"Luiz Moreno…it's so nice that we finally got a chance to talk.", Beckett said and circled the table of the interrogation room, her eyes fixated on their suspect like a predator ready to strike.
Castle stayed back, gauging his actions based off her body language, hesitating to sit down until she would.
The presence of criminals, especially killers, warranted a higher degree of tact, sensitivity and caution when it came to words and actions, for the chance of giving away personal information with a careless gesture or an innocent remark could lead to disaster.
As such, he'd made it a point to resume the position of silent observer until they had a better grasp of who Luiz Moreno truly was, and what else he was capable of.
"I have nothing to say to you.", the heavy-set Hispanic man replied, playing tough on the outside, yet unable to stop his cuffed hands from shaking.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I am sure you'd like the chance to clear your name before I put you away for murder…"
"Murder? You can't prove that!"
Wiping his sweaty face on the crease of his elbow, Moreno studied her intently, then let his gaze drift over to Castle.
Keeping his expression carefully guarded, the writer met the other man's brown eyes stoically, reminding himself once again that even somebody who didn't look like a killer could be a killer.
Lanie and her team down at the lab had already done the legwork to prove just that.
"We can do that and a whole lot more.", Beckett countered confidently, having been down that tunnel of implied innocence often enough, "That's why we are giving you a chance to explain yourself, Mister Moreno. Tell us what happened between you and your business partner?"
Setting up for another round of senseless pleading while being utterly unaware that a security camera had captured him doing the dirty deed; Moreno opened his mouth, then closed it again when a knock on the one-way mirror disrupted them.
Exchanging a brief glance with Castle, Beckett headed toward the door. The writer was about the follow, and yet had to fight the temptation to take over the interview while unsupervised; see if his experiences in previous interrogations had finally given him the winning edge when it came to coaxing a confession out of their killer.
Moreno seemed to sense it and eyed him suspiciously, his frown turning into a frightening scowl that succeeded in scaring him off.
"You're coming, Castle?", Beckett called from the corridor, leaving the door ajar for him to follow, albeit unwillingly.
Outside, they were greeted by a grim-faced Gates, her lips pursed, and jaws tightened. She barely waited for him to join them and close the door, before drawing in a sharp breath.
"You guys are off this case. I am assigning it to Royce and Woodruff.", she explained evenly, fully expecting Beckett's protest and raised a hand to hold her back, "I have a new case for you."
