Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, Humor

Rating: M for sexual situations and language

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.

A/N #1: I was pleased reading the feedback for the last chapter, so I'll get to my thank yous for that! TORONTOSUN (I was of course happy that you thought it was so good to see Paul and Nancy right at home with the Castles as you said. It's why I had them visit after Josie was born, so they would be when they returned for the 4th. And I'm not surprised in the slightest that you like the gang is back together, I definitely expected readers to have that reaction!),

Mb (It was nice to see your reaction to the prologue and how this story started. And I was intending the beginning with the two lovers to make the story start out slow, so I was glad you caught onto that! I wasn't surprised that you mentioned the kids with the firecrackers. And I also wasn't surprised at your reaction to the woman getting up and finding her lover pinned to the door with the knife through him. Happy to see you thought it was a great start! And you're welcome for posting!),

Mb (Great you thought the last chapter was fantastic, funny and a sweet update too! I'm of course happy to see you thought it was a fantastic party since their friends and family were there too. I wasn't surprised that you mentioned Paul, Nancy and Beatrice have become part of their extended family, lol, but they have of course. I also wasn't surprised to see that you were happy to see everyone from the city there, I figured readers would be with this one, lol. And not surprised you mentioned Esposito keeping Castle and Beckett informed about Tyson since you finished up my story Save The Last Dance For Me. And I'm glad you enjoyed that story with the pulse pounding first half, as you said. And then the second half setting up things with them in the Hamptons. I'm glad you know now why exactly they're living there and writing together, lol, I always had the thought that it would work but the one thing that would get them there was Tyson and the threat of him and his followers being there. I'm not surprised you're wondering in a future story that he might come back and strike out against Castle and Beckett as you said, you'll have to see, lol. But really happy you thought it was fantastic. Oh, and I hope you enjoyed the wedding in it too. You're very welcome for posting the first half! And happy of course that you thought it was a fantastic update for the second half of the chapter! Great you loved the flashbacks of their past life since I had a lot of fun writing those two. And not surprised you thought it was, as you said, what a way for Castle and Beckett to meet with the tragedy of the devastation from the earthquake and then Castle becoming an orphan. And from that finding family and friends and then his future love; which I love how you worded it; Beckett. I wasn't surprised that you mentioned everyone else having flashbacks in a way cemented the connection they and the extended family shared. So pleased that you thought I brought back the prologue with the murder seamlessly since of course that's what I wanted to do! Nice reading you thought the second half was fantastic and amazing. And you're very welcome for sharing!),

MsNYC (Great you thought the way the killing was was very intriguing. And happy to see that you thought it was a beautiful day at the beach for them. Not surprised at your reaction to the city family being there, lol. I was really pleased that you were glad to see Paul there too, lol. And you know I didn't think of it like that, the victim murdered just shy of a police family gathering as you put it. And great you thought Julia's gift was a sweet one. Not surprised you mentioned the flashbacks, lol, but I'm glad you liked them and that they were past Castle and Beckett, lol. I wasn't surprised either that you were glad the gang was back together for a case but also hate that it's going to cut into the family time. But at least you're still happy! And of course, happy to read you thought it was great writing in both chapters as usual!) and

vetgirlmx (Not surprised to see you think that it would be really cool if the boys and Lanie are going to be involved with the investigation too. And not surprised either that you forgot Paul and his family were going to be there. And I figured he would integrate quickly, not fully at this point, lol, but with him knowing Castle and Beckett first and then Skye and Mary it would help, lol. Also, Julia would help too, lol. Yeah, when I realized how many were there I counted and came up with that number so you're right, it's some party, lol. Not surprised that you were very glad Julia and Mari didn't go into the house with the guy was being murdered and I agree it was a very close call, lol. Great you loved the flashbacks! And yeah, I had mentioned how they met but I wanted to detail it more. And wanted to show when Patrick showed up. Glad you thought how he joined their story made sense. I'm not surprised you thought it was obvious that Trevor was Junior, lol, I figured you would have thought of that first. And with them not thinking that through it is because when they had flashbacks it was after the case where he was murdered. And like you said, who else could he be really, lol. Not surprised again that you can't wait to see what happens next with the way I ended the chapter, lol, or that you don't care if they have to make a brief pause in their party. But now you don't have to wait anymore for that!).

Thanks so much for the reviews, loved reading them and appreciate the time taken to write them and send them my way!

A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Seems Like Old Times an unreleased song by Paul McCartney.

