Alex Rodger was in. He sent in his regular reports whenever he felt like it to the anonymous website set up for his instructions from the Old Man. Everyone in the CIA/NSA knew Who the Old Man was. He was the granddaddy of espionage in the US. The man which had too many enemies. The man who valued his granddaughter from afar. The man whose own daughter was killed because they wanted to send a message to him. The man who mourned that death everyday like he knew his granddaughter did. The man who knew he could not be linked in anyway to this murder. Otherwise this murdering group would use it to blackmail not only Him but the 312 million other citizens of this great country.

With a threat like that he, James K. Parker, stood alone. He is the director of all the clandestine services protecting this country. The irony was they got to his daughter. He could not do anything about it overtly. He could not wrap his arms around his granddaughter and tell her that he loved her. He could not show any emotion of this horrible personal tragedy. Other people were dying too. They have to be stopped.

Alex Rodgers has gotten into a pretty routine and boring as he would say assignment. He still thought the Old Man was crazy. However, he was loyal. As such he never overtly disobeyed a single order. He knew from experience the Old Man had a reason. Having secrets compartmentalized keeps the opponent guessing. It is the duty of those different compartments to do what is tasked to them quickly and efficiently as possible. Lives were always at stake.

Alex was roused out of sleep. The Bat Phone was ringing. It time to do my duty thought Alex as he gradually came out of a dream with lately had been filled with various erotic poses of the Pretty Detective. Alex thought to himself what is with me? Erotic dreams are one thing but of Her? Alex rubbed his face and ran his fingers through his hair trying to remove the cobwebs in his mercurial mind.

Picking up the phone. It was from Her.

Hello, Alex said sleepily he did this for effect. However, he was wide awake on the first ring. He was trained to be. It would not do if the person on the other end was aware of that fact.

"Castle, we have a body" ,said the pretty detective on the other end of the phone.

"A body it is. I will be there in 20."

Alex jotted mentally the address in his mind. A mind which never forgets anything said or seen. This trait had served him well over his illustrious career. Plus, when he was younger it served as a way to upset bullies and encourage friends. Since everyone likes someone who remembers their name.

Alex left the loft. It was a cold spring day the leaves on the green trees lining the boulevards were finally sprouting. The sky was a uniform grey. The sounds of the city at this hour were slowly becoming the background noise like the humming of a bee. A constant droning signaling the beginning of a new day in this city that never sleeps. Death however, had claimed at least one victim maybe more.

Alex stopped at his favorite 24/7 coffee store to get that rich concoction which his pretty detective functioned on. Of course, he must bring his Detective an offering from the gods of pastry too. Ordering the 2 coffees and one bearclaw he left this oasis and entered the cold of the morning once again.

As he approached the detectives were huddled around looking at the body it was a hideous sight.

Alex found his pretty detective quickly sidled up into her personal space. Alex handed her the coffee and the pastry in the bag.

Kate looked at Rick Castle wondering which GQ magazine did he come out of. How impeccable dressed he was compared to her other members of her team. Yes, she had grudgingly accepted the fact Castle as she now calls him was a very much a team member. He had won this position with his help on a few cases now. The Nine year old on a sugar rush was much more than she knew.

Alex looked at the body. A chill ran through him which touched his very soul. This was no ordinary killing this was a sacrifice to the Vudon gods. He had seen this same thing in Haiti several years ago. That was one assignment which he was glad to put in that box in his mind that said do not open. Yet, those images swam in front of his face. Along with the sex he had earlier with his ex wife. Of those two opposing images the sex finally won out.

Kate had stepped in front of Alex and broke him out of his revelry of reliving the sex with his wife, Correct that ex-wife, the mother of his precious child, Alexis.

Kate said, "Castle, are you alright?"

Alex still thinking of his sex which was on his sex addled brain said.

I had sex with my ex-wife this morning. My first ex-wife Meredith Alexis's mother. She is thinking of moving back to New York. Do you know what that would mean to me? A very special brand of hell for me. The Hell of a deep fried twinkie!

The boys looked up from the body interested in what Castle was going to say. Castle was always entertaining in the morning but today it was even more so.

Ryan hearing the statement uttered by the standing man asked,

Deep fried Twinkie?

Alex continued, Yes, the guilty pleasure you get maybe one or twice a year for the novelty. But a deep fried twinkie everyday...

Kate fed up with his monologue and how her team was being sidetracked.

Castle, Shut it!

What?

Crime scene, dead body have some respect huh? Came out of Kate's taught mouth.

Alex said , I do not think he can hear.

Kate getting visibly upset then said

Have some self respect then.

Alex now focused on the body. It was an african male early 20's which cause of death was multiple stab wounds. The evidence led to be that he was beaten. He let his mind recede from his personal hell said,

Check in the mouth there should be a pouch in there.

Esposito looked in the mouth and drew out what Alex knew what he would find.

Kate in astonishment said

How did you know?

Alex though to himself Yes, how do I say this without outing myself. There is no way I am going to talk about Haiti!

Esposito carefully unwrapped the pound and handed it to Alex then asked what does it mean?

Alex took the pouch now open to show a coin with many inscriptions on it. The rag was dipped in blood.

Alex said as the images again swam in front of him, "it is Vudon"

Esposito asked what is Vudon? Is that something out of star trek or something.

Ryan his partner in a deadly serious tone said, "No, it is a religion practiced in West Africa."

Alex then explained the rest of the sacrificial items around the body.

Esposito now very curious because he was aware of that significance asked, Dude, how did you know?

Alex very much wanted not to expose his past said, "In research for my sixth Derek Storm novel." Little would anyone suspect that research was a way of retrieving a very important scientist which had come to Haiti to understand the cult of zombies. That rescue still cause Alex to shiver internally whenever he thought of it.

