60. Chapter 60

Chapter 60

In the days after talking to Jordan Shaw, Kate and Castle gradually began to feel calmer, even with the specter of Bracken in the back of their minds. They checked with the close friends and family members who knew what was happening with the senator and found that nothing suspicious had crossed their paths either. It didn't result in complete peace of mind, but it did allow them to concentrate more on the cases in front of them without the distractions of the last few weeks; so life in general was easier.

Martha was working hard to be sure that her school opened as efficiently as possible.

Alexis was working with Lanie a couple of days a week and had agreed to go in when things were backing up to the point of emergency status. Otherwise, she was enjoying her summer…seeing her friends before they scattered to various campuses across the country and starting the shopping for clothes and supplies for college in the fall. Kate encouraged Castle to take Alexis to the Hamptons with him and have some time for just the two of them before she moved into the dorm. That was planned for July.

That week also provided Kate with her first big test as lieutenant. Information came directly from the captain this time.

"Lieutenant Beckett, my office," Gates called from her doorway. She looked deadly serious, and Beckett moved quickly to see what she needed; and immediately after they entered the office, Gates closed the door behind them.

As she handed Beckett a memo sheet with two addresses, she explained, "Multiple homicides, two separate homes. I'd recommend two teams. CSU and ME's are already on scene. It's going to be a tough one…two entire families, one home with three children, all about ten and under, the other with a couple of teenagers. You'll need to assign teams and coordinate the investigation."

"Yes, Sir."

"Keep me apprised, and let me know if you need anything. I don't have to tell you the press will be all over this. Don't give them any information until we have time to talk."

Kate nodded, took a deep breath as she left the captain's office and met Castle approaching her desk with their morning coffee.

"Do we have a body?" he asked.

"Looks like we have a lot of them."

"So it's bad?"

"Worse than that. Some of them are young children. Look, you don't have to go if you don't want to. Young kids…it's always hard."

"It's hard for you, too. I'm your partner. I'm gonna have your back."

"I need to coordinate with two teams. Two entire families, Castle. Somebody killed nine people last night. That's all we have so far. Will you get Karpowski for me? I'll round up the boys. I think I see them in the break room."

"Be right back."

She met with her own team and Karpowski in the break room and quickly explained the situation. "Two houses, one team in each. We can compare what we have when we get back, see what connections we can find. And, needless to say, we take care of notifications as soon as possible, and hopefully before the press gets the victims' names. Karpowski, here's the addresses. Get your team rolling as soon as you can. The press is bound to have caught wind of this already, and the captain said to give them nothing until we've talked."

"Got it," she answered, taking the addresses. "See you there."

Both teams mobilized and met at the scene, finding themselves in a lovely old area of well-kept brownstones…small trees growing seemingly impossibly from spaces in the sidewalks, flowers and green plants on some of the porches and steps, and a little park with a play area at one end of the street. It was a place where the garish flashing lights of the police cars and long stretches of strident yellow crime scene tape looked entirely out of place. The two homes were across the street from one another, and the first officers on scene had cordoned off the entire street area between them. The detectives drove past the impatient reporters and cameramen, who were being withheld from the crime scene, and one of the officers moved a barrier so they could park their cars close to the crime scene. Standing on the street between the buildings, the unusually large number of detectives saw little to indicate their reason for being there. The front doors of both houses were open, but nothing else on the outside looked out of place.

After looking around and asking a couple of questions to be sure that the area was properly secured and to look for anything that might be telling, Beckett told Karpowski, "We'll take the one on the right, you take the one on the left. Let me know if…" Her voice trailed away as she looked at the doorways they were about to enter.

"Yeah, I will," Karpowski answered with a sound of complete understanding, and their teams went to their assigned places, leaving two from each team to speak to the officers who had been first responders.

"Lt. Beckett," she said, introducing herself to a young officer, who looked a bit stressed. "And Richard Castle. Civilian consultant. He's with us." As Castle shook the young man's hand, Beckett asked, "Where is your partner?"

"Went to help with a rowdy reporter. I see him on his way back."

"You okay, Officer Maxton?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he answered respectfully. "Thanks for asking."

"It's always harder when there are kids," she responded. "This your first murder?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I don't know how somebody can do that to little kids."

"Me, either. Tell your partner I appreciate the good work the two of you did securing the area and helping your backup cordon off the press. My partners here are going to take down whatever information the two of you can give them as first on scene. Let me know if problems or questions come up."

The young man nodded as Beckett and Castle braced themselves and walked up the steps to enter the crime scene. After ascertaining which areas CSU had cleared, they made their way upstairs, finding three children, looking about three, seven and ten years old, all shot in the head, all still in their beds.

"I agree with Officer Maxton," Castle said sadly. "It looks like the kids were all asleep. They probably didn't see or hear a thing. How can anybody do this? Execute little kids?"

"I don't know, either, Castle," she answered, sounding as sad as he did. "Looks like somebody was looking for something. Even a quick glance tells me the master bedroom was turned inside out. Maybe the poor excuse for humanity who did this was afraid the kids would wake up and catch him."

