Reborn in Castle (TV show)

Kate slowed her step and turned toward him, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his expression. "You think one of the kids is the killer?"

Travis didn't hesitate. He slipped his hands into his jacket pockets and gave a small, confident nod. "Bingo. All the time you all were talking, I was observing their behavior, expressions, and body language. They were practically spelling it out."

Castle blinked, caught between curiosity and disbelief as he stepped closer. "Cold reading?"

Travis glanced at him and gave a small nod. "Yeah. It's basically picking up on subtle cues people don't realize they're giving off. Eye movement, posture shifts, hesitation before answering, and who they look at for reassurance. Most people think they're hiding things well, but their body gives them away long before their words do."

'I've heard of someone else using that method... What's his name again? Jane something from CBI... Ah! Of course, no wonder he solved so many cases in such a short time without a miss.' Kate folded her arms, watching him carefully. "You can actually do that?"

Travis shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, then tilted his head toward her. "You just talked to them. Think about it for a second. Did you notice anything that felt off or out of place?"

Kate went quiet.

Her eyes drifted slightly as she replayed the conversation in her head. The way they stood, the pauses and the order in which they spoke... It felt as if each of them had memorized a script and took turns answering her questions. Not to mention the tension that hung in the air when certain questions came up and how each of them looked at Brandon every few seconds...

Then it clicked.

Her gaze snapped back to Travis, disbelief flashing across her face. "You've got to be kidding me."

Castle looked between them, completely lost now. "You got something? Who is the killer?"

Neither of them answered him.

Travis watched Kate with a hint of approval in his eyes. "So?"

Kate let out a slow breath, still processing it. "Every single one of them kept looking at him before and after answering, and even in between, as if they were checking if what they were saying was okay. It's subtle, but yeah." She nodded.

Travis's smirk deepened just a fraction. "Exactly."

Castle threw his hands up slightly. "Okay, great, we're all impressed, but can someone actually say the name out loud?"

They ignored him again.

Travis shifted his weight and looked at Kate, clearly impressed. "And who do you think was the weakest link in that group?"

Kate didn't need time this round. "Max Heller. He couldn't stay still. Kept fidgeting with his fingers, shifting his weight, and avoiding eye contact at the wrong moments. He looked really nervous. That makes him the weakest link of the group."

She paused for a second, then her tone sharpened as the logic lined up. "So our killer is going to try and shut him up before he talks."

Travis pointed at her like she just nailed the final piece. "Bingo. We tail Max, and when the killer tries to cut the weakest link, we catch him in the act."

Castle groaned under his breath, dragging a hand down his face. "Come on, guys. Let me in on this. Who is the killer?"

Kate and Travis both looked at each other, and for a brief second, there was that shared understanding. A quiet, almost amused smile passed between them.

Kate shook her head slightly, though there was a hint of admiration in her voice. "You do realize you could be wrong. Heller could be our killer, probably that's why he was so nervous and his friends were covering for him."

Travis's grin came easy this time, confident and just a little challenging. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm right. Wanna bet?"

Kate raised an eyebrow, folding her arms again. "You want to bet on a murder case?"

He held her gaze, completely unfazed. "Relax. Not money. The winner gets to ask one thing from the loser... Within reason, of course." His lips curved slightly. "You can chicken out if you want. I'd understand."

Kate stared at him for a moment, weighing it, then gave a small nod. "Alright, Detective. Let's see if you can be right every single time."

She turned and started walking toward the car, already shifting back into work mode. "But before that, we're heading back to the park. They found something."

Castle followed after them, still shaking his head. "I swear, one day you two are going to actually explain things in real time."

Neither of them answered him as they moved toward the car, the hunt already back on.

...

[Central Park]

By the time they got back under the tape, the scene had shifted slightly. More markers dotted the ground near a row of benches, and a couple of uniforms were crouched low, pointing out details to Ryan. He straightened when he saw them approach.

The trio walked over and looked at the bloody mess.

"Found your primary scene," Ryan said as they stepped closer. He pointed toward a patch of disturbed ground near the bench. "The drag marks start here. He was either sitting on that bench or standing right beside it when he got hit."

Travis walked a slow circle around the area, eyes scanning everything like he was piecing together a puzzle that only he could see. He paused near the bench, crouched briefly, then looked back at the ground where the blood had pooled.

"Considering the amount of blood here and no traces of blood in the drag marks," he said calmly, "he was lying here for a while before someone moved him."

"You think it's related to drugs? Probably a deal gone wrong and..." Ryan asked.

"Well, this area is like a hub for drug dealers, so... there's a possibility," Kate replied.

Then she got a call from Espo. She answered the call. They found the caller of 911 who reported seeing someone around the area last night, around the time of Donnie's murder. She's at the precinct right now.

"Alright, we're on our way," Kate replied.

...

[12th Precinct]

The bullpen had that late-afternoon buzz when they walked in. Phones ringing, keyboards tapping, people moving between desks. Espo stood near Kate's desk, speaking with a woman who looked like she hadn't slept much.

