Genre: Crime, Drama, Family, Romance, Humor
Rating: M for violence, language and sexual situations
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: I absolutely loved getting the feedback I did for the last chapter, so want to go ahead and get started on saying thank you for them all. vetgirlmx (Was interesting to see your reaction to Julia telling them to go back to the case, actually was wondering what all the readers would think. But yeah, I try to show her understanding about their work, but also so they'll finish with the case and come back to her. But yeah, she never gave them much chance to protest. You'll see what'll happen with this suspect, but liked seeing your speculating about it! And I was so glad to see that you liked the suspect leaving only to run right into Ryan and Esposito, I had to include that 'cause I love it when they do that on the show, lol. Glad to see of course that you want to read more, and now you can!), pcol22 (Happy to see you liked the chapter again! And I liked seeing your speculating too about the case, you'll see how things go of course! Was glad that you too want to read the next chapter and now you too don't have to wait to read it!), wendykw (You make an interesting point, but I suppose I just wanted to have him get back at the same time as everyone else, so wrote it that way, but the other way would have worked too!), life's a mystery (Glad to see you liked the chapter. And liked seeing your speculation, you'll find out if you're right!), sammysgirl78 (Was happy seeing that you liked the chapter too! I thought you might enjoy the beginning with the family time, and was glad to see I was right! I did like seeing you mentioning too that you thought it was sweet that Julia insisted they go back to work, did like getting feedback for that! And am so glad that you're stumped by this case, was kinda hoping to get that this time around, lol, and of course, you'll see what'll happen concerning the case and Mother's Day. You'll see what'll happen concerning the coffee art, but not surprised you mentioned it! So happy that you too wanted to read the next chapter, and now you can!), TORONTOSUN (So glad to see that you enjoyed a lot of the last chapter. I have to say I do love reading when you say you like the banter between Castle and Beckett as I love when they do that on the show, and I try to write it in my story the best I can. And happy seeing you too liked the suspect leaving and going straight to Ryan and Esposito, did enjoy writing that so I'm glad I added it! And you might be able to see how Mother's Day goes for Julia, you never know, lol) and Weirling (Great to see someone else reading my stories and sticking with them up to this point, appreciate you taking time out to do that I have to say! Second, had to smile at your list, I know you're not the only one who's waiting on all that so wasn't too surprised seeing it. Very happy to see you like the way they are at the station, the interplay as you put it. And not that surprised either that you're wondering about them telling Esposito and Lanie about their relationship and what might happen with that too. And I knew the show would likely go with Lanie as MoH, and since I didn't want to follow it and make it the same, had to go different, plus, I'm having Castle and Beckett wanting a smaller ceremony, no big wedding party, so it worked better to have their daughters with them. But so happy you're loving my stories, always nice to hear that, and believe me, am still writing!). So thanks to all of you who sent me feedback for the last chapter, I enjoyed reading them, and am grateful that you each took the time to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Doctor Robert by The Beatles, from their album Revolver.
Drink From His Special Cup
Looking up as the door to the room opened, Bradley said in irritation, "You've kept me here for almost three hours. There's nothing you're going to find that links me to these weird murders that are going on."
"Actually, you're forgetting about your connection with the three victims," Castle said as he leaned against the window as Beckett sat across from the man. "We're just trying to find concrete evidence to give the prosecutor a case."
"Wait, you're going to arrest me even though all you have is my knowing these three women?" Bradley asked, looking at Beckett as he spoke.
"We have," Beckett began, ignoring his question. "A letter from the killer, there's a fingerprint on that paper, and it's yours."
"You…" Bradley started to say before stopping.
"We also know that paper is from your sketchbook that was found in your apartment, with sketches of all four of Mucha's drawings," Beckett continued. "And we also have security camera footage of you making those sketches. You went for three days in a row when the exhibit was opened to those special members of the museum. Were you getting everything ready for the murders?"