Someone from CSU came into the room then and told them the living room was ready for them, so they went back downstairs; and instead of Lanie, they encountered Perlmutter. They hadn't seen him in a while, and he was in a worse mood than usual.

"Hello Detective Beckett. Castle, you're still here." The greeting to Castle was made with a sound of disgust.

"Yes, I am."

"Haven't they realized yet that they don't need you?"

"Even Gates can see that he helps," Beckett interrupted getting back to business. "What can you tell us so far?"

"Two victims, male and female caucasians, mid-thirties, gunshots to the back of the heads. Clean shots, exited through their foreheads. Looks like they were probably on their knees when the shots were fired. I can give you a more accurate answer after I examine them further. Lacerations and contusions on the hands, arms, and face.

Castle asked about time of death and followed with another question, and Perlmutter made a couple of snide remarks without actually answering him.

"Those are perfectly appropriate and necessary questions. What is wrong with you?" Beckett asked irritably.

Perlmutter grumbled something under his breath; and it sounded derogatory, even though the only thing they understood was "that man."

After tolerating all the increasingly rude and annoying barbs the ME had thrown at Castle over the years, something finally snapped, and Beckett answered, "Partly because he's a much kinder man than you are. Look at it this way, Sidney. You retire in two weeks, and you never have to see us again, which suits all three of us just fine." She paused for a moment before stating firmly, "And it's Lieutenant Beckett…coordinating the teams in both locations; and I need this information, no matter who asked for it. Look at where you are. There are five murder victims in this house, three of them children; and you're slowing down the investigation by sniping at us like you're in junior high. Have some respect, at least for the victims, and just do your job. The faster you answer the questions, the faster you get rid of us."

Perlmutter grudgingly answered the questions, estimating time of death as between two and four in the morning.

"Have you examined the children yet?" Beckett asked.

"Haven't been here that long. CSU had finished most of this room and told me to go ahead here."

A couple of minutes later, Perlmutter went upstairs; and Castle and Beckett took a closer look at the bodies of the adults and then at the room. The sofa and chair cushions in the family room were strewn across the floor, tables were overturned, bookshelves nearly emptied.

"Somebody wanted something badly," Beckett stated, looking around.

Ryan and Esposito came in with the information from Officer Maxton and his partner and a statement from the man who had called in the murders. They had asked one of the more experienced officers on site to canvass any of the neighbors who were at home or among the observers who were on their porches or at their windows…and to look for security cameras that might have caught something the night before. Beckett sent them to look around, and she and Castle went to see if they could find anything in the master bedroom or the office. The children's rooms had been searched but not ransacked as badly as other parts of the house.

A little more than the entire morning was spent in gathering what information and evidence they could find and trying to avoid the press and the curious. Beckett and Castle walked over to the brownstone across the street to see what Karpowski's team had encountered…other than a much more cooperative medical examiner. They found more of the same there, but the abuse to the adults was more severe, and the teenage daughter was lying on the stairs. The son was in his bed. It looked very much like conditions across the street. The biggest difference was the time of death, which was an hour earlier.

After the coroner's vans were backed up to the houses and the tarp barriers were set up to block removal of bodies from press and gawkers, the detectives conferred before deciding they had gleaned all the useful information they could for the time being.

"You guys in any mood for lunch?" Castle asked cautiously. "It's on me. It might help to refuel and decompress a little bit before we look at everything again."

"We need to get on this, though," Karpowski said reluctantly.

"Yeah," Esposito said, "But he's right. This one was ugly. We just need to get some food in us before we jump in full force."

Castle suggested, "We can stop at Tony's place, Kate. It's close to the precinct, and he'd have it ready for us when we get there. After you talk to the captain, I'll call him if it looks like it's in the cards. We can take it back with us."

Both teams nodded as Beckett dialed.

"It's Beckett, Captain. We've finished at the crime scene, at least for the time being. There's a good sized press contingent cordoned off at the end of the block here. Shall I give them a 'no statement yet' statement and ask that they hold any personal information they may think they have until notifications have been given?"

"That should be fine. I don't think anyone would object to that…other than the reporters."

"Castle and I plan to stop and pick up lunch for everybody on the way in. Any objections? We're likely to be at this non-stop once we're back."

"Give me enough of what you have that I can give at least a brief, factual statement to 1PP. I've had one phone call already. And don't take too much time. We don't want it to look like you're not getting right to work on it. Some of the neighbors will talk to the press, and it won't take long for the speculation to start. We need to be on top of this."

"We know the restaurant owner. We can call in the order so it's ready when we get there, and it's going to be a working lunch when we get back."

"Give me something I can relay to the chief's office, pick up your lunches, then get back here and get to work. As soon as you've brought me up to speed on everything, you need to notify the families."

"Yes, Sir."

"Let me know when you return. I'll be sure the conference room is available."

"We should be back in thirty minutes at most, the others less than that. We should have most of the CSU information and pictures by then." She turned to Castle. "Call Tony with lunch orders. Gates is going to be sure the conference room is open for us."

"Everybody's checking the menu on their phones already. I'll just order your usual.

"Are you talking to the press, Beckett?" Karpowski asked, looking in that direction.

