Previously on Storm Clouds

"You are killing my patience here, Castle. In a few seconds, Slaughter is going to come back in here and pull his I think I'm a bad ass cop routine. Once that happens, I'm out of here. This is his case, and I shouldn't even be in here. But I am, so I need you to tell me what you can and quickly."

Beckett stormed out of interrogation.

"Did you guys hear that?" she asked Ryan and Esposito who met her just outside the room. "Something drew him into the room just as the police arrived. That sounds a bit too coincidental to me, and you know how I don't believe in coincidences."

"Arggg Beckett, you know this isn't our case," Esposito told her.

Beckett nodded. "I realise that Espo, but I became a cop to seek justice, not to put innocent men away. Get an officer to look for some kind of bug or something. They wouldn't have been looking for it when they first went over the scene. If we're lucky, the real murderer left a print or some evidence behind."

The two men nodded at her as she turned to re-enter the interrogation room.

"Beckett, there's something else."

She turned to look at them and that was when she heard the muffled sound of someone yelling. Beckett looked in the direction of the other interrogation room.

"Is Slaughter interrogating another suspect?"

Ryan winced. "Not exactly. The daughter arrived."

Beckett frowned trying to understand what was going on. Why was Slaughter yelling at the victim's daughter? Beckett walked over to the interrogation room and threw open the door.

"Your father killed your mother, didn't he? The rich boy didn't get his way and put a bullet in her, didn't he?"

The young redhead in the room shook her head. Her eyes were red and there were tear stains on her cheeks. Beckett nearly exploded at the sight before her.

"No it isn't possible."

"Slaughter," Beckett interrupted walking into the room. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Stay out of this Beckett. This is my case."

"She's a victim, not a suspect."

"She's whatever I say she is, now get out." He told her again.

"No," she stood her ground. No way was she going to let this idiot attack Castle's daughter.

"Beckett, get your sweet ass out of here."

Beckett narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "You got a problem? Go see Montgomery. Before I do." She threatened.

Slaughter stood up and walked passed her, slamming his shoulders into her own as he exited. Beckett watched as he stalked away to what she assumed was to make a complaint about her butting in. Well, she would make sure that both Castle and his daughter made a complaint about Slaughter's treatment of them.

"My dad didn't kill my mom."

Beckett turned to look at the poor girl. She hadn't been much older when her own mother had been killed. The detective who had spoken to her hadn't been an ass like Slaughter, but he hadn't been very sympathetic.

"I know."

The girl sniffed. "You do?"

Beckett nodded.

"The other detective seems to think so."

Beckett sighed as she took a seat across from the girl.

"Slaughter is an ass. Your father was found standing over the body. Statistically, the person who finds the body is the one who did it. Or it's the husband."

"But my parents aren't married anymore. They were getting along. My dad would never do this."

Beckett nodded. "I'm going to do my best to prove that okay."

The young girl nodded but continued to cry. Beckett sighed.

"Look, I know this is hard, but believe me when I say that I understand."

"How can you understand?" the girl yelled. "My mother is dead. My dad is a suspect in her murder. I don't know what to do. I'm all alone."

Beckett ran a hand over her face before standing up and walking around the desk.

"Let's get you out of here, you're not a suspect."

"But the other detective said I had to stay. He accused me of killing her first before moving onto dad."

Beckett shook her head. That guy was an idiot. "Let me worry about him. My name is Beckett by the way. Kate Beckett."

The young girl nodded. "I'm Alexis."

Beckett led Alexis into the break room and got her a bottle of water before urging her to sit down on the couch.

"I do understand what you are going through Alexis. At least partly. My mother was murdered when I was not much older than you. Dad and I were out to dinner waiting for her so he was never really considered a suspect. We were both devastated by her death but we dealt with it differently. I know it's not the same but..." Beckett took a deep breath. She couldn't believe she had opened up like that to a complete stranger.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Alexis told her. "I didn't know."

Beckett nodded. "It's okay you had no way of knowing. I just want you to know that you don't have to go this alone. I have my partners trying to track down your Grandmother right now. I'm also having them go back to your home to look over your father's bedroom. He said he heard a noise and that's was why he went into his room when he did. I'm doing everything I can to help okay."

"You really believe he is innocent?" Alexis asked.

"I do. Something just doesn't seem right." Beckett bit her lip. If she was going to prove his innocence, she needed to know all the facts. "Can I ask you some questions? I realise now probably isn't the best time for you, but the sooner the better."

Alexis nodded in understanding. "I want to help. What do you want to know?"

"Did you father have any enemies?"

Normally she would look at the victim. Who they were, what they were into. That led them to a motive. Except this time, she wondered if the suspect was the real victim here. Someone hated Castle enough to want to frame him for murder.

"No, not really. I mean sure he has frenemies. Other authors who he has a love hate relationship with. Nothing worth killing over."

Beckett nodded. Well it was a start. She would have Ryan and Esposito look into these so called 'Frenemies'.

"What about your mother? Any enemies, anyone she rubbed the wrong way."

Alexis shook her head. "No. A few cat fights with a few other actresses, but I don't think it was serious. She's a Diva, sure, but that has nothing to do with Dad."

"Okay well, we should probably look into it anyway. What about your mother's personal life? Is she dating anyone? Any ex-boyfriends or ex-husbands we should know about apart from your father ?"

Alexis nodded. "An ex-boyfriend. They dated for over six months. It's the longest she's dated anyone. His name is Mike. Mike Gerstern I think. He's an actor like my mother but he was new to the business, or so he said when I asked what acting jobs he had so far."

Beckett pulled out a pad and began to write down some notes.

