Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance, Family, 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 was very happy to get the feedback for the last chapter I posted and I want to get straight to my thank yous for them. Beckett-Castle4ever (I'm not surprised to see that you're still wondering who shot at them. Or that you're glad they're okay as well as the girls still being asleep. Great that you can't wait for the next chapter, and now you don't need to!), 32 (Nice to see you think they case is getting more and more involved, since it was what I was aiming for. I'm not surprised that you too are glad no one was hurt and the girls weren't aware of what went on. I had to laugh at you mentioning the fact that they were naked to get body heat but able to keep their hands off each other. And the reason for that is mainly because it was pretty late at night, lol, the only reason why. So happy you thought the last chapter was another great one!) and vetgirlmx (Really happy to read first off in your review that you thought the last chapter was a nice one. It was interesting to see you noticing the fact there was a silencer used, glad I could surprise you a little bit with that one. And with that, not surprised that you're thinking it's something more serious than just a threat. I'm glad to see everything with the sword made you laugh and you're right, lol, definitely pure Castle. It was nice to read that you think the case is getting weirder; I love being able to make readers think that way; and not surprised that you're hoping that the safety deposit box will help them out. And you made a very good point about Macca being a puppy, the breed he is was bred for hunting and guarding so if they'd come up against him… it wouldn't have been good. But I'm not surprised you would have liked to have seen that, since he would have been protecting his family of course. And so happy that you can't wait to see what happens next, now you don't need to wait anymore!). Thanks so much for those of you who took the time to review and send it to me, I'm greatly appreciative of that and loved reading what you had to say!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Dear Friend by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Wild Life.
Friend Of Mine
Looking up at his wife, Castle said, "You know I'm still surprised to hear that you were cold waking up."
"Oh of course I was, it's freezing," Beckett replied, finishing putting up her hair. "And thanks for telling me the tub is ready," she said as she untied the cord on Castle's robe he'd insisted she put on while waiting for him. She pulled it off of her and then walked over to where he was sitting on the edge of it. "And you're not cold?"
"Absolutely freezing," Castle said with a smile as he took her hand to help her in, though it was definitely unnecessary. He stood up and removed his pajama pants that he'd put back on before stepping in with her as she was still standing up. Leaning back he put his arms around his wife once she was sitting down and he leaned over, kissing at the side of her neck a few times since it was exposed. When she raised her shoulder a little bit in reaction to him he murmured, "It was warm though."
"Yeah, it was," Beckett replied, glancing back at him then.
"We should make that kind of cocoon around us more often," Castle then said. "Even in the summer-"
"I knew you were going to say that," Beckett said wryly as she turned to her side slightly to put her hand over his mouth. "And no, we're close enough when it's hot. Last night we were cold after our jaunt into the backyard when it was… well, it felt like it was well below zero."
"Jaunt," Castle said in amusement then.
"Okay, then our chasing after whoever it was that was going to try and get into the house and either kill or injure us," Beckett said simply. "Better? I thought you were supposed to be a writer."
Not replying to that as he knew his wife was kidding, Castle leaned down and started to trail his lips over her shoulder, sliding down to the end of it before he whispered into her ear.
"All last night?" Beckett asked, turning back so she could look at him somewhat.
"Of course," Castle said, since he'd told her he'd dreamt of her.
"And what were we doing then?" Beckett said, a slightly wry smile on her face.
"I think when I was just about to fall asleep I remembered last night before we fell asleep the first time you mentioned something about being tired," Castle said. "But then later when we were kissing, you could have easily lost control."
"Well I was awake then," Beckett protested slightly.
"I think you still wanted me," Castle said knowingly. He grunted; though it wasn't in pain; as his wife punched at his side, her hand slowed by the water. "So you want to hear the rest of what I dreamt?"
"I'm not sure," Beckett said.
Castle was a little startled at the real hesitation in her voice and he was quick to assure her saying, "It wasn't anything you wouldn't do in real life. Remember about a week ago, when you were practicing yoga in the family room."
"What does that have to do with me being tired the first time we went to bed last night?" Beckett asked in slight confusion.
"Oh, I'll get to that," Castle said simply with a slight grin. When she gave him a look he couldn't help laughing slightly before he told her, "I came in to where you were doing the Bharadvaja's twist, and ran my fingers over your spine… just like this," his voice slowing down a little bit as he demonstrated to her. When she shivered in pleasure from that, he then slid his hand further and said, "I did this," squeezing her ass. "Very gently and carefully so it wasn't a crass move. You told me to cut it out; you were tired, in the same tone as when we were in bed yesterday."
"Okay and what, you stopped?" Beckett asked.
"No," Castle said firmly, stroking her back carefully. "I actually moved around in front of you." He had to smile when she turned around carefully at that and said, "You sat in front of me, trying to mediate. I guess you thought I was going to do the same because you didn't really say anything to me. But I couldn't resist."
"And you did what?" Beckett asked. She wasn't surprised when in response Castle simply leaned over to her and their lips met. Differing from their kiss when they'd first woken up that was far more sensuous though with a hint of underlying passion she wasn't all that surprised to discover her husband was repressing; even talking about his dream that she knew from what he'd whispered to her before was sexual. "And that was it?" she asked to tease him.
Knowing what she was doing, Castle merely smirked and then leaned down, closing the gap between them and kissing her again as he wanted to draw out time as long as possible before he had to answer her. And though she was kissing him back he knew she was struggling against making him answer which was fine with him as he explored her mouth thoroughly.
"So, anything else to the dream?" Beckett asked, panting slightly when they'd parted. "Or did you just lay me out on my yoga mat and screw me?"
"The latter," Castle said simply as he knew he wouldn't be able to lie about that. "But while it would be great to recreate that dream, I'm thinking of something else."
"Then why tell me about it?" Beckett asked, a wide smile on her face.
"Because I knew it would work you up," Castle replied.
"You know it doesn't take much for you to arouse me," Beckett said teasingly.
"Oh I'm aware of that," Castle said. "But I wanted to make sure…"
Beckett wanted to reply to that but as he was reaching up to cup her breasts she was cut off by her own soft gasp at the sudden shock of his touch. He gently squeezed at her mounds and she was biting her lower lip as she watched him carefully caress her. "I pushed you last night didn't I?"
"You think?" Castle asked simply, looking up at her.
"Probably," Beckett said teasingly as she reached down and took his hands off of her. She was a little surprised when he took over, pulling her hands behind her back so they could lean in together. She initiated that kiss and moaned into his mouth as he was suddenly letting go of her hands. As their bodies crushed together she knew why he was doing that and as soon as they had parted she was leading him down to her breasts, letting her fingertips brush along his lips. "We had another break before the other night," she said when he glanced up at her, knowing he was trying to make sure she was okay with what he wanted to instigate.
