[Fic] Notes and Murder - Chapter 6: A "Normal" Work Day (whitecollar_bb, WC/Castle)
Title: Notes and Murder
Chapter Title: A "Normal" Work Day
Rating: PG-13
Overall Word Count: 17,397
Chapter Word Count: 2,022
Summary: When Peter's card shows up in a dead woman's pocket, two amazing forces come together to find the murderer.
Author's Note: I do not own White Collar, Castle, or any of the characters from the various fandoms that appear. Emmanuel Gray is of my own creation.
Thank Yous: A big thank you to sirwynai for being my beta, cheerleader, and listening to all of my insanity. A big special thank you to slysionnachnano for cheerleading in the final hours of getting this done!
Castle walked into squad room at the Twelfth Precinct and noticed that he was the first one there. Considering the very rare event, he debated messing with their desks but then remembered that his co-workers were armed. He decided, instead, to make coffee for everyone in case that nobody was here due to having to go home and change. He was just about done when he heard someone come in and looked up to see the FBI agent from the other day. "Hey," he said. "Agent Burke, right?"
"Right," Peter said with a nod. "Is that for everyone?"
"Help yourself," Castle said. "Unless you'd want something much better. I can whip up an espresso in minutes."
"No, but thanks," Peter said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and added a small bit of sugar and cream.
"I would have thought that you drank it black," Castle said.
"If you're anything like Neal, the regular coffee is going to be too strong," Peter said. He took a sip and smiled. "And I was right."
"I meant to ask you about that - what is it like?" Castle asked.
"Interesting," Peter said. "Nothing like they show in the movies though. I think that's more because he knows to stay put."
"How many times have you caught him?" Castle asked.
"Twice," Peter said. "Morning," he said to Beckett.
"Morning," Beckett said. "Am I breaking something up?"
"My ability to plan for yet another awesome novel series, but otherwise, no," Castle said.
"Good," Beckett said. "We're going to update."
Peter and Castle followed Beckett out to the white board that was covered in what they knew about the case already. "Low tech, but gets the job done," Castle said to Peter.
"Looks more organized than a high tech one could be," Peter said.
"Thank you," Beckett said to Peter. "Lanie, what do you got?"
"The gunshots were to slow her down," Lanie started off with. "They were supposed to look like they got more than they did, but the shooter knows where to shoot so you'll bleed out before the bullet hits anything important. The death blow came with the knife in the back." She put up a picture of the knife on the board. "I'm still investigating what type of gun the bullets would have come from."
"We'll focus on the knife then," Beckett said. "Thank you, Lanie. Agent Burke?"
"We know that Hunter's killer is connected to this man," Peter said as he put up a recent picture of Emmanuel Gray up. "His name is Emmanuel Gray. We've been working on trying to bring him down for various charges, but his lawyers have been able to find loopholes. He is highly dangerous and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. I wouldn't recommend bringing him in for questioning until you have more evidence."
"Do we even know where to find him?" Beckett asked.
"No, that's the other problem," Peter said. "It is difficult to pin down an address on him. I do think that you should consider him."
Castle came closer to the board and looked Gray over. "I've met him. He came to one of the more high end meets and greets."
"I'm not surprised," Peter said. "Ever since we tried to get him on a kidnapping charge, he's decided to be more in the public light. Build up his character references so, if we could ever get him into court, he'd be sympathetic to the jury."
"Not a bad idea," Castle said. "And if I'm not mistaken, this dagger is known as a stiletto."
"Castle, how could you possibly know that?" Beckett asked.
"Watched Gladiator last night," Castle said. "Similar weapon is used in one of the scenes." He shrugged. "Don't believe me then."
"Beckett?" Ryan said as he showed Beckett an image of the stiletto on his phone.
"You just hate it when I'm right," Castle said with a grin at Beckett.
"No, I just wish that you would show your work instead of expecting me to know something from a movie I've only seen twice," Beckett said.
Peter was about to say something before his cell phone cut him off. "Excuse me," he said as he answered the phone. "Burke," he said as he moved towards a quiet hallway to talk.
"What, you couldn't take me with?" Neal asked on the other end of the line.
