Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for sexual situations and language
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: Loved getting the feedback for the last chapter and I'll get right to my thank yous for that! MichelleBell16 (So happy to see that you're looking forward to reading more and that you mentioned always wanting to. And now you can do that again!),
Mb (Great to read first off you thought the epilogue was a fantastic start. And don't worry about being behind, that doesn't really apply since I only ever figure people will read and review when they have the chance. I know how much work and life will take over things so I'm understanding of that definitely. And I post new stories the same amount of days that I post chapters, on the fourth day after so hopefully that might help though if you were busy then that explains why you didn't catch it. But you have now so it works out! It was so nice to see you think my stories are remarkable for showing Castle and Beckett together as they should have been and always of course; it's why I'm still going since to me I believe we got fleeced with their relationship on the show in the end to show there was so much more to them than what we got. And you got what I thought they should have always been, equals in both work and their love for each other since it was supposed to be strong. But I'm definitely glad to see that you see them growing together in both their love for each other and for their family. You put it best what I wanted with them, not stagnant but changing and also taking on those changes and challenges as you put it so they can grow. They were supposed to have that and I want to make sure they do in my stories. And of course, a great compliment for me to see that you think I write them real since that's definitely a goal! I'm glad you love that I show their passion for one another that also grows stronger since I enjoy writing that immensely. And glad you think they have an eternal flame for one another along with their family, figured with everything they've gone through things would be that way. You're very welcome for sharing my stories, I do enjoy doing it. And it'll always be Caskett and their family, forever, definitely! Again you're welcome; wanted to acknowledge the second thank you; and hope you'll enjoy the story as you make your way through it!),
TORONTOSUN (I was really happy to read that you thought it was interesting that everyone was on the case in this one. And that you thought it was a nice twist since I did want this story to be different in that. I had to laugh a bit at you saying how Castle and Beckett can't stay out of cases, hard to see them stopping that, lol. But I'm glad that you still like the fact that they can't do that too!),
MsNYC (Great that you could get all caught up with things and not surprised that the case caught you off guard and hit you with a ton of bricks as you put it. And of course, I'm really glad you are since that was my intention. Nice to see you're super excited too this early in the story. I can't quite say if there are hints of a baby but interesting to see your thoughts on that. I'm so pleased that you think Eliza starting to learn to dance is cute as I'd been wondering what readers would think of her doing that too so I was glad to see that! Glad you thought it was great writing as usual. And nice that you're going to go back to those chapters you mentioned to make sure you didn't miss anything but hope you'll enjoy this chapter too!) and
vetgirlmx (I was pleased to read first off that I could surprise you with where the victim was from. But you're right, that incident was way back so not surprised you didn't think of that being a connection to Castle, Beckett and Skye. And great you liked the idea of them staying in contact with the rest of the passengers from the flight- that other survivor's club is real and I thought it was cool they did that since they shared that even of course. And glad you think it's too bad the one who organized the parties for their club was the vic. I admit I had to laugh at how you questioned if he was the first victim but you'll have to see what else, if anything there might be of course, lol. And great you're glad that Detective Burke was with them again, I debated on sticking with him but decided I enjoyed writing him so much that I had to go with him again, so I'm happy you liked him too! Interesting to see your comments on the phase you think they're in but I can see why you'd think that. And great of course to see you can't wait to see if they'll find anything and now you don't need to wait for that anymore!).
Thanks so much for the reviews, loved reading them all and of course appreciate the time taken to write them out and send them to me!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Beware My Love by Paul and Linda McCartney, from the Wings album Wings at the Speed of Sound.
That He's The One
"Scott's law firm is over there," Fernandez said to the group as they reached where she was standing.
Looking to the building across the street and slightly north of where they were standing Burke said, "Did anyone see him make his way to the alley you found?"
"No but there are security cameras on this street," Fernandez said. "The footage is being sent as we speak to the station. It's this way."
Very shortly after they'd started to walk the detective turned to her right and the others followed her before they walked down the alley.
"Right there," Fernandez said, pointing to a blemish on the wall.
"You took the bullet out?" Burke asked.
"Wait, wait," Skye said. "Did you find out where he was shot on his body exactly?"
"Around here," Burke said as he looked at the autopsy report he'd gotten just before they'd left the station.
