Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for violence, language and sexual situations
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: Not a ballet dancer, so not quite sure about much besides the basic steps, just wanted to point that out.
A/N #2: Have to say I wasn't expecting reviews for such a short Prologue, so need to say thanks, a big thanks to each one! vetgirlmx (Was so nice to see your review; to be honest, I'm always unsure about my Prologues because of the first reviews I got for my Prologue in Beware of Darkness, to see how much you liked this one just made my day. And I'm glad you thought what I had, the amount, was good enough, lol, usually writing a scene like that, that's what happens, lol, since I can pack the suspense enough in there, lol. But happy you though I had a lot of that though, lol. And loved the comment you made about the Prologue being like a classic horror movie, especially since you liked that part of it so much! And yep, it's tomorrow now, lol), sammysgirl78 (Of course I was relieved you thought the Prologue was interesting even with it being so short, lol. Not surprised you're already starting to think about who the vic is, thought some readers might! And am so pleased you want to read the next chapter!), pcol22 (Happy to see you liked the Prologue, again first off in your review. And also happy that you like the intro though it's freaky, lol, so glad you liked that part of it! Oh and thanks for the offer to help me with French, I took a year of it myself, so my knowledge is super basic, lol, so I'll be grateful for your help on that once I get to the chapter where I have some of it! And have to say yet again, so glad to see you want to read the next chapter too!) and TORONTOSUN (It was really, really great to see your comment, about the Prologue being the beginning of an episode, 'cause that's exactly what I'm aiming for when I write these chapters dealing with the crime itself, so loved reading I achieved that to you. Once more, lol, have to say that I am so glad that you want to keep reading this story!). So thank you so much to all of you for taking the time to send me a review, especially for such a short chapter as this, lol, I definitely loved reading them and appreciate them too!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Hosanna by Paul McCartney, from his album New.
Hide In The Darkness
"I don't know," Castle was saying as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "I don't think you really need to practice again."
"But we start the effacé today," Julia said nervously. "And you have to be good with all five of the steps before."
"Which you are," Castle said. But he could tell Julia was genuinely worried, so he quickly said, "But I don't think it's a bad idea to try the steps again. Go ahead."
Going to the barre, Julia went into the first position, and went to the second before performing the other three before turning to Castle. She smiled and blushed a little when he clapped at her look and she hurried to him quickly. "You think I'm good?" she asked.
"Really good," he assured her. "Do you remember how Madame Claude showed the arms should go for the effacé?"
Nodding, Julia put her left arm above her, before she switched them, doing the écarté. "That's for after we learn the effacé," she said, putting her right arm down. She leaned against his legs and said, "Why do I practice early?"
"It's not too early," Castle said as he hugged her to him. "But this is a special class since your teacher has an announcement."
"Yeah, a surprise, I remember," Julia said eagerly. She heard footsteps coming to her room and looked up, seeing it was her mother. "Mommy, wanna see my arms for the effacé?" she asked Beckett.
"Go ahead, but I'm sorry sweetie, your ballet class was pushed back to after school," she said, looking up from her phone.
"Oh, so I don't have to practice now?" Julia asked.
"Right, so we have a little more time, sorry you had to wake up earlier," Beckett directed to Castle.
"Not a problem," he said. "That means I can make you a special breakfast." He kissed Julia's temple before he stood and went to his fiancée. He whispered into her ear as he passed her, sliding his hand over her waist, and kissed her when she smiled in response to him.
"Let's hope we don't get a case for a while," Beckett commented, watching him walk to the kitchen.
"I know," Castle said over his shoulder before he went out into the main room.
"Okay, show me your arms in position," Beckett said to her daughter when she turned to her.
"Like this," Julia said, showing her mother both positions.
"Really good," Beckett said, going to her and picking her up. She kissed Julia's cheek to her giggle, and walked out to the main room saying, "Go ahead and color okay? I'll help Castle."
"Mommy?" Julia asked as her mother set her down at the coffee table.
"Yeah?" Beckett asked as her daughter grabbed her hand to stop her from walking away.
"Can… do… we do anything for Easter?" Julia asked shyly.
