*Here is the next part guys.
I don't know how many of you have seen the most recent episode of Castle, but just know that I am NOT psychic and I love the writers of the show.
** Rubix: I get what you mean about needing the info for your mental picture, but i haven't quite nailed down what Track looks like. I'm getting major imput for when he finally shows up so I hope it is worth it.
*** and of course I don't own anything.
**** I am aware that New Yorkers do not say "y'all" but I am from the South in America and that's what we say, so that is what it shall be

Chapter Eight:

Esposito awoke to the sound of the alarm clock blaring. He reached over to turn it off and noticed that he was alone in the bed. He sat up to find his partner and heard the shower turn off. Ryan walked into the bedroom with a towel around his waist.

"Nice view, bro." Esposito said as Ryan dropped the towel to get dressed.

"Glad you like it." Ryan said with his back turned. "Now get dressed, we have to go." Ryan pulled on his boxers and went over to the closet.

"Hey what's the rush?" Esposito got out of bed. "How can you come in looking like that and then tell me we have to leave?" Esposito stood behind his partner and wrapped his arms around his waist. He began to kiss the back of Ryan's neck and shoulders. "We have plenty of time before we have to go in, let's go back to bed." Ryan grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt and moved away from the kisses at his neck. He started to get dressed.

"We have those surveillance videos to go over. If you want to go back to bed fine, but I'm going to work." Ryan grabbed his wallet and keys off the dresser and left. Esposito stood in the middle of the room dumbfounded and naked. Ryan had never turned him down for sex before. Not to mention that he left the apartment in jeans and one of Esposito's shirts. Something was obviously bothering Ryan about this case. Esposito got the feeling that he hadn't been completely honest last night. He made a mental note to ask him about it later, before getting into the shower. No point in going back to bed if he was going to be by himself plus he was still covered in last night's activities.

Ryan had reviewed the tapes for an hour before Esposito showed up. He looked up as a styrofoam cup of coffee was placed next to him.

"Thanks." Ryan had been in such a hurry to get to the tapes he hadn't had any coffee this morning.

"Find anything yet?" Esposito sat down next to him.

"No."

"Which tape are you looking at?"

"ATM, from across the street. The Only thing I've seen is a black van which dumped the body. No visibility on the driver or the plates."

Esposito studied the screen."Is this where the victim worked?"

"Yeah, what are you thinking?"

"Maybe we should take a look at the nights before she was murdered; maybe she got into an altercation with someone." Esposito turned his head to look at Ryan. Ryan had a huge smile on his face.

"That's a great idea bro. I hadn't thought of that." Esposito sat back and watched as Ryan began to scroll back through the tapes. Sure enough, the night before she was murdered their victim got into a very heated and physical argument with a guy.

"Now all we have to do is run his picture and find out who this slime bag is." Esposito said excitedly.

"No need, I know who it is. Come on, we have to talk to Beckett now." Ryan got up and clapped his partner on the shoulder. The two men went out of the room to find Beckett.

They found her in the bull pen with Castle and another man, who had his back to the boys. Esposito had no idea who the man was but the same couldn't be said for Ryan.

"Taylor? What are you doing here?" Ryan practically ran up to him. Taylor gave him a big bear hug, clapping him on the back. Anyone looking at Esposito couldn't have missed the glare of jealousy pass over his face.

"Beckett called me in. She talked to the Captain and he loaned me out. But don't get any ideas Kevin; I don't have any plans of transferring." Taylor laughed, wrapping his arm around Ryan's shoulders. Esposito could hear the Brooklyn in his accent.

"Ryan, Espo, you too looked like you had something to say when y'all walked in here, so what is it." Beckett asked, probably noticing the death glares Esposito was shooting at the back of Taylor's head.

"Yeah, Esposito had the idea of checking the last few days before our victim was found. I was getting nowhere on the day the body showed up." Ryan answered.