"Longer one this time," Castle said with a nod. "Not since… Eliza first went to school," he murmured as he was running his hands up and down his wife's back, looking at her form in front of him; what he could see. "My fault this time."
"It was your turn to get sick," Beckett said with a smile, as he'd come down with a cold, and after that they'd been a little busy trying to catch up enough with their writing that they could take a break; which ended up being investigating their current case. "But we seem to be talking a lot, did we do that in your dream?" she asked jokingly.
"A little but eventually we got to the more important things we do together," Castle said. "Well, alone together."
"Good save," Beckett teased him before she leaned down and kissed him. It was a brief kiss as she then drew him back to her chest and that time he didn't hesitate. She closed her eyes tightly as he took her right nipple in his mouth and her fingers slid through his hair as the rush of electricity shot through her entire body while he proceeded to suckle at her. She tried to look down at him as he moved over to her other breast after a while and did the same action there but it was hard to fight her inclination to shut down her other senses and just feel him. But finally she was able to watch him, feeling a thrill pass straight down her spine as his tongue was flicking back and forth; which she could see as his lips were parted.
Castle; as he was trying his best to work her up more than he had with just kissing her; spent a good while at her chest until she finally pulled him away from her which he'd been hoping for. As soon as she had he leaned up and kissed her, not surprised when she was right there to meet him. While they were busy fighting each other's tongues in their mouths he was reaching in between her legs. First he brushed against her clit, then her folds knowing they were slick from more than the water. She jerked against his touch as she moaned into his mouth and he remembered something before pulling away from her.
Beckett moved as Castle leaned over, watching him reach to the drain and tug it until the water was lower in the tub. "You're expecting us to move that much?" she asked with a smile.
"I know we will," Castle said, looking into her eyes.
Biting a little hard on her lower lip, Beckett moved with him until he was grasping his erection in his hand. She felt the other on the small of her back, letting him guide her down onto him. The first brush of him against her and she was shivering, he was rigid and she had to wonder at what point the night before it had gotten to that since he'd woken up in the same state. But she was lowering herself a little more and finally gave up trying to move slowly and just let herself go until their skin was brushing together, both of them reacting vocally at the sensation. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, ready to start moving fast when he suddenly stopped her. "No?" she asked, a little frustrated as she was suddenly desperate to feel him moving within her.
"Not like that," Castle said simply. And with that he helped her up, as she pushed with her knees at the same time and he groaned while she let out a soft moan under her breath. She seemed to get what he was trying to do and very quickly she had taken over the pace, making him grasp onto her hips as tightly as he could without hurting her. With both of them very heavily aroused, but moving slowly, the friction wasn't intense though he knew she was feeling as much as he was. He sat up a little more and started to gently suck on the junction of her collarbone and neck, loving the way she quickly grasped him around the back of his head, her own tilting back and giving him permission to precede further, which he took eagerly.
Beckett's eyes were open, but she wasn't sure exactly what she was looking at, as she was taking in the sensation of Castle's lips that were drifting across to her right shoulder going over the hollow of her throat until he had reached her collarbone. She was burning, aching though he was moving with her very steadily. She looked down at him when he shortly pulled away and murmured, "Love…" before she leaned down and they began to kiss deeply. It soon grew heated and in stark contrast to the way they were thrusting. She was enjoying it and didn't stop until they needed to breathe where she cupped his face, stroking his cheeks gently a few times before he took her right hand in his. Biting down on her lower lip hard she took in his nibbling teeth and finally tugged away her hand before she wrapped it with her other arm around his neck.
Holding his wife tightly against his body, Castle abruptly started to thrust roughly up against her as he felt the way her front was sliding against his own. "Fuck… Kate you…" he started to say, gasping out the words almost.
"Language Rick," Beckett said, smiling for a brief instant before he nearly rammed up inside of her. She cried out, digging her nails into his shoulders before he calmed down a little.
Watching her Castle couldn't help it and he reached up to her hair, carefully pulling it out of the makeshift bun that she'd placed it in. He couldn't deny the fact that he was heavily salivating watching her locks tumbling around her shoulders and he slid his fingers into her hair, gently pulling them through it and managing to scratch at her scalp at the same time. When she shivered hard enough to nearly dislodge his member from her as she was pulling up around him, he had to clamp down on her hips. "Maybe we should pause…?"
"No, no, not yet, I'm so close," Beckett immediately protested. She was breathing a little hard as everything she was feeling him do to her was swiftly building up inside her body, seeming to be centered directly within her sex.
"Close to what?" Castle breathed against her jaw before he went to her neck, nipping a little at her pulse. He wasn't too surprised when she cried out instead of answering, as he was going through much the same she was. He had no idea if what they felt in terms of pleasure was the same sensation but knew what it made his body feel was the same as in hers. A fire that was always burning that always made them ache. He was feeling that then but a sudden idea went through him and he looked at her saying, "Close to what love?" as he tangled his fingers in her hair, cupping the back of her head.
A little startled at the tone of his voice, much more commanding than was his wont, Beckett whispered, "I'm going to come." And as soon as she'd spoken that she was, her body having reached its breaking point with the very deliberate thrusts from her husband, coupled with the fact that she'd suddenly rolled her hips. Feeling him in that way she was lost, crying out his name as she clung to him as if for dear life. In the midst of that climax, she realized that he'd stopped moving and she groaned softly as she knew what he wanted to do.
Holding his wife, trembling, panting and crying out it amazed Castle again that he managed to have enough self control to keep from following her. The second that she had stopped he was turning them around so she was lying against the back of the tub and he began to move. He leaned down to kiss her, which he did repeatedly, even after their gasps for air after the first kiss had become more desperate. It wasn't until he was afraid they'd both pass out that he stopped, pulling away from her very carefully. He took that opportunity to stare intently into his wife's eyes, watching the way they fluttered closed when he slid into her and then opened as he nearly left her. But suddenly something in him seemed to make him move and he was thrusting harder, faster. It took him a moment; with the sudden addition of friction between them; to realize that he was trying to get her to orgasm again. He breathed out and began to say an apology; starting to slow down at the same time; when his wife's hand clamped down on his mouth.
"Don't… just… just make me come again love," Beckett begged him, putting everything in that to make sure he would do as she asked. "I can feel you… so deep…" she sighed then as she was sliding her legs; already around his waist; higher up his back until she couldn't go any further and still feel comfortable. She kept her eyes open the best she could, watching her husband moving, his face a literal mask of pleasure and she trembled before he was suddenly staring at her. The second their eyes met she was having a hard time breathing and she almost didn't feel the way he was tilting his hips. But there was no denying the effect that had between them and his next thrust down he was slamming dead on into her clit; which was the last her body could stand as something seemed to explode within her and she arched her back roughly, clutching desperately at his shoulders.
