We have some bad weather moving in, so might be a bit before I submit an updated chapter again. Be safe everyone!
After stopping for a quick snack, their drive to Queens had taken less than half an hour, an incredible feat considering the nighttime traffic.
When she slowed the dark blue Crown Vic to a stop in an adjacent parking spot, Beckett glanced up at the apartment building housing their victim's mother.
Notifying the next of kin had never been one of her favorite things to do and considering the vile nature of the crime, would be made incredibly more difficult.
As she mentally prepared herself for the proverbial tap-dance around some of Raquelle's injuries, Beckett stayed quiet as they entered the large building and took the elevator to the third floor. Castle walked next to her the entire time, granting her the stillness she so desperately needed for the emotionally draining task ahead, all while maintaining physically close.
When they approached the apartment in question, she could see light coming through some of the fine gaps between the door hinges, accompanied by the noise of a television news report.
Drawing in a deep breath, Beckett raised her hand to knock, her eyes drifting over to Castle whose expression remained stoically unchanged, neutral, almost as if his time on the force was helping the writer to shield his inner feelings from strangers.
Much to her surprise, it took another knock before the TV volume was turned down and footsteps approached the entrance door at a slow pace.
"Hold on. I'll be right there…", came the raspy voice on the other end.
Assumingly Raquelle's mother was having physical disabilities, and it took another agonizing few moments before the chain was unlocked and the doorknob slowly turned, giving her a peek into the apartment.
The entranceway led to the kitchen that was cluttered but reasonably clean. The heavy smell of pizza and grease still hung in the air even though a couple scented candles near the stove were burning.
"Are you Mrs. Parker?", she said calmly, one hand reaching into her pant pocket for her badge.
"And you are?", came the crude response from a woman who looked a lot older than what the DMV data led her to believe. Then again, stress and trauma had ways of aging the body prematurely.
"I am Detective Kate Beckett, this is my associate, Richard Castle. Would you mind if we come in?"
"Actually, I do."
Her surprising answer was followed by a stern glare at the writer, then at her, as the other woman shook her head slightly.
"It is almost midnight. I would prefer to get some rest. If it's important enough, I am sure you can come back tomorrow."
Surprised by the hostile attitude, Beckett raised her eyebrows, never realizing that she was still holding up her badge until the other woman tried to close the door on them again.
"Mrs. Parker, this is about your daughter Raquelle.", she began, only to hear her scoff.
"Well, then it can definitely wait."
Before Beckett could say any more, the door was shut in her face again, the scent of greasy pizza and cheap candles disappearing as fast as it came.
"Well, I guess it's safe to say they didn't have the best of relationships…", Castle whispered with a grimace, waiting for her to make the next move when another apartment door opened behind them.
This time it was an older gentleman greeting them, a loyal dachshund by his feet as he eyed them skeptically through his thick glasses.
"Are you really the police?"
"Yes, we are…", Beckett replied matter-of-factly, once again pulling out her badge for their newest friend to see, "Do you know anything about what's been going on with Mrs.…Parker and her daughter?"
"I do, unfortunately.", he began and lowered his voice as though he was afraid his neighbor would overhear them, "You see, Raquelle is a very…secluded young woman. Always has been. Very shy, doesn't make many friends, just keeps to herself. But her mother…well, she wanted for her to make it to the big times. Raquelle is beautiful, as you certainly know, and it would have been easy for her to enter the model world and make a lot of money but she never wanted to. It's been causing a lot of…tension between her and Eleonor."
"Did she have any boyfriends?"
Beckett's question caused the older man to hesitate, then shake his head.
"Not that I am aware of. She hasn't been around much lately. When she is in the area, she usually stops to see me and Rosey down…down the hall. We're like her aunt and uncle. But she…she hasn't said anything. Why? Is there something wrong?"
As the feeling of dread returned, Beckett nodded slowly, then pointed past the half-open door.
"If you don't mind, could we sit down and get your information and then…we can explain to you why we are here?"
Growing nervous at their presence, the older man nodded and opened the door wider, causing his canine friend to bark at the intruders.
"If this is about money or a parking ticket or something, I am sure we can figure it out. She is not a bad girl, she just forgets about time…"
"I am afraid it's something different.", Beckett said, keeping her voice steady as she entered the darkened apartment, noticing the assortment of family pictures on the wall, many of them showing a young Raquelle.
It was easy to see where her mother got the idea from of getting her enrolled in modeling classes.
"Please, can't you just tell me what's going on?", the older man urged as he closed the door behind them, the little dog following his every step.
"We will, but first I need you to sit down."
Pointing at a dated brown couch ahead, Beckett swallowed hard and bit the inside of her cheek, not looking forward to breaking the old man's heart tonight.
And yet, the very thing happened, leaving her and Castle stranded in the apartment complex with a heartbroken senior for two more hours.
