DISCLAIMER: I don't own Castle, or Rubbermaid containers.
Special thanks to Cullenluva715 who always helps me =] Go check out her Castle story "It's a date" Its pretty cool.
That's the way I loved you
I was standing on a brightly lit stage, in front of what had to be at least 20,000 people, all calling my name. Strobe lights flickered in my face, as I belted out a beautiful song about love.
"Kate! Kate! Kate!" The crowd chanted, as I threw kisses at them. I did a little twirl and started another song.
Vrreemm, A strange noise launched me upright in my bed, snapping me out of my dream.
"Ugh" I groaned groggily, ticked at being awaken. "I never get to the encore." I looked at the clock which read 6:45. Next to the clock, sat my cell phone, which was vibrating up a storm, waking me up.
I looked down at the screen, trying to figure out who was the culprit of waking me from my dream. "Castle." I smiled.
"Good morning handsome." I said into the phone.
"Well hello my beautifully, how did we sleep last night?" Hearing his voice first thing in the morning always made my day so much brighter.
"I slept good. Like a rock." Since I had started dating Castle about six months ago the nightmares about my mother had become scarce, very rarely occurring, almost a thing of the past.
"I can tell, I only had to call you about 6 times to get you to pick up." He chuckled into the receiver. Six times? I must have been more into my dream than I thought.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you waiting, are you in a hurry to tell me something?" I apologized.
"Don't worry about it, you needed your sleep. Oh, and no hurry, the body's not getting up anytime soon."
"The body? Since when do you get notification about a case before me?" I asked, wondering why the chief had contacted him before me.
"Since you were woken up before 4am, three times last week. You've been so tired, it's almost criminal. I simply requested they call me first, so I can wait till the last possible minute to wake you up." He sounded proud of himself.
I knew I should have some protest about his little plan, but I found it extremely sweet. If there was such thing as feeling your heart smile, I would be sporting a heart grin right about now.
"That's very thoughtful of you."
"Thoughtful? What no yelling? I thought you'd be mad at me."
"It's too sweet to yell at." I admitted blushing. I always blushed at the slightest things.
He laughed. "Well when you're done blushing, get up and ready and we'll head down to the crime scene. I'll pick you up in a half hour?"
"How'd you know I was blushing?" I said turning a shade darker of red.
"I know you to well. See ya in 20." He said hanging up.
***
"How the hell is that possible?" Castle said not having a witty comment for once, bending over a Rubbermaid container, in the middle of the local convenience store.
"He got killed, and stuffed in a box, what can't you understand?" Ryan said jotting something down in his notepad.
"I'm referring to how one gets killed in the middle of a store? If someone was getting killed, you think people would notice."
"Not necessarily Castle" I said, walking up to stand next to him. I called him Castle at work, and Hon—well, other names away from work. "People get killed in stores all the time. Every Black Friday you hear of all the people that get trampled to death. No one ever stops for them."
"Well considering the fact that his head and limbs are in one container and his torsos in another, I think it's safe to say he didn't get trampled." He said making a face of disgust.
"Oh you're such a cleaver one." I teased him in a mock voice, patting him on the back in a fake 'job-well-done'
"I try." He smiled.
"Castles right." Lanie said, looking up from the body. "Cause of death indicates blunt force trauma to the head. Time of death between, 5 and 8 pm, Last night."
"The store was open then" I said looking over at the sign on the wall, telling me the market is open until 10pm on Thursdays.
Esposito pitched in saying, "He was murdered then, but not necessarily moved then. Forensics tested negative for traces of blood here earlier. This isn't our original crime scene. Think about it, a killer wouldn't bleach and clean the floor after they disembody someone, only to leave the body out in the open."
"Unless the killer didn't have time to move the body, before someone else discovered it." I said trying all the possibilities.
"No, unless we have a moronic killer on our hands, moving the body is always the first thing you do." Castle said.
I nodded in agreement and turned to Ryan, "See if you can get a name for this guy. I want everything on him that's in the system. Backgrounds, records, whatever you can find. Esposito, talk to the store owner see what he has to say. Get any security tapes from last night. Castle come with me, were going back to the station."
"Yes ma'am" he said following me out of the store and to the car. There was already about a dozen or so reporters lined up along the caution tape, just waiting to get a hold of any details. I always found it sick, how the media flocked all over violence like vultures.
I unlocked the door, hopped in, and buckled up when I noticed Castle starring at me.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Have I ever told you how sexy you look when you're trying to figure out a murder?" He said smiling a sly grin.
"I believe you may have mentioned that before."
"Well I'm going say it again, just because I enjoy your blush. Ohhh look it's getting darker." He said pointing at my face.
"I'm not blushing, It's just hot in here." I lied, keeping my eyes on the rear-view mirror.
"Kate, we're in the middle of a New York winter, you're not wearing a coat, the heat is off, and you're telling me it's too hot, correct?"
"Well, Uh-" I started to stutter out, trying to think of something to say.
"Or is my presence making you warm? Can't help but thinking of me sitting so very close to you right now, imagining me reaching out and touching you."
"We're working." I told him, he knew I liked to keep things professional while I was on the clock, but he always seemed to be in a flirty mood.
"I know. Oh! That reminds me! Do you know what tomorrow is?" He said raising an eyebrow. I shot a glance over at him, quickly returning my eyes back to the road.
