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: It was great to get the feedback I did in the end for the last chapter, so I'll go ahead and get to my thank you for that! Mb (Happy to read you thought the last chapter was a fantastic update! And I had to laugh at how you said it started with a flourish of Castle and Beckett continuing their intimate night before. I'm really glad that you thought they pivoted smoothing into being loving parents and after that into investigators since I try to do that seamlessly as you said it was. You're welcome for the first half! Really nice to see you thought the second half of the chapter was wonderfully written. And I'm not surprised you mentioned the case with them putting together a timeline and getting rid of suspects and trying to see why the victim was targeted. Really glad you loved the flashback Brad had telling Lily about the club and her reaction, for their relationship it definitely had to be amusement, trust and love as you said. Not surprised you mentioned Julia talking to Beckett about crushes and having dreams about them. I wasn't surprised either that you mentioned Beckett acted like Castle when she told Julia not to act on the dreams since she's young, lol, I figured that might be a parent thing, not just dads. Also you're right, I definitely see Castle and Beckett being alike in their thinking when it comes to their kids. You're welcome for sharing the second half of the chapter!).
Thanks for the review, I enjoyed reading it and appreciate the time taken to write it out and send it my way!
A/N #2: The title of this chapter are lyrics put together from the song Party, Party written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Robbie McIntosh, Hamish Stuart, Chris Whitten and Paul "Wix" Wickens, from the remaster of Paul's album Flowers in the Dirt.
Had It Up To Here
"Come here sweetie," Beckett said, getting Josie out of her stroller.
"Mama, up," the baby was saying.
"I know," Beckett replied with a smile. "How was she?"
"Just fine," Martha said, straightening the baby's jacket. "She had her lesson and we let her play until you texted us."
"Thanks for… that," Castle started to say before he trailed off as a familiar car pulled into the parking lot.
"Oh, I forgot to let you know," Martha said, watching the car as well. "We're having someone join us."
"We don't mind," Beckett told her mother in law in amusement as Alexis was getting out of her car. She headed over to her with Castle and said, "You have the chance?"
"I do, I don't have an appointment until two forty-five, so I decided to come now," Alexis replied. She kissed her baby sister's temple and said, "We're not going to be able to come for dinner though. I'm going to have some paperwork and Louis might have some work keeping him."
"That's fine, maybe tomorrow?" Castle asked her.
"I'll see how things work out," Alexis replied before they walked over to her grandparents. "How's the case been?"
"Okay, we have possibilities but they're just doing searching at the moment," Castle replied.
"And it was close enough to lunch that Brad told us to go," Beckett added.
"What happened to Patrick?" Jim asked.
"He wanted to eat with his family back at their house," Beckett explained.
"He does know they can join us, right?" Martha asked her daughter in law.
"He does, but for right now he's going back to the house," Beckett said.
"Yeah, we did that ourselves," Castle said. "When we first started here, so I'm guessing Patrick just wants some time to get used to everything."
"We better head in," Jim said. "You don't have that much time and did Brad say when he might call you two in?"
"No, but we have at least an hour too," Beckett said before they walked into the café. She told her husband her order before she was taking Josie to a table for all of them and she thanked a worker who got a highchair for her. She covered it and got Josie inside as her husband was walking up to her.
"I was thinking of doing something," Castle told his wife.
"Oh?" Beckett replied.
"I know it's a long shot, but I'd like to mention the fraternity and sorority to Alexis," Castle said.
Beckett thought over that for a moment, knowing what he was thinking of already since she immediately recalled their daughter having done a paper on the groups in Columbia before graduating. "It wouldn't hurt, but what exactly are you thinking of asking her?"
"Whether she's heard of the groups," Castle said. "Maybe some gossip or… something."
"Desperate," Beckett commented to him.
"And you wouldn't?" Castle replied quickly.
"I would, but I'm a little distracted," Beckett replied in amusement.
Leaning over to Josie, Castle took her hands and said, "Are you hungry at all sweetheart?"
"Hug," the baby said seriously.
Smiling, Castle kissed the top of her head before he turned to his father in law as he was coming over with Martha and Alexis, asking them about their day.
"How is it looking for you to go to the dance class?" Jim said.
"I'm not sure yet Dad," Beckett told him honestly. "I was going to text you again though." She then looked at her oldest and asked, "How's your day been so far?"
"Not bad, I've been getting some things written up that I needed to," Alexis said.
"Did Louis need to go into the stables early?" Castle asked.
"No," Alexis replied, not surprised her father had gotten that. "We both left late today." She then turned her attention to her baby sister and said with a smile, "How are you doing today Josa?"
