Synopsis: In the heat of the summer, a serial killer begins a deadly game of copycat, recreating Shakespeare's finest scenes. Leaving behind only a trail of bodies and borrowed words, the killer seems intent on writing his own tragedy. Will Castle and Beckett soon learn that of all base passions, fear is the most accursed? [Castle Summer Hiatus 2015 Ficathon Entry]
Xxx
All The World's A Stage
Chapter One
The midday sun was high in the sky causing the blueness to appear endless. Hundreds of people had gathered to hear the soft strings of the Mozart concert that was being performed in Central Park; two of the people laying circled together lost in the music were Castle and Beckett.
They had not long finished their picnic and the remnants of strawberry stems smothered in cream were scattered alongside their shoes as they lay with the soft grass tickling at their bare feet. Kate lay perpendicular to Castle, with her head resting gently on his stomach, her head rising and falling with every breath he took. Her knees were pulled up with her bare legs warming under the August sun, the simple white dress she wore bunched around her thighs and a well worn copy of Storm Fall rested upon her knees. Her other hand was drawn up behind her where it rested in Castle's palm; their wedding bands pressed together as Castle's thumb aimlessly stroked the back of her hand. Castle had left his book face down in the grass, giving up the pretence of reading as he closed his eyes and just enjoyed the weight of Kate's head upon his body. It was the moments of calm like these that made every one of their battles worthwhile. He used his free hand to trap a loose curl around his finger, relishing in the golden softness of her hair.
"Castle?" She murmured, her voice sounding warm like honey and as though she may just fall into a gentle sleep.
"Hmm?" He replied easily.
"We should do this more often"
She turned her head to look at him, he lifted his lazy eyelids to meet her smile. Her eyes danced with happiness as she spoke again.
"If I could be bothered to move, I'd kiss you right now"
He gave a short laugh.
"Ditto" he agreed before making a noisy display of kissing the air before him. She joined in his laughter, turning her head to press a kiss into his chest before returning to his book.
They could have lain like this for hours, but the chirping of Kate's phone startled them both back into reality. Castle passed her the phone from where her bag rested in the grass beside them.
"Reality calls" he murmured as she answered the call. She gave a soft groan before opening the phone, refusing to move from her lounging position.
"Beckett" her voice still held the sleepy quality, as though she had been awakened from a pleasant dream.
"Okay… We'll be there… about thirty minutes"
Kate dropped the phone so it landed on top of her now abandoned book. She rolled over where she lay, refusing to totally lose the moment they had created. Her chest now rested upon Castle's as she looked up at him, she gave him a smile, the kind she reserved only for him, as he reached forward to touch her face.
"Thank you for today, it was magical" she whispered before leaning in to find his mouth. He met her halfway, the softness of her lips were crushed quickly against his as he pulled her close. As their kiss intensified, he quickly flipped her so that she lay beneath him. He pulled back momentarily to watch her eyes as they both gasped for air.
As though remembering where they were, he pulled back, brushing her hair off her face as he did.
"Anytime" he grinned at her. Her flushed smile said it all.
In a matter of minutes they had packed up their picnic and walked hand in hand out of the park, heading back towards their reality.
Xxx
It had taken them just under thirty minutes to return to the loft and for Kate to change despite Castle's arguments.
"I don't see why you can't go in that" he pouted as he took in her long form, the white dress hugged her in all the right places before flaring out over her hips. She stopped only to raise an eyebrow at him.
"And where would I strap my gun?"
He stepped towards her, running a finger up her bare thigh.
"Well…" He began before she playfully slapped his hand away.
Ten minutes later they had left the loft, Kate now dressed in, crime scene appropriate, loose black linen trousers and a simple navy vest. The summer heat wave meant her normal array of shirts and jackets had been abandoned, though Castle still soldiered on in a thin shirt that had been partway unbuttoned down his chest with the sleeves rolled up past his elbows.
It didn't take them long to reach the crime scene and they arrived uncharacteristically empty handed for they were still full from the mornings' feast. Kate paused in the street to look up at the unassuming building before her, the sandstone structure matched the others that crowded the edge of the street. The buildings doorman was just inside the entrance being interviewed so they were greeted by an uniformed officer. The officer nodded in recognition to Castle and Beckett, sweat had already began to course down his face from standing in the midday heat.
"Apartment fourteen, first on your right on the fourth floor".
Kate thanked the officer before leading the way up the stairs with Castle following behind her. As they reached the top of the fourth flight of steps they both paused to catch their breath in the thick, humid air and wipe away the sweat beads that had began forming on their foreheads. She caught Castle watching and flashed him a grin.
"You've got to love a New York summer" she muttered.
"I'd love it much more from our air conditioned apartment" he grunted as Kate shook her head before turning into the hallway.
They easily found the apartment, the officers outside along with the tell-tail yellow crime scene tape had become a point of interest for the residents along the hall who braved the heat to come out and gawk.
Kate weaved her way between the onlookers and stepped into the apartment. She was greeted by Ryan who stood just over the threshold to the apartment and by the more welcomed whirl of the air conditioner. Ryan gave them a knowing smile as they stepped into the cool interior of the entrance hallway and used their brief reprise from the heat to survey their surroundings.
They stood in a short hallway with cream walls, cream carpets and minimal furniture and fixtures. Off the hallway came three doorways, Ryan gestured to them.
"Kitchen and dining room off the left. Living room at the end of the hall. Bedroom and ensuite to the right"
"Wow" Castle commented, looking around. "Are you sure someone actually lived here? It's all so… cream"
"And cream's a crime?" Kate retorted before turning back to Ryan with a smirk.
"What have we got?"
"Body of caucasian female, approximately fifty years old, hanging in the bathroom"
"Who's the apartment registered to?"
