A/N: Thanks for the nice reviews!
"So we know the vic was single. Ex-wife confirms he lost his job a couple months back. Company had to make some cuts," Esposito rattled off.
"Have you checked financials?" She asked.
"Still waiting on some calls, but Ryan's checking the surveillance from the park."
"Good. Keep me updated."
He nodded, returning to his desk.
She picked up a marker and wrote unemployed/fired underneath the vic's photo, capping the marker forcefully when she was finished. Castle hadn't said anything.
She finally turned to face him, her hands stretching down her side in agitation. His expression was blank and his posture defeated.
"So, what do you think?" she prompted, waving a hand at the board.
"There's not much to think about is there," he deadpanned.
"What? No mobsters or spies?" she asked.
"I'm sure you can think of something," he retorted.
"I'm sorry. I just thought—" she trailed off, sighing. She bit her lip to stop the tears that threatened to choke her. Why was this so hard? Being them used to be as easy as breathing air.
As if sensing her disappointment, he shifted uncomfortably and looked ashamed.
"No, Kate, wait. I'm just trying to get used to this again. And it's not going to be easy. Despite the space you gave me, I'm having trouble letting it all go." He rubbed a hand across his face, weariness etched in his every movement.
She moved next to him, leaning against the desk and slipped her hand into his.
"It's ok," she murmured, squeezing his fingers lightly.
"I missed you," he whispered brokenly.
She snapped her eyes to his, surprised at his sudden admission. Hope sparked in her chest.
"Worst three months of my life." She gazed at him imploringly, pressing her words into his skin as she intertwined her fingers with his more tightly.
He choked out a rough laugh, tears crowding the corners of his eyes. Relief sagged in his shoulders.
She smiled wryly.
"Castle, I—"
"I got a visual on surveillance," said Ryan eagerly as he slapped a picture of a blurry figure onto the board. The excitement of his discovery dimmed when he noticed their expressions and intertwined fingers.
"Maybe I should come back," he said, a knowing look on his face.
She shook her head, exasperated, and nodded at the picture. "What do you got?" she asked seriously, her hand still grasped in Castle's.
"The time stamp on this photo indicates 10: 47 PM," he started and she immediately added, "Which falls right into our TOD window."
Ryan nodded, moving to change the information on the board.
"Where was the shot taken? And is that our vic in the photo?" Castle asked, his hand warm against hers.
"Ah, very pertinent questions, Castle," Ryan said, smiling slightly at his contribution. "I pulled the shot from a surveillance cam at the Frick Collection."
"No way! The mansion-turned-art-museum?" Castle interrupted excitedly.
"The very one," Ryan said good-naturedly. "Had to get a warrant, but since it was right across from our crime scene, the curators didn't mind."
"While you too are playing art enthusiasts, our killer is getting further and further away."
"Who invited Miss Logic?" asked Castle, mirth sparkling in his eye as he flashed a grin at Ryan.
Ryan glanced cautiously at her, but returned Castle's grin at her gentle nod.
"Anyway, the person in the photo is our perp."
"How can you tell?" she asked, squinting at the hazy outline of a figure.
"Near the crime scene. Within TOD window. And not wearing the clothes our vic was found in," Ryan listed, ticking each point off his finger.
"Good to see I'm not the only one with logic," she said wryly, rolling her eyes at Castle.
Ryan grinned as Castle scoffed.
"Anything else, Kev?"
"I'll see if I can find a clearer shot, so that we can get an APB," he responded.
"Talk to Tori. She should be able to help you with that," she said.
"On it," he replied with a short nod.
As Ryan left them alone, Castle slipped his hand out of her grasp and walked up to the board, inspecting it.
Though she already missed the warmth of his touch, her heart sped up as he became familiar with the case. It felt like it could be like it used to. He would throw out his theory, and she would shoot it down with a smile.
"So what's the Peanut Gallery thought of?" She probed.
"Funny," he threw back, a slight smile edging at the corner of his mouth, "But I think we'll find our odd sock yet."