"Would you be referring to our six month anniversary?" I guess.
"That I am."
"I thought men weren't supposed to remember that kind of thing? Isn't it my job to yell at you, when you forget?"
He snorted. "Not all men are completely out of it, some of us actually do have a romantic side you know." It was my turn to snort.
"What you don't believe me?" He asked. "If I wasn't romantic, would I have made a reservation at Caviar Russe, for tomorrow night at 7?"
"The place on 54th?" I asked flabbergasted.
"That's the one." He said proudly.
"Okay, well, maybe I was wrong; some of you can be sort of romantic." I pulled in the back parking lot of our building.
"Sort of?" Castle questioned, but I had already gotten out of the car and started heading towards the building entrance.
Castle trailed me all the way up to my desk, muttering to himself about something. I had just sat down on my wheelie chair when my phone rang.
"Talk Esposito" I said, answering it.
"Hey, store owner said video cameras were down all last night, and didn't start rolling again till he came in this morning. Said, he noticed nothing out of place, no doors or locks broken in to, and nothing suspicious had happened the night before. The Rubbermaid containers had been there for couple month now, just a part of inventory, and empty to his knowledge, up until this morning."
"Why were they down, was the system down?"
"Sounds to me like the only time the cameras are on, is when the stores open. A lot of smaller businesses do that to conserve tape, and money, Heck half the places don't even have a working camera I would bet."
"That doesn't help me. I can't assume anything though, it's too much of a coincidence for me. What's this guy's name again?"
"Samuel Ramirez. He's owned the market for about 20 years now, and said he's never had any problem with any people before. Seem pretty shaken about the whole thing."
"Well good work, I guess. I still don't have a good feeling about this guy though. Cameras off, nothing broken into, seem a little too perfect for a murder." If we couldn't come up with any more leads, Samuel Ramirez would become the first on my list.
"I hear ya. I'll letcha know if I come across anything" He said.
"Thanks." I said snapping my phone shut.
I started shifting through the papers on my desk to trying to find my notebook, to write down Samuels name so I wouldn't forget when I notice Castle starring at me.
"Can I help you?" I asked, continuing to dig through the mountain of papers in front of me.
"Nothing. Just watching. Have I e-"
"Yes you've mentioned I look sexy trying to solve murders before." I said cutting him off. He huffed back into his chair, sulking.
"I wasn't going to say that, I already told you that on the car ride over. As a writer, I try and use new material each time I complement you. Makes me feel more creative."
"Is that right? Okay sorry for interrupting then, what were you going to say?" I said finial putting down my papers and looking at him.
"Never mind. It's too late now. You ruined it." He said folding his arms across his chest, and sticking his chin in the hair.
"That's because you have nothing. You were going to tell me I was hot." I smiled knowing I was right.
'No, I was going to tell you, that you are beautiful, there's a big difference. It's okay to refer to hookers as hot, but I'd much rather refer to a smart, sophisticated women as yourself as beautiful." He always did know how to make me smile.
"Thanks." I said. I'm really good with replying to compliments, so I usually just thanked the person. Let's just say flirting isn't exactly my forte. "But I was right."
"Well it's not my fault, seeing you focused on your work, excites me." He said with a mischievous grin. Okay so I couldn't flirt well, but that didn't keep me from trying.
I leaned in closer to him, so I was almost up against his face. I looked him right in the eye and said "You know what excites me Castle?"
"hmm?" he said gulping.
"That rush of adrenaline, feel of stimulation and pleasure I get when I know I solved a murder. Help me solve this murder and we can celebrate, while I'm in a good mood." I smiled and winked at him before I leaned away.
I thought I heard him mutter something like "Naughty Detective" before he sprang out of his chair. "Alright, let's make this fast. Quick, what do we know about this case so far? Anything?" He started pacing back and forth looking perplexed. He suddenly stopped, turned and looked at me.
"We know nothing about this case yet. PLEASE, don't make me wait" he begged.
"Wait for what?" Ryan asked strolling in the room.
"Nothing." I quickly said, changing the subject. "Did you find anything on our vic?"
"Okay." He shrugged. "Yeah, his names actually Vic. Victor Castillo. 42, not married, lives in the apartment across the street from the market. Vic also has quite the tab at the store. He's got one of those installment accounts open, and turns out he owes about 2500, and missed two monthly payments."
"2500 dollars? That seems a lot for a small store to lend on credit." I noted.
"Your right, actually it turns out there's a maximum of a $200 tab, at the store. Only Castillo's balance is that high."
"Why would Ramirez lend him that much extra money?" Castle questions.
"I'm not sure, but I think we should have a word with him. Ryan get Esposito to bring him in for questioning." I said. Ryan nodded and walked out, leaving me and Castle alone.
When I looked over at Castle he had a frown on his face. "Rick?" I asked, wondering what was wrong. It was one of those moments I randomly got when 'Concerned girlfriend' mode kickied in.
"This is going to take forever!" he yelled frustrated and stomped his foot like a little kid. I smiled and kissed him on the check.
"Patience Castle, Patience."
A/N- What do you think?! Let me know!!! And I'm not a professional murder writer, so I'm sorry for all the flaws. I only know things from picking it up on the show. Other than Castle I steer clear of Murder. I only think there should be another chapter or so, this was originally a very long one shot.