What It Used To Be

Running down the sand Brad said to his friends, "What happened?"

"Ms. Ashby over here ran outside," Esposito started. "Screaming and telling us that he needed help."

"Did she say who that was?" the chief asked.

"No, she's been in shock," Ryan said as they were looking over at the woman who'd run out of the house. "Sobbing and tearing at that sheet."

"Is she nude?" Brad said, startled.

"She is, I'm going to guess she and the man inside were lovers," Castle said.

"Great guess," Beckett said wryly. "The man inside is nude as well. He's been stabbed by a machete."

"Machete," Brad said, not repeating her word but saying it out of shock. He frowned and said to Castle and Beckett, "Is the house finished?"

"No, not all the rooms upstairs have walls," Ryan said. "We caught where they were together, there was a mattress in what I'm guessing is supposed to be the master bedroom."

"Where's Lanie?" Brad then asked.

"She's inside looking at the body," Beckett replied. "Skye," she said to the investigator who was coming over.

"Lily called 911," Skye said. "They'll be here soon."

"I got a hold of Bernier, they'll have CSU and he, Rice and Hutchinson out here," Brad told them. "In the meantime, I'll head up."

"I don't think you two are invited," Skye said, going to the boys and holding them by their arms.

"Invited, we found the body," Esposito said a little angrily.

"You're witnesses, not the police," Skye said. When the detective glared at her she said simply, "If they want you to consult they will ask Brad."

"And you?" Ryan asked.

"I'll wait, they might not need me since there are-" Skye began to say before the woman near them began to scream and tried pulling off the towel Lanie had put around her.


"Looks like it went right through the door," Brad said once they were inside the room where the body was. "So yeah, a machete but I can see why you'd think it was a knife at first since there isn't much of the hilt."

"It'd have to take some force to do that," Castle commented. When his wife and friend looked at him he said, "This door is oak. So you realize what that means right?"

"And here we go," Brad sighed as he saw that Beckett was rolling her eyes.

"Come on, it's the Hulk it has to be," Castle commented.

"We'll keep that in mind," Brad said as he glanced to the window though it wasn't facing the street at the sound of sirens. "What about your guests?"

"Are you asking us on the case?" Castle asked.

"Do you want to come back?" Brad returned.

"We will but after this is vacation," Beckett said as she knew they could go back and forth with that for a while.

Hearing voices in the house Brad walked out into the hall and called the CSU team up to them before he followed Castle and Beckett to the top of the stairs. "Bernier, where are Rice and Hutchinson?"

"They're outside trying to calm the woman down," the officer replied.

"She's been screaming the entire time," Castle said.

"Oh no, she's freaking out, she's hanging onto Skye, naked," Bernier replied.

Looking with her husband and the chief out the windows that made the back wall of the home Beckett could see that Hutchinson was holding onto Ashby while Skye was holding a blanket over the woman. "I'll be back," she said with a sigh.

"You don't-" Castle started to say before his wife hurried down the stairs.

"I'm surprised, figured you'd be alright with that," Brad said wryly to his friend. He looked back at Bernier and said, "Have they started looking into the house?"

"Of course," the officer replied. "But they just started so it's going to be a little more time before we hear anything from them."

"Right…" Brad said, looking down at his trunks, shirt; that he'd thrown on running to the house at Castle and Beckett's summons; and sandals. Sighing he said, "Let's try and find his ID."

When Beckett got outside she saw the EMTs were trying to get the woman to get on the board that they had but she was screaming and crying. She went straight to Skye; who was the main one pulling on her to get her away from Hutchinson; and grabbed a hold of Ashby to get her off the sand. "We'll get her to your ambulance," she told the EMTs as she knew there was no way to get the woman on that board without strapping her down.

"Alright Layla," Skye was telling the woman soothingly once they were close enough to the vehicle. "We're going to do what we can to help to find out who did this to Aidan."

It was a slight struggle, as suddenly Ashby was hanging onto Skye, but Beckett managed to gently pry her off before she and an EMT got the woman onto the stretcher that was inside. "Okay," she breathed out once Ashby was strapped down and the doors were closing. "Seems she liked you," she commented as the woman had been visibly pressing against her and burying her face into her chest.

"So glad Mary's not here," Skye muttered. "And I have a shirt on. What's the story?"

"We're working on the case," Beckett said.

"Is she asking her to help?" Esposito was saying to Ryan.

