A/N: So this story is mostly A/U after Castle goes to the Hamptons with Gina. It's been about a year since then and he hadn't come back to precinct or seen Kate.
/
Kate Beckett exited her vehicle at the crime scene and met up with fellow detective Javier Esposito.
"What have we got Espo?" She asked as she put on her gloves
"Our vic is Jerry Solomon, white male, mid-fifties found shot once through the heart." He explained as they joined M.E. Lanie Parish who was examining the body
"What's the time of death, Lanie?" Kate asked
"I'd say about ten thirty last night but I'll know more after my examination."
"Okay, so do we know what Mr. Solomon does?" Kate asked
"Business manager to wealthy people from what it looks like according to his business card." Kevin Ryan joined them as he looked through his wallet
"So his wallet is still here." Kate observed
"Yeah, money and credit cards, too." Ryan added
"Okay, Javi and I will go to his office and see what we can find out." She said, "Ryan, why don't you go back to the precinct and look into his financials and phone calls."
Ryan nodded and headed to his car.
"I'll call you when I have my results." Lanie said
"Thanks, Lanie." Kate said and she and Javi headed to her car
/
Javi and Kate walked into Jerry Solomon's office to find a young woman at the front desk on the phone seemingly in a panic.
"No, I don't know when to expect him." She said, "I'll give him the message, though." She hung up the phone and looked at Kate and Javi, "Can I help you?"
Kate showed her badge, "We're here about Jerry Solomon."
"He's not here and I can't get a hold of him." The woman explained
"Are you his secretary?" Javi asked
"Yes, I'm Christy Sellars." She said, "Did something happen to him?"
"I'm afraid Mr. Solomon is dead, Ms. Sellars." Kate informed her, "He was shot last night."
"Oh my god." She gasped, "Do you know who did it?"
"Well, we were hoping you could tell us if someone might have had a problem with him." Javi asked her
"No, I can't think of anyone." She said, "He has lots of wealthy clients but as far as I know no one was unhappy with him."
"We'll need that client list." Kate said
"Oh sure, just let me print it out. I'll be right back." With a click of her mouse she was gone across the hall to the printer and back in a minute, "Here you go. Listen, if I can do anything."
"Is he married?" Kate asked
"Divorced but he has a daughter in college." She explained
"We'll need contact information for them, too." Javi said
"Of course." She said and opened a little address book and wrote down the names and numbers, "Here you go."
"Thank you." Javi said and he and Kate stepped outside
Kate looked over the list and gasped, "Oh no."
"What?" Javi asked
"Castle is one of his clients."
"Oh wow." Javi said
Kate exhaled heavily, "I need to tell him."
"You don't have to, I can talk to him." Javi said, "I mean, if you feel…"
"No, I can do it." She said, "Just go on back to the precinct and contact his wife and daughter. Then see if Ryan has anything or Lanie."
"Okay, if you're sure."
She nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine."
/
A short while later she stood at this door again for the first time in a long time. She wasn't even sure he was there. She knocked and waited for what seemed an eternity and finally the door opened.
His face betrayed his shock, "Beckett?"
She smiled awkwardly, "Hi Castle."
"What are you…"
"I'm actually here on official business." She said, "Can I come in?"
"Oh, of course." He said, "Official business, huh? Then that can only mean one thing."
"Castle, I'm sorry but we got a body this morning and it's someone you know." She said
"Who?" He asked
"Jerry Solomon." She said
"Oh my god." He said, "How?"
"Shot in the heart." She said, "I'm very sorry."
"His daughter isn't much older than Alexis."
"Epso is making the calls to the family." She explained
"Katherine?" Came a voice from the stairs, it was Martha
"Hello, Martha." She said
"What's going on?" She asked as she continued down the stairs to join them
"Jerry Solomon was murdered." Castle said
"Oh no." Martha said, "Do you have any leads?"
"We just found the body a little while ago." Kate explained, "We're looking into his financials and such, you know the drill."
"If there is anything I can do." Castle said
"How well did you know him?" She asked
"Well, we weren't close if that's what you mean." He replied, "He was my business manager and he occasionally sat in on poker games. He was a good guy as far as I could tell."
"His secretary said he was divorced."
"Yeah, about five years." Castle said
"You know anything about that?" She asked
"No, I didn't know him then." He explained, "He became my business manager around the time, well, around the time I was, well, with you."
"Castle, I have to ask. Where were you last night?"
"Me?" he asked, "We got in about midnight from the Hamptons. We'd been there for the holiday."
"Ah right, your labor day thing." She said
"Yeah." He said
"Well, I better go." She said
"Kate, I'd like to help if I can." He said
"I don't think that's a good idea, Castle." She said
"I just meant if I think of anything that might help, I mean since I knew him, I'll let you know."
"Okay." She said, "Thanks." And with that she left
"Richard, are you trying to weasel yourself back in with her though this case?" Martha asked
"Now, why would I do that?" he asked
"Because I know you, Richard." She said, "You left and never contacted her or went back to the precinct."
"Mother, she's with someone else." He said, "I just couldn't do it."
"But you're about to do it again." She observed knowing how her son's mind worked
/
Back at the precinct the gang wasn't make much headway on the case.
"So, this guy's office was in midtown but he was found in Brooklyn Heights. What was he doing all the way out there?" Kate asked as she and Javi looked at the murder board
"I may be able to help with that." Ryan came over, "His credit card receipts show he was at a club there and bought drinks."
"Just out partying?" She asked, "But why there? Not anywhere near his office or home."
"The daughter and ex wife are on their way in." Javi explained
"Well, maybe they can shed some light on it."
"What did Castle have to say?" Javi asked
"He didn't know much. It was mostly just a working relationship." She replied matter of fact
Ryan and Javi just looked at each other.
A short while later Solomon's ex-wife, Claire and daughter Elise, were at the precinct and Kate was delicately asked them questions.
"Mrs. Solomon." She began
"It's Ms. Phillips." Claire replied
"Ms. Phillips, do you know why you're ex-husband would be at a club in Brooklyn Heights?"
She shook her head, "No, I do not. We didn't speak much unless it was related to Elise."
Kate nodded, "Elise, do you know what your dad would have been doing there."
The girl wiped her eyes, "No, I don't. We had talked earlier yesterday in between my classes and he was the same as usual. Busy but sounded fine."
"I have to ask, where we you both last night about ten thirty?"
"I was studying late at the library with a group from my econ class." Elise advised
"And I was at a charity event for the children's hospital." Claire said
"Okay." Kate said as she stood up, "We'll let you know if we find out anything. And again, I'm sorry for your loss."
They both thanked her and left.
Kate returned to the bullpin, "Well, that didn't yield much." She said sitting at her desk
"You know what we could use right now." Ryan said
"Don't even go there." Espo knew what he would say
"We need a crazy Castle theory."
"What is wrong with you, man?"
"No, he's right." Kate said, "We've got nothing to go on."
"So…" Javi said
Kate sighed, "I'll go talk to him."
She arrived at his loft again a short time later and knocked, waiting for an answer.
"Kate." He said surprised again, "Did you find anything on Jerry?"
"No." She said, "And that's why I'm here."
"Oh?" He said
"We…I could use your help, Castle."
TBC