A Murder in the Fandom pt.2

Daniel sat down in the room assigned to him at the convention center, feeling the weight of the day bearing down on him. He had been signing books and meeting fans since the morning, and he had a Q&A session scheduled next. The constant interaction and the noise of the crowd had left him with a throbbing headache, but he did his best to hide it. The last thing he wanted was to ruin the experience for his fans.

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment to gather himself. Just as he was beginning to relax, the door opened, and Julie, his assistant, stepped inside.

"Hey," Daniel greeted her, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

"The people who helped organize some of the fan events are here," Julie said, sounding slightly cautious.

"Oh, right. The forum people," Daniel replied, sitting up straighter.

Some of the convention events were organized by his most dedicated fans. They were a bit eccentric, but he appreciated their commitment. They also ran several fan clubs and internet forums dedicated to his work.

The door opened wider, and five people entered the room—three women and two men. Daniel's eyes quickly scanned them.

The first was Mick Harrison, a lanky and tall man with a disheveled appearance. His hair was tousled, and dark circles under his eyes suggested that he hadn't slept much. He looked as tired as Daniel felt.

The second was a petite woman with short, dark hair, nervously adjusting her glasses as she entered. Her name tag read "Samantha." She seemed almost too shy to make eye contact.

The third was a woman in a bright, colorful outfit with a wide smile. Her name was Lisa, and she was practically bouncing on her toes as she walked in.

The fourth was a man named Kevin, who was slightly older, with graying hair and a calm demeanor. He wore a button-up shirt with a tie that looked slightly out of place at a convention.

Finally, there was Sarah, a woman with long red hair and a warm smile. She seemed the most composed of the group.

"Hello," Daniel greeted them, offering a tired smile. "Thank you for coming."

The group seemed starstruck, momentarily at a loss for words as they took in the sight of their favorite author.

Mick was the first to speak, his voice a bit shaky. "Uh, Mr. Adler, it's… it's an honor to meet you."

The others greeted him as well.

Daniel chuckled softly. "I'm grateful for your support. All this wouldn't have been possible without you."

They talked about the events after the Q&A, and just as they were about to end the conversation, Daniel heard some sounds from outside the room. He turned to Julie, who was standing near the door.

"Julie, who is it?" Daniel asked, his curiosity piqued.

Julie peeked out into the hallway and then turned back to him. "It's a detective from the NYPD… and Richard Castle."

Daniel frowned in confusion. "Richard Castle? What's this about?"

He caught the group of five whispering among themselves, their eyes wide with excitement. "Oh my God, Richard Castle! Are they collaborating?"

Richard Castle was a name that Daniel wasn't entirely familiar with in his old life. He was a famous author in this world—one of the changes he had noticed. He vaguely recalled picking up one of Castle's books a year but hadn't finished it.

"Uh, let them in," Daniel called out, curious to see what this was all about.

Beckett and Castle entered the room. Daniel stood up, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity as the two approached him.

"Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD," Beckett introduced herself, holding out her badge. "This is Richard Castle."

Castle gave a friendly smile and a slight wave.

Before Daniel could respond, Samantha, one of the fans, gasped loudly. "Oh my God, that's Nikki Heat!"

Beckett's expression shifted to one of mild embarrassment, a slight flush coloring her cheeks. Castle grinned, clearly enjoying the moment.

"Uh, Detective Beckett, right?" Daniel asked, still processing the situation. "What's this about?"

Beckett cleared her throat, regaining her composure. "We need to speak to you privately, Mr. Adler. It's related to a case we're investigating."

Daniel's confusion deepened. "A case? What case?"

Beckett's expression turned serious. "Please, it's important that we speak in private."

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Daniel nodded and turned to the group of fans. "Guys, I'm sorry, but I need to handle this. Could you please step outside for a bit?"

The fans nodded eagerly and filed out of the room, with Julie guiding them to the door. Once they were gone, Daniel turned back to Beckett and Castle, his concern growing.

"Alright," Daniel said, trying to keep his voice steady. "What's going on?"

Beckett took a deep breath before explaining. "There was a murder last night. The victim was a young woman named Jennifer Michal."