"I think so, yeah," his partner said, looking over at him. "Why? We're on vacation remember."

"We were here, we can help them solve this case and get back to vacation," Esposito replied. "What does she know?"

"I'm a psychologist," Skye aid as she and Beckett had come up to the men in time to hear that.

"And I'm going to ask you both to help," Beckett added. "If you're done throwing a tantrum."

"Sorry," Esposito said. He glanced past them and said, "Is that alright?"

"I guess," Brad replied though he wasn't sure what the man was asking.

"But five consultants?" Ryan asked, guessing from the chief's expression why he looked unsure suddenly.

"Oh sure," Brad said quickly. "I'm fine with it and you guys are all experienced. But I do need to check with the mayor about this."

"He'll be fine with it," Castle said as he'd been with the chief going outside. When Brad was called to by Bernier he turned to the others and said, "So we're working together again."

"Sure, I'm not in the way or anything here?" Skye asked them.

"No, we're going to need your help with Ms. Ashby," Beckett said. "What she went through in this house…"

"It might be shock," Skye replied. "Or an act," she added before looking down the beach.

"On the case grá?" Mary asked as she was walking to them with David and Darnley.

"We are," Skye said. "I wonder…"

"I don't know if I should join you," Darnley said since the investigator and Beckett were looking at him. "Six people?"

"He's right," Brad said, coming over.

"Then I'll take myself out," Skye said. "Darnley would be a far better asset."

"At least speak to Ashby," Castle replied.

Breathing out for a moment Skye nodded before she said, "There's Lanie."

"Dr. Parrish," the local ME Thayer said as he spotted the woman.

"Stab to the chest, ran him clear through and it has him pinned to the door; good luck," Lanie replied.

"How do you know him?" Ryan asked the doctor.

"Conference three years ago," Lanie replied.

Esposito was about to ask Castle and Beckett if they were aware of that when he saw immediately the news was no shock. He said instead, "So what's your next step?"

"We all need to change," Beckett said first. "And tell the others that we're about to become horrible hosts."

"You do realize they all know what you do here," Mary commented.

"You mean besides write?" Castle asked.

"Okay, Skye he's saying he wants you to join in," Brad said, coming back to the group after he had spoken to David.

"You can never have too many people looking into a case," the mayor said. "But it'll be a divide and conquer situation. You won't all be going out into the field if you need to for any reason, only who Brad wants to take."

"Chief Davis," the man murmured.

Glancing at him David said to Castle and Beckett, "What are your plans with regards to the party?"

"We're going to head back and break it up," Beckett said.

"Just in the fact that it's not a party anymore," Castle was quick to say.

With a nod Beckett added, "They can stay on the beach and use the house if they need to but we're splitting up for dinner like we said before."

"Alright, I'll head back but you can tell them," David said.

"Gee thanks," Castle said jokingly. When they were alone again he said to the boys, "To warn you-"

"He'll take you two out to any place you have to go," Ryan finished for him.

Beckett was going to tell the two men they might go as well since they had experience when she saw the ME and his aides were bringing out the body. She saw the machete on the stretcher and she glanced at her husband before the group was out of sight.

"Alright, we need to get ready to start this investigation," Brad said once he was back with them. "And this house is shut down."
Castle took his wife's hand as there wasn't really anything he could say to that and they walked together back down the beach to their home where they saw their guests were all waiting for them.

The sight surprised Beckett as well and she thought about what they could say exactly before Paul was speaking and taking the need for that right out of her hands.

"So you've a body," the singer stated. He smiled briefly when the two looked startled and said, "Skye said you would say it like that. But you've got to go?"

"We do, the mayor wants us to work on the case," Castle said, looking at Eliza who was stomping on the water with Tommy. He realized something and said, "Where's Julia?"

"I don't know," Alexis called as she was walking down the lawn in frustration. "She went inside; she said she was just going to go to the bathroom but she hasn't come back and I looked all over the house."

"I know where she is," Beckett said with a slight sigh. "Leave her," she said when the rest of her family; except for Eliza and Josie; looked at her in surprise. "I'll get her but for now we have to change and go. We'll hopefully be back for dinner." She turned her attention to the McCartneys, McDouglases and Darnley's family telling them, "I'm so sorry we have to go but Julia and Eliza have things they can do with your kids of course both here and in the house. And we'll be back for dinner… whatever that is."

"Don't worry," Nancy commented. "I think it's important you help."

