Chapter 7
Detective Beckett entered the laundry room glancing about. Esposito and Ryan were standing beside a wall of driers and a woman probably in her mid seventies, was seated in a plastic chair. A paramedic was attending the woman, overseeing her with a portable oxygen set up.
Ryan saw Beckett enter, stepped to her, as she scanned the room.
"So?" Beckett asked of Detective Ryan.
"Mrs. Rosenberg. Nine E. Comes down to put her clothes in the drier, finds it's occupied. Comes down a half hour later and she's had enough. Decides to take matters into her own hands."
Beckett tilted her head in disbelief, particularly at the age and fragility of the old lady seated on the plastic chair sucking the oxygen via a mask over her face. "C'mon. You're telling me an old lady killed someone over a busy drier?" She hissed.
"What?" Ryan asked in disbelief, "No. She just got tired of waiting around, so she opened the drier to take the person's clothes out."
Beckett and Ryan reach the open drier at the same time. Both lean toward the opened doorway and peer inside the confined drum. The body of a woman in her twenties, fully clothed in jeans and a T-shirt was cramped awkwardly inside on a next of a little boy's clothing.
Ryan continued, "Finds Miss Fluff and Fold instead."
Beckett took a closer look and said, "No blood."
Esposito appeared and peered into the drier, "Now if that's not a cautionary tale about poking through someone else's laundry, I don't know what is."
"Dude, there's an etiquette involved." Ryan debated. "If the clothes were dry, Mrs. Rosenberg had every right to put them in a basket. Now, if you're gonna tell me she folded the clothes, then it gets kinda creepy.
"Sorry, but you start rooting through my underwear without invitation? I'm gonna consider that a serious breach of hygiene." Espo remarked.
"Thought you went commando," Beckett bounced right back, the two of them locking eyes with a silent stir of each other.
"Alright, let's get her out of there with a little dignity. And get CSU. down here," Detective Beckett told the boys, "I want blood samples from the edge of this table and that bleach bottle sent to the lab." She took a moment to breathe and think. "Also, photos and prints; not that it's gonna do us much good in a public area... I assume she lived in the building?"
"Worked. Twelve F. She's the nanny." Ryan answered.
"I'll head up there and see what I can find." Beckett said nodding to the detectives as she departed.
A couple of minutes later, the bell tinged and the elevator doors opened on the 12th floor. Beckett went to step out and unexpectedly saw Castle leaning against a wall unit, seemingly patiently waiting for her.
"Thought you ditched me back at the precinct, didn't you?" He said.
Beckett's eyes widened a little and her right arm shot up to block the closing door. She stepped out of the elevator and stopped right in front of the author.
Rick smirked, amused by the Detective's expression. She was floored. "C'mon," he challenged, "Nanny McDead's found on spin dry and you didn't think your Captain would let me in on that story?"
She had a bit of a jiggle on the go, perhaps out of frustration, nervousness, good chance it was to have him, or she needed to use the bathroom. He wasn't sure because she was so damn hard to read, and incredibly cute the way she contained her emotions. He went with Option C. She wanted him.
Beckett replied, "You're right, Castle," she paused, maintaining eye contact, "My bad-", she cut herself off then turned to her right walking off.
Rick cleared his throat, and held out his right hand, looking down at the floor as she turned about wondering what he was objecting to. She paused, closed fists now seeing his issue, then proceeded to walk in the direction he indicated. He smiled and raised his eyes to hers and then fell in beside her.
"So, exactly how long can I expect you to be shadowing me on my cases like this?" She asked.
"Hard to say. You know when I'm writing a new character, there's no telling how long it'll take for inspiration to strike."
"Thought I was your inspiration, Castle."
"Oh, you are, Detective, and in so many ways." He replied experiencing a flash back to the night before when she had been straddling his hips. He'd been deep inside her gazing up at her beautiful naked body, the lamp casting light and shade over her, her teeth biting her bottom lip, her hair roughed up. The whole image was burned in his memory forever.
"Well then, your inspiration might strike you sooner than you think," she curtly replied snapping him from his thoughts, then she shot a warning look as she stopped in front of the door tagged 12-F. She knocked firmly on the door.
Rick was amused by her tone, then ignoring it said, "Nanny's name was Sara Manning and she worked for the Petersons for about two years." He saw the look of question she had, and added quietly but smugly, "The doorman's a huge fan of my work."
