Chapter 4

Kate slept quietly as Rick downloaded the sultry blues of John Coltrane into his phone. Placing the phone in a dock, he played the music softly, a caress slowly permeating Kate's dreams. She awoke slowly, basking in the sound and the warmth of her lover's arms. Eyes still closed, Kate reached upward, seeking Rick's face. The slight roughness of his morning stubble reached her fingertips, guiding her to his lips. She brushed them gently and threading her fingers in his hair she brought his head down until her lips could touch where her fingers had been. The kiss was tentative at first, but grew as both music and heat washed over her. She thrust her hands under Rick's t-shirt, needing the feel of his skin. The kiss was broken just long enough to pull the shirt over his head and she continued moving lower until his shorts were in her way and she got rid of those as well. Rubbing against the length of him, she kissed and laved until the need for fulfillment overcame them both. The desperate joining was a counterpoint to the smooth music, reaching explosive force with the sax's final wail until they finally lay together in the sudden silence.

The buzz of the alarm was as intrusive as the blare of an air horn in the stillness. They rose reluctantly, working their way through showering and dressing to finally seek caffeine. Martha was aglow and halfway out the door of the loft as they approached the kitchen. With a dramatic wave, she announced that she was off to conquer the "Great White Way" and closed the door behind her.

"She conquers Broadway and we try to conquer a murder where all the suspects have alibis," Beckett muttered.

"Beckett," Castle encouraged, "you are the diva of detectives and you will triumph."

Beckett laughed and gave him a quick kiss. "Just make the coffee," she told him.

Castle and Beckett met with CEO Paul Brown in his well appointed office at Leto Labs. He was worried. "This is catastrophe, he told them. "We just did another round of financing based on the future of Judith's work. Without it, the investors could pull their money. The lab could collapse."

"Can you think of anyone who would want to make that happen?" Beckett asked.

"Competitors," Brown answered. "We were talking about millions of dollars, maybe billions in worldwide use. Judith was close."

"Anyone in particular?" Castle asked.

"Michaelson Industries, Red Star Enterprises, they're both going for the same market."

"How could anyone from either of those companies have gotten into Leto labs?" Beckett asked.

Brown shook his head. "I have no idea."

At the 12th, Beckett put the competing companies up on the board.

"I don't see how they would get anyone in, Castle," Beckett said. "The employees and Tom Spicer have keys and alarm codes. No one from these companies would have those."

"Maybe," Castle speculated, "someone was already in. Maybe Michaelson or Red Star has a mole at Leto."

"The employees all have alibi's, Castle, who's left?" Castle and Beckett looked at each other, simultaneously saying, "Margo Keaton."

"Espo!" Beckett called. "I need financials on Margo Keaton. Ryan, find out what kind of a car she drives and check her phone records. I want to know who she's been talking to."

Castle, Beckett, Esposito and Ryan sat around the table in the conference room going over the file on Margo Keaton. The buffet of Chinese food provided by Castle had long been cleared away and they had nothing.

"There's nothing here," Beckett said with disgust. "Not a single call to Michaelson or Red Star or anyone associated with them. Nothing jumps out on her financials and she drives a Malibu."

"This might be something," Castle said. "There's a charge on her credit card. She got her car repaired. Maybe she got a loaner."

The person who answered the phone at the service desk of Margo's Chevy dealer was unable to tell Beckett if Margo had gotten a loaner, so Beckett and Castle went to do some questioning in person. After making the rounds of grease-stained bays, they found a service writer who remembered that Margo had gotten a loaner but that it was another Malibu.

Discouraged, Castle and Beckett returned to the loft to find Martha with red wine and red eyes. "Mother, what happened?" Castle asked.

Martha daubed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "They're closing down the play. Advance ticket sales were great! We had wonderful buzz and then suddenly our chief angel pulls his investment. The cast, the crew, they're all heartbroken. It just doesn't make sense! Oh Richard!"

"Castle wrapped his arms around Martha. "I'm so sorry Mother. Is there anything I can do?"

"You can open another bottle of wine," Martha answered.

After several more glasses of wine, Castle walked Martha to her room. He returned to sit with Beckett on the couch, their own glasses drained but not refilled. "You know, Castle said, "It's almost like the plot of 'The Producers'. Someone oversold Mother's play and needed it to fail. When it looked like it was going to succeed, they got nervous and made sure the play closed down. That way they won't have to pay a return on anyone's investment."

"Castle, a movie plot, seriously?"

"Maybe not that kind of a scam," Castle answered. "Maybe someone was just promised a serious tax write-off. People propose that kind of thing to me all the time. Castle's eyes lit with a sudden thought. Beckett, what if someone besides a competitor wanted Leto Labs to fail? Could someone have made a profit that way? By all accounts Judith Spicer's research would have brought in a bundle. That would have ruined the plan."

Beckett picked up on Castle's line of thought. "According to Paul Brown, they just did a new round of financing. If someone tried that, we need to follow the money, find out about Leto's investors." Beckett gave Castle a lusty kiss on the lips, which he enthusiastically returned, pulling her down on the couch. "Detective Beckett," he said, "It is time to pursue our next line of investigation.