12th Precinct, Present Time

To Serve and Protect

Chapter Three - Information Gathering

The Investigation Progress

The 12th Precinct ME finally gets notice on the vics that was sent to all the hospitals in NYC, none of them had the first vic listed as a covid patient. The third victim was still being processed but the second vic was different, she had been admitted to the newly designated COVID Ward at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She stayed a little more than a week in the ward with mild symptoms and then release fully cured. Her immune system, like that of the first vic, had kept them from progressing to a worst infection and death. Healing naturally from their infections generated covid anti-bodies now present in both, each now had an immunity to this strain of Covid. The findings of their third and most recent vic was still out and they were trying to find her identity.

They are convened in Conference Room 1 of Homicide Division, where ME Parish has been briefing Alpha and Capt. Castle on their findings.

"Well, if being a covid survivor is a pattern for choosing the prep's vics, with this data, how do we explain how the perp knew of the medical condition of his vics? One apparently appears to have been hospitalized and the other may not have been. And the third vic is still being processed. Is it just the luck of the draw as Ellis points out? Is it statistical? The vics' demographic age group make it more likely for them to be infected and then cured of covid by their own immune system. Their demographics clearly points this statistically. Is this the result of the perp targeting this age group. Does this point as a factor to choosing these vics, all covid survivor's? Coincidental, or is the prep deliberately choosing these types?" , Team leader Espo asks the group.

"What would compel a serial killer to choose covid cured vics? This is a new profile for a serial killer. What criminal psychology would explain this?", asks Ellis, who had been pondering this since the start of their investigation.

All the alpha team members are drawing blanks.

"You got a theory Captain?", asks Espo.

"None that makes sense Espo."

"Let me make a suggestion here", says Ryan, "we need someone on the team who can think out of the box on this one. We need Consulting Investigator Castle. We need your husband on this case Captain. I know Rick has not been as active as before, mostly due to him playing Mr. Mom with your kids, but we could sure use his skills on this one Captain."

"I agree, guess Castle and I will need to find child care for our kids for the duration of this investigation."

"I can help you there Cap'n, my child care is located just two blocks from here. They give discounts to NYPD personnel. If you have more then one child under their care, you get an additional discount. They will also drive Lily to school and pick her up after class. There are also planned activities for the boys. Lastly, being only blocks away, it is easy to check on them during a lunch break", says Detective Anne Hastings-Whitaker.

"It's done then. CI Castle will be called for active duty with Alpha."

They end the brief on a high note.

Two Days Later

Espo is seated at his desk when a familiar figure walks up to his front.

"CI Richard Castle reporting for duty as ordered!"

"Castle, bro, glad to have you back."

The rest of the team seeing him reporting to Espo gather round to greet him. Ryan fist bumps him and he gets the dab from Whitaker and Ellis. It is a joyous scene.

"How much about the case do you know?", asks Espo.

"Kate briefed me in full and Lanie talked to me last night when I called her."

Rick goes to the murder board to study it. Just then a call comes in for Espo.

As the team stands at the Murder Board, each one explaining to Castle the entries on it, Espo comes up to them.

"Got to go guys", says Espo after his call, "looks like we may have a fourth vic."

They all head to their squad cars, but this time the Captain wants to be at the scene, so the two Castles go in the Captain's vehicle.

As they get to the crime scene, it doesn't look good, they are greeted by ME Parish.

"Welcome to my murder scene, Capt. and CI Castle, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the scene is similar to our last three. Looks like we truly have a serial killer here."

"I saw that from afar Lanie, but a closer view just confirms it. You'll test for the other physical similarities."

"I got an open job order with the FBI DNA lab since the last three, and they have given us priority as the circumstances of the case warrants such."

Just then Espo approaches them after his preliminary look-see at the homicide scene.

"You already know what I am going to say Capt, your cop sense being better than mine."

"Yes I do, but need my Alpha team leader to confirm my suspicions."

"Ok then, it's the same as the other three, just need Lanie to confirm the other pieces of evidence. I take it that Lanie will put a rush on the lab analysis and results."

"Absolutely, and you will get notice when lab results are in", Lanie says.

