"A marking," Brad said with a slight frown.
"Marking?" Skye said, frowning herself.
"Yeah, a weird one," Brad replied, letting her take it. "Have you seen this before?"
"No," Skye said, shaking her head after she'd looked it over. She glanced at her wife, who'd been looking over her shoulder, but she wasn't surprised when Mary shook her head.
Taking the phone from the investigator, Beckett's brow furrowed while she took in the three straight lines with two vertical ones underneath, two large vertical lines bookending the marking on either side. "It's not from another language is it?"
"Not that I've seen," Skye replied.
"No, I've never seen this either," Castle said in a rush since the investigator had been looking at him. He watched his wife give the phone to Zak and was startled when all four men, looking at it at the same time, groaned together.
"What is it?" Brad asked, obviously startled at that reaction.
"The skeptic," Zak said, shaking his head. "We did an investigation at Sailor's Snug Harbor way back… ten years ago. We were contacted by one of the people in charge there and he told us that this same marking had suddenly appeared in the theater two years later."
"Where that floating figure had been," Skye said.
"You remember," Zak said.
At the investigator's nod Aaron said, "After that there suddenly seemed to be markings all over places on the islands here that were supposed to be paranormal."
"And you called them the skeptic?" Beckett asked.
"It was always after investigations," Zak said. "The idea is they messed with the place, opened portals and made things worse but it's never been proven… what?"
"That's how the mother got there," Skye said since he'd been looking at her. She swore before she said, "If that's what they did then it's why we were attacked."
"But how did they get in?" Fox couldn't help asking.
"Where did you notice this?" Skye asked the officer gently.
"While you and Beckett were being helped out," Fox began slowly after she hesitated. "I went into the room that you said Anais ran to and… I can't explain it, something pulled me there. I found that and took a picture."
"I noticed you were gone," Jay said. "I was going to go after you, since you'd just gotten attacked yourself but-"
"What?" Brad asked. "Who attacked her?" he said before he turned to his officer. "Who attacked you?"
"I don't know," Fox said.
"Likely the mother in law," Skye said. "But we all recovered," she then said to reassure the chief.
"She's right sir, I'm fine," Fox said firmly.
"Alright," Brad said with a sigh. "Thank you for telling me about the marking… though what exactly I'm supposed to do with that I don't know."
"They might know something," Skye said.
"It'd be impossible to find them," Castle said.
"No, I don't think so," Skye replied. She then turned to the GA men and asked, "Do you know the paranormal groups here on the islands?"
"Not all of them," Zak said.
"Is that where we're looking?" Brad asked.
"I would," Skye said. "You said Briar Grove was never investigated until we went there," she directed to Zak.
"You think they were trying to sabotage us?" the investigator responded.
Seeing Skye nodding Brad said, "Then you can head to the house," not surprised at his friend's immediate response.
"That's it for us today?" Castle asked with a slight frown.
"Yeah, this is going to need to be done by officers since I'm now focused on Cobb's murder," Brad answered.
"I would suggest something," Skye said, standing up then. "Ask them about the legend of the speakeasy, don't say where they are though. If they know the one under the library, you'll want to take a closer look at them." She glanced at Fox and said, "And I would send her to inform Cloet at the library before she heads home."
"But-" Fox began to say in protest.
"No, I'm inclined to have you do that," Brad interrupted her. "I'm assuming it's because of what happened to her?"
While she was nodding Skye said, "It'll be better if you rest at this point and if you have any bruising on your stomach use an ice pack for about twenty minutes."
"Go ahead," Brad told the officer when Fox looked at him.
"I'll be back for my shift tomorrow sir," Fox said.
"Good," Brad said. "But for now tell Cloet about the connection and if she needs to, call me," he added, giving his card to the officer.
After the officer had left Castle couldn't help saying, "You weren't going to talk to her?"
"She was speaking to Cloet when we got to the library," Brad answered. "And I want to start looking into everyone," he added before Beckett was asking about the manor.
"And you're just going to let us go on our own to Briar Grove?" she said.
"No, but since I just found out that Fox was attacked there I'm not inclined to let her go back," Brad said. "So I want Bernier to go with you… please don't let him get hurt."
"He won't," Skye replied.
"You're that sure?" Brad asked.
"Very, we just need to get everything ready," Skye said.
