Curtain Call Part 4

I don't own Castle or any related characters.

            Back at the precinct the next morning Beckett put together the murder board for Elizabeth’s case. So far the timeline was sadly empty, and Beckett wanted to change that.

            “Have we given anybody alibis yet?” she asked her team.

            “Claire Wyatt confirmed that she went out with Drake last night, but the times were off,” Ryan said. “At about 8:30 he was getting out of a cab at a very nice uptown apartment building after a few drinks. And by the way, there’s no way the guy’s made that much acting, he must come from money.”

            Beckett marked it on her timeline. “Security cameras?”

            “None in the theater or the immediate area.”

“So nobody saw her from the time rehearsal ended at around 6:30 or so until time of death says she was back in the theater a few hours later?”

            “Not that we know of, but we haven’t done much questioning yet,” Esposito said.

            “Well that’s about to change,” Beckett told him. “Somebody had to know where she was for two and a half hours.” Off to the side she wrote the word suspects. “What have we got, other than our friend Drake?”

            “I’d look into the roommate,” Esposito said. “She acted kind of weird when we told her about Elizabeth.”

            “What’s the motive?”

            “Nothing yet, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one,” Ryan said. “Potentially jealousy, but it’s not a solid case. At any rate, she doesn’t have an alibi.”

            Beckett wrote the name Rachel Golightly on the board. “It’s worth a look anyways. Who else?”

            “Her understudy,” Castle said, looking at the cast list they’d gotten from the director. “Elaine Heralds. A bit risky changing up the cast like this a month before opening, but if Elaine wanted the role badly enough…”

            Beckett added the name then capped her marker and turned towards the others. “Anybody worth looking into that’s not connected to this show?”

            “Nothing’s come up yet,” Ryan said. “We’ve checked phone records, financial transactions, all the usual areas and nothing’s stood out. Besides, rehearsals have been taking up most of her time recently.”

            “In that case, who’s up for a trip to the theater?”

***

            When the four walked into the theater the RENT crew was using they were in the middle of rehearsing a scene. Rachel was lying on a table, shivering, and Drake was standing over her, singing to her with a guitar slung across his back. Others were standing a way off to the side, looking sad.

            Stevens was watching from the first row. “Cut!” he shouted. “Listen, everybody, I know what a blow it is that we lost Elizabeth. She was a friend to all of us, and all of you are using the pain brilliantly in your performances, and I appreciate you all pushing forward like this. None of you look awkward standing there anymore, and that’s good even if the reason why is so terrible. But Drake…I’m not feeling anything from you. This is supposed to be the woman you love, show some passion. It’s a very emotional scene. You know what, everybody, let’s just take a break.”

            As Stevens left the room Beckett stepped forward, holding up her badge to the cast. “Drake Lovett! You lied to me the other day. I don’t appreciate people lying to me.”

            “I don’t know what you mean.”

            “Sure you do, Drake,” Beckett said. “For one thing, your alibi fell through. Your date ended a lot earlier than you said, that means nobody can conform your whereabouts at the time of the murder. That doesn’t look so good for you.”

            “You son-of-a-bitch,” Rachel hissed, sitting up.

            “No, I swear…”

            Rachel grabbed the guitar strap and pulled Drake in so that his face was inches away from hers. “You son-of-a-bitch,” she repeated. “What possible reason could you have for lying to them? Huh? Because you killed Elizabeth?”

            “No!”
            “Then why?! Because you’re protecting some stupid reputation? You don’t have a reputation to protect, you self-centered, arrogant, womanizing idiot! And if you were trying to stay out of trouble you’re a bigger idiot than I thought if you gave an alibi that just fell through! You lie to them about your alibi, they investigate you and either you’re the killer or you just gave the killer a pretty good head start. Did you even consider what you were doing when you lied? Did you think they wouldn’t check your story?”

            “You don’t understand, I…”

            “I understand you’re not telling the police what you know! And the only reason you wouldn’t tell them is because you want to help the bastard who killed Elizabeth get away or you’re putting your personal comfort before catching her killer. I don’t care what secrets you have that may come out, I don’t care if you’re used to having your way and I don’t care if it’s inconvenient for you on any level; get over yourself and start cooperating before I kick your ass all the way to kingdom come!”

            Everybody stared at Rachel in shocked silence for a few seconds. Castle looked like he really wanted some popcorn. Drake looked just about ready to wet his pants. The tension was broken when Stevens re-entered the room.

            “Now that’s perfect!” he called out. “That’s real emotion; the shock on each of your faces is amazing! Only Drake, please try not to look quite so terrified, you are supposed to love her and be grateful she’s alive. And Rachel, don’t look like you’re about to strangle him.”

            Beckett walked up to the stage. “Drake Lovett, you’re under arrest. The rest of you, detectives Ryan and Esposito have some routine questions to ask you.” Beckett led Drake away, leaving Ryan and Esposito to deal with the others.