Killing Streak - Castle Fanfiction

1. Security Footage

Ryan's POV:

I should have called in sick.

The thought echoed in my head as I stood beside Esposito, staring at the crime scene. The woman’s body was sprawled across the damp alley pavement, her vacant eyes frozen in terror. Blood had seeped into the cracks of the concrete, a dark reminder of what had been done to her.

I swallowed hard, but my throat was dry.

I tightened my grip on my notebook, forcing myself to focus. You’re fine. Act normal.

“Ryan,” Beckett called, pulling me out of my trance. “You good?”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah. Just—just thinking.”

She gave me a look, the kind that said she wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t push. Instead, she turned to Castle, who was already halfway through one of his theories. Something about an underground crime syndicate, or a secret lover’s quarrel.

I should have listened. I should have done something other than nod and pretend to jot down notes. But my hands were shaking, and the notebook felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. I forced myself to write something—anything—to make it seem like I was still here.

Not somewhere else. Not back in that moment.

It was an accident. I told myself that over and over again, but it didn’t help. It didn’t stop the flashes—her falling back, the sound of her head hitting the floor, the blood pooling under her. The way she gasped, eyes wide in horror.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. Focus.

“Yo, Ryan.” Esposito nudged me. “You seeing what I’m seeing?”

I blinked. “What?”

He motioned toward the body. “No defensive wounds. No sign of a struggle. You thinking what I’m thinking?”

I forced myself to look again. “Uh, yeah. Maybe someone she knew?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Maybe she trusted them.”

The words hit me like a truck. My stomach twisted.

Beckett glanced up from her notes. “Lanie should have a time of death soon. If it’s recent, we’ll need to check nearby cameras.”

Cameras.

I felt my body tense. If they found footage of what happened that night—if they saw me—

No. No, no, no. They wouldn’t. I was careful. I got rid of everything. There was no way.

Still, the panic clawed at my ribs.

“Ryan?”

I turned too fast, locking eyes with Beckett.

She frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, swallowing hard. “Just didn’t get much sleep.”

She didn’t believe me. None of them did. I could feel their eyes on me, watching. Studying.

They knew something was wrong.

I had to pull it together.

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Back at the precinct, things only got worse.

The case was moving fast. Too fast. Lanie confirmed the time of death—only hours before we found the body. Traffic cams picked up a partial view of a suspect. Beckett and Esposito were piecing things together, closing in.