Chapter 4
He was shaking forcibly. Kate was really worried about him. She had never seen him this way at a crime scene. Well, there was the one time when the vic had been a teenage girl. He had locked Alexis in their loft until the killer was found. Kate put her hand on his shoulder and then wrapped her arms around him to settle his nerves a little. To Kate's pleasure, it worked, somewhat.
"Ryan, Esposito, I need you guys to find out all you can about the vic. I want her name, her address, any friends she may have been with the night of her death, you know the rest. I need it on my desk A.S.A.P." She calmly told the boys as they watched Castle worryingly.
"Rick, we will find whoever did this. Don't you worry, okay?" She sounded a little weary.
He just smiled awkwardly and nodded his head. He had no idea who would do something like this. What did they mean by, 'You're Mine Castle'? Yes, he had received some pretty crazy fan mail, but nothing ever to this extreme. Most of his fans accepted the fact that he was in a happy relationship and that all of them were out of his league. There was that one lady however, who had managed to sneak into his old loft and steal some of his underwear, but she was put in jail for 10 years after that. A little harsh, yes, but it was so necessary.
"Kate, I really don't think that you gathering all the information on this girl will help. I think, since this was directed at me, that the killer just picked a random person for their perverted display of desire." He said gravely.
She had feared he would think that, and in all honesty, she thought the same thing. She at least needed the vic's name so she could call the family. It was a shame when someone died just because another human being wanted to make a statement. This woman had done nothing wrong; she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now Kate had to deal with the aftermath. She had to call the family and let them know their young daughter had been murdered and that it was a senseless act. It was the worst sort of murder. A pointless murder. She knew, however, that no matter the toll it took on her, that Rick would be there to make it better later, just like she was going to do for him when they were alone.
Making sure she got all she could out of Lanie about how the woman was killed, she quickly grabbed Rick by the hand and lead him away from the scene. Once back in the car she kept glancing at him, trying to determine what sort of mood he was in.
"You do know you could sit this one out babe." She stated tentatively.
"I know, but this killer is after me. The last thing I want to do is be at home where they could get to my family just because I am there. Anyway, my being here might lead our killer into making a mistake. Maybe they will show their hand before they are really ready, and mess all of it up."
Kate knew he was trying to make himself feel better, and part of what he said was right. The killer might make a mistake knowing he was with the police all the time, but Kate couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
After a few more glances, they fell silent. As they pulled into the parking garage at the precinct, Rick looked over at her.
"Kate, I love you with all my heart. I am really glad that I have you, you have to be the most extraordinary woman I have ever met."
She turned red instantly. He could still make her blush, even after all this time. She looked at him, a big grin on her face.
"I love you too Rick, and you aren't half bad yourself."
He smiled at that, it was the first time since they walked into the crime scene that he had genuinely smiled. It didn't last long however. His phone rang, it was Alexis; Kate could tell by the ringtone.
"Hey sweetie." He said with a hint of happiness in his voice.
"Dad, somebody is trying to get into the apartment!" She yelled through the phone. Rick's face dropped.
"Pumpkin, stay calm. I need you to get the camera out of the drawer okay. Then go upstairs until you can see the door clearly but the intruder won't be able to when they breach the door. Take as many pictures as you can before they spot you and then run and hide the camera in our favorite hiding spot. They are going to take you sweetie, but be brave. Daddy is coming to save you. I love you. I love you." His voice was calm but Kate could see he was going to break down any second. She was stunned; for the first time in all her years as a detective, Kate Beckett did not know what to do. She loved Alexis. Kate knew she was going to cry any minute.
"Okay dad, I will. I will be as brave as I can be. Find me. I love you dad, you too mom." She said addressing Kate for the first time as her mother.
The phone went dead.
Kate looked at Rick. She was touched that Alexis had called her mom, happy, but , she started to cry as she looked at his face. As soon as a tear fell down Kate's face, Rick Castle broke. For only the second time in his life, Richard Castle broke, and rushed out of the car. Kate got out with him and they met each other in front of the car. They embraced each other, crying. Kate finally broke away and called the boys.
"Ryan." His voice was calm.
"Ryan, get someone over to Castle's place immediately!" She yelled.
"Okay, is something wrong?" He asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"They killer has Alexis." The phone line cut as Ryan hurried out of the precinct to make his way over to Castle's loft. Esposito knew something was wrong, so he hurried after his partner, not knowing what to expect.
Richard Castle and Kate Beckett. Both of them now faced the toughest part of being a parent. Losing a child, if only for a bit, because they both knew. Whoever did this, was going to pay and Alexis was going to come home alive.