Hearing the ecstasy tingeing his wife's voice and feeling her body trying to pull him with her over the edge, Castle had no choice but to follow and he went willingly. The joy in finally losing himself within her was almost too much but he managed to skirt unconsciousness by the slight pain her nails in his back caused. He had no idea how long it took, only that everything was between them; their world had shrunk in that moment to them trying to share their souls along with their bodies. He thrust a little harder and faster until finally he had to stop but not without some sharp ramming motions into her. He nearly collapsed on her then as he was exhausted and he groaned as the sated feeling of orgasming with her was quick to reach him while she stroked the back of his head.
"I pushed you hard," Beckett said finally, a small smile on her face.
"I get the feeling you did that on purpose," Castle replied. "What happened to you being tired?"
"It vanished," Beckett said seriously before she had to smile again. She sighed when he carefully pulled away from her and sat up, watching him grab one of two washcloths that he'd set on the side. "I wonder how much time we have left?"
Pausing as he was getting the first cloth wet, Castle glanced with her to the counter between the sinks where both their phones were. "No clue, but we should hurry," he said, turning to her. "Turn around," he said quickly.
"Easy, we have time," Beckett said calmly before she leaned over, kissing him deeply.
Groaning deeply in pleasure the second her lips touched his own, Castle started to kiss her, holding her tightly against his chest. Their tongues fought a little bit before he finally pulled away and began to run the washcloth over her chest, taking great care with her breasts as she let out little moans that nearly had him aroused again. He forced himself to hurry with her back and then got the other washcloth ready, which he handed to her.
After they had stepped out of the tub, drying one another off as they did, Beckett started to pull her husband down to her to kiss him when the alarm set on her phone suddenly rang. She shared a look with him and they moved towards each other at the same time, kissing a little sensuously but quickly as the alarm was something they couldn't ignore completely. She went over to it to turn it off before she followed her husband out into the bedroom where they dressed.
Coming back into the bathroom as he finished buttoning his dark blue shirt, Castle said, "Should I have not done that?"
"Probably not, but I know it's hard for you to resist," Beckett said in amusement as she was brushing her hair which at gotten wet at the ends.
"It is but tell you what, I'll let you have free reign… whenever," Castle said.
"Whenever?" Beckett asked wryly as he started to brush his hair.
"You heard me," Castle replied absently before he turned to her, finished.
"Then what if I said I wanted to have that free reign in the break room?" Beckett asked as he followed her out to the bedroom.
"And by break room you mean our office right?" Castle asked. When his wife merely smirked at him he breathed out a little roughly before he put on his shoes as she was pulling on her boots. "Should I take care of breakfast?" he said as they headed to the door.
"Go ahead," Beckett replied. But she wasn't too startled to hear him continuing down the hall past the stairs with her and she went to Julia's room first where their oldest was sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
"Morning Julia," Castle said.
"Morning Mommy, Daddy," the little girl said, smiling at them.
"Are you going to get up?" Beckett asked, walking over to her and kissing the top of her head.
"I will," Julia said. She smiled when her father kissed her cheek and said, "Who's making breakfast?"
"I am but let me at least see Eliza before I go down," Castle said in amusement since she'd used a mock impatient tone of voice.
"I'll come back to do your hair if you want me too," Beckett said as she was walking with Castle to the door.
"I'll go to Lizzy's room," Julia said quickly.
Nodding back at her Beckett went down to Eliza's door and she opened it, not surprised the little girl was sitting up against the wall her bed was against, making her stuffed horse trot in front of her. "Morning," she said as the toddler looked up at them as they walked in.
"Mommy, Daddy!" Eliza said eagerly. "Morning."
"Okay, I need to go make breakfast," Castle said quickly as he shared a kiss with her. "What would you like? Maybe I should have asked Julia too," he said to his wife.
"I want oatmeal," Julia called.
"Man she's got great hearing," Castle said, smiling at Eliza as she giggled at his tone.
"Do you want that too?" Beckett asked, picking the toddler up. When she nodded she watched as Castle leaned down and kissed their youngest's cheek before he brushed his lips to her own.
"I'll be downstairs," Castle said. "All by myself."
"Macca," Eliza said then, having been smiling as she watched her parents kiss.
"What?" Castle asked.
"Take Macca," Eliza replied. "Go Macca, with Daddy."
Beckett smiled when her husband looked at her, trying not to laugh as he looked a little startled when the dog went to him. She watched him leave and then said, "Let's pick your shirt for today okay?"
"Daddy," Julia said hurriedly as she went to the doorway.
"Yeah, did you change your mind?" Castle asked.
"No," Julia replied. "Can you make another flower?"
"Like what?" Castle asked, knowing what she meant.
"Anyone… what about a tulip?" Julia suggested eagerly.
"I can give it a shot," Castle said. "Finish getting ready, breakfast will be done pretty fast."
"I know, I'm going," Julia said before she ducked back into her room.
Smiling at that Castle walked downstairs and to the kitchen, getting the bowls for the oatmeal on the table for Julia. He then started to prepare it as he listened to the dim voices upstairs as he guessed the little girl had finished and was inside Eliza's room.
"I forgot to say," Julia was telling her mother as she watched her getting her little sister dressed. "We're gonna vote about a new dance today."
"A new one?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah, remember last time we learned how to do the Lindy Hop?" Julia said.
"I do, you had fun with that one even though you didn't vote for it," Beckett replied, looking back and smiling at the little girl.
"I know, I thought it'd be harder to learn than the Jive," Julia replied. "But we got the list, I have it here," she said, holding up the sheet of paper she'd brought in with her brush.
"Wait until we go down to eat," Beckett suggested as she just finished dressing Eliza. "And sit down so I can do your hair."
"If Eliza sits in front of me I can brush her hair," Julia replied.
"Okay," Beckett said. "What do you want today?"
"A ponytail," Julia said simply.
"Then we'll go a lot faster," Beckett replied, sitting behind her oldest. She paused with Julia's brush in the air asking, "You don't want that just because it is do you?"
"No, I just want a ponytail," the little girl said in a matter of fact tone. "Lizzy stay still," she said to her sister who was wriggling on the bed in front of her.
"Eliza, after she finishes we can go downstairs," Beckett said, knowing why she was doing that. "So what about class?" she asked. "Oh, what about that history day you said you were going to do?"