"We'll get started now," Zak said after looking at Jay who was nodding quickly.
After the four men had left, agreeing with the others to meet them at Briar Grove, Brad said to his consultants, "I want you guys back here at nine if I don't call you. I'm expecting this name thing to take some time."
"There are probably a lot of groups," Castle said. "And the city?"
"I'd like to wait for that… because if we go to the city we wouldn't be able to stop there," Brad answered. "Though it sounds like it's exclusive to this area. So head out and please be careful."
"I'm fine," Beckett said swiftly since the chief was looking at her. "I think you need to worry more about Skye."
"I'll be alright," the investigator told them swiftly. "I've done this before and luckily the four are knowledgeable about what needs to be done. So no need to be concerned." Skye paused and then said, "Though I assume the next words out of your mouth are going to be rest after that."
"Basically," Brad said with a smile. "But seriously, be careful."
"We will," Beckett said before the others could speak.
"Great, now get out of here," Brad told them laughingly.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Castle said first.
"And don't take too long to get back home," Beckett told him.
"You've been talking to Lils again," Brad said with a smile, following them to the door.
"No, looking out for Lily," Beckett said simply.
"Great, I'll be home eventually, just take care of the house," Brad told them.
"Don't worry," Skye said firmly. "It's imperative we do. Let's get out of here," she said, directing the last to the others before they were leaving.
"Okay?" Castle asked, walking back to his wife from his circuit around the yard.
"I am," Beckett said. "Just… waiting."
"Why exactly are we here?" Darnley said. "Or more importantly why am I here?"
"You need the ride," Castle said jokingly.
"I told you, you could have gone home," Skye said, walking outside with the others following.
"All set?" Beckett asked her friend.
"Yeah," Skye said. "And she's gone though I need to start sealing the doorways here on the outside, along the gate and the outside of the property."
"That much?" Zak asked.
"Yeah," Skye replied. "I want to be thorough."
"Here," Jay said, handing her a flask.
"And us?" Castle inquired.
"Actually, I came out to get Kate," Skye replied. She wasn't surprised when everyone but the writer was looking at her in surprise and she said, "You figured?"
"I had a feeling," Beckett said.
"And we need to do it now before I sage the kitchen and this three seasons room," Skye replied. When the writer nodded she told the others, "We'll start on that," before she led her friend into the house.
"I thought you said she was gone," Beckett said as soon as they were inside the kitchen.
"I'm surprised you didn't say anything before," Skye commented, opening the door to the basement. She paused for a moment and then looked at her friend asking, "Anything?"
"No," Beckett said, turning her head to watch her lighting the bundle of sage she had in hand. When the investigator was handing it to her she said in surprise, "Are you sure you should do that?"
"You found their bodies," Skye said simply.
"And Cobb?" Beckett immediately inquired before the investigator was lighting another bundle.
"I'll be speaking," Skye said reassuringly. "Just watch how I wave it around and then you're going to do that in the room." She held up her free hand when the writer's brow furrowed and she said, "Don't worry, I'll go up to the opening and get a read on the place to make sure everything's alright." When her friend nodded she got her flashlight and said, "Ready?"
"Yeah," Beckett said before she was going after the investigator down the stairs. Since she had gone down the other staircase she got more of an idea of how large the space was. "I'm not sensing anything," she said once they were walking across to the room, not surprised Skye was responding to that instantly while she waved her bundle of sage.
"Neither am I, which is a surprise since when I started on the second floor I wasn't sure if she'd make her way here," the investigator stated. "I was hoping she would avoid it and it looks like I may be right." Skye was first then at the room and leaned her head into the opening before she said, "I am right." She turned to her friend and said, "Ready?"
"Yes but…" Beckett started to say.
"Don't worry," Skye said, smiling slightly. "Just walk through the room with the sage." She couldn't help laughing briefly when the writer looked doubtful and said, "I promise that's it and then I'll work over the entrances," not surprised at her response.
"Isn't it bad if I don't do this right?" Beckett asked.
"You're just waving around the sage," Skye told her firmly. "I'm going to speak." She wasn't surprised when Beckett still hesitated though she was soon nodding and she watched the writer begin to walk around the small room, waving the bundle of sage as she had been doing. She quickly began speaking, addressing Anais' killer saying, "Alma Lindt, you are no longer welcome in this house. You will leave and never return." She watched Beckett return to her and she nodded saying, "Okay, everything's set you can come out now."