They head back to the twelfth to brainstorm how this latest scene is connected with the others, aside from the obvious. The Lab results should nail it all down when they come in. Those results come in hours later thanks to the elevated status of the case. The results confirms all their worst expectations.

Kate calls the Commissioner's number to obtain an emergency brief with him.

"Commissioner's Office, Detective Baker speaking."

"Abigail, Kate Castle calling."

"Yes Captain, I will put you through to him."

"Kate", the Commissioner says when he comes on the phone, "give me some good news today."

"Sorry to disappoint Sir, but it is a fourth vic."

"I was hoping it would not be. I need to brief the Mayor, once again, can we set up for later? I will call and get time with the mayor. I will let you know when, so be prepared to meet at the mayor's office later."

The brief with the Mayor and Commissioner did not start till 7PM and when they were done it was a little past 8PM. During the meeting they discussed the possibility of making a quick case closing. All three knew that the longer the killings continued with the same M.O. then more political interest and pressure would come to bear to solve the cases. All knew this could become a hot button issue to be used against the NYPD and the mayor.

With all the defund movement trending and funds lacking, the public and politicos still expected the same results. More so, the public wanted better results, despite cut backs on funds. It was an uphill struggle that the current social climate put on their police force.

This situation was further complicated with early release of felony criminals and refusal of ADA's to prosecute "non-felon" crimes. Those non-felon crimes deemed to be burdening the trial load for the 'real' crimes. The reality was different, many of the early released convicts came back to commit even worst crimes after their release. Sometimes the crimes escalated to higher levels then their previous ones. It was a vicious cycle.

By the time Kate got back to the 12th to close shop and send her detectives home, it was closer to 9PM. Rick had taken off earlier to pickup their kids from child care and get them home. So when Kate made it to the loft she finds her kids in bed and dinner waiting to be reheated for her.

After dinner, Rick and her, sat on their couch, she leaning into his shoulder as they both enjoy NETFLIX for awhile to give them some entertainment. They both needed a pause from the day's happenings. Rick had his arms over her in a protective manner as Kate leaned more into him with her back. His hands were now exploring her body in a manner that always got her aroused. After awhile, she looks up from her position to come in contact with Rick's eyes. Rick sees she needs a distraction from the troubles of her day, and bends his head down to place a kiss on her lips.

"Oh, I like that," Kate says after the kiss.

"There's more of that than just this one."

"Really, want to show a girl what you got there writer boy."

"Thought you'd never ask, and that's man, writer man".

"Oh and don't I know it."

He picks her up bride style and carries her to their bed where he unceremoniously drops her on it. He comes up to her and starts to relieve her of her clothes. When she is totally naked, he gives her a lustful once over.

"Are you just going to stand there and just look, or is there some actions associated with that stare."

"Just admiring my wife in her birthday suit".

"And when do I get to do the same to my husband?"

"Patience...", he says, as he kisses her, and at the same time starting to remove his outfit that he had on, "...is a virtue, ...which I plan to take!"

"So I am a virtuous woman?"

"Not for too much longer, my love."

"Then have at it writer man!"

He does, well past midnight, until they were so worn out, they both fell into a deep sleep.

Kate wakes up to her alarm showing 7:15AM. She pulls up with a startle. She should have been at the Precinct an hour ago! On the chair by her bed, Rick has chosen and laid our her dress for the day. A woman's coat pants and sport jacket, matching blouse and under garments, black 4 inch heels. Her husband, ever the thoughtful man, had already had her attire for the day chosen and ready for her.

She does a quick shower and then dresses as quickly. Coming from their bedroom, she sees her carry out coffee mug ready and the kids dressed for drop off at the nearby daycare center just blocks from the 12th.

"I called the precinct and told them we would be late as we had things to do in the morning before we got there, like drop off the kids."

"You always think of everything", she says, then kisses him. She gives each of her kids a good morning kiss.

They get to the precinct by 8:50 AM.

They had found the identity of their first vic thru the DMV database where she had been issued a NY license as Debra Vaught. She lived in a townhouse shared with her brother. The siblings having inherited jointly the townhouse when their parents had died in a fatal car crash.

