Moment in Time Part 3

Chapter 108

Much Ado About Murder

Part 2

"I hope I wasn't too over the top back there," Ryan admits. "I really am a fan of Erin Cherloff. And if I can get her to sign my playbill, I can sell it on eBay."

Esposito chortles. "Well, you have a better chance making money off that than buying lottery tickets."

"Yeah, I guess," Ryan concedes, "and just speaking with Erin, I got some ideas for Sarah Grace's preschool play."

Esposito's lips buzz in a Bronx cheer. "Preschools have plays? My preschool was going to work with my mom every day."

"If it were safe to bring Sarah Grace to work with me, I'd love to do it – especially now," Ryan returns. "Nicholas needs so much of Jenny's time that Sarah's getting the short end of the stick. I just want to give her as much of my attention as I can."

"Spending time with your daughter is something you'll never forget," Rick declares. "And kids don't forget spending time with their parents, either. At least I never forgot my backstage adventures accompanying my mother." He gazes around. "I grew up in hallways just like this and in her dressing room. I think the costumes and the makeup helped hone my skills for winning cosplay. And, of course, I never fail to produce an extravaganza at Halloween."

"Man, all most of the guests care about at your Halloween parties is how much booze is in the punch," Esposito claims.

"Yeah, well, I learned something about that backstage too," Rick retorts. "There was this one stage manager… oh, this is it, Naomi's dressing room. Consider that perhaps our method actress went a little too method. In the play, Hamlet drives Ophelia mad. If this is life imitating art and she's gone full Ophelia, we should be ready for anything."

"I hope she didn't take the 'Get thee to a nunnery" line too seriously," Ryan adds. "Nuns can be terrifying." He hesitantly knocks on the door then eases it open. "Ms. Fox?"

At a candle-lit dressing table, a mirror reflects Naomi's blank look.

"Ms. Fox," Esposito echoes, "we're with the NYPD. We need to ask you a few questions. Ms. Fox," he repeats more insistently to the still unresponsive actress.

"Um. May I?" Rick offers. "Ophelia?"

Naomi turns toward the men. "Aye, Milord?"

"These fair gentlemen are constables and wish to speak to you regarding the murder most foul and unnatural of Zane Cannon," Rick continues.

"Zane Cannon. What an odd name! Who might he be, Milord?" Naomi questions.

"You knew him as Hamlet," Rick replies.

Naomi presses a hand to her generous endowments. "Hamlet murdered? 'Tis too much to bear to think on it."

"Now, now, fair Ophelia," Ryan interjects. "We have queries, and thou shall answer, or we shall force perforce be moved to make a star chamber …."

Esposito flicks a switch, flooding the room with bright light. "Stop! We are so not doing this. Look, Naomi, we know you were having a showmance with Zane. He dumped you, and you busted up his car."

Naomi stares in confusion. "Milord, he speaks with a curious tongue. Car?"

"It's what he's going to put you in the back of when he busts you for murder," Rick explains.

"So stop the Daniel Day-Lewis routine," Esposito commands, "or…." He holds up his handcuffs.

"Look, I was upset with Zane for breaking up with me," Naomi concedes, her voice dropping half an octave. "But I didn't touch his car, and I sure as hell didn't kill him. And I can prove it. Last night I was out bar-hopping with some of the cast. You can ask them. And I was in no condition to kill anyone. I could barely lift the flowers to put in my hair this morning."

"Bar hopping?" Ryan presses. "Then you're not full method."

"Unless she was drinking mead and eating with her fingers," Castle quips.

"Look, I really cared for Zane," Naomi insists. "But he was acting like he was cheating on me, showing up at my place at all hours with lame excuses. So I confronted him. But he blew up at me and told me never to ask where he goes again."

"Any idea who this other woman might be?" Ryan prompts.

A blossom falls as Naomi shakes her head. "No. But whoever she is, she brought out his dark side."

Beckett regards the TV screen in the bullpen as a reporter delivers a report. "We have breaking news on the shocking death of Hollywood mega-star Zane Cannon, whose body was found here," she gestures at the building behind her, "at the Citizen Theater this morning. This cellphone video was taken onstage at the crime scene." Images of Castle, Ryan, and Esposito, as well as Zane's body, fill the screen.

Kate turns to face her detectives as they and Rick come from the elevator. "So why is there video of Zane's body on the news?"

"A stalkerazzi snuck into the crime scene wearing an NYPD windbreaker," Esposito explains. "Sorry, Captain. I grabbed his phone, but he'd already uploaded that sh*t."

"A source at the scene reveals that leading the investigation into the murder is none other than acclaimed mystery writer, Richard Castle, with an assist from the NYPD's 12th Precinct," the reporter continues.

Rick throws up his hands. "I didn't say anything, I swear. The interloper shooting the video must have recognized me, and he wasn't too happy at having his phone confiscated."

"I imagine he wasn't," Kate allows. "But 1PP has been on my ass about controlling the media, and now my husband is the face of the investigation."

"Well, maybe it's not all bad," Rick suggests. "If the media concentrates on me, they'll be less likely to pick up on the progress of the case."

"Maybe," Kate considers, "and what is the progress of the case? Do we have a suspect?"

"Not yet," Esposito admits. "We were looking at Zane's co-star, Naomi Fox, but she alibied out."

"Still, she told us there's a mystery woman," Ryan adds.

"Then get your asses to solving the mystery," Kate orders.

"Can we talk a minute, in private?" Rick asks Kate as the detectives scurry to their desks.

"Yeah, come in my office. So what's going on?" Kate inquires as Rick shuts the door behind him.

"With all the discussion of phones, I was wondering if Vikram made any progress with the one Brown gave you."

"Not so far, but he's still working on it. He thinks he may have something soon."

"That's good, I guess. And Kate, I am truly sorry about what the reporter said. I wasn't trying to be conspicuous."

"Yeah, Babe, I get it. But you're a hard presence to ignore."

"As are you. But I'll do my best to give the boys their time in the limelight. I can step back if they find a trail to the femme fatale."

"No, don't," Kate urges. "The press will already be following you, but if the focus shifts to Ryan and Esposito, they'll have a harder time doing their jobs. And you know they can't resist putting on a show."

"Three-time champions in the NYPD talent competition," Rick recalls. "OK, I'll stay with them and distract the press when I can. But that may mean some cameras aimed at our date tonight. Have you got a plan yet?"

"Damn! I'm sorry. I got a call from the Deputy Chief and didn't have time to think about it. And I may be stuck here tonight."

Rick moves in for a hug. "Hey, it's early yet. You never know what will happen."