Pain Redefined
Chapter 4
In an abandon apartment complex somewhere in Brooklyn a man sat across from a detective.
"The pieces are in play now, they have your phone," he said as he balanced on the back legs of his chair. "Even so, you guys have no leads whatsoever."
Esposito stared at the man, taking in all his features. He was just an average guy who you would walk right by on the street and not even give a second glance to. He looked younger then his years and had a very tense air around him. Not someone you'd want to be stuck in a life or death situation with. And that's exactly what Esposito was in.
Him and Castle.
He glanced over at Castle who was still unconscious. He shifted his body. Sitting up against a pole with your hands cuffed and tied behind you is not good for anyones back. Esposito turned back to the man. "Why are you doing this?" he asked.
"The rapes and killing of the boys or why I have you two here?" replied the man.
"Oh, so you admit to the murders."
"I can tell you everything because you'll just be dead in the end. You'll just be another body to the puzzle, another clue...another victim. Now if you'll excuse me," he said as he stood up. "I have to go to work."
"Since I'm going to end up dead, what's your name?"
The man turned around, his hand on the doorknob, he smiled. "Ron," he said and left.
"Where did they go to school?" Beckett asked as she spun the dry erase marker in her hand. Ryan flipped through the files he was holding.
"Keeper went to Central Park East High and Otter went to...Central Park East High," he looked towards Beckett. "How'd we miss that?"
Beckett rubbed her temples and shut her eyes. There have be so many distractions between Castle's past and now both him and Esposito missing. Captain Montgomery had another group of detectives working on their case as well. Last time Beckett checked in, they had no leads.
Beckett was being to get pissed off with all the dead ends.
"Let's check out the school," she said not answering his question out loud. They had to pick up their game and get focus otherwise the FBI will be all over them and this case soon, very soon.
Esposito heard a groan and turned to Castle.
"Castle? Castle!" he yelled. He watched as Castle jerked and tried to register where he was, he turned to Esposito with a confused look.
"What happened to you man?"
"No idea. All I remember is sitting in a park. Don't remember leaving. What about you?"
"Got snatched by your place. Went to check up on you."
Castle looked around the old dusty room. He shifted and pulled and his wrists.
"Who's got us?"
"Ron, our copycat." Castle froze and stared at Esposito. "He practically confessed to me."
Castle leaned his head back on the pole and took steady breathes.
"Where'd he go?"
"Work."
"Work?"
Esposito nodded and tugged at his own wrists, even though he knew it was useless. He couldn't believe the mess he and Castle were in. It seemed to all be moving so fast. He trusted that Beckett would figure something out soon.
"Why would he take us?" Castle suddenly said. "I mean, the investigation was literally going no where. We have no leads, no connections, hell we didn't even have any suspects! So, why take us? If anything taking us is doing him more harm then good."
Esposito pondered on this. Castle was right. What was this guy aiming for?
"He knows we have no leads and he said that 'the pieces are now in play' when he told me he gave my cell phone to the precinct. 'You'll just be another body to the puzzle, another clue, another victim'." Esposito quoted.
"He's going to kill us," Castle said.
"Yup."
"But it doesn't fit, not if he's a copycat."
"Guess he's not a complete copy."
Silence engulfed the two.
"Where do you think he works?" Castle asked.
"Ronald Stemburg, I'm the principal, how can I help you today Detective?"
"Hey, you're the guy that handed in the phone," Ryan said. Beckett saw that Ryan was right, it was the same man.
"Oh, well, I found it, didn't really know what to do with it. I mean, I'm not the type a guy that finds a phone then sells it."
"Yeah, to bad most people aren't like you," Ryan said, he decide to leave the fact that it was his missing partners phone, it wouldn't do any good to tell this man.
"Mr. Stemburg, I'm sure you know about Daniel Keeper and James Otter." Beckett said, deciding it was time to discuss what they really came here for.
"Ah, yes," Ron said as he rubbed his hands together. "Tragic, so young. They were going to be graduating in a few months. Do you have any leads on who's behind it?"
"No, the only connection we have is that both boys attended this school," Ryan answered.
"I see."
"Mr. Stemburg, do you recall if Keeper and Otter were friends or hung out at the same place. Anything?" Beckett asked.
"Hm, not that I recall. There are a lot of students here and keeping track of one is very difficult. Anyway, I'm was just their principal, I wouldn't about much outside of school, but as for inside, I don't recall ever seeing the two together."
Beckett inwardly swore to herself. "Would it be okay if we talked to any of their friends, maybe they could give us information."
"Of course. It's been hard for them, but I'm sure they'll be more then happy to try and help."
Castle had slipped into a light sleep by the time he heard the door open and saw a man walk in.
"You must be Ron," he said as he tried to get into a more comfortable position, which was nearly impossible. Esposito, who had also dozed off too, was now wide awake.
"Ah, Rick, glad you're awake, we need to talk," Ron said as he placed a bag of food down on the dusty table.
"Really? You know if you wanted to talk you could have, I don't know, given me a call. We could've sat down, had some coffee and talked. Instead you-" Castle stopped talking when he heard the familiar sound of a hammer being pulled back on a gun.
"You know that never would've happened," Ron said as he turned around, holding the gun.
"What exactly do you want?" Esposito asked. Ron pointed the gun at him.
"I'm not talk to you right now, so best be keeping your mouth shut unless you want a bullet in the leg." Esposito turned away from Ron and bit back a remark, he could tell this guy wasn't kidding.
"Now, Rick I want you to tell me all about Cole Gray." Castle stared at him. "What he did, how he did it, why you. Come on, you were his golden-boy. He kept you! He prized you! I wanna know why."
Castle turned away. "I'm not telling you anything."
The shot rang loud in the nearly vacant room and so did the cry of pain. Castle brought his legs up to his chest as he tried to deal with the agonizing pain burning his shoulder.
"You son of a bitch!" Esposito yelled. Ron pointed the gun at him.
"Don't make me have to patch up you too. Keep your mouth shut."
Ron placed the gun down on the table and left the room.
"Castle, Castle you okay?"
Castle just groaned in response as Ron walked back in with a medical kit. He took a syringe and filled it with a clear liquid and walked over to Esposito.
"Night Detective," and before Esposito could even ask what he was doing he felt a pinch in his neck and he was out. Ron then walked over to Castle.
"Next time I won't be so nice, as in putting you out while I do this. I advise you tell me what I want to know otherwise you and your friend are going to have a lot of holes."
"You won't get away with this," Castle said through clenched teeth.
"Well, so far I am."
That was the last thing Castle heard as he was forcefully put to sleep.