Title: Define
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: See part one
By sunrise Javier had visited three different crime scenes. Unfortunately they hadn't been able to get to one victim in time so the body count was up to three. The other two victims were in the ICU getting treatment. They had confiscated more bottled water from each scene and were narrowing down suspects.
Javier had gone much longer without sleep. Still at six thirty when Gates had ordered him home and not to come back for at least six hours Javier had been grateful. He'd protested but Gates had brought in help from other precincts so his arguments had fallen on deaf ears. On his way home Javier had called for an update on Kevin and had been relieved to hear how much progress he'd made. Once home Javier grabbed a quick breakfast, showered, changed into sweats and collapsed into bed.
Kate had been ordered home around two a.m She'd gotten a few hours of sleep and woken alone. Kate went in search fo her husband and found the writer standing outside the guest room. The door was open a crack and Richard was leaning against the wall watching the sleeping occupant.
"How's Alexis?"Kate asked in a whisper.
Castle closed the door gently and ushered his wife towards the living room.
"Better since she was able to talk to Kevin."Castle responded with a smile. "I'm tempted to let her sleep the whole day; she needs it."
"I'd let her body decide."Kate suggested. "Oversleeping may do more harm than good."
"Maybe."Richard relented as he leaned in to kiss his wife. "Any progress finding the source of the toxin?"
"Some."Kate said as she poured a cup of coffee and put bread in the toaster for toast. "We've narrowed down the company to a local distributor out of Baltimore. When I left they were combing through employee rosters and lists of former employees."
"Could be somebody from the outside who had access."Richard suggested.
"Being looked at too along with obtaining surveliance video from the last month."Kate continued as she took a sip of coffee. "Just a matter of time before we get a lead."
"Just hope that happens before the next outbreak."Castle said solmenly.
"Me too."Kate agreed as she leaned against her husband and Richard pulled her into an embrace.
By early evening Javier was back at work feeling the best he'd been in days. He'd stopped by the hospital and visited his partner briefly. Just that short conversation meant everything. There'd been times waiting for the paramedics to arrive that Javier thought he'd never hear his friend's voice again.
"I was just about to call you."Gates stated as she walked out of her office.
"Don't tell me we have another outbreak."Javier pleaded.
"No, we have a solid lead and better a suspect."Gates said motioning to the white board which held an eight by ten photo. "Peter Jasper, age twenty cousin of Whitewater bottling's driver Ted Romano. His cousin got him a job in one of the warehouses in Baltimore. Jasper was caught stealing one of the company's trucks. Instead of pressing charges the company fired him. "
"But you're not very hireable when you have employee theft on your resume."Javier chimed in with a shake of his head.
"Exactly."Gates said with a nod. "We've been trying to get a last known address on Jasper but he's been shifting from relative to relative moving from the Baltimore to New York area and back."
"He have a connection to that apartment building?"Javier asked.
Gates motioned him over to a nearby computer and clicked a few icons. Finding the image she wanted the captain enlarged it.
"Detectives found this while searching the first victim's social media."Gates commented grimly.
The image showed the first victim with Jasper who was a dark haired lanky caucasion male. The two were holding hands and leaning in for a kiss outside a Brooklyn resturant.
"I'm guessing she dumped him?"Javier suggested.
"That's the theory. Looks like she deleted him from her social media contacts about two weeks ago."Gates stated. "Detectives are bringing in the cousin now."
"Glad we finally have some good news."Javier said with a smile. "Want me to call Kate?"
"She's already on her way."Gates said as she turned and walked back to her office. "You two have point on the interrogation."