Travis slumped in his chair with a sigh and stretched his arms. Ryan got called by the Captain.

Kate approached, her expression softening just enough to put the woman at ease. "Ma'am, I'm Detective Beckett. You're the one who called 911 last night?"

The woman nodded, clutching her bag a little tighter. "I was walking my dog near the park. I didn't see everything, but… I saw a shady-looking guy arguing with the teenage kid from the news. It looked serious. So, I called 911."

Castle leaned lightly against the desk, offering a reassuring smile. "Anything you remember helps."

She nodded again and was handed a folder by Espo. Inside were photos, a lineup of known local dealers. She flipped through them slowly, her fingers hesitating on a few before moving on.

The room felt quieter as everyone watched.

Then she stopped.

Her finger hovered over one photo before tapping it lightly. "Him," she said, her voice more certain now. "That's the one I saw. He was yelling at the victim."

Kate leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing as she looked at the photo. "You're sure?"

"Yes," the woman replied. "That's him."

Espo stepped closer, glancing at the name beneath the picture. "Kent Scoville. Small-time dealer. Been picked up a couple of times, but we didn't have evidence to hold him. Looks like he finally messed up."

Kate nodded, closing the folder. "Thank you. You've been very helpful."

The woman gave a small, relieved nod before being escorted out by the uniform.

As soon as she was gone, Kate turned toward Travis, a faint hint of victory in her expression. "Looks like I'm winning this one."

Travis sat back in his chair, completely unfazed, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest like he was already ten steps ahead. "Maybe," he said casually.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Eyewitness puts our victim with a known dealer right before he dies. Motive could be money since Donnie was having a money problem. He probably didn't have enough to pay the dealer and got shot. Not to mention, the location lines up. It's clean."

Travis pushed himself up from the chair, grabbing his jacket in one smooth motion. "You follow your leads," he said, his tone calm but firm. "I'll follow mine. Let's see who gets the real killer."

Kate watched him for a second, that same competitive spark flickering in her eyes. "Don't take too long," she said. "I'd hate for you to miss the arrest."

He smirked slightly but didn't respond as he turned and headed for the exit.

Castle stepped forward, glancing between the two of them before letting out a small breath. "Well, this feels like the part where everyone splits up and things get interesting."

Kate folded her arms, already thinking ahead. "You coming with me?"

Castle hesitated, then shook his head. "Actually, I need to swing by home for a bit. Got something I need to take care of. Call me if anything pops up."

Kate nodded.

...

[Evening] [Central Park]

Travis and Esposito followed Max Heller after he left the college. He left with Brandon. They first went to Brandon's dad's bar, then both walked to Central Park.

The park was empty tonight after the murder fiasco.

From behind a thick patch of bushes, Travis crouched low beside Espo, both of them keeping their eyes locked on the bench ahead.

Brandon and Max sat side by side.

Max was drinking and looked wrecked.

His posture sagged, shoulders heavy, head dipping forward every few seconds like he was fighting to stay conscious. The bottle in his hand tilted dangerously as he took another forced gulp, coughing slightly as the alcohol hit his throat too hard.

Brandon, on the other hand, looked completely at ease. He leaned back against the bench, one arm stretched casually along the backrest, watching Max with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. He was wearing gloves and a tight hoodie to cover his head.

Espo shifted slightly beside Travis, his voice barely above a whisper. "Guy's practically pouring it down his throat."

Travis didn't look away.

Max wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his voice slurred and uneven. "I… I can't do this, man. I see it every time I close my eyes. The gun… it wasn't supposed to… I thought it was blank…"

Brandon tilted his head slightly, watching him like he was studying a broken toy. "Yeah, you said that already."

Max shook his head weakly, panic creeping into his tone. "No, you don't get it. Someone put a real bullet in there. I didn't… I didn't mean to shoot him. I should call the cops. I can't… I can't keep this in anymore."

Travis whispered. "Be ready." He made sure his body cam was focusing perfectly on the target.

Espo's grip on his gun shifted slightly, but he stayed still.

Brandon let out a quiet chuckle, low and almost amused. "Call the cops?" He leaned in a little closer to Max. "And tell them what? That you shot your friend? That you pulled the trigger?"

Max's breathing picked up, shaky and uneven. "It wasn't me… I didn't know…"

Brandon's smile widened just a fraction. "Doesn't matter what you knew. You pulled the trigger."

Max looked at him, confusion cutting through the haze for a second. "But… who… who put the bullet in?"

There it was.

A small pause.

Then Brandon said it like it meant nothing.

"I did."

Espo's eyes flicked to Travis. He was ready to move in.

Travis raised his hand. "Wait. Let the fucker confess."

Max blinked slowly, trying to process that. "Why… why would you do that?"

Brandon looked almost bored by the question. "Because... why not?" He shrugged.

Max stared at him, the words not landing fast enough through the alcohol. "That… that doesn't make sense… We were friends..."

