This episode is quite fun to work in between and so forth. The ones I think I'm gonna enjoy, I've found hard but this one is enjoyable. Enjoy … small chapter but the next will follow soon as its almost done. Thank you for reviews. I do like receiving them.

Chapter 66

Early the next morning Beckett entered the Morgue because she had been summoned there first thing. The ME had advised her she had important information on the deceased. With that in mind, Beckett had reluctantly rolled off Castle and out of his bed. She had caught a train to the Morgue. Lanie was examining Sophie's body when she pushed the swing doors inwards.

Beckett greeted, "Hey," as she approached the doctor.

"Hey." Lanie seemed bright for the hour of the day.

"You called?" Beckett stopped by the table, mindful to keep her distance to limit the smells of the substances Lanie used infusing her clothing.

"Yes. I found traces of metal in the abrasions on Sophie's back."

"What kind of metal?" Beckett asked aware of the odd expression Lanie had as she assessed her face. It caused Kate to blush a little.

"I have no idea." Lanie blinked and focused on reporting to Beckett. "I sent a sample over to the FBI lab to see if they can narrow down the chemical signature. We should have the results tomorrow."

Beckett nodded, "Okay." She gave it some thought before she asked, "If I find the object that made the wounds, you'll be able to match it?

"Absolutely."

"Great. Anything else?" She raised an eyebrow, the thought crossing her mind that Lanie could have told her that over the phone.

"You tell me." Lanie suggested folding her arms in wait.

Beckett's eyes widened in question, "What?"

"Don't what me. Castle's lost love?"

Beckett raised the eye brows. Deniability at all costs. "Yeah," she shrugged her shoulders, "What about it?"

Frustrated, Lanie retaliated, "Girl, I'm gonna smack you."

"Lan-"

"You work side by side every day." Lanie insisted, "He writes a sex scene in his book about you that had me reaching for iced water."

Kate rolled her eyes, tired of hearing about Nikki Heat.

"Now Little Miss Bride shows up." Lanie pointed at Beckett, "Don't tell me you're not the least bit jealous."

Exasperated, but willing herself to not strongly react Beckett replied, "Oh, please." She waved Lanie's accusation off as she turned about to leave, "You've been inhaling too many autopsy fluids." If only she could share with Lanie she was dating Castle, was experiencing some heavy duty feelings toward him. But a deal was deal. Kate kept going but she heard Lanie yell out.

"Honey, just because you can't see what's going on, doesn't mean everyone else doesn't see what's going on!"

Beckett called back, "Shut up!"

She continued out of the morgue, a sudden feeling of incredible guilty sinking into her conscious about not sharing with her best friend that she was with Castle. That she was having the time of her life in the man's company. She reckoned the doctor was already certain but was waiting impatiently for her to confess. Until that moment, Beckett had been fine when she had woken up beside Castle that morning. Well, he'd woken her with is amorous behavior and that had led to ….

She smiled in fondness, as she walked along the side walk towards the Precinct. Her eyes happened to connect with an approaching man in a grey suit who smiled back, scanned her face. He'd understood her expression. He passed by, at which time she had a little giggle to herself. Castle was right. She was a dead giveaway when she dropped her guard.

While she waited in line for a coffee, she texted Castle with Lanie's information. He would meet her there a bit later. With the coffee in her hand. she walked to the Precinct enjoying the fresh air.

When she arrived, she was teased by Ryan and Esposito who had put their hands on a copy of Castle's early novel A Rose For Everafter. She acted as though she didn't care, teased them back as she normally would. She also hadn't realized the novel was dedicated to Kyra until Ryan read it out loud.

For Kyra Blaine, you make the stars shine.

The words then stuck in Kate's head most of the day. It pissed her off that it did. Made her dwell on it even more. When the boys had left the bullpen she had found the book to read the dedication for herself. She read it a number of times. She owned a hardcopy of the novel but it hadn't occurred to her last night to take it off the damn shelf and browse the pages. There it was printed in black.

For Kyra Blaine, you make the stars shine.

