he didn't even exist before then."
"Maybe I can help with that," Esposito said. "I decided to dig deeper. Rahul Wilkins did not exist before 2002. His real name is Rahul Patel. In fact, Wilkins is the maiden name of his wife, Elizabeth who was murdered in 2002." He pulled up a picture of her.
"Was it solved?" Castle asked.
"No. There were no leads. It was a rape and murder. Bastard must have used a condom." Esposito said, looking at the pretty Caucasian woman, feeling remorse for her.
"Alright, let me update the murder board." Beckett said, walking over to the board.
"Wait Beckett there's one more thing." Esposito said, hesitantly.
"What is it?"
"Rahul has a 15 year old daughter. Grace Wilkins."