Glancing at Castle; since they'd never talked about doing anything with Julia for the holiday; Beckett suddenly felt a little guilty as she remembered Julia was learning about Easter in school and other spring festivals around the world and knew the little girl would be wondering if she herself had ever celebrated. She bit her lower lip for a moment, trying to think of what to do; not wanting to commit to anything though since she wanted to make plans with Castle.
"Actually, the park by my place is having a big Easter egg hunt," he suddenly said from the kitchen where he was at the stove. "Really big, and your mom and I will take you there after we have a great breakfast."
"Are you offering to cook?" Beckett asked with a smile as she was relieved; not having been sure what they could do exactly since she hadn't celebrated since she was a little girl.
"Actually I have a French place I order from for brunches in the spring since their fruits are amazing," Castle said.
"Will the Easter bunny come?" Julia asked then, having been listening to them.
"I think he will," Beckett said, reminding herself to get some eggs ready since Easter was six days away.
"Will Alexis come home to have Easter?" Julia said eagerly.
"I'm afraid not sweetheart," Castle said. "She still has school."
"Oh," Julia said, sighing as she leaned against her mother. "I miss her Mommy."
"Me too," Beckett said gently, stroking her daughter's hair which had been pulled back with a blue headband. "Oh, speaking of school, you need to get changed into your uniform since you're not having practice until later. Come on."
Castle watched the two go back to Julia's room, and hurriedly finished up the last two pancakes; specially shaped after their conversation. He set out the plates, put some bowls of fresh fruit he and Beckett had picked up on their way back to her place the night before with Julia, and turned back as the two walked out. "Breakfast is ready. And I did something a little special for you Julia," he told her as he picked her up once she'd reached him.
"What is it?" the little girl asked as he put her into her chair. "Ooh, Mommy look, eggs!"
"Very nice of you," Beckett said with a slight smile as she saw the egg shaped pancakes. "Make sure you eat those sweetie," she told her daughter before she went to the kitchen to get the coffee ready. "Yes?" she asked as her fiancé walked up to her.
"You're touched by what I did right?" Castle asked simply.
"What do you want me to do?" Beckett asked with a sigh though it wasn't really an irritated one.
"No, I'm just saying," Castle said, shrugging. When she pushed at his shoulder he laughed slightly and said, "What I asked earlier, before we got up."
"I'll think about it," Beckett said simply. "And you didn't have any plans for Sunday did you?"
"Actually no, I don't really do much for Easter now Alexis is older," Castle said, taking the cup of coffee she handed him. Before she could turn back to her brewer he took her hand and pulled her to him, kissing her slowly at first. But when she responded he deepened it slightly, remembering that Julia was there and could see them. He lingered a little longer however, as much as he dared to before he was pulling away. "But anyways, it'll be fun to get to celebrate with her."
"It will be," Beckett said. "But now I need to buy her an Easter dress."
"And one for yourself too," Castle commented. When she looked at him in slight confusion he smiled and said, "A sundress is fine."
"Right," Beckett said simply. "Okay, let's eat and go because you and I do need to head into the station. Unless you're going to write today instead?"
"Oh no, I wrote Thursday and Friday remember," Castle said as they sat at the table with Julia. "Unless… do you not want me to go to work with you?"
Beckett merely smiled before she looked down at the Ledger and began to read, feeling Castle's gaze on her. She waited for him to pick up his fork before she reached over to him, squeezing his free hand on the table before they turned their attention to Julia, asking her about school and listened to her telling them excitedly about her reading lessons, their hands still clasped tightly together.
"Good morning Kate," Celia's mother Anita said as Beckett, Castle and Julia walked up to the elementary school building at Mt. Surrey-On-Hudson. She smiled as her daughter went to Julia and grabbed her hand, the two stretching their arms in the effacé. "Has she been practicing all morning too?"
"Basically," Beckett said. "And your husband?"
"Work, but he'll be picking her up so he might get to see her practice the effacé and écarté," Anita said simply. "Any idea why they moved the practice back to after school?"
