Esposito greeted the two of them just as they stepped off the precinct elevator.
"Yo Beckett. You're just in time. The roommate's name is Victoria Brooks. Same age as our vic; friends said they'd been roommates for a very long time and were bffs till the day Lindy moved out and got a "new" life."
"They had a fight?", she said grabbing the papers that he held out for her.
"Doesn't seem like it. They were reportedly on civil terms with no arguments or fights that anybody knew of."
Castle butted in. "We can't be sure. But now that her roommate's dead, good luck getting her to admit that one."
"Let's question her first, shall we?"
"Ok. As you say. "
They looked at her from the shutters of the waiting room as she sat clasping and unclasping her hands, tears streaming down her face, dabbing them off with a handkerchief from time to time. She kept staring resolutely at a spot on the wall as if frozen in the situation.
Castle had to gasp.
"Whoa. She looks genuinely distraught. I think we need to discard the psycho roommate theory. "
Beckett smirked.
"Changed your mind already? That was fast. Remind me to never have you on the jury for one of my cases. The convict sheds one tear and it'll be enough to melt you. Castle, have you learnt nothing yet? Cop Rules 101. DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING."
"Ok. Ok. Let's talk to her. But don't give her your scary eyes please. She looks spooked enough. She's not even a suspect."
"Yet. But fine as long as you don't interrupt my line of questioning."
"Deal."
xxxxx
"Lindy and I were the best of friends. We used to hang out all the time together. She even got me invited to parties and I got her a part-time job."
"This job that you mention. What was it?" Beckett said as she flipped out her notepad to jot down some points.
"Well she helped my aunt cater at parties and stuff like that from time to time."
"Did she have any troubles at this job?" Beckett's matter-of-fact voice sounded just a bit too aggressive for Castle's liking.
"Did she have any enemies, jealous co workers? Anything you can think of. "
"Not that I knew of. The job paid ok. Not a big deal."
"Any fights? Misunderstandings?"
"No. I mean I don't think so. "
Victoria looked stumped. Castle could see that she wasn't thinking very clearly. Especially not with Kate's barrage of questions.
"So, Vicky, is it? I understand it's a very painful subject for you but why did Lindy move out?" Castle decided to try a gentler approach and play good cop, even though he felt Kate glaring at him for interrupting her.
Her eyes flashed suddenly as if she'd recalled a buried secret. "It was because of Roger."
"I'm sorry, Roger?" Kate got back into the game, intrigued by the new direction the case was heading in.
"Roger Headley. My boyfriend. We started dating two months ago. He came to my place pretty often and Lindy did bump into him at times. She had no problems with him. But lately, she would avoid him entirely. Whenever he came over she would disappear off without even leaving a note. Sometimes for the whole night. I had no idea where she went. Maybe that's what got her into trouble. Oh my god, I'm the worst friend ever. "
With that, she broke into hysteria. Beckett sensed that any sane statement from the poor girl would be impossible in her current frame of mind. She brought the meeting to a halt.
"Ms Brooks. Thank you for your time. I assure you that my team and I will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is done. It's late. I'll make sure a uniformed cop escorts you to a cab. Good night. "
"Thanks detective. I'm glad to help. You can always call if you need to ask anything."
"I appreciate it. "
xxxx
The detectives said their goodbyes and called an end to a long, weary day. Their good lookin' new leads would have to wait another day. Castle stared out the window of the cab, silently observing the tail lights of the cars glimmer in the darkness.
"Castle! We had a deal! what were you thinking!"
"But she was petrified. Couldn't tell black from white the way you were yelling at her. "
"Castle. Thats the job. You intimidate them so they know they're not going to get away with lying to you. And I wasn't yelling. I was being firm. And thorough."
"I was just scared she was going to file a human rights violation or something."
"On what grounds?"
"Monster-y cop lady!"
"Really?"
"It's possible. Anyways. You have to admit that you can be a bit formidable sometimes and my way did get us that very important lead on the boyfriend. And the mysterious all-night long trips. "
"And mine got us the part-time job."
"Well look at that detective, one would say that that was a win-win."
"One might also say I'd planned it just this way." He didn't miss her playful smirk.
"Oh you wouldn't."
xxxxx
After a quick dinner of microwaved leftovers they collapsed into bed. They were so exhausted that it didn't take long for them to fall asleep. When he woke up the next morning, it was seven a.m. Entirely too early for him but Kate was already up. He trended weary steps to the kitchen where she stood at the table, clutching her coffee mug tightly, completely absorbed in her thoughts.
"Hey," he greeted her with a warm smile.
"Hey yourself. If I knew you'd be up so early I'd have made more coffee.I'm afraid this one's all but gone."
"Kate Beckett, you truly are a coffee fiend."
"Old habits. I can still make you your coffee though. "
"Sure. I'd love that. How long have you been awake?
"Couple of hours."
"More nightmares?"
"Not really. Couldn't sleep. I was just thinking about my appointment with Dr Burke today. "
"You seem nervous. Remember I'm right here."
"I know that Castle. And I'm not running away. Talking to Dr Burke brings up issues. Sometimes issues that I'm not ready to deal with."
"You've got to face them someday. Isn't it a good thing that you're doing so in the right circumstances and on your own terms?"
"Mm hmm." She absent-mindedly mused.
"You know what Dr Burke said to me?"
"What?"
"He said that we need to talk. That we'd be strong enough to face whatever this is. Whatever these dreams are if we could just...discuss it. Together. As a team."
"I know Castle. But you know i would tell you if it wasn't so difficult for me. If it didn't make me so damn emotional and pathetic. And i don't want anybody to see me like this. Not even you."
"You can't hide away all the time Kate. Not from the world and definitely not from me. Because I CAN help you. You've had to admit over these years, despite yourself. That I'm useful. That the different aspect I have on things helps. Just like last night with Roger."
"I agree. So do you have a plan?"
"Oh I most definitely do. I'm proposing a never before attempted lockdown. Forty eight hours. No interruptions. No gadgets. No family. No precinct. Just you and me. And our very very serious issues. And pizza. Lots of way even if you have a bad dream, I'll be right here to be your knight in shining armour."
"No way."
"Why not?"
"Because I doubt it will end up being a serious conversation with you around and pizza."
"I'm serious about this Kate. "
"Ok. I'm just saying. You, me and an empty loft. Forty eight hours. Are you sure we'll be able to 'just talk'?"
"Well I was thinking we could squeeze in some laser tag time."
"Castle!" She exclaimed punching him in the biceps.
"Oww. Ok ok I'm just kidding about the laser tag. Won't joke again. Sorry" he yelped holding his ears in apology.
"I'm more worried about some other...more adult games" she said suggestively and Castle gulped instinctively.
"Rest assured. All your attempts at seducing me will not work."
"Me seducing you? In your dreams?"
"You mean memories, right? Because the number of times you've come on to me is a huuuuuuge number,"he said twitching his eyebrows at her.
"You just wish. But what about work? I think I'll be on shift since I was out so many days."
"I remember you working on a sunday not so long ago. I think you can spare a weekend. "
"Two days is too much Castle. Isn't one enough?"
"Ok. Let's make this interesting. If the reason Lindy was killed turns out to be related to her job, we'll cut it down to a day. Or if our dear Mr Roger here has anything to do with it...we stick to my plan."
"I can't believe you're betting our personal life on a murder investigation. Do you really love to win that much?"
Then he leaned in real close and whispered into her ear. "You have NO idea."
xxxxxxx
A/N:apologies for the delay. I had exams and a mini vacation.