"It is," Castle said. "But let's hope we'll finish before the fourth."

"Do you really help investigate a murder?" Beatrice was suddenly saying before anyone else could say anything.

"We do, I was doing that back in the city," Beckett replied. "Alright, we'll call and let you know when we're on our way back."

"We might grab dinner," Castle added.

"We'll see," Martha commented.

"Or they can order," Castle told his wife.
"Come on," Beckett said with a slight smile at him before they began making their way around their guests who would be staying at the house. After they'd said goodbye to them all she led the way up to their home but instead of going up the stairs when she'd reached them she went over to the garage, letting go of her husband who was quick to follow.

Castle had no idea why his wife was going out to their cars, but he remained in the doorway before she opened the back door of the car they usually used when it was just them.

"Come on," Beckett told Julia as it wasn't hard to spot her daughter crouched down in the back. "Out of the car sweetie."

With a heavy sigh the girl climbed out of the backseat and said, "I wanted to go."

"Of course you did but Julia we told you," Beckett said, putting her arm around her shoulders to lead her into the house. "You're too young to investigate cases. Plus, we need you to help your grandparents with everyone that's here."

"Won't 'lexis?" Julia asked, slightly annoyed at being found and having to go back.

"But you need to help keep the kids entertained," Beckett said. "That and aren't the twins and Fleur your friends?"

Sighing Julia nodded and said, "She is but…"

"Brad and David won't let you help out," Castle said. "So better you help us here."

At the frown on their daughter's face Beckett told her firmly, "Please Julia."

"Alright," Julia said with another sigh. She let her mother lead her over to the door to the back and said, "Will you tell me about the case?"

Recalling Ashby not keeping the sheet or blanket over her Castle glanced at his wife as he had to wonder what she would say to that.

"What we can," Beckett said simply. "Go on okay?"

"Sure but… you'll say goodbye before you leave, right?" Julia asked.

"Of course," Beckett assured her before she watched Julia leave them to head down to where everyone was still on the beach. With her set, she closed the door and she and her husband headed up the stairs to their bedroom.

While Beckett had changed in the room Castle had stayed in the closet to change into his clothes before he stepped out saying, "You know what's weird?"

"What?" Beckett asked, brushing her hair in the full-length mirror. When her husband didn't say anything she turned her head, looking at him questioningly as he seemed to be frozen.

"I'm so glad I bought you those shirts," Castle said breathily.

"Yeah well… so am I," Beckett said, slightly hesitant as she was a little embarrassed at his reaction. She had slipped on a polo shirt and jeans; not sure what else to wear investigating in the middle of summer; and that shirt was one of five Ralph Lauren tops her husband had bought her the year before in the city though she'd asked him not to. He'd insisted; as he'd explained he'd always thought of her when he saw the recognizable logo; and had asked her to pick her colors or he would choose some he knew she didn't like. She'd chosen three in varying shades of light blue, a dark blue and what she was wearing then, a cerulean blue. She shook herself and said, "We should go."

"Yeah," Castle said before he walked after her to the door. Before she could step out into the hall he was reaching for her arm, taking her wrist before he pulled her to him gently. "You had to have known I was going to do this," he told her jokingly.

"I knew," Beckett said with a slight smirk before she cupped his face in her hands and they kissed. She wasn't surprised it was immediately passionate; since they'd hadn't had the chance after that morning; or when she soon felt her husband clutching at her. Letting that go for a little while longer she finally carefully disengaged herself from him, brushing her thumb over his lower lip before she took his hand.

"Was wondering if I should go over there and pick you up," Darnley said with a slight smile as the pair reached him at the top of the staircase.

"We want to head out," Beckett said wryly. "Where's Skye?"

"Already finished and she's probably down at the beach with her family," Darnley said.

"You really didn't have-" Castle started to say while they were heading down the stairs.

"It's alright," Darnley interrupted him. "I'm actually a little… eager to help out."

"It's been a while since we've done this," Beckett said with a slight smile.

Castle, watching them, wondered if they'd have the chance to work together during that case. As they were going outside to the backyard he made a note to himself to let them if possible as he knew they enjoyed it though last time he'd been with them. He turned his attention to the yard as their two daughters were running up to them while Alexis followed, walking since she was carrying Josie.

"Oh Mommy, Daddy you have to come home for dinner," Eliza said, holding onto Castle's hand.

"Of course we will," he replied, picking her up. He kissed her cheek and told her, "We'll try to come as soon as possible."

