CHAPTER 6

Ryan and Esposito head over to the address of the hotel on the missing person report. It is not the best hotel in New York, but it is not on the low end either. It is the type you wouldn't mind staying with your family. But you might also just stop there for a little afternoon delight.

When they knock on the door, they think they hear a little shuffling before a woman's voice answers "Who is it?"

"NYPD" Ryan speaks up. After a little bit more rustling sound, a woman opens the door part way and looks out. The two detectives show their badges. The woman replies"give me a minute to put something on" and she closes the door. A minute later the door opens completely and she invites them in. She is wearing a bathrobe and is barefooted. The two find it a little odd that she is not dressed at this time of the day. She is an attractive woman in her early 40's slender, around 5 feet tall. Light brown shoulder length hair

"Mrs. Dunlap, I am Detective Esposito and this is Detective Ryan. We are here about the missing person's report you filed earlier today."

Peggy Dunlap looks nervous as Esposito continues "we need to get a little more information about your husband. Will you describe him for me, please?"

"I gave that information to the officer who took my report"

"Yes, we don't have that detail here"

"OK, well he is 5 foot 10. Dark brown short hair, blue eyes.

"Mrs. Dunlap, "I am afraid we may have some bad news for you. We have found some remains that may be of your husband"

Mrs. Dunlap sits down on the bed hard and takes in a large gasp of air.

"Wha…what happened to him?"

"We believe he was murdered. But first we need to verify that the remains we found were his. We need to get his hair brush or comb or toothbrush. Something to get DNA"

While still looking down, she asks "can't I give you a photograph and for you to compare?"

"Ryan answers "actually no. We do need DNA to compare. The facial recognition will not be adequate."

"Oh, OK" she replies and stands up and goes into the bathroom. She returns with a hair brush and a toothbrush "Will these do?" she asks

"Yes, this will do very nicely" Esposito takes the items and places them into individual evidence bags.

Ryan begins asking for more information "Mrs. Dunlap, what was your husband doing here in the city?

"He sells machinery for metal fabricating. You know shears, metal benders, and drop hammers. That type of thing."

"OK" Ryan glances toward Esposito with a knowing look.

"Do you know who he was calling on while he was here?"

"She answers "No, not specifically. He had his appointment book with him when he left Friday. He was very old fashioned about that. He still kept his appointments in a daily diary. Did you find his car? It would be in there"

Esposito responds "No. Did you drive here or is it a rental"

"We flew and he rented a car at A Best Compact Car Rental at the airport"

After they get contact information on Mrs. Dunlap, they thank her and tell her that they will be contacting her very soon. They ask if there is anyone in the New York area to contact who might come and stay with her? She tells them no, that all of the family is out west. Ryan asks if she would like them to call victim support services to come by. She tells him no, but thanks him anyway. She tells them she will call their son back in New Mexico and see if he will come there. They tell her to please not leave town until they know some details or if they need to get something else from her.

They get back into their cruiser and while Esposito is making notes on the evidence bags, he questions Ryan "did you notice the commotion that seemed to be happening? She acted like she was not alone in that room."

"Yeah! I think that there was someone in the bathrooms while we were there. And why would she not be dressed at 4:00 in the afternoon? It was too early to be getting ready to go out for dinner."

"We might see if we can get an ok to set up a stakeout on her and see if she really is alone or she has a guest visitor"

"Great. Let's get these over to medical examiner's office and let her get started in the DNA

Esposito looks at the time. It is almost 5:00 "Lets do it in the morning. Lanie will probably be gone by the time we get there."

Ryan agrees and the pair head for the station. Once there, Esposito books the evidence in. He looks around for Beckett, but she has evidently left for the day. Ryan tells Esposito that he will call to get someone to sit on the wife. Esposito thanks Ryan, grabs his coat and tells him good night and walks down the stairs. He is heading out to a hot date with his favorite medical examiner.

Ryan spends a minute clearing his desk and goes toward the elevator. When the elevator door opens he comes face to face with the well known mystery writer. "Hey Castle what are you doing here?"

"Oh, just came up to talk to you a minute. Are you heading anywhere special right now?"

"No, just thought I might grab something to eat and then head home. Jenny is out playing games with some of her girlfriends. What do you have on your mind?"

"I need to talk to you. Can I join you?"

"Sure. The Old Haunt?"

"Fine, I'm buying"