A/N: Castle belongs to its respective owners.

Castle and Beckett walked through the dorm halls until they reached Alexis's dorm, number 211. Beckett knocked, and upon not receiving an answer she opened the door, surprised to see that it was unlocked.

"Castle, try that side." She suggested, pointing to her right. Castle immediately scampered over to the bureaus as Beckett checked the bathroom. Her phone went off, the sound vibrating against the cold, tile walls. She checked the ID and seeing that it was Ryan, quickly flipped it open.

"What do you got?" She asked him. Castle poked his head in, looking at her questioningly. She mouthed 'precinct' and he nodded.

Castle saw her shoulders drop and she started to bite at her lip madly, something he knew she did when she was either nervous or frustrated. She hung up the phone and slipped it in her jean pocket, shaking her head at Castle.

"The call from Alexis's phone was untraceable."

Castle sighed and went back to checking the beds. Beckett found the usual in the bathroom: Toiletries, make-up, etc.

"Beckett, I found something!" Castle called over his shoulder. She shot over to him like a hawk and picked up a piece of folded paper that was hidden in a pillowcase.

"It has her name on it," She noted, unfolding it. She read it over and handed it to Castle.

"What the… Oh. It's chemistry." Castle said.

"Yeah, well-"

"Hey, aren't you Lex's dad?" They turned to see a seventeen-year-old boy looking in the room, his face filled with worry.

"Wait, you're that boy that Alexis brought home. Calvin." Castle realized.

"Um, it's Carter." The boy corrected, looking at Beckett. "And you're that cop Lex kept talking about."

"You know Alexis?" Beckett asked Carter.

"Yeah, I'm her-" He cut off when Castle sent him a suspicious glare. "-Friend! I'm her friend, that's all."

"Really? Because you should know not to lie to a cop."

Carter shifted uneasily under Castle's gaze. "We went out sometimes, just like to study and for lunch… Nothing serious."

"Were you planning on doing something serious?" Castle blurted out, his fatherly-protective side coming through.

"I don't know. We were going to meet last night under the old oak tree in the front, but she never showed."

"And what exactly were you going to do under that oak tree last night?" Castle asked. Beckett backhanded his shoulder, giving him the silent message to back off. "I don't think we should trust that Canter." Castle muttered to her. Carter's eyebrows furrowed.

"It's Carter."

"When was the last time you saw Alexis?" Beckett butted in, keeping Castle away from strangling the poor boy with his questions.

"Yesterday afternoon. We were studying in the library."

"Was she acting strange?"

"Why would she be acting strangely? Is she alright?"

Castle narrowed his eyes. Beckett looked at the boy and said in her best cop voice, "No, she's not. She was taken by kidnappers last night."

"What? No, that's not possible!"

"Was anyone hostile towards her? A teacher or student maybe?"

"As far as I know she got along with everyone. But there was this rumor going around… But I know Lex, she would never do it…"

"Do what?" Castle asked suspiciously

"There was this rumor going around that was probably spread by Jessica, one of Lex's roommates. She said that Alexis was stealing her work and turning it in as her own."

"She would never do that!" Castle exclaimed, angered by Carter's accusation.

"I agree. But it was really getting to her, a lot of the friends she made here stopped wanting to hang out with her. The teachers never noticed though."

"What's Jessica's last name?" Beckett asked. Carter looked to the ceiling in thought.

"Banks. Jessica Banks. Classes end at seven. She'll probably be back around nine."

"Thank you Carter, if you have anything else please don't hesitate to call." She handed him her card.

"Of course. I think Jessica is in astronomy right now, the room's right down the hall and to your right."

"Thank you Carter, you've been very helpful. Oh, and where were you last night around six to nine?"

"I was in class till seven then went straight to my dorm."

Carter gave a sad smile and left the room, his head down and his hands stuffed in his pockets. Beckett could easily tell how worried he was about Alexis, but she couldn't afford to feel sorry for him. He was still a suspect. After all, seventeen is the new twenty-five.

"Castle, keep searching the room for anything while I go fetch Jessica." Castle nodded and went back to work while Beckett exited the room.

"I still don't trust him!" Castle called after her.

"Of course you don't, he's one of your daughter's first boyfriends!" She yelled back, shutting the door behind her.