"That's still gonna happen, later," Julia replied. "But we vote for that too." She paused and then said, "Why do we vote for so much stuff, is it because we vote for a president?"
"Your teachers want everyone to have a say; that's a democracy remember," Beckett said with a smile as she was gathering up her daughter's chestnut hued locks.
Julia thought about that and then nodded before she said, "Why don't we have a democracy for us all the time?"
"I was expecting that," Beckett said wryly as she and Julia stood up from the bed. "And it's because some things your daddy and I need to decide ourselves." She picked up Eliza then and they headed downstairs, Macca running to meet them at the bottom.
"Did you make it?" Julia asked, slipping up a little with some of the words though she managed to convey them to her father as she rushed to him.
"I'm just about to, you can set the table," Castle said, not too surprised that she had asked that first thing. He felt someone holding onto his leg and said, "You don't want to help your sister?"
"No, wanna see," Eliza replied, trying to stand on her tiptoes.
"Not yet, your mom gets to see first okay," Castle replied as he set down the mug of coffee he'd been making before he used a long stick to move around the foam.
"Can I take this to the table at least?" Beckett asked.
"Yeah," Castle said absently. "Love," he then told her after she'd set the pot of oatmeal in the middle of the table.
Going over to him Beckett asked, "You could have just brought it to the table," she told him before looking down at the design he'd managed to make. "Pretty," she said, seeing the tulip. "Whose idea?"
"Julia's," Castle said. "I wasn't sure I could-" he started to say before his wife was suddenly kissing him, hard on the lips. He quickly responded, though he knew already that it wasn't going to be that intense of a kiss since their daughters were watching them. He still enjoyed it though and when they had parted he leaned his forehead to hers, murmuring her name so he could feel their lips brushing together.
"Didn't you kiss when you woke up?" Julia asked as she glanced at her sister.
"It's okay to look Eliza," Castle told the toddler, looking at her with his wife as she had her hand over her eyes.
"Mommy, I'm hungry," Eliza said then, rocking back and forth a little on her feet.
"We better eat," Beckett said.
"Just a second," Castle said, since he had yet to make his coffee. But since it went far faster than making Beckett's he was soon joining the others, dishing out the oatmeal before they began to eat.
After they'd had a few mouthfuls, Julia quickly said, "Can I show you the list now?"
"Go ahead," Beckett said.
"What list?" Castle asked.
"It's for my dance class," Julia hurriedly explained as her mother was reading the list of dances. "We get to pick a new one today."
"Let me see," Castle said. "Interesting," he said after he'd quickly scanned the list and Beckett put the paper down. "What are you going to vote for?"
"We can pick two this time," Julia replied. "And I want to vote for Flamenco and Bhangra."
"Me too!" Eliza cried.
"Oh, sweetie," Beckett sighed when she saw her fingers and mouth had oatmeal all over them.
"I've got it love," Castle told her as he quickly stood. He went to get a wet rag and he carefully cleaned off Eliza's mouth as she groaned jokingly before giggling as he got started on her fingers. "Remember to use the spoon okay?" he said when he'd finished, kissing the side of her head. "You don't think the Bhangra will be too hard?" he asked Julia as he sat back down.
"I dunno," Julia said thoughtfully. "It looks like it's fun though. Oh, I should have told Alexis about it, that I'm gonna vote for it."
"You can tell her about it tomorrow," Beckett said. "And you'll be able to tell her the results won't you?"
As their oldest nodded Castle said, "What about the Charleston, you don't want to try that? You love Amber and Derek's."
"Yeah, but Bhangra is from another country, it would be sooo fun to dance that way," Julia said, trying to hold her hands as she'd seen in the dance before. "I just hope we finally get to learn Flamenco."
"Teach me?" Eliza asked then.
"That I'll teach you," Julia told her little sister with a smile. "That one we can dance together 'cause you don't have to be in hold." She then frowned and said, "Well, I don't know if in the ballroom one you can dance without that."
"You'll need to see," Beckett replied.
"Speaking of voting-" Castle started to say.
"We were talking about that earlier," Beckett replied with a smile as Julia laughed slightly. "When do you find out what time period you're going to recreate?"
"Today," the little girl replied. "And I hope the Gold Rush wins!"
"Me too!" Eliza said, starting to hit the end of her spoon against the tray of her high chair before her mother stopped her quickly. "Can I go?"
"Go where?" Julia asked, smiling as her parents were suddenly hurrying to clean off the tray.
"To Cal… Californa," Eliza said, her brow furrowing. "Did I say that?"
"Not quite, you missed out on the i," Castle said.
"California," Julia said. When her sister mimicked her and was just able to repeat it, she said, "We're not really going there, just pretend."
"Which way are you going to take?" Castle asked with a smile since they'd all learned a great deal about the Gold Rush after Julia had read her fiction book on the subject.
"The canal, it's the fastest," the little girl said simply. "If I have enough money."
"Good plan, you're going to bring back some gold for us if you do that right?" Castle said. When Julia nodded, smiling at that, he said, "Great find a huge nugget, that way I can put it in our office."
"Again, if that time period wins," Beckett said. "The boys in the class might want to do the War of 1812."
"There are more girls," Julia pointed out. "And some of the boys want to do the Gold Rush."
"You'll have to let us know tonight sweetheart," Castle said. "Does anyone want a second bowl?" he asked as he noticed everyone was finishing up. "We have enough for one."
"I think that's enough," Beckett said. "For Eliza anyways."
"Then we'll save this…" Castle said as he dished the last of the oatmeal before he took it to the kitchen.
Taking Eliza's hand after their mother had put her on the floor; Julia led her to the bathroom saying, "Your hands are all sticky Lizzy, ew."
The toddler giggled and flexed her fingers numerous times before she stepped up on the stool in front of the bathroom sink. She splashed the water and wriggled while her sister was trying to wash her hands, before someone behind them took them and held them still. "Daddy," Eliza said, giggling up at him.
"I thought you might have some trouble Julia," Castle said before leaning down and drying the toddler's hands. "You're going to have a lot of energy at recess today; I hope you don't wear your sister out for the rest of her classes."
"No," Eliza said, giggling loudly. "I wanna play here."
"After school," Julia translated for her father. "I hope we can, I need to see my homework."
"Maybe I can convince your mom to let you two play before you do that," Castle said in a low voice.
"She'll need to do her homework first," Beckett said from behind, standing in the doorway. She smirked at her husband as he pretended to wince at her words and said, "We need to go."
"Is it snowing?" Julia asked, hurrying ahead of the others to run to the windows by the front door.
"No, but it did a little last night," Castle said, glancing at his wife.
