Sinning by Silence

Summary – Post 7x09 AU. SPOILER ALERT – This chapter and those after have spoilers for the rest of season 7. What if Beckett's last visit to her old apartment didn't go quite as she planned and some old "friends" showed up to play. Still not light and fluffy like some of the fics out there. This is my interpretation of how some things play out.

Author's Notes: Merry Christmas to all of you! And my brother-in-law is having major back surgery tomorrow (yeah, when it rains, it pours – it's either have surgery or face being paralyzed). I won't be updating until at least Friday or Saturday, so I leave you with this chapter for the holidays. And no real cats were hurt in this chapter.

As usual, I don't own anything Castle.

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Chapter 7 – #1 on the Bucket List

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The scans had come back clear and Castle finally had had enough and checked himself out AMA because he said they were wasting time.

Rather than going home, he made Beckett drive him back to the alley where he had found the cord, much to her dismay. But she knew that Castle wouldn't be put off in this matter.

"I found it over there," he said as they quickly walked through the alley towards the crates.

He paused when he saw them scattered around, not in the neat pile they had been in when he had found the cord.

"Someone's been here," he said as he walked up to them and looked for the cats that had been living in them.

"They've been here," Castle said pointedly as he looked back at Beckett. "And I think I've found the second victim."

Beckett frowned as she walked up to him and then looked into the crate that Castle had looked into.

The yellow mamma cat lay peacefully in the rumpled papers, the green and white cord tied a little too tightly around her neck.

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Beckett laid the sack containing the green and white cord on Gates' desk. "We believe this is the murder weapon in the Danna Tarrent murder," she said as Gates sat back in her chair, listening to the explanation.

Castle, the DA, and police commissioner were also in the office, a hasty meeting haven been called about how they were going to meet the threat of the return of 3XK.

"Castle found it during his investigation," Beckett explained, looking at Castle and then back at the group. "The ME couldn't explain the scratch marks on the victim's neck. They were too small to have been made by Danna if she tried to pull the cord off her neck.

"The cats in the alley must have found the body before the rain started and managed to pull it off. They took it back to their lair. That's where Castle found it. Then Tyson and Nieman saw that he found it and tried to kill him," Beckett said before being interrupted by Castle.

"No, Kate – if they wanted me dead, I'd be dead. That was just a reminder of who thinks they are in control," Castle said. He stood and started pacing. "But I think the cats threw off their plan. You were supposed to find the cord when you found Danna."

"3 murders in 7 days," nodded Gates. "He's already killed one person three days ago, so we expect one today."

"He may have already – killed someone that is," said Castle, frowning slightly. "We found the cord he had used around the neck of the mamma cat in the alley. Technically, she counts – young, blonde, female – and she pissed him off."

"And there were no videos of what happened in the alley?" asked the commissioner.

"No," said Gates. "They picked the location very carefully. And the only video of Mr. Caste's 'accident' was the one that Detective Beckett received."

The commissioner frowned in return and studied Castle for a moment. "Detective Beckett tells me that you researched Jerry Tyson for one of your books and actually met him."

Castle shrugged slightly. "Well, that didn't work out so well."

"So do you consider yourself an expert on Tyson?" the commissioner asked.

Castle shook his head. "No, I think the only expert on Tyson is Kelly Nieman."

"And that's our problem," said the commissioner. "All the evidence against Tyson and Nieman was stolen, so we don't have anything to go on."

He paused for a moment. "Mr. Castle, the city would appreciate it if you would consult with the NYPD on this case."

Castle glanced at Beckett, who looked like she was holding her breath. This is what he had been waiting for all these months, what they had been waiting for all these months, but…

"Sir, what's going to happen when the leads dry up?" Castle asked the commissioner. "Tyson and Nieman attacked Kate three months ago and then disappeared. The FBI pulled out 6 weeks ago because there weren't any viable leads until this week."

"I'm sure we'll find something on them," said the commissioner.

Castle looked at him. "That's not what I asked. Based on what I've read, the NYPD has more than 30 unsolved murders in Manhattan alone. So what happens to this case when it goes cold?"

The commissioner took a deep breath. "Well, per protocol, we'll follow the leads as long as they lead to something. But after that, as much as we don't want to, we'll have to shut the case down until something else happens."

"You mean until they murder someone else," said Castle. He looked at Beckett and then back at the commissioner and took a breath. "Thank you for the offer, sir, but I'm already working a case and I will continue to work the case until I solve it. And I don't care how long it takes."

Captain Gates cleared her throat. "Then may we ask that you share whatever you discover with the NYPD, Mr. Castle?"

Castle nodded. "Of course, Captain." He paused for a moment, looking at the DA. "But as you so plainly pointed out, I have resources that may not be up to your standards."

"We'll take any viable information," said the commissioner, "no matter the source."

Castle nodded and then stood. "Then, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." He paused and kissed Kate lightly on the forehead. "I'll see you at home."

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Espo and Ryan frowned at each other as they watched Castle walk out of Gate's office to the elevator and push the down button. They weren't sure what went on, but their curiosity was heightened when Beckett rushed after Castle a few minutes later and Gates closed the door to her office.

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"Rick!" Beckett yelled as Castle walked out of the front door of the precinct.

Castle stopped, slumping slightly, turning towards her as she caught up with him. "Sorry," he whispered. "I blew it. I wanted to work with you so badly, but I just couldn't—"

She put a finger on his lips to stop him and smiled. "I know. Just be careful, babe. And don't go anywhere without backup."

Castle smiled at her. "I won't."

"Then I'll see you at home," she said as she kissed him. Her phone beeped at her and she looked at the text. "Gotta go."

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Castle smiled at Tambra as he walked into his office.

"OMG, Mr. Castle, are you okay?" she responded when she saw his arm in a sling.

"Oh this, it's just a little scratch," he said. He paused for a moment. "Tambra, I hope this isn't too presumptuous on my part, but I'm going to have to shut down the business. So I asked my publisher and she said there is a position available for you at Black Pawn, if that's alright with you."

Tambra looked at him, slightly shocked. "Uh, sure – that would be great. But—"

"No 'buts'," Castle said, handing her a business card and an envelope. "You've got an appointment with Gina tomorrow morning. And that's a little something for you – I really appreciate everything you've done for me these past couple of months."

Tambra opened the envelope and then looked at him in surprise. "Oh my gosh, Mr. Castle, I don't know what to say…"

"Just remember that Gina really doesn't eat assistants," Castle said.

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Castle waited until Tambra had packed her box and left before pulling out a burner phone he had bought specifically for this purpose.

He quickly dialed the number that Dino Scarpella had given him.

"Hey, Dino – yeah, this is Rick. Listen, I need a favor. I'm looking for a man and a woman. You know him as 3XK – Jerry Tyson – and she's a doctor – Kelly Nieman. Yeah, a serial killer and his accomplice. Are you in? Great – any information, any sightings you have on them – call me at any time. Thanks."

Castle hung up and then walked to the Bose CD player that Alexis had given him for his office and put in a CD of the latest CSI soundtrack. The music filled the office as he sat down at the desk and flipped his laptop open and thought for a moment.

Finding information on Jerry Tyson had always been a dead end, but Kelly Nieman – she was a doctor – she had to have a past. And at some point, they had to intersect.

Castle put his fingers to the keys and began to do what he did best – well, what he did second best – as he started his research on the enigma that was Kelly Nieman.

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