A Murder in the Mosque

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Castle. Wish I did, though. Rating: K+ for some soldier's language. Time: After Season Eight.

McCarty and Peake showed up at the 12th Precinct promptly at eight AM, only to find that Captain Beckett and Mr. Castle weren't in yet. The desk sergeant told them that they had gone out on a case straight from home. After seeing their State Department ID, he allowed them to wait in the homicide bullpen.

Only two detectives were there and neither of them knew McCarty or Peake. They got cups of coffee and waited for Beckett and Castle to arrive.

"Well, well, well." Said a cop, getting off the elevator. "What do we have here? Some new detectives for Sweet Ass Beckett?"

"We're feds." McCarty said, looking over the newcomer. He was big and tough looking, dressed casually and had an NYPD badge.

The man slapped his forehead.

"I should have known. A pair of FBI pussies. Shined black oxfords, conservative blue suits, white shirts and a red necktie. The last thing this place needs is a pair of useless FBI pussies. Why don't you go bother someone else?"

"Because we have business here." McCarty said.

"They let you carry a piece, I see. What do you carry?" he said, reaching for McCarty's weapon.

McCarty kicked the man's legs out from under him and turned him on his face as he fell. He landed on the floor with one arm held behind his back and McCarty's .45 pushing into the back of his neck. Peake had his Glock in the man's face. He quickly removed the man's weapons.

They heard laughter and applause. McCarty turned to see Ryan and Esposito standing there with huge smiles on their faces.

"How's things in the gang task force, Slaughter? You doing okay?" Esposito asked.

"I'll do just fine as soon as these two FBI assholes let me up."

"FBI? Is that what you told him you were?"

"We didn't say, Espo." McCarty replied.

"I don't know what these two said," Espo said, "but I'm sure it was a lie. These two work for the US government. They kill people. We had them here a while back. The one on top of you drilled a suspect right through the head. There was no investigation or anything."

"Is that true?" Slaughter asked.

"Nah." McCarty replied. "I'm the fucking Tooth Fairy and this is my pal, the Easter Bunny."

"Want an Easter egg?" Peake asked with a smile, pushing his Glock against Slaughter's head.

"How do you get a job for the government like that?"

"You have to take a test." McCarty replied.

"What kind of test?" Slaughter asked.

"The one you just failed."

Both men moved back from Slaughter. Peake handed him a brown paper bag he'd gotten from the trash.

"Here's your weapons back."

Slaughter took the sack and shook it.

"You disassembled my weapons?"

"Yup. Better be careful. I might have left out a part or two. I can be clumsy that way."

McCarty could see Slaughter's shoulders tense up.

"I wouldn't try anything. I was being nice and friendly before."

"Slaughter! What the hell are you doing in my precinct?"

Captain Kate Beckett was back.

"I just needed an office to use for a bit. You know the gang task force, we…"

"I know exactly what the gang task force and you do. Right now, you're getting my nice clean floor all dirty. That's an office over there. Use it and go."

"I would, but these two…"

McCarty and Peake moved quickly away from Slaughter.

Slaughter got to his feet.

"These two started it. I was just…"

"Looking for an office. There. Now. Then go. Understood?"

Slaughter glared at everyone but headed for the office.

Kate was pretty sure that McCarty and Peake were doing some sort of undercover work, so she decided not to recognize them.

"Who are you two and why were you using an NYPD detective as a broom."

"Mr. McCarty and Mr. Peake, Captain Beckett. We work for the US State Department. You had a murder of one Mullah Muhammed al Amriki. He has dual nationality, US and Egyptian. The Egyptians are interested in the case. We're here to liaise with you."

"And that what you'll do. Liaise and nothing more. Come into my office and I'll bring you up to speed."

Kate introduced Rick who also pretended not to know McCarty and Peake and she introduced Mr. Randolph, who she said had a contract with the DOJ.

McCarty made Randolph as more than some businessman and Randolph recognized McCarty and Peake as not being State Department types. Neither one wanted to break their cover by asking too many questions.

Kate brought out the al Amriki file and told McCarty and Peake they could study it in another office. Not the one with Slaughter in it. They left.

"They're not State Department." Randolph said. "I'm sure of it."

"They aren't State Department any more than you're some contractor for the Department of Justice." Kate snapped. This case was getting more complex by the second and she didn't like complications.

'Care to share?" Randolph asked.

"They're US Army Special Forces." Kate explained McCarty's background and Peake's connection with Alexis.

"I'll contact Langley. We should be working together on this. If you don't object?" Randolph said.

"Be my guest."

"We got nothing from our run through the neighborhood where al Amriki was killed." Castle said. "Did you pick up anything from the ones who were speaking Arabic?"

"No. Most of the comments were about your wife's physical attributes. The comments were all positive."

"Most of the comments?" Castle said.

"A few of them saw the rock on Kate's finger and wondered which of us was her man. Some thought it must be the old guy since he'd probably have the money for a ring like that, but some thought it might be the young guy. A number thought that she could do better."

"There's no doubt I could have done better." Kate said.

"What?" Rick yelled. "Not only am I the love of your life, but I'm a rich and famous novelist."

Kate shrugged,

"Sure, but maybe if I'd waited for a bit, I could have gotten all of that and a husband who'd do paperwork."

Castle opened his mouth to say something, but his father's look made him think twice. For once.

Kate stood up and grabbed some files from her desk.