Daniel's eyes widened in shock. "A murder? That's… that's terrible."

Beckett continued, her tone calm but firm. "We found out that she was a huge fan of yours and was also part of a particular section of your fanbase. Specifically, those who believe that you're a demigod and that your books are real."

Daniel sighed, rubbing his temples as if the headache from earlier had intensified. "So you're familiar with them," Castle observed.

"Yeah," Daniel admitted, "I keep an eye on stuff like that. I thought it had all fizzled out, though."

"Well, no, they're quite active," Beckett replied.

Daniel shook his head, looking tired. "It all started with a fan telling me about this theory at a convention. It was a joke at first, but then some people actually started believing it. I contacted some forum admins to try and kick these people out. It was kind of becoming…"

"A cult," Castle finished for him.

"Yeah," Daniel agreed. "A cult."

Beckett then pulled out a photo of Jennifer Michal and showed it to Daniel. "Do you know this woman?"

Daniel stared at the photo, genuinely confused. "No, why would I know her?"

Beckett explained further. "This is the victim, Jennifer believed she was in a relationship with you. She thought she was texting and even calling you."

"So she was catfished," Daniel said.

Beckett nodded. "We believe so. And we think this person might be part of this cult."

Daniel leaned back, taking it all in. "Damn… Do you think this person killed her?"

"That's what we're trying to find out," Beckett said. "We believe whoever was pretending to be you could be involved. They might have been someone deeply embedded in this cult."

Daniel sighed, feeling a mix of guilt and frustration. "I kind of lost track of that stuff, but those five people who just left—they might know more. They're kind of my superfans and manage a lot of the fandom, like forums and clubs. You can ask my assistant, Julie; she'll help you track them down."

Beckett nodded. "We'll do that. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Adler."

As Beckett turned to leave, Castle lingered behind, clearly intrigued by the situation. "I read your books, by the way," Castle said casually. "They're good."

Daniel smiled, though there was a hint of awkwardness. "Thanks. I, uh, read yours too. Really enjoyed it."

Castle raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing through the polite lie but letting it slide. "You know, you kind of look like Nathan Fillion," Daniel added, trying to change the subject.

Castle grinned widely. "Of course! I've been mistaken for him. We're both quite handsome, you know."

Daniel laughed, relaxing a bit.

Castle's expression turned more serious, though his tone remained light. "So, Oscar winner, huh? And I also hear you're involved with DC Comics now?"

Daniel nodded. "Yeah, working on some things…"

Castle leaned in, his excitement barely contained. "So, what are you planning? A new comic series? Or maybe something bigger? A movie?"

His eyes were sharp, almost as if he were trying to solve a mystery right in front of him.

Daniel chuckled, appreciating Castle's curiosity. "Well, you know how it is, Mr. Castle. I can't talk about these things."

Castle wasn't about to let it go that easily. "Come on, give me something."

Daniel smirked, knowing full well what Castle was fishing for. "You're persistent, I'll give you that."

Castle grinned. "It's part of my charm. So, are you going to tell me what you're cooking up over at DC, or do I have to wait like everyone else?"

Daniel hesitated for a moment, then decided to have a bit of fun with it. "How would you feel about working with DC? Maybe even writing a screenplay?"

Castle's eyes widened with surprise and excitement. "Are you serious? Me, working on a DC movie?"

Daniel nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "If you write a good screenplay, then yeah, we can talk."

Castle leaned back, a look of pure delight on his face. "I have so many ideas," he said excitedly.

Castle leaned forward again, clearly not wanting to let the moment pass. "Okay, but just between us—are we talking Batman? Superman? Or something totally new?"

Daniel grinned. "I can't talk about that yet."

Castle opened his mouth to press further, but just then, Beckett's voice called from the hallway. "Castle, let's go!"

Castle sighed dramatically, his excitement still bubbling beneath the surface. "Duty calls. But hey, don't forget to call me when you're ready to start working on those movies. I'm in."

Daniel nodded, watching as Castle left the room. Today has been an unusual day.

.

.

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Castle and Beckett gathered the five superfans in a quiet corner of the convention center to discuss the cult. Mick, looking a bit nervous, stepped forward to speak on behalf of the group.

