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Beckett hit end on her cell. Lanie had the preliminary results back from the lab and they needed to see her before she could inform the next of kin. She stood and looked over at Castle. He seemed to be lost in his head. She was sure it had something to do with the phone call, but prodding wasn't something she would do. It was none of her business, but she still wished she could help in someway. She pushed that feeling away and moved so that she was right in front of him.
"You coming?" Kate asked but didn't wait for a response, instead she continued around him and toward the elevator.
"Yeah." His voice was soft, and if she hadn't been listening she probably would of missed it.
He caught up with her at the elevator after she pushed the button and came to stand beside her. A little close, but she would let it slide because she couldn't say she minded all that much. She felt Castle's hand brush against her hand and she couldn't stop the smile from coming across her face. She turned her head to look him in the eye and found an emotion that she couldn't quite place, yet knew she had seen before. It disappeared after a moment and smiled at her.
"So any plans with motorcycle boy tonight?"
"It's motorcycle man, Castle and no, I don't think so. We have this case now so I will be rather occupied. What about you? " Kate said not wanting to talk too much more about it. Things weren't perfect with Josh, and that was her business, plus if she gave any hint of a problem she knew he'd start poking. It's just what he did.
"Yep, I have a date..." Kate couldn't stop the catch in her breath when she heard him say date and paused even though she knew he was still in a relationship. She caught herself letting it out slowly when he continued. "... with Nikki Heat. My publisher is demanding the next chapter so I really need to get some writing done."
"She's just your publisher now? Trouble in paradise?" Kate asked with her eyebrows raised. She had heard the rumors of a previous dispute between them but decided it was best to let him bring it up.
"You could say that and I wouldn't call it paradise. Far from it, my own private hell maybe. Anyway, it will all be over soon once we get the chance to talk again. "
"Over?" He didn't say anything and she didn't didn't push. Just what did he mean by that? "You know if you need to go talk to her, I can handle Lanie on my own. You don't have to stay."
"No..." He paused, took a breath. "Yeah, maybe I better go talk to her. You'll tell me what Lanie had to say though, right?"
"Yeah. Go ahead. I got this. Might give Lanie and I a chance to chat anyway."
"Girl talk. I like it. Talking about anyone special?" He grinned at her and she turned away slightly, trying to hide her own smile. "No, don't tell me. I would rather just believe the talk is about how hot you think I am. " Castle said just as the elevator opened up.
"Oh yeah Castle. Like we can't find anything or anyone else to talk about but you." He looked over and grinned at her as they elevator came to a stop at the bottom floor. They both stepped out and made their way out onto the sidewalk.
"Go, get out of here and come back more focused on the case." Kate said with a small laugh as she gave him a little push with her hand. She felt Castle reach out and give her hand a squeeze before he hailed a cab.
Kate stood their and watched the cab drive away before shook her head and chuckled. She got into her own car and headed toward the morgue thinking about the much needed girl talk and what Lanie found.
XOXOXOXOXOX
"Hey Lanie. What you got for me?" Kate asked as she walked into the morgue.
"Well hello to you to girl. You seem to be a bit distracted today which I want to hear about in a few. First things first like, fingerprints confirmed that your vic is a Katarina Footelli."
Lanie reached over and grabbed the clipboard by the body. She scanned it one more time before continuing. "Tox screen came back normal so she didn't die of poisoning or drug overdose and the only visible bruising are the ones I pointed out at the crime scene."
"So you haven't found the cause of death yet?"
"Now hold on. I never said I didn't find the cause of death." She moved toward the body. "If you look carefully along her neck you will see a thin line that looks like it wraps around her entire neck now that the bruising has subsided. I looked into what could cause that kind of mark and found it was some kind of old tool used for strangulation. Definitely not something I have seen before though." Lanie stated.
"Okay, if I find the tool used to make these marks, could you tie it to the body?"
"Maybe. I can probably match the type, but I really doubt I can see that particular tool did it."
"Thanks Lanie." Kate said but hesitated before saying anything else. She settled for sitting on an empty table.
"What's on your mind and come to think of it where's your shadow? I thought he was coming down with you."
Kate shrugged. "I told him to take off. He had to go take care of something but said he'd be back later."
