A/N - Hello people. Sorry about the delay in this chapter. My best friend is going through some stuff at the moment and I am spending most of my time with her.

As always...REVIEW AND REVIEW!

Enjoy!

Chapter Nine – Various Storms and Saints

When she woke up, there was a flicker of memory as to what had happened the night before. She tried to stretch out her legs but she found them tangled with the heavy body on the sofa with her. She pushed herself up on her elbow and looked down the other end. In sleep, his face was completely open to her. He looked completely relaxed, on hand under his cheek, the other fisting the blanket to his chest. He shifted in his sleep, pressing his legs into hers. She should be uncomfortable, should not have slept as well as she had. The sofa was not designed to sleep two adults. Yet, here she was completely rested and deliciously warm with her body pressed against his. Most of her instincts told her to move, to extract herself from this warmth. But she didn't want to wake him. She tried to doze but now that she had noticed it, she was terribly aware of his flesh pressing against her own. It was just their legs but it felt almost as intimate as the kiss in the elevator. He shifted in his sleep again only this time, he was awake and he lifted his head blinking on confusion. He locked eyes with her.

"I fell asleep."

"We both did."

"Yes, but it has been three days for me. Five minutes with you and I'm out."

Beckett shrugged.

"Maybe I'm just that boring."

Castle smiled softly.

"You are anything but boring."

He extracted himself first, swinging his legs and body away from hers. He stretched before checking his phone. The sofa felt far too big now without him there. She quickly adjusted her robe before pushing off the blanket and standing herself.

"I should head home."

She watched as he pulled on his coat. He flicked her quick smile.

"I'll meet you at the bull pen."

"Sounds like a plan."

She watched him leave. She pulled her robe tighter around her, shaking off the memory of their night and started to get ready for work.


When she arrived at the bull pen, she had barely had time to sip her coffee Castle had handed her before Gates pulled her into her office.

"A harassment charge has been placed against you."

"What? By who?"

"Spencer Dean."

Kate cursed.

"Why?"

Gates pulled out the file, holding it in from of her.

"He says, and I quote that you are applying undo pressure regarding his wife's murder."

"No I didn't."

Gates shook her head.

"I know this. But I also had to make you aware that this is happening. He wants you done for harassment."

Kate pressed her face into her hands for a moment. When she looked up again, she met Gates sympathetic gaze.

"Keep pushing but tread carefully."

"Yes Sir. You know this makes him look guilty, right?"

"Is he?"

"I don't know. There's too many lose ends for me to tie."

"Well tie them, so I can throw this rubbish out."

"Yes Sir."

She left Gates office feeling angry. She could see why he did it but it was a dumb move. For him and for her.

"What's up?"

Castle was back to pouring over the novel, his notes almost overtaking the original text completely. Kate sunk into the seat beside him.

"Spencer filed harassment charges against me."

Castle dropped his pen.

"What?"

"That's what I said."

She thought for a moment that Castle would jump to the defence of his friend. She should have known better.

"Idiot."

Kate cocked her eyebrow.

"I thought you would defend him."

Castle snorted.

"No, why would I? I know you and I know what you have or will ask. And he's an idiot."

She felt a soft glow of warmth in her chest with that comment. Knowing he had her back was one thing, it was rather pleasant for him to verbally confirm it. Her phone chirped and interrupted her train of thought. When she answered, her eyes found Castle's. She then hung up, her face serious.

"We have another murder."


When they approached the scene, both Beckett and Castle paused as they took in what was in front of them, feeling an incredible sense of déjà vu.

"Castle."

"Yeah, I see it too."

They moved again and when they saw the body completely, they turned to each other in surprise. Red coat, blonde hair and the alley that bordered the busy city, easy to blend in once it was done.

"Check her pockets."

Lanie did as she was told, her gloved hands coming back out empty. Beckett frowned.

"Okay everyone, this is our second murder. We know what we are looking for. Anything and everything that could have caused those ligature marks on her neck. It was a pointless task but Beckett would be fighting to get this sorted. And if they missed anything, she would never forgive herself.

Scene processed, Beckett and Castle sat in the car together. Beckett didn't start the car, they simply sat, each trying to grapple with what they just saw.

"Is it the same guy?"

"I don't know Castle. But all that work that you did on the novel may do us some good. So, let's run through what we know.

Castle, having lived and breathed the manuscript since the beginning, started talking.

"Mistaken identity."

"But Kaylee wasn't a mistake."

Castle turned in his seat to face her more.

"But what if she was? What if we are too close to see it?"

He let his statement stand for itself for a few moments before he continued.

"Hired killer, jealousy, hate and revenge. Everything a good case and good book needs."

"Suspects?"

"The hired killer and the spouse."

"What's the twist?"

"Strangers on a Train."

Beckett nodded slowly.

