The afternoon drug on painfully slow, leaving both Castle and Ryan feeling thoroughly unaccomplished- and worst of all, defeated.
No leads from CSU, no news on the forensic IT front and no further contact made to Montgomery's laptop meant that they were in for a long, long night.
Although he'd struggled with the decision for several hours; Castle eventually picked up his cell and called home, somewhat relieved when Martha picked up.
"Honey this is just…this is awful. I don't know what to say.", she'd huffed and he could hear her move the phone to the other ear.
"Yeah I know. Until we can find out more, I am…well…I think it's best if I stick around."
"Well, I hope you know what you're doing. I'll let Alexis know. Do keep us up to date please."
"You bet, Mother."
And just like that, he'd hung up the phone again, holding it to his lips for a moment of contemplation, then let out a sigh that caught Ryan's attention.
"Anything come to mind?"
"Maybe…", Castle answered cryptically, then walked back over to the murder board, letting his eyes drift over the different names listed there, along with the timeline of their victim's killing.
"Beckett didn't say where she was headed.", he began, just to have the young detective nod fervently.
"Yeah, like I said, she got that look and –"
"Got that look and took off with Esposito. But why not say where she was going? Why take Esposito along?"
"The two were working together before we came along. She might have felt more comfortable having him around while you were unavailable.", Ryan tried, just to have Castle shake his head.
"What if she did it for a different reason altogether?"
"Wh…what do you mean?", growing intrigued, Ryan joined him by the board.
"Security? What if she brought him along because she was worried that…you know…things might go south. And what if whatever triggered a memory was about somebody we already talked to, some issue she figured was worthwhile to revisit, a few extra questions she wanted to ask, angles to cover. She didn't think enough off it to let you know where they were headed but brought Esposito along for good measure just in case her…hunch would prove true."
With his eyes growing wide, Ryan stepped next to him, one hand nervously fidgeting with his light blue tie.
"So, if we go back and revisit each person we questioned in regards to the murder, we might figure out who kidnapped them- and why."
"Or get them killed because our kidnapper feels threatened.", came the stern words from behind and Castle turned around, just to find himself face to face with Montgomery again, the Captain seeming to have aged several years in the last few hours.
"But it's our only shot.", Castle argued passionately, disappointed that Montgomery would try to stop them so close to a breakthrough.
"It's the only shot you think you have. I am entertaining some other…avenues at the moment.", the Captain countered, then pointed his chin at the murder board, "I am in the middle of making some phone calls that might help point us in the right direction. Don't do anything until you hear back from me. Please."