Disclaimer: I don't own Castle... the characters of this amazing show belong to the genius Andrew Marlowe and ABC. :P

A/N: Looks like the cat's out of the bag about the story... it heavily involves Johanna Beckett's murder and who ordered the hit. I hope you all will like the twist I put on it. I think it's pretty original. ;) I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but chapter 5 is a little lengthier and there's a much more evil cliffhanger at the end of chapter 5. :P I'm planning on posting it some time on Tuesday, but I'm not sure exactly what time on Tuesday because of my classes, homework, and studying. Please comment and let me know what you think! I need to know that you guys are liking this... or not. ;) :)

Here's Chapter 4:

Previously in Habeas Corpses...

"Gram!," Alexis ran down the stairs and hugged her grandmother, "I thought I heard your voice down here."

"Hello, sweetheart," Martha returned the hug.

"How'd your play go? I heard it was a brilliant success," Alexis beamed.

"It was," Martha nodded.

"I'm gonna leave you two ladies to catching up," Castle said, "Alexis, you can fill Mother in and I'll see you two later."

Castle left his apartment, a little grateful that his mom returned early from her tour. At least this way Alexis wouldn't be alone in a huge apartment. He hoped the little bistro that was ironically named Little Bistro, would give them some sort of lead to Sullivan's killer… and to the man who ordered the hit on Johanna Beckett.

Now in Habeas Corpses...

Chapter 4

Little Bistro

"I thought you said you weren't going to take any detours, Castle?," Beckett asked as he approached her, "Though I can't say I'm surprised, you never were a scout, were you?"

"You're never going to let that go, are you?," Castle asked, thinking back to their first case ever.

"No," Beckett smirked.

As they headed toward the entrance, Castle felt the need to explain himself, "And for your information, I didn't take a detour, I was derailed from leaving right away after I hung up."

"Yeah, how?," Beckett folded her arms.

"My mother came home," Castle replied with a cocky smile.

"Oh," Beckett was embarrassed, "How'd her show go?"

"Good, she came back early," Castle explained, "Apparently it was a big success."

"That's great," Beckett smiled, trying to mask the red growing on her cheeks from assuming another reason for Castle's tardiness.

"Is that the owner?," Castle nodded to a tall and thin man with a little black mustache, fitting the stereotype of a French restaurant owner.

"Mr. Martin?," Beckett spoke up as she nodded to answer Castle's question.

"Oui?," Martin looked up and shook his head. His French accent was apparent, "I'm sorry, Madame? May I 'elp you?"

"Yes, we're here investigating the murder of your lawyer, Mr. Charles Sullivan," Beckett flashed him her badge, "Could we have a word?"

"Oui, of course," Martin nodded and led them into the kitchen in the back, "I just 'eard what 'appened."

"When's the last time you saw Mr. Sullivan?," Beckett was in full-detective mode.

"Uhh, I believe it was the other day… in the morning," Martin replied.

"Did he seem different?," Castle asked, "Like maybe somebody was after him?"

"Somebody was after 'im?," Martin grew alarmed.

"We're not positive, Mr. Martin," Beckett put her hands up and glared at Castle. There was no need to scare him even if it was true, "But did he seem distracted at all when you saw him?"

Mr. Martin looked down as he was thinking and then looked back up, "Now that you mention it, I think 'e was acting a bit odd."

"Was he distracted by something? Bothered?," Castle asked even when Beckett gave him a look again.

"'e didn't begin to act odd until another man entered the room at 'is office," Martin replied, his French accent still coming through, "We were in a meeting."

"Who came in the room?," Beckett asked.

"I do not know," Martin shrugged, "A big guy."

"Big? Could you be more specific?," Castle prodded.

"Tall," Martin replied, trying to think of the adjectives in English, "Big muscles, some gray 'air…"

"Mr. Martin?," Beckett cut him off, "Would you mind coming down to the precinct to work with a sketch artist?"

"I don't think I should leave my bistro," Martin looked uneasy.

"It's all right, Mr. Martin," Castle assured him, "The man that interrupted you and Mr. Sullivan won't know you were the one to give the description, you'll be okay."

Martin sighed, "All right, I will close up shop 'ere and will come with you to the police station."

"Thank you, Mr. Martin," Beckett nodded. Her phone buzzed and she gave an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, I have to take this… Castle could you wait for Mr. Martin and I'll meet you at the car?"

"Yeah," Castle nodded. Beckett gave them both a nod and headed outside. Castle looked around the kitchen and Martin noticed.

"Are you 'ungry, monsieur?," Martin asked politely.

"A little," Castle smiled, "Could I grab something to eat?"

"I'll have the chef make something for you while I close up," Martin smiled with a nod, "On the house."

"Thanks," Castle smiled.

"What do you have for me?," Beckett asked once she was outside.

