Alex was sleeping soundly having been up all night trying to figure out what next to do with the new information Max had brought him. There was talk on the street of a shadowy figure in the underworld who has a Russian connection. He was into Human trafficking. He seemed to be well connected with the Russian Mob here in NY. Alex thought about the time he was involved against the Human Traffickers in Eastern Europe. However, that trade was broken up a few Saudi Princes did not get their orders Boo Hoo for them. Alex could hardly retain his revulsion for that case.
Knocking at the door was incessant. Alex quickly dressed looked at his laptop monitor to see Paula standing knocking on his door. Alex wondered what was his agent doing on his door step and not sent him his customary morning email/ IM/ Text message. What ever it is Alex mused while pushing his hand through his hair she is awfully excited.
Alex move to open the door, In rushed Paula,
"You can not believe what has happened? Of course not you don't know yet!"
"Paula, what do I not know yet?"
"Of course you are not aware I have not told you yet of the news! However I can not really tell you yet because it is not official."
"So you have come over here to tell me something I can not yet know?"
"Yes, Ok I can give you a hint."
"Hint away"
Alex blearied eyed wondered when ever was this babbling woman would come to her point.
"Ok a major client was thinking of revamping a major rewrite of a beloved character an you might be in the running to write it."
"Ok what major character?"
"A certain British Spy? Ring any bells?"
"What that rogue of British intelligence service? This is the reason I got into writing in the first place."
Alex thought no it actually was not but she does not need to know that.
"It is not official but there is a three book deal. Plus to entice you a very hefty check along with it."
Hmmm I got to look excited but No Way am I going to do that book deal. The Old Man would have my head!
"Way to go Paula! Please keep me informed on the progress of that deal."
The phone rings... It is Kate … A murder has taken Place. There is a text from a watcher saying she is investigating at 10Ave and 45th.
"Look Paula I got to run.. Keep me in the loop ", as he escorted her out of his loft.
Alex got dressed and met up with the rest of the detectives just standing around.
"Hi, What did I miss?"
Seeing the manhole cover off Alex surmised that there was a discovery of a dead body,
"Was there a body in there?"
Ryan seeing an opportunity to razz Alex said,
"Yes, you should have seen it covered in Yellow slime."
"Plus there was two biohazard boxes in there with the vic", added Esposito wanting in on the fun.
"Ha Ha very funny can anyone tell me what was going on?"
Kate stepped up and ordered the boys to look for the murder weapon in the nearby trash cans.
"What sort of weapon are they looking for?"
"A ray gun which turns the victim inside out!" The boys blurted out as the moved off to search.
Kate and Alex who had brought her customary coffee and bear claw went back to the Morgue to see if Perlmutter had any more information on the vic. On the way Kate informed Alex on who the victim was and what was found at the scene.
Entering the morgue Perlmutter was hard at work conducting the autopsy of a young Caucasian woman who was in her early thirties.
"We have no fingerprints nor any missing person report. She was killed by blunt force trauma to the back of the head. She has been dead for about 2 days. She is a Jane Doe. ", said Perlmutter.
"I do have some information on the victim. She was from Eastern Europe or Russia due to her dental work . You see steel crowns. They have not been used anywhere but that area for a very long time. Plus see how yellowed the teeth and worn that meant not very good dental hygiene. Plus non fluoridated water. Another indication of Eastern Europe origins."
Alex looked at the victim she might have been an illegal imported here. Possibly connect with the activities of that Human Trafficker Max message him about?
"Was there anything in the clothing or pockets?" ,Alex inquired.
"Yeah it is in the evidence bag over there.", Perlmutter indicated with is left hand,
Alex looked at the bag it contained a candy wrapper for a cherry candy pop. It was written in Czech or another Slavic language. It said translated "sweets for good taste" Alex knew this language well.
Alex spoke, "I know what this is it is a candy wrapper favored by Russian and Slavic immigrants."
Perlmutter listening wondering how Alex knew that said," How did you know that?"
