It was the night of the mid term exams Alexis Castle was in her dorm room studying she looked up at the clock Oh I am going to be late! Lanie will be after me for sure! Alexis grabbed her coat and rushed across the greens to the nearest Cab.
"I need to get to the OCME building on the 2nd Please" she told the cabby.
The cab driver dropped her off and as she entered the building her phone rang. It was from her long lost Dad.
"Hi Daddy how was Afghanistan? Did you see anything interesting?" Alexis asked as she ran into autopsy and quickly changed clothes.
"Afghanistan was not much of a Story Pumpkin but I am back in New York at the loft and I am wondering where you are?" Rick replied.
"Daddy did you not get my text? I moved out about 3 months ago! I am at my dorm room I would love to see you." Alexis said while trying to dodge the look from Lanie Parish her boss.
"Look Daddy I am at work so I will call you later ok? My dorm room is 309. My roommate should be there so wait for me there if you want. My boss is throwing daggers at me so I have to go Bye Daddy!" Alexis said while closing the phone.
Lanie looked at her and shook her head. She still did not understand why a rich little girl would want to be in this autopsy room filled with nasty smells and lots and lots of dead bodies. Well is could be that she is too close to her Father that Famous War Correspondent Richard Castle. He also is known for his novels too. Lanie being a great fan of both novels and his articles wondered how his daughter would be so alike. She rarely sees the great man. He is constantly on the move not that Lanie tracked his every move on the world map in her office or nothing like that.
Lanie is broken out of her revelry by the entrance of Detective Esposito her part time boyfriend and Kate Beckett her all time best friend!
"Ok Lanie what do you have" Kate intoned.
Lanie looked at Alexis to give her the chart with her notes. Lanie had a soft spot for this hard working College girl. Lanie getting the chart looked at it and after reading her notes went to the drawer and had the orderly place it on the slab.
"Ok this victim was strangled as cause of death. You can see the 3 separate strands roping across the throat. This was the cause of death. There was a struggle from the torn clothing and scrapings under the fingernails no DNA report yet but the dress has mud from the Mississippi River. It was confirmed today by trace." Lanie reported.
"Mud from the Mississippi River? Really Lanie?" Kate said.
"Hey I just tell it on what trace found! It is the silt level which is the clue" Lanie said.
Espo looked at his part time gf with a certain look. It was very different than the previous occasions. It was I want you now look. Lanie responded with 3 fingers tapping. That means 3 hours after down time come see me. Lanie and Espo had this total system of non verbal cues to tell each other what was going down. Of course they thought if they did not talk that people would not catch on what was going on. But Kate knew exactly what the sign's meant she used to do them with a Doctor she used to date but he has been gone so long this time she thinks the Jungle finally swallowed him up whole!
"Ok Lanie thanks for the report." Kate said as she walked out the door.
Alexis looked up from cataloging to watch the interactions between the Detective and Lanie. She admired both of them Kate because she is a woman is such a male dominated field then Lanie for the exact same reasons. Alexis watch the power strides of the Detectives. It was not she was invisible per se but there is not much reason for conversation with the Detectives. Since Martha's friend got her this intern position she had learn much about the people who came and go in this building. Alexis's revelry was broken with the shrill tone of her phone. It was another body Alexis was stunned to read the address! It was her Dorm room.! Her Father was there! He will be a suspect!
Alexis rushed to the bus to catch a ride to the location all the while hoping it was not him!
Kate was in her cruiser heading back to the 12th when the call came in. Kate dutifully noted it and turned to Espo.
"Contact Ryan and Hastings then get them to the scene! I want to get them on it quick!
It is a dead girl in a fancy Dorm on Columbia. The press will be all over it!" Kate said as she routed the car through New York traffic. Espo nodded and called his partner and their junior detective.
Getting to the Crime scene it was a mess and standing in the middle was One Richard Castle.
"So who called this in?" Kate asked.
Rick raised his gloved hand. "I did. I am Richard Castle and I noticed…"
Kate was curt with him. "I do not care what you noticed Mr. Castle I need only the facts what you did and what you touched so CSU can eliminate you."
"Did you know you have such amazing eyes!" Rick said out loud.
Kate was thrown by that response. "Are you hitting on me Mr. Castle?" Kate asked with a big more enthusiasm than usual Lanie looked at her as she was kneeling at the body. Alexis so far had not gone in since Lanie had not called for her yet. She sat in the hall but she did hear her father's voice. Oh No he was here! Alexis worried.
Rick looked directly into her eyes. "No Detective I was showing you the power of my observational skills. I suppose most people do not notice your eye color changes. I like it."