"Speaking of paperwork, I have a meeting at One PP to discuss this paperwork. I'll see you at home, Rick."

Castle had a nice dinner waiting for Kate when she did get home. They ate, snuggled on the couch for a bit and then headed for bed.

Kate came out in a pair a sleep shorts and a very baggy tee shirt.

"You're reading a manuscript?" She asked.

"I have to. Gina gave it to me to read. She hates science fiction, and she knows I like it."

"Is it any good?"

"The writing is good, but the premise is bizarre."

"How so?"

"Giant wolf-like extraterrestrial party animals come to Earth for ice cream? That is so not commercial."

Kate shrugged, allowing her shirt to slip down her shoulder.

"Who knows. Some of the critics thought the first Star Wars was awful."

"I thought Star Wars was awesome!" Rick replied.

"Want to see something else that's awesome?" Kate said as she turned off the bedroom light.

Rick and Kate arrived at the precinct the next day to find Mr. Randolph already there, talking to Ryan and Esposito.

'We may have something." Espo said.

"A lead?" Kate asked.

"Not exactly. We got a notice from missing persons. A Mr. and Mrs. Azawi reported that their two teenaged daughters went missing the day after the murder. They live some two blocks from the mosque and regularly attend service. The girls are Amalia, age nineteen and Malika, age eighteen. They were walking to work, their parents have a store, and never got there."

"Maybe they saw something or someone they shouldn't have." Castle suggested.

"We can go check it out." Kate said.

"Check what out?" McCarty said as he and Peake came out of the elevator.

"Two teenaged girls. Right up Peake's alley." Espo said.

"We'll explain on the way."

The Azawis lived in a nice apartment, well-furnished and comfortable looking. They all noticed that while Mrs. Azawi dressed in slacks and a long-sleeved top, the did not cover her hair or face and seemed perfectly comfortable in the presence of strange men. Mr. Azawi was obviously upset.

Kate introduced Espo, Ryan and Castle, then reported that Mr. Randolph was a civilian consultant. McCarty and Peake were described as State Department representatives. Neither of the Azawis seemed concerned that so many people had come to talk about their missing daughters.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Kate asked.

"Both girls work part time at our store. I have a little grocery store that sells Arabic food and other items. It's not much, but we do all right."

"What time did they leave?"

"Seven AM." Mrs. Azawi said. "The girls have always been very punctual. That's very important."

"Have there been any problems in the neighborhood? Any troublemakers?"

"No." Mr. Azawi replied. "This is quite a quiet neighborhood. There are many Arabs here, both Moslem and Christian. Many more Christian Arabs have moved here because of…everything."

"We left Iraq because of Saddam Hussein's war against Iran. We were afraid my husband and his brother would be called up for the army. Everyone was being called up. We were very frightened. We had to bribe some officials, but we left and are happy here. We're Americans now."

"Have you seen anyone in the neighborhood that looked odd? Out of place?" Kate asked.

"No. No one." Mr. Azawi replied.

"There's that boy who comes in all the time." Mrs. Azawi said.

"He wants to buy cigarettes, but he's too young. I tell him no every time and he never listens."

"Do you know his name? Where he lives?"

Both Azawis shook their heads.

"He's not from around here." Mr. Azawi said. "I've never seen him except for the times he comes to the store."

"Do your daughters have any extracurricular activities. Do they go out with friends?"

"No. We need them to work, and they need to study. It's very important to get a good education. You meet a better class of men in college."

Mrs. Azawi said something in Arabic and Mr. Azawi just nodded. Kate noticed that neither Randolph, McCarty nor Peake showed any interest in the short conversation in Arabic.

"Where did they go to high school?" Kate asked.

"Milliard Filmore High School. It's the nearest one to us."

"Do you know of any friends they had there?"

Both shook their heads.

Kate stood up.

"We'll check around and we'll do the best we can, but I can't promise you anything."

Both Azawis were very appreciative.

"Did you get anything?" Kate asked after they'd left the Azawis.

"Neither one had any problems with strangers seeing Mrs. Azawi." Randolph said. "No head covering. Her clothes were pretty conservative, but a lot of forty plus New York women dress that way."

"Mrs. Azawi told her husband in Arabic that education was valuable in its own right, not just to snag a rich husband." McCarty added.

"Compared to the people we usually deal with, they're a bunch of flaming liberals." Randolph said.

Although it was summer vacation time, Milliard Filmore High was open for summer school, although it appeared rather deserted. They found the principal's office and asked if he was in.

"Yes." Said a young girl who looked like she might be a student. "Whom may I say is calling?"

Kate showed her badge.

"Captain Kate Beckett, 12th Precinct, NYPD. These men are with me."

"Is he a cop?" She asked, pointing to Castle. "He's hot."

Randolph spoke before Kate could reply.

"You mean Psycho here? No one in the interrogation room in the basement ever called him hot before." He appeared to concentrate. "Although he's heated some people up, in a manner of speaking."

Castle did his very best to look like Hanibal Lector, and while not that successful, the girl went away quickly.

In less than a minute a man came out. He was younger than Kate had expected, perhaps late thirties, with a receding hairline, but in pretty good shape.

"Hi, I'm Ron Holden, the acting principal. Everyone else got the summer off. I'm usually a PE teacher and baseball coach. You've brought a lot of people with you, Captain. I hope there's not a big problem."

TBC