The hallway was empty. The detectives walked in the direction the girl pointed, apartment 476. A faint glow filtered through the gap in the open door.

Esposito - The door's open!

Beckett pushed Castle back and handed the keys back to Lyllian. The guns went out with a quick signal of the lead detective, and the team sarted moving slowly towards the lofts entrance.

Beckett - Stay. Here.

Castle - But...

Beckett - Dont. Move! - She glared at him until his eyes went down. Then she turned to the little girl.

Lyllian - Trust me, I dont wanna be in the first file if theres any lunatic killer inside.

The detective rolled her eyes and stepped inside the large flat. There was nothing to be seen. At least in the beginning. The lights were on, but everything seemed normal. The loft hadnt been trashed, it was clean and neat, except perhaps for a couple of books lying open in a mahogany coffee table.

They canvassed the entire place shouting "clean" every time they checked a room. Until they got to the bedchambers.

Ryan - Hey, Beckett!

He was standing at the door, looking into a huge room with a double bed inside. The window was completely broken, and the sheets were all covered in blood. A young blondie lay on the matress, staring at the ceiling with her green dead eyes. She had been shot twice in the chest with a large caliber, and another hole in her temple showed a third gun wound.

Beckett - Another body?

Ryan - Female, mid twenties. Three shots, same as the other.

Beckett sighed, and raised her right hand all the way up to her face.

Beckett - Get the unis canvass the room, talk to the neighbours, anyone that could have hear something.

Esposito - Ill call Lanie.

Castle - They have a doorman, you know. He would probably remember if an outsider entered the building.

He had joined them at Ryans scream, she just hadnt noticed. He had that innocent look of his that amused her and annoyed her at the same time. But that was not the moment nor the place. She gave him a scowl that made him look away.

Lyllian - I told him he shouldnt get in - She said from the lobbys door. - But he insisted on having your back.

Beckett looked her way, startled. Then she raised her eyebrows up to the writer. He seemed apologetic, but not guilty.

Castle - Just in case.- Was the only answer he gave her.

Beckett - Okay.- She brushed a lock of wavy hair behind her ear and headed quickly to the main door, trying to wipe out the thoughts rumbling through her mind.- Lets go. - She stopped for a sec in front of the little girl.- Miss Collins we really thank you for your help, but its late and we still have work to do here. Why dont you go home and come back to the precinct tomorrow morning to answer some questions that might turn up?

The woman rolled her dark honey eyes at the word "home", but then nodded in understanding. She pulled out a business card from the tiny purse Beckett hadnt even realize she was wearing, and handed it hesitantly.

Lyllian - My phone number is in it. Tomorrow I've got some things to do, so just call me when you need me.- She cocked her head and smiled shyly before turning away from them and leave.

Esposito - Lanie's coming. - He announced, closing his phone as the C.S.U. started to fill the place.

Beckett closed her eyes for a second, then signaled them to follow her. They needed to find out if someone had heard something.

Beckett - You guys go talk to the doorman. We'll take the hallway.

Beckett and Castle knocked the doors one at a time, asking sistematically for anything that could be helpful. Unfortunately, most of the apartments were empty and the ones they managed to go through didnt remember hearing anything unusual.

The detective let out a sigh. The killer must have used a muffler. She looked to Castle from the corner of her eye, trying to read in his features any sign of one of those crazy stories he sometimes made up. Without witnesses around the crime scene, they'd got nothing. She hoped Lanie would find leads while working the autopsies.

Cop 1 - Detective! - The young officer popped his head out of the loft, looking for them.- We found something.

Beckett speeded her pace and took a maroon wallet and a small glittering purse from the mans hand. She scanned the walled and found an old looking ID, property of the first victim. She gave it to Castle and pointed to the elevator with her chin, telling him they were done in that floor.

Beckett - Lets see if the guys found something. - She muttered, scrambling the purse.

She let out an angry moan, showing the writer the open bag. There were a lot of things stuffed in there, from lipsticks to tiny mirrors. But no phone. No wallet. It was irritating how difficult it was to find any useful leads in that case. They didnt even know the identity of the second victim.

Castle - Hey, we'll find something. You'll see. - He said with a frown, and gave her an impish grin.

She bit her bottom lip to keep herself from smiling. When they landed the lobby, Esposito and Ryan where still talking to the doorman. The hispanic detective headed to meet them, his notebook open in his left hand.

Esposito - He does remember the couple going up to the loft. He says the boy presented himself as Erick Blakes brother, showed him his ID and went up with our blondie. He doesnt remember any other outsider entering the building, but they have cameras so Ryan's going down to his office to get the videos.

Beckett - Does he know the girls name?

Esposito - No, she didnt tell him. She was presented as a friend of Adams. He didnt ask anything else becouse he remembered quite well Mr. blakes brother.

The lead detective raised an eyebrow, questioning his teammate.

Esposito - Like four years ago, he doesnt remember the exact time, he saw the twins fighting in the lobby, something about Castles friend. It didnt end up well. But... Mr. Blake phoned this morning to tell him it was ok if he let his brother in, so he did.

Beckett - Sounds like we're gonna need to speak with Mr. Blake.

Ryan reached them by the buildings main door. He was smiling and waving his notebook, with that look in his eyes he got when he had something new in the case he was working on.

Ryan - When you left I asked him about Mr. Blake, and he said he did not see him since he left at 7:00 am. But he says that theres actually another entrance to the building. If anyone wanted to come in without him seeing it, they would need to do it through the private parking. The security in here is pretty high, so every neighbour from the building has a personal cardkey they have to use in order to get in there. We can check the security companys data at the precinct.

Beckett - Fine. Then lets go.

She couldnt stop smiling this time. They finally had something to start building the case on.

Castle - See? I told you we would find something. - The writer smiled broadly for a moment. Then it started to fade as he checked his watch.- You know, its kinda late. May I...? I mean, Alexis must be waiting for me, do you mind if... I... go home?

Beckett - Castle, you dont need to ask me.- She replied a little bit too hard, with a glare fixed on him.- If you want to go, just do it.

He looked at her, concerned. Beckett realized that she shouldnt be upset with him just for asking, but she couldnt help it. Sometimes it was too difficult to know what was he up to, especially since the shooting. She guessed it was partly her fault, lying to him made her uneasy. Every time he asked about her memories, she could barely keep eye contact.

Beckett - Its Ok, Castle. We can do without you for a few hours. - She smiled, trying to release the tension between them.

Castle - Yes... Thanks. - He smiled back, a little restrained.- She you tomorrow then.