I was finally back in the city. I walked into the precinct totally exhausted and not just because of the sun. I already missed my days in the Hamptons.

Really, I missed Rick and Alexis and I hated being at the loft alone. It was empty and I was sad that they were still on vacation without me. I was going to join them during the weekends and Rick was going to spend a few days with me in the city every week for a month and then he insisted on coming back. It would probably be longer than that since he procrastinated his work too much and he had a deadline for the last three chapters of his next book.

Gates spotted me. "Welcome back, how was the Hamptons?" She was with someone who looked very prestigious.

"It was great, a much needed vacation. Thank you for the time off by the way."

She smiled. The man at her side spoke up. "The Hamptons?"

"I was with my family for 2 weeks. My daughter just got out of school for the summer. They're still up there."

Gates flinched slightly at the words family and daughter. "This is Simon Masters the department's new liaison between the mayor's office."

"How does a cop afford a place in the Hamptons?" He asked.

Gates was pleased to explain it for me since she could see me taking offense to his question. "This is Detective Kate Castle and formerly Agent Beckett of the FBI. Her husband is the author of the Nikki Heat novels."

"He should never have killed Derek Storm."

I nodded and smiled. "It was a pleasure talking to you." I walked away and went to my desk. "Tell the mayor to call Rick about poker this weekend." I called back behind me. I could sense the heat searing to the man's face. He was hoping this wouldn't come back to haunt him.

Before I had time to settle in I saw the boys get a call.

Esposito and Ryan grabbed their coats and whistled. "Yo Beckett. Body Drop."

When I got to the crime scene and ducked under the tape the boys were just pulling up.

Esposito started to introduce us to the person who had found the body. "Hi, I'm Detective Esposito, Detective Ryan and Detective…"

"Castle." I interrupted him; I had to use the name on my badge from now on. I reached out and shook her hand. The boys just starred at me. They knew I was married and the boys suspected that I was pregnant, but neither ever thought that I'd change my name. It clearly never even crossed their minds.

I started the questions to break the awkward silence. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"I was walking by on my way to work. I work at the book store." She pointed down the block. "I saw him and I thought it was just my imagination and I was going to keep going, but then I saw someone jump over the fence and I looked again and he was covered in blood."

She looked like she was going to crack.

Ryan had recovered before Esposito and he had started to take notes. "Did you see his face, what he was wearing?"

She shook her head. "He was in a dark hoody and red sneakers." That was it.

Esposito pulled out his card. "If you remember anything else give us a call and let us know."

I walked into the alley. The guy was on his back. There were at least a dozen knife wounds across his face and chest and he was lying in a pool of blood. I thought I'd be sick but I wasn't. Breakfast made me sick, but not murder?

Esposito knelt down trying to figure out what happened. I was in my element. I pointed out to the street. "It looks like he was headed to work maybe someone cornered him and mugged him, but why stab him this many times?"

Laney walked up with her case. "How are you guys this morning?" She made goo goo eyes at Espo.

"Hi Laney." I said getting distracted by the two of them.

Ryan was unaffected. "Why would he go down this way? If he worked around here he would have known about the gate."

Laney searched the body for the wallet. It was there. "Looks like this wasn't a mugging. Your perp didn't even try to make it look like one."

I took the wallet. "Benjamin Lake." I said, finding his ID wedged between two credit cards.

Ryan smiled, "That name sounds like it would be in one of Castle's books." Then his smile got awkward. "I mean Rick. What do you want us to call the two of you now?"

Laney looked up at us. "Girl, what are they talking about?"

Espo smiled and grinned at Laney evilly. "You mean you didn't tell her?"

Ryan had that same boyish smile. I had no idea how he ever went undercover. "Beckett's no longer Beckett. We got ourselves a Detective Castle."

I rolled my eyes. "Guys can we get back to work?"

Laney spoke up. "No." She looked hurt.

The guys took a step back.

"Kate, I am your best friend and you don't even tell me you changed your name?"

"It's not a big deal guys."

Laney shook her head. "Uh uh, girl, we have to get used to calling you Castle now, like it or not."

Espo smiled, "I got it. We can call him Rook."

Ryan smiled, "Let's call them Heat and Rook and then we'll never get confused."

They walked away before I could protest.

I turned to Laney. "Come on."

"Take it up with them Nikki."

I glared at her. "Laney!"

"That ain't working right now. I'm mad at you."