"No! Look, if you're talking about a piece of paper I… I think that's the one I gave this guy who was at the exhibit too," Bradley said, sounding a little frantic then. "If you have footage of me, then you must have seen the guy, we got into an argument because he was blocking my view of the seasons series."
"Why did he ask you for paper then?" Castle asked.
"He said his girlfriend was blind and he wanted to make rubbings of the plaques with that since there's Braille on them. But… he had to have used it for that letter you're talking about," Bradley insisted.
"Actually, we thought of that, and he went through the museum with that paper, doing the rubbings with a lot of the plaques. So I'm afraid the page you were talking about is from your notebook," Beckett said.
"And two pages were ripped out of your sketchbook, so you had the opportunity to use that other piece of paper for the letter you sent us," Castle said.
"Why kill them? For your great masterpiece?" Beckett asked, leaning across the table. "You are a fan of Alphonse Mucha, there were a lot of copies of his works framed and hung on the walls in your apartment. Were you trying to pay homage to him with these women you wanted but thought you'd never be able to have?"
"You're out of your mind, you both are," Bradley said, shaking his head. "I would never do that to a woman; never desecrate the man's artwork. I love his pieces, not hate them enough to use murder to tarnish them."
"Bradley-" Beckett started to say as the man had ended up yelling the last few words.
"I want a lawyer," Bradley said quickly.
Beckett wasn't surprised to hear that, so she merely nodded, and stood, going to the door with Castle. Stepping outside as LT went in, she waited for Ryan and Esposito to come out of observation. "Did you check out the alibis Castle managed to get from him?"
"We did, and while his building has a camera in the lobby, there aren't any on the hallways, or to leave via the basement," Esposito answered.
"It's an older building," Ryan said. "Plus few people really use that way out."
"Except for him," Esposito said. "And we called a couple more friends while you two were waiting for Bradley to go inside here. They're all saying the same thing. He broke up with his girlfriend about six months ago, and he took it pretty badly."
"They also haven't really seen him that much lately, he's been claiming to work on his masterpiece," Ryan said.
"Does anyone know what that is?" Beckett asked.
"No idea, and I couldn't find anything that pointed to it in his apartment," Ryan replied. "And CSU was all over the place to try and find anything suspicious, the only thing there is is that sketchbook."
"Not much to make a case against him," Castle said.
Sharing a look with her fiancé, Beckett nodded and said, "We don't really think it's him now we're hearing more about him."
"I don't know, he seems to fit the profile, and he loves this artist, you saw the walls of all the rooms, covered in this guy's art," Esposito said.
"And he's missing an alibi for each murder," Ryan said.
"Okay, why don't one of you take the picture from the security footage at the homeless shelter and the picture of our suspect, and ask the witness from the shelter-" Beckett started to say as they went to her desk.
"Already did that," Esposito said.
"And?" Castle asked as Ryan was riffling through some papers he held.
"He said Bradley wasn't the guy at the shelter," Ryan said simply. "But he was pretty sure the guy that picked up our third vic the first time was in some kind of disguise, the line of his jaw had a crack in it, so he thought it was makeup."
"Did you ever ask the height of the man he saw at the shelter?" Beckett asked.
"He couldn't really say, just guessed around five eight and six feet," Esposito answered. "So that fits Bradley."
"Unless it was the decoy that went," Castle said.
"I don't think so actually," Beckett said. "I think it really was the killer, but as the witness said, in disguise."
"So what's the next move?" Ryan asked as he and Esposito looked at Beckett.
"We need to talk to his lawyer," she replied. "And try and see if he'll confess, without that… the case is largely circumstantial."
"There's a lot leaning towards him being the killer," Esposito said. "Found acrylic paint at his place, I can talk to the FBI and see if it's possible to identify paint specifically."
"Any word on the threads?" Beckett asked.