"He's right," Beckett said. "Like we always do. This case is no different from the others." She tried to take Julia's hand to pull her into a hug before the girl pulled away to her surprise. She wanted to ask her what was wrong when Castle was handing Eliza to her making her say, "You are getting heavier for this sweetie," teasingly.

"Do you have to put me down?" Eliza asked.

"No," Beckett said with a smile before she kissed her cheek and shared a kiss with her as the little girl and Castle had done. "Alright, have fun but listen both of you," she said, looking at Julia as well.

"We will," the girl said with a smile.

Beckett, feeling relieved at the smile on her oldest's face, turned to her stepdaughter so she could take Josie. She held the baby against her shoulder before she murmured tenderly as Josie was moving her arms and legs against her.

"She wants to go swimming," Castle commented.

Laughing softly Beckett pressed a kiss to Josie's temple and told her, "No swimming yet sweetie. But we'll try to come back to you and your sisters as soon as we can." She leaned back a little and nuzzled her nose to her youngest's saying, "Be a good girl Josie."

With a smile, as their baby had nearly grabbed her mother's nose by chance, Castle took her and said, "One day really soon we'll take you swimming… maybe the pool or maybe in Orlando."

"Maybe," Beckett told him with a smile. She turned to Alexis and said, "Make sure they're comfortable without us here."

"I'm sure Gram will do that," the young woman replied. "But I get the feeling you're talking about the kids."

"I am," Beckett said. "Your gram has been a hostess already."

"She has," Alexis said slightly laughingly. She took Josie from her father and said, "Be careful."

"We will," Beckett said, glancing over at Julia again.

"Your gram and Jim?" Castle asked.

"Do you want them to come over?" Alexis asked.

"That's okay," Beckett said swiftly as she saw her father was holding Lily and Martha was walking with Danny. She waved with Castle as they looked over to them and she told her stepdaughter, "Just let them know that the others don't need to stay for dinner or here for that matter."

"I will," Alexis said, turning to go back down to the beach with her sisters. She paused as she quickly noticed Julia wasn't with them and said, "Jules-"

"I'll go in a second," the girl said hurriedly. Julia watched her sisters head back to the beach and she turned to her parents telling them, "I almost forgot something."

"Okay," Beckett said since her oldest had looked to her.

"When Mari and I went to walk two boys came up behind us," Julia began, wondering if it was important at all. "They went towards the house that you were in front of."

"You think they did something at the house?" Castle asked, surprised as he didn't remember seeing the boys she was talking about.

"Maybe, they had firecrackers," Julia said.

"How do you know?" Beckett asked, sharing a glance with her husband and knowing he remembered hearing those going off. She froze and said to him in Irish, "Just before we started to walk."

"More than one," Castle said before they turned their attention to their daughter.

"Um… when we were by the house that's being made," Julia began, trying to dig her toe into the ground. "I thought we should go because something was wrong."

"Come back here?" Castle asked.

Though she didn't want to Julia finally shook her head no and said, "To go in."

"I'm glad David and I called them back," Castle said to his wife.

Nodding Beckett turned to their daughter and said, "You know you shouldn't go into houses."

"I know but even if I was going to I couldn't," Julia said. "I didn't know which house and then the gate was closed."

"When you walked by it?" Beckett asked her.

"Yeah," Julia replied, suddenly becoming serious as she realized it might be important.

"Could you tell if it was locked?" Beckett asked.

Think for a minute, Julia closed her eyes tightly as she tried to see the moment in her mind before she shook her head, "I don't think so, but I didn't look at it for that."

"That's alright," Beckett said, hugging her. "Do you remember what those boys looked like?"

"Yeah," Julia said. "Mari might too," she told her parents.

"Would we need to?" Castle asked his wife.

"I'm not sure," Beckett said slowly. "We'll tell Brad when we see him," she added. She looked at Julia and said, "Keep trying to remember what they looked like okay?"

"Sure," Julia replied, wondering for a moment what they were talking about. She then said, "Do you need me to help them draw their faces?"

"For the sketch artist to draw," Beckett corrected her. "And we might not need that but if you can tell us what they look like we should be able to find them."

Julia nodded and said, "Tell you or Brad?"

"Brad," Castle said. He watched her rush to him and he hugged her tightly saying, "We'll let your grandparents know if you need to come to the station."

Nodding Julia went to her mother and embraced her tightly before she said, "Be safe."

