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 4

Day 2, The Precinct

Detective Analdo stepped off the elevator at precisely 6:30am. To her surprise the four members of her team were already there. She went to her desk, set down her leather satchel and swept her eyes around to each of them saying, "Let me get some coffee first, then we'll get started."

"Let me get it," Ryan said, then added, "black, right," rushing off. Upon his return, he handed her a twelve ounce NYPD mug with her name Analdo etched along the bottom.

"Who did this?" she asked.

"We all did," Ryan replied. "Yeah, we wanted to get something for you so everybody contributed," Espo said.

"And we all know how much coffee means to a cop," Feller added.

"We live on the stuff," Rhymer stated.

"Well, I thank each one of you. Now whatta ya say we get to work. Espo, Ryan, what did you find out about the camera?"

"Well it definitely had been tampered with," Espo said.

"Someone sprayed the lens with black paint," Ryan followed up with.

"Those cameras are usually mounted pretty high," commented Analdo. How did someone get up to it?"

"They didn't, they used one of these." Ryan said passing her a picture.

"What's this?" she asked taking the picture and orientating it.

"Tree trimmers use it to spray a cut branch with a coating. It prevents insects from boring into the tree that could kill it."

"It's extendable, up to twelve feet," Espo said.

Analdo stepped up to the murder-board, uncapped a marker and started to write. "In English," Espo declared, then snorted.

Analdo turned her head and peered at him. "It is English, Espo. Just a very special type. She then turned back to the board and continued. "Feller. What about the parents?"

"They're on the way, should be here around nine."

"Damn. I have to be somewhere at nine. Guess I'll call and reschedule," Analdo muttered.

"I'll take care of that for you," a familiar voice resonated.

Everyone spun and saw Beckett and Castle, both holding a Starbuck cup.

"Wow, Castle you're here early, didn't think you even got up until nine," Espo cried out.

"Couldn't sleep. Inspiration struck with an EMB," he responded.

"And EMB! What the hell is that?" Beckett enquired resolutely.

Castle leaned over and whispered in her ear, she then smacked him in the chest. "Ouch," he howled taking a hasty step back nearly dropping his cup. Whatever he told her got an instant reaction from the troops especially when Beckett hit him.

"Okay everyone, let's get back to work," Analdo calmly ordered once the hoot and hollering died. "Rhymer, Did John Wood's records arrive from Fordham?

"Nope," was the only answer he gave. "Whatta ya mean, nope?" she asked giving him a glare.

"Whoa," Ryan whispered to his partner, Esposito. "She's almost as scary as Beckett.

The glare didn't seem to faze Rhymer, he just sat calmly at his desk and said, "That's because John Wood didn't go to Fordham. He went to NYU."

'And you know this how?" Analdo said with an eye roll.

"Just like Beckett," Espo whispered for Ryan's benefit.

"When I called Fordham I was told there was no John Wood registered there, so I tried other colleges. Finally got a hit at NYU."

"So did you request his records?"

"Yeap."

"Aaand," Analdo said drawing out the word. "Got them right here," as he waved a folder in the air

"Okay. Ryan, get back on the cameras, find out where these dudes came from, where they are going. They're still our best lead right now. Call me if anything pops."

"On it," he replied as he headed for the tech room.

"Okay, the rest of us are going to NYU I want to speak with anyone and everyone that knew John Woo. "Let's go." She then rose and made for the elevator. Esposito, Rhymer and Feller in hot pursuit behind her.

"That hurt, Kate," Rick proclaimed rubbing his chest in the area where she had hit him as he sat down in a chair across from her desk.

"Sorry. But really, EMB, early morning boner. What are you twelve?"

"More like fifteen, but hey, you seemed to enjoy it."

"Damn straight I did. It's probably the greatest thing about our marriage, the sex is always fabulous. I hope it always will be."

"You can count on it Kate."

Kate got up from her chair, walked around to where Rick sat, and got in his lap. "Kiss me then husband," she said.

New York University

"Okay, what do we need to know?" Analdo asked.

"He majored in Journalism, took undergraduate courses in Law," Rhymer replied.

"Schedule?"

"Was supposed to be in an English Lit class that began fifteen minutes ago. Room 114."

"Don't believe he will be making that one," Feller mumbled.

"Perfect. Esposito, you and Feller get over there and begin interviewing people. When was his next class supposed to be, Rhymer?"

"Twelve-thirty, Room 222 with Stan Livingston."

"Well, let's go see if the good professor is available."

Detective Analdo gently knocked on the door adjacent to Room 222, the frosted glass window, in the door, bearing the name Stan Livingston. "Come in," she heard from the opposite side.

Upon entering she saw a man sitting at a desk. She estimated him to be in his mid-thirties. "Can I help you?" he asked when seeing it was not one of his students.

"Detectives Analdo and Rhymer, NYPD," Analdo replied while showing him her badge. We want to ask you a few questions about a student that attends your class.

"What student would that be?" Livingston enquired.

"John Wood," she said.

"Aah, Mr. Wood, a very bright young man, very inquisitive. Is he in some kind of trouble?"