"We didn't find anything grey and silk at his apartment," Ryan said. "But the FBI report should be right there, thank you Thomas," he said to the officer. "Okay it's… pretty standard, a lower quality," he began to read before Beckett held her hand out for the file.
"Then it's a handkerchief," she read off the end of the page after scanning the rest of the report. "Which makes sense if it's used to clean the bodies, and also to use with chloroform. But this says the company that makes the grey handkerchief has a mill in China and they sell them at a number of stores in the tri-state area."
"So a dead end?" Castle said.
"Pretty much. You didn't find anything at all about other apartments?" Beckett asked Ryan.
"CSU went through the papers he had, all were about the apartment itself," he said with a shrug.
"And we checked financials waiting for the fingerprint match," Esposito reminded her. "Nothing that would suggest he's paying for another couple places. And the landlord and the first two vics' buildings said they were paid via check or card by everyone; he wouldn't take cash."
"And he got paid," Ryan said. "So it's likely he opened accounts under the names used to put the down payments on the other two apartments."
"I get it guys," Beckett said finally. "It has to be Bradley, from what the evidence is saying."
"I still have my doubts on him," Castle said. "But I'll agree."
"So we need to start gathering everything to prepare for the prosecutor," Beckett said. "And someone needs to tell Gates about the arrest."
"I'll go," Esposito volunteered.
"I can get the arrest warrant," Ryan said.
"Then I'm guessing you want me to talk with his lawyer," Beckett said. When the two men didn't say anything she nodded and watched them leave. "This doesn't seem concrete enough to me."
"I know, a little surprised the boys are so sure," Castle said. "But you know part of what hinges on this guy's guilt or innocence?"
"The paint for starters," Beckett said. "But I can't imagine it being possible to ID the exact paint down to one tube of acrylic. They have to mass produce each color."
"I know, once his lawyer sees that, he'll have a place to start up reasonable doubt," Castle said.
"Beckett?" LT said from interrogation.
Standing up, Beckett walked over to the man standing next to the officer, leading the lawyer into observation. "Has he offered a plea bargain?"
"No, in fact, he's planning on pleading not guilty if you're foolish enough to arrest him," the lawyer said. "A charge of murder-"
"Three murders and assaults," Beckett said.
"Yes, well, are you even sure my client paints the same as the paintings you apparently found?" the lawyer asked.
"His style of sketching matches ones we found at the crime scenes," Beckett said simply, since it was true.
Studying Beckett for a moment, the lawyer nodded and said, "Then I think we're finished here if I can't get you to see how pointless it would be to charge him."
Sighing once the man had left, Beckett looked up at Castle as he walked in the doorway and shook her head before they turned to the window to see Esposito and Ryan were inside the room, putting handcuffs back onto Bradley.
"So we've got paperwork," Ryan was saying as he walked into the break room as Beckett was hanging up her phone. "Calling Julia again?" he asked.
"My dad called me, I think he wants me to go home," she replied with a smile. "Though I'm sure Julia wants me to as well. What were you saying?"
"The FBI agreed with you guys about the paint," Ryan said. "It's impossible to trace besides the stores it was sold to, Javi's starting to look into that now. And I just looked at his cell phone records."
"And?" Castle asked, since he was sitting at the table.
"Phone was turned off at the times of each murder," Ryan said. "And I know," he said quickly when Castle and Beckett started to speak at the same time. "He could have done that to paint or… for some other reason, but…"
"It could have been to commit the murders," Beckett said, Ryan nodding at that. "So you need me to do some of the paperwork?"
"Gates wants me and Espo to take point the rest of the case, since it's mostly desk work anyways," Ryan said. "You can go home to your daughter and you… can go home to your book," he finished as he was looking at Castle.
"Great idea," Castle said in response. "If anything comes up though, let me know."
"I probably will," Beckett said, shaking her head as she stood. "But that goes the same for me, if you find anything that makes it look like he's innocent-"
"We'll let you know," Ryan said. He wasn't surprised when Beckett went to his desk, and he quickly got the papers he needed her to sign before she could go. "Say hi to Julia for me."
