Hope this new case makes sense to everyone. Any suggestions and or critiques are welcomed.
*I don't own anything*
Chapter Six:
"She was killed by a heroin overdose, only after she was tortured for at least 10 hrs." Lanie explained when they were all gathered around the table.
"Damn it!" Ryan shouted, roughly pushing his hair out of his eyes. Esposito still hadn't given him back his hair stuff yet. "He really has started again."
"Who started what again?" Castle asked.
"Billy Track, drug lord and prostitution ring master." It was Beckett who provided the answer. "Four years ago we found two bodies, the same as this one. When we thought we had a suspect, we ended up stumbling into a narcotics operation. I actually arrested Ryan, who was undercover at the time."
"Whoa, you thought Ryan could have done something like this?" Esposito gestured with his hand at the body.
"No. He wasn't a suspect just someone we had to talk to. This Track guy was running a prostitution ring of kidnapped girls and a narcotics business, simultaneous."
"They were just girls. I never even heard of them before. I was only a part of the narcotics operation." Ryan sounded ready to break. "After Beckett arrested me, we joined teams and went after Track together. It was the worst time in my life."
Esposito noticed Ryan's eyes begin to water and stepped in, "Okay so we know who it is, now we just have to go get him."
Ryan shook his head, "We can't, I can't. Track said he would kill me the next time he saw me. He is the one who shot me in the shoulder. I let these girls down once already, how can I do it again?" Ryan's eyes pleaded with Esposito's for some kind of answer before walking out of the room. Esposito looked at Beckett and she nodded her approval so he followed his partner.
Esposito followed Ryan into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. Ryan was standing over the sink with his head bowed. Esposito walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. He placed a soft kiss to the back of the man's neck. "Your hair is wet."
"I can't stand it hanging in my face, so I slicked it back. Get over it." Ryan responded turning out of his partner's arms. "And I want my damn hair stuff back!" He turned and faced his partner, glaring. When he saw the hurt in the other's eyes, he broke.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's the case." Ryan moved back to Esposito and kissed him full on the lips. "I'm sorry." They kissed for a minute, Esposito knowing that it was what Ryan needed, before Esposito pulled away.
"Kevin, talk to me." Ryan rested his forehead against his partner's.
"What can I say? I was undercover, trying to bust a narcotics ring when I get arrested in connection to a series of murders. Beckett and I combined our efforts and we failed. End of story." Ryan once again turned away from his partner. "When Beckett let me go, I went to find out about the girls. Javi, it was bad. I didn't find out all the details, we still don't know why the girls were tortured. A third body turned up and I didn't stop it. My cover was blown before we could get any solid evidence." Ryan leaned against the wall and looked at his partner. Esposito clenched his jaw.
"Why did he shoot you?"
Ryan laughed, "I was a cop who managed to work his way into the heart of the organization. I was lucky he didn't kill me back then."
"But he promised too?"
"Yes."
"Damn it Kevin. Why haven't you told me this before? I asked you about that scar." Esposito moved away from the sink he had been leaning against.
"Why haven't you told me about your battle wounds?" Ryan asked squaring off with Esposito. The other man growled before answering.
"That's not the same thing and you know it." Ryan's body relaxed. He ran his hands over his face and back through his wet hair. "We can't do this now. We have to get back to work." Ryan placed a hand on Esposito's chest. "We will talk at home." He walked out of the bathroom and back to work.
Beckett and Castle were discussing something when Ryan and Esposito rejoined them.
"You two love birds work out your little tiff?" Castle asked with a grin.
"No." Ryan answered not even giving the question a second thought. Castle, Beckett, and Esposito all looked at him opened mouthed. Ryan stood in front of the murder board, studying it intently. "What did Lanie say?" he asked. Beckett exchanged a look with Castle before answering.
"The substance in the wounds turned out to be salt. She also discovered that the victim had sex with multiple partners, which adds to the theory that she was working as a prostitute. How did your canvas go?" She turned to Esposito who answered.
"Bust. The people who lived nearby were so used to seeing strange things they just ignore it at this point. We are waiting for surveillance videos from surrounding shops but they won't get in till tomorrow." Esposito was staring at Ryan's back, worried that Ryan hadn't moved since he walked up to it.
"I'm going to get in contact with my Narc buddies and see if Track has been up to anything lately." Ryan said suddenly walking to his desk and grabbing his coat. He saw Beckett start to protest, but he held up his hand. "My guys will keep it quiet. I trust them." Ryan walked out of the bull pen to call his friends outside. Esposito walked up to Beckett and Castle.
"You are aware that he just admitted you too are together right?" Castle asked. Esposito glared at him.
"You got a problem with it, you can leave."
"Whoa man, calm down. I'm cool. I'm happy for you guys." Castle's smile was genuine so Esposito relaxed.
"I'm happy for you guys too but you have to be careful. If Gates finds out you two are screwed." Beckett said sternly.
"Yeah I got it. But just so you know, I will leave this job in a second to keep him." Beckett smiled and nodded her approval.
"Aww, that's so sweet. So can I put this in the book?" Castle asked picking up a pen and paper.
"NO!" Beckett and Esposito said together. Castle's shoulders slumped as he frowned, "fine" he muttered under his breath. Esposito and Beckett turned back to the board.
"Were there any drugs found on the body?" Esposito asked.
"Yeah actually Lanie found traces of heroin on the girl's clothes. Track's drug of choice." Beckett read the report.
"Track hasn't been up to anything suspicious lately." Ryan said as he walked back into the room. "But my guy will keep his eyes and ears open. What did I hear about heroine?"
"Traces found on the body." provided Castle.
Alright. I'm going to call the guy we worked with last time and see if we can work together again. The rest of you go home. Ryan, Esposito I want you to start on the surveillance videos first thing tomorrow." Everyone nodded in agreement and started to leave. Ryan and Esposito grabbed their stuff and headed to the elevator.
"Have a nice evening boys." Castle shouted their way and wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Beckett smacked him. Esposito growled and Ryan looked confused.
"What was that about?" he asked his partner as the elevator doors began to close.
"You outed us to Beckett and Castle." Ryan's jaw dropped and he stood there shocked.