A/N: Big shocker at the end of this chapter. How will the case turn and what did Rachel take to cause a possible OD. Let me know what you think. Enjoy the update and everyone again thank you for the reviews and follows. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

12th Precinct

Manhattan, New York

Esposito, Ryan and Castle all sat down at their respective spots as the shock of what happen sunk in. Ryan was the first to break the silence. "I couldn't believe when I read the report."

"Neither could I bro, but I had to do it." Esposito replied as he sat back and looked at the murder board. He took a deep breath. "But the evidence is pointing to Maria."

Castle took a deep breath as well. "Seems like its pointing to her rather easily though."

"What do you mean Castle?" Ryan asked.

"Gun in dumpster with her prints on it located not too far from the crime scene." Castle stated as he got up and looked at the board. "And Maria ways what 110-120 pounds at most. Would she have the strength to lift Rachel's body into the dumpster?"

"Castle you have point. Plus she would have blood on her clothing." Esposito said as he now got up and moved towards the board, with Ryan following behind. "Ryan call in a warrant for their apartment."

"You want to search Russell's apartment?" Ryan asked in shock.

"Well the clothes we arrested Maria in don't match what she was wearing yesterday." Castle said pointing to the photo of Maria leaving the parking garage. Then something hit him. "Ryan, which way did Maria's car turn when she left the garage?"

"Right." Ryan answered as he came closer to the board. Then it hit him. "There is an atm at the corner."

"So we can determine if she turned towards the Upper West side where our victim lived or continued towards her and Russell's apartment." Castle said.

"How do you explain the gun and her cell phone Castle?" Esposito said going back over to his desk to start the warrant for Russell and Maria's apartment.

"By all accounts, Maria didn't leave the office till 530 and then shot our victim and made it back to her apartment in plenty of time to change and show up to Rachel's to confront our pill man." Castle said pointing to the board. He shook his head. "I maybe a mystery writer, but even I know that is impossible unless Maria has a jetpack in her closet."

"You would love that wouldn't you Castle?" Ryan asked smirking as he contacted the company that owned the ATM to send him the footage.

"You wouldn't." Castle answered with a smirk himself.

Ryan and Esposito just shook their heads.

New York County Courthouse

Manhattan, New York

The Bailiff walked to the front of the courtroom. "Next docket. Case number 11563, the People vs. Maria Salvatore. The charges are murder in the first degree, assault with a deadly weapon in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree."

"Who do we have representing the defendant?" The judge asked from his position.

"John Russell for the defense your honor." John said standing next to Maria.

"Ms. Maxine Counsel for the people your honor." The assistant District Attorney stated.

The judge nodded his understanding. "Very well, what does the defendant plead?"

"Your honor my client wishes to enter a plea of not guilty." John stated from his table.

"Your honor, the defendant shot a unarmed man in her former lovers apartment, and her gun was found to be the murder weapon of said former lover." The ADA stated from her table.

"Your honor this is a bail hearing and not the trial." John countered.

"Agreed. Save it for the trial counselor. Where are the people on bail?" The judge asked.

"We request a bail of 1 million dollars your honor." The ADA stated.

"Your honor my client has been a upstanding citizen, never been in any kind of trouble before, and is not a flight risk. All she wants is to clear her name." John stated and tossed a look of disbelief over towards the ADA.

"Bail is set at 750,000 dollars and the defendant must surrender her passport if she has one." The judge ruled and gaveled the motion.

John spoke to Maria who nodded before he turned and saw Jennifer waiting at the back of the courtroom. "Are you sure you're supposed to be here?"

"Can't be anywhere else at the moment?" Russell replied as she crossed her arms. She looked at her brother. "Where is she supposed to get that money? Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?"

"Maybe you should just let her sit in jail Jennifer. It would look better for your career." The ADA said coming over and looking at the Russell's. "I'm open to a deal. I got the gist of the case so far. No deal on the murder charge, while she pleads to the assault 2, and I'll drop the attempted murder charge. She'll be out before she is rolled out in a pine box."

"Give us time to think about it?" John asked ignoring the look from his sister.