"Warning shot?" Castle asked as he saw where it was exactly. "That would mean a silencer."
"Likely it was a silencer," Burke commented.
"There weren't any calls to 911," Mary said.
"Right," Burke said, looking at the hole. "Let me see the bullet."
Looking on as the detective took the bag with the bullet in it from a CSU member Beckett said, "No blood."
"Here," Burke said, handing over a flashlight he had in his pocket.
"I have one," Beckett replied, taking her phone out of her pocket. She turned on her flashlight app and shone it over the hole. "No, no blood so that must have been either a warning shot or the vic managed to keep him from shooting him point blank."
"That latter one works," Skye said. "He manages to grab the wrist of his killer, moving it away so he shoots the wall."
"He maybe manages to get him off balance," Beckett continued. "Which gives the vic a chance to run off the street and to a taxi but the killer still manages to hit him."
"Any blood?" Skye asked.
"There, at the right-hand corner near the start of the alley," Fernandez replied. "The vic was a fast runner considering from here to the sidewalk is a little far."
"Could have been adrenaline," Castle said. "Or-"
"Or the killer was able to recover enough to run after him and shot him before he got out of range," Beckett interrupted him.
"He may have been far enough for no one to notice but the killer didn't want him to make it out actually onto the sidewalk," Burke said. "And since the bullet was a .22 then the killer was out of luck."
"It wasn't a through and through wound," Mary commented as she'd remained where they'd been standing next to the bullet hole. "So no one would have noticed him bleeding at the beginning likely."
"From what I was told by North Mission Road," Burke said, looking at his partner though he was addressing everyone. "That he bled into the wound; little blood."
Castle glanced at his wife; as she'd told him what the doctor operating on her gunshot wound had said happened during the surgery; and wasn't surprised when she turned away from them. He was about to go over to her when she turned back around and spoke, making him pause.
"He was turned," Beckett said, reminding them of the mark the pathologist had made on the figure of the body. "So at that angle he staggered but got up again."
"He was intent on getting to us to warn us," Skye took up, looking at her friend in slight concern. "So he soldiered on. But why couldn't Pablo have told someone… the cab driver?"
"He's inside the firm," Fernandez said as they looked to her.
"What did he tell you?" Burke asked, knowing his partner would have talked to the driver immediately.
"What I told you," Fernandez reminded him. "That after he was told the address the vic didn't really talk to him. He just favored the side he was shot on."
"No groans of pain or anything?" Castle asked her. At the shake of her head he then said, "So he was just focused on the note."
"What has the firm said to you?" Burke asked as he went to the end of the alley and then looked around the street.
"That they didn't notice anything different about the vic," Fernandez replied. "And he was doing fine with the case he had at the moment."
"Did they tell you anything about the case?" Castle asked her.
"No, they said they couldn't because of client confidentiality," Fernandez said.
At the look the woman was giving him Castle explained, "There was a hope."
"I'm wondering," Skye said then, getting their attention. "About this. We seem to have forgotten the burns he suffered."
"They were minor though," Fernandez said. "And there's little evidence of a fire besides that scorch mark."
"Do you think he could have set the killer on fire?" Castle said.
"He's right," a woman said, walking up to them.
"You're Fire Investigator Adelaide Parra?" Burke asked as he held out his hand to her.
"I am, Detectives," Parra said before looking at the four standing around who obviously weren't with the police or CSU. "I was notified there might be a fire but I'm not really seeing that."
"But there was a fire of some sort," Skye said to her. When the woman looked at her she said, "I'm an NTSB Investigator; I've seen my share of fires."
"A fire on a plane and-" Parra started to say.
"I get the gist of it and that's also why you're here," Skye replied easily though she was looking at the investigator closely. "I'm making an observation it's up to you if it's something we should make note of."
Parra hesitated for a moment before she nodded and said, though she didn't stop looking at Skye, "Considering the pattern of this it looks like a heavy fabric may have been on fire and thrown against the wall. If you look at the ground you'll see some scorching too but very faint."
"The fire was put out here," Skye said.
"Most likely," Parra said. "Do you need me to take any pictures?"
"Not unless you need to yourself," Fernandez replied, wondering at the way the investigator seemed to just stare at Skye.
