Ch. 20 Back For Business

"I hate to go." Kate wrapped her arms around Rick's waist and pulled him closer to her.

"Careful. You might be forced to head back home. Even though you talked with Gates." He smiled down at her and avoided being run into by a teenager chatting away on her cell phone.

"Every red head I see freaks me out." Kate had decided to confess everything about the case, except how they were working it. It had felt good to get it off her chest but by doing so, Rick incessantly worried about Alexis, as did Kate.

"Get in there and catch him. I know you can." He kissed her gently, and tugged on her ponytail.

"Bye." She gave him one last quick peck then walked on the heels of her t-straps, into the precinct. She wish she would have worn something different than a jean romper with a plain tee underneath it. And her black, knee socks, well, there were better choices. Because as soon as she stepped through the bullpen, she saw Cliff examining her.

"Glad to see you again Detective Beckett. You ready to catch the son of a bitch?" Cliff rubbed his head, as if to say that he is just fed up with people dieing.

"Yes. Did you review the old cases?" She sat at her desk and left him to stare at her white board.

"I have read those things through and through. I've had enough of those. You check them out and I'll have my team run similarities."

"Your team?" Kate closed the open file that lay on her desk and gave her attention to him.

"Yeah, my team. They're setting up in your conference room as we speak." He smiled, smugly, and left her to stare after him. She fought the curiosity that was coursing through her mind. Part of her wanted to meet his team but then, she trusted her team.

"Hey, Beckett. How are you?" Ryan climbed on the edge of her desk. He was smiling but dropped it when he saw her face. "What's wrong?"

"I don't like that man. He seems too full of it. I want to smack that smug look off his face." She leaned on her elbows and continued to stare at the space Cliff no longer occupied.

"Guy is a jerk but he is good. They already found a connection between two older cases."

"Who?"

"Shaya Reed and Gisella Moon. They went to the same high school. That's a start, right?" He cocked an eyebrow and treaded carefully away.

Kate knew it wasn't a coincidence but part of her thought that it was too easy. Just like the Vet's place. All of it seemed too similar. He killed them the same way but it just seemed to click too perfectly. And he had no reason or rhyme. Sure she didn't believe in coincidences but maybe just this time, she made an exception.

She grabbed Shaya's and Gisella's files and placed them side by side. Kate looked over Shaya who smiled in her school picture. Her eyes were emerald green and she had dimples. Her read hair was curled and pulled up into a ponytail. Gisella had braces and tried to not smile too widely. Her hair was left down, pin straight. And her eyes were the darkest shade of blue Kate had ever seen.

She pulled out her notepad and started to make a list. It is the best way of getting things down without the hassle of making a mess or confusing things.

Shaya:

Last seen leaving after school drama.

Talked to her friends: Marty and Livia. Said that she never would talk to someone that she didn't know. That she was shy. She walked home. Found two blocks away behind some foliage. Fifteen. Two shots, bullets removed. Burned prints.

Gisella Moon:

Last seen at student council meeting.

Always rode her bike home, never recovered her bike. Talked to friends: Kayla and Mary. Said that she was very friendly so it was possible that she stopped to talk to strangers. Found miles away in an alley. Two shots, bullets removed. Burned prints.

Kate scanned over what she had written but felt it was inadequate. She couldn't feel the same way as the detective assigned to the case. She had to write it down in her own perspective. Esposito was heading towards her and dropped more files on her desk.

"Crap job if you ask me. With these two, he pointed to two files, he never interviewed friends and family. What a load of crap. You planning on reopening, and talking to some people?"

"Definitely. Actually, I am heading out to some addresses right now. Want to come?"

"Nah. I can't. Cap wants me to watch them. Something is not right with this case. You feel it?"

"Yeah. I'll catch you later." She grabbed her keys and the list of addresses and tucked them in her notebook.

"Think you for talking to me Mrs. Reed." Kate sat down on a plastic covered couch and could already feel her legs starting to stick.

"Sure. I would do anything for my Shaya. She was a lovely girl you know. Friendly but kind of quiet. No one had a problem with her. And she wanted to be an actress so badly. She was good too. Was even scouted. But…" Her words trailed off like they were choking her from the inside.

