"Boy oh boy oh boy…I'd say Esposito woke up on the wrong side of the bed…", Castle muttered as they walked down the long corridor of the hospital, the abandoned floors of the Psych Ward late that afternoon doing little to take away from the creepy atmosphere.
Beckett sighed, shaking her head, contemplating on whether it would be worth having the open-hearted conversation Castle seemed to steer for. Always one to want to talk things through relentlessly, even if given every single social cue to back off, the writer seemed intent to tackle the latest brick wall he'd come across; that of Esposito's shared past with Lafayette.
Unfortunately, she wasn't quite so sure if he would be prepared for what hidden secrets and painful past might linger inside that Pandora's box, even if he managed to open it.
"Castle, you can't keep meddling in everybody's private affairs expecting they'll readily open up to you.", she cautioned and then slowed down, waiting for him to turn around and face her, "This is some very private business for Espo. There's just no telling what he went through after leaving the service so this…this case might be tearing open some old wounds. It's just natural that he's a bit…sensitive to the topic."
"While that is true, we can't just discount the possibility that Lafayette is involved in the murder based on his reputation with the local veterans.", the writer countered argumentatively, shoving his hands in the pockets of his expensive jeans.
"Be that as it may, right now, we have nothing that ties him directly to the murder. His alibi checked out. I have the names of the patients he saw last night, as well Marianne's testimony. So, for now, he's off our list."
She hesitated for a moment, her keen mind reviewing the case once again before speaking to their next witness, trying to discern truth from fiction, reputation from make-belief.
Unfortunately, there were plenty of both.
Eventually Beckett sighed, before shrugging dismissively.
"For what it's worth, there's a reason we're here to talk to the CFO while I sent Ryan and Esposito home. I am hoping those two can settle whatever is going on over a beer. In the meantime, let's lean heavy on this guy; see if we can't pry the truth out of him."