She discarded the book another time to Ryan's desk to get stuck into work but the dedication was stuck like gum to a shoe, in her thoughts.

What else had been pestering her was the matter of Mike's key card. They were missing an important component and she had a gut feeling it had something to do with the key card.

It seemed to be stuck in Castle's brain as well, particularly when he virtually burst out of the elevator calling, "Mike's key card!"

They were in sync.

Happy to have his company they took on a new path of investigation. It led them to scan hotel records that indicated Mike's key card was last accessed his hotel room at 2 am yesterday morning. At that time he had been busy passed out in the supply closet with a belly full of roofies. They needed to know who had used the key card.

It was assumed that as it was Sophie who had drugged Mike, she had stolen the card. But why? That unresolved question was what was hung heavily in the team.

A trip back to the hotel had them discover a connecting doorway from Mike's room to the neighboring room. Its where they found the missing ear ring and learned who was allocated the room. It belonged to Greg, the groom. Beckett requested he attend the Precinct for a chat. And this is where they were at. In the interrogation room. Rick was to her right, Greg the groom before them. Conversation was quite heated and Kate could sense the level of testosterone was rapidly on the rise between the men. The air was tense and she was concerned Castle wasn't going to control himself. This was after all bordering on the fact that Greg may well have cheated on Kyra. Rick hated cheaters, especially if it was his ex-girlfriend who was being hurt.

"This is crazy. I did not kill Sophie Ronson."

"Then how did her earring end up in your room?" Castle asked.

"You have a chance to come clean here, Greg." Beckett offered up, "If I were you, I would take it."

Greg took a couple of breaths. "I got back to the room around one," he admitted, then continued, "I was pretty drunk."

"You were alone."

"Yes. Next thing I know, it was about two in the morning, and somebody was in bed with me, and they had their hands down my pants." Greg was clearly rattled, "I thought it was Kyra. I- I figured she'd changed her mind about spending the night apart."

"But it wasn't. It was Sophie," Beckett finished.

"And you figured," Rick said, "What the hell, love the one you're with."

"No!" Greg sharply responded.

"Oh, come on, Greg!" Castle retorted, "Sophie's a beautiful girl and you were hours away from strapping on the ball and chain for life."

"No." Greg glanced to Beckett, maybe seeking support, "I love Kyra. I would never cheat on her, especially with Sophie."

"Why especially with Sophie?" Beckett calmly asked.

Castle asked, "Had you slept with her before?"

"Why is he here? He's a writer, not a cop."

Beckett sighed, fidgeted, noting the testosterone in the room was on the rise once again. She decided to pursue a response to Rick's question, "Answer the question, Greg. Did you ever sleep with Sophie?"

"Once or twice. But it was before Kyra and I even met, and we both knew that it was a mistake.

Castle said, "A mistake that Sophie tried to repeat. Or maybe she succeeded."

"No. When I saw her, I freaked. I shoved her away, she fell on the floor. That must've been when her earring came off. Before I could do anything else, she ran out the door. I mean, it all happened so fast, it di- it didn't even seem like it was real."

Beckett said, "Why didn't you say anything when you found out that Sophie was murdered?"

"Because I knew how it would sound, Detective."

"Pretty much like it sounds right now." Castle replied, "Like a lie." His expression nothing short of hostile.

Greg glared at Beckett, his temper flaring. "Okay, that's it. I want him gone. He's clearly got it out for me 'cause he wants to get back in my fiancée's pants."

"I'm not the murder suspect here, Greg."

To Beckett, Greg stated, "I am done answering questions until he is gone."

Castle replied, "You don't make demands here, Greg."

Beckett turned to her partner, and kindly said, "Castle. Go and see if Ryan and Esposito have come back with the forensics from Greg's hotel room."

Castle considered her request, decided it was in his best interest to obey. He stood. He glared at Greg before he turned about and walked from the box.

When the door was closed, Beckett sat forward, looked into Greg's eyes and said, "Now walk me through what happened again."

