Disclaimer: I do not own Castle. Any recognizable character is property of Andrew Marlone, I'm just enjoying playing with them.

He stepped out of the elevator and crossed the bullpen with two cups of coffee in his hands, walking straight to her desk. A warm smile grew in his lips when he saw her standing in front of the murder board, greeting her with a too loud "Morning Detective", his bright blue eyes filled on what she supposed to be happiness and relief, just from seeing her. He went all the way to her and lay with his weight on her table as he handed her one of the take away cups. As always.

Beckett - Last time anyone remembers seeing Cristine was two days before she was killed. Same as her room mate. Nobody talked to her since then.- She resumed after sipping from her cup.

Castle - What about him? - The writer asked pointing to the picture of the male vic.- Any news on him?

The detective shook her head, letting out a sigh. She cleared her mind, ignored the brush of his arm against hers, tied the leads they had making a picture of them in her head.

Beckett - Your friends boyfriend said he was working as a mantainer for a big company, Esposito was trying to get the prison folders in case there's something on them that may help us.

Castle - And the guy from the video? Something about him? - He asked curious.

Beckett - Nothing. I'm waiting for the doorman to show up so I can ask him a few questions.

Castle - You mean like, why didnt he tell us he left his spot that night?

Beckett - That...- She nodded with a tiny smile.- And some other things I found interesting too.

He raised his eyebrow, waiting for her to keep talking, but she didnt. Her inner self was once again focused on the murder board, searching for any tiny detail she may have override before. She listed everything they knew and drew a new timeline in her mind. Victims, suspects, all of it was just a whirl of info she needed to put in order so she could find something that might show them a way out.

But there where still too many dead ends and too many questions without an answer, and the few people they had actually managed to talk to were not helpful at all. But then, she reminded herself, people lied. They always lied. And she was damn good at uncovering the truth.

Castle stared at her, his gaze steady, admiring the soft bones of her jaw tense, the tender movement of her throat as she swallowed. Even then, so early in the morning, with not enough sleep and frowning in front of the white board completely lost to the outside world, she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

He wanted to help. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but he couldnt read her anymore. He looked away from her, back to the pictures hanging on the murder board. He knew the only way to help her in that moment was to crack the case wide open. He will do that. He will do it for her.

The writer looked from one photo to another, stopping just a few seconds on each one. They had the guy, Adam Blake. He worked for some company as a mantainer and was the one with access to the loft where they'd been found. They knew he had busy background, but never went to jail until his last theft, his cellmate nowhere to be found. His brother hadnt seen him since three years ago, ended ugly. But it was too cold to actually be a murder motive. He lived alone, small apartment, weekly rent. Beckett had uniforms canvassing as soon as she found out where it was located.

They hadnt found anything useful yet. The buildings' owner said he was quiet and didnt give any trouble in the almost eight months he had lived there. No neighbour noticed anything suspicious. They were stuck with him. For now.

He switched thoughts and focused on the girl. Cristine Jennsen. They didnt know much about her, either. She had lived in Williamsburg with another girl and worked on a pub as a waitress. The roommate was expected to arrive that afternoon from her holidays break. She said she hadnt seen Cristine since three days before her murder. The waiter they had managed to talk to the night before hadnt seen her for weeks, neither had the owner. He said he had called the fourth day and she'd just quit. Funny enough, they couldnt check the info because no phone was found on her purse.

Castle peeked over the detectives' shoulder, now checking the staff list she had gotten from the pubs owner. Some of the names had ticks beside them, he guessed those were the ones her or the boys had already questioned about the vics.

Castle - How long have you been here? - He asked and checked his watch.

It was 10:09, he had gotten to the bullpen at 9:30. They had been thirty long minutes staring at nothing. She lifted her head to look at him, confused, and ran a hand throug her hair.

Beckett - Since 6. - She said shrugging lightly, and her gaze left his to wonder around her desk in search of her coffee.

Castle - And you've been able to get all those people in? - He stared at her in disbelief, then at the paper she was holding. Half a dozen names were already crossed.

Beckett - The guys talked to them. People sometimes rise early, you know Castle?- She smiled teasingly - But we have nothing yet.

Detectives Ryan and Esposito walked their way to Becketts desk. Their notepads at hand, they seemed to re- check what they had just write on them. Esposito took a step ahead from his partner and fixed eye contact with the lead detective before he started talking.

Esposito - No one has seen her for weeks. - He spoke neutral, shaking his head.- All of the guys said she wasnt much of a sharer, and always refused to hang out with them after work or on her days off. She didnt talk too much and when she did, she said the bar was just a step by.

Ryan - But...- He interrupted his partner, emphasizing the word - A couple of them said she was friend with one of the dancers, Michaela Ramos. Should be on the list.

Castle - That makes sense. - He looked to Beckett, tilting his head.- Lilly said she wanted to be an actress when they were at the college.

Beckett - And if she thought of the bar as step before finding a job as an actress, maybe she stopped going because she got one.

Castle - Or maybe she got a job, an ilegal, well paid job, and then realized she knew too much for her employers to let her go so she run away.

Beckett - And she asked for help the only person she knew who had already handle those kind of problems.

Castle - Adam Blake.- He finished with a wide smile, his blue piercing eyes locked with hers.- But then he died just for being in the wrong place? In his BROTHERS apartment?

Beckett - Dunno, Castle, they were probably being followed. Guys, you go find that dancer while I try to contact with the doorman. He was supposed to be here hours ago.

Castle - It's just...- He scratched his chin, still replaying the conversation on his mind.

Beckett - It's a good theory Castle. It's a place to start.- She answered with a smile, trying to reassure him.

Castle - But still...

Se raised her left hand up to his mouth, almost touching him, to keep him from talking. She had the phone in her right, waiting for the guy at the other end to pick it up, and she didnt even notice how really close her fingers were to his lips. He did. And he had stopped breathing, afraid to move. And it was just her hand. He hadnt even touched it.

It was only a moment before she dropped her hand back to her side, and Castle let out a long breath just to suck air in all over again and allow the oxygen reach his brain. He felt her lean across the table to grab a pen and a piece of paper, write something, then hang up. Without a word, she dialed again and and ordered a patrol to cover the address she'd written down.

Beckett - The unis will search the doormans place and bring him here if he's there. I dont think they'll find him anyway.

Castle - If he left his spot on purpose to let our killer out he wont be too eager to come here.

Beckett - He was clean, so I'm thinking on recent money problems.

Castle - Financials?

Beckett - Uhum.- She nodded as she sat in front of her computer.- They're coming in.

Castle took his place near her desk, trying to see what she was doing peeking over her shoulder. He moved is chair, so close Kate could feel his breath against her skin. She sighed heavily and opened the file, refusing to turn and look into his eyes. The last thing she needed right then was loosing herself in his dazzling blue gaze. She needed to focus in the case.

I know I've taken a lot of time to upload this chapter, its being kinda difficult since I'm starting my midterm exams.

Unfortunately I'll be as busy as this days for at least one month more, so updates will be late. I'll try to write something more, maybe a couple of chapters, but I cant promise anything.

Anyway, thank you all for the alerts and favourites, and please, leave feedback and reviews to make my hard work time easier?