"I do, I'll have to write a report on this even though I don't see the need for an investigation just yet," Parra replied.
"If we find a reason for it we'll call you again," Fernandez said.
"Okay," Burke said after they'd watched the Fire Investigator finish with her photographs and walk away. "Are you all wrapped up here?"
"Yeah, I've gotten everything I could," Fernandez replied. She nodded over to the CSU workers in the alley and said, "They're done. Did you see the three names?"
"I did, I was going to take them over to the safe house and talk to Xavier," Burke answered.
"All of them?" Fernandez asked as they watched CSU pass them.
"No, just Skye, Castle and Beckett," Burke said, looking at them and seeing they were all nodding. "You're not going to join us?"
"No, I figure I'll get what I got set and see what's come in back at the station," Fernandez replied. "I'll call."
"So will I," Burke replied. His partner left them then and he turned to the four who were still watching him. "I'm guessing you guys are ready to go?"
"You're not going to head into the law firm?" Mary replied.
"Oh no," Burke said. "They've talked to the police once, twice would make them suspicious. Plus I know Fernandez; she'd ask them everything that needs to be."
"We'll follow you," Skye said before she was walking with her wife, Castle and Beckett to the car.
"I wonder if we shouldn't have gone in your car," Castle told the investigator as they were driving again.
"We were further from it," Skye said simply. "But you know I have to wonder about the other two names we got from the cases."
"I bet Fernandez is going to speak to them; she'll see them first," Mary told her.
"Would it be a good idea for her to do that without Corey?" Skye asked Beckett.
"If she's good she shouldn't have a problem," Beckett said.
"I'm not sure," Skye said, knowing she was asking about though it wasn't said outright. "But Corey knows she might be doing that going back so if he wanted to protest it he would have."
"I love how he has so much faith in the two of you," Castle commented after they were silent for a moment.
"He's worked with us," Beckett replied.
"Yet not officially," Castle said quickly in response.
"He knows me remember," Skye told him. "And Kate… I may have told him about when you were investigating my stalker back in NYC."
"Then at least it's not a false assumption," Castle told his wife, not surprised when she rolled her eyes.
"Nice choice for the safe house," Beckett commented as Skye was parking against the curb since Burke ahead of them had done so already.
"It's converted," Skye said with a smile.
"When were you ever here?" Castle asked.
"A colleague when I first started here was placed here for protection," Skye answered easily. "I came out to see them and speak with them. It works as I nearly drove right past it the first time."
"Okay, they're being separated at the moment so we'll just go straight to Xavier," Burke said once they had reached him at the path leading up to the building that looked like it housed offices.
"And you're sure you just want the two of us with you?" Skye asked him. "Or even me."
"Again Skye, I'm sure," Burke replied, pressing a code at the door. He held it open for everyone, looking around the area to make sure no one was acting suspiciously.
"Detective Burke," the officer inside said once he was walking up to the desk he was sitting behind.
"Did you get Xavier in the living room?" Burke asked the officer. At the man's nod he then said, "These two will stay here; I'm going to go ahead with Skye and Ms. Beckett to interview him."
Following the man Beckett looked behind her at Castle before she looked ahead of him and said to the detective, "Just so you know my husband-"
"I'm aware; I'm looking at an angle of two women," Burke said. "That's not me being… creepy just-"
"I've done that myself," Skye said simply. She glanced at Beckett and said, "It was always just you."
"It was but things worked out in the end," she said. They had come to a door so Beckett couldn't continue and instead looked inside the room as Burke opened it.
"Mr. Xavier?" the detective said.
"Yeah, are we being let out?" the man said, standing up.
"No, we're here to speak with you," Burke replied. "Please, have a seat," he told the man before the three of them were following his example.
"What's going on exactly?" Xavier asked. "I was told that we were in danger but I'm the only one here in this room, aren't I?"
"Are you a member of the 13R Club?" Burke asked him.
"Yeah, so are they," Xavier replied. "You guys heard about the party? You weren't supposed to," he said, directing the last to Beckett.
"We've heard," Skye answered first.
"So… wait, was someone in the club killed?" Xavier asked, sounding slightly panicked.
"I'm afraid so, Pablo S-" Burke was going to say.
