The precinct, 6:20pm:

Beckett, Ryan and Captain Montgomery ogle the two men in the interrogation room through the mirror.

'Although you two recognize Mr. White from somewhere, we only have their names and the address they have given us. We know shit about them, Esposito just got the warrant for their apartment and is on his way there', Captain Montgomery summarize the situation. 'Can you really go in there Detective Beckett?'

'I hate it to go into a interrogation unprepared, but in this case every minute may count.' So she straightens a little bit and leaves the observation room. At the door to the interrogation room she rests her head on it, composing herself for what she has to do with a deep breath.

Opening the door in one fluid move and with a brisk step she enters the room.

'Mr. Meyers, Mr. White I am Detective Beckett because you have claim your right for an attorney you are not supposed to answer me. You were caught red handed at the crime scene, we even have video tapes and found the cell phone which sent the instructions for the drop on you. But instead of helping us to find Mr. Castle you claim your right to consult with an lawyer, is that correct?'

'Yeah, we want our lawyer and that you leave us alone now', snorts Mr. Meyers.

Beckett turns back towards the door, 'That is good, it prevents misunderstandings. Like the one a year ago.' She fakes a shiver and starts to leave the room.

'What misunderstanding?'

'Hm, oh a petty theft was put into booking and somehow the cell mates believed he is a child molester so they took justice into their own hands. It wasn't pretty, all beaten up and they needed fifteen stitches for his …. don't mind as long as nobody mentions Alexis in an ambiguous way you two should be fine in the holding cell.'

The two men exchange a quick look, which she sees in the mirror. 'Hook, line and sinker', she thinks while suppressing a wolfish grin.

'Wait, we changed our mind, we don't need a lawyer.'

Turning around she starts with the most pressing question, 'Where is Castle?'

'We don't know.' And seeing her face getting hard again he adds, 'we are con mans, no kidnapper. Don't you remember me bringing up the snacks yesterday. While I did my deed as room service I overheard your conversations about his disappearance and that there was no ransom call so far. And after I heard the old woman talk how much money she could produce in a short time with one of the officers, we believed it could be our last con. And after two days I thought he is dead anyway, so we could skim of some extra money. No harm done,' he finish his confession.

Beckett storms to the desk, bringing down her palms with a resounding boom. She hisses, 'You better start praying that he will show up unharmed, or I will see to it personally that you will be charged as accessory after the fact with murder. Have fun in the holding cell.' She turns around and rushes out of the room.

Captain Montgomery is awaiting her, 'What did you think while threatening them with rape.'

'I never said he was raped, he was beaten up pretty bad and needed fifteen stitches for a cut at his hairline. If the two misunderstood me then it is not my fault. And besides they cost us a full day we could have used to find Castle instead of chasing these imbeciles. Although there are still questions like "How could Castle be heard during their ransom call?" I believe these morons that they didn't took him.'

She walks away from him without waiting for a reply and at her desks she crumbles into her chair. Then she sift through the reports that arrived during the long day. But only the ballistic report brought new information, they have the forensic evidence that the weapon used was a Kel-Tec PF-9. 'Right, that will reduce the list of suspects to a couple ten thousand, because it is only a couple of years on the market', she thinks sarcastic.

Somebody clears his throat next to her, startled she looks up, it is Ryan. 'Yeah?'
'Esposito has called in, some of the things he found support the statement of the two dirt bags.'
'So what did he discover?'
'Room service uniform for Mr. Meyers complete with access cards for the hotel. Then some calling cards for a psychic named Mr. Light and notebooks with various information on different hotel guest. These seems to be their daily con jobs. And a laptop with some music program. It seems they cut parts out of interviews and let it playback during the ransom call. After his call I checked with the hotel and at least Mr. Meyers has an solid alibi, he was working at the hotel during the kidnapping.'

'Damn it, there has to be a lead, this can't be the perfect crime. Go over the surveillance video one more time I want everyone showing up in it accounted for.'

'No problem, and what will you do?'

With a sigh Beckett stands up, 'I will break the bad news to Alexis and Martha.' Remembering the last time she adds, 'You don't need to wait for me, when you are finished or need a break go home. When the break in this case comes Castle needs you to bring your A-game.'

Nodding Ryan heads over to his desk to go over the tape one more time.

Hilton, 7:05pm:

Beckett stands in front of the hotel room not ready to knock on it, but she knows the longer she waits the harder it will be. And with a final sigh she knocks on the door.

An officer opens her the door and with the usual exchange of 'Detective' 'Officer' she enters the room.

Seeing Beckett Alexis jumps on her feet and ask with a breaking voice 'Where is my Dad?' Beckett shakes her head and lowers her eyes to the floor. 'Oh no', she cries and fall back on the couch.

Beckett looks up and scolds herself for sending the wrong signals, 'Alexis, that is not what I meant.'

'And what did you mean, Kate', Martha asks, while stepping to the couch and take Alexis into a firm hug.

'The nut jobs calling in the ransom are not connected to the disappearance of Castle. They only tried to con you into paying the ransom. One of them works her at the hotel, that is the way they got the information needed to pull it of.'

'Where does this leave us?'

'Empty handed, but as I promised you before I will not stop to search for him', with that Beckett leaves the hotel room with a bad feeling.