"Thought you would be more comfortable there," Peter said. "Plus, he won't try anything if you're there."
"And - " Neal broke in midsentence. "Jones wants you," he said and passed the phone.
"We've got a sighting," Jones said. "Downtown, but it's something."
"Alright - have Diana get down there and start a tail," Peter said. "Jones, make sure that Caffrey stays at the office. Handcuff him to the desk if you have to."
"I will," Jones said before handing the phone back to Neal.
"Somehow I get the feeling I'm not allowed to leave," Neal said. "Considering the look Jones just gave me."
"You're to stay where you are until I tell you otherwise," Peter said. "Besides, I need you to run a trace on people who would have bought a stiletto."
"Which period?" Neal asked.
"…Why do you think I would know that?" Peter asked.
"I'm always hopeful," Neal said. "Send a picture of it and I can narrow it down."
"I'll have it faxed over," Peter said.
"Or you could take a picture with your phone," Neal pointed out.
"You'll get it soon," Peter said. "Gotta go," he said as he hung up as Beckett was coming over with Castle. "Anything?"
"There's a few stores in the city that sell them," Beckett said.
"Let's split up the list and see what happens?" Peter offered.
"I'm liking him more and more," Castle said.
"Thanks," Beckett said and handed Peter half of the list. "I thought you would say that."
Peter grinned. "Is it possible to have the picture of the weapon faxed to the office? Caffrey thinks that he might be able to narrow down a time period for it."
"That's easy enough to do," Beckett said. She turned and made sure that either Esposito or Ryan would do it. She then came back to where Castle and Peter were talking.
"I always hear people saying that," Castle said. "But there's the prequel coming out, so hopefully that'll make people less rabid."
"I am not rabid for thinking you shouldn't have killed off Derek Storm," Peter said.
"Got to agree with him, Castle," Beckett said. "Nobody was happy when you did that."
"Yeah, but if I didn't, then I wouldn't be able to write Nikki Heat," Castle said.
"I still hate that name," Beckett said as she led the way to the elevator.
"But yet you decide to live with it," Castle said.
"If I thought I could have pushed more for the name, I would have," Beckett said. "Castle, are you able to write two series at once?"
"Never tried it," Castle said. "Others can - I still don't know how Patterson does it."
"He has a lot of other writers working for him," Peter said.
"No, those are true collaborations," Castle said. "He's writing about half or more than half of those as well." He thought for a moment. "Do you play poker?"
"Depends on my luck for the day," Peter said.
"What are you doing Thursday?" Castle asked.
"…You're taking him to poker night?" Beckett asked.
"I'm free on Thursday," Peter said. "Unless we get lucky and catch whoever did this."
"You might regret it," Beckett said.
"Stop putting down the poker game," Castle said as he walked out of the elevator with everyone else.
"I am not," Beckett said. "I'm just saying that he might not want to be asked a million questions by writers looking for their next idea."
"We usually go in there with an idea in mind," Castle pointed out as he opened the door for her and held it for Peter.
"Thanks," Peter said. He was about to say something else when a shot whizzed right by his ear. A moment later, an array of bullets flew through the air as everyone took cover as best as they could. He could hear Beckett call through on her radio. It was over sooner than it began and he looked in the direction of where the shooting was coming from. He moved over to Beckett and Castle. "You two alright?"
"For the most part," Castle said.
"Did you get a chance to see what direction they came from?" Beckett asked.
"Not really," Peter said.
"Others can do that," Castle said. "Let's go back inside - probably not a good idea to be out here anyways," he said as he led Beckett back inside and back upstairs. "Sit with her a moment?" He asked of Peter before disappearing to get something.
Peter sat down opposite of Beckett. "You sure you're alright?"
"Yes," Beckett said. "Castle worries, but it's for a good reason."
Peter smiled. "The two of you seem very close."
"Close doesn't fully cover it, but yeah, we are," Beckett said. "Have you ever been shot?"
"Yes," Peter said. "Still took a while to get over it."
Beckett nodded a yes. "Thanks," she said as she took the cup of water from Castle. "Do we have anything - " she started to ask as Esposito came over to them. "Anything?"