"No, not Pablo," Xavier interrupted him. "No…" When Burke just nodded he sighed heavily and then buried his face in his hands. "What happened?" he finally asked when he raised his head, blinking a little furiously.
"He was murdered," Burke said. "And that's all I can tell you at this moment since it's an ongoing investigation."
"Well if you're going to ask I haven't heard from him since June; I went on vacation to Argentina over the summer with some friends," Xavier said. "And I was out of touch with a lot of people during then."
"Okay," Burke said, writing that down on his notepad. "What about today?"
"Today?" Xavier repeated.
"Where were you between eleven and two?" Burke replied.
"I was at work," Xavier replied. "Until I was pulled out by the officer out there."
"Okay," Burke said.
"You don't think I did anything, do you?" Xavier asked as he was watching Burke write down a few things again.
"You once tried to sue Pablo," Beckett said first as she knew what Burke was doing with that.
"That was a long time ago," Xavier said defensibly. "And I stopped hating him for no reason. That flight changed my life… trying to sue him seemed pointless."
Studying the man's obvious emotion Beckett looked over at Skye, seeing her studying the man as well. She had to wonder what she was getting from him and waited for her to say anything.
"You wouldn't have any reason to want to hurt him would you," the investigator told him.
"No," Xavier said vehemently. "But you know who you should talk to?" When he saw the questioning look on their faces he told them, "This guy who was at his office back in June before I left. We decided to have lunch as he wanted to talk to me about the club. I thought he was going to start another party and I thought great. But when I got to his office to meet him there was someone arguing with him; a guy."
"Could you hear what they were arguing about?" Burke asked.
"I heard something about money and transfers; I guessed it had to do with a bank," Xavier said. "After that the guy walked out and left so I went inside. I tried to ask him what was going on but he wouldn't say, just called it a financial matter that was almost fixed so he wasn't concerned about it too much."
Sharing a look with Skye then Beckett took her phone out of her pocket and opened a picture before asking, "Was it this man?"
"I… no," Xavier replied, studying the screen for a moment.
"What about him?" Beckett asked, sliding her finger over the screen.
"Yeah that's him, exactly," Xavier said, nodding his head rapidly.
"Okay," Burke said, seeing the picture. "And the argument was heated?"
"Well, not a shouting match but it was getting on its way there," Xavier replied.
"What stopped it?" Beckett asked.
Thinking about that for a moment Xavier finally said, "Something about that Pablo couldn't do it… something about it going against what things stood for…? I think, I'm honestly not sure about it."
"Alright, thank you for your cooperation," Burke told him.
"Could… can I go?" Xavier asked.
"I'm afraid I can't do that," the detective replied. "You need to stay here for the time being."
"So… I'm in danger," Xavier said.
"I'm afraid so but you're safe here," Burke said. "We're doing everything we can to make sure you can leave though," he said as he stood, Beckett and Skye doing the same.
"You're-" Xavier started to say. He was cut off when the detective shook his hand and he was silent, watching the three leave the room, sitting heavily in a chair as the door closed behind them.
"Well?" Castle asked as he and Mary stood up at the sight of them.
"He's not our guy," Beckett said, watching the detective talking to the officer. "He's checking the alibi Xavier has."
"You found that out quickly," Mary said.
"He was able to figure things out, mainly that Burke thought he was suspect," Skye commented.
"What's wrong?" Castle asked, studying her as his wife and Mary were doing.
"I wonder about the cousin," Skye replied. "We have an alibi for the two men; a meeting."
"Yeah that sounded weird," Beckett said. "Though I wonder if I should have shown him the picture."
"It doesn't matter," Burke said as he reached them. "Xavier's cleared; Officer Rowan says that he was there at the office and his secretary; plus the guard for the building; said he never left and the second exit to the building had an alarm. But there's the matter of the cousin."
"How were the vic's financials?" Castle asked him.
"Alright I didn't see anything that really stood out to me," Burke answered. "I should go back to June which I can do once we go to the station."
"You're not going to go back yet?" Mary asked him.
"You want us to talk to them all," Castle said before Burke could say anything.
"Two by two," the detective replied. "And not as suspects."
"We realized," Skye and Beckett said at the same time.
