A/N: This is my first published Castle fic. I've done a lot for a lot of other fandoms, specifically Criminal Minds, which is also on this account. Hope you all enjoy, much more to come.
"You're not going to like this one," Esposito commented as he dropped the manila file onto Detective Beckett's desk. "Six year old kid found dead in a dumpster over at 53rd and Lex, Lanie and Ryan are over there now, call Castle," it was a suggestion, and Kate knew it. Esposito would never consider ordering her around. It was a death sentence.
"Six?" Kate asked with a frown, flipping the file open, it was just filled with the preliminary findings that the responding officer had emailed to the precinct. "Alright, give me a minute, meet you at the scene." She had no intention of calling Castle, not on this one. With Alexis off to college not even a month ago, the last thing he needed to see was a dead kid. Esposito just nodded, grabbing his coat off the desk chair as he walked away.
She glanced back over the photo in the file, a young boy, from the looks of it. His arms were angled a bit off, clearly broken in at least one place, and Kate could almost pick out the bruising on his neck, which she guessed was cause of death. Of course, she wouldn't know until she got there and Lanie confirmed. Standing up she tossed her coat over her shoulder and made her way down to the car.
The crime scene was no more bustling than usual, Kate noted as she ducked under the yellow tape line. She couldn't help but be the least bit concerned, since the circumstances weren't normal. They rarely dealt with children. She quickly spotted Lanie and walked over, unable to sip her coffee as the body came into view. He was smaller than the picture had indicated, and despite her cold reputation, her heart lurched. Children always hit close to home. "Do we have an ID?" Beckett asked, fighting to keep her voice from wavering as she studied the body, she knelt down next to Lanie.
"Anthony Gould, six years old attends Beaumont Elementary school," Lanie responded, handing over the school ID. "Cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation," she pointed out the ligature marks around the boy's neck, "but there's a history of abuse here, there isn't much unbruised flesh on his torso, its all old bruising and he's severely malnourished. Who ever had custody of this child didn't like him very much," she remarked, an upset edge to her voice.
Kate just nodded. "Do we have any idea who guardian is? Ryan, call the school, Esposito, get a hold of parents if you can." She delegated, wondering just who could be so sick as to harm the child, who didn't look like he could hurt a fly.
"Already on it," Ryan responded, "where's Castle?" he added, raising the cell phone to his ear. "Usually he's the first one here."
"He's sitting this one-" She was interrupted by the writer himself.
"I brought coffee, Beckett." He called, waltzing over to her before his eyes came to rest on the body. "A kid? He can't be more than seven." The cheery tone that had been in his voice had been drained, the plug pulled.
"Yeah," was all Beckett could manage. "Try six."
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Castle couldn't help but murmur, glancing up at the high rise condo complex. Their victim had been malnourished and evidently abused, he had expected something a little... shabbier?
"I'm positive, Social Services sent over the address an hour ago. The school confirmed it," Beckett replied, voice resolute as she waved her badge at the doorman to let them in. It was twelve floors up and even Castle was subdued, only serving to set Kate's nerves on edge. The whole situation, it wasn't right. There was something seriously wrong going on, and a child was in the middle of it. She rapped her knuckles on the door just as it swung open.
"Hello, how can I help you?" A middle aged woman with brilliant blond hair and a dazzling smile stood in the door frame. She seemed the like picturesque, Martha Stewert meets Kate Gosselin wife.
"I'm Detective Beckett, this is my partner Richard Castle, may we come in?" Her standard response. For a mother who had lost a child she seemed rather upbeat, worsening Kate's mood. With a nod from the woman they all stepped inside, and the door swung shut behind them.
"Can I get you anything? Some lemonade and cookies perhaps?" The condo was lavish, bordering on extravagantly decorated and even Castle felt a little awkward as he perched himself on the brown leather sofa.
"No thank you, Mrs...?" Kate paused, questioningly.
"Jessica Anderson," The blond woman reached out her hand with another pearly smile. "My husband Michael is at work right now."
"Are you the guardian of Anthony Maservey?" Beckett asked, shuffling through her file. The nod from Mrs. Anderson urged her on. "I'm sorry to tell you that he was found dead early this morning," Kate glanced up, monitoring a reaction.
"Oh my," Jessica gasped, "how did he die?" There were no tears, no look of disbelief. Kate and Rick were disgusted. "Did- did he suffer?"
"Tony's dead?" a small voice came from the back hallway, and all three heads swiveled around to see a tiny young boy clutching the wall, a look of horror on his face and tears welling in his eyes. Kate's mouth hung open, she hadn't even considered the possibility that the family was fostering more than one child.
"Yes, go back to your room, Keenan," the woman replied dismissively. Beckett's brows furrowed in disdain.
"He was strangled, and there's signs of abuse and malnourishment. Can you please tell me why he wasn't reported missing? My medical examiner says that he's been dead for at least three days. Didn't you notice he was gone?" The malicious tone was barely kept out of her voice.
"You'd have to ask my husband, I just got in from Italy this morning. I've been there the last few weeks," Mrs. Anderson explained nonchalantly.
Kate just nodded, her fists clenched tightly to keep herself from back handing the woman. "That's all we need, I'm sure we'll be in contact at a later date. Thank you for your time," she bit out, standing up and practically dragging Castle, who had been eerily silent the entire time, out the door.
The moment they were clear of Jessica, Kate had her phone at her ear. "What are you doing?" Castle asked, the first words spoken since they had gotten out of the car. Beckett just waved her hand towards him though, trying to get him to shush.
"Yes, Child Services please?" She paused for a moment, "Yes this is Detective Kate Beckett with the NYPD, 12th precinct. I was just at the home of Jessica and Michael Anderson. They're involved in a recent murder of a foster child, one that they were fostering, there's another child living with them. I'd like him removed for at least the duration of the investigation, since my ME has reported malnourishment and physical abuse." Another pause. "What do you mean you have to conduct your own investigation first? I'm the police. That child needs to be moved." She hit the end call button, eyes flashing. "Bull shit," was her only response.
A/N: Oh right, a warning is probably necessary. This story is going to deal with some very adult themes, child abuse- including sexual abuse, death, sex, and mental disorders. If anything bothers you, I would suggest not reading it. While I don't intend for this story to be explicit, some scenes will become very graphic and I don't want to offend anyone.
On a lighter note, I love reviews! Let me know what you think.