"For me too," Esposito said, covering the mouthpiece of his phone. He nodded to Beckett's absent wave and turned back to his desk.
Leaving the station after saying goodbye to Ryan, Beckett took out her phone as she went to the stairs, wanting the distraction of the exercise that would provide. She didn't see any texts from Castle there, and frowned slightly, wondering where he was. She turned the corner at the bottom floor, not surprised when she ran straight into her fiancé. "You waited here?" she asked.
"I did," Castle said. "There's a cab down the street for you."
"And you?" Beckett asked.
"I'll meet you there," Castle said simply before he left through the lobby.
Shaking her head, Beckett waited as long as she could before leaving herself, nodding to a few officers and detectives from other floors that she knew. When she got outside, it was hard to miss the taxi Castle had been talking about, and she got in, telling the man her address. As the car pulled into the street she texted her fiancé, asking him where he was, starting a conversation they would continue until she got to her building.
After trying to pay the driver; who told her Castle had done so already; Beckett went to grab her mail, pausing to talk with Mrs. Parker who was leaving. She then went up to her apartment, and unlocking the door, smiled when Julia's head shot up before she ran from the coffee table to her.
"Mommy! You didn't say you were coming," Julia said happily as her mother knelt to hug her tightly as she did the same.
"I know, I wanted to surprise you," Beckett said, kissing her cheek.
"Where's Castle?" Julia then asked.
"I don't know, he wouldn't say where he was going when he left the station," Beckett said, standing up and taking off her jacket. "I think it's a surprise for us to tell you the truth."
"More than likely," Jim said before he watched Julia hurry to the coffee table to finish the picture she'd been coloring for her mother and Castle. "Are you finished with the case?" he asked his daughter in a low whisper.
"We have a viable suspect," Beckett said simply. She shrugged when her father looked at her questioningly and said, "How was she?"
"We took a little walk," Jim said. He smiled when Beckett looked at him and said, "Just to the other side of the building on this floor, she's been cooped up for a little too long Katie."
Sighing, Beckett nodded saying, "I know, but she's doing really well, so I'll thank you for doing that. She didn't run did she?"
"I made sure she stayed with me and we walked," Jim said.
"Grandpapa let me see outside," Julia said happily as she went over to them, holding out a piece of paper to her mother.
"Thank you sweetie," Beckett said before she heard the door being unlocked. "Looks like you can show him too."
"Are we leaving?" Castle asked as he came inside to find everyone was at the entry doorway.
"No, I just got here, wherever you went it must not have been too far from here," Beckett commented. "I thought you were heading to your place." She was a little surprised at his expression then and smiled saying, "You forgot?"
"I actually did, but that's okay, I can go later," Castle said. "No, I went to order dinner for us. And you too Jim, I thought you'd want to stay."
"I would, thank you for that," Beckett's father replied.
"What's for dinner?" Julia asked.
"Well, it's only three thirty," Castle said, looking at his watch. "I told them to deliver at six, so we'll need to wait and see."
"But you know already," Julia said. "That's not fair."
"I know, but you'll like the meal, I promise," Castle assured her as he set his jacket on the chair in the entry.
Beckett smiled as she watched the two walk into the apartment more and turned to her dad. "So she was fine," she asked him.
"She was, she did miss you again, but that can't be too unexpected," Jim replied. "And I hope you'll take her outside this Saturday instead of waiting for Sunday. She was begging me to go out to the park down the street."
Nodding Beckett walked into the apartment herself and said, "We will, but only for her class. I might be a little overprotective of her right now, but I've never had to deal with this kind of emergency before."
"It's never easy," Jim assured her. "But I think you're doing a great job."
"I'll agree with him," Castle said. "Wine?" he asked his fiancée.
"No, I think we should all have some juice," Beckett said, since their daughter had walked over to them then. "And relax now that we're all here. Sound good?"