Alex also said "Vudon was practiced in Haitian and Dominican Republic refugees communities here in New York."

Kate switching from rapt listener to Police Detective now barked out orders.

Kate was led back to his loft to see the research which he had mentioned. Alex went into his study and select a book off the shelf and began to read. All the while waiting for the real source appear. He had made arrangements to order food and have her bring it herself. That way they can converse in the privacy of his loft.

Kate now getting quite annoyed with Castle started to asked "

If Alexis mother was moving back perhaps it would be good for Alexis to know her mother? Have you asked her?

Alex visible upset thinking of his precious daughter's relations with her mercurial mother said,

Alexis when she was nine was taken out to lunch by Meredith. In Paris!

Kate getting ready to leave was stopped by an African American woman of undetermined age holding on to two bags of food. Real food Kate thought. Kate's stomach rumbled as a way to deter her from leaving just yet.

Alex seeing his source had arrived said,

Kate Beckett, meet my source.

Pleasantries were exchanged and Kate got down to the business of eating possibly the first real food in maybe 26 hours. If you discount the bearclaw and the gummi worms on her desk.

Kate brought out the pictures the lab techs had snapped of the pouch and the coin with the strange symbols. Michelle as Alex called her explained the symbols of the pouch and it's content.

Michelle studied the photos of the coin and gave her analysis. It was West African of origin mostly likely Nigerian. The coin was an offering to the saint which retrieves lost things.

Kate said, "so the killer had lost something. That fits with the beating."

Meanwhile the hurricane which is Meredith was wreaking havoc in her daughter's life. Alexis was pulled out of class to see her mother sitting in the principal's office. Alexis knew this did not bode well. Meredith had lied to the principal about the death of her grandfather to get Alexis out of class. Alexis groaned internally. She had a test in Calculus today. She had studied really hard for that test. She really did not want to miss it. However, making her mother out to be a liar would be a bad reflection on her. Reluctantly she agreed to go with her mother on one condition no leaving the city.

Kate was called there was another murder, This time it was a young lawyer. She was killed in the exact same way as the first victim.

Alex looking at the newest victim knew the man who did this did not have what he wanted, Since the pouch and charm in the mouth.

Kate looking grim decided to question this latest victim's close friend. Kate called to get her brought to the station. Kate along with Alex went back to the station to get some answers.

Ryan was there interviewing the friend to obtain what little information she could provide. These kinds of interviews were always very hard both on the detective and the person receiving the news,

Kate, Alex, The Captain, Ryan were staring at the murder board trying to make sense of these conflicting information on these totally unrelated crimes. The only thing tying them was the search for a missing item which the killer wanted very badly.

The missing piece dropped into their laps when the first victim was identified. He was a Nigerian national There was a cell phone listed for an address close to the office of the second victim.

Kate and Alex walked up Six flights of stairs, Alex had to appear winded because he knew Kate was watching him intently. Slums are the same the world over. Alex thought. Then that thought of the Haitian experience again came unbidden to his troubled mind. Kate walk across the roof to a building with a door this was the address listed.

Kate knocked on the door and identified herself. The person who saw the badge and gun panicked. He tried to close the door but Kate was too fast and forced it open and with her gun drawn held it on the occupants of the room.

Alex noticed the same red blanket used in the ceremony and a bag containing the same candles. Kate ordered the person who owned these things to step forward. No one moved. Kate then appealed to the friendship of the slain victim. One person approached he was tall Nigerian like the rest of the people Kate held at bay. She convinced him she was not immigration nor was she interested in calling them in. She was investigating a homicide. Kate had him hauled into police custody along with all the others in the room.

Kate once back at the precinct started the interrogation of this suspect. She wanted to know what was the connection between the red flannel found in both locations. He could be charged and sent back to his country of Origin. Ozzy as he is called said the same could happen to him from the man who came to him for his help. Kate appealed to Ozzy to give up the name in the name of justice for Jamal his friend. Ozzy finally said the name of Charles Onney. This man owns the places where we works and where we sleeps.

Alex sensing an opening asked, "Did Jamal work for him too?"

Ozzy answered , "Yes, on a store on Canal street. The man was looking for Jamal the other day saying he took something from him. Jamal was not a thief."

Alex, Kate, Ryan, Esposito were standing around the murder board running into a total dead end. Alex's ears perked up Meredith! He knew that voice from anywhere. Hurricane which is Meredith had Alexis in tow. She was arguing with another police detective.

Kate now curious hear Richard's name being used and asked, " Is that..

Alex trying to head off any more confrontations said Yes it is,

Meredith, having been acknowledge comes over to stand in front of Alex with his precious child tagging behind.

Meredith was introduced to the detectives all happy to have something else to razz him later on.

Meredith said, Oh Beckett, she is your new muse. You know I was once a muse of Richards too. Alexis told me all about it, I had to simply stop by.

Kate looked at the woman standing with her 2000 dollar dress and 500 dollar shoes and impeccable makeup so this is the kind of woman Richard Castle was attracted too?

Meredith continued her path of destruction by saying, Right Kitten?

Meredith looking at the crime photos noticed a picture of a purse. Meredith having no manners asked,

Is that SJP purse?

Kate confused said,"what?"

Meredith continued, " SJP Sarah Jessica Parker it looks like the purse she took to Milan show. However, this one was a knock off if you notice the stitching was not as good nor was the material.

Kate made a connection and said , Canal street that is where they sell knockoff handbags, This is the same place where the 2nd victim went shopping, and the store where Jamal worked.

Meredith looking pleased with herself said, "See, I was always your lucky charm."