"Some of them are here at the convention," Mick said, his voice low. "We've been trying to kick them out. I was actually about to kick someone out just before you guys showed up. Maybe you can catch them."

"Show me," Beckett said, her tone firm and focused.

Mick nodded and led them down a few corridors, weaving through the crowds of excited convention-goers. They reached a large open area filled with booths and panels. Mick pointed discreetly at a woman standing near one of the displays.

"That's Ashley Williams," Mick whispered. "She's been really vocal about her beliefs, which is how we know her real identity."

Beckett and Castle exchanged a quick glance before they moved toward Ashley. As soon as Ashley saw them approaching, her eyes widened in panic. Without warning, she turned on her heel and bolted, pushing through the crowd with surprising speed.

"Stop! NYPD!" Beckett shouted, her voice cutting through the noise of the convention.

Ashley glanced back but kept running. "No! I won't let you kick me out! I have to meet Daniel!"

The chase was on. Beckett surged forward, dodging around cosplayers and attendees, her eyes locked on Ashley. Castle followed close behind.

Ashley ducked around a corner, nearly knocking over a display of books. Beckett was right behind her, her training kicking in as she closed the distance. Ashley shoved past a group of teenagers, but Beckett was relentless, her pace never faltering.

They burst out of the main hall and into a quieter corridor. Ashley, clearly desperate, tried to make a break for the exit, but Beckett was too quick. With a final burst of speed, she reached out and grabbed Ashley's arm, pulling her to a stop.

Ashley, breathless and wide-eyed, stared at Beckett in shock. "You're… NYPD?" she gasped seeing the badge. "I thought you were convention security."

"We can talk about that at the precinct," Beckett said, her grip firm but not harsh. "Come on, let's go."

As Beckett began leading Ashley away, Castle finally caught up, panting and slightly out of breath. He bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Good job," he managed to say between gasps, giving Beckett a thumbs up.

Beckett smirked at him. "Gotta keep up, Castle."

Castle straightened up, still breathing heavily but with a grin on his face. "You know, I'm more of a sprinter than a marathon runner."

Beckett rolled her eyes as they escorted Ashley out of the convention center, ready to get some answers.

============

Back at the precinct, the team gathered around to discuss the information they had on Ashley Williams. Ryan and Esposito stood by the whiteboard, which was now covered with printouts of forum posts, call logs, and other evidence. Beckett and Castle listened intently as Ryan began summarizing what they had found.

"Ashley's been posting a lot on the fan forum, and it's not pretty," Ryan started. "We pulled up her account, and she's been making some pretty intense comments about Jennifer. She's called her a liar multiple times, claiming that Jennifer was faking her connection with Daniel Adler."

Beckett's expression grew serious. "Anything specific that stands out? Are we talking about a fan war or something more sinister?"

Esposito stepped in, his voice grim. "Definitely more sinister. Check this out—Ashley posted several threats in the weeks leading up to Jennifer's death. Stuff like, 'You're going to pay for your lies,' and 'You don't deserve him. The gods will judge you, and so will I.' It's pretty clear she was seriously angry with Jennifer."

Ryan flipped through his notes and added, "Yeah, there's one post that's particularly disturbing. Ashley wrote, 'You think you're safe, but you're not. I'm going to make sure you never lie to Daniel again. I'll kill you myself if I have to.' It was posted just two days before Jennifer was killed."

"That sounds like a direct threat to me," Beckett said, her tone sharp with concern. "What about her call history? Any contact between them?"

Esposito nodded, holding up a sheet of paper. "We pulled Ashley's call logs. She made a lot of calls to Jennifer in the weeks leading up to her death. The last few were late at night, hours before the murder. It looks like Jennifer didn't pick up—most of them went to voicemail, but Ashley kept calling."

Beckett leaned forward, her brow furrowed in thought. "That's a pattern of harassment. It's looking more and more like Ashley was fixated on Jennifer, possibly jealous of her relationship with Daniel, real or imagined."

Castle crossed his arms, considering the implications. "And if Ashley truly believed that Jennifer was lying or somehow tarnishing Daniel's reputation, she might have felt justified in taking things to the extreme. This kind of obsession can drive people to do irrational things."