"No idea, it didn't say anything in the text I got from the school, maybe Madame Claude changed her mind," Beckett said, shrugging. "Sweetie, come on, we need to head in." When Julia had reached her and Castle they walked inside, her fiancé following behind them a little as Celia and Anita walked next to them. At the door to her daughter's room the other two walked in first, and she and Castle followed Julia inside, going to her desk as the little girl hung up her coat and unpacked her backpack at her cubbyhole.
"Are you gonna pick me up?" Julia asked, hurrying to her mother and Castle.
"I don't know, it depends on how work goes, but I will do my best to be here if I can," Beckett said. "But if not me or Castle, then Martha will definitely pick you up."
"Kay," Julia said before she turned to Castle, holding her arms up to him. When he'd picked her up, she hugged him tightly and said, "Thank you for my pancakes, they were yummy. Oh, and for letting me show you all my steps too I'm glad you liked that I danced them good."
"You're welcome," Castle said, hugging her back before setting her down again. "Have fun today, I'm looking forward to hearing all about your day tonight."
"Good, I wanna tell you," Julia said with a wide smile on her face. She then turned to her mother and hugged her once she was kneeling in front of her. She shared a kiss with her and said, "I'll miss you Mommy; and you too Castle."
"Me too," he said quickly with a slight smile as he watched the two.
"I'll miss you Julia, but you'll have fun today," Beckett said. "And listen to Mrs. Clayton and Madame Claude; and have fun. I love you sweetie."
"Love you Mommy," Julia said, hugging her mother tightly again as she hugged her back. They shared another kiss, and she then skipped over to the play area where Celia was with their friend Betty, playing with the horse figurines the classroom had.
Watching her daughter for a moment longer, Beckett turned with Castle and they walked out of the school without another word between them until they had gone outside. "I still hate doing that, but at least she's loving school now," she commented.
"I know, it's been amazing to see her from her first day to now," Castle said with a smile. "But I'm not kidding when I say I'll miss her either. So, do I meet you or-" he started to say when Beckett's phone started to ring.
"Beckett," she said, answering before the third ring could go off. She listened and then said, "Alright, I'll give Castle a call after I get a cab from Julia's school, so I'll be there as soon as possible." Hanging up the phone and putting it away she said simply, "We have a case," and they walked together to the street. Castle hailed her a cab before she watched him walk to the nearest coffee shop; having given him a quick kiss on the cheek before getting into the taxi, heading to their crime scene.
"Hey, how's Julia doing?" Castle asked as he walked up to Beckett who was just going out of the other elevator in the apartment building where their body was.
"Fine, thanks," Beckett said, taking the coffee he handed her as she nodded to LT who was standing in the doorway of an apartment. "Espo, what've we got?" she asked once they were inside.
"About an hour ago the daughter of the woman who lives here came in to make breakfast before her mom was going to head to work early. She heard music playing and went into the other bedroom where she found her mother positioned leaning against the… bar," the detective explained as he led them to a back room.
Glancing over at a woman standing with her back to them in the kitchen, Beckett felt there was something familiar about her, but didn't have a chance to see who she was as they were walking down a hall. Going inside the room to the left first, she paused when she saw the outline of the vic marked on a mirror.
"She was found like that?" Castle asked as he could tell then what Esposito had meant by the vic being found leaning against the barre.
"She was, she's in her late forties, and I don't really see any signs of death at the moment, no stab wounds, gunshot wounds; so I'll need to get her back to the lab to get a better idea of how she died," Lanie said, grabbing the sheet covering the body. "She was killed between midnight and two-" she began to say then when the vic was visible.
"Oh my god," Beckett said, her eyes widening slightly when she recognized who it was.
"Do you know her?" Ryan asked, having been looking at the mirror with CSU.
"Yeah, well, kind of, she's Julia's ballet teacher; Madame Claude," Beckett replied. She shook her head and said, "She was supposed to have an early class today because she; Madame Claude; had an announcement and… it was cancelled; now I know why."
"Any idea who would want to kill her?" Esposito asked.
"No, I said I kind of knew her, from going with my daughter to her weekend classes, and those times I've been able to pick her up," Beckett replied, glancing at the barre again. "But when I did talk to her it was just about Julia, never anything personal."
"What are you going to tell your daughter?" Lanie asked.