"It was from a bit away," Esposito said. "Minor injuries for the most part. They think that it was more of a warning than trying to kill someone."
Peter was about to say something when his cell phone rang. "Burke?" He answered and listened to the other end of the line. "Yes, I'm fine. No, stay there. No, he's not going to try anything but stay away from windows. Put Jones on the phone," he said. He looked to the others. "When it was first starting, I felt a bullet go by close to my head. It didn't hit anything, but that might help." He paused for a moment as everyone just looked at him. "What was the address of the building?" He asked of Esposito who gave him the piece of paper with it on it. "Thanks," he said as he got up and continued his conversation with Jones.
"Maybe you're right about the poker game, Beckett," was all Castle said as Beckett went to answer some of the phones that were ringing off the hook.
Peter came back over a few minutes later and handed the piece of paper to Castle. "Tell them I had to go back to the office?"
"Sure," Castle said. "In trouble?" He asked as he flagged Beckett over.
"No more than usual," Peter said. He smiled at Beckett. "Is it true the best back door is through the morgue?"
"Yeah," Beckett said. "You're going?"
"Orders," Peter said.
"It's not your fault that it happened," Beckett said.
"I know that and you know that, but you know how bosses are," Peter said.
"I'll walk you down," Castle said. "So Alexis doesn't come running up here." He walked with Peter over to the elevators as the doors opened and he oofed as Alexis glomped him. "Hi," he said and hugged her. "I’m fine, see?"
"Yes," Alexis said before letting go and getting into the elevator with them. She elbowed her dad to make introductions.
"Alexis - Special Agent Peter Burke," Castle said and pushed the button for the morgue.
"Nice to meet you," Peter said with a smile. The rest of the ride was quiet and Peter went with Castle to where there was a car waiting for him. "Good working with you," he said to Castle before getting into the car. He looked at Jones and then in the backseat at Caffrey. "Both of you are in trouble."
"We'll join the club," Neal said as Jones started to drive. "Hughes isn't happy."
"Not surprised, considering what happened," Peter said. "And you are not allowed to become paranoid like Mozzie."
"Duly noted," Neal said. The rest of the ride was silent back to the office, which Peter was happy for.
Chapter Title: A "Normal" Work Day
Rating: PG-13
Overall Word Count: 17,397
Chapter Word Count: 2,022
Summary: When Peter's card shows up in a dead woman's pocket, two amazing forces come together to find the murderer.
Author's Note: I do not own White Collar, Castle, or any of the characters from the various fandoms that appear. Emmanuel Gray is of my own creation.
Thank Yous: A big thank you to sirwynai for being my beta, cheerleader, and listening to all of my insanity. A big special thank you to slysionnachnano for cheerleading in the final hours of getting this done!
Castle walked into squad room at the Twelfth Precinct and noticed that he was the first one there. Considering the very rare event, he debated messing with their desks but then remembered that his co-workers were armed. He decided, instead, to make coffee for everyone in case that nobody was here due to having to go home and change. He was just about done when he heard someone come in and looked up to see the FBI agent from the other day. "Hey," he said. "Agent Burke, right?"
"Right," Peter said with a nod. "Is that for everyone?"
"Help yourself," Castle said. "Unless you'd want something much better. I can whip up an espresso in minutes."
"No, but thanks," Peter said as he poured himself a cup of coffee and added a small bit of sugar and cream.
"I would have thought that you drank it black," Castle said.
"If you're anything like Neal, the regular coffee is going to be too strong," Peter said. He took a sip and smiled. "And I was right."
"I meant to ask you about that - what is it like?" Castle asked.
"Interesting," Peter said. "Nothing like they show in the movies though. I think that's more because he knows to stay put."
"How many times have you caught him?" Castle asked.
"Twice," Peter said. "Morning," he said to Beckett.
"Morning," Beckett said. "Am I breaking something up?"
"My ability to plan for yet another awesome novel series, but otherwise, no," Castle said.
"Good," Beckett said. "We're going to update."
Peter and Castle followed Beckett out to the white board that was covered in what they knew about the case already. "Low tech, but gets the job done," Castle said to Peter.
"Looks more organized than a high tech one could be," Peter said.