"Lessa!" Josie squealed to her big sister.
Laughing with the others Alexis said, "I guess she's happy to see me."
"I'm not surprised," Martha commented before their order was being called. "Well," she said as soon as her son and Jim had gone to get their food. "How was your morning?"
"Gram," Alexis said in mock embarrassment. She smiled and then told her, "Good, we made breakfast together. Waffles, eggs and bacon. We had the time, so we ate in our pajamas on the couch in the family room, reading the paper."
"I don't blame you," Beckett said with a smile. "I would have done the same myself with your dad. But when it was still us two."
"Take advantage while you can," Martha said.
Alexis was embarrassed that time, but she didn't say anything to that since her father and grandfather were returning. After they had started eating, she then said, "How're Jules and Lizzy?"
"Eliza was asking about you and Louis coming for dinner tonight," Beckett answered.
"Oh… hopefully she won't be disappointed," Alexis said, speaking a little hesitantly.
"We'll talk to her," Castle assured her.
Nodding, Alexis then asked her mother, "Have you heard from Skye at all?"
"About the concert?" Beckett asked.
"The dress rehearsal," Alexis said in response.
Smiling, Beckett said, "No, not since we Skyped last week." While Martha was getting her daughter's attention, she thought of that conversation she'd had alone with the investigator about what she'd be doing instead of just watching Julia rehearse her dances.
"Alright Skye," Beckett said once they were connected and could see one another. "What do you have?"
"Why do I feel like I'm talking to Detective Beckett right now?" the investigator asked her in amusement.
"Tell me," Beckett said, rolling her eyes though she was smiling at the same time as she had noticed her tone too.
"I got word they do want you to take pictures at the dress rehearsal," Skye said simply.
"Of everyone," Beckett stated.
"Of everyone," Skye replied. "Now, please don't be overwhelmed or panicking because I'll be there. Mary too."
"I'll try not to be," Beckett said.
"You won't know yet?" Skye said with a smile.
"Not yet," Beckett replied. She then smiled herself and told her friend, "But you?"
"I know, I know," Skye said. She shook her head and then said, "Though I should tell you now that I got word that Paul is going to join in."
"Finally," Beckett said as it hadn't been a sure thing. "Will he sing or announce."
"Sing," Skye replied easily.
"With anyone?" Beckett asked.
"Yes, The O'Dells, and The Weekend," Skye said.
"The Weekend?" Beckett said in shock.
"Yeah, he's a fan so he'll be performing with us," Skye answered. She was smiling again as Beckett looked like she was still thinking that over. She was about to speak again when her friend was doing so first.
"But you'll see what the playlist is exactly once we get to the dress rehearsal," Skye replied.
"Have you seen the video yet?" Beckett asked.
"Not at all," Skye said. "I most likely won't until the rehearsal. Though that I don't know for sure yet."
"You don't seem to know much," Beckett couldn't help pointing out to her friend.
"I know, it sounds horrible but it's what it is," Skye replied. "Since of course Queen themselves are taking care of everything."
"How much are you singing?" Beckett asked after a moment as she studied her friend.
"Too much," Skye groaned as she was putting her fingers to her forehead.
"There's a reason you know," Beckett told her.
Pretending to grumble, Skye looked up and said, "I suppose I can't quite help enjoying it so much. But I'll keep hoping I'll do it justice."
"You will, don't worry," Beckett assured her. She saw her friend was looking to the left and stated, "You need to go."
"Lunch is served," Skye replied with a smile. "Best go before Mary starts calling. I'll see you Kate."
"Bye," Beckett replied before her friend was closing the connection. After her computer was off, she stood and then went straight to her cameras she kept in hers and Castle's office. She was checking on her lens for the one she wanted to take to the city when she looked at her husband when he was walking inside. "You were right; believe it or not," she said, saying the last teasingly.
"Hey," Castle said in mock annoyance. "But what was I right about?"
Rolling her eyes with a smile, Beckett explained what Skye had talked to her about and said, "So again, you were right."
"How're you feeling?" Castle asked.
Beckett was a little surprised at his obvious concern but then said, "Good for now, but I just found out that Paul will be there."
"Nothing wrong with that," Castle commented, though he had an idea there was more to it than that.
"And The Weekend at the very least," Beckett said.
"Oh… well, I can see your pictures of him already and they look good," Castle commented after he'd thought of the singer's vocals for a moment. He shook himself then and asked his wife, "You're good?"
"I'm fine," Beckett said firmly. "I'll wait and see how things go once we get to the dress rehearsal."
