CHAPTER 10

"What do you mean they are coming for you Kate?"

"They tried to kill me before and then again but you… you know. And now with these things the guys found out. I'm in danger, I…"

"Easy there Beckett, we won't let anything happen to you" – said Ryan.

Ryan and Esposito decided to head back to the Precinct, they still had the surveillance videos to watch again and it was not going to be easy since they had already watched and didn't find anything, this time they would have to do it more carefully, looking for anything odd. Anything.

"Ryan, you're the king of the surveillance videos… we need to find something that can help us"

"I think you could join me. Two is better than one for this kind of stuff, at least right now"

"Sure, bro"

They started to watch the videos again and when they reached around the kill zone they noticed something odd.

"Have you seen this, bro?" – asked Ryan.

"What?"

"Check this out" – Ryan said while he was rewinding the video – "Look at this point of the video. You can notice the wind in that tree back there, but then you have this" –then he pressed play and showed Esposito that the tree suddenly stopped being affected by the wind.

"I know what this is man. Someone took a picture of the exact place the camera was recording and placed it in front of the lens"

"Yeah, and while this thing is on, we can't see what's happening there. Damn, he's smart Espo"

"We are dealing with a pro. We knew from the very beginning"

"Let's go back to the alley; I know how to identify the man who placed the picture there. Call CSU we're going to need to collect some prints"

Esposito called CSU and they both left for the alley, they didn't tell anything to Gates, but they called for backup just in case, if they found anything good they would have to call Gates, but until then they didn't want her to frustrate their actions of trying to help a friend, especially concerning this very dangerous case.

When Castle and Beckett finished unpacking and arranging her stuff in his bedroom, they sat in the couch to get some rest. Castle served them with wine and they sat.

They didn't say anything for a while; they wanted to enjoy the moment. Martha and Alexis had gone out to go shopping so Castle and Beckett were alone.

"Let's forget about it for tonight" – Castle said.

"I can't. It's all over me"

"You can't, but we can"

"I love you so much Rick"

"I love you too"

They laid in the couch, cuddling. All she wanted was to feel free even for some moments and she knew he was the only one who could ever make she feel that way, so she held him tight. He kissed her very deeply; he wanted to show her he was there for her no matter what. Only he knew he didn't have to prove anything. She was decided she would be his woman forever.

She got up and took his hand; her gaze was fixed on his and leaded him towards his bedroom, they're bedroom.

At the alley CSU got prints from the camera and also pieces of the tape that was holding the picture.

"The guy must have held the handrail from the fire escape with one of his hands while placing the photo in the camera; we should look for prints there too" – said Ryan.

"I'll check with the doorman again, maybe he remembers anything related to the night of the murders. I'll check the apartments too specifically this apartment that leads to this fire escape"

Esposito entered the building to talk to the doorman.

"Excuse me, I'm detective Javier Esposito NYPD, I need to ask you a few questions about a murder that took place in this alley a couple of nights ago"

"I've already said everything I knew to the lady cop"

"I know, but we had some development in our case and it lead us back to the alley. I just need to ask you if there've been anything unusual there these last days. Anything you might have found odd. Or maybe something you don't think that can actually be useful"

"Okay, I caught this guy trying to climb the fire escape, I said I'd report to the police and he asked me not to do it. He said he only did that because he wanted to have a look over the wall to the other side. I think it's a warehouse in the other side of the alley. Since I didn't find him a bad guy, I just asked him not to do that again and he left"

"Do you think you can describe him?"

"It's been a couple of days, I don't know if I can give you exact information. Hundreds of people come and go through this lobby everyday"

"I understand, but anything you may have seen can be useful to us. A tattoo, a physical disability, a scar, anything"

"I think he had a tattoo in his shoulder. I just don't remember what it was, but I'm pretty sure he had a tattoo. He was cauc, maybe around 30, I'm sorry, that's all I can remember…"

"It's okay. It's a good start. If anything pops you can talk to me or to Detective Ryan. He's outside if you need anything. Meanwhile, do you think I can have a look at the apartment with the exit to that fire escape?"

"Sure, it's apartment 207. The keys are here. You're lucky"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because the owner always carries the key with him. But these last days he asked me to safeguard it here, he said that some people were going to ask for the keys and I should let them in"

"Has anybody come?"

"No, he left it 'bout a week ago, but no one ever came. I tried to reach him once, but his cell phone was off."

"I'm gonna need his name, phone, payment methods and anything that can verify his frequency here"

"Sure, while you search his apartment I'll arrange that for you"

"Thank you".

Esposito entered the apartment; it was trashed. Seemed like a hurricane had gone through there and just destroyed everything. Someone must have dropped by and the doorman missed. Everything was indicating that someone wanted to look for something. He went straight to the window leading to the fire escape and found traces of blood. He saw Ryan down there and said:

"Hey bro. you really want to take a look at this. Bring CSU up here".

Ryan got in the lobby and was struggling because he wanted to show the victim's pictures to the doorman again. Maybe he could identify them. Ryan knew the guy had already said he didn't, but who knows.

"Excuse me. I believe Detective Esposito already talked to you"

"Yes he did. You must be Detective Ryan"

"Yes. Do you recognize any of these persons?"

"As a matter of fact I do"

"A couple of nights ago you said you didn't"

"I know I did, but when you asked me for the surveillance videos outside regarding the alley I watched the tape and I saw him standing there. I re-checked some old notes in here and I believe his name is" – the doorman searched between lots of papers inside his cabin – "Rob Smith".

"Did he live here?"

"He didn't. His friend did"

"Who was his friend?"

"This other guy in this picture, he lived here. In fact he lived at the apartment 207. The same room the other Detective is investigating right now"

"Anything else you might remember?"

"Yeah a guy called Cole came here the other night; I know his name because he had to identify himself to get in. He talked with Rob here in the lobby for a couple of minutes, I heard everything. Cole said he needed some files and Rob said he didn't have it, the he asked about the location of his brother but Rob wouldn't say. The conversation was normal, no signs of anger. But one thing I know for sure, Cole was struggling not to explode"

"You have a camera here right? Think I can have the footage of the day?"

"Yes, sure you can. The other Detective asked for information too. When you leave come here again I'll have all prepared for you to take"

"Thank you for your cooperation"

"Oh! When Cole was leaving he also said something like: "Don't forget the sugar" I remember that because I had listened and laughed inside of me, who would tell the other to not forget the sugar out of nowhere"

"Thank you, I'll write it down"

Ryan needed to hurry up, if he confirms what the doorman said then Rob was involved in the conspiracy too, but not on the right side.