"Of course," Beckett said. "Have fun."

Julia nodded and took off down to the beach so she could go to Mari and tell her what her parents had said about recalling the two boys.

Castle and Beckett waited for Darnley, Skye and the boys to join them before they walked together to the driveway so they could get into their cars and leave. They were with Darnley and the investigator in their car; the same one Julia had tried to hide in; when Beckett's phone began to ring.

"It's Brad," she told everyone when she looked at the number and saw it was the chief's name. "What happened?" she asked in greeting as she put it on speaker.

"You need to get over to the hospital," Brad said.

"Did something happen to Ashby?" Castle said.

"No, I need you two to talk to her," Brad said. "Turns out that neither of them owns the house."

"Is he usually that abrupt?" Darnley asked in surprise when the chief had hung up.

"No," Castle said. "He was driving himself."

"Alright so… you're talking to them," Darnley said slowly.

"I don't know," Beckett said, glancing back at her friend. She wasn't surprised when he was looking at her in slight confusion and she said quickly, "He might have something in mind or else we'll just go in the three of us." She looked at her husband and said, "Are you-"

"Yeah," Castle said quickly as he turned at the next light they'd come to, going in the direction of the hospital.

"You've been quiet," Beckett said, directing that to Skye.

"I've been thinking," the investigator replied. "Just the circumstances. I have to wonder at Ashby's emotions."

"You think they were faked?" Darnley asked.

"I'm not sure," Skye said with a sigh. "I would like to talk to her myself."
"He might want you to," Castle said. He then said, "You should call the boys."

"They're following and we're here," Beckett said. "You need to watch where you're going."

"Good advice," Castle commented as he was going through the parking lot of the hospital.

"Why are we here?" Ryan asked when they'd met up with the four outside their cars.

"Brad called me," Beckett said. "He wants us here."

"Why?" Esposito asked.

"Because I want to have Beckett and Skye speak with Ashby," the chief said as he walked up to them.

"Is she asking for us?" the latter asked.

"Yeah," Brad said simply. "But not by name, just the woman who was wearing trunks and the woman with the ponytail."

Breathing out for a moment, Skye said, "I don't like it."

"Why?" Beckett asked, slightly surprised the woman had said that.

"Because it's like she anticipated this," Skye said. "And also the fact she's not officially talking to anyone from the law. Officially."

"No, I understood," Beckett said since her friend had said the last word apologetically. "Do you need time to plan."

"Nope," Skye said with a pseudo-American accent. "Now the time has come for improv."

"And for that we split up," Brad said.

"Split up?" Castle asked.

"Take them," the chief began, nodding to the boys and Darnley. "To the station. "I'll stay with Beckett and Skye and we'll regroup."

"What exactly are we going to be doing at the station?" Esposito asked.

"Getting information on the house's actual owner, Roro Soverall," Brad told them. "He's from the city."

"I can give Ojala a call," Ryan said. "He's a new detective, he's worked with us on a case."

"Trustworthy?" Beckett asked.

"Yeah, he's not a fan of Gates," Esposito said. "Apparently her and his father got into some kind of disagreement while they were both at IA."

"Give them a call," Brad said. "We'll be grateful for the information." When the four men had left he turned and said, "I could have let them stay but I'm lucky they're letting you two into her room."

"We should go before they change their minds," Skye commented. When they were inside and going up to the fifth floor in an elevator she commented, "You've been quiet now."

"Not for that long," Beckett said though she wasn't really protesting. "Do you know anything about the vics?"

"They're both from the city," Brad replied. "That was all I could get. They have no home or apartment here in the Hamptons and to be honest our initial search isn't giving us a connection between them and here."

"The house?" Beckett and Skye said at the same time.

"It has to be Langston," the former said.

"Hopefully she'll let you know," Brad said as they stepped off the elevator when it stopped. He walked ahead of them, talking to the nurse behind the desk for a moment before he went to where they were standing just behind him. "She's in 534, lucid since she was screaming at them not to drug her."

Frowning Skye said, "She calmed down on her own?"

"I asked," Brad said, nodding to her figuring that out. "And she took a long time to do that." He motioned to the hall where the rooms were and said, "I need to wait out here but take this," handing Beckett a notepad. "Write what you can."

"If I can," Beckett said. When the chief looked at her questioningly she explained, "If she doesn't want me using it."