"Are you going to tell Julia?" Castle asked as his wife proceeded to put away her camera.
"Yes, though I don't know if The Weekend will faze her that much," Beckett replied. Since she was finished, she turned her attention to her husband and said, "Let's go."
"Just a second," Castle told her as she had walked up to him. He reached up to her and gently cupped her face with his hands before he brushed his lips to hers. "You had something on your lips," he told her after pulling back.
"Aren't you a little too far in our marriage for you to have to do that?" Beckett teased him.
Pretending to think that over, Castle then said, "No."
Beckett couldn't help laughing softly at that before she and her husband were exchanging another kiss, doing so quickly since they could hear their daughters running down the hall to them.
"Thanks for staying behind," Beckett told her oldest.
"I don't mind," Alexis replied. "But why did I?"
"You'll see now when your dad gets back," Beckett replied before her daughter was asking about the concert to her surprise.
"Are you ready for next month?" Alexis said.
Shaking her head in amusement Beckett said, "Your dad keeps asking me that every so often. But I'm as ready as I can be at the moment, so don't worry about me."
"I won't," Alexis replied. "To be honest I'm trying to find out if you've heard anything else. I didn't have the chance to ask you yesterday."
"That was a great dinner yesterday," Beckett said with a smile.
Alexis was smiling herself before saying, "Thanks, Louis and I were hoping going simple with a lasagna would work out. Though I should tell you he was worried about cooking with Dad's recipe."
"He didn't need to," Beckett said, looking at her husband to see he was still waiting for their coffee. "It was really well done."
"We'll think the same tonight," Alexis said in amusement.
"You're having it for dinner?" Beckett asked.
"Have to," Alexis said simply before she looked at her father as he was coming to them with a cup holder.
"Did you get dessert?" Beckett asked her husband, unable to keep the amusement from her voice.
"I did, I couldn't help it," Castle replied. "Cinnamon roll," he told them. "I'll cut it in half."
"Are we going to talk right now?" Alexis asked as she and her mother were watching her father cutting the roll.
"We wanted to talk to you about the case," Beckett said, since Castle seemed to be very involved in his cutting the dessert evenly into thirds.
"Really?" Alexis asked in confusion.
"Yeah, it's because of something we found out," Castle said before he and his wife were relating about the case up until when they'd left to go to lunch.
"You want to know something weird?" Alexis asked after she'd been quiet for a while taking everything in.
"What?" Castle asked interestedly.
"I've heard of the fraternity, about the time that you're talking about," Alexis answered.
"How?" Castle and Beckett said at the same time in their shock.
"From friends from Columbia," Alexis said. "Well, just two. They transferred to Briarcliffe, and they dated guys from that fraternity."
"Is it-" Castle started to ask his wife.
"What year were they there?" Beckett asked.
"They went in 2015," Alexis answered.
"They're the year before our group," Beckett said as her husband was looking at her. She then said, "What did you hear about it?"
"That year the boyfriends said there were two cases of alcohol poisoning," Alexis replied. She looked at her parents and asked, "You didn't find out about that?"
"I don't think it was really on record," Castle said.
"At all on record," Beckett corrected him.
"Oh, well they said the two boys were fine, but their parents had to come in to keep the cops from investigating," Alexis said. "Like their parents were there with them at the hospital and keeping the cops out."
Nodding, Beckett said to her husband, "We can try and look into that. Is there anything else?"
"Not that I know of," Alexis replied. "Hopefully that might help so you can finish the case soon." She smiled when her parents looked at her in surprise and explained, "For Jules and Lizzy. They'll want you to head to the B&B."
"Julia already talked to us about that," Beckett said with a smile.
"And Eliza but we've assured them we're going," Castle said. "Don't tell me we need to do the same for you?"
"No," Alexis said. "But they'll ask me at some point if I was making sure too."
Beckett couldn't help laughing with her husband and nodded saying, "I'm sure they will." She watched as hers and Castle's oldest was looking at the time on her phone and was about to ask if she needed to go when Alexis was answering that first.
"I need to head back," the young woman said. "I want to be prepared and I was going to look at my other patients I'll be seeing this week."
"What were the names of your friends?" Castle asked.
"Brandy Clarke and Christine Noble," Alexis replied. "But I don't know the names of the guys."
"That's alright," Beckett said, having put those names on her phone. "If we can get in touch with your friends that'll be enough."
"Do you still talk to them?" Castle asked.
Shaking her head Alexis said, "Not since I graduated from Columbia. Are you guys going to leave?"
