AN: So, here's the next chapter. Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews for this story. I really appreciate them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
Chapter 9
The duo arrives at the diving place twenty minutes later. The building appears to be a quasi-remodeled warehouse, with a sign reading "Lucy's Luxury Diving" across the top. As it is summer time, the warehouse is full of patrons, ranging from young to old, most preparing or in the middle of instruction. It takes a moment to track down the supervisor, Lucy, and when they do, she has no trouble telling them what she knows.
"Yeah, him and another guy came in here right before the summer season started," she says as she prepares what looks like to be a diving kit.
"Someone else was with him?" Rick inquires.
"Yeah, had the whole celebrity get up too. Baseball hat, sunglasses, even had a fake beard. I didn't recognize him myself, which obviously was the point."
"How do you know it was fake?" Beckett asks.
"I've been in the business long enough to know when celebrities are on the prowl." Lucy chuckles. "It doesn't fool me anymore, but I let them have their privacy. They're just here for lessons, not to be hounded." She shakes her head, seeming to recall something. "Last celebrity that came in here almost got mobbed by a bunch of fans. Then again, she wasn't exactly trying to hide who she was."
Rick laughs, knowing what that feels like. He's usually okay with it, unless he's trying to have a day out with Alexis.
"What's so funny?" the supervisor asks, shooting him a puzzled look.
"Er, nothing. Just empathizing with a fellow star." He grins, but the confused expression remains. He pouts, causing a snicker from Beckett. He thinks the woman would have seen his book jackets, at least.
"Anyway, did either of them ask any questions?" the detective prods.
"Some. The guy in the sketch just wanted to know the mechanics and how-tos of diving. He seemed more interested in the actual lesson than the other one."
"What did the other one want?" the author questions.
"He asked more about like the best and deepest diving spots around the city. Asked a lot of questions of about marine life and mythology." Lucy shakes her head. "I swear the dude was looking for something, but I wasn't sure what. I was able to answer some of the questions, but he definitely left unsatisfied. Oh well, you can't please everyone." The woman shrugs, packing up the set.
"Right," Beckett murmurs. "Was he specific about what type of mythology?"
"Yeah, actually, mermaids. Guess he's one of those crackpots who believes in that stuff. Why?"
"We think the murders might be linked to them," Rick offers.
"Huh." Lucy cocks her head. "Wish I could help you more, but that's it. Also, I have a lesson to teach."
The duo lets her go, requesting that she call if she remembers anything else.
"What do you think the guy was looking for?" Rick asks his partner. He receives a lift of her shoulders in response.
"Beats me." She's quiet for a moment, her eyebrows scrunching in thought. "Maybe he's trying to figure out if there's any possible living spaces?" She sighs, scratching the back of her neck.
"He's looking for Atlantis or something?" Rick questions. "Wouldn't be that in the middle of the ocean?"
"Not necessarily that one," she responds. "There are colonies spread across the world. Atlantis is the big city, the main one. All of the other villages are ruled by Atlantis. I wouldn't know where they are though, with the exception of the two that are in New York."
"There's mermaid towns here?" he exclaims, voice full of wonder.
"Yeah, I mean we do have the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. I've only been to them a few times."
"Huh." It astounds him that there is actual mythical life swimming around New York. Then again, something tells him he'll never get over it.
"If they're looking for the colonies, they must know there's a chance of screwing up with just picking girls from the website," she grumbles. "Which means the killers have done their homework and this case just became a lot more dangerous."
The author nods, realizing what it could mean if someone found a whole hamlet of merpeople. They reach the car, entering simultaneously.
"So, let's head back to the precinct and hope Ryan and Esposito found something too."
"Right."
The duo drives off, both wishing to close this case soon.
Unfortunately, Ryan and Esposito have little good news to share. The zoo keeper had told them the same thing that all four had been informed of regarding the suspect and his behaviors around water exhibits. The two male detectives had also stopped by Jane in the hospital to see if she knew anything about another merbuff floating around the website and interacting with her friends. She had said she remembered Charlotte mentioning someone in passing, but nothing ever came of it. She had given Ryan and Esposito the others screen names so the detectives could look at the girls' posts.
"At least we have these," Beckett comments at the piece of paper Ryan hands her. "And the fact that the guy in our sketch has a partner."
"It does kind of make sense," Rick comments. "It would be hard to lure these girls in enough time to kill them. They're probably splitting up the job, one lures them, the other kills. Or they alternate."
"The diving instructor said the other guy had a celebrity get up," Beckett responds. "If he is someone well known, I doubt he'd get his hands dirty."
"True," Esposito comments. "But at least we have some type of breakthrough."
"And part of it is thanks to Castle's haired brained idea to drag Beckett out on a boat," Ryan teases, playfully nudging Rick with a manilla folder. The author beams in pride, while Beckett just rolls her eyes.
"Don't stroke his ego, Ryan, it's big enough," she mutters, her lips twitching upward.
"That's not the only that's big," Rick mumbles, smirking. He swears her eyes flick to the aforementioned body part, but it's too quick and her face twists in faux disgust.