"24 hours." The ADA said picking up her briefcase and walking out of the courtroom.

Once the ADA left, Russell looked at her brother. "What are you doing John?"

"Buying you and your team time to find out the truth Jennifer." John said as he looked at his watch and sighed. "You better call Castle, Ryan or Esposito. You have a clock."

"You think she did it?" Jennifer stated.

"No I don't but I need ammo to go to war with." John answered brushing past her and towards the door. "You better get on it."

Russell sighed and followed her brother out of the courtroom and pulled out her phone and dialed the number.

12th Precinct

Manhattan, New York

"No your honor, Detective Russell isn't involved, her girlfriend is the suspect. I need the warrant to search their apartment for the clothes she was wearing last night." Esposito said in to his phone. He threw up his hand to which Castle shrugged his shoulders. "Yes sir. Thank you."

"No go on the warrant huh?" Castle asked as his phone began to ring. He took it out and looked at it as Esposito set the phone down.

"Nope. Says we need more than a guess, especially if it's a cop's love one." Esposito replied as he looked at Castle. "Bro aren't you going to answer that."

Castle nodded and swiped his finger over it. "Russell I can't help you."

"I know but listen, they charged Maria and we have 24 hours before my brother has to give an answer on a potential deal. Castle so I, we need your help." Russell pleaded with her partner, her boss's husband.

Castle took a deep breath. "Stay by your phone and I'll give you call back."

Castle ended the call as Ryan and Esposito looked at Castle. "DA gave them a deal offer and apparently we have 24 hours to find an answer."

"Smart lawyer her brother." Esposito said getting up from his desk. He looked to Ryan who nodded. "Call her back and tell her we'll do it, but have her meet us at their apartment."

Castle nodded and took out his phone while Ryan heard a beep on his computer indicating an email. He opened it and saw it was the surveillance footage from the time he requested it. "Espo we have the footage from that ATM."

Esposito came over as did Castle as he ended his call with Russell. The footage showed the corner fully. Esposito pointed at the screen. "That's Maria's car right there. If she turns left she is heading towards our victims neighborhood."

The car didn't turn left, nor go straight, but instead turned right at the corner and headed in the direction of Russell and Maria's apartment. Ryan backed up the footage and with the limits of his computer zoomed in. "That's Maria alright."

"The district attorney will still argue stating she could have gone towards the apartment further up the road." Castle stated.

"Yeah, but the next opportunity wouldn't be for a couple miles and even then it be hard for to get there to kill our victim." Esposito said standing up and patting Ryan on the shoulder. "Ryan you go to the apartment and find those clothes that Maria was wearing, I'll go to the hospital and talk to the man shot by Maria."

"I'll go with Ryan and help him." Castle said going to go get his coat.

"Wont Kate kill you for checking out a lesbian couple's apartment?" Esposito asked with a smirk on his face.

"No because they have a dish we've been meaning to get back, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so." Castle replied as he started towards the elevator with Ryan right behind him.

"When did I miss that?" Esposito said starting to follow the both of them.

"It was a baby shower for me and Jenny, Javi. You were still in the middle east." Ryan replied with smile on his face.

"I seriously need more macho friends than you too." Esposito replied as he walked on as the doors were closing.

Jennifer and Maria's Apartment

Chelsea, New York

Russell was waiting for Ryan and Castle to show up to her and Maria's apartment so they could look for the clothes that Maria wore to work yesterday and came home in. She was nervous knowing that this could either make or break the case against Maria. She spotted the both of them coming down the hallway. "I haven't been inside yet."

"Good, just let us in so we could do this." Ryan stated as Russell nodded and stuck the key in the door.

"Castle I'll get your dish for you too." Russell remarked as she opened the door. She took a deep breath. "There you go."

"Wait here Russell." Ryan told her as he and Castle proceeded towards the bedroom. Walking in the found the hamper that both Russell and Maria use together. "If Jenny saw me doing this…."

"Same with Kate." Castle answered as he put on the gloves Ryan provided. He smiled at Ryan. "Its part of the job right?"

"Right." Ryan replied as he and Castle began to pull the clothes out of the hamper and set them on the bed. It didn't take them long to go through the hamper. "Nothing."