Kate was taken back. She had never met anyone like him before. He had a way of looking right through you. "Ok Mr. Castle you have proved your point so tell me what did you observe."
"I entered the room because the door was unlocked I did use a handkerchief to open the door then I placed my gloves I carry on to touch several items so My finger prints should not be in this room." Rick now showed Kate his gloved hands again.
"So you knew it was a crime scene How?" Kate was impressed.
"It was the angle of the books on that desk. They were skewed as if during a struggle the body was pressed against them. Looking down I saw the body Of course checked for vital signs but there were none so I flipped out my phone and called 911" Rick said. "I also noticed ligature marks across the throat they were of a 3 strand variety. It is an unusual type of rope It has three colors a Red, Green and Blue. Notice here on the edge of the table there are fibers here."
"CSU tag these fibers" Kate yelled out. "Ok Mr. Castle continue."
"I then would surmise the body had not been attack sexually. But I saw a stain on the dress it was Dried mud a type not found around here There are not many silty rivers in the New England area. It reminded me of the silt of the Ganges River in India but I think it is closer to home." Rick feeling the sample. "I suspect Mississippi River mud!"
Kate was impressed with not just the observational skills but the professional manner he approached the possible crime scene trying to keep every thing intact.
"Ok Lanie time of Death?" Kate said trying to tear her eyes off that handsome Man.
I have a boyfriend My gosh and I am acting like a school girl stop it Kate she said silently to herself.
Lanie taking the Liver temp and the room temp. "I would say…"
"Two Hours at the top" Rick supplied.
"Yeah just what he said. Have we met? I am Dr. Lanie Parish and You are…?"
"Oh excuse me I am Rick Castle please to finally meet you Dr. Parish. My Daughter tells me everything about you!" Rick stated.
All good I hope? Lanie said finally meeting her idol over a dead body was icing on the cake. "I love your books you have a flair for getting the details just right."
"Well thank you Dr. Parish I am always happy to meet a fan" Rick stated. "Speaking about my Daughter this is her dorm Room? I think it would be since I spy Monkey Bunky on the bed over there I gave it to her once I came back from Japan and she was about 4 at the time."
"Yes she is here but not allowed to enter this room yet. We still need to process it" Kate said.
"Oh no Detective I think you misunderstood me. My daughter also is here on a professional capacity. She will be assisting Dr. Parish fairly soon I suppose. I have not seen her in 13 months so if you no longer need me I will be waiting outside with my Daughter." Rick asked if he was clear to leave the crime scene.
Kate again had flutters in her stomach. He knew how to exit a crime scene too! Amazing.
"Oh I have seen that look" Lanie said to Kate.
Kate turned her attention to the ME. "What?"
"I know that look Katherine Beckett!" Lanie again chided her.
Kate knew she was busted looking and checking him out as he left the room. "Dead Body Shaddup" was her reply to the ME.
The rest of the detective made there reports.
"Kate did you know your favorite author is standing outside in the Hallway?" Ryan asked.
"She certainly does and she has spoken with him too!" Lanie supplied.
Espo looked at Lanie "why wasn't there a girl scream heard in the Bronx?"
Everyone knew of Kate's secret or maybe not so secret crush on the author.
"Ok guys you had your fun now what do you have to report?" Kate asked each detective.
"Ok the victim is one Rebecca Case from Milton, Mississippi. She has been at Columbia for 4 months. Age 19. She was last seen with her boyfriend Eric Small a history major and a Junior here at the college. They had just came back from the library when Rebecca forgot a book and Eric ran back to get it for her. When he returned the door was locked and no response from repeatedly knocking. Several of the other Dorm residents were upset at the noise. He also left several text and voice messages" Ryan reported.
"Strange CSU you find a phone?" Kate asked. The CSU techs all looked at each other finally one said "No detective there was no phone here so far anyway"
"Well look hard and find that phone!" Kate ordered.
"Yes Detective" the CSU tech said.
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Rick talking and holding his daughter in the hallway heard the detectives wanting the phone to be found.
"Pumpkin do you have your roommates' number?" Rick asked.
"Yeah I do "Alexis said after breaking the hug. "Here it is."
"Ok Alexis call it" Rick ordered.
Alexis dutifully called it and there was a sound but it was not coming from the room it was coming from the coat pocket of his overcoat which was draped over his arm!
"Daddy it is coming from your coat! Where did you place your coat in the room?" Alexis asked.
"Let me see I was standing at the door way ok on the chair next to the door" Rick recalled.
"Dad you need to tell the detectives" Alexis warned.
"I will Pumpkin don't worry I will but first I want to hear all about your coworkers especially that Detective Beckett!" Rick said.