When Beckett escorted Greg and his Uncle Terry to the foyer of the elevator, she felt the glare of Castle from where he was seated at her desk. She remained polite to the men, but beneath she was becoming impatient with the whole case. Not only did she had Rick playing up with this situation with Greg, she had the fact she had the one who got away circling Rick's orbit. There was the strong possibility Greg could be a single man after he returned to the hotel to Kyra.

Once the elevator had swallowed them up, Beckett joined Castle at her desk.

As she sat, Castle remarked, "Can't believe you're letting him just walk out of here."

Beckett unlocked her computer, "Yeah, well, I don't have enough evidence to convict him."

"Don't tell me you believe that story, Beckett. It's like a porn movie gone wrong."

"Exactly." She smirked at his comment, "And if you were going to make up a story, would you make up something like that?"

Castle gave his head a shake, "No. So the guy is a suit, not a storyteller. It doesn't make him any less guilty."

"Look Castle, don't get me wrong, he's still our best suspect. I'm just not as ready to convict him of murder as you seem to be."

He leaned back and calmly asked, curious, "Is that why you kicked me out of the interrogation?"

She drew in oxygen, "Castle, it was clear that I was going to get more out of Greg alone. You're just too close to this case to see that."

Castle swallowed, gazed over her face then put out the suggestion, "You mean I'm too close to her."

Beckett sat back willing to talk this through. "Yes," she replied, "And you know how I know that? If you weren't, you'd be all over the possibility that Kyra could have killed Sophie."

"That's impossible."

Beckett leaned in, and checked for anyone around them who would potentially overhear their conversation. She then murmured, "See, that's not what Richard Castle would say." She paused, "He would paint a picture about the night before the wedding. About how Kyra couldn't fall asleep and so she went down to see Greg, only to find Sophie emerging from his room. And the thought that her fiancé could cheat on her the night before their wedding was too much. And so, she followed Sophie to her room and confronted her. And when things got violent, Sophie ended up dead."

"But I know her, Beckett. Three years we were together."

Beckett sat up and looked at her computer, "You have to stay away from her, Castle."

"Is that Detective Beckett or Kate my girlfriend telling me?" He hissed, sounding a little pissed off.

Her jaw tightened, her mood changed. "You need to stay away until this case is closed, Castle. That is the detective. The girlfriend will also stay away until this case is over." She turned and looked at his eyes. "Rick."

"Fine." Rick stood. His nostrils flared. "I'll leave."

"Fine." Beckett watched him leave for the elevator. She felt oddly calm, even though she knew Rick was pissed at her for making him go. She continued to work for a while their conversation spilling back into her thoughts. A part of her feared he would run to Kyra, to console the woman he once loved.

Their relationship was solid, and she was very happy dating Castle, but neither of them had verbally or directly declared their love for the other. It was implied and indirectly exhibited. She loved him, but she wasn't quite ready to share it.

She made a decision not to see him that evening, that she would go to the gym.

At home that evening, a little jaded about the conversation with Beckett and her text she was serious about not seeing him, Castle kept himself occupied with stuff. He hunted through the bookshelf until he found the notebook he searched for. It was a surprise he hadn't packed it into storage. He flipped through his original hand-written manuscript of A Rose For Everafter only to unexpectedly find a photo of himself and Kyra from the time they dated.

He wasn't aware that Martha entered the office just at the wrong moment as usual. "Richard Castle, what the hell are you doing?"

Castle frowned, allowed his heart to settle from the surprise. He dismissively replied, "Nothing."

"She's getting married to another man."

Castle refrained from gritting his teeth them replied, "It's just a picture, Mom. I was looking for something else." He closed his notebook.

"No, Richard. It's a loaded gun."

Castle rolled his eyes at his mother. His cell phoned began to ring. Saved by the bell. He quickly pulled it out expecting it to be Kate to say she was out of the gym and wanted to see him. Sometimes she went home, some nights she dropped by or had him come over. She might have punched out her frustrations in the gym and be in a better mood. But it wasn't Kate. Unknown number.

Castle accepted the call, and greeted, "Castle."

"Is everybody's wedding like this?" A woman asked without saying who she was.