"Nothing new," Ryan sighed on the other end and Esposito continued, "Johnson didn't tell us anything that we didn't already know. I think he may truly be in the dark about the case Sullivan was working on... or he's lying."

"It might be a bit of both. It was worth a shot," Beckett replied.

"Did you and Castle get any luck with the bistro owner?," Esposito asked.

"I think we did," Beckett nodded, "We're bringing him into the station to work with a sketch artist. Apparently, a large man interrupted his and Sullivan's meeting the morning before his death."

"Sounds like a lead to me," Ryan said.

"I was thinking the same thing," Beckett replied.

"We'll see you guys when you get here." Esposito answered.

"See you guys soon," Beckett nodded as they both hung up.

"Sir?," Martin handed him his food. Castle just finished texting Beckett to tell her they were on their way out.

"Yes?," Castle accepted the food.

"There was something I over'eard when I left Monsieur Sullivan's office with that big man," Martin looked a little uneasy.

"What was it?," Castle's interest was piqued.

"They were talking about something Monsieur Sullivan was looking into. I think it might 'ave been another case," Martin said, "Something about a murder… I thought I 'eard him say, 'You'll stop looking if you know what's good for you.' – after I 'eard that, I left."

"Sounds like a threat to me," Castle said, "The sooner we get your description, the sooner we can catch his killer."

"Thank you," Martin thanked Castle for opening the door for him. As Martin locked up, Castle had a minute to think. Martin said the mysterious stranger threatened Sullivan about looking into something – it must have been Johanna Beckett's murder.

"Maybe Sullivan was getting close to figuring out who ordered the hit," Castle thought, "Or maybe our mystery man is the man who ordered the hit… I'll have to talk to Lanie later once we get this guy's description."

"Castle?," Beckett brought his attention back.

"Huh?," Castle looked up.

"You've been getting lost in thought a lot, Castle," Beckett said. This time she looked genuinely concerned, "Are you sure everything is all right?"

"Couldn't be better," Castle lied once again with a smile. The three of them got into the car. Castle looked down as Beckett pulled out to head back to the precinct. If there was one thing he hated – it was lying to Katherine Beckett.

12th Precinct

Martin was miming features to the sketch artist in the other room. Beckett and Castle were watching him by their murder board. They stood in comfortable silence for a minute until Beckett broke it, "What do you think about this mystery man that had an impromptu meeting with our vic?"

"I'm not sure," Castle shook his head, "But I think there's a fairly good chance he's connected to the murder somehow."

"So far, it looks like this case is nothing but dead ends," Ryan came up behind them.

"Yeah, it's like this Sullivan guy didn't have any social life outside of his family and firm," Esposito commented.

"Something tells me that our mystery man will be a good lead," Beckett replied. She took a breath and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You okay?," Castle asked.

"Yeah," Beckett sighed, "I guess I'm just a little tired… that's all. I hate these kinds of cases."

"Me too," Esposito nodded, "Come on, let's fuel up on some more coffee while the bistro owner finishes up with the sketch artist."

"Good idea. I could use a pick-me-up," Castle commented and started to follow his friends into the break room when he heard, "Dad! Dad! Dad!" coming from his pocket, "Ooo, sounds like Alexis is trying to get my attention. Could you grab me a cup, guys?"

"Yeah," Ryan nodded.

Castle put the phone to his ear, "Hey, sweetheart, are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just getting late. Are you coming back soon?," Alexis asked.

"I think so," Castle replied. He knew this case was rattling her more than the others. The sooner this case was over the better, "Is everything okay at home?"

"Yeah," Alexis replied, "Gram's here, so I'm good."

"That's good," Castle nodded again, "Is something else bothering you, pumpkin?"

"I don't know," Alexis bit her lip, "There's just something about this case that I can't explain."

"What do you mean?," Castle sat up.

"It's like I got this weird feeling about it," Alexis replied, miming with her hands, "I don't know how to explain it."

"Teenager's intuition?," Castle teased.

"Dad," she chided.

"Only teasing, sweetheart," Castle smirked. He sat up further when he saw Martin stand up and shake the sketch artist's hand, "Sweetie, I'm gonna have to let you go. I'm gonna make a pit-stop before I come home, but I should head out of here soon."

"Okay," Alexis said and asked again, "Promise me you'll come into my room and kiss me goodnight when you get home even if it's really really late?"

"I promise," Castle nodded, "Love you."

"Love you too… 'Night, Dad," Alexis hung up.

TBC

Ooo! A mystery man! Any of you agree with Castle? Could it possibly be the big boss? The man who ordered the hit on Johanna Beckett? What about Alexis' uneasy feeling? Think there's any merit to it? ;) Please leave a comment and tell me what you think of the story! I'm loving all the reviews so far! Smallville and Castle fans unite! lol

Thank you to those of you who are just reading as well! I appreciate you too!

Clois and Caskett Forever! ;) :D