Reborn in Castle (TV show)

Lanie forced her attention back to the scene before her personal life could make an already ugly morning worse. She snapped her notebook shut halfway.

"I've got IDs on all four," Lanie said as she glanced toward the covered evidence area. "Dr. Miriam Voss, forty-six, forensic psychologist. Gabriel Rusk, thirty-nine, documentary filmmaker. Evelyn March, fifty-two, former city records clerk. Father Thomas Keane, sixty-one, Catholic priest and former military chaplain."

Kate's expression tightened slightly after hearing the names. "That is a strange mix of victims."

"Very strange," Travis agreed, his eyes moving across the scene while uniforms kept reporters back near the barrier. "A forensic psychologist, a filmmaker, a records clerk, and a priest. They don't have anything in common."

Lanie nodded toward the evidence markers spread around the site. "I was waiting for you two to look over the scene before I clear the team to take them to the lab. I want a closer examination under proper lighting, but I can already tell you one thing."

Kate looked back at her. "What?"

"They weren't killed at the same time," Lanie said, her tone turning sharper. "I won't give you exact windows until I run the full exam, but these deaths happened at different points."

Travis's gaze sharpened immediately. "So whoever did this preserved them before displaying them here. Interesting."

"That is what it looks like," Lanie replied.

Kate nodded once. "Thanks, Lanie. We'll take a look around."

Lanie looked at Travis for half a second longer than she should have, then turned away and spoke to one of the techs near the evidence van. Travis noticed, but he did not react. That somehow bothered her more than if he had.

Kate stepped closer to the first evidence marker and crouched down carefully, keeping her hands away from anything the techs had not finished processing. Travis crouched beside her, his eyes moving over the setup.

"This wasn't random dumping," he said quietly.

Kate nodded. "Looks like staged."

Travis looked across the construction site, then toward the half-built concrete pillars and exposed foundation trench. "This shows our killer is really confident. He planned this carefully. He killed them, chopped their heads, and stored them somewhere. Then, when he was done, he created a perfect stage to display his work. And there aren't many security cameras around this part. So, the chances of getting a hit are less likely."

Kate followed his gaze toward the open dig site. "And the heads are facing the same direction. Could be some kind of ritualist thing."

"Maybe," He replied.

A familiar voice cut in from behind them before Kate could answer.

"Construction site, mysterious victim roster. I have to say, Beckett, I leave you alone for one morning, and you start the day with a nightmare buffet."

Kate closed her eyes briefly. "Castle."

Castle stepped under the tape with far too much energy for a man arriving at a crime scene before breakfast. His coat flared slightly as he walked, and his eyes were already fixed on the covered evidence area with disturbing fascination.

Ryan followed behind him, looking like he had been forced to escort an excited child into a museum exhibit.

Castle slowed near the markers, gaze widening as he took in the layout. "Okay, I know this is terrible and tragic, but from a purely narrative standpoint, this is extraordinary."

Kate stood up and turned toward him. "Please don't say that near reporters."

"I would never," Castle replied, then leaned slightly toward Travis. "But you see it too, right? This is classic message-killer behavior. Four victims, four roles, no bodies. The killer isn't hiding the crime. He is publishing it."

Travis did not answer Castle right away. His attention had settled fully on Miriam Voss's mouth, where something pale rested just behind her teeth.

Kate noticed the change in him immediately. "What is it?"

Travis pulled a pair of gloves from his coat pocket and put them on. He crouched lower beside the evidence marker, keeping his body angled so he did not block the photographer's view too much. Then he reached forward slowly and used two fingers to draw a tiny folded piece of paper from between Voss's lips.

The paper was damp at the edges, but the writing remained clear enough.

"A note for our killer," Kate said.

Travis unfolded it, looked at it for a second, then handed it to Kate without speaking.

Kate took it carefully and read the words.

"Subject One: The Mind."

Castle's expression shifted from fascination into something sharper. He took out his little notebook and began to take notes.

Travis moved to the second head next. Gabriel Rusk's mouth held something thinner, tucked deeper behind his teeth. Travis eased it free, revealing a narrow strip of film negative. He held it up slightly, letting the light catch the surface. The image was blurry, but even from where Kate stood, she could make out the dark shape of what looked like an old tunnel entrance.

Travis passed it to Kate.

Kate held it close, her brows pulling together as she studied the tiny frame.

"Looks like a subway tunnel," She said.

"Nice. Hidden pathways, four heads, mysterious note and clues from the killer," Castle said, looking really excited. "Maybe if we can figure out that hidden pathway, we might find the bodies or the killer."

"Or more bodies," Travis replied.

He moved to Evelyn March next. He checked carefully, then reached inside and pulled out another folded tag. This one had been pressed flat and tucked neatly beneath her tongue.

