"Detective Beckett."

She'd barely turned toward the elevator when Captain Gates' stern voice echoed through the corridor, beckoning her into the lion's den.

Disguising a dreadful moan, she glanced over at Castle, grateful that the writer decided to hang around until she was ready to leave, sharing a brief smile.

Surprisingly, even Gates looked tired today, her usually perfect hair slightly disheveled, her back stiff as she sat down in her chair, eyeing Beckett with a mixture of impatience and disdain.

"You're here late…", Kate tried, just to see the other woman nod dismissively.

"Under the circumstances I wanted to make sure that everything involving this case is handled properly, and promptly, detective. And now, please do tell me that this interesting role play I had to witness out there had something to do with what happened to Lieutenant Harrison..."

"As a matter of fact, it does.", Beckett answered curtly, having expected the condescending question, "Detective Esposito was able to recreate the murder method. He believes that our killer is active, or ex-military, possibly Special Forces. We found a tie between Lieutenant Harrison and a local organization called "Veterans of Foreign Wars Support Network", so we're planning on digging into this connection first thing tomorrow."

"You think that our Lieutenant came into contact with a disgruntled vet, and it brought him into the crosshairs of trouble?", Gates questioned and leaned forward, elbows on her desk as she interwove her hands.

"It's very possible, Sir. Everything about the attack indicated that it was targeted, so somebody had to have known about his habits and where to find him. We have an uncorroborated statement from a local homeless man who saw an African American or Hispanic male following Harrison after he left the bar. I was going to send the boys back out on the street tomorrow, ask around if anybody else saw that man."

"Very well, good job, detective.", Gates said after a weary sigh, then pointed at her desk phone, "I hope I don't have to remind you that this is about a fellow police officer and as such, to treat the matter delicately. I just got off the phone with Captain Simmons with the 48th, reassuring him that I have my best team on this case. I want this situation resolved quickly, and neatly."

"As always. I'll keep you up to date on what we figure out tomorrow. Have a good night, Sir."

Nodding obediently even though it tore on the last of her patience, Beckett inched her way back out of the office, feeling her shoulders relax the farther she moved away from that dreadful place.

In the back corner of the bullpen, Castle was waiting for her with a smile, those warm eyes following her every move as she approached.

"So…", she began, just to watch him raise his eyebrows expectantly.

"So?...It's almost 1am. Feel like having a stiff drink before going to bed? Maybe some lighter fare to put some food in your system…"

Despite the late hour, the invite sounded divine, and she nodded in return.

"If by lighter fare you mean a big, juicy burger I am in, Castle."