CHAPTER 7

"Do you have any idea who killed him?" Caitlin sat with Castle and Beckett in the interview lounge, her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee.

"We're working on it. Do you know if John had problems with anyone?" Beckett replied.

Caitlin shook her head. "No, he was- wait, there was something. When I was attacked outside the Old Haunt, the guy said that John was dead man unless he reconsidered."

Kate made a note on her legal pad. "Do you have any idea what he could have meant?"

"No."

"Did John have any habits that could have gotten him into trouble?" Castle asked.

"Not when we were dating. But things could have changed. I think he got kind of depressed after we broke up."

"His mom implied that it was a mutual split and there were no hard feelings between you," Kate said.

"It was and there weren't, but that doesn't really make a break-up any easier, especially long-distance. I think he went on a bit of a downward spiral at that point," Caitlin said. "I think he might have started gambling.

"I'm sorry. I have to go," Caitlin stood. "I'm meeting with my lawyer about the trial, you know."

"Thank you for coming," Beckett said. "You've been very helpful, Ms. Gindling."

"You will let me know if you catch him? The man who killed John?"

"Yes," Beckett assured her.

Castle and Beckett walked her to the elevator and returned to the murder board.

"Gambling! It makes so much sense!" Castle exclaimed.

"Really?"

"Our victim, John Leung, runs up a hefty tab at an Atlantic City casino run by the Mob. He can't pay back his debt. The Mob responds by sending an enforcer to attack Caitlin Gindling, warning John to pay back the money. When he can't come up with the cash, the Mob kills him."

"Two problems with your theory: one, we've been over Leung's financials and there's nothing to suggest he was making regular visits to Atlantic City or any other casino, Mob-controlled or otherwise. Two, if John owed them money, why would they kill him? That's not going to get the debt paid."

"Detective!" a voice called across the bullpen. It was the forensic accountant. "I've got something."

Castle and Beckett looked over the accountant's shoulders as he explained his findings. "Upon further examination, I found that there were several payments to Leung over the past few months from a Mr. Qiang Zhou. Now, I looked up Qiang Zhou. He doesn't exist. At least, not in New York. I managed to trace the payments back to The Chinese Emporium in Chinatown. On the surface, it's a respectable business, but in actuality, it's a front for a Chinese tong, The White Dragon."

"Well, looks like your theory wasn't so far off, after all, Castle. Leung got into bed with the Chinese Mob and they killed him."

"No, something's not right. The Mob was paying him. He must have been doing something for them, if they were paying him."

"Sounds like we should pay a visit to the Chinese Emporium."

"No."

"What?" Beckett's face fell.

"That's a Ryan/ Esposito trip," Castle insisted. "Besides, you said you wanted to visit Berman Rose today."

Kate sighed. "You're right. How much longer do I have to be on desk duty?"

"Hopefully, not too much longer. We can head for Virginia as soon as the trial is over. Speaking of, have you talked to Gates yet?"

"Not yet. I thought I'd wait until we were a little closer to solving the case."

Castle nodded. "And we'll have to tell Lanie and the boys, too."

Just then, Ryan and Esposito walked into the bullpen. "Tell us what?" Esposito asked, overhearing the end of their conversation.

"Nothing that can't wait," Kate said smoothly. "What's that?"

"CSU report," Esposito replied, opening the manila file.

"Did they find anything?" Beckett asked.

"Nothing much. They got hundreds of partial prints from the fire escape and the window, but all the prints found in Leung's apartment were his. They did find some hairs, but there's no DNA match in the system. And the fibers they found are too generic to be of any help."

"So the guy's careful," Beckett said. "Maybe even professional. Any sign of the murder weapon?"

"Nada," Ryan said. "It's probably at the bottom of the East River by now."

"If you're right, Castle, and Leung was involved with the Mob, then it's going to be almost impossible to get this guy."

"Whoa, Mob?" Esposito asked.

"We just spoke to Caitlin Gindling, Leung's ex-girlfriend. She thought that Leung might have gone on a bit of a downward spiral after their break-up, maybe started gambling. And the forensic accountants tracked a series of payments from The Chinese Emporium. It's a front for the White Dragon tong. I want you guys to go down there and check it out while Castle and I head for Berman Rose."

"And what are we looking for?" Esposito asked.

"Just feel the place out, see if anyone down there knew our vic and would be willing to snitch. Otherwise, they won't exactly be forthcoming," Beckett replied.

"We'll do our best," Ryan promised.

"Come on, Castle," Beckett said.

The four of them left the bullpen together and rode the elevator down to the parking garage, where they parted.


So I'm giving y'all a present. I'm going to post the rest of the chapters to this story all at once, so you don't have to wait! :)