Chapter 7

The heat of the car was almost unbearable. The late afternoon sun beating in had warmed it up. The A/C would need some time to take care of it. So Beckett turned it on and let it blast, while she stood outside, leaning against a nearby lamp post. And that was where Castle found her as he came out of the bar.

"I don't want to talk about it yet," he said preemptively as he walked up to the car. His sunglasses back on his face.

Beckett nodded. "I had Ryan run a background check on Dr. Buonaiuto. She's up to her eyeballs in gambling debt. She told some of her debtors that she'll be paying them soon."

"So our doctor finds out about Faina and Rhonda's plans. But instead of turning them in, she wants a cut?" Castle paced back and forth on the side walk, his hands making quick fast gestures as he talks.

"But when she goes to Faina's apartment and finds out that only one vial was stolen she gets angry." Beckett continued the story. "Faina turns to grab something and then Alessa hits her over the head."

There was a gleam in Castle's eyes as he thought of something. "She knew Kenneth was there. She drugs Kenneth, hides him somewhere. She didn't just want her share. She wanted it all. The next day, all she has to do is place Kenneth close by, sans clothes."

"She stages the body, and gets rid of the liver. But before she can find what she is looking for she hears Paul coming. She leaves in a hurry. Either down the stairs or out the fire escape."

"And she didn't report the vial missing. She told us that they go missing all the time. She lied to us." Castle's face looked hurt, like he took the lie personally.

"We need to get to Arbiomedical, and talk to Alessa again. I've texted Ryan and Esposito. They'll meet us there."

The clean, sterile white box snapped shut with a click. It was now missing most of its contents. Dr. Alessa Buonaiuto was finishing her day up. This was going to be her last at Arbiomedical, even though they didn't know it yet. And she had stayed late, so kind of her, just so she could clean up. Especially clean up the vials of the new experimental cure for lycanthropy.

She had to give it to Faina and Rhonda. It was a good idea to steal the cure and sell it on the black market. When she confronted Faina in her apartment, it was nothing to get her to give up the buyer. Finding a buyer for an experimental drug wasn't easy, or she would've done it long ago.

After that, there was no need of Faina anymore.

It was too bad Paul came along when he did. Good thing she staged the body first. The stupid cops snooping around had forced her hand. She simply couldn't sit around and wait. So she simply took the vials she needed and left. By the time the police found out what she did, she was going to be in the Philippines and far away from justice.

The vials were secure in her purse, right next to her insurance policy, a small nine millimeter. As she made her way through the halls, she sent a quick text to her buyer. 'On my way. You'd better have the money.' A smile graced her face as she descended to the parking garage for the last time.

The parking garage was only one level under the building. Mostly full of cars, each one had a blue Arbiomedical parking pass in the windshield. The attendant gave them a temporary pass, and waved them through. It was no problem finding a spot. A few, designated 'Visitor Parking', were available near the elevators. Castle and Beckett got out of the car.

"We can do a movie night! It'll be great. Let's invite Ryan and Esposito too." Castle shut his door.

"A movie night would be fun. But if we invite Ryan, we need to invite Jenny and the kids," Beckett said, as she exited the car.

"A full house! Alexis will love it. She hasn't seen the kids in a while."

The elevator next to them dinged as it hit the parking garage.

Beckett saw who it was first. She moved forward, lifting her badge. "Dr. Buonaiuto, you are under arrest for the murder of Faina Murdo."

Alessia didn't say anything. She reached into her purse, grabbed something, and let it fall to the floor. The sound of glass breaking filled the air. The gun was leveled at Beckett. She didn't hesitate to fire.

Bullets flew wide, missing them by inches. Beckett pushed Castle behind a red Honda, and dove after him. It would hide their movements enough, even though the bullets would go right through. She drew her gun, and checked the safety. Her eyes lifted to just over the car's hood. She could still see Alessia, who had moved behind the elevator.

"You don't have to do this. No one has to get hurt."