"Actually," Burke said, looking at the two closely. "I'd like the two of you to go together; think you two will be alright-"
"We'll go with our wives," Mary said, motioning between herself and Castle.
"Alright, they're in rooms one through five; Xavier was in six," Burke told them. "Talk to them in the room, I'll take the last two rooms."
With that the four split up and they went over to the stairs, heading up so they could reach the bedrooms where the others on the list were. Skye and Mary went to the first room and Castle and Beckett went to room two, the former knocking on the door before they waited for the person inside to open it or call them in.
"Wait," Beckett said suddenly. "Burke this is ridiculous," she directed to the detective. She then knocked on the door harder and said to the woman inside, "Hello we need you to come down to the living room with us."
"Why?" the woman asked, startled though she had soon recognized Castle and Beckett from the flight.
"We'll tell you down there," Castle said before he followed his wife over to the fourth room. He went past her to the fifth and knocked on the door before everyone was outside and going to the stairs.
"Alright," Burke said as he closed the living room door behind him, glancing at Beckett briefly.
"Are you going to tell us why we're here now?" a man with his wife asked.
"Yes," Burke said.
"You recognize that we all have something in common," Skye said. "Except for Detective Burke."
"And your wife," one of the women said. "We're all from Flight 139 and in the club too."
"And we all live here except for the two of you," another man said to Castle and Beckett.
Skye glanced at Burke and when he nodded to her she looked back to the others saying, "This morning Pablo Scott was killed-" interrupted when the others; except for Xavier; exclaimed in surprise. "He was carrying a note on him which had pictures of all of you."
"And that's it?" one of the women asked. "How do you know-"
"I don't think it's a good idea to risk it," a man said to her. "Look at what happened to Pablo."
"And I saw the note," Skye told them. "And I know Pablo's handwriting; it wasn't his."
"So the note said something," the same man said, frowning at her.
"It just said the Club," Burke said as his friend looked at him.
"You weren't on the list though," a woman said.
"No," Skye replied.
Before the investigator could say something else the woman told her, "Likely because you saved us."
Before Skye could protest the praise in that Beckett said, "We brought you here all together because we're trying to find other similarities you might have."
"You think the killer targeted us for that?" another man said.
"Do you all know each other?" Castle asked them.
"Sure," a woman said. She looked at Burke and said, "I'm Lucille Worth."
"I'm Ted Cornish," another man said. "This is my wife Lola; she wasn't on the flight though we were at home together."
"Obek Phillips," another man added.
"Harriet Mulligan," the second woman said.
"Simone Molineux," the third woman said.
"Okay," Burke said since that was the last of them. "You all live here in Southern California and did you at the time of the flight?" When they all nodded their heads he then said, "Have you noticed anything odd lately in your lives; not dealing with each other, Mr. Scott or the club."
Not surprised when they all shook their heads again Beckett said, "Then there's something else that connects all of you."
"Two of us are doctors," Phillips said, pointing to Mulligan.
"And three of us live in Studio City," Mulligan said pointing to herself, Cornish and Molineux.
"Are you in contact via e-mail that often?" Skye asked.
"We are, we were seated together at that first party we had with everyone on the flight so we exchanged e-mail addresses," Xavier said first. "I should have told you."
"You didn't know we were looking for a reason why you were all grouped together," Mary said.
"Skye?" Beckett asked, startled when the investigator suddenly stepped over to the door.
"I know why they were all on that list," Skye replied, motioning rapidly.
"Wait, what about us?" Cornish asked as Burke and Castle were the last to the door.
"You're all at risk from the killer; you need to stay here under our protection until we find him," Burke answered easily.
"What's-" Castle started to ask once he and the detective had reached the three women at the entrance.
"Skye, what's going on?" Burke asked before the writer could finish speaking.
"It does have to do with the flight," the investigator replied. "All of them; including me," she added, motioning to herself.
"You live here," Mary said.
"That simple?" Burke said incredulously.
"Yes, that simple," Skye said.
"I don't know," Burke replied, looking at Beckett. "There were a lot of people on that plane."
"Oh, there were," Mary said then, placing her hand on her wife's arm. "But he could have chosen any of them. Why the six of them?"
"Seven," Skye added quickly.