"He's dead," Rhymer calmly answered.

"Oh dear, what happened?"

"Stabbed, placed on a statute in a Lincoln Center pond," Analdo stated. "You said he was very inquisitive. What kind of questions did he ask?"

"I teach Pre-Law detective. His questions pertained mostly to that of his chosen profession, that of an investigative reporter."

"Nothing specific then," Rhymer said.

"No, more like, can I say this or that without being sued for slander," Livingston answered.

Analdo stood, told Livingston "thank you" then turned to leave, Rhymer right behind her. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked as they walked to meet up with Espo and Feller.

"If you're thinking Wood stumbled onto something and was doing some investigating on his own, then yeah I think we're on the same page."

As Analdo and Rhymer descended the stairs to the first floor they were met by a tall man who stopped them and asked if they were the NYPD detectives asking about John Wood. When they both replied "yes", Analdo asked "why." His reply shocked them.

"Because I'm John Wood," he said.

The Precinct

Beckett was returning from the breakroom with two coffees and a huge smile on her face. What that single kiss with him led too, a quiet, unrestrained round of office sex. God, how she loved him. As she strolled through the bullpen she heard a phone ringing. It was coming from Analdo's desk. She walked over, set the coffees down and picked up the receiver. "Beckett," she said. "Analdo is out of the office right now. Whatta ya got?" She said a moment later. "Got it," she replied to the caller replacing the receiver and jotting something down on a post-it pad. Dismissing the coffees she yelled, "Let's go Castle. Dead body."

The Crime Scene

Beckett had just pulled up to the crime scene building, a uniform officer moved the barricade allowing her access. She slid the lever in PARK and turned off the ignition. Just then her phone rang. She retrieved it from the center console, saw it was Analdo and answer it in her usual fashion, "Beckett."

"Cap. We've got a problem. Our vic isn't John Woo," were the first words she heard.

"WHAT!" Beckett voiced probably louder than she intended to causing Rick to jerk his head toward her. "What is it?' he asked just above a whisper. Kate held up a hand mouthing "in a minute." After listening for several minutes she said, "Okay see you later at the precinct.

"What was that about/" Rick asked.

"Our vic isn't John Wood."

"Then who is he?"

"Don't know, we'll just have to wait and find out. Now let's go, we have another dead body to investigate."

Beckett and Castle entered apartment 5A, the officer there letting them know the body was in the bedroom. "Who's the victim?" Castle asked. "A Miss Laura Cosetti," he answered. "Of WHNY news?" Castle responded.

Beckett turned her head. "You know her?"

"Only by reputation. She's an investigative reporter for that station."

"Who found the body?" Beckett asked the officer.

"A Bobby Jones," he replied, "he works for WHNY. He was sent by his boss to check on her when she didn't show up for work."

"Where is he now?"

"He was pretty shook up, so I sent him back to the station, but told him to keep himself available."

"Okay, thanks."

As they walked in they saw Perlmutter kneeling next to the bed. "Good morning Perlmutter," Beckett greeted the usually grumpy medical examiner. But he had mellowed some the past few years so his reply was both friendly and cordial.

"Good morning to you as well Captain Beckett," he replied, then seeing Castle there also greeted him. "Greetings Mr. Castle."

"Greetings to you as well Perlmutter," Castle replied, then stepped back out of the way so as not to interfere. He knew how testy the ME could get with regards to his crime scene and dead body.

"What can you tell me about Ms. Cosetti?" Beckett enquired.

"She was murdered between ten and midnight yesterday, and very uniquely. The killer slashed her popliteal artery, caused her to bleed out in seconds. But…"

"Perlmutter," Beckett suddenly interrupting him. "We had a victim yesterday who was killed the same way."

"John Wood, Doctor Parish told me about it."

"Yeah, well that is yet to be determined. Anything else?"

Perlmutter gave Beckett a strange look, then turned over the body of Laura Cosetti over and pointed to two round punctures in her chest. "See these here," he said.

Beckett went over to take a closer look. "What are they?"

"I'm guessing they are from a taser."

"Where are her clothes?" Castle suddenly asked while gazing around the room.

"Why you asking?" Beckett inquired knowing he was on to something.

"Because if, and I'm only speculating here, but if she went to answer the door I'm pretty sure she didn't do it…"

"in the buff." Beckett and Castle clamoured simultaneously.

Perlmutter stared at the two of them. It was not the first time he had seen them interact with each other like that.

"So, you're thinking she was tazed at the front door, carried in here, undressed, then placed in the bed and killed. Which means…"

"She knew her killer!" And they did it again vocalizing as one.

"Perlmutter, What kind of weapon was used to sever that artery?" Castle asked.

"Knife. The killer slashed it across the area," giving a demonstration.

"Thanks Perlmutter. Be sure to send your final report to Detective Analdo."

"Will do Captain Beckett," always addressing her by her rank in a show of respect.

As Beckett and Castle left they ran into John Edison, Chief CSU technician. After stopping to give him some specific things they wanted his crew to look for they exited the apartment, then took the elevator down and walked out the building.

End of Chapter 4