"Take care of something or someone? I saw the look he was giving you at the crime scene and definitely felt a vibe coming off both of you. I also know what I have read in the paper lately about our resident writer."
"I didn't ask. Besides, it's really none of my business. He said he would be back later is all and I thought I would use this time to chat. Speaking of which, what's up with you and Esposito? I saw the same vibe coming from the both of you. " Kate said as she decided to put the focus back on Lanie.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Anyway, what's with you and Josh? You haven't mentioned him much lately."
The mention of Josh's name made Kate's eyes drop slightly and a frustrated look crossed her face.
"Josh and I are... well, I don't know what we are exactly to tell the truth. I think that is the problem right now. We had yet another fight on the phone just before heading to the crime scene and I left him with a choice to either trust me or not. "
"Oh honey... Trust you on what exactly? You need to fill me in on what you are talking about as it obviously has you in a tizzy right now."
"I am not in a tizzy and who uses that word anyway?" Kate huffed. "Josh questioned my relationship with Castle and I told he has to make the choice to trust me. We are not together as we are both with other people right now."
"Oh please girl. We both know that just because you are two are dating other people doesn't mean anything. You two have a connection with each other everyone around you can see and I know you both feel. I get that you would never cheat on your boy but I also suspect the those feelings you have for Castle have never completely gone away. In fact, I would venture to say they are getting stronger no matter how hard you fight against it. Am I getting close to what is really on your mind?"
"Maybe."
"Looks like Josh isn't the only one with a choice to make. I'm willing to bet that Castle has made his own while he was out taking care of business. The question is Kate, what choice are you going to make?"
"I don't know Lanie. Josh is a nice guy but there is something missing. I know it and he knows it. I know he trusts me but if I am honest I'm not so sure I trust myself. " Kate said quietly thinking back to the small touches by Castle.
"Maybe what's missing is that he doesn't make you feel alive. He doesn't keep you on your toes. Know anyone who might fit that description?"
Kate had to smile at this statement by Lanie. She looked at her phone noticing a text from Castle saying he was on his way back. A faint smile crossed her face but quickly went away. Not wanting to have him meet her in the morgue, she sent a text back telling him to meet her at her desk. She looked up to Lanie looking at her with a knowing smile.
Kate shook her head and responded. "Yeah, I think I do. I should be getting back. Castle is on his way and I just told him I would meet him back in the bullpen."
"Sure. I'll let you know if anything else comes up."
Kate looked back at Lanie with a slight wave headed out of the morgue.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Kate had just got back to her desk when she looked up to see Castle getting off the elevator, 2 coffees in hand. She took a moment to study his face as he walked her direction. She noticed his eyes were a little downcast but the spring in his step was back. A contradiction in terms. She turned her head and gave him a slight smile when she met his eyes.
"Everything taken care of now I hope?" Kate asked.
"Yep. I'm touched you care."
"Oh, you thought I cared, I'm sorry." She said placing a hand to her chest and smirked. "I just wanted your focus back as this case just got a little more interesting." She kept a careful eye on her partner
"You wound me, Detective." Kate heard him give a slight chuckle before he continued "Speaking of the case, what did you find out from Lanie?"
"Well, we definitely know our fingerprints matched those of a Katarina Footelli like we suspected. What is interesting is the cause of death. She was killed by some old strangulation device. If we can find the tool that was used in the strangulation, Lanie might be able to tie it to the body."
"Tool? Interesting, very, very interesting. Wonder if she was a top CIA agent targeted for termination? " Castle theorized.
"Oh please Castle, why does everything have to come down to the CIA with you?"
"Remember what I said? Law of averages demands I will eventually be right so not going to stop now."
"Your insights are never boring Castle." Kate said as she chuckled but then turned serious. "First though we need to inform her next of Kin. Let's hope the family can give us some insight into her background. "
"If she has a child like we suspect, this will not be an easy visit You are the best one to make it though. I mean that, really. "
"It never is, but the sooner we visit Mr. Footelli, the faster we can solve this case and maybe start to get some answers." Kate said as she picked up her coat with the husband's work address in hand. She had already called him to be sure he would be at his work place when they arrived. "Let's go."
Need to thank my wonderful beta, Xonze, for working with me on this chapter. Xonze definitely helped me fine tune some parts and make it better. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
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