A/N: Like many Castle Fans, I am angry with ABC for not bring back Stana and Tamala for a possible season 9. Whatever happens, Caskett has been a integral part of me and wife's Monday nights. We will not watch season 9 if they do this. Anyway enough of my ranting on current Castle news. I am going to close down my AU in the next four stories. Unlike ABC I do believe in Happy endings, but there will be Angst and tragedy along the way. So be prepared for it. Thank you and enjoy the new story, and like always please leave reviews. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Castle series or the characters. This story is based solely on the entertainment of the readers.
Castle: From the Depths of Hell
Prologue
West 30th Street and 11th Avenue
Manhattan, New York
The blue Honda Civic pulled up to the parking spot outside the warehouse and tractor trailer yard. The uniform security guard stepped out and looked about. He found it odd that the gate was locked. Usually the night guard had it unlocked by the time he showed up for his 6 am shift. The early shift that would load up the trailers and small trucks for deliveries. He sighed and took out his keys and unlocked the gate and proceeded inside the yard towards the security office.
"Yo, Steven where are you at man?" The security guard called out as he walked across the yard. He reached the main office building and found the security office light on. He chuckled and walked in thinking that his friend was probably in the bathroom. He opened the door to the office. "Steven I'm here man, how did….."
The security officer was in shock as he found his friend nearly decapitated behind the desk with a cup of coffee and his lunch in front of him. The security officer pulled out his phone and called 911.
Kate and Rick's Loft
SoHo, New York
"I thought we had this settle last week Paula." Castle said in his cell phone as he walked about the kitchen as he laid out his wife's breakfast on the island counter. He sighed. "No Gina, I said I don't want to be away from Kate that long and that far away."
As for the mentioned Kate, at that time was walking out of the bedroom towards the island to get going that particular morning. She smiled at her husband who was currently arguing with his publisher and agent over the book signing dates. With her pregnancy six months along, Castle was trying to plan all book tours now ahead of time so within the final week he could be home in case she went into labor. She smiled at him when he saw her. She sat down. "What time did they call?"
"630." Castle said covering the phone with his hand. He sighed as he listen to one of the women drone on over the phone. He looked at his wife. "I hate conference calls."
"Where's Maria?" Kate asked chuckling at the fact the new hire for the Castle publicity and book team was not at the loft yet.
Maria Salvatore Russell, the wife of Kate's detective Jennifer Russell had spent last week getting the run down from Castle, Paula and Gina of her responsibilities as well as paperwork for her position as advertising and marketing consultant to Richard Castle. Basically she dealt with Paula and Gina, leaving Castle free to write and continue his work with the detectives from his wife's precinct.
Castle smiled. "I'm not expecting her till 8."
At that moment the loft door open and in walked Maria who was carrying her laptop and briefcase with her. She smiled at her friends and boss. "Morning Kate, Rick."
Kate shook her head. "What was that Castle about not expecting her till 8?"
Castle shrugged his shoulders as he held out his phone. "Deal with them please."
"Let me guess the book tours, and their push for the week Kate is due." Maria replied with smile on her face as she grabbed the phone as Castle nodded. "Hi, Gina, Paula its Maria. I thought we had this settled last week…."
Maria grabbed her stuff and moved towards the office where she had a desk. Castle smiled at the sight and turned to his wife. "One of the smartest decisions I made hiring her. My life has been more stress free since doing that."
"Really one of the smartest?" Kate said jokingly. She took a bite of her cereal and looked at her husband. "What was one of the other ones?"
"Marrying you." Castle replied. He smiled at his wife who broke out in a large smile. He gave her a light kiss on the lips as he saw Maria coming out of the office, now on her phone and handing Castle his phone back. He saw her mouth the word Jennifer. Castle nodded his thanks. "Good morning Russell what is going on?"
Kate looked closely as she saw her husband's get the light when he was called to a crime scene. She missed going to the scenes with her team, but her duties as Captain kept her busy, and with their son just a few short weeks away from making his appearance, it wasn't practical anymore. She sighed. "Body drop?"
"At a delivery loading yards." Castle said looking at his wife's face. He reached out and took her hand. "Why don't you come today? You been cooped up here, in the office, 1PP and the precinct past couple weeks. Some fresh air would do you some good."
She smile and chuckled at the thought. "6 month pregnants NYPD captain at crime scene. Dr. Snyder and 1PP would love that."
Castle chuckled as Kate sipped at her tea. She got up as she finished her breakfast. "I got that budget meeting at 1PP here soon, and it takes me longer to get ready these days."
"Sorry about that." Castle said with a smile as he kissed Kate on the lips as he walked to the bedroom. He turned around as he did. "You are still as sexy as ever though."
Kate smiled as he said that as he walked into the bedroom.
West 30th Street and 11th Avenue
Manhattan, New York
Russell was waiting for Castle as he got out of the cab close to the crime scene carrying his coffee, and Russell's in his hands. She smiled as she accepted it. "Thanks. What time did my wife get there?"
"Right before 7." Castle replied as they walked towards the tape. He looked around and smiled. "I haven't been down this way in a couple years. Not since the team got a case over in the MTA yards."
"How did that turn out?" Russell asked as they ducked under the tape and headed towards the office.
"Interoffice romance dispute. Boyfriend caught his girlfriend in bed with a mechanic, killed both of them at the office." Castle answered as they walked into the office and saw the scene. "And this definitely not that."
