12th Precinct
"Detective Ryan! What do you have?" The voice of Captain Gates resounds all around the floor
"Not a lot sir. The couple that now owns the building is pretty much in shock. They have threatened the real estate agent with a lawsuit for not telling them that there was a bomb shelter complete with two dead bodies underneath"
"I think I would be in a similar condition if I found that. But what do we know about the bodies found?"
"Esposito is down at the morgue with Lanie observing the autopsy and help gather evidence. Since this one is so unusual he wanted to stand by and make sure every possible piece is bagged and tagged"
"How about the identities of the victims? Do you have any word on that?"
"We have verified that they are the Levitz's. They were reported missing by a neighbor in August 1970. I have the original missing persons report on its way from archives.
"Very well detective keep me informed"
"Yes sir"
Kevin Ryan spins back around in his chair and begins typing into a search for information on the victims, but since they went missing before computers and massive databases there is no electronic trail to follow. He decides that the only way to gather information is the old fashioned way. Pound the pavement.
Detective Ryan grabs his jacket and head out the door advising the desk sergeant of his plans.
In the morgue
"Is there anything unusual about our victims?" Detective Esposito asks while still looking at the initial reports Lanie wrote up from filed observations
"There IS something I found that I have not personally seen before. I mean I have seen pictures but never on in an examination"
"What?"
"It's a tattoo "
"Lanie. You have documented many tattoos on victims before"
"Not one of these…"
Lanie pulls the male victim's left arm from under the sheet and turns it so he can see
"Is that…?" Esposito breathes out the question
"Yes. It's a number tattooed on his forearm. The last name is Jewish so…"
"That means he was at…"
"Auschwitz" Lanie answers the incomplete question
"WOW!"
On The Street
Detective Kevin Ryan decided on which end of the block to start his canvas. He thinks to himself 'if I do get information it will be from the last place I visit. It's never the first place'
And just like he thought he is half way down the block and had absolutely nothing. In fact, each person he has interviewed has only lived in the neighborhood for ten to fifteen years. This is an area that is getting revived by young professionals buying brownstones and remodeling them and making the area fresh and new again.
After the entire afternoon is a dead end, he decides to call it a day. He picks up his phone and calls his partner to see what the bodies have revealed
"Esposito' the Hispanic detective answers
"Hey Javi, the canvas is a bust so fat but I will start back down here in the morning. Do you have anything?"
"I have one very interesting piece of information. He probably has nothing to do with the case but it is a nice history lesson"
"What's that?" the Irish detective asks
"Our victims were in concentration camps in World War 2"
"How do you know that?"
"They have tattoos on their arms with numbers"
There is a moment that Ryan stays silent "wow" he finally says quietly
Bomb Shelter
"So Castle just how do we get out of here? And wait a minute! No one knows we're down here. We have got to get word to the precinct that I am OK and where we are. They will probably be looking for us by now. They will find my car and know that we are inside and start looking for us"
"Maybe! Remember that we were left here looking over the crime scene after everyone else had gone. Unless the guys thought we were coming back to the station they might not miss us until tomorrow. And you had to park two blocks away"
"Are you saying we are stuck here at least for tonight?"
"It sure looks that way"
Beckett begins pacing the room looking in drawers and cabinets, trying to find anything that might help them get word outside that they are down here and need rescued. She pulls open the silverware drawer and locates forks, knives, and spoons. The next had towels. The upper cabinets have spices including salt, pepper, garlic and an array of tasty condiments.
"Beckett. What are you looking for?"
"Anything that might help us get out, but there is nothing here that would open that big door up there" she points with her thumb
"I don't know about you but I am getting a little hungry and a lot thirsty" Rick states
Beckett looks toward the steps leading down "Let's go see what is down there and see if anything is still safe to eat or drink" she walks to the opening and begins her descent with Castle close behind
In the lower storeroom they quickly can tell the person who planned this, organized the items for easy access. Heavy things such as water barrels with spouts were high up allowing a person to place a glass and draw water without having to get on the floor. Lighter containers were higher up so one person could get it down without much effort.
Kate finds a box marked 'Midday Meals' She opens the container and finds dehydrated packages with pictures instead of words "Look here Rick, No names just pictures. This one shows a piece of chicken and corn and carrots"
"Hum? I guess the manufacturer sold this to different countries with different languages, but pictures are universal"
"True. So will you get some water and I will take these up?" she grabs two packages of chicken and two of what appears to be roast beef and two that look like hamburgers.
Castle finds a large screw top bottle with a carry strap like a canteen and starts to fill it with water. Before it becomes full, he takes a small sip and determines the water seems fine.
As he starts back toward the stairs he notices a shelf with boxes marked 'Games'
"Hey Kate. Look here. Games! You want to get something to take back up to kill time?"
She turns around and returns to where Castle is standing. He puts the strap over his shoulder then pulls the box down off the shelf. Inside they find several board games including Monopoly, Life, Clue, Sorry, and even Battleship. There is also a Chess and Checkers board along with a Chinese Checker game. There are several decks of cards and even a Scrabble board.
"What do you want Kate?"
"Just bring the cards for now"
Castle takes a couple of decks and slides them into his pocket.
Beckett stops, turns back around, and with a firm voice "And NO! We are not going to play strip poker!"
While Kate is starting up the steps he finishes putting the box back into its place on the shelf. He then follows her to the steps going up. AND! He finds Beckett, AGAIN, directly in front of him. Again he closes his eyes and tries not to look at her but his brain is not paying attention and he opens his eyes and just stares at the firm trim lower portion of the woman in front of him.
If she wasn't with her boyfriend I would so try to use this time to win her over. He thinks again to himself. Why am I caught here like this?
She begins her assent but this time her hands are full and she can't grab the hand rail. She is having trouble keeping her balance on the steps going to the main level. It is obvious that this was not build for a woman in high heeled boots to be climbing especially carrying several boxes of rations.
After several missteps trying to go up Beckett looks back over her shoulder and realizes that Castle is staring at her lower body. Intently staring! She clears her throat bringing him out of his gaze
"Rick can you help steady me?"
In his stupor he answers "UH? Sure"
"Grab my legs"
.
.
.
"UH!CASTLE! LEGS! I SAID LEGS!"
"Oh legs. Right"
I'm so sorry. I could not help myself. That was too easy