Beckett knew something was wrong when Castle started growling.

"Sounds like your wolf wants to come out to play!" Alessa taunted.

Beckett looked over at Castle. Her eyes widened in horror at what she saw. The bones of his face shifted and moved. Fur sprouted and retreated. She heard the bones in his arms and legs crack and deform. Holes appeared in his clothes as they gave way. She saw the struggle on his face as he fought tooth and nail to keep the wolf at bay.

She was watching Castle slowly loose that battle.

"Go. Run," Castle growled at her. Two shots hit the car. There was a wide open space between them and the rest of the cars. She was trapped.

"Can you shoot?"

"I can... try." The words came out slurred and halting as Castle's mouth shifted and changed. She threw her backup pistol to him.

Her eyes traced a path around the parking garage and she spotted a blue Toyota next to them, but across the aisle, away from Castle, but still with in range as long as she was quick. Making sure she had Castle's attention, she pointed at the car. She held up three fingers. Then two. Then one.

She saw Castle haul himself up, using the car as leverage. It was enough to fire a few shots of his own. His legs wouldn't hold him up for long. He was looking more wolf than man at that point. Her heart went out to him, but she wasn't about to simply let her husband kill her. She had to move fast if she wanted a chance in hell.

She stood, fired twice and made a break for it. It was just enough, as she was able to get down as Alessa's shots hit behind her feet.

She needed a way out.

"You are surrounded! Get down on the ground now!"

"NYPD. Down on the ground! Now!"

The familiar sounds of Esposito and Ryan calmed her. She still needed to get further away from Castle though.

A few bullets hit some of the cars. Beckett could tell some were from Ryan and Esposito, and some were Alessa's. All she could do was hope that Alessa was too occupied to notice her. Time seemed to slow down as she stood up. Her gun swung around to aim at Alessa.

Alessa who wasn't on the ground. Who hadn't dropped the gun yet. Who took the opportunity to fire.

Beckett had been shot before. The pain always took her breath away. This one was no different, even though the bullet only caught the outside of her bicep. Adrenaline quickly swept away the pain, as she dropped back behind the car. She swallowed and looked over to Castle. His eyes went wide as he saw the blood.

And he moved.

In an instant, gone was any trace of her husband. Instead it was a wolf leaping across the gap towards Alessa, who fired some shots at it. Beckett's head rose up to follow the movement. But all she was able to catch was the fountain of blood that gushed from Alessa's neck, and covered half the garage as the wolf ripped her throat out. It's fur now dripped with blood as the woman gurgled her last breath. The missing flesh disappearing into the wolf's mouth. Its head turned and Beckett found herself in the wolf's gaze. Exactly where she didn't want to be.

She saw no trace of Richard Castle in those inhuman eyes.

"Castle! Over here," Ryan said, moving forward. He waved his arms. "Hey! I never liked your books. Hey!" It was enough to catch the wolf's attention. Its ears pressed against its skull. It showed its teeth, red with blood, as it reared back, ready to attack the new threat. Ryan scrambled backwards.

The wolf leaped.

A single shot rang out, echoing off the walls. The bullet tore through fur, skin, muscle and sinew before tearing through the wolf's heart.

It was the wolf that was shot, but Castle's lifeless body that hit the floor. The exit wound covered a large chunk of his chest. A small hole marked where the bullet entered. Kate could hear her blood rushing through her ears. She couldn't see Castle breathing.

"No!" She cried out as she charged forward. Ryan wrapped his arms around her before she could reach the body. She hadn't seen the man move. "No! Let me go!" She punctuated each word with a hit. Ryan whispering calming words to her.

Esposito turned the body over carefully, before putting it in handcuffs. Sirens could be heard getting closer. But all Kate could do was sob into Ryan's shirt, bleeding all over his nice suit.

"You did this!" she yelled at Esposito. "You did this! You shot him!" Esposito sat on the dirty floor, staring dully at the body. He did nothing to defend himself.

AN: Am I evil or am I evil?