Title: Double the Trouble

By: greygoose70

Summary: Two murders, one weird, the other not so weird, so what did they have common. DISCLAIMER: I have the privilege of writing about these fabulous characters. But do not have any association with AWM, the show, or the network.

Chapter 3

The Precinct

Beckett went straight to her office upon their return, Castle to the breakroom to make coffee. As she entered she saw a woman sitting there. "Detective Analdo," she said as the woman stood.

"Captain Beckett," the woman returned while handing over some papers. "My transfer orders, ma'am."

"Please have a seat, Inez, and please address me as Cap or Beckett."

Beckett had met Detective Analdo when the detective helped her with a case that spilled over into the Hamptons. She had proven herself multiple times during the case with her drive and intelligence. So Beckett handpicked Analdo from the South Hampton Police Department to fill the void when she'd been promoted. She is also making her team leader.

Beckett had first thought about making Ryan and Esposito coleaders, but decided against it. They worked too well together. So when she talked to them about it and explained her rational along with Analdo's qualifications, a captain in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, the two men readily agreed to accept her. Beckett couldn't have been happier.

Beckett also had, at least, two other slots to fill thanks to Karpowski's promotion and transfer to Robbery, and then the retirement of her two team members shortly thereafter. She did that by bringing in two detectives she had the pleasure of meeting earlier in her career. James Feller, a native New Yorker, that she absconded from Brooklyn's 71st Precinct, and Carl Rhymer, a Virginian, with a mild southern accent, from the 109th Precinct in Queens. How he ended up in New York she has yet to discover.

Just then Castle appeared at her door carrying a tray with three coffees. "Good morning, Detective Analdo," he said setting the tray down on Beckett's desk then handing over her vanilla latte. "If I remember correctly you take yours black," he said handing a cup to Analdo.

"Thank you, Mr. Castle," she said taking the proffered cup.

"You ladies carry on, I'll be out with the guys," he said, turning to leave where he almost ran into detectives Feller and Rhymer.

"Well, looks like everyone is here," Beckett declared. "So, let's go out and do a 'meet and greet', Ryan and Espo can bring everyone up-to-date on our current case."

Beckett stood back, just listening. Esposito began relating everything they knew about the crime scene and their victim, while Ryan wrote bullet points on the white board. She saw Analdo remove a black leather notebook, emblazoned with the Army CID logo on the front, from her satchel, and begin writing furiously.

Just as the guys finished the phone on the desk where Analdo sat rang. "That's your phone," Beckett said.

Analdo picked up the receiver and spoke. "Twelfth Precinct Homicide, Detective Analdo speaking." There seemed to be a brief pause before whoever was on the other end said anything. "That would be me," Analdo said. Another pause then she said, "Great, can you bring her in?" Another few moments passed. "See you then and thanks."

"What was that about?" Beckett asked.

"That was an Officer Hastings, said she has a student that saw something late last night. The student is in class right now but gets out on thirty minutes, and she will bring her in." Detective Analdo then began doling out assignments to the team."

"Come on, Analdo. Let's go see what Lanie has for us."

Analdo grabbed her folder and joined Beckett at the elevator for the trip down.

The Morgue

"Hey, Lanie," Beckett said as she and Analdo pushed through the double doors.

"Hey yourself girl," the spunky ME replied looking up from the dead body of John Wood. "And who is this nice looking lady," she added upon seeing Detective Analdo.

"Lanie Parrish, meet Detective Inez Analdo. She is the new team leader for the homicide department, you'll probably be seeing quite a bit of her."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Detective Analdo," Lanie said removing her surgical gloves and holding out her hand. "And you may call me Lanie."

Analdo took the extended hand giving it a firm shake. "Then you may call me Inez," she replied. "So what can you tell us?"

"Well, for one thing, Mr. Woo here didn't drown. He did have a trace amount of water in his lungs but it wasn't enough to drown him…"

"Which means he could have still been breathing when he was put on the sculpture," Analdo politely interrupted.

"Possible, but not likely," Lanie said. "Here's what probably caused his demise." Lanie rolled the body over and pointed to a puncture behind the knee. "He was stabbed in the back of the knee, in the popliteal artery. Probably bled out in seconds."

"I didn't even know there was an artery back there," Inez stated with surprise."

"Me either," Kate said.

"Most people don't. Your killer needed to have some type of medical knowledge to know it was there, or at the very least the bodies blood distribution system."

"Anything else?" Inez asked.

The weapon was round maybe an ice pick or a screwdriver. I'm placing TOD between twelve and three. Can't be any more precise due to the condition of the body. If I'm able to nail it down further I'll let you know."

"Thanks Lanie," Inez and Kate said almost as one as they pushed their way out through the double doors.

Beckett's phone buzzed indicating a text as she and Analdo stood waiting for the elevator. She opened it up and chuckled. "What's up?" Analdo asked hearing Beckett's brief outburst.

"Castle, says to meet him outside, he'll spring for lunch at Remy's."

"I've heard of that place," Analdo responded.

"Hope you like burgers. They make the best in the city."

"Always enjoy a good burger."

When Beckett, Analdo and Castle got back to the precinct they found Officer Hastings waiting for them. With her was Carol Lombard, the student who had observed something the previous night.

"Let's take this to the conference room where we will be more comfortable," Analdo said addressing the young woman. "So what did you see, Carol?"

