Medical Examiner's Office
Kate Beckett enters the morgue to find Lanie reviewing some files. Noticing her friend Lanie replies "Hey Kate, what's up girl?"
"Nothing Lanie, I just came down to see how you were doing."
"Yeah right, in all the years I've known you… you have never just come down to see how I was doing. So does this have something to do with Castle?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Well, I know I'm not working on a body for you so that can only mean that writer-boy has done something?"
She sighs not really knowing what to say. Castle per say has not really done anything. She understands when someone like the mayor or governor asks you for a favor… you say yes. She understands how guilty he felt for letting Tyson get away and now he has a chance to do something about it. What is bothering her is the beautiful detective that showed up this morning to take him up to Albany. She is jealous and she knows it… even if she doesn't like to admit it. But does she have a right to be? She has Josh and Castle … well he is single. She is pulled from her thoughts by her friend.
"Kate, I asked you if Castle is the reason you are down here."
"Yes and no"
"Girl, you are going to have to do better than that. You need to explain it to me."
"He didn't do anything wrong… he…he just left to go to Albany to assist their police department with what appears to be 3XK."
"Oh, that is why I got a call from their medical examiner yesterday asking me to confirm the type of rope used. Anyway so are you saying you're upset because Castle decided to go and assist the Albany PD?"
"No, he told me that both Mayor Weldon and the Governor asked him to do this as a favor. He felt he couldn't say no… especially after finding out 3XK was involved."
"Then why are you upset Kate?"
Taking in a deep breath Beckett lets it out saying "Detective Nicole Strong"
"Who"
"She is the detective from Albany that came down to pick him up"
"What about her?"
"Lanie she is beautiful, athletic, tall, dirty blonde hair, blue eyes… and… and… when Castle ran up to the locker room the get his bag, she asked if we were a couple. I said no and then she asked me if he was available."
Lanie starts laughing "Oh my God, I didn't think I would ever see the day when Kate Beckett was jealous."
"Lanie, this isn't funny"
"I think it is, Kate you have Josh. Why would it matter to you if somebody is interested in Castle?"
"I…I don't know, yeah I have Josh… but…"
"But what Kate?"
Seeing how the detective isn't going to answer Lanie decides to make her point "Look I know Josh is a good guy, but that doesn't mean he is the right one. You told me before that he is never here when you need him. Writer-boy, on the other hand, is always there even when you don't want him to be. I'm not going to tell you what you should do but sooner or later you're going to have to decide what you want. "
Kate mumbles to herself "I know".
New York City to Albany
Castle placed his bag in the trunk and hops into the passenger seat of Detective Strong's Crown Victoria. He figured since they were looking at a two and a half hour ride and will be working together – they might as well get to know each other.
"So detective how long have you been a police officer with Albany?"
After she navigated her way out into traffic making her way to Upper Manhattan she answers "I'm going on nine years, and I told you Rick, call me Nikki."
"Okay" he replies as she continues "how about you, how long have you been working with the 12th?"
"Um, I guess three years now."
"And in all that time, you have worked with Detective Beckett?"
"Yeah, her along with Ryan and Esposito."
"But she is the one that you based your Nikki Heat character on."
"Yes it is based on her, but there most of my stories are just fiction."
"So, are the two of you together?"
"No, we are just partners and friends… she has a boyfriend."
"But if she didn't… would you be together?"
Wanting to change the topic and steer it towards the reason he is with her, he asks "What can you tell me about the case we are working on?"
Glancing over at him, she begins "So far four victims between the ages of 24 and 28. All of them have blonde hair and were strangled in the apartments by a three strand quarter inch rope made of green and white nylon. All four were posed as if they were laid out in a coffin."
"Well that is definitely Jerry Tyson's M.O."
"It is, but there was something else that caused us to think that maybe it was just a copycat."
"Like what?"
"This time the killer placed a chess piece in each girl's hand."
"A chess piece… which piece was it?"
"A rook" she looks over as she tells him this and sees him turn white as he rubs his hand through his hair and over his face. Taking a minute to compose himself.
"It's no copycat… it's definitely Tyson."
"Rick how do you know it's him?"
"Another name for a rook is a castle, he is taunting me." He sees that she is not following him and decides to fill her in on his dealings with 3XK and their conversation that night in the motel room.
12th Precinct
Sometimes you don't know how much you miss something until it's gone. That is exactly what Beckett was thinking to herself right now. Sitting at her desk attempting to finish her paper work, she absently glances over at his chair. He had only left four hours ago, but it feels longer to her. Usually he was here keeping her entertained with his stories or jokes or even their banter. It made her day and made time pass quickly. God how she missed it… she did not know how she was going to survive a couple of weeks. She silently was cursing herself, she should be able to function without him right? She had been doing this job for years before he showed up. She survived the summer when he ran off with his ex-wife to the Hamptons. Surely she could survive at least two weeks. What is wrong with her?
Just then her phone rings, she quickly reaches for it thinking it was him letting her know he got there and giving her a rundown of the investigation. Pulling it out she is disappointed to see Josh's face on the caller id instead of Castle's.
"Hey Josh"
"Kate, I was calling to see if you are still free for dinner. I figured we could hit that Italian place you were telling me about."
"I should still be good unless I catch a body. Otherwise it's just paperwork."
"Great, so I'll meet you there… say around six."
"Sounds like a plan"
"See you then, I love you"
"Yeah, um you too"
After disconnecting the call, she looks at her contacts list… finger moving up and down over his name wanting to press it and hear his voice. She could just say that she had some downtime and offer her input into the investigation. No, he probably just got there an hour ago and was going through the case files. Maybe she could send him a quick text? You know just checking to see how things were going so far. She starts to write something, and then decides against it. Sighing she put her phone away and gets back to her paper work.