Julia nodded eagerly as the others were looking at her at that question, and she watched Beckett getting the cups ready before her grandfather poured the apple juice into them. "It's funny you drink that too," she commented as she took her cup first.
"Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you stop drinking juice. It helps to relax," Castle said, saying the last sentence in a high whisper, making Julia laugh as she leaned against him.
"She's obviously getting better," Beckett commented to her dad. "Did you give her the medicine after lunch?"
"I did, and there's only enough for maybe two more doses," Jim told her as they followed Castle and Julia over to the couch.
"Mommy, Castle, I finished my cards," Julia whispered once they were sitting. "Grandpapa helped me after I took pictures."
"How did that go?" Castle asked as he set her down off his lap when she handed him her glass.
"Fun, but that was a lot to color," Julia said.
"Did you make the cards for Mrs. Clayton and Miss Amber?" Beckett asked her.
"Yeah, I colored those very nice 'cause their cards were nice to me," Julia said as her mother set her on her lap. She cuddled close to her and asked, "Are you gonna go back to work?"
"No, we're all finished," Castle said. "And remember, we're not going to go back for another case, so we'll be with you all day tomorrow and Friday."
"And Saturday and Sunday too," Julia said happily. She then paused and looked up at her mother asking, "Do you want to stay Mommy?"
"I do," Beckett assured her. "I really shouldn't have worked anyways, but your uncles asked, so we went."
"Oh, so I should have worked," Castle joked as he took their empty glasses.
"That was always up to you," Beckett said, shaking her head as he went to the kitchen. "Where are you going sweetie?" she asked, watching Julia skip to her room.
"You said we are going to the museum," the little girl said once she had returned, her tablet in her arms.
"We are, why?" Beckett asked as Castle sat back down next to her. She gave him a look as he slid right up next to her before Julia could climb up in between them, but then turned to their daughter when she giggled.
"I have to sit on your lap," Julia said with a smile as she let him pick her up.
"So what is it about the museum?" Castle asked once she was set on his lap.
"I wanna see the paintings," Julia said firmly.
"You wouldn't want to be surprised?" Beckett suggested.
"The new ones," Julia said. "Please?"
"I think we should," Castle said, watching his fiancée as they shared a glance.
"We should," Beckett said, taking the tablet. She went to the site for the museum, and said, "We were talking about taking you to see this exhibit they have."
"Oh, those are pretty," Julia breathed as she saw the two examples from the exhibit on the page. "Who it the artist?"
"Alphonse Mucha," Beckett said, glancing at her dad. She leaned over to him and whispered, "There's no way for her to know the connection to our case," before she raised her voice and continued, "Plus we thought Julia might end up liking his work too."
"Like you and your mother," Jim said with a slight nod.
"And me as well," Castle said. Julia had started to pull on his shirt so he asked, "What's wrong sweetheart?"
"Can I see all the things he painted?" Julia asked eagerly.
"Sure," Castle said, looking at Beckett who nodded. He went to another site, and said, "This is for his foundation; they send the paintings and pictures around the world to museums so people can see his works. Oh, we'll need your printer Kate."
"Why?" Beckett asked, leaning over on Castle to see the tablet.
"There are some pictures you can print and color," he replied. "I'm pretty sure Julia's going to want to do that."
Beckett smiled as Julia nodded her head up and down eagerly and kissed her cheek to her soft giggle. She then whispered something into Castle's ear, and shrugged when he looked at her with wide eyes.
Pausing for a moment, Castle finally moved, and he held the tablet closer to him before he put his arms back around Julia saying, "These are going to be at the museum," as he glanced at his fiancée, waiting for their daughter's reaction to the four seasons pictures.
"That's pretty," Julia said. "And we get to see them?"
"We will, you can take pictures if you want to," Castle said. "But this'll be there too," he said, opening another drawing, suddenly not wanting to remember the three victims while they were with their daughter.
