Howdy friends. Pardon my absence. Had a dentist issue come up and it was rather unpleasant. For those of you in the US, have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week. Be safe and enjoy time with friends and family alike. To everyone spending so much time reading my stories, you are appreciated more than words can say. My sincerest thanks go out to you!

Her cellphone went off at 4am sharp.

Beckett got up in an instant, knowing right away that this type of phone call never meant good news. Picking up her cell on the second ring, she drew in a deep breath, mentally preparing for what was awaiting her on the other end.

"Beckett?", she answered, hating how frail her voice sounded this early in the morning.

"Captain Beckett, this is Officer Jackson over at the 9th. We wanted you to know that our officers picked up on some activity at your murder scene from yesterday. There are signs of a struggle. And there's blood, quite a bit of it."

Sucking in a deep breath and feeling it getting stuck in her throat; Beckett nodded subconsciously, then glanced over at Castle who watched her every move.

"Thanks…Officer Jackson. We'll be…we'll be right over."

She'd barely hung up her cell when the writer's frantic eyes searched hers for an answer.

"Another murder already?"

"I don't know…", she muttered hastily before reaching across the bed for her clothes, "But I definitely don't have a good feeling about this one."