"No," Beckett answered before her husband could say anything. "We haven't heard from Brad yet," she told him as he was looking at her.
"We'll see you…" Castle started to say, looking at his oldest.
"I'll see," Alexis said. "If you want us over, I'll let you know when we might be able to do that."
"Don't work too hard," Castle said, standing up as his daughter was.
"I won't," Alexis said in amusement. She embraced him back before she did the same with her mother and said, "I'd tell you not to do the same, but I know Brad won't let that happen."
"Of course not," Beckett said in amusement. She watched with her husband as Alexis was leaving with her coffee and once they saw her car going down the street she said to her husband, "What are we going to do love?"
"Walk?" Castle asked.
Beckett was about to say yes when she heard her phone letting out its text alert and she looked at the screen before she said, "It's from Patrick."
"Is he asking if Brad called us?" Castle asked. He wasn't surprised when his wife nodded and watched her texting him before saying, "Would you want to ask him to join us?"
"No," Beckett said. She wasn't surprised when her husband looked at her, slightly startled, and she told him, "I know, but he'll want to spend time with Trevor and their kids."
"I had a feeling," Castle said. "But I wanted to let you know I was okay with it."
Putting her phone away in her pocket, Beckett glanced at him and said in amusement, "No you're not."
"Well, I'm okay with the idea but I'd prefer it if it was just us," Castle replied.
"And it will be," Beckett said. "Come on."
Castle finished his coffee and took her cup with his before they were leaving, heading to the park a block down and across the street. At first, they were walking close together but he eventually reached for his wife's hand saying, "An féidir linn rud ar bith a dhéanamh?"
Smiling, since with her husband's question of 'can we do anything' Beckett knew he was asking really if they could kiss, and she told him, "Ba ghá dúinn dul i bhfolach."
As his wife had said, 'we'd need to hide' Castle said, "A gnáth laithreán atá againn?"
"Yes," Beckett said in amusement as he'd asked 'our usual spot.' She let him lead her into the park and to the garden that had been created by one of the town's elementary schools. It was walled off and she and her husband had gone into that garden a few times when they'd wanted to do more than walk. They kept things calmer in there since it wasn't impossible for people to walk by, and they didn't really want to be seen by strangers. Past the walls she looked around, not surprised there weren't really many blooms, and the dwarf maple trees were giving off brilliant colors. "It's beautiful," she told him.
"It is," Castle said though he was staring at his wife.
Turning to him, as she had a feeling he hadn't been talking about the garden, Beckett wasn't startled to find his gaze on her. She smiled and then took his hand, gently pulling him to the bench tucked into the far corner of the garden. Sitting first she waited for him to join her before she leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips. She wasn't surprised when he was quick to respond but was after he slowly pulled away from her. She was going to ask him what was wrong when he gently ran his thumb across her lower lip before he murmured to her while pressing his forehead against hers.
"If we're doing this for a while…" Castle began.
"Go on," Beckett replied.
Pulling back Castle said, "No pervert."
"No, I'm aware of what might happen," Beckett said simply. She wasn't surprised when Castle closed the gap in between them, kissing her deeply and she was quick to respond to him before they were stopping and pulling away. "Wait," she told him quickly.
"Too much?" Castle asked her.
"No but it would be if we kept going," Beckett said with a smile. She watched her husband while he sat back and said, "Sorry about that but you do know I'm right."
"I wasn't arguing," Castle pointed out to her.
"I realize that, but you're struggling," Beckett teased him.
"Only slightly," Castle said, smiling as she laughed briefly.
"We better stop though Rick," Beckett said when she'd stopped.
"We just started," Castle pretended to whine.
Shaking her head Beckett told him, "You're not alone in that. Let's head back to the station."
"Do we need to walk that fast?" Castle asked her.
"Not really," Beckett told him, standing up from the bench first. She watched him join her and wasn't surprised when they easily fell into each other, kissing deeply again. She held onto her husband as tightly as she could while he had his hands pressing on her back firmly.
When he slowly pulled away from her Castle said, "That's it?"
"It is, we have tonight you know," Beckett said. She studied him and then said, "Are you going to be okay until Thursday?"
Brushing his lips gently to hers Castle said, "Yes," when he'd pulled away from her. They were staring into each other's eyes, and he had to shake himself before he said, "Come on," taking her hand before they were leaving the garden. They walked slowly through the park, and he said, "Are you alright?"
"I should be asking that of you," Beckett replied, studying him.
"Could I ask you something about the case?" Castle asked her after they'd been gazing at one another for a little.
