"Hey… can we talk?"

It had been hours already and they had nothing. No aspect of Smith's life had led them to any sort of answers – no possible suspect, no possible motives… nothing. They had talked to associates and colleagues… no one had any useful information at all. Castle had been hoping… praying that this was unrelated – that some random ghost from the past had caught up to Smith… but with each passing hour, he was beginning to realise that this was most likely about her. Smith had warned him that the people they were dealing with were powerful. Hell, Montgomery had warned them too. And as much as Castle wanted to keep hoping for a miracle, he knew that the longer he kept this information to himself, the worse the inevitable fallout was going to be.

"Yeah, of course." She replied, studying his face and trying to gauge what was coming her way. He had remained unreadable for most of the afternoon – but right now, his face was marred with a worrisome look. Together, they walked to the break room, gaining the attention of their other partners. "What's going on, Castle." She asked, shutting the door behind her. Her voice was soothing, almost as if she was 'handling' him.

"It's… it's about your mom's case." He said, ripping the metaphorical band aid.

The concern in her expression was replaced with confusion. And quickly… too quickly… confusion was replaced with anger. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and not jump to conclusions. He was the one who had talked her into putting away her mom's case. Just, for now he had said. So, what was he doing digging around behind her back… again?

"What do you mean?" her voice was shaky, and he could tell his had to select his words very carefully.

"Montgomery warned you… these people – they're powerful people. He died trying to protect you." He started.

"Yeah, I was there, Castle. I remember." She just wanted him to get to the point – what did their crime scene have to do with any of this?

"He had a file – evidence against the person behind all this – and he sent that file to a friend... someone he could trust."

She managed to connect the dots with ease – Smith was that friend. The information they had tortured him for was that evidence file. For a second, she felt hopeful. Find the file, find her person responsible for her mother's death. But then the facts that she already knew come to the forefront of her mind – the shredder… the fireplace… the evidence was more than likely gone… forever. The lead she had so desperately needed, gone. And then the thought that she had been trying to suppress could no longer be ignored…

"How do you know this?" she could barely get the words out before her voice broke.

Castle swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I got… a call… after you were shot. Smith struck a deal… If they left you alone, the files would never see the light of day. But you had to stop investigating – that was their condition."

She felt like the wind had been knocked right out of her. She couldn't believe what was happening… she couldn't deal with what was happening. So, in true Beckett style, she didn't. She took a breath, shut it down – any itch of emotion she was feeling, she pushed away.

"No…" she shook her head, sinking into the denial. Game face on, she exited the break room and headed back to the murder board. What she hadn't counted on was for Castle to not let this go… she could feel his presence gaining on her as she tried to get further away from him.

"Kate, wait –" he reached out, grabbing her elbow.

"Don't touch me." She spat like venom, spinning on her heel and pushing at his chest, hoping to create the distance she needed from him right now. She pushed harder than intended, causing Castle to rub the spot on his chest where she made such forceful contact. Guilt twinged at her heart, before being swallowed once again by her anger. Her attempt to hide her emotion failed and tears began to fill her eyes, blurring her vision. "Please don't." she reiterated, softer this time… sadder.

"I was trying to keep you safe." His voice was barely a whisper as he tried to regain some sort of privacy in the bullpen.

"You lied to me." She couldn't contain the tears, desperately trying to wipe away any evidence of their existence.

"That lie was the only thing protecting you." He tried to justify. She scoffed, simply for lack of knowing what else to do. Did he really not see that he was in the wrong here?

Once again, trying to shut it all off, she turned to the boys – who quickly tried to hide the fact that they had been listening in on the conversation.

"Espo… start looking into Smith and see how his life intersects with Montgomery – I want to know why Montgomery trusted him." Esposito was obviously confused, having missed the beginning of Castle and Beckett's conversation. But he nodded and obliged to Beckett's request. Knowing this somehow tied back to her mother's case… well, he would do whatever she needed him to.

"Ryan… get onto CSU, find out if they have anyone who can try to piece together the documents that they found…"

"Beckett… it's getting late…" he started, cautiously. He had seen Beckett head down this rabbit hole before. "I don't think the documents will be a priority to them right now."

"Then I want them, now. I need to know what those files contained."

Ryan nodded, heading to his desk to make the call.

"What do you need me to do?" Castle asked, hoping to be given an opportunity to mend what he had broken.

She didn't even look at him, "Go home Castle."

"I can help." Castle argued… begged…

"Please don't make me ask you again." She stayed focussed on her murder board – not that there was any useful information on it. Her eyes stayed fixed to the image of Benita Ruiz… an innocent… killed, because of her.

Knowing better than to argue right now, Castle left. When she heard thing ding of the elevator arriving at their floor, she looked over her shoulder and watched him get in, hanging his head low. Her eyes drifted across to Ryan, who was looking at her sympathetically. She knew she would have to explain what was going on… but for now, she just looked away – she had to come to terms with the fact that Castle had been a part of this… a part of the conspiring. It felt as though her heart had shattered into a million pieces – Castle had been working against her… she thought that, no matter what, he would always be on her side.