"From my many travels for signing of my books. I passed through lots of Eastern European countries. I like candy so I remembered it. I loved the Eastern European candies they taste like soap!"
Kate just looked at Alex like he grew another head and said, " Thanks Perlmutter, call me if you discover anything else about the body."
Alex walked in his customary place behind and to the left side of Kate. Kate had now gotten used to how close Alex stood next to her as almost he was a body guard. Kate dismissed that idea out of her mind as soon as she thought it. Ridiculous idea Rick Castle being a body guard! Too funny she thought. But yet she look back at her companion and he smiled nervously.
Getting back to her desk at the precinct Kate started the tedious process of determining where this candy was found. Alex went to the espresso machine and got two customary cups of coffee, One extremely strong one for himself because he was feeling the affects of lack of sleep caused by Paula's unannounced visit. The other was for Kate. She looked like she need her second coffee of the morning. Alex prepared it according to her tastes. Alex placed it on her desk and sat down in his chair next to her desk. Alex has been invading her space rather recently and more often now that the threat the Old Man knew was there is real!
Alex scanned the bullpen as he approached her desk to spot any immediate threats. None were obvious so he slowly relaxed into an alert state his training had given him. Kate being clumsy today knocked off her coffee cup. Alex noticing the falling item grasped the empty cup before it fell to the ground. He placed it on her desk without her or anyone else noticing. Whoa! Alex thought to himself that was close. I am glad no one noticed how I reacted and stooped over so quickly. I better be more careful!
Kate finishing up her list of possible location of that candy said to Alex let's go.
Alex stood up and followed her into the car and soon they were in each shop looking for that kind of candy. Alex fascinated with the trinkets. He bought at least something from each vendor. Exhausting their list they returned to the precinct. Alex busied himself with the matryoshkadolls.
Alex was showing Karpowski the dolls and said,
" It was like they are stretching the space time continuum... every time you think they are finished another one appears."
Kate looking at the glee on Alex's face as he demonstrated the dolls.
"We have found where the vic bought the candy", Ryan said with Esposito in tow.
"Where?" said Kate obviously enthused that she now had a lead.
A little shop on 47th and 9th ave, a few blocks were we found the victim. There is a SRO which caters to Czech immigrants nearby.
"Let's go Castle? Castle!", Kate said.
Alex looked up at Kate and quickly fell into line with her. In the car ride Alex was expounding on the wonderful flavor of the candy he was now eating. Passing her a piece Kate immediately spit it out and wondered how he could like that stuff! Of course he eats strange concoctions. He is after all the creator of the S'morett! I could not think of a more revolting idea Kate thought.
Getting to their destination Kate quickly identified herself to the building super. She showed him a picture of the victim.
He gasped and said, " That is Eliska Sokol the lady in 5C she always paid her rent on time. Why would anyone do that to her?"
Kate turned to the boys and instructed them to knock on the neighbors door to find out if anyone heard anything or any other news about the victim.
Kate and Alex followed the super to the apt and had him open the door. The super left while Alex and Kate entered.
Searching the room was very quick there were few items in the room. A few postcards on the wall and one space where something else was hanging there very recently. Alex spotted the card on the floor behind the dresser. Reaching down he pulled out a picture of a little boy with a woman with her face all scratched out.
Alex stood up and showed Kate.
"If a picture could say a thousand words what is this one trying to tell us?"
"I would say that someone did not like the person in the photo."
"I wonder if the feeling was mutual?"
Kate called CSU to sweep the place to see if she had any visitors.
Kate calling it a day dropped off Alex at his loft.
On the way they talked about the upcoming book launch and how he wanted her there!
"Look Kate it is only a few more days!"
"I do not know Castle whether I can get off on such a short notice."
"Short notice? You have known about it for 6 weeks! I am sure the Captain has already cleared you for this occasion."
Kate sensing she was trapped noticed she had arrived at his building.
"Later Castle later!" She ushered him in mid sentence out the door!