"Yes," Beckett said, knowing they needed that distraction.
"Would this near alcohol poisoning… or poisonings, affect the fraternity at all?" Castle asked, slipping his hand into his wife's again and entwining their fingers. They started walking and he said, "It was all off record, and it happened maybe before the group we're looking at now came in."
"I know, but it's something to look at," Beckett replied.
"We'll have to talk to Mathews again," Castle said. When his wife looked uncertain, he said, "I forgot, I'm hearing Dalton looking into the sorority again." He then shook his head and said, "This is getting more and more confusing."
"I agree, which is why we should head back," Beckett told him.
"What about Patrick?" Castle said, making a face when his wife let go of his hand.
"Sorry, but he'll want to come back," Beckett replied.
"Plus, he has our car," Castle commented, smiling when his wife rolled her eyes. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing the back of it before he said, "Call him."
"Thank you," Beckett replied with a smile before they kissed again. Once they parted she got her phone, calling her friend as they were walking a little quicker down the sidewalk they'd reached for the station.
"Okay, I have two names," Brad said to his consultants as he walked into the office. "Lazaro Stewart and Tamara Franklin," he told them, not surprised all three reacted to that at the same time.
"Tamara?" they were asking.
"Alexis said her friends had told her it was two men," Beckett said first.
"Unless Tamara is a male name," Castle commented.
"It's not. When Ms. Franklin was at Briarcliff it was as Thomas," Brad explained.
"She's transgender," Darnley stated instead of asking.
"She is," Brad said. "How far I don't know but according to her records; she's a woman."
"Is she around here?" Castle asked.
"Yes, she's in Tuckahoe," Brad answered absently while he went to the phone on his desk. "I'll call her now."
Looking at his wife, Castle wasn't surprised when she was looking at Brad and he turned his head in the same direction before the phone was dialing.
"Hello?" a woman said on the other end of the phone.
"Yes, I'm Chief Davis from the Hamptons Police," Brad began. "I'm looking for Tamara Franklin."
"I'm afraid she's not here," the woman said.
"And who are you?" Brad asked, looking at the others.
"I'm her ex-girlfriend, Heather Andersen," the woman replied.
"Do you know where Ms. Franklin is now and how I can get in touch with her?" Brad asked.
"Sure," Andersen replied before she told Brad a number. "She's in New Mexico, she moved there yesterday."
"Yesterday," Brad stated.
Beckett reached out to her husband as he had suddenly stepped forward, holding his arm so he wouldn't speak.
"Yes, why? Is she in trouble?" Andersen asked.
"We're not sure," Brad said, glancing at his friend. "So was she with you at all on Sunday night?"
"No, she was out with friends," Andersen said. "But where they went, I have no idea."
"Have you had any luck?" Castle asked his wife, turning to her when she walked into the breakroom.
Shaking her head Beckett said, "Brad was saying again he was extremely lucky he has a picture of Tamara."
"Yeah, though you think Andersen would have had one?" Castle said as he turned his attention back to the coffee machine.
"Most likely," Beckett said. She glanced at her husband as he snorted loudly and said, "You don't think so?"
"Not really," Castle said. "A breakup?"
"She said she broke up with Franklin," Beckett reminded her husband as she sat at the table. "But I'm not here for a break."
"No?" Castle asked her in surprise.
"No, Brad asked me to call Mathews," Beckett said.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about her," Castle said. "Right now?"
"Right now," Beckett told him in amusement as she set her phone on the table.
"Go ahead," Castle said in a rush.
Beckett fought her smile before she turned her attention to her phone and dialed Mathews' number. She had to assure the woman; once she had told her she and her husband were calling on behalf of the Hamptons PD; that she wasn't in trouble, and she was looking for information.
"Oh, we all heard about that," Mathews said once Beckett had asked about the incident with the alcohol poisonings. "It was around campus as a rumor of course, and one of the two guys who'd gone through it bragged about it once in a while since he'd gotten away with underage drinking scot-free."
"What about any details from that party?" Beckett asked.
"Um… to be honest by the time our group got to the fraternity and sorority the people at the party had left," Mathews said. "But the party was for the two as they were going to become pledges, though they didn't join afterwards."
"There wasn't anyone in the fraternity from the time of the party when you guys joined?" Castle asked, the thought hitting him suddenly.
"That party was just for the senior fraternity members," Mathews said. "And the senior sorority members of mine. The marrying thing has happened, but there weren't that many as our year."
"Okay, I think that's all we have right now," Beckett said. "But if you can remember anything about those seniors from the fraternity let us know." Hanging up she was about to speak when her husband was talking quickly as he was hurrying to get a mug of coffee away from the machine.