Beckett shook her head in exasperation, just as Claudia Peterson answered the door.
Beckett held up her badge.
"Mrs Peterson? Kate Beckett. NYPD. I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about Sara Manning."
"Yes. Of course. Please come in." Claudia opened the door, Beckett entered.
Castle followed pausing to introduce himself, "Hi. Richard Castle. Just... N-Y."
Beckett and Castle made themselves comfortable on arm chairs in the living room of the apartment that Howard and Claudia Peterson resided in. The furniture was classical, exhibited money. Claudia came from her son's bedroom, pulling the door to so the boy wouldn't hear adult conversation.
"We still haven't told him what happened. We just don't know how," Claudia said as she came to the living area.
Howard said, "Sara was very close with him. She just has a gift with kids. You know."
"She was such a lovely girl." Claudia finished.
"I'm very sorry," Kate said sincerely.
"The school called me at my office when Sara didn't come to pick up Justin. I tried her cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail. Then I tried here and the machine picked up. So, I hopped in a cab and went to the school. When we got home, the police were already here." Claudia explained.
Beckett, seated on a brown armchair, still in her red coat asked. "So, when was the last time you saw Sara?"
Claudia replied, "My husband saw her last night when he got home."
Howard said, "We take Justin to school every morning. We're usually gone by the time she gets here."
"And what time is that?"
Claudia said, "Today, it would have been eleven. Sara straightens up, does Justin's laundry, then picks him up from school about two. One of us is then home for dinner. Last night, it was my husband's turn."
"So, you were the last one to see Sara?" Beckett asked.
Replied Howard, "I guess so."
Rick sat forward, "Did she mention any problems she was having, maybe a boyfriend?
Beckett shot Rick a look, upset he was asking questions. She was the cop. He was meant to keep quiet and observe.
Claudia seemed to become a little unnerved glancing to her husband. "Sara's boyfriend?"
"The doorman said the police told them it was a break-in, that it was probably a stranger who did this." Mr Howard said.
"We can't be sure what happened." Beckett replied.
Castle said, "Well maybe not. But statistically speaking? Much greater likelihood she knew her attacker."
"Oh my god," Claudia exclaimed a hand going to her throat, her eyes once again to her husband.
"Again." Beckett pressed, "We can't be sure who was involved."
"But, she did have a boyfriend," Rick insisted.
Howard nodded, "Brent. But they broke up."
Castle asked, "When was that?"
"Maybe a month ago, but Sara never said there was any trouble or anything like that."
Beckett said, "Brent. That's his name. Sir?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"What about a last name?"
Claudia thought about it, "Ah, I don't think Sara ever mentioned it." She looked to her husband who shook his head.
He said, "To me either."
"Thank you both so much for your time." Beckett stood up and looked to Castle, motioning it was time for them to leave.
"Well, of course." Claudia said.
"Let's go, Castle." Beckett said in a tone that implied they needed to leave soon.
"That's it?" He asked in surprise.
"That's it," she confirmed then looked to Claudia. "Oh, is there any chance you know how I can reach Sara's parents?"
"Oh god, I hadn't even thought about that. I'm sorry, but we don't even have their number," Claudia said clearly feeling terrible.
Howard added, "They live down in Atlanta. Sara was just with them over Christmas."
"What about Sara's things?" Beckett said.
"There's her bag and her jacket." She motioned to black bag on a chair.
"Maybe I can take these with me and check her cell phone," Beckett said, glancing to Rick.
Moments later in the elevator, Kate handed the handbag over to Rick for him to hold up. She had the jacket slung over her right arm and had already checked the pockets of it only to find rolled up, and scrunched up tissues, most likely used on the kids.
"Why couldn't we stick around?" Rick calmly asked, "I had a lot more questions." He watched her fish about.
"Because I actually like to investigate things myself first. Besides, neither of them is going anywhere." She's rifled through the bag unzipping compartments until she located the wallet. "There's no cell phone in here."
"Maybe it's in the laundry room or in the drier?"
"If it is then the CSU will find it." Beckett opened the wallet and checked out the cards. She said, "She's still got her Georgia license." She showed it to Rick.
"Are you really the one who has to call her parents?" He softly asked.
"Easier to write about than to live through, huh Castle?" The elevator tinged. He stared at her face in thought as the door slid open.
"It must be hard. Makes it real." He watched her walk ahead of him then followed. He closed the bag but continued to carry it as Beckett finished her search of the wallet.
