Luck's Cost

For the first time in their experience the Team is faced with three unsolved and seemingly unsolvable Homicides with the space of 96 hours. One is the murder of a family of five. The other is the murder of a prominent defense attorney. When the third case hits, the Team feels powerless. The timeframe is post Watershed and Beckett and Castle are newly married.

Chapter I – A Grim Beginning

Sunday – the Loft

Rick was happy with his new situation. The changes to the Loft that Kate wanted to make were almost complete, a few minor personal inconveniencies, but compared to having Kate around full time worth the cost. It appeared the prophecy was right; a beautiful woman had come to live with him in the Loft. The newlyweds had settled into a comfortable routine. On a non-shift Sunday they would raise late, read the paper over a light breakfast, attend church, brunch, take a walk and then do something together. Return home to watch football, go to a show, gallery, or a museum, anything just something with each other. Perhaps in the summer they might even go to a Yankees game. Their biggest fight so far had been over whom got to solve the Sunday Crossword Puzzle. When Martha heard them squabbling her exacerbated "Kids" had sent both of them into a fit of laughter. They had resolved that solving the puzzle would be joint effort at the countertop over coffee. So far it had worked out well. Watching Kate's face change from concentration to discovery to joy and back was a treat.

Today had been no different, after brunch they went to Washing Square, where Kate found yet another elephant. What is it about elephants, thought Castle? One of these days I'll ask. Till then I'll just enjoy.

"A penny for your thoughts," asked Kate?

"I was wondering what I was doing all the way over here when you're there?"

"Well," said Kate patting the cushion next to her.

When Castle arrived and reached out, Kate flowed into his arms stretched up to give him a quick kiss, then collapsed back down into a much more comfortable cuddling position. Much better she thought reaching out to snare one of Castle's spare hands. This is where you belong and this is where we belong.

Cherries thought Castle. Definitely cherries. In a few moments the TV would be forgotten.

Monday –at the 12th

"Castle," said Kate over the telephone giving him an address in Little Italy, "we have a case. The Uniforms on site say it's bad."

A distracted, "Ok" was Castle response. I wonder what that's all about thought Kate. Later I guess.

Arriving on the scene the Detectives noticed that for once, they beat both the coroner and CSU.

"This way Detectives" said Officer Abraham leading them to the rear of the house.

All there saw the neatly cut hole in the window beside the back door knob, which allowed the killer to unlock the door and walk in.

"You guys get background; I'll take a quick peek before Lanie or Perlmutter show up," said Kate.

In Kate's quick look she saw Todd and Laura, husband and wife dead from a gunshot wound from close range, probably silenced thought Kate. When she saw Mike, Sam, and Vicki dead in their rooms, she concluded that most definitely the weapon was silenced and it was a professional hit.

"Start from the beginning," said Esposito to Officer Baldini.

"It was about nine o'clock. We parked the cruiser in front of Mels, and started our normal walkabout. See and be seen you know. Mrs. Roomer stopped me and said she was worried about Todd Miller, a pharmacist that works for her; he hadn't come into work today. I said we would stop by his place to check on him after we finished our sweep. Arriving here we knocked on the front door. When we didn't get a response, we circled the house. Tom took the north I took the south. When we saw the state of the back door we drew our weapons and entered the premises. I found Todd and Laura, Tom found their children."

When Officer Baldini started to shiver Esposito asked, "First murder scene?"

The Officer shook his head no. "First one this close to home Detective, I know these people. When both go to Saint Michaels, our kids go to the same schools."

"Look at me Officer Baldini," said Esposito in a quiet voice that still demanded the Officer's attention, "My name is Javier Esposito, over there is my Partner Kevin Ryan. We have been together for almost six years. We are good at what we do. Do you see that lady behind me in the leather jacket? Her name is Detective Kate Beckett. She is the best Homicide Detective in the city period. We will find these guys. Right now we need your help. We need you and your partner to canvass the neighborhood to see if anyone noticed anything out of the ordinary. Anything. You know the drill, and Balsini we will find the person who did this and find out the reason why. "

When Castle arrived Kate said, "Castle wait, Lanie just went in there. Let's give her a couple of minutes." When Castle looked her in the eyes and asked "How bad?" she knew that the telephone thing was unimportant. "Bad. I'm not going to describe it. I want your opinion when we're done. Mean while, Guys lets order up the normal stuff, financials, background, phone, emal…"

"On it," said Ryan.

When Lanie let them have access to the crime scene, Kate followed Castle around. Javier and Kevin will see the scene through Detective eyes. I want to see the scene through his eyes, thought Kate. If Gates only knew what he saw at a crime scene, thought Kate, she would never ever think about kicking him out.

"Loving close knit family," began Castle, "professional hit, large caliber silenced weapon, nothing was taken, and nothing is out of place. We aren't going to find anything here. The son was going to go to West Point. Years ago they won the lottery. We are probably going have to back check till we find a story line that makes sense."

