Random woman walks into an apartment calling for Tess. She finds blood on the floor and a scene from Supernatural with the woman on the ceiling. Meanwhile at the Castle residence, Alexis scares the hell out of Castle as she drops by to drop off some laundry. Within ten minutes, she’s polished off the orange juice and ice cream but leaves soon after to go out with friends. At the crime scene, Beckett asked if he’s done any writing. Two chapters, does this mean we might be getting an extra book this year? One could only hope.
“Whoever did this; liked it.” Laney confirms strangulation. The body was hung after she was dead. She was drugged with chloroform which is why there is no sign of struggle. The gloves the killer must have used are similar to the ones they use at the lab. Whoever did this could be a serial killer. Ryan has found nothing from her hard drive except that part of it has been surgically erased. But jewelry might be the clue. Something Castle never thought of which is something that Beckett reminds him she would like for her birthday. They found a print in Tessa’s apartment that doesn’t match Tessa or her roommate’s. It does match Richard Castle’s. Kate’s theory that Castle might have done it on accident but CSU collected the prints before they arrived.
Castle has doubts, which is understandable because he couldn’t have done it, right? RIGHT? Kate is insistent that Castle must have accidentally touched the door and that CSU screwed up the timeframe. Off the hook. For now...
The guy took back the jewelry he gave her but left in its place; a witness. As they bring in the sketch artist, a piece of jewelry has been found. The man is ID’d as Tessa’s boss. And he fits the fairytale. The last time he can remember seeing Tessa is the previous morning, not night. Kate confronts him about the witness and he says .... (long pause here)….he wants a lawyer.
Espo has found no evidence. Kate asks about the juvy record. There is one but not much. They found a diamond earring in the sofa and there’s a custom design on it. Asking for the records from the maker comes up with a fake name and fake address but they do have surveillance. And we have, Castle. Damn, it looks a hell of a lot like him. Espo and Ryan try to convince Kate that they should investigate Castle because if it were anyone else, he would insist the same. Kate agrees only if they do it quietly. Ryan’s silence on Caskett only lasts until Kate walks thru the door. Espo doesn’t believe it but then says normally he’d be happy for them.
They find similar bank bags, murder bags, and a lot of other evidence. Kate is standing up for Castle and surprisingly so is Gates. She wants them to investigate him from every angle but to exonerate him not condemn him but if they have to condemn him, she will. Espo and Ryan tell Kate that they know about their relationship and ask her if she was with him that night. She said she was supposed to be but he needed time to write. Gates takes the interrogation herself asking about the fingerprints which he still denies, she mentions the roommate saying about the handsome and rich suspect for which he is flattered and not guilty. Castle reminds her about Tessa’s boss and Gates tells him that he was off the hook. But where was Castle the night of the murder? Alone at home writing. Our Castle has no alibi and asks for his lawyer.
In the meantime, Castle’s mother and daughter has arrived. Unfortunately Castle’s computer has been wiped in the same way and in his trash bin is a story idea that is very similar to the plot of the show. They also find e-mails going back and forth between the vic and the writer going back six weeks. Kate tells Lanie about the e-mails and the murder over a glass of wine. Kate also tells her that Richard is certain he did not do it that the e-mails were faked and that he looked like a little boy when she went to go see him. He may look like an egotistical jackass at times but he is not a murderer.
In lockup 3XK is bothering Castle in his cell. Could he be behind this? “I prefer blondes.” Castle is much more plausible because he commits murder every day in his mind. 3XK then tells Castle that he plotted for four years to come up with the perfect murder and to disappear. “The murder is just an act because it’s about the anticipation.” Being inside Castle’s life and thinking he’s going to take it away from Castle is the part he likes. Castle tells him he won’t get away with it. 3XK’s plans is so that Kate knows that she essentially killed an innocent man by not saving Castle before his men could kill him and that thought will haunt her for the rest of her life. But lucky for Castle, he’ll be dead.
Down in the cells the next morning, Kate tells Castle that there is no evidence that happened. “I know it sounds crazy like I’m telling stories.” “But it’s the first time this story’s made sense.” Some how Castle manages to be surprised that Kate still has faith in him. Ryan points out in the Russo case 3XK used a double. They go to the DA who accuses them of trying for preferential treatment. Kate points out that if he wants to kill Castle, he will find a way. Gates unfortunately, has to tell the woman they have no real evidence. Castle is screwed. Unless they can stop the transfer. To do this 3XK needed access to the loft so Kate send them there. Sitting alone, watching the footage, Epso comes up to Kate and tells her there’s no evidence in the loft. He tells her they’re not done and Kate proposes her jailbreak plan. Despite his love for Castle, Espo doesn’t want to do it. They’re here. Kate goes to cuff Castle which is so much less fun than at her loft the other day. Remember the first time at the New York Public library ‘What I wouldn’t give to be there now.” As Kate walks him thru the station and hands him off, the elevator dings, two guards come up on either side and walk him to the elevator. Kate and Espo walk away from the elevator and two guards walk up to them saying they’re here to pick up Castle. Okay, who did it? Leading theories at this point are Kate, 3XK, Castle, and Miss Irongates herself.
Everyone in the station is going over the transfer orders and the badge numbers on the paperwork are fake. Headquarters has put out an APB on Castle thinking he has the resources to do this. Resources... hmm... like books? Kate goes to the New York Public Library and finds Castle wearing a baseball cap sitting alone. He walks over to her and hugs her. Someone owed him a favor. He knows he’s not going to last long. Sitting at home, Castle thought about how he could have faked that footage. And then it occurred to him that it was an ad in a Broadway magazine staging a famous writer’s club. They find fake Richard Castle. Up close, Castle doesn’t see it and neither do I. They show him a photo of 3XK and he says it looks like the show’s producer. Espo traces this down and finds a bunch of dead ends. The only other check cut from the account was to the insurance broker that Tessa used to work for.
Next week: Goin to Comic-Con! Where people are murdered by laser beam not gun.
