Author's Note: I appologize for the long wait for the new chapter. I had writer's block and still do but was able to get chapters 3 and 4 done. And then things had been crazy because I was finishing up school. Hope you all enjoy the next chapters.

If I didn't mention it before, all scenes in italics are scenes with Castle's ghost or Beckett talking to Castle's ghost.

Chapter 3.) A Child's Help

"Yo where've you been," Esposito asked as Beckett came to her desk.

"The twins had a rough night," Beckett said not explaining that it was also a rough morning.

"Let me guess, Jamie," said Esposito.

Beckett smiled. Her partners had known her kids personalities just as well as she and her family did.

"So where we at," she said directing her attention to the murder board.

It was pretty empty except for a few pictures, two of which were their victims.

"Footprints were found at the scene so Ryan is running them down now."

Beckett studied her victims. "So how do two seemingly descent parents get killed in their own home will two of their kids were upstairs?"

"And if the perp knew the family was home," she heard Castle say, "Why not kill them too?"

Beckett thought, 'I told you to stay out of this one.'

Castle laughed, "Yeah like that was going to happen."

"That's a good point though," Beckett said aloud.

"What is," asked Esposito.

She turned to look at him.

"Busted," said Castle with a huge grin.

"Just something I was thinking," said Beckett, "There was no forced entry so our perp must have known the Moreno's and with that in mind he-,"

"Or she," said Castle.

"Must have known the kids were home too so why not kill them too."

"Maybe he didn't want to waste time looking for anyone. He wanted the people who gave him easy access. Had he waited around to look to see if anyone in the house there was more of a chance of being caught," said Esposito.

"Maybe so but it would also make sense to kill all the witnesses so that he couldn't be identified." Beckett switched topics, "What do we have on the parents?"

Esposito looked over his notes, "Elian was a professor in biology at Hudson U. Morena was a pediatric surgeon at Mercy General."

"And the kids aren't talking?"

"Not a word."

Beckett looked at the four of the Moreno kids in the family room. "Okay I'll see if I can get anything out of them. You and Ryan see if anyone had any problems with the parents. They let this guy in so they must have known him."

"On it," said Esposito.

"Ryan anything on the prints?" Beckett called over.

"I've got it down to shoe size and model but do you have any idea how many size 13 New Balance brand running shoes are sold every day?"

Beckett knew that was a long shot. She nodded. "Go with Espo and see if you can get a lead on the people in their lives."

With the boys gone, Beckett made her way to the kids. She introduced herself and took a seat across from them. Ty was seated on the arm rest while the girls were seated on the couch, Ari was tightly holding on to Lena.

The younger ones still weren't talking so Lena introduced them as Ximena and Ariadna. They went by Jimmie and Ari.

Beckett smiled, "Those are pretty names."

Only Ari smiled.

"Our grandparents are from Mexico," Lena explained. "So our parents wanted to stay true to the culture."

"Well they're very beautiful. You guys I have to ask you some important questions. The more we know the more we can help you."

"I wasn't there," said Ty, "So I don't know anything."

"There are other ways you can help."

"Like what?"

"Do any of you know of anyone who may have wanted to hurt your parents?"

They all shook their heads to indicate no.

"Everyone loved our mom and dad," said Lena.

"Not true," Ty combated.

"Ty do you know something?" Beckett asked.

Ty just shrugged. "People always have something to be unhappy about. Not everyone likes everyone. People suck pure and simple," he said keeping his arms crossed.

"Ty," Lena scolded, "Watch your language."

"You're not mom," he said getting up angrily, "I sure as hell don't have to listen to you," he said storming out of the room.

Ari hugged Lena tighter.

Lena shook her head, "I'm sorry Detective. He's usually not like this."

"He's a sixteen year old boy who just lost his parents. You can't expect him to get over something like this overnight."

"Do you know that from your job as a cop or personal experience?"

"A little of both," Beckett admitted, "I lost my mom when I was about your age."

"You did," Jimmie said for the first time, her voice cracking slightly as she tried not to cry.

"Yeah," Beckett said smoothly, "I did."

"How did she die?" asked Lena.

"She was murdered like your mom and dad."

"Did you ever catch the guy?"

"To a point but my mom never really got justice. I want to catch the person who did this to your parents but I can't do it alone. Ari, Jimmie, is there anything you can remember, anything at all?"

Lena looked at her sisters and smiled. Her younger sisters turned to Beckett.

"I got scared," said Ari, "I wet my pants."

"When the yelling started," said Jammie, "I got Ari and we hid under some dirty clothes I had in my closet. I covered Ari's mouth so she wouldn't call out. It's scary when adults fight."

"It is scary. Do your parents fight a lot?"

This time Lena answered the question. "As much as any other couple I suppose but it never escalates. Usually after they're done there's an uncomfortable silence between them that can last a few days but it doesn't get physical or violent."

"Do you know who was yelling?"

"It was a man. He had a deep voice," said Jimmie.

"It's all your fault!" said Ari, "He said that. I remember 'cause those were the loudest words."

"And you don't know who it was?"

The girls shook their head to indicate no.

"Do you guys know who they could have invited in to the house?"

"Mommy and daddy know a lot of people," said Ari.

"Knew," Jimmie corrected.

Beckett saw a look of recognition in Lena's eyes.

"Lena?"

"There might have been someone," said Lena. "Can I tell you in the hall?"

"Sure," Beckett said and then turned her attention to the younger ones, "You both did really good."

Ari smiled at the credit she was given.

Once Lena and Beckett were out near Beckett's desk she looked at the young woman.

"You might want to check out the McConnell's," said Lena. "Patrick and Cynthia I think."

"And they were close to your parents?"

"Not exactly," she said, "They were the ones who filed a malpractice suit against my mom. She and my dad tried to keep the details from us but from what my mom told me, the couple had a premature baby and it needed surgery but it died on the table. She didn't go into the why or how of it, not even to me."

"That's actually very helpful thank you."

"Detective, can I ask you something? I can take care of myself but Ty is only a sophomore in high school and the others aren't even in middle school yet so what's going to happen them?"

"That's what social services will have to decide. For now they'll be placed in a group home."

"No!" Ty said behind Beckett, "You can't split us up!"

"We might not have a choice," said Lena.

"Yes you do! You're nineteen you can take us."

"Ty you don't know what you're asking," said Lena.

"Sure I do. Look I'll stop being a pain in the ass. I can help. I can get a job. Just don't split us up Detective, please."

"That's not up to me, Ty," said Beckett.

"Then talk to whoever is."