Title: Neon Terror

By: Greygoose70

Summary: WTF, another serial killer loose in Manhattan and guess who got the call.

Chapter 1

10:15 PM, Manhattan

The couple exited the small theater, the boy, James Fleetwood, carrying on about how good he thought the performance was asking his date, Mary Croce, her opinion. "I thought it was okay," she answered. Actually she thought the whole experience this evening left a lot to be desired, he even tried to give her a parting kiss which she quickly rebuffed telling him goodnight and immediately headed for her car.

That's where Mary sat now, in her car talking to one of her friends when all at once there was a pounding on her window. She turned her head and saw James standing there yelling something about her blowing him off when suddenly the window was splattered with a red substance and she screamed. She continued screaming and staring out hoping beyond hope that it was over that is until she saw the imprint of something round against the window.

Mary never actually saw the window shatter nor felt the metallic projectile penetrate her forehead killing her instantly. She was not alive to see what her killer did before casually slipping the weapon into a shoulder holster turn and walk away as if it was nothing, just another evening stroll.

12:30 AM, The Loft

Richard Castle sat at his desk typing away on his laptop, his next Nikki Heat adventure almost complete. One more chapter and he would have it wrapped up … just not tonight for at that moment his phone began playing 'It must be you' the song he assigned to Kate's number which could mean only one thing - dead body. Picking it up and pressing answer he greeted her, "Good evening Beckett … got it, I'll meet you there." Castle saved his work, went and made two coffees, one grande skimmed latte, two pumps sugar-free vanilla and one regular with two sugars then headed down to the lobby where Edwardo had a cab waiting for him.

1:00 AM, The Crime Scene

Castle was having a conversation with Officer Paulson when Beckett pulled up to the crime scene. Getting out of her her cruiser she walked directly up to Castle, he immediately handed her her coffee. She took a couple of sips, let the hot liquid soothe her throat then said, "Thanks Castle."

"You're welcome Beckett. Care to go see what crime story is playing tonight?" Beckett just gave him an eye roll, Paulson just shook his head and raised the yellow crime scene tape allowing them to enter.

"Hey Lanie, whatta we got." Beckett spouted approaching the dead body she saw laying on the pavement.

"Well for your entertainment tonight we have a double feature. Down here we have Mr. James Fleetwood shot through the back with a large caliber weapon, probably a 44 or 45, I'll know more when I get him on the table. In here we have Miss Mary Croce, also shot with a large caliber weapon, probably the same one that killed our Mr. Fleetwood."

"This is a pretty busy area, I would think that somebody would have seen or heard something,' Castle injected.

"Somebody did, we just don't know who," Lanie replied. "These two had only been dead about three hours by the time I got here."

"Okay Lanie, thanks. Let me know what else you find. Come on Castle lets see if Ryan and Espo found anything."

As Beckett and Castle exited the crime scene they spotted Ryan and Espo headed their way. Meeting up Espo informed them that their two victims had attended a neighborhood theater earlier but from what the manager could tell from the conversation he overheard upon their exit, she was not that impressed with the performance. "The man however seemed to have an opposing view." Ryan interjected.

"Okay but did anybody see or hear anything?" Beckett asked.

"Not that we could find," Ryan replied. "We do know the 911 call was placed from that pay phone." Espo interrupting this time and pointing towards the street corner.

"Having CSU dusting it for prints now." Ryan added.

"All right. Continue to canvass the area then we'll meet up back at the precinct," Beckett told them then headed back to her cruiser Castle in his usual spot - right by her side.

3:30 AM, The Precinct

As Beckett started putting up her murder board Castle was in the breakroom making them a coffee. Coming out he commented her on her progress while handing her her NYPD coffee mug. As she went to take a drink she noticed the foam being heart shaped so she smiled and whispered 'thank you'. Castle whispered a 'you're welcome' back wondering why they were whispering, there wasn't anybody else here but them.

"So what do you think Castle? Beckett inquired. "Jealous ex-boyfriend, jealous ex-girlfriend."

"Right now I have no idea, could just be random. Either way I don't think he's done," Castle replied.

Beckett and Castle were so deep in thought they failed to noticed that the elevator had arrived and a striking looking lady getting off, that is until she spoke, "You got that right, he's just beginning."

"Jordan!" Beckett and Castle replied simultaneously, turning to see their favorite FBI agent approaching. Castle was the first to rise from his seat to shake her hand, Beckett following him with a handshake of her own.

"So how is my favorite non-couple, couple doing?" Jordan asked giving them a smirkish grin.

"We're doing fine,' Castle responded glancing over at Beckett. "Except we're not actually a non-couple anymore, we have started dating. And that's for your information only." Beckett instructed her.

"Well I think its wonderful. You two are perfect for each other." Jordan commented in a low tone.

"So you think this isn't his first kill," Beckett said.

"No," Agent Shaw responded. "And if ballistics proves me right its numbers three and four, though it will be the first time he has killed a male."

"You think maybe our Mr. Fleetwood just happened to be in the way of our killers intended target and he needed to take him out first," Castle iterated.

"The first two victims were young women, a Shirley Cantu and Nancy Hiedl," answered Shaw pulling out two photos from her briefcase placing them on Beckett's desk. "You'll notice the resemblance between them and your current female victim. They were both shot with a 44 while sitting in their car, ballistics confirmed the bullets came from the same weapon."

"Well it's going to be a while before we get a report from CSU on the bullets," Beckett proclaimed. "In the meantime let's get you setup in the conference room."

"After that we can go to Murray's Diner across the street for breakfast. I'm starving," Castle said after hearing his stomach growl.