"Kate? What about Kate? She has a boyfriend in Doctors without Borders he has been gone this time about 8 months she has not heard from him since he left" Alexis stated.
"It would not be a Josh Davidson would it be?" Rick asked.
"Yes it his name is Josh Davidson" Alexis looked at her Father. His visage was looking mighty grim.
"Alexis is there anyway you could get the detective to meet me at the loft?" Rick said.
Alexis sighed. It always is like this. Her Father the world traveler then Murder and Death followed in his wake! "Don't tell me Eaten by Pigmies?" Alexis said since people died in such gruesome ways around her father.
Rick shook his head.
"Worst than that…?" Alexis said.
Rick just sighed.
"Ok Dad, just keep the phone and she will find you. But do not touch it the killer might not be as bright as you and brought your own set of gloves!" Alexis said.
She was dreading being called in and removing the body to the bus. Placing the body into the body bag was not the worst part of this job. It was seeing the anguish on the love one's faces when they were viewing for identifications purposes.
Rick being cleared went to the loft to await his daughter's return. Alexis had been able to compartmentalize so she was able to prep her roommate's body. Afterward she left work and headed to the Loft since her Dorm room was now a crime scene.
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Walking into the loft she spied her father doing what he does best writing.
Rick looked up from the laptop. And saw his daughter with her slumping shoulders.
"Dad? Why does death follow wherever you go?" Alexis asked.
Rick thought about it. "I really do not know. I have been investigated in 5 continents and yet I have been cleared in all cases! I really have no explanation why death is my constant companion. I have just accepted it and moved on!"
"You must be cursed!" Alexis teased.
"Yeah, so your roommate, please tell me about her?" Rick asked.
"Not much to tell she got a scholarship she was from the south I think Mississippi was very good student. Her father runs a tire shop and her mother was a stay at home type. She has 4 other siblings 2 brothers under 10 and two sisters one 17 and the other 14. She was quiet but her boyfriend Eric creeped me out. I mean why would a Junior be dating a Freshman? She was constantly on the phone she had this app which would take random pictures and email them to herself. I think she thought it was art of some kind." Alexis stated.
"Wait Alexis you said the phone takes pictures. At random times? Perhaps there is a clue hidden in this phone. So when in Detective Beckett coming?" Rick asked.
"She said she would be here by 6 it is already 7 let me give her a call!" Alexis said.
She had just placed the phone to her ear when the distinct ring tone could be heard coming from the door. Alexis walked over and opened the door as the detective was searching for the phone.
"Hi Kate come on in. I guess you never been here before" Alexis said.
Kate was impressed with the furnishings rich but subdued. Very Homey, why would Alexis choose a dorm room with noise and confusion over this she did not know?
"Hello again I am Rick please sit down I have something for you" Rick said offering her a seat on his luxurious couch.
Rick left the room.
Alexis asked "could I get you a coffee or perhaps something stronger?"
"No thanks" Kate said. "Wondering what was taking Rick so long."
Rick finally appeared with an envelope. There was Josh's distinctive doctor scrawl across the front.
Rick held it out to her. It was a letter from Josh.
My Darling Kate,
I am dying. I am writing this letter and handing it to my good friend Rick to make sure you get this. I am so sorry all our plans will never be fulfilled. I was stuck by an infected needle and I have only hours left the power is out and the sat phone battery will not be charged until the sun comes up but by then it will be too late. I told Rick not to call you but wait until he could hand deliver it to you. I am so sorry I loved you so much.
Yours forever
Josh.
The handwriting got very shaky at the end but Kate's tears were already forming. Rick gave her a handkerchief and she gratefully accepted it. She had plans she was going to be a doctor's wife. Her family would have been so proud since choosing her profession not many had spoken to her. Now her world of being accepted was crumbling beneath these weighty words.
"I am so sorry for your loss" Rick said solemnly.
Kate laughed. "It was not going to work out. I just knew it. There was something about him that he would not be content just working in a hospital. He had to make a difference! Now he is gone. So what was that 5 months ago?" Kate asked.
"More like 6. I am so sorry I did not get it to you sooner." Rick said.
"You know I just knew when it was time for our weekly chat and there was no connection I knew he was not coming back! Was there a body? Or a funeral?" Kate asked.
Rick just shook his head at the detective. He noticed a much deeper sadness which surfaced.
"No I am so sorry but people who die from this disease are immediately burned. And the ashes are buried while hot. So the virus can not escape and infect others. There is no trace of him or his belongs. Only this letter it too would have been burned if I did not preserve it. I am so sorry!" Rick intoned.
The detective rose and said goodbye then left clutching the letter the only tangible thing she had of his other than that big rugby shirt. Tonight when she got home she crawled inside it and cried herself to sleep.