"I understand that she always walked home."

"Yes, she loved the exercise." Mrs. Reed was a spitting image of an older Shaya and Kate had to remind herself to not get freaked out by it.

"Why didn't she walk with friends?"

"They all took the subway and I begged her to go with them but, she was strong willed."

"Would it be alright if I see her room?" Kate hesitated but she felt something and she always went with her gut. Mrs. Reed led Kate to the back of the apartment and opened the door to Shaya's room. The walls were a bright orange and there were pictures scattered everywhere. All along the walls, there were the faces of friends, family, and pets. Actors, actresses, film posters, adored the walls as well.

"I haven't touched it since well, but you are free to roam around as long as you put everything back. You go ahead, I can't right now." Mrs. Reed trailed off but not before Kate snuck out a thank you.

Kate went right to the wall of pictures, the whole wall was covered with them. There wasn't an inch of orange poking out beneath them. There was a picture of three kids laying on the ground and looking up. One was a young guy, hair shining and black. His eyes were a deep brown and he was smiling, goofily. Then there was a blonde, her eyes were a soft blue and she was smiling so wide, it looked like her cheeks would hurt. Kate took them as Marty and Livia. She had already planned to talk to them both. But as far as Kate could tell, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Shaya was just a girl who loved life and acting.

As Kate was leaving the room, she noticed, tacked to a cork board was a card for an acting scout. She copied the information and decided to have a talk with him as well. No stone could be left unturned.

"Thanks again Mrs. Reed. If I have anymore questions, I'll give you a call."

"Just find out who did this." Mrs. Reed looked worn out and fragile. But Kate couldn't promise, but she nodded anyway. Words couldn't be sufficient enough, this was a matter of the heart.

"My Gisella, oh, she was a tough cookie. Smart too." Mr. Moon's thick Italian accent made Kate smile.

"I know that they said that she always rode her bike home."

"Yes. We only live a few blocks away from school, I thought it was safe enough. But my Gisella, all she wanted to do was be president. She could have done it too."

The Moons' home was warm and welcoming. The walls were a soft brown color and the furniture was a sage green. It looked like a home that was lived in.

"Of the United States?" Kate seemed surprised and this caused Mr. Moon to laugh.

"She could have. She wanted it. Her mother, God rest her soul, passed not shortly after Gisella. She was heart broken. Couldn't take it." Kate ached for the man. His hair was long gone and his dark blue, eyes seemed to stay in a constant state of sadness, no matter how many times he smiled or convinced himself that it was alright.

"The detective on the case said that she wasn't herself that day. Do you agree?"

"Gisella was always happy. But yes, that morning she was a little sad. I regret not asking why but I shouldn't blame myself. Right?"

"Of course not. She isn't the only one. Do you mind if I see her room?"

"Go ahead, up the stairs, first door on your left."

Kate climbed the stairs and ran her hand along the all wood banister. When she opened the white door, she tried to take a breath, out of respect. Unlike Shaya's room, Gisella's was a functional shade of beige. Her walls were covered with news clippings and government updates. Presidents lined the walls and one wall contained a long list of accomplishments she had to get in order to run for president. Kate concurred with Mr. Moon, because this girl was dedicated to becoming president.

There were lists everywhere. Some with things relating to high school functions and some with policies that she would like to enforce.

Kate read the first policy about fracking and how it was truly good for the environment. And all the steps it would take to enforce it. All the obstacles and the budget that it would require. Gisella was very bright and had only one thing on her mind: molding herself to become the President of the United States. There were no pictures of relatives or friends. In all honesty, her room looked like a government official's office.

Feeling like she gathered all that could be done, Kate left. And once in her car, she tried to calm herself down. She checked her list of addresses and decided to start with Marty.

"Hello Marty Woods. I am Detective Kate Beckett and I am here to talk about Shaya."

"Wow, I haven't heard that name in a while. Come in, family's out grocery shopping." The door opened up to an expensively furnished place. Glass and paintings lined the walls. His black hair hadn't changed but his eyes seemed darker, like he had seen too much.