"As little as possible, but I guess I need to. The captain cleared it."

She put pulled herself into her take charge persona and strode confidently toward the reporters and camera people. Before she was even close enough to answer them, there were reporters shouting questions. Without answering any of them, she walked close enough to be heard and simply stood and waited. Some of them got the message and stopped shouting; and when a few more took the hint, she said firmly but with civility, "I'll speak to you when you can hear me, not before. I won't say this but once." A couple of the reporters still tried to shout questions but were glared down by their peers.

Once she could be heard, she began. "I'm Lt. Katherine Beckett, NYPD homicide. Our investigation is just beginning, and I'm not at liberty to provide any further information at this time. The purpose of this communication is to ask that you allow us time to notify next of kin before you release any personal information you think you have to the public. We will appreciate your cooperation in showing that respect to the families of the victims. I'm sure other statements will be given soon. The shouted questions began again, but Beckett simply turned and walked back toward her car.

The others were already at their cars, and Castle was waiting with a comment. "The cameras got you coming and going. I'll bet they loved your walking away butt. I sure did."

"Castle!" She smacked him on the arm. To his credit, he had said it without his customary smirk, trying to maintain a professional and appropriately serious look for any of the gawkers who were still watching.

"Oh, come on. Everybody here knows us well enough to let that slide."

"Yeah, Beckett. We'd think he was sick if he didn't say something like that, and especially if he didn't watch."

"Oh. Orders are in and Tony said he'd have them waiting," Castle said, wisely changing the subject.

"Sorry. A little wired right now," Beckett answered. "Just try to stay professional long enough to get to Tony's and back to the precinct." she warned good-naturedly.

"Got it." He put his hand at the small of her back for a moment as they walked to the car…innocent in appearance, but supportive and comforting for both of them.

"Thanks, Maxton," Beckett said as they walked past the young officer.

"Just doing my job, Ma'am," he answered, but his face reflected some pride at the recognition.

As they got in Beckett's car, Castle smiled at her. "Remembering when you were fresh out of the academy?"

"Maybe. Most of the detectives were so jaded they didn't even see us. I remember the ones who took time to let us know we had done something well. It meant a lot."

"Well, I think you have a new fan, maybe two. You know he told his partner what you said earlier."

"Whatever."

"Encouraging young cops, Kate. You do these things and don't even realize…"

"Take down the pedestal before we get back, Castle. People I have to work with will be there."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You sound like Maxton," she said as they got into their car.

"When you get to be Captain, are you going to demand to be called 'Sir'?"

"Do I look like a guy to you?"

"Not even a little bit. As a matter of fact…"

"Stop right there. When we're back, I don't want you going in with one of those looks on your face."

"What looks?"

"The ones where you're imagining me and things from my underwear drawer." She smiled as she turned left and pulled into a parking space about half a block from the restaurant.

"Spoilsport."

"Thanks, Rick," she said softly before they got out of the car.

"For what?"

"For giving me a little bright spot before we have to go back to facing the ugly truth again."

He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it briefly. "I needed it, too."

A reporter had followed them from the crime scene, and she and her cameraman ran up to them at the restaurant door asking, "Detective Beckett, can you tell us anything more about the murders this morning?"

"No comment," Beckett answered firmly as Castle opened the door for her. She kept walking, and the reporter tried to follow; but Castle stood in the doorway until she made it to the cashier, who handed her several bags and the receipt for Castle.

"For the record," Castle told the reporter before she reached the door again, "It's Lt. Beckett." Then he walked between the reporter and Beckett on the way to the car.

They ignored the reporter and drove back to the precinct, ignoring a second one who was waiting nearby.

"Conference room is available, Lieutenant," Gates said, emerging from her office with a legal pad as soon as she saw Beckett return. Everyone else just arrived.

"We brought you something, too, Captain. I hope you like Mexican," Castle told her.

"That was thoughtful of you. At this point, almost anything looks good."

She sat down with them, and all their meals were in front of them within minutes after Castle and Beckett set the bags down on the table. They all took full advantage of what they suspected might be their last real meal for the rest of the day.

"First order of business, next of kin," Beckett stated as she sat down.

"One of the neighbors had emergency contact information for our victims," Esposito reported between bites. "Parents of the wife and sister of the husband…both local."

"We'll get to work on ours," Karpowski answered. "Freedman, see what you can find, after you're finished." She was rewarded with a nod of agreement.

Jennings, Karpowski's partner, finished his food first and pushed his Styrofoam tray away. "Thanks, Castle. We all needed this. Good food, too. I'll be taking the family there."

Uncharacteristically for the precinct, Castle momentarily dropped any role except husband and draped his arm around his wife's shoulders, running his fingertips along her arm as he spoke. "I did it because Kate probably wouldn't eat otherwise. Figured it wouldn't hurt the rest of us, either." Then he seemed to remember where he was, removed his arm from Beckett's shoulders, and sat up straighter in his chair.

There were a couple of indulgent smiles from the others, and the captain said nothing. As the others finished their meals, they echoed appreciation in various forms and cleared the table for work.

Senator Bracken was likely to be no more than a peripheral concern for Beckett and Castle for at least a few days.