"Seven," Burke said.
Sensing that he was breaking down Skye then said, "And another thing-"
"The killer's an arsonist," Beckett interrupted, gaining the surprised stares of the others as soon as she'd spoken.
"I have to ask," Skye murmured as she came to stand next to Beckett. "How did you know?"
"I had the same idea as you," she replied, turning to look at her friend. "What if the killer had intended to set Pablo on fire? But since he got away before that could work…"
"There isn't all that much evidence to prove that," Castle said, walking up to them. "But I like the idea better than Pablo just suddenly trying to set his killer on fire." When the two women just looked at him he said, "It doesn't make any sense."
"No, it does," Burke said as he walked inside with Fernandez and Mary. "I finally got a hold of his juvie record."
"He had one?" Beckett asked.
"I didn't mention it as I wasn't sure what we'd have," Burke said. "But we got it and you're going to be interested in this," he said, putting the paper in his hand in Skye's.
"Arson?" Beckett said, reading that first.
"Attempted arson," Burke replied. "So it looks like he may have been legitimately trying to set the killer on fire; it was what he knew." He looked on as Skye exchanged looks with Beckett and Castle and said, "What?"
Handing the paper to Beckett, Skye stood and went to the detective telling him, "Do you have the file? Or just the summary?"
"I have the file," Parra said, walking in them. "Detectives," she said, handing the thick one in her hand to Fernandez.
"I think we can guess the details," Beckett said. "His statement he was not involved and was trying to stop the fire; whatever it was."
"She's right," Burke said with a frown. "He was with his friends at the age of ten and they were trying to set a barn on fire but were caught. Scott said that he tried to stop them but he was still convicted; he was sentenced to a year of house arrest."
"And the friends?" Castle asked.
"They're all outside the state now," Fernandez said. "But I can track them down," she told her partner before leaving to go into their office.
"Corey-" Skye started to say.
"No, I can't-" Burke began.
"I have to agree with her," Parra said to interrupt their conversation. "The scenario he gives in his statement goes along with the photographs of the scene."
Looking at them as Burke handed them to Skye he said, "So what does this mean for the case?"
"It means-" Skye and Parra said at the same time before they stopped and looked at each other.
Looking at Mary to see her reaction, Beckett wasn't surprised to see the unhappy expression on her face before she quickly said, "It means that the killer knew about this case and tried to use it as a possible reason for suicide."
"Suicide," Burke said in disbelief.
"A warped way to make it look as if he was trying to kill himself," Castle commented. "I think he was the target."
"No," Skye said firmly. She glanced to Beckett and wasn't surprised to see her look doubtful at her protest before she then said, "This was just a means to stop your investigation. He was supposed to be in that alley; near his firm; suicide perhaps or else you just weren't supposed to find the killer."
"It looks like your victim spoiled his plans," Parra commented. "You may be right about the deflected fire. That would account for the scorch marks that were there. Did CSU find any matches or lighters?"
"No," Burke said. "Nothing that would start a fire and not much that applied to the attack on Scott."
"Then it was likely a lighter," Parra said. "And it's your killer's."
"Unless it was Scott's, was he a smoker?" Burke asked Skye and Mary. When they shook their heads, he breathed out heavily and said, "Alright, then we'll add that to the board. But-"
"I just realized what it is about these people that has them on the list," Skye suddenly said. "Not the flight," she said, going to the murder board and erasing the question about what grouped the people on the list.
Watching her write Beckett said, "First class?"
"All of them were in first class on that flight," Skye said, setting down the marker on the tray. "Don't say it was coincidence," she said to Burke. "Because Cornish was almost going to go Business class, he just changed his mind at the last minute."
"So then there's something about California," Fernandez said, having come back at that moment. "Two of his friends in the file had passed, the one I tried to talk to just now is in jail in Arizona."
"He didn't want to talk to you?" Castle asked.
"He refused," Fernandez replied. "So I don't know anymore about the crime back when the vic was ten than we saw in the file."
"Alright," Skye said. "It's not California by the way," she said quickly to the detective. "It's something with first class…"
"So someone from Business?" Mary suggested.
Sighing heavily Skye nodded and said, "It could be but at this point we need to look at everyone who was on that plane; including the three of us."