The image on the camera was grainy, the lens scratched and wore out from the prolonged exposure to the elements.
Nonetheless, it was a start, and a better one than they had with the previous victim.
Leaning forward, Beckett watched the timestamp intently, knowing that based on the two-block distance from the camera to the mission, Larry would have to cross their path sometime between 8:45pm and 9:45pm.
Unfortunately, a surprising number of pedestrians for that time of the night made their work significantly harder.
Behind her, Castle was sipping on another coffee, needing the caffeine to keep him going after a long few days.
The writer's eyes were focused on the small TV screen as though he was watching the final act of a theater play, taking in every nuance, every last face that crossed their path, even the slightest change of light that came with that time a night.
The stream of pedestrians going south didn't seem to let up, but eventually she felt him shift and reach forward to point a finger at the screen.
"There's Larry!", the writer proclaimed, and rightfully so.
Halting the tape for a moment, Beckett followed his lead, finally noticing a figure in dark fatigues carrying a blue duffel bag along.
"Good eyes.", she complimented and turned around to share a brief smile, before letting the camera continue to roll.
"And just how are we going to find whoever was following him in the mess of people?", Castle breathed, eyes returning to the TV screen, looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack.
"Our guy won't be far behind. He is going to look like he's in a rush, trying to keep his eyes on our victim. I am guessing he'll be dressed casually, trying to blend in with the public."
As the seconds ticked by, they watched the footage intently, their eyes going back and forth between their sheer endless pool of suspects.
"How about this one?", Castle said and pointed at a tall male in a grey suit jacket and black slacks, staying near the side of the buildings he passed, his gazed focused on something out front.
Beckett stopped the tape again, looking at the man, when she froze in her spot.
"Maybe not him, but what about this guy right here?"
Reaching forward, she pointed her delicate finger at a man who was also wearing dark fatigues, circling a cluster of tourists, his stride fast as he headed south.
"I think you win this round…can you zoom in any closer?"
Upon Castle's question, she used the nearby keyboard to get a clearer picture but failing to do so.
"I can but I am still not getting a shot of his face. It's like he knew the camera was there. At any rate, it may not be a good picture, but it's a start.", Beckett finally said and sent off the command to print the image, including the time stamp of 9:12pm.
Next to her, Castle inhaled sharply, that brilliant mind working overtime, his eyes fixated on the screen ahead.
"So according to this, Larry was killed by another military guy? Is it just me or does that seem weird?"
"Well, it's hard to tell right now…", Beckett began and got off her chair to grab the image from the printer, "But just think…if he refused to continue being Lafayette's lab rat, there may have been other, more powerful sources involved that didn't take kindly to having their order denied."