Returning his gaze, Beckett slightly shook her head before she turned to Eliza, helping her with her boots.
"Come on Julia, you'll be able to play in the snow at school," Castle said, going over to where she was still looking out and making her turn to the bench. "You will right?" he then said.
"The teachers see how it is before we go out," Julia replied, stamping on her boots. "And if it's not snowing hard we can play."
"Good thing, but what will you do with your sister?" Beckett asked as she was helping Eliza with her coat, buttoning it for her.
"We make a snowman mostly," Julia replied, putting her arms into her coat that Castle was holding for her. "And then at lunch I have a snowball fight with my friends."
"Sounds like fun," he said as he threw on his own coat. "Maybe we could play something ourselves when we go."
"Maybe fox and geese," Julia said.
"I don't think Eliza could play," Beckett said with a smile. "Unless you made the wheel really small for her to run around in." Before Julia could say something else she said, "We have time to think of what to do. We should head out."
Making sure the girls had their backpacks, were bundled up enough and they'd given a treat to Macca for the night before, Castle and Beckett locked the door behind them and made their way to the Foster home. When Mari stepped out from the front door she wasn't alone, both her parents with her as well as four older people.
"Our parents," Rebecca said with a smile. "They finally made it after those storms died down."
"So they're watching Dani for you?" Beckett asked as at the same time she and Castle waved to the four watching them.
"They are and she's asleep right now too," Rebecca said. "So I'm taking the chance."
The walk to the school that morning was taken in mostly silence as it was colder and when they finally reached the elementary school building they rushed inside for the warmth it provided.
While his wife took their daughter to her classroom, David held Castle back as Beckett and Julia were going into Eliza's room. "Can we walk back with you?" he then asked.
"Oh sure," Castle replied, startled. "We'll come down as soon as we drop off Julia." When David nodded and continued down the hall, he found he already knew what the man wanted to talk about and going inside the classroom he glanced at his wife. Her responding nod; a just barely there incline of her head; and he knew she had figured it out as well as she was setting Eliza's coat on a hook. He then turned his attention to their daughters and watched as their oldest was hugging her little sister.
"See you at recess Lizzy," Julia said. "And have fun okay?"
"Kay," Eliza said, pressing a noisy kiss to her sister's cheek. She giggled as Julia playfully wrinkled her nose at her and then turned to their parents with her.
"We'll see you later," Beckett asked, going to her first. "Vivian will pick you up when your class is over, is that okay?"
"Yeah," Eliza said, nodding. "But I miss you."
"So will we," Beckett assured her. "I love you sweetie," she said before she shared a kiss with her and then hugged her tightly as Eliza responded to her I love you before stepping aside to let Castle lean down where she had been.
"You too?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"Definitely me too," Castle said seriously as she smiled at his tone. He hugged her tightly to him and shared a kiss with her saying, "I love you too Eliza."
"Love you," the toddler replied.
"Okay, there's Clara, she looks like she wants you to color with her," Castle said, noticing a girl watching them standing next to a table with crayons on it.
"Bye," Eliza said then.
Waving goodbye back to her, Castle and Beckett took Julia out with them and upstairs to her class.
"Have a great day and unless we can make it to your class, we'll see you back at home," Castle was telling her first.
"Okay, I hope you're not too late at home," Julia said with a smile.
"We're going to try and get back as soon as possible, which you know already of course," Beckett said.
"I do, but I like hearing it still," Julia said. She shared a kiss with her father then and said, "Bye Daddy, love you."
"I love you too sweetheart," Castle replied before he stood up straight.
"And I love you Mommy, of course," Julia said as her mother stepped up to her.
"Love you Julia," Beckett told her. "Like your dad said, have a great day."
"I will, see you later," Julia told them before she went into the room.
"Okay, so, let's see how much Rebecca and David know," Castle said as he took his wife's hand.
Once they'd met up with the other couple, the four kept quiet until they were walking back to their homes, and David was the first to speak.
"So the police were at your house last night," he stated instead of asking.
"Were you awake?" Beckett asked, thinking of their baby then.
"No, Mrs. Marsh," Rebecca replied.
"Did she go over to your house?" Castle said in surprise.
"No she called, she was concerned that they were actually at our house," David replied. "I was able to figure out they were at yours of course, but I didn't mention it to her."
"She'll figure it out," Castle said simply.
"More than likely, so what happened?" Rebecca asked hurriedly.
Castle and Beckett proceeded to explain the night before but they kept the idea that the reason for the intruder was likely because they were investigating the case to themselves. When they'd finished they saw the troubled looks on both David and Rebecca's faces and knew their subterfuge hadn't really worked.
"So this is because of what we asked you to do for us," David replied.
"What if-" Rebecca began to say.
"Don't," Beckett hurriedly interrupted her. "There could be a million what ifs but what happened, happened."
"But you got shot at Kate! It's hard to ignore that," Rebecca said.
"I'm not brushing it off," Beckett replied. "But it's not the first time it's happened to me. And remember, the decision to go ahead and investigate with Brad was ours."
"She's right, we took on the risk ourselves," Castle pointed out.
"But did you expect something like this?" David said.
"No, but that's the job," Beckett replied. "And we had protection remember."
"That's true," David said with a slight sigh. He glanced at his wife and said, "Just… be careful okay?"
"We will," Beckett said reassuringly. "You know we have the girls to think of."
"They're right," Rebecca said. "He's been feeling guilty since he was the one who suggested we ask you."
"Don't worry," Castle said. "We're careful, you know."
David nodded, since they had arrived at his and his wife's house, and he said, "Then we'll let you do your work. Going in right now?"
"We are," Beckett said as Rebecca came over to her. She smiled when the woman hugged her and said, "We'll be fine. Say hello to our niece okay?"
Rebecca nodded and smiled as Castle echoed his wife and let her friend go before David took her hand and then went back inside their house. "Good luck!" she remembered to call as the two were walking down the sidewalk.
Waving, Castle and Beckett continued until they were in their car, the latter driving to the station on the luckily plowed roads. When they reached it they rushed inside, not surprised to see that Brad was there waiting for them.
"Esposito and Ryan called," the chief said as soon as they were close as there were a few people in the lobby with them.
"Do they have Bandini?" Beckett asked.
"I didn't talk to them," Brad replied.
"Gates?" Castle said as they went into the bull pen and walked across it to his office.
"They'll explain," Brad said vaguely. He wasn't too surprised to see their expressions and as he was texting Esposito's phone he said, "Your girls didn't hear anything last night did they?"
"No, they slept through everything," Beckett replied as he read a text and then started to dial a number on his desk phone.