"Bathroom." Castle pointed out and moved towards the bathroom. Finding it in perfect condition he didn't find anything in there. He closed the door a bit and saw nothing. "Nothing Ryan."

"Try the closet." Russell called out from the hallway. "It's dry cleaning."

Ryan pointed a finger in the air thinking he should have known that. He opened the closet door and searched for about a minute. "Got it."

Castle came over to Ryan who held it for Castle to see. They nodded and started towards the front door. "Got it Russell, we'll let you know."

"Castle wait a second." Russell said grabbing his arm as he walked past.

"I'll meet you downstairs Castle." Ryan said to Castle who nodded.

Russell waited a moment for Ryan to get further away. "Look, I know you'll be mad, but I had to take this to the Captain."

Castle's face went red. "She is supposed to be resting Jennifer, and not stressing about work. And you took this to her."

"I know it was wrong, but when she comes back and if this was still going on, I didn't want her to be blindsided." Russell replied. Her voice was breaking and she looked down. "I regret it, and Lanie also gave me a look, but she needed to know.

"No she didn't Russell. She needs to focus on her health and our child's health." Castle said harshly. He took a deep breath. "I understand you needed to bring this to her, but you could have let me told her or just gone to Lt. Meyers. If she was stressed out in anyway because of this or her or our child's health…."

"We're done. I got it." Russell replied. She had tears but she understood. She nodded and looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry. "

Castle watched as she walked into the apartment and closed the door. He then proceeded down the hallway. He turned on his heels and quickly moved to the elevator. He arrived downstairs where Ryan was talking to a resident of the building. "Thanks. Castle, get this Maria showed up about six in the morning. There is no way she could have shot Rachel Maddows."

"Great let's go back to the station and let Esposito know." Castle said blowing past Ryan who gave him a look.

"Castle, Esposito is at the hospital talking to Leonard Fig." Ryan called to the back of Castle who just continued to the car.

Presbyterian Hospital

Manhattan, New York

Esposito walked into Leonard Fig's room as the nurse was leaving. "Leonard Fig, Detective Esposito I need to ask you a few questions?"

"Are you trying to get that bitch off, because I am telling you now that I want her to fry." Leonard stated as he looked at Detective Esposito who was shocked at the look. "Rachel told me about her ex and her bitch cop girlfriend."

"Look Leonard. I'm not trying to get her off, all I want to do is get questions answered." Esposito said coming over and taking out his notebook. "How did you know Rachel Maddows?"

"No way man, you'll jam me up to get that dyke out of her charges." Leonard replied.

Esposito looked about and bumped the bed and caused Leonard to grimace a little bit. "Sorry slipped."

"That hurt man, wait till my lawyer…" Leonard started to say.

Esposito cut him off. "Look scumbag, all I want to know is where you were at the time Rachel Maddows was killed and how you know her? If you cooperate, you get a get out of jail free card from me good for one time only."

Leonard thought it over. "Fine. Someone I know gave me Rachel's contact information, and we met at the Riverside Park to discuss what she wanted and how much she could pay."

"So how did you deal with her getting help?" Esposito stated as he wrote that down.

"That bitch get help. Ha. Six months after she "got help", she calls me up asking for a fix. Having pain in her abdomen. I told her no go." Leonard stated as he laughed a little bit. "That bitch stilled owed me from the last time."

"So that is why you were there this morning." Esposito stated getting a nod from Leonard. He took a deep breath. "Then where did she get the pills that she almost OD'ed on six weeks ago?"

"Not from me nor anybody I know. I blacklisted her." Leonard stated smirking at Esposito. "What Pill say goes, goes on the street. No one would sell to her."

"I'll check with my friends at Narco about that." Esposito said in reply.

"Do that, oh and by the way they were watching me make a deal on a delivery that they busted." Leonard stated with a wider smirk now. "That was around the time of Rachel's death, and I'm pretty sure the six cameras they had confirmed it."

Esposito looked in shock knowing that their only suspect probably just had the single best alibi, and it was given to him by the NYPD.