"I found her, you know. It had been two days since anyone had seen her and I saw birds flying high in the trees. A whole swarm of them, I ran to check it out and there she was." He looked down, afraid to cry but not one tear escaped. He gathered himself once more and proceeded on. "I had a crush on her but she had no idea. She was my first love." He wiped at his eyes but his head was bent in case he might cry.

"I am so sorry for your loss. I hate to drudge up the past but I am re-opening the case and I need any information that you can give me." Kate tried to not fall back into the couch, the cushions felt like plastic.

"No. I understand. Just ask away and I'll tell you anything I can." He looked back up at Kate and his eyes were red-rimmed.

"Thank you. Now, Shaya always walked home?" He nodded. "Why didn't you guys walk together? Her mother said that you rode the subway. Is that true?" Kate leaned on her knees and tried to get him to open up.

"No it isn't. Livia, Shaya, and I would go to this guy's house. Livia knew him through her sister. He would let us drink and do whatever we wanted to. Shaya never really drank but Livia would drink and let's just say that she can't hold her liquor."

"What was this guy's name?" Kate slid out her notepad from her pocket but the page was left unwritten. "You didn't know?"

"Look. This was a long time ago and I never knew his name. All I know is I got to drink and stuff. It'd be better to ask Livia."

"Oh I plan on that. But tell me this, why didn't you ever tell the police this?"

"I, we didn't want to get in trouble and ruin Shaya's perfect image. I'm sorry. Ok?"

Kate shook her head. She knew there was more to this story so she pushed him. "No. There are things you aren't telling me. Would you like to talk here or at my place?" He shook his head and fell back into his chair.

"Ok. We would walk together. All of us to this guy's place. From there he would give us a ride."

"You all rode home together?" He just shook his head. "She went by herself?"

"Yeah. He would drop her off at the corner so her mom wouldn't see. She even sprayed perfume on herself so her mom wouldn't smell the beer."

"You loved her, right?" He nodded. "Yet you left her to go by herself with a person whose name you didn't even know?" He took on a look of anger and she kept the flame going. "Tell me, why is that? Did you get a ride home from this mystery guy? Or did you go home safely? Because this guy whose name you lack to remember could have hurt her and many others like her. But I guess you didn't know that. If you think of anything else, call me." Kate tossed her card at him and slammed the front door shut after her. She was walking down the front steps of the building when she heard a door open behind her.

"Hold the fuck up!" He grabbed Kate's arm and turned her around. "You have no right to make me feel guilty! I did not hurt Shaya! I would never hurt Shaya! And Livia said this guy was cool! So maybe I was stupid to trust her! Stupid to trust him! But if I thought for one second that she was in danger I would have done something! I loved her!" He was still furious when he stopped.

"So why did you? If you were so sober, would you have let her go with him?" Kate waited while he tried to slow his breathing down. "You weren't were you? You weren't sober enough. How many times did you go to this guy's house?"

"Every day after school. Sometimes she would come in but others he would drive her home right away."

"And on her last day?"

"She didn't want to go at all. I never asked her why but as soon as she saw his house she turned cold. Like she was scared or something. I never thought anything of it because I wasn't too focused on her. I should have been."

"So she did walk home that day? All by herself?" When she saw his face tense, her stomach turned. "What happened Marty?"

"He was upset when he didn't see her. He asked why and I told him that she didn't want to come in. He said that he was worried about her and went out to find her. I never saw her again until I found her, dead."

"Do you remember his address?"

"Look, I tired to block it all out." He caught Kate's angry stare and re-worded himself. "No. I don't. It was some where in Queens, ok?"

"Let's hope that Livia is more open and honest than you." Kate proceeded to walk to her car when she was pushed up against her car.

"I am being honest. Livia is probably still fucked up. She was never right after Shaya. So, good luck." He shoved into her once more before running up his steps and into his house.

Kate ripped open her car door and immediately locked it once she was in. Her hands trembled and her mind flashed back to when she was in the alley. Her body froze at the thought of being completely helpless. Because in her mind, Shaya was helpless. She was a good kid and look where that got her. She was probably scared. How do we know he didn't torture them? Mentally? What if I can't find out who is doing this? What if I let down a bunch of families and the victims? What if I fail? I can't fail. I just can't.

