CH3
Kate was home after a long shift at the precinct. She was tired but not the least bit sleepy. She went into the dining room of her Apt. and opened up her secret little wall she had built, exposing most if not all of the case file (copies) on her mom's death that she had found in the archives section. Why Montgomery had left her off so easily had her guessing. He had her dead to rights (red handed, smoking gun as it were). He could have ended her career right then and there, but he didn't. He had turned his back and told her he would be back in 10 minutes, and if there was anyone down here when he got back, there would be hell to pay. She had used every second of those 10 minutes, mentally willing to make the copy machine work faster. She had only just closed the door and was on the outside when Montgomery came back. He had stopped her and made small talk before telling her to be on her way and get that paperwork on her desk done before he went into the room she had just come out of.
All that took place about six (6) months ago and Montgomery had never brought it up again in that time. She pinned one more little piece of evidence she had gotten earlier today on her wall. Then stood back and studied it intently. Maybe if she stared it down with a death glare it would cough up some little piece that she could work with that she had not seen before. But the damn thing was being stubborn. Well, she could be stubborn to.
It was now 11:00 pm, the TV was off. The radio was off and Kate was still staring down her own personal murder board wishing it would talk to her. Tell her something. She caught herself in a yawn starting to form and thru shear will power stopped it before it could follow through with its threat. She wasn't even hungry and couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. But stopping that yawn from forming had shown her that her muscles were sore and that she was tense. Finding that her jaw was clamped shut like a vise only confirmed it for her. She was tense. Not good when you are trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle. Especially if you were not sure you had all the pieces to complete it. It was time to relax before bed and going into work the next day. Nice hot bath, some scented candles, some wine and a good book should solve that problem. Even if she could not solve the one she had been staring at all night long.
Finally slipping into the tub filled with hot water, a few bubbles for good measure, wine on a side table next to the book she had selected to read, and a few candles scattered around. Just what Dr. Kate ordered. 'Flowers for your Grave'. It was her mother's copy, signed by Rick Castle himself. She had stood in line with her mother for 2 hours to get it signed. She had whined and moaned at her mother for at least the final hour of waiting. She doesn't even remember what Castle had said when it was their turn. She had just wanted to leave and go home. Now it was her most treasured item of everything she had. She would pick this book over her murder board, any day. This would make it her what, 8th or 9th time she had read it now. She had read all of his other books of course. Including the latest one out of the 'Storm' series, but this one won out.
This routine continued for months. Kate knew she was being swallowed up by her mother's case. Like Jonah and the Whale, or a prairie dog or rabbit jumping into it's hole to escape an Eagle swooping in trying to make it, its next lunch. But there was nothing or no one to stop her. No one to tell her to take a break. No one to make this all go away and tell her everything would be all right. No soothing words like her mother used to give to make the monsters go away and the tears dry up. No one to hug her, kiss her and talk soothing words into her ear to help her sleep at night. No, Cast Iron Beckett with her wall made of reinforced steel around her heart was on her own.
Kate woke to the sound of her phone ringing. She looked at the clock next to her bed, '3.17 am". Groaned and starting groping for her phone. It took her 3 tries to get it to stop ringing. "Beckett! …. Text me the address and I'll be there in 20." Great, just great. Barely 2 hours of sleep and she's up again. Why can't they kill someone during the daytime. "Why does it have to be in the middle of the night?" Not that there was anyone there to answer her spoken question.
A quick shower, towel dry herself and her hair (another reminder of why she keeps it short). A little dab of makeup, put on some clothes and her 'power boots', and heads for the car parked downstairs.
By the time she arrives Espo and Ryan are already there, yawning at each other, as is the ME and some uniforms. "What have we got?"
"No ID on our Vic. Not much in the way of clothes either. No murder weapon present." Replys Espo.
"Who found our Vic?" she asks
"Pair of kids, over there." As Ryan point to a couple of young teenagers standing with some uniforms. "Dumpster divers according to their statement. They were looking thru local dumpsters for some material to make some project they had in mind, when they found him."
"How'd he die?" she asks next.
"Go take a look for yourself." Espo answers.
Kate gives him one of her ' I'm going to kill you if you don't answer glares', with a little does of ' I haven't had any coffee yet either'.
Unfazed, Espo responds "Let's just say this one has your name written all over it."
Turning from these two she heads for the Me and her Vic. "Hey Lanie, what have we got?"
"White male, little heavy set, no pants, not shoes, no ID, no tattoos. Somewhere in his late 40's I would guess."
"Time of death?" Kate asks.
"Somewhere between 11:00 and 3:00 am this morning. I could probably narrow that down some after I get him on the table."
"Cause of death?" is her next question.
"Well, see for yourself." As she starts to remove the cover that is only covering his lower portion of the body, with him lying on his back.
"Lanie!" Kate yells. "I don't need to see his ….."
"Family jewels?" Lanie interrupts her with. "Well no worry there Girlfriend, there is nothing to see". As she finishes removing the cover.
Kate takes in a quick breath as she sees that he has none. They have been removed. Along with other parts of him in that region.
"Where are his …. 'Family Jewels?'" She asks.
"You're the detective. I'm just the ME. You tell me?"
"They took them with them?" she asks.
"Looks that way. Collection maybe?"
Kate turns to look at Ryan and Espo, who quickly move their hands to cover their crotch. As if Kate was going to come over and remove theirs. Kate smirks at them, thinking that she has both of them well trained.
Turning back to the ME, "How were they removed?"
"Well they were not removed surgically, if that is what you are asking. As to what was used, I'll have to wait until I get him on the table. And it looks like he died here, and someone dumped some water on him to spread the blood all around. I'm thinking he bleed out here."
"Thanks Lanie. See if you can get some prints. Maybe we can get an ID on what's left of this guy." Then turns and heads for Ryan and Espo.
"You two go talk the kids again, get everything they know. And get some uniforms to search the area for our Vic's … 'jewels'. And get them to start knocking on doors, see if anyone saw or heard anything."
"Sure thing boss." As they walk away towards the teenagers.
"And walk straight! Or I really will come over there and cut them off!" she calls after them.
Kate smirks again as they quickly remove their hands from their crotch, and turns and heads for her car to head for the precinct and set up her murder board.