"I'm a student at Julliard. I was on my way home from attending an off-Broadway show. It was late. I saw a group of what appeared to be college-aged boys coming across the lawn toward Columbus. Like I said, it was late, after midnight, so I was wary. I didn't want to pass them."

"Smart," Analdo said comforting the girl.

"I hailed down a passing taxi. Held it off until they passed, then when they were gone I sent the cab on its way and hurried quickly to my building."

"How many of them were there?" Analdo asked.

"Three," Carol answered.

"What was their demeanor? Any distinguishing characteristics?"

Carol closed her eyes for a few moments. "The two on each end wore dark clothing. The middle one had on a light-colored sweatshirt."

"Could you tell how tall they were?"

Again Carol closed her eyes before speaking. "The one in the middle was short. The other two were taller, six feet or better."

"Thank you, Carol. You've been very helpful. See Officer Hastings on your way out, she'll give you a lift back to wherever you need to go."

Analdo began putting the information from Carol on the whiteboard, in shorthand.

"Whoa, what language is that," Espo smarted rather loudly.

Analdo stopped and stared at what she had done. "Opps," she said and giggled, then began erasing what she had written. "Sorry, it's shorthand. I learned it in high school. It allows me to write down exactly what's said." She then put the information on the board, in English.

"You think these guys could be our killers," Espo asked.

"Not sure, right now they're just POI (person of interest). Let's see if Ryan can find them on any of the videos."

"You see any action?" Espo asked as they made their way to the tech room.

"Plenty. Two tours in Afghanistan with the 75th Rangers, then one in Iraq. That's where I got indoctrinated into the CID."

Esposito stared at her with a new reverence. This woman has seen the elephant. Never again, he vowed, would he judge someone, especially a woman.

"Found anything yet, Ryan?" Analdo enquired.

"Not yet," he replied. "One of the cameras at the center was out of commission. It just so happened to be the one that focused on the statute."

"Think it was deliberate?"

"Possible," Espo answered.

"Why don't you two check it out, then head home. It's late."

"You got it," they replied in unison.

"Did you find the victim's parents, Feller?" Analdo asked upon seeing him hang up his phone.

"Yeah. They live in Schenectady, will be driving down in the morning."

"Excellent," Analdo responded sitting down at her desk, finding a laptop computer there. "I take it this is mine."

"Correct," someone said from behind. "And I've already set it up with a password and you email program."

Analdo spun her chair around to find a tall, dark haired woman standing there. "Hello Detective Analdo, I'm Tori Ellis, head of the IT department here at the twelfth."

"Well, pleased to meet you Ms. Ellis, and thank for this."

"Your welcome, and here is your NYPD cell phone, also set up."

Analdo took the phone and put it in her pocket, She then booted up her laptop instantly seeing the page asking for her password. "It's you badge number, you can change it to something else if you want," Tori stated.

"No. that will work for now," then entered 42390 and the NYPD home page appeared. Analdo scrolled to the email icon , pressed ENTER and the screen was immediately inundated with emails, most of them saying "Welcome aboard."

"I kind of sent out a broadcast to everyone at the twelfth that you were the new detective here," Tori said a slightly embarrassed look on her face.

"It's okay Ms. El…"

"Everyone calls me Tori," she interrupted.

"Very well, Tori it is."

"I'll be in my office if you need anything." She then turned and left.

Analdo sent Rhymer and Feller home, then sent a thank you reply to every email. When done she glanced at her watch seeing it was almost 8pm so she shut the computer down, put it in her satchel, donned her jacket and headed for the elevator. As she passed Beckett's office she stopped to tell her goodnight.

Beckett raised head when she sensed someone at her door. "Hey Inez, what's up?"

"Just leaving," she replied.

"Getting ready to leave myself, thought I'd swing by the Old Haunt for a drink first. "Want to come along?"

"What's the Old Haunt?

"It's Castle's bar. Come on I'll buy the first round."

"Hey, Brian," Kate said approaching the bar.

"Good evening Kate. Your usual? And what would you friend like?"

"Brian, this is Detective Inez Analdo, she a new detective at the twelfth."

"Welcome detective, and since you're with the twelfth your first drink is on the house; after that they're half price."

Analdo gave Brian her drink order. Kate then led her to the private booth. "This is nice," commented Inez. "And quiet."

"Sound absorption panels. Rick had them installed after he bought the place, and this booth is the quietest of them all, that's why it's sectioned off from the others and marked reserved."

Shella brought their drinks but before leaving she asked Kate if Detective Analdo is to be added to the list. Kate nodded and Shella turned and left.

"What list was she talking about?" Inez asked.

"The private booth list, Kate replied. "Whenever you come here you are allowed to use this booth. You don't always have to but it's a perk Rick and I allow to our close friends and co-workers."

"Thank you, Beckett. I don't know what to say."

"We're away from the precinct, you can call me Kate. So have you found a place to live yet?" I know it's a long drive from your place in South Hampton."

"Not yet. I've been staying in a motel for the past week while I look for a place."

"But," Kate injected.

"So far everything I've looked at is infested, in need of repair, or too expensive."

"I think I have just the place for you. It's my old apartment. It's rent controlled, in a nice neighborhood, semi-furnished, and kept up. I'll call my realtor, have her contact you."

"I heard my wonderful wife was here," Rick boasted as he approached the booth, leaning down planting a kiss to her forehead, then sliding in next to her. "What have I missed?" he asked.

"Nothing much, just girl talk," Kate replied, "though I'm having Stephanie take her by the apartment."

"Great. I think she'll like it."

End of Chapter 3