Beckett squeezed Castle's arm as she could guess what he was thinking with the way he'd nearly jabbed his finger into the screen of the tablet. She murmured something into his ear before he shook his head and she leaned against him again as they watched Julia explore the different posters on the page to her delight at each new one she saw.
"So you were surprised right?" Castle asked as he walked over to Beckett with the last of the plates from the table.
"I think we all were, though in a way I wasn't so much," she said with a smile as she let him take over at the sink.
"And why not so much?" Castle asked.
"Mainly because I know you have a kind of Irish fetish," Beckett said.
His head turning quickly to his fiancée, Castle could see that she was joking and he nodded saying, "Not so much a fetish of course, just an interest. And one which she shares."
"She does," Beckett said with a nod, looking over at Julia who was practicing basic steps from her dance class as her father watched. "But thank you for going out of the way to order it."
"You're very welcome," Castle said as he finished with the dishes and took the towel she'd used from her hands. "You know," he began. "Since we're finished, tomorrow we don't necessarily need to get up early."
"True," Beckett said simply, wondering what he was thinking.
"I just thought, we could let Julia stay up a little later tonight and-" Castle started to say when Beckett took the dish towel from him and threw it in his face. "It was worth a shot," he said as she was leaving.
"I think I'm going to head back home," Jim said to his daughter as he stood.
"Do you need to?" Julia asked, hurrying to him and grabbing his hand.
"I think so, I have to go back to work tomorrow, unlike your mom and Castle," Jim said, picking her up and carrying her to the door.
"Okay, but will I see you? Before Sunday?" Julia asked.
"You will, I'll stop by tomorrow or Friday, and see if you're still getting better," Jim promised before they exchanged a kiss and he hugged her tightly.
"Thank you again Dad, for watching her," Beckett said, hugging her dad after he had on his jacket.
"It wasn't a problem," Jim assured her. He hugged her before he said goodnight to the three and then left down the hall as they watched him.
"Now what?" Julia asked softly. "Dessert?" she asked, hiding her face with Castle's hand which she was holding.
"Up to your mom," he said simply.
"Yes, we can have dessert," Beckett said, shaking her head though she was smiling. "Actually, I'm interested in finding out what's in the box, since it's Irish. It's not made with liquor is it?"
"I asked what they had that didn't have that as an ingredient, got this," Castle said, leading them to the kitchen and opening the pink box the delivery man had brought. "Apple amber, which I never heard of, and I've been to Ireland."
"Did you have much dessert?" Beckett asked as she picked up Julia who was trying to see what they were looking at.
"No, and that actually would explain it," Castle said, cutting what looked a little like an apple pie. "That's for you," he said, setting a slice on a plate. "And what will we be doing while we eat these?" he directed to his fiancée.
"Mommy, the movie!" Julia whispered, tugging at her mother's sweater.
"I guess we're watching that," Beckett said. She and Castle followed Julia to the couch, taking the plate the little girl was holding as he grabbed the remote. They watched the movie as they ate their dessert, and as soon as she saw Julia was done she pulled their daughter to her, cuddling her close until it was over.
"Don't say I have to go to bed," Julia said in dismay as her mother picked her up.
"Sorry sweetie, we let you stay up a little longer tonight though," Beckett said simply, carrying her into her room.
Sighing, Julia looked over her mother's shoulder and started to open her mouth when Castle spoke before she could.
"Sorry Julia, your mom says it's time for bed there's not a lot I can do," he told her.
"But you could say it's not time, you can say too," Julia protested.
"I don't think so, and she is right," Castle said. "Sorry, but she is," he said as the little girl pouted. "Do you want me to stay or should I wait?" he said as Beckett began to fill the tub.
"You can stay," Julia said quickly. She let her mother help her out of her clothes then as Castle took over at the tub, and said, "What do we do tomorrow Mommy?"