"Good question, I have no idea," Beckett said. "So, any signs of a break in?" she asked her partners to try and forget for the time being that she would have to tell Julia her teacher was dead.
"No, so the vic knew them or let them in," Esposito said.
"There was a slight struggle, but believe me when I use the word slight," Lanie said. "Right here around the wrist," she told Beckett and Castle, showing them the vic's wrist where there was a small bruise around it. "And I was saying, she was killed around midnight or two, based on lividity, but the body has not been there against the mirror that long."
"They stuck around to pose it," Castle said.
"And dress her," Ryan said. "According to her daughter, an-"
"Amber Holsten, she's Madame's, or was, Madame Claude's assistant. Julia loves her, I'd like to speak with her after we look through here," Beckett said a little absently.
"Okay, well anyways her daughter came in an hour ago; she didn't know her mother had that early class since she didn't mention it," Ryan continued, looking at his pad of paper. "Came in to make breakfast before they practiced here together."
"And she heard this song playing, Home if my French isn't too rusty," Castle said, having gone to the gramophone to look. "Security cameras in the halls by any chance?"
"No, we're not that lucky, excuse me," Esposito said before he left the room.
"You guys need to do a canvas of the apartments, ask if anyone remembers anyone here last night around our time of death window," Beckett said. "And check with the lobby, maybe we'll get someone leaving this morning before Ms. Holsten came in."
"Got it," Ryan said with a nod.
"Think it could be the daughter?" Castle asked.
"It could be," Beckett said simply, knowing he was aware that the vic and her daughter weren't exactly close from the few times they'd gone to see Julia practice. "I think I want to talk to Amber, but back at the Precinct; along with her sister."
"Sister?" Lanie asked.
"She used to help with classes, but she recently got hired by the NYC Ballet Troupe according to Julia," Beckett said. "I never really saw her though while she was still at the school. Anything else about the murder?"
"Nothing really, like I said, I need to take a closer look at her," Lanie said. "And as for that struggle I told you about, there's no sign of it if that's what you're asking."
"No mess, anywhere?" Beckett asked one of the CSU members. "Not even the bedroom."
"No Detective, everything's pretty clean, we're not getting much," the man answered. "Not even fingerprints."
"Okay, I think you'll likely find some on the doorknob to this room, and the door to the apartment, likely in the kitchen too," Beckett said.
"Would that clear up the daughter? The one that's here I mean?" Castle asked.
"Not exactly," Beckett replied.
"Right, she could have cleaned up and come back to make herself look innocent," Castle said as he then followed his fiancée out of the room. "But what would make a daughter kill her mother? Stole her boyfriend maybe and she's taking him back the only way she can. Plus, you know, the whole dancing thing, might as well humiliate her once she was found."
"Sadistic, but a plausible theory," Beckett said. She paused before they walked into the main room of the apartment and turned to him since they were alone.
"We can talk about that later," Castle said quickly as he knew she was going to ask what they should say to Julia.
Nodding, Beckett turned back towards the kitchen and walking to the young woman at the counter she said, "Amber? I'm sure you remember me from Mt. Surrey."
"Ms. Beckett, I… oh, Detective, I'm sorry, I forgot you were… are you investigating what, what happened to my mother?" the woman asked, sniffing slightly.
"I am, I wonder if we might head back to my Precinct and talk with you and your sister," Beckett said.
"Yeah, let me just call Amy," Amber said, taking her phone out of her pocket. The conversation with her sister was quick and she said, "I don't know who'd want to kill my mom, she was, she was strict, but only when she danced."
"I know," Beckett said with a slight nod. "I'm wondering though, why were you here this morning instead of at the special class at the school?"
"What class? We always have them after," Amber said as Beckett walked with her outside of the apartment.
"You weren't aware then that the ballet class had been scheduled for this morning?" Beckett said simply.
"No, we… it's," Amber said before she stopped. "Maman was acting odd lately, her behavior had changed, and I thought she was starting to get frustrated but I don't know what was going on exactly."
