A/N: I'm thrilled with the response I got with the first chapter…now I intend to go slow with this, because is a very tricky storyline and I want to try my best to keep the characters real, even though is an AU…with that said please ENJOY and REVIEW!
He was saved by the bell…well…by a murder, but still it made the perfect excuse to leave .After a couple more drinks and shallow conversations, Castle was finally able to leave the party without Paula noticing it. When he saw the address Beckett texted him, he realized it was closer than he had expected, only a couple of squares, so it would only take him about twenty minutes to get to the crime scene on foot.
He saw the familiar red and blue lights in the corner where the Marriott Hotel was. Immediately, Castle started to make up stories in his head about the possible scenario of the crime. It could be a one night stand gone wrong, or the assassination of a spy making his way into a corporation, or someone's wife caught her husband cheating. And as he fantasied with stories, he almost didn't notice he had arrived to his destination and almost collided with the yellow police tape. Coming back from his trance, he saw Beckett's car already parked, as well as Ryan and Esposito's. As Castle reached the lobby one of the officers pointed him towards the third floor. When he saw the room 326 he saw Ryan standing outside talking to one of the maids. He went inside. Lanie was already examining the body and giving some information to Beckett.
"That was quick." Beckett greeted as she approached him.
"I was close by." Castle smiled. "So what do we have?"
"Richard Castle." Lanie said looking at him with clinical eye. "You'd rather be here with a dead body, than whatever party you were attending?" Lanie said raising one eyebrow.
"Well Lanie, lets put it this way…" Castle replied with the same dashing smile. "I'd rather be spending time with my fiancée than discussing publicity stunt with my agent."
"Castle how much champagne did you drink over there?" Beckett asked.
"My dear detective, I'm sober enough to work on the case." Although Beckett didn't seem quite convinced. "So, the killer slight his throat."
"Perceptive." Lanie said. "Judging for the body temperature I would say he was killed about three hours ago."
"Okay, so we'll check the security cameras and we should have a glimpse of our killer." Beckett said. "Do we have an ID?"
"His name is Thomas Carson, he worked in upper Manhattan according to his driver's license." Esposito said walking into the room and giving Beckett an evidence bag with a wallet in it.
"Robbery?" she asked.
"There was still the cash and credit cards in his wallet." Esposito answered.
"Okay why don't you and Ryan talk to the people staying near this room, see if they saw something." Beckett told the young detective.
"On it." Esposito replied as he walked away.
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"So our guy was definitely a loner." Beckett said as she hanged up her phone. Castle had just come with two coffees in hand, since is was gonna be a long one. "According to his landlord, Carson never had a guest at his apartment and moved basically from his place to work." Castle listened with attention. "And his phone records show little activity, but he did frequented a place called Hour 50."
"Wait, did you say Hour 50?" Castle interrupted her and looking more serious than he has the entire night.
"Yeah, why?" Beckett looked at him in confusion.
"We need to go to the morgue." Castle said standing up and looking anxious.
"Hold on Castle…"Beckett started but Castle had already gone to the elevator, leaving the detective standing both confused and intrigued.
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"Lanie, have you started the autopsy already." Castle asked the M.E quickly.
"Castle I just got here like ten minutes ago." Lanie answered. "Why?"
"Castle could you please explain to me what's going on?" Beckett entered the morgue almost catching her breath, but Castle ignored her and instead he put on a pair of gloves and lifted the victim's shirt. His eyes widened. "What is it?" Lanie and Beckett quickly went to Castle's side and saw a big cut on the victim's lower torso.
"How old could that wound be Lanie?" Castle asked.
"It's fairly recent, I would say two or three weeks." Lanie analyzed.
"How did you know that Castle?" Beckett asked.
"They removed one of his kidneys." Castle answered calmly.
"What?" Beckett asked both disgusted and shocked.
"Open him up Lanie, you'll see I'm right." Castle told the M.E, leaving her no time to hesitate. So, the doctor took the scalpel and cut over the previous incision.
"Jesus, Castle's right." Lanie confirmed astonished.
"I need to go somewhere." Castle walked out, leaving a doctor and a detective more confused than ever.
A/N: See you in Chapter 3….please review