A/N: violence warning!! Also thanks for the well wishes !!

Chapter 11

12th precinct

Kevin stared at the photo on the murder board, unable to wrap his head around what he was looking at. The victim , 65 year old Donna Mendelsen, was strangled AND beaten to death. It was violent, beyond violent really. This was personal. The poor woman had suffered , which Kevin believed was the point. Since he had just seen her the day before he recognized her immediately , and fingerprints verified the identity. Donna was the judge on the Bobby S case that Kevin testified at the day before. Could this be a huge coincidence? He thought of Kat, and how he needed to keep her close, just in case Bobby had people on the outside taking revenge for him.

Kate approached the murder board with Esposito and placed a hand on Kevin's shoulder. "You okay Ryan?"

He nodded "It's just… strange. I just was in front of her yesterday. This has to be related to the case, it's way too violent not to be . Beckett we need to get Kat here, so she isn't alone."

Kate agreed. "I'll call Castle."

Castles loft

Kat had stopped by to have a long needed heart to heart with her oldest friend when they were interrupted by his phone. They both recognized Becketts ring tone and knew the reason behind the call.

"Hello Detective. Dead body I presume?"

"Castle is Kat with you? I need you to bring her to the precinct. "

He looked at Kat questioningly but told Kate he understood and hung up. "That was Kate ,she needs me at the precinct. You wanna join?"

She shrugged "Sure." She had nothing going on the rest of the day and was happy to see Kevin even if it was only for a few minutes.

12th precinct

Kat saw Kevin standing at the white board and started to approach him, when she was directed into a conference room by Kate.

"Kate, what's going on?"

"Kat I'm so sorry to tell you, Judge Donna Mendelsen was our victim this morning." Kate didn't want to throw everything at her at one time, so she eased into it.

"What? Judge… oh that's horrible. " Kat was genuinely saddened, she always thought the older woman was fair in her trials… Kat then gasped "Wait, I was just in her courtroom yesterday!" It dawned on her why she was asked to come to the precinct. "The Robert Shannon case? Kate do you think Kevin is in danger??"

Kate reached across the table and grabbed Kats hand, squeezing reassuringly. "He was worried about you too. I guess you've made up?"

"Short version yes. I'll get into details some other time." She squeezed Kate's hand back. "So now what?"

"It could be related, or it could have been a completely isolated incident. I want to keep you both under surveillance til we know for sure, is that okay with you?" she asked, even though she wasn't really asking permission.

"I'll do whatever you need me to do Kate." They stood and walked out to the bull pen, where Kat was greeted by the open arms of Kevin. They stood in silence for a few minutes, except for the sounds of a few sniffles from Kat. Finally they broke apart. Castle was suspiciously quiet during their embrace , and finally spoke up.

"I see you've reconciled. " He spoke ,tight lipped . Kate nudged him, as if to say "play nice" when Kat turned towards him.

"As I told Kate short version is yes, that's why I stopped by to see you. We can go over the long version later. Right now I want to know who did this to Judge Mendelsen. Her family has a right to closure." She had fire in her eyes, and vowed the judges family would get justice.

Becketts phone rang- Lanie had found something on the body and requested their presence in the morgue. Typically Beckett and Castle would be the ones to go, but she asked that Kat and Kevin join them. Odd but understandable.

Morgue

When the group entered they found the room in complete darkness.

"Lanie? You here?" Kate started to take out her cell phone and use it as a flashlight when the other woman spoke up.

"I'm here girl. Come over to the table and be careful where you step." She directed the last part to Castle , knowing he was typically clumsy.

As she said it she heard a crashing noise. "Sorry!" Castle eased his way over to the autopsy table carefully.

"Lanie what's going on? Why the blackout?" Kate rolled her eyes at Castle even though he couldn't see her, and avoided doing the same thing he did.

"I found a strange substance on the victims body. It looked like writing, but I couldn't make it out clearly. I swear I've seen this substance before, so I tried this." She raised the hand held blacklight and shined it over the body. The group leaned in to the and determine what they were looking at. Her body was covered in writing – fragmented sentences to be exact.

"Did you get photos of this?"

Lanie shook her head "Not yet. I can hold the light if you want to now. "

Kate pulled out her phone and began taking photos of the illuminated body, while the other three stepped back to allow her room.

"Can you tell what it says?" Kevin couldn't keep back anymore. He stepped up next to Beckett and also pulled out his phone.

"You will pay"

"Death to all"

"You're next"

"Death to pigs" -Kevin knew that one was aimed at him.

Kat and Rick stayed back, letting the two detectives gather their evidence and do their work.

Rick felt a hand on his arm, so he leaned down. "I thought he was out of danger…" Kat spoke barely above a whisper, Rick had a hard time hearing her.

He patted her hand. "They will get this resolved Kat. Everything will be okay. " Even as Rick said the words he didn't believe the statement. A judge was murdered, things would not be okay for awhile.