"Okay, back to work. Let's go through each of the girls' postings," Beckett announces.
The team splits up the postings; Castle and Beckett taking Charlotte and Leila, and the boys focusing on Leila. Castle and Beckett sit at her computer, clicking through the various conversations the girls had been involved in. Unfortunately, they're not finding much, which is fine because Montgomery ushers the duo into his office a few minutes later.
"I just got a call from the mayor, wanting an update in regard to the case," he says.
"Oh?" Rick inquires, raising an eyebrow. He had hoped the mayor would refrain from checking in for a little while longer. The expression on Beckett's face informs him that she shares the sentiment.
"Yes, he seems very delighted at the progress made. Which, of course, began when his good friend Rick began helping. His words, not mine." The captain purses his lips, fighting the grin threatening to form. Before Beckett can object, Rick chimes in.
"I'm just a small piece of the puzzle," he states. "You guys would've gotten here. I just…expedited it, that's all." He sneaks a glance at his partner, who appears somewhat appeased, though she's scowling.
"Right," Montgomery says. "Anyway, keep up the good work. And please, try to close this case before the next full moon, yes?"
"We'll try our best, Captain," Beckett responds. The captain dismisses them and they return to her desk. Rick can sense she's none too pleased about the conversation regardless of the mayor's praise, as she's definitely not someone who has any desire to appear incompetent. The scowl stays in place as she silently continues perusing Sissy's posts.
"Hey, why don't I cook you dinner?" he offers, cracking a smile. The hazel irises glance at him briefly before returning to the screen. "Your place, not mine. I promised Mother the whole loft to herself for the summer, unless of course she decided to go to the Hamptons." Silence. "I swear I'm a really good chef."
She snaps her head up from the computer, eyes narrowing into slits. "Food doesn't solve everything."
"Then flowers? A seashell?" he jokes. He spots a hint of her lips turning upward, but of course, it vanishes. Damn, she seems to really have taken the mayor's comment to heart. "Look, Beckett, if it helps, I don't agree with the mayor. All of the progress has been made by you guys. I'm just a consultant."
"Yeah, but Ryan is right. All this progress is because you suggested to take that boat ride."
He shrugs. "You would've done it eventually, consequences be damned." He's sure she would, even if she shackled herself to the boat in order not to fall into the water.
"Mmm," she replies. Then looking up from the keyboard, she says, "I am craving Italian. Think you can handle that?"
He beams, not even hiding his giddiness. "Sure. I just need enough time to gather the supplies."
"Okay, then let's meet at my place at eight."
He agrees and she lets him in on what she's found, which isn't much. Apparently, both girls had interacted with different men on the site. As she read the conversations, the two men sound completely different, each tailored to the girl's personality.
"There's a few references about pictures here, so it sounds like they were sent something," Beckett mutters.
"It can't be through the site," Castle states. "From my own research, if a person is no expert on the deep web, anything uploaded on it can be tracked."
"Great," the brunette huffs. "Guess it's something we'll have to leave until tomorrow then." She's reluctant to quit, which is no surprise, but they've hit another dead end and evening has come upon them. "I think our next step should be to look to see if any other girl is being chosen on the site. Hopefully, that will provide us with a trail." She picks up her bag and Castle stands up. They wish the boys a good night and enter the elevator.
"So, any type of Italian in particular?" he asks. His stomach is longing for spaghetti and meatballs, but he'd rather give her the choice.
"Surprise me," she replies, grinning, eyes light with teasing.
He's more than happy to accept the challenge.
He arrives at her apartment just a little before eight. It had taken him long enough to gather the ingredients required for the dish he plans to make. With one hand cradling the grocery bag, he raps on his knuckles of his free hand against the door. She answers a moment later, and he swallows, feeling his blood pump faster at the sight of her.
She's donning a white robe, tied tightly with a narrow string, but he can still see a smidgen of a white blouse underneath. However, it's the realization she's not wearing any slacks, thus showcasing her long, toned legs, that leaves him almost speechless.
"Did you call this off?" his asks, unsure. His phone never rang, as far as he can recall.
She shakes her head, opens the door wider, and gestures for him to enter. "Close your mouth, you'll catch flies that way." She smirks.
He crosses the threshold and his ears perk up at the sound of…running water? From the bathroom?
"You leave the sink on?"
She rolls her eyes, laughing. "Nope."
He glances at her again, eyes examining her outfit once more. She's wearing a robe, no pants, but still has on a shirt. There's running water, but not from the sink. Maybe the bathtub? Wait, if it is from the bathtub, then that means…
"This isn't going to be a normal dinner, is it?" His heart beats fast at the implication, excitement running thorough his veins again.
"It's us, Castle. I don't think anything will ever be normal with us." There's no lamenting in her tone, only good-natured ribbing. "But yes, you're right. Now come on." She strides toward the bathroom, not even waiting. He sets the groceries down on the counter before scurrying after her, restraining himself from cheering aloud.
He's about to see Katherine Beckett in all her mermaid glory!
