Ok so I realize that I pretty much suck at case writing but I'm trying. I hope my description of the bad guy makes people happy, my co-worker says she loves him.
Chapter 10:
Beckett pulled up to the club that served as the legitimate cover for Track's illegitimate business. Esposito had heard of the place before but it wasn't the type of place that he would go. Track 80 was very popular with the young and rich.
"Hey I've been here before." Castle announced getting out of the car.
"Why does that not surprise me?" Beckett answered as she too got out and Esposito snorted; it was just the type of place Castle would go. Esposito was last out of the car, bracing himself for what lay ahead. Although Ryan had assured him that Track was nothing, he still had his doubts. The three of them made their way into the closed night club.
"We don't open till eight tonight guys." The bartender hollered at them from behind the bar.
"NYPD, we need to talk to the boss." Beckett held up her badge as they walked to the bar.
"Yes ma'am. I'll go get him." He set down the glass he had been drying off and threw the towel in his hand over his shoulder. He walked through a door to the back and was back again in under a minute.
"He'll be right out." He went back to his glasses.
"Thank you." Beckett faced the dance floor and the boys gathered around her.
"What's the plan exactly?" Esposito asked.
"Just trying to rattle his cage. Frankly we really don't have anything on him." They all sighed heavily as her words settled on them.
"I'll be right back John. Just gotta talk to the cops real quick." Track laughed as he came in from the back. Esposito's jaw dropped as he got his first look at Billy Track. The man was nothing like he had imagined. Esposito knew from his file that Track was in his mid-thirties. His dark hair was cut short and made his handsome face youthful. Esposito could see a line or two on the man's face but he wore them well. Track was dressed in a tailored white button up and well fitted jeans. He was pulling on a blue blazer as he walked up to the group.
"How can I help you officers?" Track asked sticking his hands in his pockets. The move brought Esposito's eyes to Track's thick, well sculpted thighs and what he could tell was sizeable crotch. Bluntly put, the man was hot! Esposito gulped and looked up. He met Track's green eyes and saw a hint of the man behind the façade.
"Mr. Track, I'm detective Kate Beckett, this is detective Esposito and this is-"
"Richard Castle. I've seen you in here a few times. It's nice to actually meet you." Track cut Beckett off and shook hands with Castle.
"Same here." Castle shook back, feeling the glare Beckett was giving him.
"Mr. Track, have you seen this girl before?" Beckett asked, taking back control of the conversation. She handed over a photo of their victim taken from her apartment. "Her name is Abigail Preston."
"Can't say that I do." He took the picture and looked it over. "A lot of people come into my club detective, I can't remember everyone."
"I'm not talking about your club Mr. Track. I'm wondering if you recognize her from your other business endeavors."
"I don't know what you mean." He handed the photo back completely unfazed.
"We have Intel that she was one of your girls."
"Then you have been misinformed." Track stuck his hands back into his pockets.
"If you say so Mr. Track. Sorry to have bothered you. Have a nice day." Beckett turned and headed towards the door. Castle and Esposito looked at each other, clearly baffled by the turn of events. Castle followed her while Esposito gave one last looked at Track.
"Oh, Detective Beckett, please say hello to Detective Ryan for me." Track hollered as the trio reached the door. Beckett had to hold Esposito back when Track started laughing.
"Leave it Espo. Let's go, now!" They walked outside and Esposito kicked at the tire of their car.
"Damn it! What the hell was that Beckett?" Esposito violently turned to face Beckett. "You knew we didn't have anything. And how the hell does he know we know Ryan? If he goes after him I swear to God-"
"Javier, calm down." Beckett moved towards him but stopped at his glare. "I had to get him suspicious. That way he will go after his leak. He won't go after Ryan I promise you that. He knows that I know Ryan which is why he said that."
"Can we just go please? I wanna check on Ryan." Esposito got into the back seat and slammed the car door. Beckett and Castle looked at each other. Castle raised his hands in a shrug. They both got into the car and headed back to the station.
Esposito threw himself into his chair and glanced at Ryan's empty desk. He pulled out his phone and dialed his partner.
"This is Kevin Ryan, leave a message."
"Hey, bro. Track was a bust. Just wondering what's up with that lead you got. Call me asap and watch your back. I don't like this Track guy." Esposito hung up the phone. He scrolled through his pictures and clicked on his favorite one. It was a candid shot of Ryan getting dressed one morning. It was the weekend so Ryan was in jeans and was in the process of pulling his t-shirt over his head. Esposito loved the way Ryan's body was slightly twisted so he could see both his abs and the lines of his back. As cheesy as it sounds, Esposito loved the hard lines of Ryan's back; loved tasting him as he ran his tongue along those lines. Esposito and Ryan weren't the lovey dovey couple that took dozens of pictures together. In fact they didn't have a single one. Esposito knew that Ryan kept a newspaper clipping of them at a crime scene, tucked in the back of his wallet but that was it. They both had their little quirks that reminded them of their relationship; like when Ryan accidentally wore Esposito's shirt to work today.
Esposito quickly shut his phone off when someone walked by. He cursed himself for getting lost in the moment. He got up and grabbed some coffee before heading off to the video room to go over surveillance videos some more. He paid no attention to Beckett and Castle who were both watching him from her desk. He didn't know what they were working on and frankly he didn't give a damn. All he could think about was nailing Track before he could go after Ryan again.
"He's pissed." Castle whispered to Beckett once they saw the door to the video room close. They were seated at her desk looking at the murder board, trying to come up wiht something, anything.
"No shit Sherlock." Beckett smirked. They had both watched as Esposito stared at something on his phone.
"Well excuse me. Just pointing out what I see." Castle held up his hands in surrender, "Do you actually believe what you said to him back at the club? That Track won't go after Ryan?"
"I want to believe it. But I was first on scene when Ryan got shot. The bullet was so close to being fatal. Track could have killed him but he didn't and I can only guess as to why that is." Beckett and Castle shared a look that showed how scared they both really were. The moment was broken when the phone rang.
"Beckett." Beckett listened for a moment before a huge grin grew on her face." Just like I thought. Thank you. Just make sure he's available is we need him."
"Good news?" Castle leaned close.
"Track took the bait!" Beckett announced. She quickly stood up to put her coat on but stopped at the confused look on Castle's face.
"What bait?" He asked. Beckett sighed and explained.
"Track called Cutter because he knows he is the leak. The DA's office has Cutter in custody but Track doesn't know that. Cutter is supposed to show up at the club in two hours to 'talk'. But instead I will be there finally able to take this bastard down." Beckett finished and put her coat on. Castle nodded his understanding and stood up as she grabbed her car keys. At that moment Esposito franticly shot out of the video room.
"Beckett!" He shouted. "You've got to see this now." They all ran back into the room. Esposito rewound the tape he had been watching.
"I didn't catch it the first couple times I watched it but now I'm positive I know what it is." Esposito pointed at the screen while Beckett and Castle leaned over his shoulders. "This is from the day before Abigail's body turned up. Before I thought the guy was just a john, but watch."
They all watched as a man walked across the screen. He didn't show any inclination that Abigail was even there, although she momentarily flicked her eyes towards him. Two minutes later he walked back across the screen going in the opposite direction and this time Abigail followed him.
"Looks like a john to me. What's the big deal?" Castle stood back.
"The big deal is who the guy is. Look at this." Esposito switched to a different angle that showed the man's face after he walked by Abigail. Beckett gasped.
"That's Ryan's old partner. That's Taylor!"