"But what if it's something else?" I feel like we are missing something."

"We are. Two other people read that manuscript that we haven't talked to yet."

"Editor and publisher."

"Exactly. And there's something else?"

"And that would be?"

"It could be a warning, for us. Remember what he said to Alexis. We're getting too close."

Beckett nodded. She finally started the car and eased her way into the traffic, no true destination in mind.

"How is Alexis?"

"Freaked out. Her words not mine."

Beckett flicked her eyes over the rear view mirror. She was feeling overly cautious now. After the attack on Alexis, nothing could be assumed.

"Let's go and see this publisher. And Beckett?"

"Yeah?"

"Let me run this one. I know her."

Beckett nodded slightly.

"Fair enough. Where are we headed?"


Dilworth Publishing was big. It's not what Beckett expected. She wasn't even sure what she expected but it wasn't this. She followed Castle as he casually waved off the protest from the receptionist. They got into the elevator where he hit the button for level six. There was a brief flash of memory. Beckett would never look at elevators the same way again. They would forever mean something else entirely. She kept her eyes ahead, stepping out of the elevator a second after Castle did.

"Who are we seeing?"

"Chaos Jones."

Beckett paused.

"Really?"

"Yup, that's her legal name. Parents can be cruel."

She followed him down a narrow corridor and after a brief knock on a heavy door, he pushed it open. Chaos Jones sat behind a large desk. And there was absolutely nothing chaotic about her. As she rose and came around the desk, Beckett clocked the perfectly pressed suit, the clearly designer shoes and the demure but very expensive jewels glittering on her wrist and ears. They sparkled slightly as she moved. She clapped her hands as she took in Castle.

"Ricky."

They hugged and Chaos pressed a kiss to the slight smile on Castle's mouth. Castle stepped back, his hands on her upper arms.

"Chaos, looking lovely as always. How are you?"

"Better if you changed your mind."

"Sorry, not here for that. Chaos, this is Detective Beckett."

It felt a little odd to have Castle introduce her but he was right. This is his arena, not hers. And if he could find the information that they needed, she was happy to sit back and let him do what he needed to.

"Kaylee."

"Yes."

Chaos indicated the seats on the other side of her desk, sitting again once they both declined offers of refreshments.

"What do you want to know?"

Beckett gave Castle a quick nod, giving him full rein. She had studied Kaylee's novel but Castle had consumed it, he knew the material intimately. It was time for the pay off.

"Her latest manuscript."

Chaos snorted.

"Trash."

Castle's eyebrows shot up.

"Excuse me?"

Castle indicated the walls around her. Large shots of novel covers spotted the walls. All the best sellers and amongst them were three of Kaylee's.

"Those are Kaylee Dean. Not that murder mystery rubbish."

"I do that rubbish."

"Yes, but it is your style and genre. Kaylee's was the exact opposite."

Beckett saw the slight flash of anger on Castle's face and then it was gone.

"Did you read it?'

Chaos shrugged slightly.

"Enough of it to know that it wasn't going to work. But she pushed it anyway."

"How much did you read?"

"The first few chapters. Then I handed it over to my assistance's to finish it off. Kaylee was one of our biggest sellers. If she wanted it published, we would have pushed it through. But if she stopped what worked and focused on that novel and stuck with the genre, it would have been career suicide. Old readers would judge and new would be suspicious as to why she suddenly switched."

"Not if it's good writing. Which you would know if you actually partook in the craft rather than simply acting the part."

Beckett almost laughed when Castle turned to her, his face all fake innocence.

"It's like those waiter's at a restaurant who act like they know more than the actual chef. If you had that knowledge, then why aren't you in there cooking?"

Chaos turned an interesting shade of scarlet at Castle's comment. She jumped to her feet.

"You need to leave. Now. Before I call security to drag you out."

Beckett offered her a hard look.

"And I will be forced to get a warrant.

Chaos looked aghast. Reputation above all things. Beckett knew that she was thinking, could see the thought on her face.

"You can't do that."

Beckett nodded confidently.

"Yes I can. I will have this place sitting still while I wake to shake something loose. Now, sit back down please."

Chaos, not used to taking orders, paused, seeking an alternative to the command or a smart retort. Nothing came to her and she sunk back into her seat.

Beckett took a beat to jot down a note regarding comments about Kaylee's writing before speaking again.

"How many people would have read her manuscript?"

"In this office?"

"Yes."

Chaos paused, pretending to think but it was a ploy and they both knew it. She was trying to gain control of the situation and conversation.

"At least six."

"I want names."

Chaos signed and reached into one of her drawers. She pulled out a slip of paper, pushing it towards them with a well-manicured fingertip. Beckett glanced at the names. She tried to remain calm as her internal warning bells started screeching in her head.

"Castle, third from the bottom."

Castle's eyes widened.

"Bingo."