The second victim was Erlinda Francisco whose parents were from Boston where she was born and raised. She was Portuguese, of which Boston had a large community. She had come to NYC after graduating from Boston College with a Business Degree. Her name was found on the Military Database having gone to BC on a ROTC scholarship and was a reserve 1st LT in the National Guard. She was a senior intern at a local Brokerage Firm on Wallstreet. Her parent's had called her firm when they could not get hold of her. By then she had missed a day without calling in for leave. The firm had placed a missing person's report on the behalf of Erlinda's parents. Her parents were to be interviewed to obtain more information on the vic. The identity of vic number four was still being sought for.

Martin Vaught arrived at the 12th and was immediately directed to go to interrogation room 3 for the interview. Anne and Tori were conducting this interview while Rick Castle looked on from the observation room. Espo and Ryan along with Captain Castle were setting up a zoom interview in conference room 1 with Francisco's parents in Boston.

"Mr. Vaught, thank you for coming in, I am Detective Hastings-Whitaker and this is my partner Detective Ellis. We are sorry for your loss and want to solve your sister's homicide as quickly as we can. That is why we need your help to possibly give us some leads to her murderer."

"Thank you Detectives, I hope I can help. The loss of my sister is devastating to me. I am now the only one left of my immediate family. My parent's died in a car accident years ago, and now my sister. So, I will help in anyway I can."

"Thank you for that, I see that you and your sister were close just from your reaction to her death. Is that a fair conclusion?", questions Ellis.

"Yes, even closer after Mom and Dad's death."

"Was there anyone who might have wanted your sister dead, maybe a disgruntled boyfriend, or a stalker, persons of that nature", asks Anne Whitaker.

"No, I can't think of anyone. She did have a boyfriend, but they broke up a year or so ago, and he moved to L.A. on a job change. She was seeing no one since then. She loved her work and spent most of her time doing it."

"Your sister was self-employed, is that correct?", queries Anne.

"Yes, she was a Graphic Arts Consultant and most recently got involved with creating scenario's for video games. She worked with the game programmers to make some of the scenes for the games. A good video game can bring in millions, and she already had done two such games that had moderate success, for which she got paid well and also had a share in the sales profits. She was financially stable from those revenues and liked the fact she could work from home. Mom and dad's room we had turned into an office for the both of us."

"And what is it that you do Mr. Vaught?", a question from Ellis again.

"I am an intellectual rights lawyer and consult with several online streaming entertainment firms to determine what they can and cannot do with the movies they run on their streaming channels. I also consult on their rights that they have from their original shows and documentaries they produce in the name of their streaming channels."

"So I take it you work also from home primarily?"

"That is correct and that is why we turned our parent's room into an office, we both share it for our work. But I also do a lot of consulting on my client's home turf, so maybe 30 to 40% I am in the field. "

"When did you discover your sister was missing. You filed a report with the NYPD as she did not return from a meeting, let us know about the circumstances on that?"

"She had gone to consult with a new customer and never returned from that meeting. I called the NYPD and they said she had to be missing for more that 24 hours. So they took my report and would act on it after the given time. If she did return before the time limit, I was to call and cancel my report. Obviously that never happened."

"She was found weeks later. CSI determined she had been dead for some time. So her murder occurred in and around the first week she was reported missing."

"I did not know that, thank you for that? That meant her killer had her for a week and then what? Tortured and raped her! I need you detectives to find this monster and put him away."

"We want that too. Did you know your sister had covid anti-bodies present in her system?", continues Anne on the questions.

"Yes, she caught it, but the symptoms were mild. We almost mistook it for the flu, at first, but out of caution, I asked her to get tested. She did test positive but the symptoms were so mild she was told to self quarantine until she was cured. She stayed in her room for about two weeks, even I was not allowed to be in physical contact. So the test center gave us a list of care givers who would visit her and determine when she was cured She locked her self in her room and had no contact with the public or me. I would leave her meals outside her door and knock so she knew it was there. I then would retire to the home office or my room. She continued to work on-line despite her isolation. She had her lap top and worked from her bedroom when she was isolated. She had her own ensuite bathroom so was totally quarantined. Only the health care provider saw her and that was every other day. Tests were conducted until she was deemed to be cured. After that she had built a natural immunity to covid, for that particular strain, but we were told that it could also help her to fight other strains that arose."