Kate put her car into drive and peeled away from Marty's house. Just by getting a distance away from him, her body was able to relax once again. When she pulled up to Livia's house, she checked her phone to find twelve texts from Rick. She ignored them and made sure her phone was on silent.

The building was rundown with a horrid odor coming from the alley next to it. The door creaked when Kate pushed through it. The apartment building looked like no one cared about it. The purple wallpaper was all but peeled back to reveal wet wood. This place is one shake away from coming down.

"Can I help you?" Kate turned to look at an older woman with a frail looking body. Her hair was greasy and matted to her head. Her eyes took on a pale version of blue but Kate recognized them.

"Livia?" The woman looked surprised and a little tense. "I'm Detective Kate Beckett. I am working on Shaya's case." The woman just remained with a blank stare. "You remember Shaya Reed? She used to be your best friend?"

"I haven't heard that name in years." Her throat was hoarse and Kate decided that Marty was right; Livia had never improved, she only worsened with age.

"I am looking into it. I have the best people on it but I was wondering if I could ask you some questions."

"I already answered them. A long time ago. I'm done with that. Don't care to think about her much anymore." She walked back into the room she had come from. She didn't bother shutting her door, so Kate followed in after her.

Kate took a look around her living room. There weren't pictures anywhere. The furniture looked gray. It was pale in color and lacked life. Everything looked dark and dead like she hadn't bothered with moving on. Kate was busy standing over an open binder on the table when Livia yelled to her.

"You need to leave!" Her hair was brushed and pulled back into a messy ponytail and her shirt hung loose on her tiny frame. Her eyes just looked pained. Her jeans slumped low on her hips like she never properly fed herself. "I said leave! Are you deaf all of a sudden?"

"I understand about not wanting to talk about the past but I think you have information that could help. Please Livia, do it for Shaya. You cared about her once right?"

"I didn't just care about her. I loved her. She was my sister." She dropped onto the couch and invited for Kate to do the same but Kate declined. "She was everything to me. I never had much at home and she made me feel wanted. No one had done that for me but her."

"Who was the guy that you all went to?" Kate sat on the edge of a chair that had a ratty blanket sprawled across the back and slid out her notepad.

"I see you have talked with Marty. Yeah, he was a friend of my sister's. I dated him sometimes, we had sex a bit but I could tell he was sweet for Shaya. Everyone was. You couldn't help it, she was just like that. Everyone loved her and every guy wanted her." Kate thought she sounded bitter and pressed on that button.

"Sounds like you were a bit jealous. Is that true? Were you upset that Shaya was wanted?"

"No. I was never jealous, I was appreciative. No one gave me the time of day but Shaya and Marty. I miss her every day."

"What was his name?" She looked confused so Kate clarified. "The guy who was sweet on Shaya? The one whose house you all went to?"

"Don something. Uh," She shoved her hair back and tried to dredge up the name. "My sister might know. Let me give her a call." Livia went into the kitchen and grabbed the phone off the charge. "Hey Dawn, yes, I'll pick them up today. Hey, do you remember that guy we used to hang out with? No, not him, that house you took us to?"

Kate played with the hem of her knee socks while Dawn kept her back to Kate. The house needed a makeover and some cleaning. Livia was adamant on the conversation so Kate wandered around. She pointed down the hall and Livia waved her on.

"Dawn, fuck him. Just try to remember. No, not him." Kate abandoned Livia and continued to walk down the short hall.

All doors were open and Kate passed a little boy's room that was the first door on her left. The room across from it was a small bathroom. Kate ignored both and continued down. The next room on the right was a makeshift room that held a twin bed and what looked like a full size. Kate assumed Dawn and her kid lived with Livia. The last room was Livia's and was dead center in the middle. When Kate leaned her head in, she gasped.

All over the walls were pictures of Shaya. Frames crowded the dresser and were tacked to the walls. Newspaper clippings were taped to bare walls and fliers with Shaya's picture were placed next to them. Little post-its were stuck along the walls. Some with questions, some with clues, and some with prayers. Along the top of Livia's bed were pictures of her and Shaya. Some were from when they were kids and others were from when they were older.

