"You'll be staying in my apartment until this is over."
This wasn't a friendly suggestion, or at least Castle hoped she wouldn't mistake it as such. There was no way he would let her out of his sight until that lunatic killer was found.
Well prepared for the argument that would undoubtedly ensue, the boys stayed respectfully quiet, allowing them to sort out their thoughts in the quietness that was the breakroom.
"We don't even know what he has planned or why he put those pictures up. Maybe he just…I don't know…enjoys the thrill of watching us spin our wheels.", she argued, visibly frustrated at the frightening turn of events.
"Three women are dead. Brutally murdered. Their bodies desecrated.", he reminded her, trying not to let his overbearing concern shine through his words, "What are the odds that he is after you for some sick sexual fantasy as well? You are in danger."
"I'm fine.", she replied matter-of-factly, knowing how much those words tore into him.
Looking for help, he glanced over at the boys, both of them stone faced as they followed along.
"Castle's right.", Espo chimed in, his brows knitted, "This guy's a lunatic. We don't know what he is up to. Whether it's some sexual fantasy, or he simply wants to kill you because you're in his way…whatever it is, you're a target now."
"Castle's place has great security features. It would be worth overnighting there for a bit until he is caught. This way you don't end up in the crosshairs."
Even though Ryan's tone of voice had been relaxed and logical, it barely made it through her thick skull.
As though the new evidence was posing a personal challenge to her, Beckett shook her head in defiance.
"We can't let this guy call the shots like this. If anything, it will empower him to push more. Ryan, what if it's your picture on the wall next time?", she countered, her voice trembling slightly when she realized that she was running out of allies.
"Then Jenny and I would move in with Javi until we are safe. Only if it's ok with you?"
With a wink of the eye, he looked over at his partner who raised his fist in solidarity, meeting Kevin's halfway.
"Of course, it's cool, bro."
"What we are trying to say is that you are in danger.", Caste reiterated firmly, "Nobody thinks that you can't handle yourself in the face of this…this threat. But why take that chance? What's to gain by ignoring the obvious warning signs here?"
His passionate plea seemed to slowly sink in when she averted her gaze, unwilling to meet his fierce blue eyes. Instead, she glanced back at the murder board through the side windows, fighting an internal battle of wills.
"He ran away from home when he was only ten years old."
Ryan's voice had taken on a dark, downright sinister tone when he said that. Breaking away from the group, he walked up next to her, stopping just a few inches away.
"We have no idea what he did in those years before he reappeared in New York. We don't know where he lived or who he lived with. We don't know what kind of atrocities he may have witnessed, or committed. We don't know who taught him or what he did to survive. But the facts we do have are stored down in the morgue, clear as day. He's built a web of lies and has proven to be incredibly manipulative and resourceful. All we're saying is that there's no telling how far he will go to kill whoever is in his way to get to you."
A faint nod, barely visible from his side of the room would remain Castle's sole sign of success. Yet deep inside, his heart was both relieved and excited at the strange twist of fate that allowed him to get closer to her again.
