Title: The 355

By: greygoose70

Chapter 2

Apartment of Phillip Thompson

It was two days later that the body of Phillip Thompson was found dead in his second story flat on Coldharbour Lane in Hayes, Hillingdon Borough, London. Shot twice in the chest by a .22 caliber pistol.

The Wesley Hotel

Wesley Hotel employee Shelley Plimpton knocked on the door of room 814. This was the third consecutive day that the Do Not Disturb sign hung from the door handle. She couldn't let it go another day without cleaning it. She knocked one more time announcing herself but when no one replied she used her master key and let herself in. The smell hit her instantly. She immediately covered her nose and mouth proceeded further into the room then let out a scream when seeing the dead body sprawled out on the bed.

CERN Facility, 2 days later

Maximillian Kohler answered his phone on the second ring. It was a guard at the main gate telling him there were two inspectors from London's Metropolitan Police Service (LMPS) wanting to see him. Telling the guard to escort them to his office he hung up his phone and waited.

"Come in," Max said upon hearing the knock on his office door. "Director Kohler," the taller of the two inspectors said as they entered.

"Inspectors…"

"Keller and Gregory," the tall one spoke again indicating who was who.

"Please have a seat gentlemen. Tell me what I can do for you."

"Do you know these two men," Gregory asked laying down the CERN photo IDs in front of the Director.

"Not personally," he replied; "but I have seen them around the campus; have they done something wrong?"

"They're dead, murdered; what can you tell us about them," Keller asked?

"Probably not much, just what's in their file," the director replied as he typed on his keyboard. "Thompson was part of our security force been with us eighteen months before that was in the Army. Background check came back clean."

"What about Brown." Gregory enquired.

The director again typed on his keyboard, "hired on just over three months ago. Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of London, got into a little trouble when he was a kid but nothing since."

"Have there been any incidences here recently," Keller requested.

"We had a minor plutonium accident in one of our labs but it was handled quickly and no one was affected by it."

"That must have been scary," Gregory said.

"We work with these elements all the time inspectors, have multiple safety precautions in place and our lab techs are always dressed in Level 5 protective suits."

"Well, I guess that's all we have Director," Keller iterated, "thank you for your time."

"My pleasure Inspectors. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of these two employees."

LMPS Headquarters

"Inspector Keller," Sergeant Marcy Smith said when she arrived at his desk.

"What is it Marcy," Keller replied.

"It's Paul Brown, sir."

"What about him."

"I don't think he is who he says he is."

"Why do you think that?"

"Our medical examiner found this on his left shoulder," handing over a picture.

"A spider in a web," Keller proclaimed. "He's a thief."

"I also contacted the University of London got them to send me Brown's photo," handing Keller another picture.

Keller pulled out Brown's ID from CERN, "definitely not a match, did you run fingerprints?"

"Yes sir, not in our system."

"Get them over to Interpol see if they have anything."

"Right away sir," Sergeant Marcy Smith responded turning and leaving.

Interpol Headquarters

"Director Prentiss," she said pressing the speaker button on her desk phone.

"It's Cassie in forensics Director. I have a couple things you need to see."

"I'll be right down Cassie," she replied disconnecting the call as she got up to leave.

Interpol Forensics Laboratory

"What do have Cassie," the director asked immediately upon entering.

"Two things. One: we received a .22 caliber bullet from the Hayes PD. When I ran it through our database it produced a match. It came from the same weapon that killed the security guard during the Barrington Gallery robbery."

"And the second thing," Prentiss enquired.

"Metro PD sent over a set of fingerprints. Got a match there also but only off one finger; believed to belong to Nikoli Kerchenko."

"The Master Thief," Prentiss responded. "Cassie, get me everything we have on him. Get everything Metro has including the body. ASAP." She then turned and left the lab; she had some calls to make.

Back in her office Director Emily Prentiss took out her cell phone, located his number and pressed "call".

The Castle Loft

Richard Castle stopped typing at the sound of his cell phone ringing. Picking it up he checked the caller ID. Seeing who it was he pressed 'answer' then 'speaker' and spoke. "Director Prentiss, to what I do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

"Prentiss let out a chuckle saying, "actually I was looking for Agent Rodgers, is he available."

"Maybe, what do you need him for?"

"Nikoli Kerchenko."

"Master thief, member of the Volkov Mob and suspected Russian spy."

"That's him although we could never prove that last part."

"What about him?"

"Metro sent over a set of prints that matched to one we believe is from him. It was just one finger but it was a good match."

"Let me get back with you Emily, I need to make a call."

"I'll be waiting." The call was then disconnected.

As soon as Emily hung up Castle scrolled down his list of contacts, found the party he wanted and pressed 'call'.

"Director Benson," he said picking up his phone. "Rick Rodgers," Castle answered.

"Hey Rick, what do need. Wait, let me guess, you want to borrow the jet."

"That would be nice Tom, but no. I want you to send me everything the agency has on Nikoli Kerchenko."

"You have a lead on him? We've been trying to nab him for years."

"He may be laying on a slab in London…"

"Okay that makes it official," Tom interrupting Rick before he could go any farther. "The jet is yours. When can you get here? I'll have Terry put together everything we have and I'll want her to go with you."

"Whatever you say Tom. We'll see you in a few hours."

"We? Are you bringing that lovely detective with you?"

"Of course won't go anywhere without her."

Tom Benson chuckled then pressed the speed dial button on his phone for Agent Terri Jeffers.

Back at the Castle Loft Rick selected another contact and pressed 'call'.

The 12th Precinct, Homicide

"Beckett pick up line two," Captain Montgomery announced over the loud speaker. "It's your boyfriend."

Beckett's face instantly began turning red. Sure, the homicide department knew she and Castle were dating, probably the whole precinct as well; oh hell the entire NYPD probably knows. "Castle did you tell him to say that," she clamoured picking up the phones receiver from its cradle.

"Say what detective," he answered.

"That you are my boyfriend."

"Well I am aren't I?"

"Yes but…"

"Kate, just calm down; I'm pretty sure there aren't too many people in New York that don't know we are a couple. Not with the number of times we've appeared on page six."

"I know, I just…oh hell who care if everybody knows."

"That's my girl. Now you up for a plane ride?"

"I guess but I can't be gone long…"

"You'll be gone for as long as it takes. I've already cleared it with Roy and Frank."

"You called the Commissioner. Why, where we going?"

"Langley then London probably Moscow and maybe Paris."

"This is a CIA mission isn't it."

"Don't know for sure yet; just go home and get packed, I'll pick you up in an hour."

"Rick, most of my clothes are at the Loft."

"Well then come home, I'll start getting us packed."

"See you shortly." She then hung up, shut down her computer, grabbed her jacket off the back of her chair, yelled at Ryan and Espo she'd see them sometime in the future and scampered toward the elevator.

Upon completion of the call Rick sent off a text to Emily. "C U IN THE AM."

TBC