Ryan flicked open his weathered reporters notebook and bent back the pages.
"One Jessica Sullivan, Lanie is checking ID now"
"Thanks"
Kate headed towards the bathroom whilst Ryan continued his sweep in the other rooms. Castle gingerly followed Kate through the bedroom, also cream, fearful that his existence might somehow stain the spotless interior.
Lanie stood just inside the oak door of the bathroom, as Kate entered the doorway she crinkled her nose in surprise, registering the smell, it was not the smell normally associated with death or decomp.
"Afternoon" Lanie greeted her with a wide smile, "you sure took your sweet time getting here" she teased, wagging suggestive eyebrows at Castle. Castle blinked innocently at Lanie.
"We were at the park" Kate interjected, "today was the Mozart in the Park concert"
"Oh! I've heard good things about that, how was it?"
Kate shared a quick smile with Castle.
"It was excellent"
Lanie nudged her knowingly with her elbow.
"I bet it was"
Kate's smile spread into a grin.
"Right, what have we got here?"
"And what's that smell?" Castle added on.
Lanie's voice became professional as she began her report.
"Female in her fifties, hanging by a rope from the rail of her bathtub. Petechial haemorrhaging in the eyes fits with death by hanging, as does the bruising around the neck. No defensive wounds on her arms or signs on her fingernails that she fought the rope. Time of death approximately 10pm last night."
"Suicide?"
"Most probable, I'd like to run some more tests at the lab before I give cause of death though".
Kate nodded in understanding before Lanie cut her off.
"Plus, there's this"
Using her gloved hands, Lanie carefully rotated the victims hand until the palm was facing up, out the corner of her eye Kate saw Castle wrinkle his nose, but she remained riveted on the hand.
"What happened?"
"Her skin was burnt off - I'd assume chemically from the smell"
Kate's brow now furrowed.
"Who burns off their hands before hanging themselves? Can you even tie a knot with hands that raw?" Castle mused aloud, Kate didn't respond, she was wondering the same questions in her head.
"Will you be able to tell the substance used?"
"I should be able to"
"Okay, ask CSU to bag and tag all chemicals, cleaners, bleach etcetera on site."
"Will do"
"Thanks"
Kate turned back into the bedroom and began to appraise the scene.
"Kate?" Lanie called from the bathroom. She turned back over her shoulder.
"Photo ID confirms, this is Jessica Sullivan"
Kate imprinted the name and the face into her mind – this woman was hers now.
"Beckett? I found a note, the only thing left out on her desk". Ryan stepped into the room now, holding a clear evidence bag in his hand. Kate took it from him and studied the paper inside. It wasn't normal paper, it felt heavy in her hands, quilted almost. The writing upon it almost danced across the page in a swirl of fine calligraphy. Castle looked over her shoulder.
"That's expensive paper, feels like linen paper or possibly cotton"
Kate looked over her shoulder at him, he was close enough for her to breathe in his scent, the smell suddenly flooding her senses. She held his eyes for just a moment before turning back to Ryan and speaking.
"Did you find anymore of it? In her desk possibly?
"No, this was the only sheet"
"Not cream enough for her" Castle ribbed as Kate fought an eye roll. "What does it say?"
Kate frowned momentarily, her eyes fighting to untangle the maze like scripture.
"Come what may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day"
"It's cryptic for a suicide note" remarked Ryan.
"A lyric or a poem?" Kate suggested, turning the note over in her hand.
Castle leaned forward, taking the note from her hands muttering, "Philistines" before clearing his throat.
"Come what may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day" he read in his finest English accent, pausing for effect. Ryan and Kate shared a look before turning to face him. Castle stood there staring at them expectantly before releasing a sigh.
"It's Shakespeare. Macbeth to be exact. Act one, scene three."
"What does it mean?" Ryan asked.
"It's what Macbeth says after returning from the witches, he's speaking about becoming king. It means-" he paused, either to gather his thoughts or for dramatic pause, Kate wasn't quite sure which.
"It means, one way or another, what's going to happen is going to happen"
Kate took the paper back from Castle and turned it over in her hands,
"Let's check it against her handwriting and see if it's a match"
Castle let out a scoff.
"Macbeth, come on guys! 'Out damned spot, out I say!'"
Castle paused, a thought forming in his head.
"Oh no, I know that look" she could sense a theory coming and passed the note to Ryan so he could go and compare the handwriting.
"Out damned spot, out I say"
"Go on Castle, what's your theory?" She almost regretted asking, but the childish excitement it drew from him always warmed her soul.
"Lady Macbeth, can't wash the blood from her hands. She's convinced they're stained red from the blood, no matter how hard she scrubs she cannot remove it, the main theme playing out here is her guilt."
Kate studied the set of his eyes, they were flashing with the usual excitement at one of his maddening theories but they also creased at the edges as though he were deep in thought.
"What are you suggesting?"
"That she was feeling guilty about something"
"Guilty enough to take her own life? Or perhaps someone left her the note, forcing her to act upon her guilt?"
Kate chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully.
"Well, we'll wait to see what more Lanie has to tell us back at the lab, whether it is officially ruled as suicide. Let's go speak to the husband, see if there were any reasons why she may have taken her own life"
As she turned towards the door to leave, Castle gently grasped her elbow pulling her back to face him.
"I think you're becoming more accepting of my theories" he teased quietly.
"What has marriage done to me?" She mock exclaimed before sending him a wink and turning back towards the door, "at least it wasn't the CIA this time".
"I know, the CIA goes back in time to clone the Bard, but the modern world turns him mad and he vows to take his revenge!"
Kate let out a scoff as she walked through the door.
"Come on, Shakespeare".