"We can talk about that at the station," Beckett said. "And give you a chance to compose yourself if you'd like," she added since the woman's eyes were red as she dabbed her cheeks dry. She led Amber into the elevator, glancing over at Castle and seeing the slight shake of his head to her. She didn't think the woman was guilty either, but she'd seen enough to know emotions could easily be faked. But she just hoped; for Julia's sake; that Amber was not the teacher's murderer.
"Amy, I'm so glad you came," Amber was saying as her sister walked into the room Castle and Beckett had shown her to at the station. She hugged her and said, "I can't believe she's gone."
"I know," Amy said, drying her cheeks with a Kleenex. "But what happened exactly?"
"You can sit down," Beckett said to the two women. Once they were all seated she said, "I need to know what you were both doing between midnight and two last night."
"You suspect us?" Amy asked defensively.
"It's standard procedure," Beckett said, glancing at Amber.
"I was at the school," the woman answered. "My mother ordered a new barre and she and the school let me test it out."
"And you?" Beckett said with a nod, making a mental note to check the security footage at the school.
"I was at the Met, there's a show in two days; I have the lead," Amy said simply. "There should be security footage of it somewhere."
"Then let me ask you, is there anyone you know that would do this to her?" Beckett asked.
"Well, like I told you before, she seemed pretty stressed out with something. She wouldn't share though," Amber said. "It worried me though, she'd been a little sick lately, so I have to wonder if the announcement you said she was going to have today was that she was ill."
Beckett was going to reply, when Amy suddenly burst out saying angrily, "If anything she was probably sick of having to deal with those little shits she taught."
Castle looked at his fiancée as he immediately took offence to that, seeing the look in her eyes becoming immediately furious before she somehow fought it back, but her back was rigid and her cheeks were slightly flushed. He had to admire her as she didn't respond, wanting to throttle the woman himself for saying that about Julia.
"Amy, her daughter is one of the dancers Maman and I taught," Amber quickly hissed to her sister.
"Oh, sorry," the woman said simply, shrugging. "Look, I'm sorry, but the classes were not exactly smooth sailing, for all of us."
"But do you honestly think her students had anything to do with your mother's death?" Castle asked.
"No, I'm just replying to what she said about Maman being ill," Amber said. "But as to anyone who could do it… didn't she say she was being harassed by a man?"
"That's right," Amber said, remembering herself them. "She was walking back to her place when she was accosted by a homeless man. But it happened twice I think, once two weeks ago and the last time a week ago."
"Did she file a restraining order or complaint?" Castle asked.
"No, she just brushed it off, saying that it was just a guy who'd been hanging around her building," Amy said. "But it didn't happen again, so we figured it was over."
"Alright, thank you both for your time," Beckett said, standing up then. "I may have more questions for you in the future about your mother."
"Just a quick question before you go," Castle said then. When the two women looked at him he asked, "What's going to happen to the dance class?"
"Amber will assist the new teacher if the school; and said teacher; approves," Amy said. "Finally you get more of a chance to teach Ballroom huh? Maman never let you set up those weekend classes like you wanted to didn't she?"
"No," Amber said slowly, looking at Beckett nervously.
"My daughter told me about that," was all she said.
"P-Please keep us informed as to what you find out," Amber stammered at first. "I'd really like to know what happened with Maman, who did this."
Nodding, Beckett followed the two women out, Castle following her, before she started to turn to go to her desk as the vic's daughters headed into the elevator. But before she could take a step in that direction she heard Captain Gates' voice calling her. She smiled slightly at Castle before turning and going into the office. "Sir?" she asked.
"I've been told that you knew the victim of your case you received this morning," Gates said, standing behind her desk.
"To a degree," Beckett replied. "She's, she was Julia's ballet teacher and I've met her, but that's pretty much it. We only talked about Julia and the class whenever I did speak with her."
"So there's no reason I should remove you from the investigation?" Gates asked.
"No sir, I would like to find out who did this," Beckett said.
"Alright, but if it becomes a problem I'll be putting Ryan and Esposito in charge," Gates said.
"Of course," Beckett said. She turned to leave when Gates asked one more question.
"And how will your daughter take the news?" the Captain said.
