Ugh, guys, I'm sorry. I never have time to write during the week, and often I'm busy on the weekends, too.

But this weekend, I am free! Time for Chapter 8! (:

Disclaimer: If I owned Castle, I probably wouldn't be freaking out so much about the fact that season six is officially underway.(;


"Where are we on the ex-boyfriend?" Kate asked as she walked into the bullpen the next morning. Her husband was in tow, striding out of the elevator behind her.

"He has a solid alibi. It definitely wasn't him." Ryan informed her.

"Okay, well did you check her financials? Anything pop?"

"Nope. As far as we can tell, she's just your average woman. I don't know how or why someone did this, but it seems like it's just a pop and drop." Esposito said.

Beckett glared at Esposito for using the term that she hates the most. "Well, dig deeper. Look into her co-workers, friends, whatever. We need to find some other source of information."

"Got it." Esposito said. He turned back to his computer and Kate sighed before walking back over to her desk. She plopped down in her chair and Castle did the same.

"I don't even know where to start looking," Kate said with defeat in her voice.

"We'll figure this out, Kate," Castle said, placing his hand on her knee.

She gave him a soft smile but he could tell there was something else on her mind.

"What is it?" he asked, knowing her too well.

She held her head in her hands. "I just... I feel like I have a bigger obligation to solve this case because the victim is my sister's boyfriend's mother."

"Kate, you've never let personal feelings or problems get in the way of your cases. Treat it like any other case, okay? You're the best detective in the NYPD; you'll figure it out. I promise."

Kate so badly wanted to lean in and kiss her husband, but they both had promised to keep it professional at the precinct.

"Yo Beckett!" Esposito called, breaking Kate and Castle from their little moment.

"Yeah?"

"Have we checked further into the son's girlfriend, Courtney Beckett? It says in the records that she lives with Jake and..." Esposito paused and took a moment before it hit him. "Hold up, Courtney Beckett? Do you know this girl?"

Kate sighed. She had hoped that they wouldn't find out about Courtney, but deep in her mind, she knew that they eventually would.

"You three. Break room. Now," Kate said, pointing to the three men before slowly standing up with Castle's help and making her way to the break room, her partners on her heels.

As they filed into the room and sat down in the chairs at one of the tables, Kate stood in front of them, turning her hands in one another.

"Guys," she sighed, "Courtney Beckett is my sister."

Ryan and Esposito's eyes widened.

"Wait, what? I thought you were an only child," Ryan said.

"I always have claimed to be, because I technically am, but I really do have a sister. Courtney is ten years younger than me. She ran away when she was nine, right after my mom died, and I haven't seen her since. But we reunited last night." Kate explained.

"How?" Ryan asked.

"She played at The Old Haunt. I was so shocked to see her; it's been fourteen years. I followed her back to her apartment and we reunited and talked for awhile."

Kate continued, "Guys, I know this is a bit of a shock to you. It is to me, too. I never expected to see her again. God, I thought she was dead! What I'm trying to say is; I know her. There's no way she could kill anyone. She's not a murderer."

"Beckett, you don't know that. You know the nine year-old her, not the twenty-two year-old her. You have no idea what she's capable of." Esposito explained.

Kate immediately became defensive, taking a step back from the table. "What the hell are you trying to say, Espo?" she growled.

Castle quickly intervened, knowing exactly how to calm her down. "Kate, he's just trying to say that you don't know where she was for those years that she was gone. She could've changed, Kate. You don't know that. I know you envision her as the sweet and innocent little sister that she used to be, but she's older know, Kate, just like you. She has a new life now and she may have changed. They're not coming out and accusing her, they're just stating the options."

Kate calmed down slightly. "Fine, but we're not bringing her in. I'll call her and see if she wants to have dinner together or something, and I'll casually bring up the murder. I know how to read people; if she has something to hide, I'll figure it out, and then if she seems suspicious, we'll bring her in."

Esposito put his hands up in surrender. "Okay. Beckett, I'm sorry. I overstepped. I believe you can do this. I'm sorry."

"Okay. I'll go call her," she said, not really accepting his apology.

As Kate waddled her pregnant self out of the break room, Castle turned to Esposito. "Don't worry about it, Sito. She'll get over it. This whole thing with Courtney is just very new to her, and her pregnancy hormones are making her kind of crazy."

"I know, but how do we know she's not being biased? I know that she is not that type of person, but Courtney's her sister. I know I would be biased if I had to do this." Esposito stated.

"You and I both know that she is one hell of a cop. She can do this, personal problems aside. But hey, this all stays between the four of us, okay?" Castle said.

Esposito and Ryan both nodded. Esposito was still a bit ashamed for accusing one of his best friends and co-workers for being biased.


"Hello?"

"Hey, Court. It's Kate."

"Hey, Katie! What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to meet for dinner or something tonight. I want to catch up."

"Yeah totally! I'm free; Jake is in Myrtle Beach to pick up his Grandma for the funeral. Where do you want to meet?"

"Hmm, I'm kind of feeling Italian. You?"

"Sounds great! Oooh can we go to Olive Garden?"

Kate laughed, "Of all the places in New York City, you want to go to Olive Garden?"

"You know it's my favorite! Plus, I haven't been there since the last time we went!"

Kate smiled a sad smile. Courtney was in love with Olive Garden. She was shocked that she hasn't been there in over fourteen years.

"Well sure, Court, we'll go there. I'll meet you at 6:30?"

"Okay, cool. See you then! Love you big sis."

Kate's heart warmed and her eyes teared up at the sentiment.

"Love you too, little sis," she said quickly, hanging up before her sister could comment on the emotion in her voice.

There was no way here little sister could've killed someone. She was too innocent.

She was going to prove it.


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