Ryan glanced at his notes again. "We also found a few messages in the forum that indicate Ashley believed she had some kind of divine mission to protect Daniel. In her mind, Jennifer could have been a threat that needed to be eliminated."

Castle nodded, piecing it together. "The forum posts, the calls, the threats… it all lines up. Ashley had the motive, and it seems like she was planning something."

Beckett's eyes narrowed with determination. "Let's talk to her."

Beckett and Castle entered the interrogation room where Ashley was seated, her eyes wide and darting around the room as if she were in a different world entirely. Her hands fidgeted nervously, and she mumbled to herself, her words barely coherent. Beckett took the lead, her expression stern as she sat down across from Ashley.

"Ashley Williams," Beckett began, her voice firm but calm. "We need to talk."

Ashley's eyes snapped to Beckett, and she leaned forward, a manic intensity in her gaze. "I was so close... I was going to speak to him."

"Speak to who?" Castle asked.

"To Daniel…The gods… they've spoken to me. They've chosen Daniel as their prophet. He will free us and show us our true nature."

Castle raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Beckett. This was clearly going to be a challenging conversation. "What do you mean by that, Ashley?" Castle asked gently, trying to keep her talking.

Ashley's rambling continued, her voice rising and falling with emotion. "Daniel, he's special. He has a divine connection… with all of us. The gods have given him the power to see us for who we really are. Jennifer… she didn't understand. She was a liar. She thought she could deceive us, but I knew the truth."

As Ashley continued to rant, she inadvertently revealed knowledge of Jennifer's interactions with 'Daniel'—details that were private, things only someone deeply involved would know.

Beckett decided it was time to turn up the pressure. She leaned in, her tone shifting to that of the bad cop. "Jennifer is dead, Ashley. And right now, you're our prime suspect."

Ashley's face went pale, but then she smiled eerily, her eyes glazing over. "She's been punished," she said, her voice almost serene.

"Punished by who?" Castle asked, his tone cautious.

"By the gods," Ashley replied, her voice filled with conviction. "They saw her lies, her deceit. They knew she wasn't worthy."

Beckett's expression hardened as she leaned closer to Ashley, her voice firm. "Ashley, you're in serious trouble. We know you had problems with Jennifer. Tell us what really happened between you two."

Ashley's eyes widened with fear. "What? I didn't kill her! I told you it was the gods!"

Beckett slammed her hand on the table, the sharp sound making Ashley flinch. "Stop that!" Beckett's voice was icy, her patience wearing thin. "Tell us what happened between you and Jennifer."

Ashley's resolve began to crumble under the pressure. She looked down at her trembling hands, her voice shaking as she started to speak. "We were friends… at first we realized the truth of Daniel's books. But then… everything changed when Jennifer started claiming she was actually talking to Daniel."

Beckett remained silent, letting Ashley continue.

"I didn't believe it. How could she be talking to him? But the others in our group… they started to believe her. They were heretics, all of them! Jennifer was lying; I knew she was. She was unworthy of Daniel's attention."

Beckett's eyes narrowed as she pressed on. "But you didn't kill her?"

"No," Ashley insisted, her voice a mixture of desperation and defiance. "I didn't kill her! I may have hated her for what she did, but I didn't… I couldn't…"

"Ashley where were you Thursday night 10.pm" Beckett asked.

"I was at home… alone," Ashley answered.

Beckett and Castle both knew they weren't going to get a straightforward confession from her. They exchanged one last look before Beckett stood up. "We're done here, for now," she said, signaling for Castle to follow her out of the room.

As they walked out, Castle shook his head. "Well, she's definitely crazy."

"Good thing Mr. Adler stopped this from spreading within his fanbase," Beckett agreed. "But we still don't know who catfished Jennifer."

Castle nodded, deep in thought. "Yeah, that's the final piece of the puzzle. Whoever was behind that could very well be Jennifer's killer."

Beckett's phone buzzed with a text message. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen. It was from Esposito.

Castle looked at her expectantly. "What is it?"

Beckett read the message quickly and then looked up at Castle. "Esposito just texted me. They managed to track down the number that was texting Jennifer, the one claiming to be Daniel."

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