Surprise! Yes, two chapters in one weekend. Bet you didn't expect that, but it is shorter than usual. I'm hoping I can get enough words in to make the challenge. Either way though this has been quite a ride and we're not finished yet. I hope you enjoy This chapter and let me know what you think. This is my entry into the 2014 Castle Hiatus Ficathon.

The precinct had been hot bed of activity since Castle had been rescued. Beat cops and detectives alike wandered to the Homicide floor and offered their support. No one had any clue that Castle had touched so many people. A uniform that Ryan hadn't recognized had come up and offered to come in on his day off to do whatever they needed. Castle had helped him get his brother into rehab. A detective in robbery offered his help and had told them how Castle had driven him home to his wife, who had gone into labor, then driven them to the hospital. When his son was born he sent flowers and a check for $1,000.00 to start his college fund. Officers came out of the woodworks and everyone had a story in which Castle had gone out of his way for them.

Today was no different. The conference room was packed with people. Two boards were set up with timelines and pictures. Coffee cups littered the table as well as the stereotypical donut boxes. Everyone inside was extremely animated as they talked and rummaged through every detail.

In the bullpen Ryan poured over the data on his computer as he followed the money trail. Espo talked to the Chicago PD and the FBI as they organized a search of the two dead men's addresses.

"This makes no sense!" Ryan ran his hand through his hair. "Javi, Come look at this."

Espo came around his desk and stood over Ryan's shoulder. His eye focused on the information on Ryan's screen.

"Ok, so I finally traced the money trail all the way to The Bank of Moscow. That's in the Yasenevo district of Moscow near the Siberian border. It bounced through banks in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and Jamaica before hitting the Caymens for the brothers and Wintrust Bank in Chicago for the other two. Most of the men at Kings Park were Libyan's, a couple of Canadian's and an American. How did the Russian's get involved? I just don't get it? Moscow?"

"Hey man, weren't the people who abducted Alexis foreigners? Could this still be connected to that?"

"I remember Castle saying something about that. He never said much about the entire incident other than the French government had contorted the story and he had to stick by it. Maybe we should ask Beckett?"

At that moment Shaw came out of the conference room. "You two have anything on the money trail yet?"

"Ryan here, traced it back to a bank in Moscow." That was definitely not what she had expected. Shaw was confused as she looked over at Ryan who nodded affirmatively.

"Moscow? What the hell's in Moscow? Are you sure that's the end of the trail, Ryan?"

"Positive, and I'm not sure it's going to be easy for us to find out in what form it was deposited. We need some major pull to get that done."

Shaw gave them a small smile and a shrug as she walked away from the desk, pulled out her phone and started dialing. Espo looked down at a Ryan. "You think she can get it done? Bro, I think this is big. We need more information from Castle and Beckett."

Just then Gates came out of the conference room and approached her detectives. The boys repeated their findings to her.

"Has anyone heard from the FBI or Chicago PD on the searches of the gunmen's apartments?" She asked.

"Nothing yet, Sir." They answered in unison.

Gates looked at them with a raised eyebrow and said, "Here I thought on only Castle and Beckett did that. Go update Detective Beckett and let me know what she thinks when you get back." When they nodded she turned and walked back into the conference room.

Ryan jumped out of his chair and met Espo as he pulled his jacket on and walked to the elevator.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C&B ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walker had been canvassing the hospital four days after they had been admitted. It had been a challenge getting him half way around the world quickly. He knew Hunt was still in ICU. There were cops stationed at ICU entrance and another one sat outside his room. All who entered the area were checked against a master list unless it was an emergency.

Hunt's condition was still listed critical. He was in an induced coma, and had undergone five different surgeries since his arrival. No one had come down to visit him the entire time he had been there. He was grateful that he wouldn't have to deal with his family when the time came.

He had been able to snag a custodial ID and re-imaged his picture onto it. Steven Carlton won't know his part in this until it was too late. His presence on the ICU floor was not unusual. He had made multiple visits to the floor daily, to clean trash, stock the bathroom, clean up spills, and that was just how he wanted it.

For now he would watched. Kept notes detailed of the comings and goings of doctors, nurses, kitchen staff delivering food, lunch, dinner, breaks and shift changes. He had time. Hunt wasn't going anywhere anytime soon and when he got the opportunity he would make his move and disappear in a blink of an eye.

Getting close to Hunt was far easier than getting close to the other two. Their floor was highly monitored. There were cops at the elevator, near the nurses desks and two outside their door. Not to mention that there was always someone with them. Getting to them was going to be much harder.

Today had been a long day. He had been at the hospital all day monitoring the author and the detective's floor. They had been alone all morning, except for the doctor and nurses. The cops stationed at their posts never left without an immediate replacement. He had even tried to get the trash bin out of their room and was kept outside as the cop got it for him.

He had watched as the detective left the room to go to physical therapy around noon. She had been accompanied by an officer all the way to the therapy room, had stayed with her through the session, and escorted her back. Finally he had an opportunity to work with the detective. He would have to find a place on the route to physical therapy where he could make his move.

Room 24 was dark. The furniture, chipped, stained and wobbly. His back attested to the quality of the mattress. Dark spots spread across the comforter. There were mouse and cockroach traps in every corner, and he was sure one was currently inhabited.

He removed his shirt and walked over to the window of the dingy motel. The scar across his chest was still red and raw. The stitches had been recently removed. He was glad this job wasn't physical, and he had time to heal. Washington Heights was the perfect place in this god forsaken stink hole called New York to disappear. No one would choose to live here if they could avoid it. The whore in the room next to his was on her second John since he had walked in the door. Two guys argued out on the street, their voices carried across the parking lot. This was the perfect place to be invisible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C&B ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The boys arrived after Martha and Alexis left for the day. Castle had been conscious for quite a while during the day and was out like a light. Espo and Ryan had filled her in with the new details. She in turn had shared everything she knew about Alexis' kidnapping with them. With every word she heard, her heart had sunk and her mind had raced with horrific scenarios. Whatever this was, it was more than they thought and they were all in grave danger.

Please, let me know what you thought of this chapter. Don't forget this will continue with weekly updates with longer chapters (hopefully). I'm honored at the reception this story has gotten! Thank you to my helpers because without them, my ADHD mind would drive all you readers away! They rock! Thanks again for reading :) Follow me on Twitter glo1196 - Tumblr: MyCastleObsession and on Pintrest glo11962 where I have a Castle board!