Students crowded the halls, most going to the mess hall. Beckett pushed her way through and ignored the strange looks the students were giving her. She followed Carter's directions and found the room. It was obvious that she had found the right one, for the door was plastered with pictures of planets and constellations. Beckett quietly opened the door and saw the professor drawing Mars, or what she thought was Mars, on an overhead. Beckett lightly knocked, announcing her presence.

The teacher looked up and smiled at her, but Beckett could see the annoyed glint in his eyes. "May I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Jessica Banks? I was told she was here."

"And whom does it concern?"

Beckett sighed. She pulled out her badge and ignored the mutterings from the students.

"Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD. I have some questions concerning a kidnapping."

"Oh, right away Detective. Jessica! Get up here!"

A girl slowly got out of her seat, straightening her blouse and smoothing her miniskirt. She grabbed her binder and walked towards the door. She exited the room, motioning Beckett to follow her. Beckett said a quick thank you and followed her to Alexis's dorm. Castle looked up, excited when they entered. He mouthed "Found something," to her, but Beckett raised a finger, telling him to wait.

Jessica sat down on a bed and looked at the Detective in annoyance.

"You just took me out of a test that I have been studying about for the last week. This better be important."

"Jessica, is it true that you spread the rumor about Alexis stealing your work?" Beckett asked, inviting Castle to sit with her.

"It wasn't a rumor, I swear! I saw her steal my work."

"You actually witnessed her taking your work?"

"Well, I saw her turning it in. I was with her and I recognized my handwriting on the essay."

"You're sure?"

"Yes! I know what I saw!"

"So you were looking at her paper." Jessica nodded. "Just like you've been looking at me when you talk." Beckett stood up and walked behind Jessica. "So tell me. What's my eye color? And no peeking."

"Does this matter?"

"Yes. It tests your vision."

Jessica sighed impatiently. "Green?"

"Close. Hazel with green. Mostly Hazel."

"So?"

"So, this shows that the mind plays tricks on you. What you thought was your handwriting could most possibly been Alexis's."

"You said you were working on a kidnapping case, right? Why are you asking me about a rumor?"

"Alexis was kidnapped last night. Apparently you didn't like her. Do the math."

"You think I did it? I'm only seventeen!"

"Seventeen is a reasonable age."

"I would never kidnap anyone! I'll prove it! When was she taken?"

"Between Six and Nine PM."

"I was in class till seven-thirty and out at a party across the street till ten."

"Did anyone see you?"

"My friend, Isabel. We went to the party together. She was with me in astronomy."

"Thank you, you can go back to class now."

"Thank you." Jessica quickly left and hurried down the halls. Beckett slouched and looked over to Castle.

"You were strangely silent."

"Just thinking. I don't think she did it."

"Why not?"

"Well… I guess because I just don't think she's capable. I understand her spreading the rumor, but going all the way to kidnapping? I don't think she would do that."

"Neither do I. But until we run down her and Carter's alibis, we just have to keep searching."

Beckett's phone went off and interrupted Castle's whine. She didn't recognize the caller and with dread she guessed who it was.

"Hello?" She answered, biting her lower lip.

"I'm glad you waited for our call. The girls are too, but unfortunately, Alexis is very confident you will find her. Too bad we had to dash her hopes." The voice said. Beckett looked over at Castle and he her face twitch in anxiousness. He yanked the phone away from her and brought it to his ear, standing up to get away from Beckett's reaching arm.

"Whatever you're doing, it's not going to work, 'you hear me? We're going to find you, and once we do, you're dead."

The man chuckled. "Give the phone back to Kate. I have a message for her."

Beckett was finally able to pry the phone away from Castle. She put it up to her ear as soon as he started to speak.

"Listen closely Kate, for this is the only hint you'll get from us: You get a choice, wife or daughter. Once you choose, one we'll slaughter. You have one week to find us then, and if you fail, we win again. But first ask your precious writer, 'Do you think that you're a fighter?' And once he answers, you will see, that your thoughts of revenge are not from me.

"We will call in one week for your decision. And by your decision we mean your personal decision. You cannot tell Castle anything about this hint except what you're told to tell him. If you give anyone the slightest nudge about this, they both die."