"And how is your health, Mr. Vaught?", this time it was Tori who asked.

"I never caught it. I guess I was lucky, but still I practiced all the precautionary measures to stay safe, I am fully vaccinated, my sister was not. My sister was concerned about side effects from the vaccines and was studying data to make a decision on vaccination. She got COVID however before she could take the shots. But now I know that for my age group and demographics, we have the best chance of all the demograhpic age groups of being cured by natural means. My sister was proof of that. Still I do not take that for granted?"

"This care giver that saw her, was it always the same person?"

"No, in the final week it was someone new, but I can give you the name of the agency that hired them. Apparently many nurses and care givers do not hold a permanent job but would rather do temp work. They do this for personnel reasons, like many have children and need flexible hours. Temping does that for them."

"Yes if you could give us that info, it would be helpful"

Vaught pulls out his cell phone and looks it up and then shows it to the detectives. They give Vaught their cell phone numbers so he can forward to them the information on the contact numbers.

"Well, Mr. Vaught, this has been helpful, but if you think of anything more that you may be helpful to the investigation call us. You may think it is minor, but it could be significant. You have our cell numbers to text us if needed. However, here are our cards, as backup contact info; it has our office land line numbers also."

Vaught take their cards and departs.

During this same time as they interviewed Vaught, Capt. Castle and her senior Alpha team members are contacting the Francisco's on their daughter. The Boston PD had set up the zoom television conference held in one of their Conference Room.

"Mr. and Mrs. Francisco, we are sorry for your loss and thank you for doing this TV zoom conference. I am Capt Beckett-Castle, Commanding Officer of the 12th precinct who has jurisdiction on your daughter's homicide. These are Detectives Esposito and Ryan assigned to your daughters homicide case.

"Thank you Captain Castle and we appreciate your personal letter to us that you included with the medical findings of our daughter's murder. We need you to find the monster that did this to her", Mr. Francisco says as his wife nods in agreement.

"I assure you, Mr. and Mrs. Francisco, that we are working hard on that, but we do need you to ask you some questions. Your daughter had covid and was cured. She was treated at a hospital, is that right?"

Earlier that day, the 12th had just received notification of Ms. Francisco treatment from one of the hospitals notified.

"Yes, she sought treatment from the Presbyterian Hospital where she was admitted to the now Covid ward. At the time it was one of the better treatment facilities and one of the first to set up for Covid treatments. She was there for about a week, then recovered and was released."

"Is there anyone who may have wanted your daughter dead? Was there someone in her life trying to stalk her?"

"None that we know of, she lived for her work. We often told her she needed some release from all the work stress, we worried about her on that."

"So she wasn't seeing anyone?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"So did she take you up on your suggestion?"

"In a way she did. She joined a gym and worked out regularly. She said it helped with the stress from the job."

"Do you know which gym?"

"No but it was near her apartment in Manhattan."

"This work stress, was it from the job, or was there some other situation happening at her office that you knew of?"

"As far as we know there was no one at her work that was bothering her. She would not have mentioned it. Things like that she kept private, but we know she was well liked at work. Her office even filed a Missing Person's Report on our behalf."

"I see, so from our discussion, your daughter was pretty much job oriented and worked out to relieve any job related stress. Is that a correct summary of our discussion so far?"

"Yes, it is Captain, but one other thing comes to mind. She was a reserve national guard and did her monthly reserved drills. You might want to talk to them about her."

"Thank you. Yes we know about her military status and will interview her C.O. and fellow Guardsmen."

"Is there anything else? If not, please call if you do think of something, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you. Sometimes these bits of information leads to a good finding and may even break the case. You have my contact info on my letter. So once again, thank you for your time and we repeat our condolences on your loss."

"Thank you, Captain."

Once done, Kate turns to Espo, "Let's check out the gym she went to, and set up interviews with her office mates and fellow military."

"On it Cap", both men say in unison.