"We'll talk about it and see," Beckett said simply. She kissed Julia on the cheek before helping her into the water, and she knelt next to the tub to take over the little girl's bath.
"No playing today?" Castle asked a while later when Beckett finished cleaning Julia with soap and had her stand up again to get out.
"Tomorrow," Beckett said simply as she wrapped Julia up in a towel and lifted her out. She let Castle take over as she went to get their daughter's pajamas hurrying to Julia's room.
"So I'm thinking tomorrow we'll do the same thing you did with your grandfather," Castle was saying as he and Julia were waiting for her pajamas.
"Can we? Why can't I go outside?" the little girl asked with a sigh. "I'm tired to be inside."
"I know sweetie, but Saturday we're going to your class remember, so we'll be outside then," Beckett said as she walked inside and got her dressed.
"Are you going to let her play Sunday when we head to the park?" Castle asked.
"I will," Beckett said with a slight smile as he carried their daughter to her room as she followed. "I get the feeling she'll need to run around after the museum."
"But I like the museum Mommy," Julia said as Castle set her on her bed.
"I know you do, but you're going to need to be very quiet and not run around there, so we'll let you stretch your legs at the park," Beckett said.
"Thank you," Julia said before she wrapped her arms around Castle's neck.
"Sweet dreams Julia," he said as he hugged her back. "I-"
"You have to leave?" Julia asked, a little fretfully.
"I'll come back remember," Castle said, as they'd talked about that during dinner. "We have a little walk planned, but nothing else so I have to make sure you get to do something fun."
Pushing on his shoulder carefully Beckett said, "And who says I wouldn't do something fun with her?"
"I can stay at my home tonight if-" Castle started to say.
"No! Mommy, let him come back," Julia said worriedly.
"I'm joking sweetie, he better come back," Beckett said.
"Yeah, I will," Castle said, a little startled at the slight change in her tone before he turned to Julia. "I promise to come back. And I'll come in to see you, even if you're asleep when I do. But for now, good night and I love you sweetheart."
Nodding, Julia shared a kiss with him before he let her go, and she held her arms out to her mother before wrapping them around her neck. "I love you Mommy," she said, snuggling close to her.
"I love you Julia," Beckett said as she laid her down on the bed. "Sweet dreams and we'll see you tomorrow morning okay?"
"Kay, night," Julia said, letting her mother tuck her in. She waved to Castle before she yawned widely, and held her Stitch doll close.
After closing the lights and door, Beckett followed her fiancé out to the living room and after the door to the bedrooms was closed said, "Do you want to look over the case again?"
"I knew you'd want to," Castle said, smiling slightly. "Actually, I would, but I think I should head to my place for supplies before I forget."
"Supplies," Beckett said, shaking her head. "Then go, but I'll start actually."
"I don't blame you, I bet I'd do the same if this was my place," Castle said as they walked to the entry. "But you know, what's going to make or break this case is the DNA results."
"I know, but that'll take time, probably more time than Ryan and Espo have to formally arrest him," Beckett said.
"Yeah," Castle said, frowning as he remembered the phone call. It had been just before they'd eaten, Esposito calling Beckett to let her know they had gotten some hair from a brush at Bradley's apartment, and had begun DNA testing to match it with the two semen samples. She had convinced Esposito to keep Bradley in lockup, uncharged, for the full 24 hour period, so they wouldn't end up arresting the wrong man. He hadn't been surprised when the detective had reminded Beckett again about what they had against him, but luckily she'd been adamant and he had pulled some strings to get the samples all tested much faster than they normally would be. "But they should have everything set tomorrow afternoon, so we'll see. Though you know… if it turns out it's not him…"
"I'm tempted to just let the boys handle it if that's the case," Beckett said.
"I know, and I'll stay if you want me to," Castle said.
"You wouldn't want to wrap everything up?" Beckett asked.
