The evening had brought more questions than answers.

They were difficult questions to ask, leaving Beckett to wonder what would await her on the other side of this grisly case, when it was time to find the answers she'd been seeking; and with it, uncover the plethora of human suffering that had occurred at the hands of a terrifying killer.

Back at the precinct, she had spent a few moments burying her face in her palms, trying to digest the haunting images, the sights and smells that would stay with her forever. And somewhere beyond all this was a young woman who had found herself in the crosshairs of mortal peril, and paid the ultimate price.

There was more to this though, her years in law enforcement told her right away. The killing was one part of the puzzle, the disfigurement and placement of the body a whole other issue. Had their killer not found his climax in seeing the life fade out of his innocent victim's eyes? If the authoritative or sexual arousal wasn't enough, what was he trying to achieve with the display he'd left behind for them? Mock police? Set up a theatrical scene? Be playful?

Her heart dropped at the endless number of questionable scenarios; the sheer notion that somebody capable of these vile acts was still on free foot making her pulse race.

Ryan and Esposito had been able to contribute a few facts to their investigation. The car used was a dark blue or black sedan, seen for just a fraction of a second and in parts at best. Despite his advanced computer skills, Kevin had been no match for the outdated equipment used in the small electronics' shop a half block down from the murder scene. If anything, any efforts to clear up the picture seemed to only obscure it more.

The interviews with the kids and the nearby shop owners had been vague, offering a description of their presumed killer that could fit half the males in this town and giving her a timeframe that might match the body move, but didn't help at all with the actual murder.

To add to the growing frustration, word about the evil butcher of a young woman had spread across city blocks like a wildfire, spurring more speculation and corrupting what valid eyewitness information there might still be out there for them to find.

"Let me know when you are ready to unfurl your grand plans of apprehending our suspect.", came Castle's quiet voice that shook her from her daydreams.

Jerking her head up and regretting it instantly when her stiff neck popped in protest; she smiled warmly, forgetting about her gruesome thoughts for a precious few moments.

"I am afraid there won't be much of that tonight…", she said and ran a hand through her hair, Castle watching her every move with the intrigue of a painter picking his new motif.

"Perlmutter should be done with the autopsy within the hour. We put a rush into the lab for toxicology but that is still several hours out. Dental records should tell us who our victim is…"

She'd hardly finished the sentence when the elevator doors opened with a subdued ping, giving sight of a CSU technician. With his stoic expression not giving away anything, the young man slowly walked up to them, his gaze staying on Castle a little longer than usual.

"Dr. Perlmutter asked me to bring this to you right away. He also said that he will be done with the autopsy shortly."

Without giving Beckett a chance to reply, he placed the large manila envelope on her desk, spun around on his heels and was halfway to the elevator when she muttered a quiet thank you.

"How is that for courier service?", Castle chimed in playfully, "He already shares Perlmutter's sunny disposition."

Gracing his remark with a fleeting smile, she opened the file she'd been aching to see and yet dreaded to receive.

The thin document ahead only confirmed that notion.

"Raquelle Parker…", she finally whispered, saying the victim's name out loud, humanizing those whose remains they so often processed like another piece of evidence, whose deaths were full of fear and loneliness.

While every part inside her understood the importance of professional distance; she was also aware of the need to look at those mangled bodies as human beings, with a history, and a family who cared for them.

"She just turned twenty-three…", Castle added as he leaned over her shoulder to look at the report, along with a small DMV picture that showed a promising and beautiful woman at the beginning of her professional life.

Smelling the sweet scent of his aftershave, Beckett drew in a deep breath, using his presence to calm her mind, then glanced back down at the image, her heart aching for the family that would receive the devastating news shortly.

Hoping to bury those overwhelming thoughts, she turned toward her desktop and entered the name into their database, not surprised when it didn't bring up any priors.

"Last known address is in Brooklyn. Lafayette Ave. Not married. Her mother is still alive and it's listing an address in Queens for her. We should probably talk to her first, see if Raquelle had a boyfriend or mentioned anything strange going on lately. I'll get a warrant for the apartment she was renting in the meantime."

"Perlmutter said that she had been dead for a few weeks. But nobody reported her missing."

Castle's voice quivered when he said that; the parent inside undoubtedly struggling with the perplexing fact.

"Well, maybe she didn't talk to her mother all that often. No siblings either. Maybe she was just a loner who…fell through the cracks."

The grooves in the writer's forehead deepened even more as that brilliant mind began to work, looking at the situation from his unique point of view. She could tell that he wanted to rebut her statement but hesitated, as though he was still gathering information for his case.

Then, with his blue eyes moving back up to hers, he cocked his head toward the elevators.

"You want to tell her mother tonight?"

"Yeah…", Beckett said and glanced up at the wooden clock near the breakroom, signaling that midnight was close, "Yes, I believe she should find out from us first."