"Yo, Chief Davis, sorry about cutting you off before," Esposito said as he answered. "Our captain wanted us to brief her."
"Hey Espo," Beckett called as the chief had put his phone on speaker.
"Hey Beckett, Castle. So you'll want to hear, we got Bandini," Esposito said.
"Where was he?" Castle asked.
"At his apartment, someone in his building saw the news and called the police as he recognized him," Ryan said. "Now there's good news and bad news with that, which do you want first?"
"I guess the good news," Castle said as Beckett looked to be confused.
"Turns out that he's our killer," Esposito replied. "He stabbed our vic, a murder for hire and he admitted to it because his blood's going to be all over floor around the body. We just need DNA to prove it."
"And the bad news," Beckett said.
"He's not your killer," Ryan answered. "It turns out there was a little bit of a struggle between him and the vic and he had to get some stitches as his knife cut his palms. He was at Manhattan South about five to seven so there's no way he could have done it."
"Unless he teleported," Castle commented. "Which would be an awesome twist."
"We sent you some footage from the hospital waiting room," Ryan said. "And he's there, in with the doctor and then back out again within that time period."
"Did you ask him about our case here?" Beckett asked.
"After he confessed to our murder," Esposito answered. "And he's never heard of anyone named Dixon or Patton, though he did get a call from someone in Oyster Bay; according to the tracker he has on his phone. They wanted to hire him for a murder but he doesn't work on Long Island. That's another guy apparently, Wise."
"We'll let you go," the chief said then after he'd exchanged a look with Castle and Beckett. "Wait, what about the Gentry, did you ask him about them?" he asked since he'd informed the two about the man the day before himself.
"He knows who they are but they're not who tried to hired him, you might want to talk to Wise," Esposito said.
"Did he let you know how we can find him?" Brad asked.
"Oyster Bay," Ryan said simply.
"Alright, I need to go," Brad said. After he'd thanked the two detectives he hung up and said, "It's a start."
"It is," Beckett replied thoughtfully.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked, watching her.
"I'm just thinking about this guy giving up his friend's name and most likely his location so easily," Beckett commented, looking at the two men.
"You think it's a ruse," Brad said. At her nod he sat down at his desk and started to type furiously on the keyboard before he said, "It's not… well, not exactly."
Going around to stand behind him, Castle saw a picture of a man named Darren 'Wise' Wiseman, and he said, "So he's real, but what about Oyster Bay?"
"That's where it might be a ruse," Brad replied. "He lives in Ronkonkoma."
"Then why Oyster Bay?" Castle said. "Unless…"
"The Dixons are trying to get him to implicate the Pattons," Beckett said, looking at him.
"But why would they ask him?" Brad asked.
"Did you bring them in here?" Beckett said then instead of answering him.
Looking over at the three murder boards, Brad groaned under his breath and said, "Bandini's name was already here on the board… so they saw it, contacted him and had him implicate the Pattons. We have to see what Wise says though." He picked up his phone and quickly dialed a number, speaking with the Ronkonkoma Police.
"They'll get him?" Beckett asked once he'd hung up.
"They know him and he's out of the country, he fled a murder charge," Brad said. "Remember what we've said about this not being professional?" Castle asked his wife.
"So we'll need to go back to-" Beckett was going to say.
"Chief? There's a Ms. Gentry here," Hutchinson said, coming to the doorway.
"Great, you two want to follow us to the bank?" Brad asked.
"Any reason why?" Beckett asked, a little surprised at the request.
"Hold on," Brad said, holding up his hand. He led them into the lobby where a young woman was pacing a short distance and he said, "Ms. Gentry? I'm Chief Davis, this is Mr. Castle and Ms. Beckett, we're so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, have you found out anything?" the young woman asked, her eyes red.
"Why don't we take a look at your brother's safety deposit box first, I'd like to make sure that no one has a chance to break into it," Brad suggested.
"Of course," Gentry replied. When Brad left to get his keys she said, "I'm surprised to see you two working with the police."
"You know who we are?" Beckett asked.
"I have your books," Gentry said with a nod. "I… you saw Mitch?"
"We did," Beckett said as her husband nodded solemnly next to her. "But believe me when I say the Hamptons PD is doing everything they can to find out who killed him."
"Yeah… thank you," Gentry replied before Brad came back out.
"We'll see you at the bank," the chief told them as he led them outside.
"Oh, do you think we could go in a regular car?" Gentry asked as she saw she was being led to a squad car.
"We can take ours," Beckett said. "Castle?"
"Got it," he said as he got the keys from his pocket and unlocked the doors.
Once they were in the car and on the way, Brad spoke up then asking, "What can you tell us about your brother? Anything that might not be in his personal information?"
"Well we grew up here in the Hamptons and he always loved it here," Gentry said, sitting in the back with Beckett. A wobbly smile appeared on her face as she then said, "He stayed even though it was a struggle for him sometimes to make ends meet."
"Did he ever tell you about the Dixons?" Beckett asked her.
"A little, he just said that they were a nice family but he didn't really have much to say for them when they fired him after that battery and gun possession charge," Gentry replied, her voice taking on a bitter quality to it.
"What about that?" Castle asked, though he knew Brad had already read up on it.
"Do you not know?" Gentry said in surprise.
"We don't," Beckett said, gesturing to herself and her husband.
"Okay, well, someone was found in the break room for the employees at the Dixon house, beaten up and Mitch was there, standing with a gun in his hand," Gentry said. "But it had been late at night and he had gone to the room to see about some weird noises but found the guy there instead. He always said that he wasn't anywhere near him, as he'd been busy outside before coming in for something to drink."
"Why did he have a gun?" Beckett asked.
"The younger son had him clean it," Gentry said, her tone of voice once again angry. "And he never owned up to the fact that he'd bought it illegally, he let my brother take the blame."
"The charges were dropped," Brad said. "Looking into it a judge overturned it but the man who was beaten up was trying to get the DA to argue against it."
"Who was the man?" Beckett asked.
"Dallas Osborne," Brad said, not seeing Gentry in the back nodding in agreement with him.
Castle wanted to comment on the name and question his friend to see if the man had been completely cleared from their investigation of the staff at the Dixon home. But the chief's voice had a tone of finality to it and at the same time he was pulling up to the bank. "So, what do you want us to do here?" he asked as Gentry and Beckett left first.
"Just stay outside," Brad replied.
"Still don't understand why you wanted us to come," Castle said.
"I'll explain later," the chief said simply before he followed Gentry into the bank with Castle and Beckett behind them.
"You can come with us," Gentry said when they'd stepped into the lobby. "That's why they're here right? You want them to see what my brother left them."