"And judging by the grin on your face, I'm gonna guess you found something?" Castle chimed in.

"Yes. Our victim got into a fight with Rex Cutter. And yes Castle that is his real name." Castle stuffed his fist in his mouth to keep from commenting.

"Shit, Cutter? Really?" Taylor asked, shaking his head.

"That's what he said isn't it?" Esposito spit out. Ryan glared at him while Taylor looked at him with a knowing smile on his face. Esposito didn't like it and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"So this really is Track's gang. Cutter may only be a bit player, but Track likes to keep him around." Taylor continued.

"Castle, you and I are gonna go pick up this Cutter guy. Ryan, Abigail's phone records are here. I want you to go over them, see if you recognize any of the numbers. Espo, go over to her apartment and go over everything. I don't want to send Ryan over there in case anyone from Track's organization is watching the place." Everyone nodded and went off in separate directions.

Esposito went into the break room from more coffee. He felt Taylor behind him before the man said anything.

"How long have you two been sleeping together?" Taylor asked, acting nonchalant.

"What?" Esposito splashed the hot liquid on his hand. "Shit."

Taylor laughed as Esposito scrambled to clean up his hand. "I thought so."

Taylor gave one last chuckle at Esposito and walked out of the room. Esposito glared again as he gave Taylor the once over. Taylor was tall and lanky with shaggy hair, dirty blonde that looked like it needed to be washed, multiple times. The ends curled over the edge of the man's leather jacket. Taylor walked with a strut that gave off the impression that he thought he was the shit. Instead, Esposito thought he had been out on the streets way too long. Esposito didn't like the way Taylor was looking at Ryan as he sat on his desk. Taylor was a smooth talker, but Esposito didn't buy the act. He knew something was up, he just didn't know what it was. He tried to catch Ryan's eye as he headed towards the exit, but Ryan was engrossed in a conversation with Taylor. Esposito shook his head as he left.

Ryan laughed again at another memory Taylor brought up. "Dude it really is good to see you again. Its been too long."

"Yeah man. Way too long." Taylor replied, looking Ryan's body over from head to foot and slowly bringing his eyes back up to Ryan's. Ryan shifted uncomfortably.

"Don't do that." Ryan glanced around.

"Your boyfriend isn't here. He left five minutes ago. I'm guessing that's his shirt you're wearing right? It looks damn good on you Kevin." Taylor picked up Ryan's coffee cup and took a drink.

"Drop it Anthony. This isn't a conversation to have here." Ryan went back to his work. He glanced down at the shirt he was wearing and smiled to himself. He hadn't even realized that he had grabbed his partner's shirt this morning.

"Does he know?" Taylor asked, suddenly getting serious.

"About Track? Yes. About you and me? No." Ryan didn't even bother looking up. "We were over a long time ago, he doesn't need to know."

"Oh I think he would be interested to know that he isn't the first partner you've slept with." Taylor stood up to leave. "I'm gonna go see if I can dig up some old contacts with Track's boys. It was good to see you Kevin." Taylor bent down and whispered in Ryan's ear. "I hope it won't be the last time."

Taylor left the precinct just as Castle and Beckett came in with Rex Cutter. Ryan noticed that Castle had tissue stuck up his nose to stop the bleeding. Cutter was shouting obscenities in between hitting on Beckett. As soon as he saw Ryan looking at him he shut up. A huge smile spread across his face as he was taken into the interview room. Ryan pushed aside a bad feeling and went back to his work. He was marking the numbers he knew when he saw one start to pop up more and more the closer to the time of death. It was a number Ryan had once seen very often on his own phone. Ryan looked up confused. It couldn't be possible, he had gotten out right after Ryan's cover was blown.

Ryan jumped as his phone went off in his pocket. He read the text message from Esposito, 'Is he gone yet?' knowing that he was talking about the very person Ryan had just been thinking about. The phone records showed that Abigail Preston was in constant communication with Ryan's old partner.