I said this story would go very dark. So
Into the Scary Woods We Go

Darkness Falls

"Sweetie, are you sure that this is not Calvin Burke? His body was found in Doctor Burke's office"

"Lanie I am positive. For starters, the doctor Burke who I was seeing after my shooting is African American. This man "pointing to the drawer "is obviously not"

"Then what was he doing in Dr. Burke's office and why was he killed and by who?"

"Killed? He was murdered?"

"Yes, that is why the fire department called me in, because the death was suspicious. He had a stab wound under his left arm. Below his rib cage upward thrust into his heart"

Kate's face immediately goes dark as she thinks about her mother's murder with a knife handled by someone with expert training in killing with that weapon.

"So it looks like a professional killing?"

"Very likely"

"Lanie, who is handling this case?"

"I don't have a detective name yet, but I think it happened in the 54th so it will be someone from there. Why?"

"I want in on this case that's why I asked. I know Doctor Burke. Wait a minute. Has anyone tried to find Doctor Burke to make sure he is OK?"

"I don't know Kate. The Fire Marshall's office may take the case since he died at the fire"

"Yes, but he didn't die in the fire. That makes it a police homicide case"

Beckett takes her phone out and calls her captain "Sir, we have a situation here and I need some information. A fire of suspicious nature where there is a non fire related death. That is our case, not the fire department. Oh I see. Thank you sir"

Castle has stood quietly during this conversation, but his phone rings and he steps outside to answer

Beckett turns to Lanie "Gates says either department can take the case. I want to try to do it myself. Can you give me what you have? And where did Castle go?"

"His phone rang and he stepped out into the corridor." Lanie tells Kate as they step over to the table where Jim had been working on the case files.

The door to the corridor opens and a police officer steps in "I am looking for Doctor Parish"

"I am her. Can I help you?"

"Yes, I have been reviewing the video from the security cameras and I …" His conversation stops cold as he looks over to Beckett "Uh Doctor may I see you privately?"

"Certainly officer. Please come into my office" The two enter Lanie's office and he closes the door then looks back at Beckett.

"Excuse me Doctor, who is that woman" pointing at Beckett

"That is detective Kate Beckett from the 12th precinct. She is going to be working on this case"

"Well doctor, we have a problem then" He places several screen caps on the desk. "The woman in these pictures appears to be the woman standing out in the other room"

Lanie picks up the pictures and examines them carefully. "Officer I will personally vouch for detective Beckett but even more so, we have been following up on a look alike woman who could be Kate's twin. And it sure appears she is the one who did this."

"So you know who this is?"

"We have a first name. But right now that is all we have. I suggest we bring Beckett in and let her see what you have here"

Lanie opens her office door and calls to Kate to come in "You twin is back"

"What?" Lanie shows the pictures to Beckett "That looks like the woman we saw on the taxi cab video talking to the other man"

"Yeah Kate. She is the one who came in here and knocked Jim out. This is a screen cap from the security cameras."

"Now I wonder if she is involved in the fire and the death of Doctor Charles Bourke? Lanie, can we try to find Doctor Burke and get him to look at this picture and see if he knows this woman?"

Lanie's desk phone rings "Doctor Parish. Yes, I will meet him in the conference room. Thanks" Lanie turns to Kate. Doctor Burke just arrived at reception. They are sending him to the large conference room. Let's go"

Lanie and Beckett exit the morgue. As they turn to go down the hall to the conference room, Kate sees Castle standing against the wall on his phone. He seems to be in a serious conversation with someone. Kate motions to Castle pointing toward the conference room. He shakes his head in acknowledgement as the pass by.

Lanie and Kate enter the room and wait until another staff member brings Doctor Burke into the room. He is obviously surprised to see Kate standing in the room. Beckett speaks up first. Doctor Burke, hello"

"Hello Kate. Good to see you, but I am surprised. Are you involved in the fire at my building?"

Doctor Burke I want you to meet Doctor Lanie Parish. She is the medical examiner working on the death at your building."

"Death? Who died?"

"It appears someone with a similar name to you, Charles Bourke"

"Charles! Oh dear! He is or rather was a good friend and colleague. We became friends in graduate school. What happened to him?"

Lanie explains "It appears he was murdered and left in your office. The killer was using the fire to cover up the death, but the sprinklers system in the building slowed the fire enough so that he body was fairly undamaged."

Kate continues. "The files in your office were destroyed or removed. We are wondering if you had any patients wanting to harm you and get your patient records?"

"I am sure that there are people who might want the files, but I do not keep patient confidential file there. They are kept in safe storage off site."

Lanie take the photographs from the file she has brought "Doctor, do you recognize this woman?"

He looks at the pictures only for a second before the expression on his face is obvious.

"You do know her don't you?" Lanie asks

"I might. What does she have to do with this case?"

"She came into my lab and knocked out my tech and scattered evidence on this case. She also opened the cooler's and looked at each body currently there"

Beckett continues "I believe she was looking to see if the body brought from your building was you. Doctor Burke. We need to know everything you have on this woman"

Doctor Burke looks at the images for a few more seconds before he places them down on the table, looks to Lanie "Doctor Parish. You more than anyone knows the importance of patient doctor confidentiality. I cannot discuss the patient or any thing she may or may not have said to me"

Kate looks up to the door and sees her husband. He has a look of terror on his face. "Will you two excuse me for a moment?" She gets up and steps into the hall "Rick, what's going on?"

"Kate. I just got off the phone with Agent Richardson." Castle starts walking down the hall slightly "He has lived most of his life as a covert field agent. He is no longer and active in the field. But he also told me a horror story." Rick's face is pale. The color is gone

"Kate, the woman we are looking for is your sister or more accurately your half sister"

"All right. We figured that might be the case"

"But she is also my step sister"

"WHAT?"

"Agent Richardson is my real father and he adopted her as an infant. She doesn't know you are really her half sister. She thinks I am her cousin"

"Rick this is crazy"

"What is really crazy is that she has had a mental breakdown and a cleanup team is on their way to take care of her"

"Are they going to kill her?"

"No he said she will be taken to a mental facility. But most are never returned to normal life again after being there"

"OK we will find her and protect her"

"They are also looking for you"

"Why me?"

"You look like twins. So they want to take both of you. If that happens no one will ever see either of you again"