Helloo people! Sorry it took me so long to post this, but I was stuck :/ Anyways, here you go, hope you like it :)
Out of sight
The surprise they had when they arrived back at the precinct was not pleasant at all: the social worker was sitting at the interview room, looking down at her watch, severe. Beckett swallowed a breath and cursed in her head. As soon as Esposito saw them, he motioned to the break room with his head
"She got here all of a sudden, sooner than we expected. And she's not the only one mad around here" And pointed to Gates office.
"Great. What's her name?"
"Larissa Kaye. She's though, I'm telling you. Ryan tried to do some damage control, but she's pretty mad about us not calling them in the first place, so good luck"
"Belle, this is Javi and that is Kevin. They're our friends"
"'Sup girl" Espo hi-fived her and that was pretty much enough to make their friendship.
"Sir I can explain" She began before Gates could speak up. The elder woman raised her hand, motioning her to stop
"Were you on your right mind when you practically fled with a 4 year old from a crime scene and decided to go for a walk in the lovely streets of New York?"
"No, sir, we just took her for breakfast, she was starving"
"We? As in you and Castle, I assume." She removed her glasses and crossed her arms. Silence was the response "And I think it's safe to say this was his idea. I just don't understand how you went along with it"
"No, sir. It was my idea" she lied. Even though Gates had backed off Castle lately, this could be the break she was always looking for to kick him out. "Look, sir, I'm sorry, but we just went for pancakes, she ate and we came back. She was hungry and scared. It was easier to win over her trust in a friendlier scenario. We're going to need her full cooperation with the investigation"
After ranting once more about the bad press the detective in question and the inappropriate writer kept bringing to her precinct, she pouted and reminded Beckett to be extra nice to Larissa.
Beckett closed the door behind her, flashed a smile and reached out her hand to Larissa "Good morning, Mrs. Kaye" .No answer, verbal or physical.
"Are you aware, Detective Beckett," There was a long pause. The old woman eyes were cold ", that your witness is a minor, and that there's a protocol to be followed?"
"Yes, ma'am"
"So why didn't you follow it?" Beckett analyzed the middle aged woman standing in front of her. She was about 50, her long face white with powder and her hair was black, up in a tight bun, matching the vibe of her whole outfit: the knee-long black skirt, her low heels scarpin and brown tights, her cologne way too strong. Everything made she appear older than she was.
Kate repeated what she had clarified with the captain, trying her best to sell her story.
"Your action was extremely wrong, Detective. This girl is under my watch from now on."
"Where are you taking her?" Larissa Kaye was astonished by her impetuosity. Kate seemed to remember how she had to behave a few seconds too late "I mean, because she's an important witness and we have to interview her"
"You will, when the time is right"
Larissa didn't bother dismissing the cop and went to find the subject of their conversation on her own. She found Annabelle sitting on Castle's chair, absent mindedly drawing hearts on a sheet Ryan had given her. She didn't kneel when she spoke
"Hello, Annabelle. I am Mrs. Kaye and I'll be accompanying you this afternoon, till you go to foster care for the night, before we can find you a more permanent home" Despair suited the look on the kid's face. That was exactly what Beckett was afraid. It wasn't that Larissa was mean; she just cut to the chase. After Annabelle she'd pick up another child living in bad conditions or another lost orphan. And she would face that every day. Beckett understood why she didn't want to get attached. She removed a tablet from her purse "I need to know your surname and age please" It felt like the whole bull pen had their eyes focused on them. It was probably because it was true.
Annabelle looked to Beckett who had caught up and was standing behind the social worker. She nodded in encouragement "I'm 4"
"She needs your last name, sweetie" Ryan informed, realizing she hadn't understood.
"We prefer to treat the kids a little less fondly, if you don't mind, Detective." Larissa's eyes were still locked on the top of Annabelle's head tough.
"We choose how to handle our witnesses, Mrs. Kaye" Beckett lifted her chin, hand on her hips, defiant. This Kaye was already giving her nerves. As Annabelle, she wasn't sure what a 'witness' meant, but she didn't like being called that, so she simply answered what she had been asked
"My name is Annabelle Marie Bernard. But I can't spell it"
Larissa contracted her lips and put her iPad away "Thank you, Annabelle. Come with me now" Even though she was reluctant, Belle followed and Kaye held her wrist, like she was afraid she was going to run away. Before they walked up to the elevator, Larissa handed Beckett a card with her number and told her she was taking her to the hospital in order to get a procedural checkup.
"Don't worry kid; we'll see you in a bit" Espo offered. She didn't seem so sure and was devastated when the elevator heavy doors closed her new friends behind them.
Beckett lost no time. "Ryan, got something on the financial trail of the house yet?"
"Still looking into it. The boy who found the body is an architecture student at NYU, Charlie Winters. He walks past there every morning to go to uni and" He looked down at his notes to quote "is always amazed by the unique and classic design, so he couldn't miss the opportunity to peek inside when he found the door open this morning"
"Told you" Castle gloated from his spot. Kate uncapped her pen and ignored him
"Aside from today, he claims it was always closed, he assumed it was abandoned"
"Yeah, let's take it that way for now. Annabelle said the victim's name is Danny. I'll run it down with her last name see if something pops"
"And I'll try to find her birth certificate" Espo looked at his computer screen, clicking franticly on his mouse
"There's nothing on our data base. Danny was a clean guy"
"Got it" Ryan announced moments later "The oldest register I found on the house says it belonged to Gary Alexander. He was a successful shareholder in the stock market back in the 40s. After a few good moves the guy was a millionaire, retired before he was even 40 and lived the good life till he died in 1992."
"What happened then?" Castle asked, intrigued.
"Well, his wife" He glanced to the computer "Carole Alexander had already passed away, so he left what was left of his fortune to his only daughter, Diana. Taxes have been being paid ever since to the same bank account"
"See if you can who's been paying it"
"Bingo! Belle's mom? Diana Quinn Alexander" Everyone gathered around Esposito's chair. Beckett's eyes darted through the document and she whispered what she read without noticing "Born 04/25/08, mom Diana, dad"
"Daniel Seth Bernard" Rick said it aloud "Didn't Belle said Uncle before?"
"She did. And it's not like she's calling anyone else like this"
"Looks like we've gotta find Diana and why she didn't report that her child was missing" Larissa would have told them and took Annabelle home instead of the hospital if she had been.
Diana would be step one, but Beckett knew Annabelle would be the most useful source for them and she wanted this case closed for yesterday. She just couldn't get that shorty out of her mind.