Chapter 2

She handed Beckett a slip of paper with the name 'Alistor Brooke'. "Great." She began walking , and, not recognizing the familiar presence of Castle looming behind her, she stopped. "Castle?"

"Oh." Quickly he caught up with Beckett. "Where now?"

"Questioning," She glanced at the paper again. "Alistor Brooke. He's the director and witnessed Moore's death."

"And we're only now getting to talk to him?"

"Castle, believe it or not, but there are people out there who are more sensitive than you. And if they witness a murder, they may go into shock and not talk for hours." Beckett said.

Castle held the door open for Beckett. Inside a few paramedics were putting away their doctor tools.

Hello, Mr. Brooke. I'm Detective Kate Beckett. This is Richard Castle the author.

"Hey." Castle did a quick little wave.

"Mr. Brooke, will you please tell me what you saw?"

Brooke's eyes closed. "We came in early to practice a stunt. When he jumped, everything seemed normal. But when he didn't stop at the usual height, we both realized something was wrong. There was nothing I could do except watch as he hit the ground. I- I guess someone cut the wires? I don't know."

"Do you know if Mr. Moore had any enemies?" Beckett asked.

"I'm sorry, no. This is my first Broadway production, and I hadn't even met Justin until two weeks ago."

"Did you know Ella Fitzgerald, than?" Castle jumped in.

"Yeah. I met her once last week. I think she's Justin's girlfriend and manager." Brooke answered.

"Who last had access to the stage?" Beckett asked, folder out and taking notes again.

"The janitor, I think. Juan Sanchez." Brooke nodded.

"Where can I talk to Mr. Sanchez?"

"I'm not sure. Jack Moore, the president, fired him this morning."

"Why was he fired?" Castle asked.

"It's the janitor's job to make sure the wires and safety gear intact and working, When Jack found out his brother was dead, he lashed out and fired Juan. Not without putting a couple of holes in the wall, though."

"Does he have anger management problems?" Castle asked.

"I think he was seeing a therapist about it."

"Thank you," Beckett turned around and dialed Ryan's number.

"Ryan here." He answered.

"Hey. Got two more names for you."

"One sec." There was some rustling and scrambling. "K."

"Jack Moore. Juan Sanchez." Beckett listed.

"Got it." He said after a few seconds.

"Thanks." Beckett hung up.

"What now?" Castle asked taking a look around.

"I'm going to find his trailer, and take a look around. Who do I talk to, to find it?"

"Me." Castle said.

"What?" Beckett said annoyed, whipping around. Castle was dangling a key in front of his face."How did you get that?"

"I- um- I-" He scrambled to come up with an excuse, a story, whatever.

"You know what? I don't care." She snatched the key.

"But, it's a good, it's a good story." Castle cried.

"Castle. I don't need this now. Go home or get out of my hair. Your choice." She turned and began walking toward the back door.

"Castle." Lanie called. She was leaning on the door frame, when she nodded her head. Telling Castle to come over. He did. Lanie's eyes followed Beckett out the door. When the door slammed shut, Lanie converted her attention to Castle. "Beckett's sensitive right now."

"Yeah, I noticed." Castle said a little hurt.

"It's not you. It's the case." Lanie answered.

"What about the case?"

"If I tell you she'll shoot me. Just don't mention Mike Royce." With that, Lanie returned to the body zipping it up in the body bag.

Quietly, Castle walked out the door to catch up with Beckett. "Find anything?" Castle asked a little distracted.

"Nope. All normal here. Let's go down to the precinct and check into Moore's personal life."

"Beckett-" Castle started.

"Castle what did I say?"

"I was just going to say I'm sorry." He said protectively.

"Oh."