"I guess I never did forget about her did I?" Livia stood with her arms crossed in her doorway.

"Why did you say that you did? It's ok to remember; it's actually better to not forget. I don't understand." Kate mimicked Livia's stance and shook her head, sending her ponytail flying.

"Because I felt pathetic. Look at this room." She swung her arms out. "It's a shrine to her. To everything about her. I never have been able to move on. Why do you think I live with my sister in this crappy apartment? Not because I can't be alone or that I can't live somewhere better, it's just that I can't move on. I am stuck here. This used to be my parent's place. I inherited it when they died. I wanted to stay with a place that was familiar. I couldn't move on from Shaya. I couldn't be away from her. My kid's room, that used to be where all of this stuff was." Again she swung her arms out. "I continued to live here because of that. Shaya used to be here. And I like to believe that I can still feel her. Why do you think I am divorced?" She sat on the edge of her bed and her sad eyes locked on Kate. "My husband said I was too obsessed with Shaya. That I refused to move on. And he was right. He still sees my son sometimes but he refuses to even talk with me. I barely hang on. Why do you think my sister lives with me? She is too worried to leave me alone." Livia got up from the bed and walked over to one of the walls that contained pictures. She plucked a picture off the wall and handed it over to Kate.

"Why are you giving me this?" It was a picture of a brown, bricked building with a guy standing on the front stoop.

"That's Don Waterson. That was where we went. Right there." Livia's finger tapped on the image once more. "There's your guy." She ushered Kate out without so much as another word.

The T.V. clicked on as the door was shut on Kate. She walked back to her car and once more felt the immediate need to lock her door. She slid out her phone and was relieved to see only two new texts from Rick. She quickly opened his fourteen texts.

Kate,

How are you doing?

Kate,

Cliff getting on your nerves yet? Want me to beat him up?

Kate,

Just finished with a client. You good?

Kate,

Missing you.

Kate,

I want to make sure you are doing well. Get back to me.

Kate,

Are you sure it isn't too soon?

Kate,

Beginning to worry.

Kate,

Seriously, what's going on?

Kate,

Are you ignoring me?

Kate,

Am I too paranoid?

Kate,

Worried.

Kate,

Very worried.

Kate,

WORRIED!

Kate,

FREAKING OUT NOW!

Kate clicked her phone off and leaned back into her seat. Everything was off for her. The whole case was messed up. She clicked her phone off silent and just as she did, the text alert beeped.

Kate,

I WILL CALL THE BOYS!

Kate dialed Rick and could hear his freaked out voice as soon as he picked up. "I know! I know! Please don't be mad at me." She bit her lip and played with her ponytail.

"Mad?! I am scared! Was scared! You can't do that to me! You scared the fuck out of me Kate." His breathing started to calm and she waited for him to continue. "So, you are ok? Right?"

"Yes. I am fine. I was interviewing some people. I was just about to head off to talk with someone else when I saw all your freaked out texts. I am sorry Rick. I didn't mean to make you worried." Kate turned her car on and rolled the windows down, letting the soft breeze flow in.

"I know you didn't. And it's lunch time. Want to grab a bite?" Rick closed the file he was milling over and leaned back into his chair.

"Sounds good. Where do you want to meet?" Kate buckled her seat belt and watched as a little kid rode their bike down the sidewalk with their parent busy not paying attention to him as she was too focused on her phone call.

"How about a special little diner. Do you know of the one?" He laughed as did Kate.

"Be there as soon as I can. Bye."

"Bye." He hung up and grabbed his keys off his desk. He walked past Martha but was quickly called back.

"Oh Mr. Castle?" Martha stood with a thick file in her hand. "He wants this done right away. And don't shoot the messenger."

"Please tell him that I was out already. Please Martha, I have plans."

"Tell Kate I said hi." She winked and went to place the file in his office.

Kate was happily sitting in their booth, waiting on Rick, when her phone beeped. She pulled the text up without so much as a second thought but wish she hadn't.

Kate,

I can explain. You have to listen to me, I'm your mother.

Mom,

Since when?

And with that, Kate clicked her phone off.