Ryan crosses his arms over his chest, taking offense in Beckett's sarcastic tone. "What do you mean?" He asks, glancing over at Esposito who just shrugs his shoulders.
Beckett stands there, face scrunched up in thought before she holds out her left hand, waves her wand in the air and a book appears in her outstretched palm. Ryan steps closer to get a better look at the book. A bright red cover, a little worn around the edges, large letters spelling out 'Richard Castle' at the top, but he doesn't get a chance to see the title before Beckett taps the book with her wand and it flips open to a page. She hands the book to Ryan and points out the top of paragraph halfway down the page and he reads it to himself.
"Muggle literature? You read that stuff?" Esposito chimes in, still standing a little ways from Beckett in case the comment hits a little close to home. It does, he can see it on her face for a brief second before her eyes morph into her trademark glare.
"It's not muggle literature. It's about muggles. But it's fictional." She says, turning back to Ryan who's eyes are darting between the page and the crime scene before them.
"Same difference really. Doesn't that guy shadow muggles to write his books?" Espo nods his head to the book but Kate just shakes her head.
"Really Espo, if anyone should read them it's you. You have such a thing against muggles when there really isn't anything wrong with them." Beckett takes the book from Ryan and skims over the page herself.
"I don't have anything against them. Just... why would I want to read about fake versions of them committing murder? I deal with that stuff here at work." He waves his hand at the body on the ground, but Beckett has already given up the conversation and hands Espo the book as Ryan finally speaks up.
"It's almost like this crime scene is written word for word in that book." Beckett can't help but think Ryan looks a little pale but his face quickly changes. "You think we have a copycat?" He kneels down to poke a rose petal with his wand and Beckett nods.
"Most likely. But we should probably talk to this Richard Castle. Maybe he'd be able to help." Beckett looks at Espo to see what he thinks but he just snaps the book closed and hands it back to Beckett.
"I'll take your word for it. But who's to say the writer didn't do it?" Esposito puts his hands in his jacket pockets and walks to the other side of the body where Lanie had been standing, who has wandered off to talk to her team who have finally arrived.
"Well, he's the closest person we have to a suspect. Good news, he lives in the city. Ryan, figure out where we can find him, we'll have to bring him in to question him. Espo, go with Lanie to the morgue, she might be able to get fingerprints off the body." Beckett taps the book in her hand with her wand and it disappears. "I'll meet you guys back at the precinct in an hour." She leans a little closer and whispers between the two of them. "What's the new guys name?" She nods her head to the officer still standing at the edge of the crime scene. Espo just shakes his head but Ryan leans in.
"I think it's Jones." He says, and she nods.
"One hour." Beckett walks off after one last glance at the victim on the ground. She ducks under the police tape and nods to the officer. "Jones is it? You first on the scene?" The man nods.
"Yes ma'am. Got the call a little before five. Didn't see any suspicious activity when I got here, set up the tape and stood watch until Ms. Parish arrived. She covered the body with the sheet and started her work." Beckett nods as he speaks.
"Thank you. Jones." She nods and makes her way to the ally up the street. A few pedestrians are out walking, and if Lanie doesn't get that scene cleaned up quick they'll start to congregate around it. She slips around the corner of the ally, turns around to make sure no on is watching, and with a quick spin on the spot and a low pop, she disappears into the morning air.
