The CSU call had sent chills down his back for more than one reason.
And it had been so obvious too. Why hadn't they seen it sooner?
As the technician relayed the evidence that had been found inside Harrison's room, his mouth went dry, his tight shoulder muscles tensing like rebar wire, his eyes going back and forth between Beckett's desk and the murder board, then back to the floor as not to raise any attention quite yet.
Throughout the call, Esposito had kept his responses to neutral mhm's and yes's, feeling as though he was choking from holding back emotions that so quickly threatened to take over his body.
Did they want CSU to leave the room as is and move out?
"Yes, please. There's a chance he might return yet. We have an unmarked unit on their way to stay nearby."
How about the images on the wall. How many angles and photos did they want? Was there something in particular they wanted an image off before they were to close the doors again?
"The…the wall of photos will be fine.", he replied, narrowly choking, "And please send that over asap."
No problem, they would text over the images momentarily and then load them to the server as well. Was there anything else he needed for now?
"No…no, I think we're good.", he lied.
He was far from good.
None of them would be once those findings would make it past his lips.
Esposito hung up the phone more violently than expected and stood up, hoping to relieve some of the angst that had befallen him. With his shaking hands clenched to tight fists, he dug his fingernails into his palms, trying to breathe slowly before passing on the news.
"You okay, bro?", Kevin asked from behind, his voice unsure as he turned toward him.
"Yeah, I'm fine…", he lied once more and bit the inside of his cheek.
How would she react? How would anybody react under the circumstances? As if all the pressure from above hadn't been enough to make this one heck of a dreadful case, their latest findings sure didn't help matters.
Swallowing his discomfort with the situation, he slowly headed toward Beckett's desk, grateful that Castle had taken a bathroom break and was out of sight for what would be an emotionally challenging conversation.
She noticed him midway, her warm eyes turning distant when she sensed the tension in his body language, immediately knowing that bad news would ensue. To add to it, he felt the cellphone in his pant pocket vibrate, courtesy of the CSU photos being sent to him from Harrison's room.
"Everything ok?", she asked, seeking out the truth from his even glance, but he didn't let her in quite yet.
"I just spoke with CSU.", Esposito began, his shaking hand reaching for his cell.
"Oh yeah? What did they find in the room?"
Feigning casual interest, she leaned back a bit, allowing him to step closer to her desk.
"They found Emily Watkins' purse, along with some blood splatters that are probably hers.", he began, seeing her draw in a deep breath as she awaited more information, "They also found a bracelet that has the initials R.P. on it. My guess it that stands for Raquelle Parker."
"So, he kept little trophies. What a creep."
Her lighthearted comment was dimmed again when he stared back at her intently, his jaws clenched.
"I told them to leave the room exactly like they'd found it in case he comes back. But you should know that on his bathroom wall, he had half a dozen or so pictures of you. You're his next victim, Beckett."