Reborn in Castle (TV show)

[Weyland Hotel] [Earlier That Morning]

The woman lay across the center of the hotel bed with her hands tied tightly above her head and her ankles bound together near the footboard. Her evening dress had been pulled crooked during the struggle, and the expensive sheets beneath her were soaked dark with blood from the deep cut across her throat.

Her eyes remained open toward the ceiling.

The room around her looked almost untouched.

A half-finished glass of wine sat beside the bed. Her purse rested near the armchair with its contents still inside. The balcony doors were closed, the lock had never been forced, and the television played quietly near the far wall as an early morning news anchor discussed traffic conditions across Manhattan.

The killer stood beside the body wearing dark gloves and a plain black jacket. He looked at the woman without emotion, then dipped his fingers into the blood collected near the edge of the mattress.

He walked to the wall across from the bed and drew a smiley face. The red face looked cheerful from far away, making the unsettling scene below it feel even more disturbing.

The killer stepped back and studied his work.

A faint smile appeared beneath his shadowed hood.

"Let's see whether you're still paying attention," he whispered.

He picked up a folded white towel from the nearby table and wiped the blood from his glove. He dropped the towel beside the woman before walking toward the door.

Before leaving, he looked back at the bed one final time.

..

[12th Precinct]

Castle stood beside Travis's desk with a coffee cup held near his chest, though he had barely touched it since arriving. He looked worried and a little quieter than usual, which had already made Esposito glance toward him several times with growing suspicion.

Travis settled into his chair and opened the case file Kate had handed him earlier. After several seconds of silence from Castle, he finally looked up.

"What's up with you?"

Castle blinked like he had forgotten other people could see him. "Nothing. It's just that Alexis started seeing this guy from school, and apparently they've decided to attend some film festival together this weekend."

Kate walked over with a folder tucked beneath one arm. "And you don't like him."

Castle turned toward her with immediate offense. "I never said I didn't like him."

Esposito leaned against the edge of Ryan's empty desk and crossed his arms. "You didn't have to say it. It's all on your face."

Ryan was in the interrogation room, questioning a suspect.

Castle sighed. "I'm simply concerned because I haven't had enough time to evaluate this boy properly."

Travis raised one eyebrow. "Evaluate him how?"

Castle lifted his coffee slightly as he began counting concerns inside his head. "Background, intentions, academic record, emotional stability, driving ability, family history, and whether he has any criminal records."

Kate stared at him. "You want to run a background check on a high school student because he asked Alexis to a film festival?"

"I didn't say background check," Castle replied before pausing briefly. "I was thinking something more discreet and legally flexible."

Esposito shook his head. "That sounds exactly like a background check."

"Yeah, Castle. I don't think it's a good idea," Travis said.

Castle looked at Travis. "If you have a daughter in the future and she starts dating, wouldn't you want to know everything about the person she is dating?"

Travis leaned back in his chair and considered the question. "I'd probably invite him over for dinner and watch how he handles pressure."

Kate looked toward him. "What kind of pressure?"

"A few normal questions, a locked display case full of knives and a shiny shotgun behind my chair, and maybe a casual mention that I know twelve different ways to make someone disappear."

Castle pointed toward Travis with renewed energy. "Exactly. That is reasonable parenting." He was already planning to arrange a set of knives and a shotgun.

Kate slowly turned toward Travis. "You're never handling that conversation alone."

Travis gave her a faint grin. "Good. You can sit beside me with your Glock on the table."

Castle flicked his fingers. "Great idea. Also, Espo can bring his sniper rifle, and we'll say he just came back from a hunting trip and Ryan will be that crazy uncle with a drinking problem who just got out of jail. And I'll be that silent guy who just keeps staring at the guy with an intimidating look from the couch."

Esposito rubbed one hand over his mouth to hide a smile. "That kid wouldn't survive appetizers."

"No, we'll talk like civil people," Kate said while smiling. 'Can't believe we're already having that talk so easily just like that.'

"Yeah, sure, sure... civil people," Travis mumbled while already imagining the future where he and Kate had a daughter. "Uh-huh."

Castle looked more encouraged now. "Alexis says his name is Trevor, he plays guitar, and he wants to become a director."

Kate rested the folder against her hip. "That sounds harmless."

"That's what worries me," Castle replied. "Nobody is that harmless at seventeen. I remember being seventeen, and I was a menace with excellent hair."

Esposito looked at Castle's hair for a second. "The excellent part is debatable."

Castle touched the side of his head automatically. "My hair has never been under legitimate criticism."

Travis glanced toward Kate. "How long has Alexis been seeing him?"

Castle sighed and finally took a drink from his coffee. "Apparently three weeks, which means everyone knew before I did. Even Mother met him. Can you guys believe it?"

Kate gave him a sympathetic look that still carried amusement. "Maybe Alexis didn't tell you because she knew you'd react exactly like this."

"I am reacting calmly," Castle replied. "I haven't followed him, searched his locker, questioned his teachers, or invited him to a suspicious hunting lodge."

Esposito stared at him. "The fact that you listed those options that quickly doesn't help."

Castle sighed again. "I'm her father. Worrying comes with the job."

Kate's expression softened slightly. "Then talk to her without making it feel like an interrogation. Alexis is smart enough to know when someone's treating her badly."

Castle looked down at his coffee and gave a reluctant nod. "I know she is. That somehow makes it harder because she keeps growing into a responsible adult before I'm emotionally prepared."

Travis smiled faintly. "You could always lock her in the penthouse until she turns thirty."

Castle looked at him with sudden interest. "Would that be legally complicated?"

Kate's phone rang before Travis could answer.

She pulled it from her coat pocket and listened while the others watched her expression change. The amusement disappeared from her face as she turned toward the murder board.

"Yeah, we're on our way," Kate said after listening for a bit.

She cut the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

"Homicide in Weyland Hotel at 15th Avenue."

Castle's entire posture changed immediately.

The worried father disappeared beneath the familiar excitement of a writer being handed a mystery. He placed his coffee on Travis's desk and reached for the coat hanging over the back of the nearby chair.

"A hotel murder," Castle said as he pulled the coat on. "Locked-room mystery, secret affair, international assassin, jealous lover, or possibly a traveling illusionist with unresolved childhood trauma."

Kate looked toward him. "You went from worried father to excited murder tourist in less than five seconds."

Castle buttoned his coat with renewed purpose. "Compartmentalization is one of my greatest emotional strengths."

Esposito picked up his jacket and checked his weapon. "Ryan's still busy with the burglary suspect, so I'm coming with you."

Kate nodded and turned toward the elevators. "We'll fill him in once he's finished."

Travis stood and reached for his own coat, the familiar energy of a fresh case settling over him as naturally as breathing. "What do we know about the victim?"

Kate pressed the elevator button. "Female, early forties, found by hotel staff inside Room 814. Hands and ankles tied to the bed, throat cut, and no obvious signs of forced entry."

Castle slowed slightly behind her.

Kate noticed the change. "What?"

Castle's excitement dimmed as he studied her face. "Anything else?"

Kate narrowed her eyes. "The responding officer mentioned some kind of smile symbol drawn on the wall in blood."

Castle went completely still for half a second.

Travis asked, "Smile face with blood?"

"Yeah," She nodded.

Castle looked at Travis with a serious expression.

"Red John!" Both of them said at the same time.

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