"Dr. Parrish what do we have?" Russell asked as she threw away the coffee in a hallway garbage can and took out her gloves.
"What you see is what you get. Near decapitation of the head." Lanie stated as she stood up and made notes for when the body would arrive back at the morgue. "Liver temperature puts time of death between two and four in the morning."
"Looks like they caught him in the middle of his lunch." Castle stated as he began to walk around the room. He looked at Lanie. "Who is he?"
"Name is Steven Randall. 28 year old security guard." Ryan said coming back into the office with Esposito right behind him. He pointed out into the hallway. "His fellow security guard found when he arrived for his shift. Says the gate was locked when he arrived and usually its unlocked by the time he arrives."
"Any other people on the property at that time?" Russell asked.
Esposito shook his head. "Last person usually leaves around 1230 before security locks up."
"That's kind of unusual isn't it?" Castle asked as he came back around. He saw the looks of everyone. "I mean usually these places are going twenty-four, seven."
"We scaled back on our staff due to budgetary reasons." A man in a suit showed up in the doorway and looked into the room. "Good God."
"This is Mr. Harrison Jorgenson. He owns the yard."
Russell moved Mr. Jorgenson away from the scene. "Mr. Jorgensen, Detective Russell, and Mr. Castle, do you know anyone that would want to harm Mr. Randall?"
"No Steven was a great security guard, and person. Very respectful, and well-liked by everyone." Mr. Jorgenson commented as he watched the gurney go by and into the office.
"Did he have any personal problems or money issues that you know of?" Castle asked.
Mr. Jorgenson shrugged his shoulders. "Not that I know of, but you can ask the people that he worked with at the security office. I just interacted with him as I come in everyday, but never really asked him about his life outside of work."
"Where were you this morning between two and four if you don't mind me asking sir?" Russell asked as she made notes of this.
"Of course. I was at home with my wife in bed." Mr. Jorgenson replied as he looked as the gurney rolled by with the body on it and Lanie following it. "I'll have my assistant get you the info."
Russell nodded as she and Castle turned and headed back to where Ryan and Esposito where. "Did you guys find anything else out?"
"They have security cameras around the property. I have TARU getting the footage right now." Ryan said as they looked at each other.
Castle looked into the office. He noticed a doorway behind the desk and where the victim was located. "Where does that door go?"
"Into the warehouse. It's locked when no one is here, and security is the only one with the keys." Esposito commented as he saw Castle look at the door. "CSU is checking anyway."
"Alright lets get statements from everybody, and bring the friend down to the station along with his supervisor." Russell remarked as she took off her gloves. She looked at Castle. "What you thinking?"
"Guy goes about his job, sits down to eat his lunch and dies from a near decapitation." Castle answered as they started towards the door. "Not the way I would want to go out."
"How would you like to go out?" Russell asked.
"Surrounded by friends and family." Castle replied. He looked over to Russell. "What about you?"
"You know, since there is still so much to this life, I haven't thought about it." Russell remarked as she and Castle moved towards the entrance.
12th Precinct Lobby
Manhattan, New York
"I cant believe you never thought about it." Castle said as they got out of the car and started towards the door. "Everybody has thought about it at least once."
Russell shrugged her shoulders. "Well I haven't."
"You haven't what?" Ryan asked as he and Esposito were waiting for Castle and Russell by the doors.
"How you want to go out from this life." Castle responded. He held the door open for Russell. "I said surrounded by family and friends."
"Me too." Ryan replied with a smile on his face. He held up his phone. "With Jenny, our kids, and grandkids around too."
"I'm with Russell. I haven't thought about it since my time in the Army." Esposito replied. They all stopped for a moment. Esposito shrugged his shoulders. "Too much to live for right now you know."
"I hear that Esposito." Kate said waddling her way into the lobby. She saw her team standing there. "Don't you four have a murder to solve and what were you talking about?"
"We do Captain. We are on the way up, and we were discussing how we want to go out of this life." Russell replied as they all started towards the elevator.
"Oh. Me, its family and friends around me." Kate answered with a smile as she took Castle's hand.
Castle smiled and gave her a kiss. "What about your budget meeting?"
"Ended early so I am happy about that." Kate said as they arrived at the elevator and she pushed the button. "Baby Castle was making it hard today."
Everyone laughed as a uniform officer got off the elevator. He let them on and started towards the door. He quickly turned around. "Oh Captain, some detective from Major Crimes and some FBI agent are waiting upstairs?"
"Did they say who?" Kate asked holding the elevator.
"No ma'am, and all they said they would do is wait for you to arrive." The uniformed answered.
Kate nodded her understanding and let the door closed. Everyone was curious what was going on. As the elevators arrived and the doors open, the team walked out into the bullpen and except for Russell everyone was immediately surprised by who was waiting for them.
"Kate, Castle." Supervisory Special Agent Will Sorenson said to the group. "Detectives."
"Wow Kate. Look at you. Captain, married and pregnant." Detective First Grade Tom Demming added in.
"Will, Tom, what are you doing here? Kate asked harshly as not to let the two former boyfriends get any chance to attack her team or husband.
"It's about your dead security guard." Will commented. He looked to Demming. "He was going to be a confidential informant for an operation we are running."
Everyone in the bullpen looked at the two in shock.