A trickle of warmth flowed through her. Odd sock. That was Nikki Heat's personal quip—something that had somehow become theirs.
"A night shooting in the park seems awfully cliché," he remarked, a slight pout flirting on his lips.
"You writers—always looking for originality," she smirked, "Murderers usually just look for opportunity."
"Which means our perp had to know our vic was in the park, or maybe even knew him and planned the whole meet and greet, which took a harrowing turn for the worse," he theorized, a light sparking in his eyes.
"Not bad, I'll have Espo look for the vic's datebook, but I'm thinking our killer was more methodical—he most likely trailed our vic's habits. The grouped shots show he's a skilled marksman, and the relatively close range and shots in the head indicate a more personal attachment," she assessed.
"Looks like the AG's office is missing a valuable asset," he said quietly, his gaze fixated on the board.
"I'm not missing them any," she responded, touching her hand to his cheek trying to telegraph the depth of her statement through her touch. "I regret ever leaving," she murmured softly, finding his eyes when he finally looked at her. The fathomless ocean of blue almost swallowed her whole with the sadness and yearning she saw there. She'd do anything to see his trademark twinkle.
"Kate, is this enough for you? Are you happy here?"
"Castle, I—"
"Got a pop on financials," interrupted Esposito, "Mr. Walters here," he said tapping the vic's picture, "made a $25,000 deposit a week before, and—" he looked up as if he registered the charged atmosphere. "Oh, sorry, I'll just—" he managed.
Beckett deflated. "It's fine, Javi."
"Right, so the 25 thou came from a company called Greene Solutions, but I looked into it and they don't exist."
"But he lost his job, where did the money come from?" Castle asked.
Beckett and Esposito looked at each knowingly.
"Shell company. Large Deposits," Castle snapped his fingers together excitedly, "Laundering! He was laundering money."
She smiled. "Gold star for Writer Boy."
"Writer Man. Of that I assure you," he said, waggling his eyebrows.
"And that's my cue to leave," Esposito said, shaking his head.
Beckett laughed, freeing the weight sitting on her chest. It felt like it used to for a moment. She turned to Castle, but stopped short at the look on his face.
"Castle, what's wrong?"
"I can't do this, Kate. I can't just jump back into this like nothing happened. It hurts."
Her heart dropped into her stomach, and the weight returned to the middle of her chest. She felt like she couldn't breath.
"I thought being back might make things clearer for me, but I'm not sure anymore."
She nodded silently, too afraid to speak, afraid she'd say the wrong thing and ruin any progress they had managed to make.
He gave her a beseeching smile as if to apologize.
She wanted to laugh at that. Of course he would feel like it was his fault.
"I understand, Castle. I'm sorry for springing this on you," she said, her voice barely quavering. She was trying so hard not to break down in front of him.
"It's not you, Kate. I just need some more time to process. I'll call you?" It's not you, it's me. Why did it sound like he was breaking up with her? Which didn't make sense because they weren't really back together. The weight on her chest felt heavier.
She nodded again, smiling to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. "Sure."
He squeezed her hand and shot her a grateful smile.
"I'll see you later," he said warmly.
She gave him a little wave, maintaining her smile as he walked out of the precinct and into the elevator.
When the elevator doors slid closed, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in and let the tears fall down her face. She raised her face to the ceiling to stop the flow, quickly wiping at her eyes. She had to keep it together. There was still a case to solve.
She stopped by her desk and picked up the blue coffee cup to take a sip and spluttered. It had grown cold.
"How fitting," she muttered.
"Hey Espo, call the ex-wife again. I want to see if she knew anything about our vic's laundering," she shouted across the bullpen.
Esposito nodded at her, picking up his phone immediately.
She turned to the murder board and scanned the new information, trying to forget Castle's words.
Solve the case, get justice for the victim. She repeated the mantra until her shift ended, and then she fished her cellphone out of her bag, dialing Lanie's number.
"I need a drink. Do you want to go out tonight?"
A/N: Thoughts?