"You didn't ask her if Dalton knew Ms. Franklin," Castle told his wife.
"No, because I think it's better to ask his brothers," Beckett replied. "And then Mathews if needed."
"And tell Brad," Castle said.
"I don't think it really needed to be said," Beckett said before she was turning to the doorway to the room.
"We didn't see Franklin all night," the chief said as soon as he saw the two were looking at him.
"Or get a hold of him," Darnley said, watching Brad as the man's frustration was readily apparent in his tone. He shook himself as he realized what he'd said and corrected himself saying her.
"Her?" Beckett asked.
"What is it?" Castle asked his wife, knowing something had come to her.
"I'm just wondering, you never told us about Franklin's record," Beckett told the chief.
"There was an arrest a year ago," Brad replied. "For solicitation of… prostitution. You don't think she was doing that now do you?"
"Were you able to discern how far in the transition Franklin was?" Darnley asked Brad.
"I finally was able to, I called someone else who knows her after you left Beckett," Brad told her. "A friend, they said she was fully through, and she is a woman like the record says."
"What exactly do you think there is to this?" Castle asked. "And if you're thinking they knew each other you'll have to talk to the Daltons now."
"I'll make the call," Brad said, getting his phone from his pocket. He dialed the Dalton's number, speaking with Mr. Dalton and asking the man if anyone in the family was aware of a Tamara Franklin.
"Oh, we do know her," Mr. Dalton replied. "Adam had brought her to dinner at the end of last month. He said she was a girl he knew from Briarcliffe," he added.
"Were they dating?" Brad asked.
"I don't think so, it's why I told you no when you asked before," Mr. Dalton replied. "But she seemed to be really good friends with him."
"Did you know if they were going to spend time at all together?" Brad asked, getting the question from Beckett as she had written it down on a piece of paper.
"I think they were talking about making a tour of the haunted…" Mr. Dalton started to say before he trailed off.
"The haunted attractions around town?" Brad finished for him.
"Yes," Mr. Dalton said.
"I'm sorry," Brad told the man.
"No, it… if it helps you I know you need to ask," Mr. Dalton said wearily.
"Who was at the dinner that night?" Brad asked, that question coming from Darnley.
"Just my wife and I," Mr. Dalton said.
Looking at his consultants, Brad raised his eyebrow before the three were shaking their heads. "That's all I need to know Mr. Dalton, thank you for your cooperation," he said. When he had hung up, he looked at Beckett and said, "Well?"
"I'm unfortunately thinking of the castration," Beckett said.
"But Hwa-" Brad said before he cut himself off.
"Red herring," Castle couldn't help saying. "Though she means partially," he added quickly.
"He did need to know how to mummify the body," Darnley said.
"Are you thinking of Franklin being a victim too?" Brad asked Beckett.
"A possibility," she replied. "But you need to contact as many people as possible," Beckett told the chief before they turned at Hutchinson running up to the doorway and speaking at the same time.
"I found the second phone sir," the officer said, handing the chief a piece of paper.
Reading the information on it, Brad nodded and said, "Alright, I'll make a call and see if the company can track it."
"Should we tell him to try Franklin's phone again?" Darnley asked.
"I can," Beckett said as she grabbed her phone. She had the woman's number already and put it on speaker as it was dialing. When it went straight to voice mail, she said, "Either she's screening, dead or lost it."
"Brad's going to track it right?" Darnley said.
"He will," Castle answered before his wife could say anything. He handed her a mug of coffee and said, "Want any?"
"I'm good," Darnley replied, shaking his head.
"Did you ever try pledging in college?" Castle couldn't help asking as they sat down at the table.
"I didn't have much interest in that," Darnley replied. "And it was hard enough being in the closet without adding a fraternity where I'd be expected to… do stuff with women at the parties they held."
"I wasn't even in the Girl Scouts, you know why I didn't want to try for a sorority," Beckett told her husband when he looked at her.
"No, I was going to say what do we do with all the loose ends there are," Castle said to her hurriedly.
Beckett didn't reply to that verbally, sipping at her coffee, she then grabbed the pad of paper she'd used already and pulled it to her. She wrote down, mummification, fraternity, homophobia and transgender before she said, "If we can link these then we might have a chance to figure out what's going on."
"Well, the last two go hand in hand and the second one definitely goes with the last two. Are you sure about the mummification?" Darnley asked.
"I know, but these aren't motives," Beckett said. "Just aspects of the case."