"Thank you," Beckett said to Peter. "Lanie, what do you got?"
"The gunshots were to slow her down," Lanie started off with. "They were supposed to look like they got more than they did, but the shooter knows where to shoot so you'll bleed out before the bullet hits anything important. The death blow came with the knife in the back." She put up a picture of the knife on the board. "I'm still investigating what type of gun the bullets would have come from."
"We'll focus on the knife then," Beckett said. "Thank you, Lanie. Agent Burke?"
"We know that Hunter's killer is connected to this man," Peter said as he put up a recent picture of Emmanuel Gray up. "His name is Emmanuel Gray. We've been working on trying to bring him down for various charges, but his lawyers have been able to find loopholes. He is highly dangerous and doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. I wouldn't recommend bringing him in for questioning until you have more evidence."
"Do we even know where to find him?" Beckett asked.
"No, that's the other problem," Peter said. "It is difficult to pin down an address on him. I do think that you should consider him."
Castle came closer to the board and looked Gray over. "I've met him. He came to one of the more high end meets and greets."
"I'm not surprised," Peter said. "Ever since we tried to get him on a kidnapping charge, he's decided to be more in the public light. Build up his character references so, if we could ever get him into court, he'd be sympathetic to the jury."
"Not a bad idea," Castle said. "And if I'm not mistaken, this dagger is known as a stiletto."
"Castle, how could you possibly know that?" Beckett asked.
"Watched Gladiator last night," Castle said. "Similar weapon is used in one of the scenes." He shrugged. "Don't believe me then."
"Beckett?" Ryan said as he showed Beckett an image of the stiletto on his phone.
"You just hate it when I'm right," Castle said with a grin at Beckett.
"No, I just wish that you would show your work instead of expecting me to know something from a movie I've only seen twice," Beckett said.
Peter was about to say something before his cell phone cut him off. "Excuse me," he said as he answered the phone. "Burke," he said as he moved towards a quiet hallway to talk.
"What, you couldn't take me with?" Neal asked on the other end of the line.
"Thought you would be more comfortable there," Peter said. "Plus, he won't try anything if you're there."
"And - " Neal broke in midsentence. "Jones wants you," he said and passed the phone.
"We've got a sighting," Jones said. "Downtown, but it's something."
"Alright - have Diana get down there and start a tail," Peter said. "Jones, make sure that Caffrey stays at the office. Handcuff him to the desk if you have to."
"I will," Jones said before handing the phone back to Neal.
"Somehow I get the feeling I'm not allowed to leave," Neal said. "Considering the look Jones just gave me."
"You're to stay where you are until I tell you otherwise," Peter said. "Besides, I need you to run a trace on people who would have bought a stiletto."
"Which period?" Neal asked.
"…Why do you think I would know that?" Peter asked.
"I'm always hopeful," Neal said. "Send a picture of it and I can narrow it down."
"I'll have it faxed over," Peter said.
"Or you could take a picture with your phone," Neal pointed out.
"You'll get it soon," Peter said. "Gotta go," he said as he hung up as Beckett was coming over with Castle. "Anything?"
"There's a few stores in the city that sell them," Beckett said.
"Let's split up the list and see what happens?" Peter offered.
"I'm liking him more and more," Castle said.
"Thanks," Beckett said and handed Peter half of the list. "I thought you would say that."
Peter grinned. "Is it possible to have the picture of the weapon faxed to the office? Caffrey thinks that he might be able to narrow down a time period for it."
"That's easy enough to do," Beckett said. She turned and made sure that either Esposito or Ryan would do it. She then came back to where Castle and Peter were talking.
"I always hear people saying that," Castle said. "But there's the prequel coming out, so hopefully that'll make people less rabid."
"I am not rabid for thinking you shouldn't have killed off Derek Storm," Peter said.
"Got to agree with him, Castle," Beckett said. "Nobody was happy when you did that."
"Yeah, but if I didn't, then I wouldn't be able to write Nikki Heat," Castle said.
"I still hate that name," Beckett said as she led the way to the elevator.
"But yet you decide to live with it," Castle said.
"If I thought I could have pushed more for the name, I would have," Beckett said. "Castle, are you able to write two series at once?"