"That's up to you," the chief replied.
"No, if it helps find whoever killed Mitch then I'm all for it," Gentry replied firmly.
Walking over to a teller, Brad had to speak to her to make sure that the three of them could follow the woman to the back. Once they were there he, Beckett and Castle waited at a table near the entrance to the room as the other two left to get the box. "I'm not sure if I should be that hopeful that he left something in there," he muttered.
"I wouldn't really think that way," Castle said. When his friend looked over at him he said, "The letter, I don't think he'd send it if it didn't have something that was going to let us know who wanted to kill him."
"He's right," Beckett agreed. "But I'm wondering if he might have sent a letter, because he knew they could get into his inbox and manipulate an e-mail."
"You're thinking of the alleged e-mails David sent," Brad said. When Castle nodded at the same time as his wife he wasn't surprised that the two were thinking along the same lines and he nodded once before saying, "I'll agree, but how much do you think he was in on the plan?"
"Probably enough to lead him to getting killed," Beckett replied. "Did you look at his clothing for blood splatter?"
"I'd that thought before," David said, nodding. "They'll be checking for Snyder's blood. Anything?" he asked as Gentry was walking back to them, empty handed.
"I'd rather go, please," the woman said in a slightly begging tone of voice. "For safety's sake, I don't know if what I have is enough to put me in danger but-"
"We'll go right now," Brad said, taking her arm and escorting her outside.
The drive back to the station was quiet, as everyone but Castle were looking around them, trying to make sure no one was following them. They made it back and once inside the bull pen the chief took them all into the interview room, closing the door behind them.
"He left these," Gentry said. "I don't know if it's anything to help you, but if he left them…"
Looking at the sheets of paper, Beckett said, "Letters."
"Letters," Castle echoed. "Did your brother write them usually?"
"Not really, he preferred technology to that," Gentry said.
"These look like IOUs," Brad commented. He whistled a little and said, "For a lot which explains something. Your brother was in pretty bad financial straits."
"He was?" Gentry asked in surprise.
"I'm afraid so," Brad sighed, realizing the man hadn't told his sister. "About two months ago he started to get some money but only enough to just barely cover his debts."
"From who?" Gentry asked.
"I'm wondering if he had a friend that he knew well enough that would give him over five thousand, ten thousand as whoever wrote these copies did," Brad said.
"That much? No, all his friends were like him, just… surviving and not rich," Gentry replied.
"Did he know the two Dixon brothers well before he was fired?" Castle asked.
"No, he was outside, they were inside," Gentry replied, shaking her head.
"What about the Pattons?" Beckett then said.
"Oh… you know, them… maybe," Gentry said before she paused. "Wait, I mean him, there's only one son, sorry. He was trying to get work when he started running into Adrian Patton; he thought the man was trying to get him to work for his family though he didn't want to move to Oyster Bay."
"How badly was he asking your brother to work for them?" Beckett asked.
"I… he never said," Gentry replied. "Do you think he could have given him money to bring him and killed him when he said no?"
"We might take that into account," Brad said, holding up his hand to Castle to stop him from replying to that.
"Do I need to go?" Gentry asked, seeing that move.
"Actually I'm wondering if I might ask you something. And I don't want to be insensitive," Beckett said.
"If it helps you find Mitch's killer," Gentry murmured.
"Did he have a will?" Beckett asked as carefully as she could.
"I… I don't know," Gentry stammered slightly, obviously fighting back tears. "Unless he got it in the last few days… I don't think so."
"Is there a way you can find out?" Brad asked.
"Of course," Gentry said, standing up, her chin wobbling for a moment.
Following Brad out into the lobby with the woman Castle listened as the chief spoke to Gentry, watching the woman. He couldn't help feeling sorry for her but his attention was distracted when he noticed someone holding open the door for Brad and Gentry. "David?" he asked, startled to see him there.
"I need to talk to you," the man said. "Can they talk to me alone?" David asked the chief.
"Of course, I'll join you in a bit," Brad replied before stepping out with Gentry.
Leading David back to the interview room, Castle waited until he had the door closed behind them before he said, "What is it?"
"Is Rebecca okay?" Beckett asked before the man could answer.
"She's fine, so is Dani," David replied with a nod. "I came because she and I were talking about something and I realized that I needed to speak to you… and Brad in person, I don't need someone overhearing this."
"He should be here in a second," Castle said, looking out to the bull pen but not seeing the chief. "Well, since we're waiting… what're your plans next Tuesday?"
"Castle," Beckett said in slight annoyance.
"It's okay, it's not something I can forget," David said with a slight smile as Castle winced a little at his wife's tone. "Rebecca and I are going to vote at nine, the local news will be there, to film it. And then we're going straight home since they want Dani to be there too."
"That'll probably be a good idea," Castle said with a nod. "Wife can be a great comfort."
Rolling her eyes as she knew he meant that as a compliment to her, Beckett said, "How will you find out the results, watch TV?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you, sorry," David said in sudden realization. "No Rebecca, the girls and I are going to the Elks Lodge; where my grandfather waited to hear his results. That was her idea and I'm kind of upset at myself for not thinking of that in the first place. But you two are invited; Julia and Eliza as well since I know Mari would be pretty mad if I forgot to say that."
Sharing a smile with her husband, Beckett said, "Is it going to be a party?"
"Sort of, before eight it'll probably be a lot of nervous milling around," David said. He then hesitated and told them, "Actually that'll be me but there'll be other kids there so it'll be a more family oriented wait. And you two that day?"
"You know that's the day we're going to their school," Castle reminded him. "And after we get Eliza from her class we'll vote first thing."
"And then later that night we'll join you and Rebecca at the lodge," Beckett added.
"Thanks," David said as he nodded to them. It was then the door opened and he looked up, seeing that it was the chief he almost started to stand up but stopped himself in time and instead waited for the man to sit across from him.
"I'm glad you came, I tried to get in touch with you yesterday. Forgot about what I needed to talk to you about today," Brad asked. "Unless you already did," he said, looking at Beckett sitting in the chair next to him.
"No, I wanted to wait until you got here. Well, for me to talk with you," David said. "Why exactly did you center on me as the possible killer first off?" When Castle and Beckett opened their mouths to protest that, he shook his head at them saying, "I know you didn't, but the police had to." He then looked at the chief and said, "And it's not because the body was at my home. Was it because of those e-mails?"
"We had no idea about them until well after we cleared you," Brad replied. "Let's not make me guess what you're trying to say, the case needs to be solved. Do you have something for us?"