Albany NY
Detective Strong and Castle had just pulled up to the station at Henry Johnson Boulevard. The ride was informative to say the least. After going over the particulars involving the case, Rick and Nikki turned back to small talk. She found out about his daughter and mother, what turned him onto writing, his past marriages and how he is not the playboy the media makes him out to be. He found out that she grew up locally, went to college and received her degree locally from the College of Saint Rose, also had a past marriage with her high school sweet heart and decided to become a police officer to follow in her father's footsteps.
She leads him into the entrance and up to the homicide division on the 3rd floor. There he was introduced to the other members of her team. Detectives Jonathon Riley and Harry Jacobs and her Captain, Peter Jackson. After handshakes and formalities, Castle is led over to Nikki's desk where she hands him the files of the victims to review. He notices a whiteboard over in the corner not being used and asks if he could borrow it. Receiving approval from her, he moves it over by her desk and starts setting it up like Beckett would back at the 12th. Nikki keeps her eyes glued to him watching as he set up the timeline, the victims, the suspect and anything the victims had in common. When he was finished he stepped back next to her and concentrated on the board:
Teri Johnson 28 the first victim was strangled in her apartment at Oxford Heights on Sunday. She worked as a secretary for a local law firm. She was reported missing by her coworkers.
Tracy Jones 27 the second victim was strangled in her apartment at River Hill on Wednesday. She worked as a Teacher's aide at the local middle school. Her colleagues reported her missing.
Carol Smith 25 the third victim was strangled in her apartment at The New Eloise on Friday. She was a dental assistant and was found by her boyfriend the next day.
Stacey Patterson 24 the fourth victim was strangled in her apartment at Park Hill on the following Monday. She was working on finishing her degree after taking a few years off to travel. She was also found by her boyfriend.
Finding nothing obvious, he turns to face Nikki who he sees admiring his work.
"So, is there anything I missed that should be up there?"
"No Rick it looks like you have everything up there from the files. "
Something came to him "were any reports filed by the victims beforehand with regard to being followed or did any neighbors witness a repairman in the area around the time of the murder?"
She moves back behind her desk pulling up the police reports checking for a two week span before the murders. "Sorry Rick, nothing with regard to complaints and I don't remember seeing anything in the neighbor's statements. Why don't we go back and ask their neighbors about repairman in the area?"
"That sounds good, also was there any video footage to review near the victim's apartments."
"Not for the first three, but Stacy Patterson's apartment was across the street from a business that had surveillance cameras everywhere. We are just waiting on the warrant and should have it tomorrow."
"Okay, lets go."
Castle and Nikki spent the entire afternoon re interviewing the victims' neighbors. Unfortunately none of them remembered seeing any type of repairman in the area. Tired and somewhat frustrated by the lack of progress they decided to call it a day. Entering back into her vehicle, she turned to Castle "Hey Rick how about I take you out for something to eat?"
"What did you have in mind detective?"
"How about Chinese?"
"That sounds good and then you can drop me off at my hotel."
"Actually… I was wondering if you would like to stay at my place. I have a spare bedroom and that way it might be easier if something case wise comes up in the middle of the night."
His conscience tells him not to say no and take the hotel; this is not a good idea. She is a beautiful woman and remember how Beckett responded just by her presence. What happens if she finds out your staying at her place? He is pulled out of his musings by her "Rick, it's okay… I guess it's not a good idea."
"No, your right… it might be better case wise if I stay with you."
"Good, now let's go eat."
New York City
Beckett finally finished up her paper work with enough time to go home grab a quick shower and change before heading out to meet Josh. The Italian place she is meeting him at is a place her and Castle went to a week before the Alhabi case. She remembered what a great time they had. The food was delicious and he knew just what to say to take her mind off work and enjoy herself. When Josh brought up coming here tonight she was tempted to recommend someplace else. It's not that she didn't want to come back… call her selfish, but she knew she would not enjoy as much without Castle.
She pulls up to the restaurant and sees him there waiting for her. As she approaches she tries to put on her best smile knowing that it is forced.
"Hey Babe" he greets her leaning over to kiss her. She accepts it but pulls away quickly.
"Hey Josh, were you waiting long?"
"No just got here a few minutes before you, come on lets go eat."
The food is just as good as she remembered it. The conversation could definitely be better. He spends most of the meal talking about his day not asking her how hers went. Seeing a break she throws in about Castle leaving for a couple weeks to assist the police up in Albany. She sees him trying to mask it but he is actually happy to hear it. She knows there is no love loss between him and her writer… um Castle, but can't he at least tell that it is affecting her? That is the whole reason she is bringing it up. She is just about to say something about it when his cell phone rings.
Looking down at the caller id he excuses himself saying he needs to take this. She sits there by herself waiting for him to return. She just wished she was here with Castle again. She spots him on his way back and can already tell what he is going to say by the look on his face.
"Sorry Kate, that the hospital… I need to go in."
"It's fine Josh"
"Maybe I could come over after I get off?"
"Actually I have something important I have to take care of at the precinct first thing in the morning" she lies.
"Okay" he leans down to kiss her goodbye, but this time she turns her head only allowing him her cheek. He leaves without saying anything else. After he is gone she thinks about her conversation with Lanie. She really needs to make a decision. She thought she was making the right choice when Josh gave up his trip to Haiti. Now she is not so sure… she just wishes Castle was here to cheer her up.