He unfolded it and passed it to Kate.

"Subject Two: The Memory."

Kate took the paper.

Travis moved to Father Thomas Keane last. The priest's mouth held another tag, folded with the same exact care as the others. Travis removed it slowly, opened it, and handed it to Kate.

"Subject Three: The Confession."

Kate bagged them and handed the bags to Lanie.

"Run it. Maybe the killer left fingerprints or other clues."

Lanie took the bags. "Alright. I'll see what I can find."

A black sedan stopped near the outer edge of the construction site. A man in a dark overcoat stepped out quickly, phone already in his hand, his face tight with confusion and irritation. Two uniforms stopped him at the tape until he pointed toward the site and spoke fast enough for one of them to look back toward Beckett.

Kate turned when one of the cops walked over and informed them about the owner's arrival.

"That's the owner," the officer said. "Martin Keller. Says this is his site."

Kate looked once at Travis, then walked toward the tape with him beside her. Castle followed because of course he did, while Ryan took two officers to check the scene once again for any missed evidence.

Martin Keller looked to be in his late forties, clean-shaven, expensive watch, polished shoes now getting dirty. He looked more annoyed than afraid until his eyes drifted past Kate and landed on the covered evidence markers. The color drained from his face almost immediately.

Kate lifted her badge. "Mr. Keller, I'm Detective Beckett. This is Detective Wilson. We need to ask you a few questions."

Keller swallowed and looked between them. "I got a call saying police were all over my site. Nobody told me there were bodies..." His eyes fell on the heads. "...heads here."

Travis kept his eyes on Keller. "When was the last time you were here?"

He noticed the traces of makeup on Keller's face, especially under his eyes. He was either hiding his dark circles, or he really loves to put on makeup. Also, Travis could smell the strong scent of coffee as Keller spoke. It was as if he had chugged an unhealthy amount of coffee within the last few hours. Travis' eyes went toward Keller's hands. His marriage ring was missing, but the mark around his ring finger suggested that he had taken it off recently. Maybe a bad marriage, or casual sex, which caused him to take off his ring out of guilt.

Keller rubbed both hands over his face and forced himself to focus. "Yesterday afternoon. Around four or four thirty, maybe. I met the site manager, checked progress, and we argued about concrete delays, then left."

Kate asked, "Did you notice anything unusual?"

"No," Keller's left eye twitched just a tiny bit as he shook his head, to cover it up. "Nothing. The place was normal. Workers were packing up, security was supposed to come in for the night, and I went home."

'Why lie?' Travis tilted his head slightly. "Do you know any of these names? Dr. Miriam Voss, Gabriel Rusk, Evelyn March, Father Thomas Keane."

Keller stared at him blankly. "No. Should I?"

Kate studied him closely. "None of them worked for you? Consulted for you? Filed complaints against the site?"

"No," Keller replied, sounding more certain now. "I've never heard those names in my life."

Travis noticed how Keller was rubbing his thumbs together and slightly licked his lips after replying to Kate.

Castle stepped a little closer, notebook already open. "Documentary filmmaker, psychologist, records clerk, priest. That combination doesn't ring even one suspicious bell?"

Keller looked at him with genuine confusion. "Who are you?"

"Richard Castle," Kate said before he could answer too dramatically. "He's with us."

Keller looked like that explanation helped him less than she hoped, but he turned back toward the detectives anyway. "Look, I build apartments. I deal with permits, contractors, unions, delays, and angry neighbors. I don't know anything about psychologists and priests."

Travis glanced toward the exposed foundation trench, then back at Keller. "Who has access to the site after hours?"

Keller exhaled and looked toward the temporary office trailer near the far side of the lot. "Site manager, night security, foreman, subcontractor leads, and a few guards who have keys. My office has the full list."

Kate nodded. "We'll need that list."

Keller hesitated for half a second. "Do I need a lawyer?"

Travis gave him a calm look. "Only if there's something on that list you don't want us seeing."

Keller sighed. "Fine. I'll have my assistant email it."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Keller." Travis nodded.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a board meeting to call and some damage control to do. And if there's any way I can help to quicken this investigation process and clear my property, call me. I'll cooperate in any way I can," Keller said with a nod before turning back and walking toward his car.

After Keller left, both Kate and Castle turned toward Travis.

"What?" Travis asked.

"So, did you use that mojo of yours on Keller? Find anything suspicious that'd suggest he's our cold-blooded killer who chops people's heads after dinner?" Castle asked, looking really excited.

"Well, I don't know about killer, but he was lying through his teeth," Travis said as he watched the sedan leave.

Before he could explain, it started raining again. The forensic team quickly packed up the heads and all the evidence. And the trio decided to talk more at the precinct.

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[20 advance chs] + [Modern Family: 24 chs Early access]