"I can record on my phone," Skye said, tapping it in her shirt pocket. "Let's go," she directed to Beckett. They walked together down the hall before she made her friend pause outside the room so she could start the recorder. She opened the door, letting Beckett step inside first before she looked at Ashby on the bed. The woman's eyes widened at the sight of them before she quickly turned away, making her and Beckett share a look before she went to sit next to the bed while her friend stood next to her. They waited, wondering if the woman would speak at all, before she decided to start the conversation before Ashby was speaking though still with her head turned to the window.

"You're the writer, aren't you?" the woman asked.

"I am," Beckett said, taking a moment as she still wasn't used to being referred to as that without Castle with her. "But in this case, I'm a consultant with the police. And so is Skye here."

"The one from your book?" Ashby said, turning her head.

"That's a character," Skye said simply. "But you requested to talk to us, any reason why?"

Breathing out Ashby replied, "I didn't want to talk to the police and you were both really… you helped me on the beach."

"We had to you were in a very pronounced state of shock," Skye said. She saw Beckett's finger tap a few times on the arm of her chair and she said, "But are you able to speak about what happened? We would like to do what we could for Aidan your…"

"He was my boyfriend," Ashby said, tears welling in her eyes. "Aidan Langston; I don't know if you know who he is."

"We do," Beckett said. "We also found out that that was not your home."

"No, we were…" Ashby said before she sighed heavily. "My brother in law bought the old home and he was rebuilding it."

"So he knew you were there," Skye commented.

"No," Ashby said, seeming to shrink within herself. She looked at Skye and said so softly that they almost didn't hear her, "He's my ex brother in law."

"Your sister's ex," Beckett said.

"He is," Ashby replied slowly. "He and my sister had a messy divorce and the house is supposed to be hers since she put up the money for it."

"He got it in the divorce," Skye stated.

Nodding her head Ashby said, "We went there to kind of… stick it to him though he's in Hawaii right now and he wouldn't know. But we were joking, pretending it was his… Aidan's."

Not surprised when the woman began to cry again Beckett glanced behind her at Skye who was walking around the bed. She was startled at the move but by the woman's stance figured she had something in mind. She herself was tempted to ask about their vic but when the investigator spoke she realized Skye's mind had taken a different direction quickly.

"Did Aidan and Soverall know each other?" the investigator inquired.

"No, I've only been dating Aidan for seven months," Ashby replied.

Thinking about that for a moment Beckett said, "When was the last time you saw Soverall?"

"A year ago, when he and my sister were still married," Ashby replied.

Getting an idea from that; and putting it aside for later; Beckett said, "Do you think you might be able to tell us what happened earlier in the house?"

Ashby, who'd been holding the sheet that was covering her lap, started to twist it in between her hands and she then said, "I was… we were together."

"We figured," Skye said simply.

"He brought a mattress, but I don't know where he got it…" Ashby began again.

"Where were you before you went to the house?" Beckett asked.

"We planned this… I don't know how it happened, but my sister got some renderings for the rooms in the mail; the company Soverall is using sent them to her," Ashby began. "That was last Thursday so Aidan and I decided we would go and just…" She buried her face in her hands and said against them, "It's stupid I know but I just hate him for what he put my sister through."

"And Aidan was okay doing that?" Skye asked.

"Yeah, he heard from me what happened to my sister," Ashby replied. "And he was fully in agreement. Plus I… was… thinking of…"
"Squatting and taking the property?" Beckett finished for the woman who'd slowed down in her speech considerably.

"We looked into the laws here and we saw my sister and I could come here, change the locks and we would get the house after a year," Ashby replied. "We'd wait until the house was nearly finished and move in and Jill would be able to decorate it like she wanted to."

"That's an old law," Beckett said swiftly. When the woman looked at her she said, "It's been changed to if the owners did not give permission the police can throw the squatters out."

"Oh," Ashby said. "Well… I'm not going to do it now."

"So you and Aidan were together," Skye said to bring the conversation back to the murder.

"Yes, and then these stupid… I don't know who they were but they or one person had firecrackers and were setting them off by the house," Ashby answered. "So Aidan got up and went to talk to them and I could hear him but because the master bedroom was angled a certain way I don't know what he said."

"What were you doing at that point?" Skye asked.

"Recovering," Ashby said slowly. "And then I went on my phone when he didn't come back, and I realized he still wasn't back so… I looked for him and saw him and ran out of the house," she said, dissolving into tears the second she'd finished speaking.