Nodding, Darnley said, "We should look at the first one… first."
"What about it?" Castle asked.
"The killer murders Dalton with a shot," Darnley said. "Shoots him and then goes through the process of mummifying the body. I know you said it was likely to hide his body but of course someone would have gone to the room in any event so it would have been found. The story of Elmer McCurdy you mentioned before."
"Do you know it? The whole thing?" Castle asked.
"I do now, I looked into the episode of Ghost Adventures you mentioned and saw the story on Mysteries at the Museum too," Darnley said. "The killer wanted him to be humiliated."
"Which goes with the castration," Castle commented.
"Yes, but that's not the entire story," Beckett said as her husband and friend had turned to her. "And it's not for sure," she added before they turned to find Brad walking back to them.
"We found the phones," the chief said. "Come on."
"We'll have to fan out here. According to the phone company we have a search area of about twenty acres, so we'll need to search thoroughly," Brad said, speaking to his consultants and officers he'd had join them. "Use the poles to get into the leaves since there are a lot on the forest floor. As soon as you find a phone raise the alarm but bag it quickly. Does everyone have an evidence bag and gloves?" When the officers and Beckett nodded, he then said, "Does everyone remember what the phones look like?" At the nods of everyone again he told them, "Okay, let's start before we lose daylight." He sent the officers off first and said, "You two stay together. Darnley?"
"I'll follow," the carpenter replied with a nod. He walked after him and down the path before he said, "You think they're still here? On?"
"I know," Brad replied. "It seems too good to be true but I'm looking at that fact two ways. Either the killer has no idea what might be on this second phone or the vic ran and was able to ditch it. I'm not sure about Franklin's yet, how it'll figure in."
"Hopefully the latter one," Darnley commented. He saw the chief nodding and said, "Have you done that before?" pushing through the leaves with the pole he'd been given.
"Done what?" Brad asked, stopping and looking at a bush.
"Sent them on their own?" Darnley said.
"Oh yeah, but usually I took them with me," Brad replied, speaking a little distractedly as he was pushing at the bush to make sure nothing fell from it but leaves.
"So I'm a third wheel?" Darnley asked.
Smiling, Brad shook his head before they continued together until he said, "I know Beckett's reliable, but of course they're both civvies so I have to watch out for them."
"Good thing she didn't mind you doing that," Darnley said. He froze as he pressed against something and then pushed again before he revealed a rock. "Is the terrain that rocky here?" he asked the chief as they walked a little again.
"A little, rock?" Brad asked. When the carpenter nodded, he did himself; briefly; before he was searching the leaves and he said, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Darnley said, surprised but not looking up from the ground.
"Would there really be homophobia going on with the sorority?" Brad said.
"Back then? Likely," Darnley replied with a nod. "Those usually were so I can't blame Mathews; even if she's bisexual she's going to face a lot of stuff." When they continued a little further, he thought of something and asked, "What about Dalton?"
"He seems to be continuously dating women," Brad said. "Though I am flirting with the idea he could be bisexual… but I don't see it as being in his history."
"No," Darnley said. "Though it is a shame he was killed if he was understanding of Mathews at least."
"Let me posit something to you," Brad said, startled when the carpenter laughed before he was responding to his raised eyebrow.
"You've been around Castle for too long," Darnley said in amusement.
"I've always liked the word. But what I was going to say is what if Dalton was on a date with Franklin, found out somehow she was born a man and an argument ensued," Brad said.
"And Franklin killed him," Darnley stated. At the nod from the chief he thought that over as they searched the forest a little more and he said, "I guess it's possible, but you did finally find the friends remember?"
"Yes, but they weren't together the entire night," Brad reminded him.
"True, but they said she was happy and seemed to be excited and in good spirits," Brad reminded him.
"Which is why Kate's theory of her being a victim as well is looking more and more likely," Darnley said.
"Yeah," Brad said. "Hold on, I want to do a check," he told the carpenter as he got his radio from his belt.
"Is that a good idea?" Darnley asked. "They won't think you found it? Or someone did?"
"They know I click twice to get their attention, if I did find it, I'd just talk right away," Brad explained. He pressed twice on the button and then said, "Call in everyone, I want a status check."
Listening to the officers doing so, Darnley couldn't help smiling for a moment when Beckett and Castle were last and he said, "Well, at least that's set."
"Let's keep going," Brad said. They started to walk again once his radio was on his belt when his phone was ringing and he pulled it out of his pocket immediately, seeing it was Hutchinson's desk phone.
