CHAPTER 10

Ryan sits at his desk looking blankly at a computer screen trying to figure out his next move. He wants to help Beckett but he really doesn't know where to start. She left out after the call from Lanie. She told Kevin that she would be gone the rest of the day. This deal with what the papers are calling Beckett's boyfriend has really hit the fan.

He really needs to concentrate on the murder case in front of him when his phone rings.

"Ryan. OK. Where? Thanks. We'll be ready"

He looks toward the break room when he sees Esposito and Gates talking. He walks up to the pair and waits for a break in the conversation. When the captain sees Ryan approach she tells Esposito that the will finish their conversation later.

After Gates steps away Ryan asks "What was that about? "

"I think she knows about Beckett and Castle and now she is worried about them after that newspaper article came out. She wants everyone to get together later and see if we can all help resolve this. What do you have?"

"They found the fiancé"

"Great, Where?"

"Right in front of us"

"What do you mean?"

"He is on the plan commission. He was the one that is trying to help the victim to get her building approved. He called the doctor's office this morning because he couldn't get hold of her"

Esposito says "Where is he now?"

"On his way here"

"OK Great"

The elevator doors open and a tall well dressed man steps out and walks toward the bull pin. Esposito and Ryan look at each other. "Ryan speaks first "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yeah! Tall, large hands. He fits the bill"

The man says "I am looking for Detective Beckett"

"She is gone right now, I am detective Esposito and this is detective Ryan. We are her partners. Can we help you?"

"Yes, I'm Greg Compton. I'm Beth Appleton's fiancé. They told me over at her office that you needed to talk to me. Where's Beth?"

Ryan points to the chair next to his desk "Please sit down Mr. Compton. I have some bad news for you"

Greg Compton is visibly shaking when Ryan tells him that his fiancé is dead.

"What happened, was it an accident, what?"

"I'm sorry to have to tell you, but she was murdered. We have to ask. Where were you Monday night into early Tuesday?"

"UH!" he thinks for a moment "I was in a planning commissioner meeting. It started about 7:00. We got out a little after midnight"

"Where was the meeting" Esposito asks

"City hall. We have a conference room where we hold the sessions"

"So you have plenty of witnesses that you were there?"

"OH. Yeah. The other 14 members and there were probably fifty people in attendance and the meetings are broadcast on the city's cable TV channel"

That pretty much covers where Mr. Compton was during the murder.

"How was your relationship with the victim?" Esposito questions

"We were doing great. In fact better than great. I just asked her to marry me a week ago. OH! I just got her ring back to her that afternoon. We had to get it sized. I picked it up and took it to her place early Monday before my meeting. Did she sill have it on?"

"No, it had been taken along with her other jewelry, but we did recover it from a suspect.

Ryan starts the next line of questions. "I hate to ask this, but it is very important. Did the two of you have sex Monday?"

He turns red when the question is asked "Yes, Why?"

"Well, there was evidence of sex and we wanted to be sure it was you or a suspect. Sorry, but we had to ask"

Esposito changes direction now that it appears that the boyfriend had no opportunity or reason to murder the victim.

"Ok, do you know anyone who might want your girlfriend dead? Was she having trouble with anyone? An upset patient, co worker, neighbor?

"No. Her practice was doing very well. She never mentioned anything about issues. I mean, the only thing going on was the building she was trying to buy. The neighborhood had an association that did not want her changing the building front, but these things never end in violence. We see them all the time down at city hall. They usually get settled and everyone is happy in the end."

You are on the planning commission. If you were helping her, isn't that a conflict?" Ryan questions

"It would be, but I have officially excused myself from her case. The neighbors know that I am doing this. I have hidden nothing about this case from them or the city. I usually met as her representative with the neighbors to discuss the case. We were getting close to a resolution so she could move forward.

"So she's had no conflicts of any kind that you know of?"

The witness looks off for a moment. "Well there is this one thing that happened a little odd."

"One of the members of the neighborhood association was acting a little too friendly with me. Beth did get a little concerned. But she had absolutely nothing to worry about. I told her that it would all work out OK "

"Who was the neighbor that you were having a problem with?

When Greg answered the two detectives tell Compton to sit tight while they go outside to discuss the situation.

Ryan looks over to his partner "I think I who the killer is" Esposito replies "Me Too"