"Never tried it," Castle said. "Others can - I still don't know how Patterson does it."
"He has a lot of other writers working for him," Peter said.
"No, those are true collaborations," Castle said. "He's writing about half or more than half of those as well." He thought for a moment. "Do you play poker?"
"Depends on my luck for the day," Peter said.
"What are you doing Thursday?" Castle asked.
"…You're taking him to poker night?" Beckett asked.
"I'm free on Thursday," Peter said. "Unless we get lucky and catch whoever did this."
"You might regret it," Beckett said.
"Stop putting down the poker game," Castle said as he walked out of the elevator with everyone else.
"I am not," Beckett said. "I'm just saying that he might not want to be asked a million questions by writers looking for their next idea."
"We usually go in there with an idea in mind," Castle pointed out as he opened the door for her and held it for Peter.
"Thanks," Peter said. He was about to say something else when a shot whizzed right by his ear. A moment later, an array of bullets flew through the air as everyone took cover as best as they could. He could hear Beckett call through on her radio. It was over sooner than it began and he looked in the direction of where the shooting was coming from. He moved over to Beckett and Castle. "You two alright?"
"For the most part," Castle said.
"Did you get a chance to see what direction they came from?" Beckett asked.
"Not really," Peter said.
"Others can do that," Castle said. "Let's go back inside - probably not a good idea to be out here anyways," he said as he led Beckett back inside and back upstairs. "Sit with her a moment?" He asked of Peter before disappearing to get something.
Peter sat down opposite of Beckett. "You sure you're alright?"
"Yes," Beckett said. "Castle worries, but it's for a good reason."
Peter smiled. "The two of you seem very close."
"Close doesn't fully cover it, but yeah, we are," Beckett said. "Have you ever been shot?"
"Yes," Peter said. "Still took a while to get over it."
Beckett nodded a yes. "Thanks," she said as she took the cup of water from Castle. "Do we have anything - " she started to ask as Esposito came over to them. "Anything?"
"It was from a bit away," Esposito said. "Minor injuries for the most part. They think that it was more of a warning than trying to kill someone."
Peter was about to say something when his cell phone rang. "Burke?" He answered and listened to the other end of the line. "Yes, I'm fine. No, stay there. No, he's not going to try anything but stay away from windows. Put Jones on the phone," he said. He looked to the others. "When it was first starting, I felt a bullet go by close to my head. It didn't hit anything, but that might help." He paused for a moment as everyone just looked at him. "What was the address of the building?" He asked of Esposito who gave him the piece of paper with it on it. "Thanks," he said as he got up and continued his conversation with Jones.
"Maybe you're right about the poker game, Beckett," was all Castle said as Beckett went to answer some of the phones that were ringing off the hook.
Peter came back over a few minutes later and handed the piece of paper to Castle. "Tell them I had to go back to the office?"
"Sure," Castle said. "In trouble?" He asked as he flagged Beckett over.
"No more than usual," Peter said. He smiled at Beckett. "Is it true the best back door is through the morgue?"
"Yeah," Beckett said. "You're going?"
"Orders," Peter said.
"It's not your fault that it happened," Beckett said.
"I know that and you know that, but you know how bosses are," Peter said.
"I'll walk you down," Castle said. "So Alexis doesn't come running up here." He walked with Peter over to the elevators as the doors opened and he oofed as Alexis glomped him. "Hi," he said and hugged her. "I’m fine, see?"
"Yes," Alexis said before letting go and getting into the elevator with them. She elbowed her dad to make introductions.
"Alexis - Special Agent Peter Burke," Castle said and pushed the button for the morgue.
"Nice to meet you," Peter said with a smile. The rest of the ride was quiet and Peter went with Castle to where there was a car waiting for him. "Good working with you," he said to Castle before getting into the car. He looked at Jones and then in the backseat at Caffrey. "Both of you are in trouble."
"We'll join the club," Neal said as Jones started to drive. "Hughes isn't happy."
"Not surprised, considering what happened," Peter said. "And you are not allowed to become paranoid like Mozzie."
"Duly noted," Neal said. The rest of the ride was silent back to the office, which Peter was happy for.