Brandon leaned forward now, elbows resting on his knees, voice dropping into something colder. "Donny didn't belong with us. You know that. His family was dirt poor, and yet he kept showing up like he had a seat at the table." His lip curled slightly. "And then I find out he used to fuck around with Amanda before she got with me. And lately, he was trying to win her back."

Max swallowed hard, his grip on the bottle loosening. "Man… that's not… that's not worth killing someone over…" He said with a slurry voice as he rubbed his eyes.

Brandon let out a short laugh. "It's not about worth. It's about principle. I don't like sloppy seconds. But you pulled the trigger, Max. You killed Donnie."

Travis's expression hardened.

Espo muttered under his breath, "This guy's a piece of work."

Max shook his head weakly, panic rising again. "I… I didn't mean to kill him… I didn't know…"

Brandon reached over and steadied the bottle in Max's hand, pushing it back toward his lips. "Doesn't matter anymore. What matters is what happens next."

Max took another shaky sip, barely aware of what he was doing.

Brandon's voice stayed calm. "Tomorrow, the cops figure out you were the one who shot Donny. And you'd be long dead by then. So, it's basically an open and shut case. As for Amanda, well... I'll fuck around and play with her a little, then... the bitch has to go."

Max's head snapped up slightly. "No… no, I'll tell them… I'll tell them everything…" He was almost unconscious.

Brandon smiled. "No, you won't."

He reached into his bag slowly and pulled out a gun.

Espo tensed immediately. "That's our cue."

Travis raised a hand just slightly, stopping him for half a second longer.

Brandon took Max's limp hand and pressed the gun into it, curling his fingers around the grip, and brought his hand up to his temple.

Max barely reacted.

"Now," Brandon said gently, "time to say goodbye."

That was enough.

Travis moved first.

He stepped out from the shadows with his gun raised, voice cutting clean through the quiet. "NYPD! Drop the weapon!"

Espo came out right behind him, gun trained steady. "Don't even think about it!"

Brandon froze for a split second, caught off guard.

Max flinched weakly, the gun slipping slightly in his hand.

Brandon's eyes darted between them before he tried to take the gun back from Max's hand.

Travis closed the distance quickly and kicked the gun clean out of Max's hand before Brandon could react. The weapon skidded across the ground, disappearing under the bench.

Espo moved in from the side and grabbed Brandon, slamming him against the bench with controlled force. "Hands where I can see them!"

Brandon struggled for a second, but Espo twisted his arm behind his back and cuffed him fast.

Travis steadied Max before he could slump forward, easing him back onto the bench. "Easy there, kiddo."

Max blinked slowly, barely conscious, his voice a weak mumble. "I… didn't… mean…"

"I know," Travis said firmly. "We heard everything."

Espo pulled Brandon upright, keeping a tight grip on him. "Brandon, you're under arrest for murder and attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent..." He followed the arrest protocol, reading Brandon his rights.

Brandon didn't fight anymore but asked, "How the hell did you morons find out?" His eyes were on Travis, who was looking at him with cold eyes. And for the first time, that calm arrogance cracked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Travis replied as Espo pulled Brandon up.

...

[Back at the Precinct] [A few hours later...]

After filing the reports and paperwork, the squad sat in the bullpen.

Espo let out a breath, shaking his head. "You called it."

Travis nodded. "Yeah," he said quietly. "Weakest link always breaks the chain."

He looked up at Kate, who had arrested the drug dealer and questioned the remaining kids. But it turns out they all lied and tried to pin the murder on the drug dealer. But now, with Travis and Espo catching the real killer, red-handed with perfect evidence... well, she lost the bet.

"By the way, where's Castle?" Espo asked.

Kate said, "He left after we arrested Scoville for the murder."

Ryan walked in with his bag. He was ready to head home.

"Bro, you wanna grab a drink?" Espo asked.

"Nah, not today. I got a date tonight, so... See you all tomorrow," Ryan replied before heading toward the elevator.

Kate noticed how Travis was smiling and looking at her with that 'I told you so' expression. She sighed, but there was that smile on her face. "Alright, you win. So, what can I do for you?"

'We'll be facing those LokSat bastards, and Kate isn't ready as she is right now. I remember she got her ass kicked so many times during that mess. Gotta train her...' Travis thought for a moment. Then he replied, "Be my sparring partner for a month?"

He extended his hand toward Kate.

Kate shook his hand. 'Sparring, huh? I was expecting something else.'

//

AN: Okay. Some of you asked if this is going to be an episodic story. The answer is> I'm trying to maintain the classic Castle show vibe as much as possible, since by working together and facing danger, they will get closer. And there will be chapters without any cases that show MC and other characters' lives outside work too. Also, I'll add some OG cases from the show in vol-2. 🫡 See you all on Sunday.

//

Find me in the link below for advance chapters: https://unknownmaster.carrd.co/

[21 advance chs] + [Modern Family: 13 chs Early access]