"Okay. This is good. How long ago did they break up? Do you know why?"

"Two months ago. They broke up because of dad."

Beckett's brows rose. This was both a good and bad thing.

"Your Dad? How was your dad involved?"

"Well, Mike called dad to ask him to fund a movie he wanted to star in with mom. Apparently a new friend of his wrote it, and Mike was sure it would be a hit."

"And your dad refused."

Alexis nodded. "Dad is willing to give a hand up, not a handout. He tried to help mom out not long after they got divorced, and it blew up in his face. So he told Mike he wouldn't fund the movie but he was happy to get in touch with a few people on his behalf. Help promote the movie once it comes out. Mention it on his site, attend the movie premiere. More than most would do for the ex's boyfriend. Mike wasn't happy with this, though."

This was exactly what Beckett wanted to hear. Someone with a motive no matter how ridiculous it seemed.

"So Mike and your mother broke up after this."

Alexis nodded. "She didn't know Mike had called dad. When she found out, she rang to apologize. That was unusual for Mom: she didn't even apologize when she took me out of school to take me to lunch. In Paris."

"Paris, France?" Beckett asked surprised.

Alexis nodded. "Mom broke up with Mike. She was quite upset and called me to talk like I was her girlfriend or something. Mom really liked Mike, but she said he had champagne taste, soda money. He liked to appear rich, but often Mom ended up paying for things. When she found out he had gone to dad for money, she had enough. They got into a huge fight. He said some pretty mean things about my mom, and she accused him of being a sponge. As far as I know, she hasn't seen him since."

"Okay that's good Alexis. Now your mother doesn't live in New York, does she? Was she here visiting?"

Alexis nodded. "Yeah. She promised she would come after she finished up a role on a mini-series. It was the first time she actually kept a promise. I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead: she wasn't exactly the best mother, but she was my mother and I loved her."

"I don't believe it's wrong to speak ill of the dead: it's just that they can't defend their actions. My mother was a great mom, but she wasn't perfect either. I still get angry when I remember how she grounded me for getting home past curfew even though it wasn't my fault my friend's car broke down. You loved your mother and that's what's important. So your mother kept her promise and came to New York to visit you."

Alexis nodded. "Yeah. It really surprised me and dad. It really looked like she was trying to make a real effort. Dad was even going to speak to a family friend who is putting on a play that has a character that Mom would be perfect for. Mom said no. She would make it on her own. That's how well Mom and Dad were getting along. Normally, Dad doesn't like being in the room with mom for more than a few minutes. She has been here for a few days and the three of us have gone out a few times together. We were having board game night tomorrow night. Mom used to call it bored game night because she hated playing games, but she was the one who suggested it. I was going to bring some games to her, but Dad said we could do it at our apartment."

Beckett bit her lip. "Was there any indication that there would be a reconciliation between the two of them?"

Alexis shook her head. "No. I mean, to an outsider we may have looked like the perfect family, but no. We had fun together and I know my Dad does love my Mom, but not like that."

Beckett nodded. "Thanks. You have really helped."

"What is going to happen to my Dad?"

Beckett shook her head. "Don't worry about that. Why don't we go and see him."

"I can see him?"

"Of course."

Beckett walked out of the break room and could hear muffled yelling again. This time it was coming from Montgomery's office. It seemed her boss and Slaughter were doing equal amounts of shouting. Beckett quickly hurried over to the interrogation room and opened the door.

"Hi," she tried to offer the man a brief smile.

"What now? Am I now going to go to jail and become someone's bitch?"

"Dad!"

"Alexis."

"I thought you might like a visitor," Beckett told him as she walked towards him. She then reached down and unlocked his cuffs.

"Am I being released?" he asked.

Beckett shook her head. "No, but I figured this might make it easier to hug your daughter."

He looked at her shocked before standing up and rushing over to his daughter. Beckett felt her throat start to hurt as she tried to hold back her emotions at seeing the pair hug. It was clear these two loved each other very much. There was no way this man could have killed his ex-wife.

"I'll give you two a few minutes alone."

Castle barely noticed as the woman detective left the room.

"Alexis honey. Are you okay?"

"Me, Dad? What about you?"

Castle led his daughter over to the chair and got her to sit down.

"Pumpkin. I swear to you I didn't hurt your mother. I know she has driven me crazy in the past but I swear to you."

"I know Dad," she interrupted.

"My lawyer will be here soon and we will have the all sorted out."

"It's okay Dad. Kate is going to sort it all out. She believes you didn't do it and is looking for answers."

Castle frowned. "Kate? Who's Kate?"

"The Detective who just left. She believes you and is looking for other alternatives."

Castle brows rose. "She is?"

Alexis nodded. "Yeah. She was really nice to me Dad I think it was because well.. something similar happened to her mother too."

Castle blinked at hearing the news. The detective's mother had been killed?

"Did she ask you any questions?"

Alexis nodded. "Yeah but she was really nice about it. That other jerk just yelled at me. She asked if you had any enemies or if Mom did. That sort of thing, that's all."

"Okay. But don't answer anything if you don't want too. Our lawyer should be here soon."

"It's okay Dad. Kate was nice. She wants to help."

Castle nodded at his daughter. The woman had seemed nice when she had spoken to him. She had also uncuffed him and allowed him to see his daughter so maybe all police weren't that bad. "Okay then. Now give me a hug before that scary man gets back."

Thanks once again to my beta Annem57. She has a new Rizzoli & Isles story out. Punishment. So check it out if your a fan of that tv show too.

Big thanks to all those favs and follows

And a Big shout out to all those who have been spreading the word about this story on Twitter and my new followers. Love yas.