"I'm not sure, I'll need to think of how to tell her before I think about her reaction," Beckett said. When Gates nodded to her she went to the break room where she saw Castle was, and stepping inside the room was relieved to find him alone. "What do we do?" she asked him immediately as he handed her a cup of coffee.
"I'm not sure why everyone is asking you about Julia, she wasn't really the biggest fan of her teacher, like you said," Castle told her.
"I know," Beckett said, leaning against the counter. "But we need to talk to her later."
"You want me to lead on this one?" Castle asked. When she nodded he said, "I'll think of a way to tell her, but you need to be there too."
"As if I'd just leave everything to you," Beckett scoffed.
"Yeah, you know she was wrong," Castle said.
"Amy Holsten?" Beckett asked. When he nodded she frowned briefly before she said, "I don't think Julia saw her that much, so she doesn't know my daughter. I asked Ryan to check their alibis though, in the meantime I'd like to-"
"Yo Beckett, got the canvas done," Esposito said, walking into the room then and getting himself some coffee. "And no one saw anything suspicious, but one neighbor said there's a fire escape leading to the practice room our vic had."
"Is it easy to get inside?" Beckett asked.
"If you know how to jimmy the window open, but it would damage the paint on the sill," Esposito replied as Ryan walked in.
"And any damage?" Castle asked.
"Not a single piece of paint chipped off," Esposito said. "But that doesn't mean our killer didn't leave that way, because, the window was opened when the daughter discovered the body."
"She never opened the windows in that room I'm guessing?" Ryan asked.
"Never, so that's why she realized something was wrong when she first went inside; could see the curtains blowing," Esposito said.
"And the door to the apartment?" Beckett asked.
"No signs of forced entry," Esposito answered. "So it's likely our vic knew her killer. And I asked about who went to the apartment, but they never saw anyone or heard a knock or voices all through yesterday."
"They had a key," Beckett said simply. "The daughters?" she said, looking at Ryan.
"Their alibis check out," he answered quickly. "The younger daughter was dancing at Julia's school for a while, I think; according to what I saw of the security footage; she was getting lessons for today ready while she was testing that barre apparently. And the older daughter was at the Met, dancing in costume by herself."
"Alright, so we need to ask them who else besides them has a key," Beckett said. "Can you go through the full security footage from both places Ryan? And Espo, contact CSU and see if they've gotten any fingerprints that don't go with the ones that are likely going to be Amber Holsten's." When the two had left she looked at Castle and said, "We need to check and see if she did have any boyfriends." She held up her hand as he started to speak saying, "That doesn't mean that your theory works out though, both daughters have alibis."
"Oh I know, I was just going to tweak it, instead it's the boyfriend… wanting to be with one of the daughters but our vic was in the way. And since I'm guessing Madame Claude was a serious dancer, then he humiliated her that way instead as a final slap in the face," Castle said. "What do you think?" he asked as he sat with her at her desk but she didn't reply.
"Interesting, but I think first I just need to see if someone besides a boyfriend has a key," Beckett said simply before picking up her phone.
Castle looked on as she spoke to first Amber and then Amy Holsten, and then hung up, frowning slightly. "I'm right aren't I? You just don't want to admit it," he said quickly.
"Sort of, Amber and then Amy confirmed it, but our vic had an ex, a Lorenzo Martine, who was-" Beckett began.
"Hey Beckett, if you're talking about Martine, you might want to check this out," Esposito said. "CSU just got onto her laptop that was in her bedroom. Found these in her mailbox," he said as Beckett and Castle came over to his desk.
Leaning over, Beckett read the first e-mail under Martine's reply, seeing it was in another language. "And you can read Italian?" she asked.
"No, but it's close enough to Spanish that I've got a line here, come over tonight and we'll celebrate until dawn," Esposito said. "And this was sent-"
"Six last night," Castle finished, looking at the top of the message.
"Bring him in, because he has a key to the apartment still, he might have been an ex, but he was still in our vic's life," Beckett said. When Esposito had left she turned to Castle who spoke before she could.
"Looks like their celebration ended sooner than they'd planned," he commented. He smiled when Beckett rolled her eyes at that, and he followed her back to her desk, wondering if they would get lucky and that break would be the conclusion to the case.