Chapter 7

Castle and Beckett found a convenience store attached to a gas station where they were able to get toothbrushes and toothpaste, which they were very glad to use. As happy as it made them to see the mall a little further down the road, it might have been the Emerald City. The gates were just being raised on the anchoring department store. Beckett rushed to find clean underwear while Castle enjoyed watching her pick it out and actually insisted on adding some sexy silkiness to the purchases. Beckett insisted on professional attire to interview J.B. Jones, including a stiff white blouse.

Castle balked when the store didn't have the soft boxers he loved, but settled for what was available. The black t-shirts that were his wardrobe staples were easy to find, but not so much what to put over them. He muttered about poor women in China being paid almost nothing to produce substandard products, but finally found something to take into the try-on booth.

"Beckett," he called after a few minutes, "could you come see how this looks?"

"Castle," she answered impatiently, "why don't you just come out and show me?"

"Because I really need you in here," he answered.

"All right," Beckett agreed grudgingly. As she approached, Rick reached a hand through the curtains and pulled her inside.

He wore one of his new t-shirts and boxers which were tenting. "I see see how you need me," she quipped.

"I couldn't stop thinking about what's under all that starchiness."

"Then I guess you'll have to see it again," Kate told him. She started to unbutton her blouse, but he pushed her fingers aside to do it himself, laying a trail of kisses where the fabric parted. The new clothes fell away and in the tight confines of the tiny space, he lifted her to him, bracing his back against the full length mirror. Their lips met and held as they moved, catching sounds that might otherwise penetrate the feeble barrier until their personal storm rose and passed.

After redressing and making quick use of newly purchased combs and brushes, they pulled back the curtains and met a smiling salesperson at the register. As the salesperson handed back Castle's credit card he said, "I'd tell you to have a nice day, but I think you are already having one." Beckett blushed deep red, but Castle just raised an eyebrow and gave the man a lopsided grin.

J.B. Jones lived in a gated community. The landscaping was difficult to see under the snow, but the bushes and shrubs that were visible were manicured, the drives well plowed and freshly surfaced, and the paint on the ornate iron fences shiny and uncracked. Beckett showed the guard her I.D. and she and Castle were directed to a mansion at the top of a hill. The door was answered by a giant and a German shepherd. Fortunately the giant held the shepherd's collar. Beckett showed her I.D. Again, introduced Castle and asked to speak to J.B. Jones.

Beckett and Castle were shown into a temple to the sports gods. The walls were covered with framed uniforms and other memorabilia and a sixty inch flat screen. Following Castle's gaze at a football jersey, Jones proudly announced that he had recently become an investor in the team.

"Mr. Jones," Beckett asked. "Are you familiar with Leto Labs?"

"Of course," Jones answered. "My equity company, Sky High, owns most of the stock. Terrible tragedy about Judith Spicer. She may be impossible to replace."

"What happens if you can't?" Castle asked.

"I don't want to think about it," Jones replied, "but it may be the end of Leto. That would mean a bath for me and all my investors. I'm hoping it won't come to that."

"Mr. Jones," Beckett told him, "you understand these questions are just for the record, but where were you four nights ago?"

"I was in New York," Jones answered. "I had tickets to 'First Date.'"

"Good choice," Castle said. "I've always been a 'Chuck' fan."

Jones gave Castle a slightly blank look, but quickly covered with a smile and a nod.

"Just one more thing, Mr. Jones," Beckett said. "What kind of a car do you drive?"

"I have several," Jones answered.

"What kind of a car did you drive to New York?" Beckett clarified.

"A Land Rover Range Rover," Jones answered proudly, "It will get you through anything."

Beckett thanked him for his time and she and Castle left.

"He is lying," Castle said as soon as they were back in the car. "'First Date' stars Zac Levi. He did Chuck for five years. How could he not know that? And did you see the way his clothes fit? His vest needed a couple of darts. No one used to money would dress like that. A Range Rover? Ostentatious."

"Says the man with a Ferrari, but strangely enough, Castle," Beckett told him, "I agree with you. He was way too eager to tell us what a loss he could take from Leto and he did have too ready an explanation for his presence in the city. He probably thought we could track him. I'll have the boys look into him a little more." With that Beckett called Esposito and got back on the road.

After a stop for hot chocolate and macaroni and cheese, the reached the 12th late in the afternoon. "Yo, Esposito called. "You may be right about Jones. The Range Rover he drives is black. His house is rented and he had no charges on his credit cards for 'First Date' or any other musical. Also, I talked to Margaret Keaton. Leto labs wanted to take out key man insurance on Judith Spicer and J.B. Jones, as Chairman of the Board of Leto, vetoed the idea. He made sure that if something happened to Spicer, Leto would go down."

"All right," Beckett said, "what we have now is a lovely piece of conjecture. What we need is proof. Ryan, see if you can trace the movements of that Land Rover. Maybe we can get a picture of a plate somewhere near the lab."

"We also need to find out how Jones could have gotten into the building and how he would have known what to do with the cyanide. Who does the Chairman of the Board talk to?"

Castle and Beckett looked at each other. "The CEO!"

Paul Brown had left Leto Labs for the day but Beckett and Castle were able to find him at his apartment. "Mr. Brown," Beckett told him, "we need to know who outside of Leto might have had access to the building and also to the details of Judith Spicer's work."

Brown looked confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"For example,"Castle put in, "Board members. Could any of the have gotten into the building? Did any of them know exactly what Judith Spicer was doing?"

"Well of course I had to keep the Board informed of Judith's Spicer's research. The future of the company is riding on it. Access to the building? I believe J.B. Jones got a key and an alarm code when he was here for a visit a few months ago, but you don't think..."

Beckett smiled calmly. "We're not thinking anything, Mr. Brown, we just need complete information. Thank you for your time."

Beckett and Castle left, but Beckett stopped Castle with a hand on his arm and a finger to her lips outside Paul Brown's door. On the other side, they could hear Paul Brown calling J.B. Jones.

"The police were asking about Board members," Brown said. "No of course I don't think you're involved, but you did have a key. All right, I know you have other things to worry about. I'll let you know about anything that happens."

"There's Jones' information source," Castle said as soon as they were clear of the apartment. "Brown probably called him with everything that happened."

Beckett looked grim. "I'm going to put a protective detail on Brown. If Jones thinks he's a danger, he may come after him too."

Alexis was waiting for Castle and especially Beckett at the loft, eager to announce her success with the moot trial. In order to prove that evidence had been planted, she set up a crowd sourcing scenario for witnesses. It had been enough to convince a jury and score a win for the defense.

"Crowd sourcing!" Castle yelled, grabbing Alexis and kissing her forehead. "That's it!" He ran for his office. Alexis gave Beckett a questioning look, but Beckett merely shrugged and shook her head.

Castle spent the rest of the evening and well into the night in his office. Beckett felt the bed depress as he finally lay down and turned to hold him. Feeling the tension in his shoulders, she began to rub out the knots.

"Mmmm, that is good," Rick murmured. "Thank you."

"What were you doing?" Kate asked.

"Trying to get Mother funded. I'll tell you about it if it works."

"Come here," Kate told Rick, pulling him around to face her so that she could kiss him.

Her face glowed and Rick smiled quizzically. "What?"

"I love the way you love, Alexis, your mother, me."

Rick stroked her cheek and took her in his arms. "And I love the way you love me."

A/N OK, a little Easter egg for NF fans. He did take over some of Zac Levi's hosting duties at the panels Nerd HQ did for Operation Smile this summer, to save Zac's voice so he could sing in "First Date", which is still on Broadway. It must be nice to have friend like Nathan.