"There's nothing in here to help us." She said and reached for the bag. She put the wallet back in the bag and secured it.
He glanced to the time, "Are you hungry, Beckett?"
"Getting there. Do you have something in mind?"
"I do. I certainly owe you a meal for your hospitality last night."
"I could say the same thing." She said giving him a smile, gazing at his lips that had done some magical things to her body. "You're quite generous." She then bit her lip trying to hold back a smile, thinking about how she had crashed last night. Her eyes glistened.
"Why, thank you …" He smiled looking over face, "Please… don't do that."
Her eyes widened, smiled disappeared, "What?"
"That thing with the lips, especially this morning. Last night. Perfect. Today, right here." He pressed his lips then whispered, "Dangerous."
"Oh, sorry."
"Later will be ok, or we rent a room for lunch."
She ignored him, "We'll meet the boys back at the precinct after lunch. Food lunch." She said glancing to him when he chuckled, "I will text them. Tell them how much of a pain in the ass you have been already today," she said with a smartass smirk.
"Make it genuine," he commented, noting how quickly Beckett moved on from the interview with the family. One minute she had been the serious concerned cop and now she was smiling and on to the next thing. "Because those detectives are onto to you. Espo knows you got laid, but he's damned if he knows who it was. He thought it was hilarious when I suggested it could have been me. He laughed his ass off."
"You seriously said that?"
"Of course. Wave it under their noses. You have them believing you despise me so I can joke. So Beckett, make it genuine," he pressed waving his hand at her phone.
Kate laughed.
"Oh, I will. Where have you got in mind to eat?"
"There a little place a few blocks up, cops don't go there so we will be safe."
"Cool. You know Castle, you're gonna be spent just keeping this relationship on the quiet. Won't your mother and daughter figure it out?"
"Alexis might, but my mother is too self indulging to notice my comings and goings. Anyway, she's accustomed to seeing her son on page 6 of the Ledger with women on my arms so she …."
"About that," Kate interrupted, "How many have you had?"
Confused, he asked, "How many?"
"Women," she snapped back.
"Oh! You want my number already?" He laughed in disbelief. "You're jerking me, right?" He shot a look at her, noticed the locked jaw, her pressed lips. She was dead set serious.
"Well, no, but I've seen pictures of you on websites, the paper.…" she fiddled with the car keys, looking everywhere but at him. "With cantily clad girls."
"I see."
"I mean those bimbos," she managed to get out, "Just them."
His face softened in understanding and he lowered his head to meet her eyeline better. "Beckett, I can tell you. No, promise you," he stressed, "That about ninety five percent of those women are models my agent hired, to give me that playboy image. Yes, I meet women, but not those ones. It's all fake. I'm home with Alexis most nights."
Kate looked over his face, saw he was being honest. "Ok. What about the five per cent?"
"Trust you." He smirked, then replied, "I dated them once or twice. Kate, I've had plenty of women and I'm not gonna deny that, but not the models you see me with in the media."
"But if we're gonna do this, hide in this relationship, can you tell your agent you're not doing that any more, especially if its fake."
"Hey, I'll do anything. I don't want you upset about something that's made up." He gave her a smile.
"I do behave with jealousy sometimes. Just saying," she said, lifting the corner of her mouth up a fraction then.
He nodded in understanding. "Same," he replied, accepting her honesty with a confession of his own, then waited on the sidewalk while she walked to the driver's side of her unit. She unlocked and they got in the car.
"Are you good for soup? You look cold today?" He said, waving a finger at her red coat and dusty blue scarf.
"Yes. Soup would be good. So long as it comes with a big chunk of bread."
"Ok. Then I have just the right place. Pull out and keep going six blocks." He tugged on his seatbelt. "This thing we have Kate, it's very new and unique but we can't overthink it."
"What if one of us gets asked out on a date?"
"Politely decline. I do it all the time when I'm single."
Kate glanced from the road to her new partner, her new lover. Suddenly, it seemed very overwhelming. It was no longer just a great romp in the sack with a New York Times best seller. This was a guy, a regular guy and he had made it quite clear he wanted to date her. They had tumbled into a relationship overnight. Gone to bed single and it's seems woke up committed to being in a relationship. Her jaw closed, and she clenched her teeth. She watched the road ahead. Castle talked, about almost anything, oblivious to her minor nervous breakdown, as she drove the car under his directions.