Castle said, "Kyra?" He glanced to his mother who was anything but happy about the incoming call.

"So, my bridesmaid's dead, uh, my fiancé might be a murderer, and then there's you."

Castle took in a deep breath, suddenly aware he might be entering treacherous waters but he remained calm, "You've just been through a bad shock. That's all."

"Will you come meet me somewhere?"

Castle paused, thought about Kate. Treacherous waters. On a personal level, she'd be jealous. On a professional basis, she'd be pissed because he was seeing a suspect. He was doomed if he agreed to meet his ex. He would feel like an ass if he didn't console someone he used to be extremely close to. But he thought of Kate, how she would react. He then heard himself say, "I don't think that'd be a good idea."

"Please? I just need to get out of the hotel for a little while. If I have to listen to my mother judge me anymore, I might start taking hostages."

Castle caved. She was a friend, his ex-lover who needed to talk, and his mother was lingering, "I understand completely. How about the roof?" He suggested and immediately regretted it.

"Our secret roof?"

"Mm."

"That's perfect. Thank you."

"See you soon." Castle hung up then looked to his mother, who shook her head in disapproval.

"Oh, brother. I hope you know what you're doing, kiddo."

Castle frowned, unhappy with his decision, even if he felt obligated to alleviate Kyra of pent up emotions, "Yeah. Me, too." He returned the photo to the notebook and closed it.

"Don't you do anything that will threaten your relationship with, Beckett."

"Mom-"

She held up a hand to cease his objection, "You are doing very well with Katherine. She's so happy. Don't ruin it, Richard."

Rick scratched his head in frustration. She was an awesome girlfriend and she was possessive and protective of what was hers. He had to admit he felt the same about her. "She's potentially jealous as my girlfriend, and I already know she is be pissed off as my partner. I won't win."

"It's not a competition, Richard. As your life coach, I recommend you stay home." Martha lightly said which caused Rick to smile in amusement.

"Thanks Mom."

"Where is Katherine anyway? You two are always together lately."

"I'm not sure. She said she was working back, wanted to go to the gym with Espo." He shrugged, "She has kind of distanced herself of late, with Kyra on the scene, and this case."

"Distanced? Then don't give her reasons to fuel it, Richard."

Rick sat on the floor against his desk and ran a hand through his hair. As much as he hated to admit it, his mother was correct. He decided to settle her and talk to Beckett, "I'll call her, Mom. Can you please excuse me?"

"Good." Satisfied, Martha turned and left the office.

Rick stared at his phone for a few seconds, at the photo he'd taken. The image had him looking into the camera, Kate was kissing his cheek, her dark hair hidden by a cream wool beanie. He hit call and put the phone to his ear.

She picked up three rings in, "Hey."

"Hey." He greeted right back. She sounded happy. "You done with gym?"

"Yes. At home."

"Mm. Have you eaten dinner?"

"Yes." Kate paused, "What's up, Castle?"

He noted she hadn't punched it out. "Well, it's about Kyra-"

"Castle-"

"Hear me out. I know you-" He paused making a sudden decision not to return to their discussion at the Precinct that had sent him home. The tone she had used saying his name said enough. "Kyra called me just now."

"And?"

He heard the cop. Heard the girlfriend. He couldn't figure out why she was acting up about the ex, but it had come on fast. He knew that, and to avoid more problems, he needed to be honest with Beckett. He told her, "She wants me to meet her, Kate. I want you to be there, in case she-"

"Will she know I'm there?"

"No. I want you to have surveillance."

"When are you meeting?"

"I should be leaving now."

"Well, I have surveillance on them, Rick."

"You won't be there?"

Beckett drew in a deeper breath, exhaled, "Nope. I will leave it to the guys who are watching them. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alrightie. Good night." He hung up, "Well that went well." He muttered to himself. For almost a minute he contemplated whether he should listen to his mother and remain at home, but the pull to help Kyra, even at the risk of pissing Beckett off was stronger than him. He stood up and dusted his jeans off. He'd need a coat.