"You're sure she didn't come back," Beckett stated as she stepped through the opening.
"I am, this was a just in case scenario," Skye replied. "Let's hurry though, I need to finish with the house." After Beckett had nodded they made their way out and up the stairs where she smudged the kitchen and three seasons room last before they were outside.
"Everything go alright?" Castle asked his wife when she had reached him.
"I think so," Beckett said, not surprised when he took her hand. She was a little startled when he frowned immediately and she was about to speak when they turned to Skye who'd walked from the front of the house.
"Alright, we need to head to the cars," the investigator was telling everyone. "I just have the gate to seal."
"Do you want it to be open?" Zak asked her.
"Yeah," Skye said with a nod, looking at the flask she was holding. "You can close it right?"
"I have the opener," Zak answered, looking at Bernier.
"I'll have to take that before I head back to the station," the officer said.
Walking with the others, Skye fell back from them once she had reached the gate and she stepped over the property before turning back. Spreading what was left of the holy water, she went across the gate and from end to end of the wall it was a part of, saying the protective words for the home. Once she was standing she motioned to the lead paranormal investigator before the gate was clothing. "Luckily we have extra sage," she told everyone once they were standing together.
"Extra?" Beckett asked in surprise before she heard a car pulling up and they were turning to see it was Fox.
"I nearly forgot that Philippa needed to do the same," Skye said. "Everyone who was here at the house earlier when the killer came in needs to purify."
"All of us?" Castle asked in obvious surprise.
"All," Skye said firmly. She turned to the officer when she approached them and asked, "Everything go alright with Cloet?"
"Yeah, she was surprised to find out what happened," Fox said. "But she's all for that news conference once the DNA test is done."
"She'll need to give her blood," Beckett said.
"I told her," Fox said with a nod. "But why am I here?" She glanced around and said, "You look like you're done."
"Almost," Skye said, not surprised when the others were looking at her. "Since you were attacked and we were all in the house I just purified, we need to do the same to ourselves." She paused and then asked with a frown, "Can Mia come out here?"
"She's staying until four," Fox replied, looking at her watch. "So… another half hour."
"That'll take too long," Skye said before she was looking at her wife.
"Hurry and light one of the bundles," Mary replied wryly. "It's getting cold."
Smiling briefly, Skye turned her attention to the three bundles she had left and said, "It's going to be interesting, Mary's going to need to sage myself and you Philippa. Guys you've done that for each other right?"
"Yeah, many times," Billy said.
"And me?" Darnley asked slowly.
"Kate." "Me," Skye and Beckett said at the same time.
"Great, I thought I was going to have to do it myself," Darnley said.
"I don't care," Castle said, shaking his head since the carpenter was looking at him. He took the bundle Skye was giving him and turned to his wife before he paused and then glanced at the McDouglas women, seeing Mary was passing their sage over the officer. After taking in what she'd done he turned to Beckett and waved it over his wife carefully before he had finished and handed it to her.
"Weird," Fox was saying while she watched Mary blowing on her bundle hard.
"You feel better?" Skye asked as she was waiting. When the officer nodded she couldn't help smiling and said, "That's what all this was for."
"Stay still grá," Mary said sternly before she was passing the bundle and smoke from it over her wife's head.
"Better?" Castle murmured to his wife once she was finished with Darnley.
"Yeah," Beckett said, trying not to think of how the smoke had helped ease the very obvious tension that had been in her body since she and Skye had collapsed in the hall. "So stop asking me now."
"I will," Castle assured her before Mary was finishing with Skye.
"Good?" the doctor asked her wife.
"Now yeah," Skye said before she ran her hand over her face. "You better head home," she told Fox. "Tell Mia not to linger at work."
"I will, thank you," the officer said before she told everyone goodbye and was leaving swiftly for her car.
"We're leaving now," Beckett said, looking at the others after they'd urged Bernier to return to the station. "I want to see our daughters."
"I'd like to get off my feet," Skye commented.
"I'd like to play in that game room again," Aaron said before he was laughing with the others.
Though they were still laughing, the group started to move towards the cars so they could make good on their words and put some distance between them and the silent manor.