"Not particularly," Castle replied. "Because if Bradley isn't our guy… we're going to have another victim, winter. And you know the description of the lithograph at the site I was looking at with Julia said that the woman in it is keeping the bird in her hands warm. So I'd guess the killer saw that description too."
Beckett nodded at that and then said, "I'll look at the case as if we have no suspect, and honestly I don't think we do, so that might help."
"I hope so, because I wouldn't want to be up all night working on this," Castle told her. "Especially after your hint to me."
"What hint?" Beckett asked. She was surprised when he; instead of protesting her feigned innocence; wrapped his arms around her and proceeded to kiss her neck. She bit her lower lip to tamp down the moan that rose from her throat, and she closed her eyes tightly as his lips then ghosted up to hers.
"That hint, and I'm glad you did that because I'm not kidding about us sleeping in tomorrow," Castle reminded her. He kissed her before she could reply, and felt her arms tighten around his neck as he deepened it quickly.
When he pulled away from her, Beckett didn't let him get too far before she followed him, their lips crushing together that time. She shuddered in pleasure as his tongue slipped past her lips at her direction, and she had to end the kiss a little forcibly as she knew once they began, they'd find it more and more difficult to stop. But they managed to stay apart, leaning their foreheads together before he was suddenly tilting his head, nuzzling at her neck again. "You're acting like we haven't been together for days," she told him when he pulled back to look at her.
"Well… that I can't really help," Castle said. "But I don't hear any protest from you, so I'm guessing you're okay with it?"
Smiling at that, Beckett let him go and stepped away saying, "I was, but you really should go. I'll look at the case, and fill you in on that once you get back so we can finish faster."
"That would be nice," Castle said, brushing his lips across hers before he put on his jacket and left with a last squeeze to her hand.
Closing the door after him and locking it, Beckett bit her lower lip, feeling how swollen it was before she shook her head and went to her office quickly before she could change her mind and call him to come back. Sitting at her desk, she opened their murder board, seeing it was a little bare. Realizing she had to update it badly, she went back to the kitchen, pouring the rest of the wine left in the bottle she and Castle had shared at dinner in a glass.
It took her almost ten minutes to get everything onto the screen, and once she had finished she leaned back against her chair with her glass of wine. She was looking at the picture of the gray threads that Lanie had found, and the picture of the handkerchief that the company that manufactured the threads produced as she had taken it with her phone before she'd left the Precinct. There was something overly familiar about that picture, and she brought her wine to her lips, taking a few hurried sips. She set down the glass, and then on the pad of paper she had in front of her, wrote a few ideas coming to her mind.
Taking a third, larger drink, Beckett suddenly realized where she had seen that same handkerchief before and she began to write the letter K before her hand suddenly went limp, jerking off to the side and leaving a long trail to the edge of the page. She tried to stand as she knew there was something wrong as she began to feel almost violently dizzy, and she slid to the floor as every limb in her body had stopped functioning to her commands. She tried to reach up to the desk, for her phone, and was somehow able to sweep her hand across before she fell onto her side, the glass of the remaining wine shattering next to her. She tried to speak, but her tongue felt thick and she got onto her hands and knees before she slid across the burgundy liquid to her phone.
"We can't have you doing that," a voice said above Beckett as she had just managed to roll her finger over the number 9. He took the phone and tossed it aside before turning his attention to her. Lifting her up under her arms, he made her look at him and smiled a little sadistically saying, "You almost had it didn't you? But that's alright, you're the perfect winter. I told you, you would be warm. And you're going to be the last one I need."
Beckett was trying to fight against him, but knew it was impossible since he'd drugged her wine. She still tried, but all she could do was slightly move her arms and legs as he turned her, holding her back to his chest before he held a grey handkerchief over her face. She turned her head back and forth, but his hold was too strong, and she was too weakened. She thought of Julia, hoping frantically that Castle would get back soon enough to find her before everything faded to black as the chloroform flooded her mouth and nose, forcing it deep into her lungs.