1:50 pm, ~151h:

Beckett is lead to the couch, taking a seat she wonders if the apartment was always that big or that it appears so, because Castle with his childish humor is missing.

'So what bad news do you have for me', Martha inquiries.

Beckett leans into her direction and tells her everything she has learned from Lanie this morning and finishes with the accepted offer from Dr. Murray.

'Where does that leaves us?'

'Ms. Rogers as soon as I have the sketch I will come over here again, maybe you or Alexis can identify him.'

After a short burst of hollow and sarcastic laughter Martha asks, 'And what will you do if you can't identify him?'

'If Dr. Murray specialist also can't present a positive ID for our John Doe we could go public with his sketch and with the media blackout for Castles disappearance still working, we may get lucky. At least less nut jobs would pester the tip line. But that is our last resort, because it may scare the person who has Castle into a rush decision we may not like.'

6:30 pm, ~156h:

Beckett parks her car at the family dinner. Seeing that her dad is already waiting she hurry's to get out of it. The first thing she does as she reaches him is to hug him with all the penned up emotions she has.

'How is my princess holding up.'

'It is like mothers case repeats itself', she replies as she is lead by him into the dinner.

9:35 am, ~170h:

'That was fast, the sketch is here.' All the detectives gather around Becketts desk to get a good view of the monitor.

'A distinguished looking fellow was he', Karpowski says.

'Yeah, but after what I have seen of him in the morgue, the sketch artist must be a romantic', Esposito disagrees.

'Let's fetch a couple of copies for each of us', Beckett orders. 'When you have finished your group of guys and come back just leave a note on the board what you got of the persons you met. So we split up in this way Esposito shows the sketch to his pseudo-girlfriends, Karpowski visits the fan mail writers, Ryan checks with the financial guys and I will check with Alexis, Ms. Rogers, his sources and persons of interest from former cases I can lay my hand on.'

'Why me? Couldn't I get the hot girls for a change', Ryan asks.

'No, you have a girlfriend. But you can also pick up a couple of extra copies and plant them in every department of the precinct, maybe we sit on the solution and don't know it', Beckett counters.

11:17 am, ~172h:

The traffic was murderous today, she needed longer than usual to get to Castles apartment building. On her way up to his apartment she already has questioned George and got her first blank with that. The doorman has never seen their John Doe.

Standing in front of the door waiting that Martha opens the it for her she compose herself. She has to be strong especially for Alexis. The door opens and there is Alexis.

'Kate', she says and steps forward and engulf her in a hug. 'My dad is in the hands of a killer?'

'Let's go inside Alexis, I am happy that the media blackout is still working and we should not discuss the matter out here.'

She nearly get carried into the apartment by Alexis. She waits that the door is closed before she answers, 'It is true your Dad is most likely in the hands of a murderer, but that doesn't mean he can't be alright.' She pulls her back into the embrace to comfort her and herself. After a couple of minutes she let go and produces the sketch, 'Did you have seen this man with your father?'

Alexis takes it and heads to the couch, 'No, I can't say so. But Dad tried very hard to keep me out of the boring business details.'

Martha comes down the stairs and intercept Alexis, taking the sketch out of her hand and giving it a good look, 'Oh my what a handsome man.' Looking up she adds, 'I would remember a man like that for sure, a shame he is dead.'

'Grandma!'

Taking in Marthas shaking hands Beckett says, 'Alexis, why don't you leave us alone for a moment.'

After looking at both women Alexis dashes up to her room.

'How are you holding up, Martha', Beckett asks as she leads the elderly woman to the coach.

'This is something no mother should experience, it is simply not how things should work out.'
Putting a comforting hand on her back Beckett starts, 'I know what you mean. The worst, but in the end most rewarding case I worked in the last years was the kidnapping of a small child. Carrying her on my arms to her parent, while seeing the endless joy and happiness in the parent eyes, these moments I like the most.'

Martha chuckles, 'I would like to see you trying that with Richard.'

'For you I would do it.'

10:15 pm, ~183h:

Beckett leaves the bar in which she met with Mr. Tenor, but the mobster didn't remember to have seen the man on the sketch either. He was her last chance to find someone connecting Castle with John Doe. And knowing that the other detectives would have called her instantly if they have found anything she knows that it is a dead end again. 'I hate this case!' And she could nearly hear Castle say, 'Isn't it great.'

AN: Thanks for the reviews so far. I thought about the one from Caskett and I hope that Beckett don't come around all that cold. Because I put small indicators of her being hardly affected all over the story. But I wont let her run around to emotional, imho she would fall back to the time before Castle showed up, a no nonsense cop, don't showing her emotions. Because that is her coping mechanism, building a wall and don't let anyone in or at least that is my take on her.

Spoiler: Next chapter Castle will have his big reappearance, it is really time for him back in this fanfic.