Because Espo deserves and girlfriend and because he most certainly is not gay: p
Hope you enjoy
Cath
p.s constructive comment and reviews are welcome :)
The last thing I want to read about when I get home is murder cases…
Those words he had said to Beckett almost 5 years ago resumed well the life of Javier Esposito, detective of the NYPD of the 12th precinct.
It represented all aspects of its life which included, of course, is love life. Javier was single. The last long-term relationship he had been with medical examiner Lanie Parish. Of course, he usually kept himself from being lonely with occasional casual sex or booty calls. But truth was; Javier was lonely nonetheless…To him, everybody was happily settled with someone…except him.
Even more so now, with Ryan married and with a baby on the way, Beckett and Castle and Lanie getting married…Wow he felt alone. Wherever he would go some on was flirting or kissing or whatever.
What option had he left? He tried going on blind dates organized by Castle (God, Castle had weird taste in woman) or by Ryan but without success. What was left? Internet…No he didn't think so.
All of these thoughts were racing in his mind on his way to his favorite coffee shop.
Javier Esposito liked vanilla lattes. A weird choice for morning coffee but still…
He waited in line absently. His gaze drifting around the shop, looking at other people waiting for their coffees or talking on the phone... That's when he saw her. She wasn't very tall or strongly built but something in her captured him. She had long brown hair. Javier couldn't his eyes from checking her out from top to bottom…
"Vanilla latte!" he heard. This made him come out of his reverie. Javier moved to take it but the girl had taken it before him.
"Excuse me, that's his coffee," said the barista pointing at him
The girl turned around. "Oh…OH! I'm sorry. I'm such a lunatic sometimes." She said
"Don't worry about it," was all he could say to her. She had bright blue eyes.
Beautiful, Javier though
Finally the girl's coffee arrived and she left the shop. Javier wondered if she was a usual customer…tomorrow he would find out.
XXXXX
The next morning, Javier arrived at his coffee shop looking for yesterday's brunette. She was there, waiting for her coffee. Since he had just arrived, he had to wait in line…she didn't.
She walked passed him has he watched her get out, and cross the street.
Javier got the precinct 20 minutes later; Kate stopped him in the entrance.
"C'mon. We got a body let's go" she said while putting on her jacket
"Where's Castle?" he asked
"He's sick so you're with me today". She said
They got to Kate Beckett's cruiser and drove to the crime scene…an elementary school in the upper west side. The arrived on the school grounds to meet the CSU team and Lanie.
"Victim's name is Charlie Porter. He is one of the school's janitors. Strangled to death with some large rope I suppose." said Lanie. "No signs of struggle so I suppose he got strangled from behind. He probably didn't see his attacker".
"Why would someone kill a janitor?" Asked Becket while looking around
"Don't know. But the man over there is a fellow janitor but it's the little boy who found the body" said Lanie pointing to a small kid crying next to a woman.
"Gosh poor kid." Murmured Kate
"Yep".Answered Lanie
"Is the kid with his mother?" Asked Javier
"No I think it's his teacher" said Lanie
"I get the janitor, you talk to the boy?" Asked Kate
"Yeah sure "Answered Javier has he looked towards the boy. He was crying, hiding behind his teacher's leg. He looked again to get a look at the teacher this time…Javier's jaw almost dropped. It was the girl from the coffee shop.
No way…
He walked towards them. Their eyes meet. Those bright blue eyes he remembered all too well from their encounter at the coffee shop.
"Hi I'm detective Esposito. I have to ask you a few questions" he said
The girl nodded and kneeled beside the boy. "Liam honey, we have to speak to the police officer now" she said trying the reassure the boy. "Don't be afraid Liam. He's here to help us."
The boy slowly turned to face Esposito. Javier followed the teacher's example and kneeled beside the kid.
"Hi, my name is Javier Esposito and I'm a detective. What's your name?" he asked the boy
"Liam Cromwell"
"All right Liam. Can you tell me what happened?" Javier asked
Liam looked at his teacher who nodded in response to encourage him.
"Well we were playing baseball and the ball got really far…so I ran as fast as I could to get it and then I found Mister Charlie in the grass…" said the boy
"Ok. Did you see anyone where you found Mister Charlie?" asked Esposito
"No." answered Liam
The was a small moment of silence. Javier got up.
"All right thank you Liam" said Javier while shaking the boy hair. The boy left them and ran towards woman who had just arrived…it was his mother. Javier turned back to face the boy's teacher.
"And you are Miss…?" he asked
"I'm Melissa Kensington. I'm a second grade teacher here." She said had Javier took notes. "Liam's in my class."
"Ok. And did you notice anything or anyone unusual today?"
"Gosh. Today there were a lot of unfamiliar faces. It's the end of the year's carnival so lots of handyman, clowns and acrobats you name it…"
"Did you know our victim well?"
"As much as anyone I suppose. He was a real nice man, gave candy to the children and stuff. I would never imagine him being murdered"
"Sometimes shit happens and sometimes people end up dead for it." Javier said
"Yeah I suppose. Do you need me to stay around or can I go?"
"No you can go. We will contact if we need anything" he said
"All right. Have a nice day detective" she said with a wide smile
It took a couple of seconds to Javier to answer. "Yes. You too Miss"
He watched her has she got to her car. Men this woman was beautiful. Very different from his usual type…perhaps that's why she was so attractive. Those eyes and that smile…
Javier kind of hoped he would have a reason to call her back to the precinct tomorrow.
XXXXX
Melissa got to her car. What a horrible last day of school for the kids. Yet she couldn't stop thinking of the detective that had interrogated her and Liam. It was the guy from the coffee shop. The one she almost stole the coffee from…
WOW, He was hot…very hot. Melissa shook her head.
C'mon stop that, she ordered herself has she drove back to her place.
XXXXX
Later, back at the precinct, Javier couldn't resist the temptation to run Melissa Kensington's name in the database. It was totally inappropriate but he did it nonetheless. Her latest driver's license picture showed up on the screen. She was 26 years old. Clean record. Nothing, not even a parking ticket. But a small information at the end of her bio caught Espo's eye. She was Gerald Kensington's daughter…a very important man in New York City politics.
Now why would a girl from a good wealthy family ended up teaching second grade. The more her read the more she intrigued him.
XXXXX
The next morning, Javier went to get his usual vanilla latte…but she wasn't in sight.
Of course, you dumbass…School is over. She probably only stops here on her way to work.
He felt a little stupid. He paid for his beverage and made is way to the precinct. He walked inside the 12th, only to find Melissa Kensington talking to Ryan.
I'll be damned, was all Esposito could think of.