The only news that Lanie had was that the time of death was between 1 and 3 AM, Hour of the Ox, thought Castle.

When they left the scene, the Uniforms had reported back that no one had noticed anything out of the ordinary. One house was unaccounted for, but they were not hopeful.

Esposito and Ryan were assigned the schools, Kate and Rick would take the Pharmacy and the Day Care Center.

The owner of the Pharmacy, Kathy Roomer, was very distrait when she heard the news. Todd had worked there every since he got his degree. No conflicts with anyone. Everyone liked him.

"Every Friday Laura would walk in and she and Todd would go to lunch up at Mels. When they came back she would always buy two lottery tickets. Then head home. She won big twice you know. Once was two hundred and fifty thousand and the second time was five thousand a week for life. I asked him what was he doing still working here? You know what he said. He said he still had Sam to get through school, and Laura would probably kill him for being under foot so much. Why would anyone want to kill these sweet people," Laura asked?

At the church it was pretty much the same feeling. "Laura started coming in after her little one, Sam, turned ten. Sam would stop by on his way home from school pick up his mother and walk her home," said Father Sanchez with a smile. "Laura came in five sometimes six days a week if we needed her. I could only pay her for twenty hours. She said she didn't mind. She said that helping out with the kids kept her young. We've had no problems. Everyone knows the family. And when a mother knows that the woman she is entrusting her child to has already raised three little ones to become well behaved teenagers, it's a comfort. I don't believe in the death penalty Detective, but whoever did this thing needs to be taken off of the streets permanently."

"We will do our best Father," said Kate.

"Godspeed my children," was his blessing.

The Boys had the same result at the schools; the Miller children were well behaved, and well liked, A-B level students. The only incident was about three years when Mike had a 'Big Brother Moment'.

"We checked with the Mom of the other family," said Esposito, "no damage, no hard feelings, she thought it was sweet. "

"So as far as we can tell from their personal lives there is nothing to warrant the murders," summed up Kate. "Any theories Castle?"

"It definitely was a professional hit. It doesn't feel like a mob hit. An intelligence hit doesn't seem right either. Right now I'm theory-less."

The murder board at the precinct looked like this

Victim: Miller family: Todd, Laura, Mike, Vicki, Sam

COD: Gunshot wound (10 mm)

TOD: 1-3 AM

TOX screen: Nil

Notes:

Son going to West Point (Senator Bracken)

Lottery Winner

Forensics: 10 mm bullets; no match found

Speculation: Professional Hit

Monday Night at the Loft

When they were working a case, the evening ritual at the Loft was simple. Castle would shed his jacket and begin dinner preparation. Kate would store her hardware, change into house clothes, peruse and prioritize the mail, then help with the dinner preparation work. Tonight they had settled on a stir fry so Kate handled the cooking while Castle took care of his messages. After dinner and dishes, Castle normally retired to his den to write and Kate to read or take a long bath.

Monday night was the exception. On Monday night there was a show about a male and female PI Team that both enjoyed watching. When Castle smelled the popcorn and heard "Castle, it's almost time," he saved his work shut down his computer and promised himself that he would let Beckett eat most of the popcorn tonight.

After the show when Kate started to get up Castle's gentle pressure kept her in place. "Kate I received a phone call today inviting me… I mean inviting us to a party benefiting the NYC Ballet on Saturday Night in Lincoln Center. "

"Did you go in the past?"

Nodding, "I was single and all the ladies had dancer bodies and they were very appreciative of my support for the ballet."

"Ballet. You don't like ballet. You've never taken me to the ballet."

Surprised at the tone of her voice, "I knew Lanie took ballet lessons. You too?" When Kate nods, "For how long?"

"Three years"

"What happened?"

"Boys. Who invited us?"

"Sylvia Scott"

"Is she…"

"An ex-girl friend yes, an ex-lover yes."

"Why did you even ask me Castle? I'm your wife remember."

"I don't want to drag you places you don't want to go Kate. I worry about your schedule and I am worried about you meeting Sylvia."

"Why"

"She's a lot like Meredith."

"And sex with crazy people is addictive and fantastic and you are afraid of a relapse. I know I married one."

"No…Hey…Oh…Really?"

"Yes, you know I'm going to need a new dress…shoes…and probably a purse."

"You've been taking lessons from Maratha haven't you?"

"She is a good role model."

"Kate pick a performance this season that you want to see and I'll take you. We can probably reserve our tickets on Saturday."

"Castle you don't have to do this."

Shrugging Castle said," I want my lady to be happy, and any excuse to see her in a beautiful dress I'm going to take."

"You just want to see the beautiful dancers," said Kate smiling.

Standing up and offering his hand Castle replied, "The only dancer I care about will be the one on my arm. May I have this dance Mrs. Castle?"

Hand in hand they danced toward the bedroom.