"I think so but I can't be sure," David replied. "About eight years ago, Rebecca and I decided to check and make sure we were both… able to have kids before we began trying. The first doctor that we went to said that she might have some troubles with conceiving and that we needed to perform in vitro if we wanted to have kids."
Beckett; who knew her friend would have told her about that if it was an issue with them; was about to speak before she managed to hold back, waiting to see what else David would say as he continued.
"So I went to the Hamptons Family and Children Center," the man said, looking slightly uncomfortable. "And… had everything set there for us but Rebecca was a little irritated at the doctor's diagnosis so she insisted we go to another. And he and a third we went to see to make absolutely sure said the same thing, that we were both fine and shouldn't have problems conceiving."
"And you were able to have Mari with no problems," Beckett said.
"What happened to what you left at the center?" Castle then asked as David was nodding to his wife's statement.
"We forgot about it, the place never called us and it wasn't until I saw in the Report that the woman had been raped that Rebecca and I realized someone might have gotten my DNA?" David asked. "Because you called me again later yesterday confirming I had been cleared a second time."
Sensing instead of seeing Castle and Beckett's stares, Brad said, "Yeah, we got the second, more comprehensive DNA test this morning; so I didn't have a chance to tell you two as the boys called. The semen sample was yours David but degraded and I was told it might have been because it was frozen, unfrozen and then refrozen except they can't really prove that. It's possible."
"Does that help at all?" David asked hopefully.
"It might," Brad said. "Is there anything else?"
"No, I'll go," David said.
"You two can walk him out," Brad told Castle and Beckett.
"I'm a little disgusted," David was saying as he walked into the lobby with the two. "That she was raped and then… he left my semen. Ask Rebecca, I was pretty much sick."
"We believe you," Beckett replied. "How are your parents doing?"
"They rested a little, but they love Dani," David said, a smile on his face. "And they're saying too that she looks a lot like Mari did when she was born." He then seemed to remember something with that and said, "Rebecca also told me to invite you two for dinner… at some point, we're not sure yet."
"She wants to make dinner after-" Beckett started to say incredulously.
"No, my mom and hers want to," David interrupted her with a smile. "But we're thinking maybe tomorrow night? Would that be okay?"
"It depends on the case," Castle said as he and his wife shared a glance.
"Oh man, I hope you get it solved by then," David said. "More for the two victims than for me you know."
"We know," Beckett reassured him. "But we'll accept the invitation, as long as next Monday you have dinner with us. Are your parents and in-laws going to be there still?"
"Unless you have plans that night for the election?" Castle asked, picking up on his wife's idea and speaking before their friend could answer.
"They'll be here until after the election. And no, I have no plans; I wanted to spend the night with my family. But that's twelve of us, well, eleven since Dani won't be eating," David said. "Could you-"
"We'll both be making it," Beckett replied.
"Alright, but I bet you anything my mom or Rebecca's are going to insist they help, or that I do," David replied. "We'll see you later?"
"Or tomorrow," Beckett said. She and her husband said goodbye to him, watching David drive away in the direction of their neighborhood before she turned to him. "A lot of people being set up in this."
"Which most likely means-" Castle began to say.
"There's a lot of anger towards David and Terrance," he and Beckett said at the same time.
"A ton of anger," Castle added. "I'm feeling it's got to be the Pattons."
"Well, for now we should see if Brad's got anything about the center," Beckett told him.
"Right, maybe we can take off our coats, haven't gotten this off since we left for the bank…" Castle said as he followed her back inside.
"Hey, good thing you two came in," Brad said as the two were starting to take their coats off in the doorway of his office. "Better leave those on."
"We're going to the center?" Beckett asked in surprise as she saw the chief was putting on his uniform jacket.
"When I called the center, I was actually put through to another company," Brad explained. "The Southampton Family Center."
"And what does that have to do with the Hamptons Center?" Castle inquired.
"They moved everything from that facility to the new one in Southampton," Brad said as they went outside and to his squad car. "They said they just discovered; during our conversation; that some samples… whatever you want to call them, were stolen. I called CSU and they're on their way; we're meeting them there. And Enos is following us." They got into the car and he headed towards the next town over with the officer in his squad car after them.
When they stepped out in the parking lot of the building, Castle was surprised to see not Officer Enos but instead Wade step out and when Brad yelled to him he guessed his friend was too.
"Where's Enos?" the chief asked as the man walked up to them.
"He had a call into his desk, he thought it might deal with the case so I offered to come," Wade replied.
"Alright, let's go, CSU's here already," Brad said as they walked up to the door. "Hello, I'm Chief-" he started to say, walking up to the desk in the lobby.
"Mr. Foret will be with you in a moment," the secretary said before picking up the phone in front of her.
"How long has this place been open?" Beckett asked when she'd hung up.
"About six months ma'am," the secretary said.
"Chief Davis," a man said, coming out of the door to the right of the desk and slightly behind it. "I'm glad you've arrived. I've got a list of the samples we had stolen; we were finally able to get everyone down and Mr. Foster's is one of the ones absconded."
"Do you have any kind of security cameras where they're kept?" Castle asked.
"These are my consultants," Brad said quickly when the man looked at him a little questioningly. "Mr. Castle and Ms. Beckett, they have the permission of the mayor if you're concerned."
"No, I was just… curious. And yes we do, I have someone from security looking through the footage now though it might take some time since we don't know when the samples were stolen exactly since everything's just now coming together after we opened," Foret said.
"Wade can you talk to the staff and see if they've noticed anyone strange around here," Brad said.
"They're in the break room, I thought you'd like to speak with them," Foret added quickly. "This way," he said as they came to a room in a hall that was the only one with its door open. "Anything yet?" he asked the woman sitting behind a desk, looking at a computer screen.
"No sir, I'm only about three weeks into the footage," the security guard replied.
"Well, if you'd like to sit and wait, please do so," Foret said, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Can you two-" Brad started to ask.
"Go, we'll wait," Beckett said quickly before she went with her husband to the chairs Foret set out for them behind the desk. They then began to watch the security footage along with the guard but they went through another four months without seeing anything, nearly an hour later.
"Hey, we finished speaking with the staff…" Brad said, coming in with Wade.
Having been looking at the two, Castle turned at the same time as his wife to look to the TV screen, seeing the figure that was there. "What time is that?" he asked as the four of them moved to stand behind the guard.
"Three in the morning the twenty-sixth of August," the woman replied as a man in a hoodie was grabbing something from a drawer before going down to another.
"Oh god," Wade suddenly said as the man's face was visible. He saw his boss, Castle and Beckett turn to look at him at that and he swallowed a little roughly before telling them, "I know who that is. It's Everett Rafferty, he's my friend."