"I'm so glad it's still daylight," Castle was saying to his wife after they'd started in the direction Brad had pointed for them. He was expecting his wife to answer, but when she didn't, he was about to ask what was wrong when she was glancing at him and pausing at a bush before she spoke.
"I know Rick, but that's not really going to help us here," Beckett replied.
"Are you okay?" Castle asked her.
"I am, I'm just concerned for Franklin," Beckett said.
Castle nodded before he said, "We'll find their phones."
"I hope so," Beckett said absently as they were walking and running the poles they had in the leaves.
"What do you think about the phones being together?" Castle asked.
"Besides the fact it's looking more and more likely that Franklin was murdered too?" Beckett asked.
"We'll find her," Castle said, slightly taken aback by his wife's tone.
"Sorry," Beckett said, turning to him from the bushes she was shaking.
"No, I understand, but Patrick's okay," Castle told his wife.
"He is, but I can't help but sympathize with her for what she's probably gone through. Though of course I don't know what it feels like," Beckett said.
"True, but the fact you're not condemning her makes you a better person," Castle commented. He smiled when his wife did slightly at him before he turned his attention to the leaves again. Eventually he said, "What're you remembering?"
Shaking her head Beckett said, "Just being with Patrick in the city."
"But you're remembering something specific," Castle told her.
"Just a night where he brought Chinese for me," Beckett said. "But we need to focus on this Rick."
"We can, and talk at the same time," Castle replied.
Beckett sighed, though she didn't mind, and then began relating her and Darnley eating dinner together at her place while they'd been officers.
"Are you going to tell me at all?" Darnley asked.
"I don't really think I need to," Beckett replied jokingly.
"Did you try asking someone out?" Darnley said.
"I didn't," Beckett replied. "Why do you think everything is part of my non-existent love life?"
"I don't," Darnley said, trying not to laugh since his friend's tone of voice had been one of mock annoyance. "But there's something up with you."
"It was while I was on patrol today," Beckett said with a sigh.
"Oh, what happened?" Darnley asked in concern as he knew immediately it was serious.
"It was a woman that waved us down, a little girl had gotten hit by a car while she was riding her bike," Beckett explained. She wasn't surprised when her friend looked horrified and then said, "I know, she was okay, but she was crying the entire time."
"I don't blame her, but you did say she was okay," Darnley said, to see if there had been injuries and to remind her of that fact.
"Yes, her leg and wrist were broken but Royce let me know she hadn't suffered a concussion or had internal injuries, so she was fine," Beckett replied. She then said, "Her parents weren't there which… is probably a blessing in disguise because they would have been heartbroken."
"I am hearing about that," Darnley said. "And I don't know her."
Beckett nodded and then said, "But she's fine. I am glad you came over though to help me out."
"With fattening food?" Darnley asked.
Laughing softly, as he pretended to be serious and widened his eyes, Beckett said, "And your company, so thank you."
"You're welcome, to be honest I didn't want to spend the day on my own," Darnley said.
"You want to listen to music?" Beckett asked him.
"Yes," Darnley said eagerly.
Beckett laughed and asked, "Who this time?"
"I'm sorry about the girl," Castle told his wife when she'd stopped.
"It's okay, she was alright and gave Royce and I a thank you card eventually," Beckett said.
"Oh, the one with you in dark blue crayon?" Castle asked. When his wife nodded his said, "I'm really glad to know I saw that now. If that makes sense."
"It does," Beckett replied. She looked at a bush and said, "But Patrick was a big help with that."
"Of course," Castle said. "And I'm really glad he was there at that time."
"Me too," Beckett said with a smile as she was looking over at him. She then turned her attention to the leaves again and swept her pole across before she paused. She then held the end of the pole in place the best she could before she walked up to it and brushed away the leaves. "Castle," she said, seeing the cellphone underneath.
"Beckett, I found a phone," Castle told her quickly.
"I did too," Beckett said while she was putting on the gloves she had. She got the evidence bag and put Franklin's phone in it before she turned to him.
"Okay…" Castle said, looking at the cellphone in the bag she was holding. "They're together and both on, what does that mean though?"
"I don't know but I need to tell Brad," Beckett said, reaching for the radio she had. "Chief, come in Chief."
"Beckett, I'm calling everyone in," Brad said on the other end.
"We found the phones," Beckett told him.
"Great, bring them but we need to go," Brad told him. "They found Franklin."
Castle and Beckett exchanged a look before they were rushing together the way they'd come to the edge of the forest. When they'd left the trees, they could see Brad and Darnley standing at the cars in the road ahead of them, waving and making them speed up to see if they had a second victim in their case.