Title: The Collector

By: greygoose70

Summary: "Her name is Gloria Simpson" instantly seeing Kate and Lanie whip their head toward him saying his name, at the same time, "she disappeared four years ago" he added.

Chapter Three

Day 3, The Precinct

Beckett and Castle arrived at the 12th Precinct after having paid an early morning visit to the residence of George and Mary Simpson, Gloria's parents, informing them about their daughter, a visit that to no one's surprise did not go well. They of course didn't expect to learn anything new that wasn't in Detective Tomlinson's initial interview from four years ago, but the personal visit was something Castle wanted to do. "Coffee Beckett?" He asked as they stepped off the elevator. "Yeah," she replied.

While Castle headed off to the breakroom to make coffee Beckett made her way to her desk greeting Ryan and Esposito upon her arrival. "How'd it go?" Ryan asked.

"Bout like you'd expect, mother broke down, father consoling her but with tears of his own. After they settled down they told us basically the same thing they told Tomlinson four years ago. So what have you two been up too?"

"Going through these interviews," Espo responded just as Castle showed up with his and Becketts coffees.

"I think I know why Tomlinson retired" Castle said setting his and Beckett's coffees down on her desk.

"Why's that" came a chorus from the three detectives.

"Judith Jones" he replied sitting down in his chair "concert violinist studying music at Mercy College, disappeared five years ago, look her up."

Ryan turned to his computer accessed the MPR database typed in Judith Jones, the file instantly appearing. He began reciting aloud "Judith Jones disappeared November first, last seen at her frat house…"

"And the investigating detective was" Castle interrupting the young detective.

"Tomlinson" answered Ryan.

"You'll notice that is still an open case file, why, because before 'cold casing' it he was handed the Simpson case. He noticed the similarities but after another year, being unable to solve either case he decided to leave the force.

"You think he was still looking into the cases" Beckett said more as a statement than a question.

"Yes I do, and I'll bet that if we search his place we'll find copies of the files."

"It says here Frederick Tomlinson died three weeks ago of Salmonella Poisoning, that…"

"What" Castle clamoured! "People don't die in this day and age of Salmonella."

"According to the autopsy it was Paratyphoid C…"

"Still wouldn't kill you that quickly, you'd get sicker than a dog over the next few days but still have time to seek medical attention."

"What about in severe cases" Beckett asked?

"Chest pains, slow heart rate, cardiac arrest, but still…"

"Okay, Ryan, Espo start double checking everything in regard to Tomlinson's death; Castle you're with me. You have an address Espo?"

"Continental Towers, East 79th and 2nd Avenue."

"Let's get to it" she ordered rising from her chair grabbing her jacket that Castle took from her and helped her put on.

The Tomlinson Residence

Mary Tomlinson was very cordial to Beckett and Castle, allowed them into her home, answered all of their questions but was very confused as how her husband could have died of Salmonella poisoning. When asked why she thought that she answered, "because he was an excellent cook."

"Mary" Castle asked, "did Fred ever bring his work home with him?"

"Oh yes, he has an office all set up" she replied.

"I don't recall seeing anything about an office in any of the reports" Castle told her.

"Because nobody but you has ever asked that question. Follow me."

Mary led them into a bedroom, opened a closet door, entered, pushed some clothes down the rack, punched in a four digit code on a keyboard located on the wall and a door popped open. She then stepped aside allowing Beckett and Castle to enter.

Beckett located the light switch flipped it on illuminating the 6 foot by 8 foot long room. At the end of the room sat a four drawer file cabinet, next to it a desk and chair. Siting on the desk is a laptop computer but it is the wall to her right that has caught both her and Castles attention. It is covered in pictures.

Along the top are facial photos, Castle starts reading from the left, "Judith Jones, October 18th, 5 years ago, Gloria Simpson, September 28th, 4 years ago, Stephanie Seamore, October 5th, 3 years ago, Katy Perrelli, 2 years ago, Laetitia Casha, 9 months ago, Rose Whitley, 4 months ago, Ashley Morgan, 5 weeks past.

"Beckett, you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Yeah Castle, the work of a serial killer."

"No, take a closer look."

"What's to see other than they are all beautiful."

"Yes that but they are all smart, top of the class in their chosen field, strong willed…and I believe most of them are still alive."

"You're kidding, right" Beckett not believing he just said that."

"Nope, this guys a collector."

"What you're saying is he's kidnapped these women is holding them captive somewhere. For what purpose?"

"Because in his mind he's in love with them."

"Castle that's the most ridiculous theory…"

"Just think about it Kate. Have any other of these girls been found besides Gloria? Any reports of seeing them returned alive. No."

"Let's say for the sake of argument you're right, how do we find him and the girls?"

"Research my dear detective, research. Let's see what's in the file cabinet."

Beckett pulled on the top draw thankful to find it unlocked and it opened. "Here's his files" she said flipping through them reading the names, "one for each of the girls plus one with the name Jonas Miller. Grab the computer Castle, we'll take it and these files back to the precinct, go through them with a fine tooth comb."

Hudson Woods, Westchester County, NY

Stephanie Seamore is trampling through the woods her hands bound together the other end being held by her captor. "You were a bad girl Steph; you broke the rules" his voice low and soft.

"I know, I'm sorry, I won't do it again" she pleaded over and over.

"Oh. I know you won't" he assured her.

"Please, she sobbed, please, I'll be good from now on. I'll do anything you want."

"Anything huh."

"Yes anything."

"Tell me you love me." Stephanie Seamore hesitated. "I said tell me you love me Stephanie" he reiterated louder anger in his voice.

Again she hesitated, that's when he jerked her to him, wrapping the rope around her neck in the process and pulled tight cutting off the two resources she needed most to sustain life…air and the blood supply to the brain.

Stephanie Seamore struggled but it was a useless effort. It took less than 10 seconds before she passed out, just under five minutes before he was sure she was dead. He dragged her over to a tree, stripped her of her clothing, set her on bent knees her back against the trunk, took her right arm back around the tree tied it to her left ankle then tying the left arm to the right ankle, leaving her as fodder for the forest creatures.

The Precinct

Beckett and Castle are busy pouring through Tomlinson's files on the missing girls when Ryan and Esposito returned with their report. So far they have spoken to the M.E. that performed the autopsy, the investigating detective and several CSU technicians without discovering anything new, but CSU has agreed to send all the evidence collected to the 12th.

"Good" Beckett said "while we wait for that to happen you two can help me and Castle go through these files. It looks like Tomlinson re-interviewed everyone a second time plus some others as well. We've been entering his notes into the database Castle setup for us. He also has an interesting theory as what has happened to them."

"And that is" Ryan quipped giving Castle a skeptic look.

"I'm guessing most of these women are alive and being held in captivity," his explanation drawing instant laughter from the two male detectives. "Why?" is their response when their laughter stopped.

"Because he's a collector. In his mind he believes he loves them and has brainwashed or drugged them into believing they love him as well."

"Is he serious Beckett" Espo asks seeing her nod her head in response.

"So why did he kill Gloria Simpson" Ryan quizzed?

"Best guess. She broke one of his rules."

"What rules?!" the three of them clamoured, Beckett now being amongst the mix.

"Wherever he has them he has rules, for instance they are not allowed to speak with each other when he's not there."

"How would he know…"

"Are you people not paying attention" Castle says disgustedly. "This guy has been doing this for five years that we know of. He's smart, cunning probably has his hiding place wired for sound and video. He knows what these women are doing every minute of every day." With that he gets up and heads to the breakroom for coffee.

TBC