A/N: Hey guys I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'm student teaching this year and school started a couple of weeks ago. Plus, my college classes started today so I've been extremely busy and super tired. Basically, my consistent updating has come to an end. The rest of the story will get posted I just can't guarantee when. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"There's nothing in this picture to indicate where they're located. The only window is too small to see out of and even if we could the angle is wrong." Tory looks dejected as she hands the photo back to Beckett. Ryan and Esposito brought it to her to be analyzed, see if there was anything that could lead them to where the killer was hiding out. "However, I did run all of the surveillance footage from the parking garage at Castle's building," Tory continues. "I used facial recognition to track Castle and found this." On her screen is surveillance footage of Castle placing Johanna into his car. As he is buckling her in, a man is seen strutting across the garage. He jabs Castle in the neck with a needle and a loud gasp is heard from Kate the instant it happens. Castle drops to the ground and a second man is seen coming over and lifting Johanna out of the car. Kate cries out a panicked 'no' and a tear drops from her eye. Castle is then thrown into the trunk of the sedan and Kate finally looks away. The car backs out of the spot and Tory pauses the footage. "Here we get a clear shot of the plate." Kate's head jerks right back up at Tory's words. "I'm searching local street cams to see if I can track it."
"Ryan, run that plate, see who that car belongs to." Kate demands. Ryan nods and runs back to the bullpen.
Esposito just shakes his head. "These guys are obviously not adept at kidnapping. Anyone worth their salt would have turned off the cameras or at least known where theywere. We lucked out, Beckett. We'll get them now."
Beckett only smiles as Esposito heads out to help Ryan. She turns to face Tory. "How long is it going to take?"
"It's hard to know. There are thousands of cameras in the city and they could have gone any direction. But once we find them and the path their taking, it will be easier to track them and locate Castle."
"Yo, Beckett." Esposito pokes his head in. "Ryan found the car." Beckett heads out to Ryan's desk and once she's in ear shot Ryan begins to fill her in.
"It didn't take long to search it because the car was ticketed an hour ago by state police. It was parked illegally outside of a warehouse on West 21st street. It belongs to Vincent Marrow, Robert Marrow's brother." Ryan explains.
"Let's go." Beckett grabs her keys and heads to the exit.
Beckett's blue cruiser was the first to pull up to the abandoned warehouse, sirens blaring. Ryan and Esposito followed in their bright red unmarked and numerous squad cars were right behind. Beckett stepped out of her car and slammed the door. She wasted no time in strutting over to the ticketed sedan that led them there and checks the back and front seats before she spots something on the windshield. The boys were already making their way to the doors of the building when they heard Beckett call them back. With confused faces, they made their way over while their backup stood ready at the door. At the sedan, Beckett held up a small piece of paper with scrawled writing on it. The same writing that was on the package she received.
"What's going on?" Ryan questioned.
"This was on the car." Beckett hands it to Esposito's extended hand. "They're not here."
"Beckett, this says he wants you to come alone. To a building on Barrow and West in Greenwich. No backup. No way is that ever going to happen." Esposito declares.
"This isn't up for debate. If you go, Castle and Johanna are dead."
"If we don't go, he'll kill you," Ryan says.
"I can handle myself. I've done it before. I can do it now." She starts to head back to her cruiser. "Besides, all that matters is Johanna is safe."
Ryan turns to Esposito once Beckett is out of earshot. "We can't let her do this. She's walking into her own death."
"I know bro. I don't know about you but there is no way in hell I am letting her go without backup."
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Let's go make sure that little girl still has both parents when this day is done."
Beckett arrives at the new location and turns her car off. Unlike last time, she doesn't immediately get out. She sits for a minute, takes a few deep breaths, wipes away the tears that inevitably began falling a few miles back. She knows what's at stake. She knows that walking into this building means her demise. But she doesn't care. If she has to sacrifice her life to make sure her daughter keeps her's so be it. Johanna is all that matters.
She takes a deep breath and opens her door. She steps out onto the black pavement and hears the familiar clack of her heels. The last time she'll probably ever do this. She adjusts her vest and starts to the building. Her game face is on when she enters. This is a battle. A battle to the death. And she may not win, but she will be damned if she doesn't try.
As the door closes, Ryan and Esposito's cruiser pulls into the alley. Their doors open and close simultaneously. They cock their guns and head to the door Beckett just entered. They don't know what to expect, but they only have one goal: save the people they love.
Inside it's dark. Beckett has to turn on her flashlight to see the floor. She calls out, but receives no answer, only an echo. At the end of the hall, she can see a light on up a flight of stairs, so she goes. Her gun in front of her the whole time, she arrives at the top to find another hallway full of rooms. At least this one is lit. She continues down the hall until she hears voices coming from a room at the very end. The door is slightly ajar and she backs up against the opposite wall to get a clear view inside. She can make out two voices: both male, one deeper than the other. They're sitting at a desk facing a monitor. She can't tell what the screen shows though.
Suddenly, she hears a noise from behind her. She swivels her head to see where it came from and spots her boys approaching the top of the stairs. When they're in eye sight, she flashes them a 'get out of here now' look and checks to see if the men heard anything. However, when she looks back she finds one of the men missing and Castle and Johanna on the monitor. It's a live stream to wherever they're being held. She once again looks back at the boys and signals them to make themselves scarce. She's going in and she doesn't want their cover blown.