Forward I Continue

A Castle Story By

HCBalwayshappy

Katherine Beckett awoke with a start. Nightmares were a common occurrence these days, but lately they've been bad. Especially after that last case. Staring at the ceiling she turned over to look at her alarm clock. 4:32. A whole hour more than last night. Unable to go back to sleep she got up and got ready for the day.

It was 5:56 when she got to work, to her surprise the 12th precinct Homicide unit was already opened up. Stepping through the elevator she sighed. At their own desks was her partners, Detectives Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito.

"Morning," Beckett forced a smile as she set her purse down on her desk.

"Morning," They both replied. None of them needed to ask why they were here early, they all knew. It was the case, it really got to them. All of them. Four hours later Richard Castle came in, he had just gotten back from his book tour. Expecting a very welcome greeting, he was surprised, when no one acknowledged him. Placing Beckett's coffee on her desk he looked at her waiting for a response. Castle could tell she was tired, but something else was wrong. Leaving him to wonder, What did I miss? Placing a hand on her shoulder, he saw her flinch and nearly cry out. He also saw Esposito and Immediately jump up from their chairs, ready to take someone down. When they all realized it was Castle, they calmed down.

"Welcome back Castle," Was all he got out of Ryan and Esposito.

"Glad your here and thanks for the coffee Castle," Beckett said and took a sip. Confused, Castle sat in 'his chair' and watched her work.

"Wha-?" He tried to asked, but was instantly cut off.

"Don't ask," All three Detectives said in unison. Backing down, Castle once again sat in his chair. After a few hours of nothing, he eventually stood up and went into Montgomery's office.

Looking up as his door opened, Roy wasn't surprised to see see Castle standing there, "Welcome Back, Castle." Roy gave his best smile, but he too, was tired.

"What's going on?"

"You don't want to know, Rick, you don't want to know," Roy said truthfully.

"Please.."

"I'll give you the outline of what happened, I'm going to save you from the details. Be mindful that it was a lot worse, than this..." Montgomery said about to start his story.

"Why not the details, I love details," Castle said, still not believing it could be that bad.

"These ones you won't. No one would. Except maybe the killer himself..." And Montgomery started. While outside his three best detectives, were reliving the case that started 7 days ago.

Seven days earlier...

It was early in the morning when Katherine Beckett got the call, they had another case, and they wouldn't like it. Reaching the crime scene at six in the morning, she ducked beneath the tape that the officer had held up for her. Looking forward she saw Ryan and Esposito up ahead, they both turned towards her. Their expressions were blank. Yep. They weren't going to like this one.

"What do we have?" Beckett questioned, almost afraid to ask. They stepped aside, letting her take a look at the victim. It was a child, a little girl. She was surrounded in a pool of blood, her thin blond hair in two small braids. She had one hand over her heart. The other was at her side. Kneeling next to Lanie she took a closer look at the girl.

"Cause of death?" Kate asked, though she was pretty sure of the answer.

"Bullet wound to the heart, no signs of abuse from what I can see. I'll be able to tell you more once I get back in the lab. Also, the killer used a knife to cut a heart into her hand after she died." Looking more closely at the hand that was covering her wound she saw the red heart.

"Like he was showing what he destroyed, or what he took. Do we have an I.D.?"

"I found this around her neck. It's a lanyard with her name on it. Karen Bennett. She's an orphan at New York's Orphanage."

"At least, I don't have to inform any parents, that their child is dead...Just a bunch of little kids." Beckett sighed, she'd also have to question them.

"Oh and Beckett?" Kate looked over at Lanie.

"This has happened before," Lanie informed her.

"What?"

"Ten children have died five from two different states in the last month," Lanie said, Kate vaguely remembered hearing about that, "All from orphanages and hearts carved on their hands.

"So we have to stop him before he kills another.. Thanks Lanie," Beckett said and turned away, she had a job to do.

I always feel like the first chapter of my stories are boring. Probably means they are.I am really not even sure I like this chapter. I'm trying something new with the flashback, hope it turns out okay. Anyway, I hope this wasn't too bad, It will get better as it goes on. Please review with any questions, comments, suggestions, or even criticism. Thanks!

-HCB