By the time introductions and Castles confusion had been over and done with, both teams were in the Precinct, writing up the MO and discussing any links between the victims. Not much to work with so far, but Lavender could work with a paperclip and create a masterpiece. She was special in that way.
"Victims are families." Blatent statement from Castle. But Beckett grabbed a white board pen and wrote it up, glancing to Lavender who had her own pen and was writing up anything that came to mind. Mainly she was doing an independant brainstorm with Wolfy and Arik throwing out ideas every so often.
"Seems the killer... Wants us to find them..." Jones concluded after skim-reading the brainstorm, his emeralde eyes darting from Becketts half of the board to Lavenders, somewhat confused as to why anyone would wish to be found.
"They enjoy the thrill, possibly?" Ryan perked up, and Lavender nodded.
"Or they want to give us a run for our money." Dave shrugged his shoulders. He was more of a hands-on worker then to be stuck in an office with two women leading like sheep herders. "I mean, nobody drops their blade-" Castle interrupted with;
"- Unless they heard sirens, or something causing them to jolt and freak out, then run -" As if to get him back, Dave cut him off.
"- Theres a chance this person could be mentally unwell. I mean, you wouldn't commit a massacre then 'freak out' and drop your weapon just to run." He responded with a sardonic mannor, narrowing his gaze at the writer.
"Ladies, please, no verbal fighting." Lavender warned the pair of them, shaking her head. "Act your ages, not your shoe sizes, /please/."
"Don't you think I've been telling Castle that for a while?" Beckett jumped in, clicking the cap back on the whiteboard pen. "But I realised soon enough it goes in one ear and out the other. Don't waste your breath. I bet the only thing on their mind is; 'Gotta get out of here. This is a total sausage fest.'" She quipped.
"Sausage fest?" Lavender snorted, hand hovering over her mouth as she giggled, trying to ignore the death glares she got from the boys. Brushing past them, she took it in her stride, heading to the coffee room. "You all act homophobic, but you wouldn't if you realised three people in this room are gay. Well, four if you include a bisexual." She added. "Problem, anyone?" As it remained silent, the only sound being the coffee machine and Beckett laughing into her hand, Lav grinned to the team through the window, pouring herself two cups of coffee. "Now, this seems pretty random already. But back in Las Vegas, family relatives are first suspects. Strangely. And somehow, it always gave us leads. I doubt it would fail now." She picked up both of the mugs and headed back into the office, handing the second mug to Beckett, who was still laughing.
"Three families dead. If we break off into pairs, the job will be done a lot quicker." Esposito stood up from his chair, not daring to look to Lavenders team.
"Just so we can all get along, Beckett, you're team will mix with mine. Castle, you're with Wolfy. Esposito, you go with Jones. Ryan, you're with Dave. And Arik, you're gonna stay behind and do what you do best. That fine?" Lavender gave him her sweetest smile, batting her eyelashes, and in seconds, he caved.
"Fine. Fine fine fine." Arik held his hands up in defeat then went to Becketts desk, shuffling some papers. "I'll call if I find anything." He mumbled, getting comfy in the seat before skim-reading.
"Woah. No. I'm going with Beckett." Castle retorted to her demands, sparing a look to Wolfy. "No offence."
"None taken. I can go with Lav." Wolfy shrugged it off, his warm smile still stuck on his lips. "Come on, let 'em be."
"This once. But I'd prefer us to be /all/ getting along." Lavender turned to Beckett, who'd weirdly enough been silent throughout this. That was unlike her. "Are you fine with this?"
"Course it is." Beckett flashed her usual, reassuring smile, pausing and facing the board quickly. "Know what, out of this haste, we actually forgot to see if Lanie has the families names and whatnot." She facepalmed.
Hours later, when the sky was darkening and the clouds were pastle pink with the sun setting in the horizon, Lavender slumped down into the drivers chair of her Black SUV, gripping hold of the wheel but not starting the car itself. Sighing, she shifted her gaze to Wolfy as he settled into the passengers side.
"Nothing." She spoke aloud. "Nothing. We have nothing so far. How is that possible? The Smiths were a small family, how is that possible? This should be simple for me!" Leaning forward, she rested her head on the steering wheel. "I bloody well hope Beckett and Castle have something."
"Calm down, Lav." Wolfy soothed. "Some cases start like this. You've been doing this for twenty years. You know how it goes." He then paused. "My bet is they used the time for play not work." As his phone began to ring, he had to put his thoughts on pause, answering it.
"Agent Principe."
"Nothing from our end." Was the first thing Beckett said, almost sounding as stressed as Lav. "Esposito and Ryan have nothing too. This is going nowhere. Please tell me you have something."
"I would, but I was raised never to lie, Miss Beckett." He glanced out the window. "But something isn't right about this. I can sense it. Normally we'd have atleast /one/ lead, if not, we would have something to work with. But this is giving us nothing." He huffed. "What do we do?"
"Find out if Arik has something, if not... Call it a night. I'm knackered, and Castle is snoring." Beckett shook her head, supressing a sigh. "Just text if he hasn't got anything, I'm gonna head home. It's dangerous to drive tired." She yawned. "For now, goodnight. Tell Lav I said night, and I love her." With that, she hung up.
"N'awh. Beckett says Night, and she loves you." He mused. "Seeing as you look tired too, want me to drive?"
"Gotta love that woman." Lavender rubbed her eyes as she pryed her hands off the steering wheel, pushing open her car door. "Sure, why not. Thanks Wolfy." She got out and swapped sides with him, unintentionally falling asleep in the passengers side.
I'm resisting the urge to be mean to Beckett/Castle. :3 But I think I will anyway. Hehehe. Hope you enjoy!