While Beckett was putting together the means to go after Everett at his home address, Ryan got a call that the tech squad had been able to access Jennings' computer.

"Spencer was right on the money with the blackmail theory," Esposito said, handing Beckett copies of some of Jennings' emails. "There's dozens of emails back and forth between Everett and an anonymous account with Jennings' IP address on it."

"Jennings was accepting weekly payments of an easy grand, but two weeks ago he started asking for more," Ryan added.

"A thousand dollars a week on top of his salary," Castle gave a soft whistle. "No wonder the guy lived the way he did."

"It's more than I make," Shawn grumbled.

"Shawn, the cost of living in Santa Barbara is much less than here in New York, plus you have absolutely no expenses." Gus reminded him. "Either the department refunds you because you did it on a case, or I end up paying for it."

"I just put it on my tab, Gus."

"There's no such thing as a tab for Nordstrom."

"Before we get completely engrossed in the topic of men's socks," Castle interjected, catching a murderous look in Beckett's eyes, "we should go track down Tony Everett."

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Shawn looked longingly at the vest emblazoned with 'WRITER' that Castle was strapping on. "Dude, do you think Lassie would let us wear one of these? Mine could say 'PSYCHIC' and yours could say something like 'MAGIC HEAD'."

"'Magic Head' wouldn't fit on a vest, and besides, mine wouldn't say anything because I wouldn't own one. I don't go to places where people shoot at me," Gus objected.

"Leave the vest here, Castle." Beckett was putting on her own vest. They were all standing down the block from the address where Anthony Everett lived. A call to the landlord had confirmed that Everett was in his apartment.

"Beckett, you aren't gonna let them come with us, are you?" Esposito complained as he double checked his sidearm.

Shawn and Castle immediately turned to stare at Beckett with twin sets of puppy-dog eyes.

"Please! I never get to do anything like this in California," Shawn pleaded.

"And I already signed the waiver that I can't sue you from the grave," Castle added.

"All three of you will be staying in the car." Beckett didn't even look up at their faces. "And when I say in the car, I mean in the car, not standing next to it or running down alleys after criminals."

"Scout's honor," Castle saluted her.

Beckett gave him a doubtful look but motioned for Ryan, Esposito and the four uniforms to follow her.

Shawn sighed and slumped against the backseat of the car. "Left behind," he groused. "I can't believe they're letting all this natural talent just go to waste."

Gus rolled his eyes. "Well, I for one am glad we're staying in the car out of the way of bullets."

Before Shawn could retort, his phone rang and he glanced at the caller ID. His mood immediately changed. "Detective O'Hara, it is lovely to hear your lovely voice. I'm sensing you missed me so much you just had to call me up to hear the sultry sound of my voice." He had a big grin on his face, which faded as he listened. "Oh, you want to talk to Rick? Well we're kind of busy at the moment. On a big case and all that. I'm sure he can't talk to you."

Castle made a grab for Shawn's phone, but the psychic ducked out of his way and out of the car.

Gus rolled his eyes as the writer followed after Shawn, but still got out to follow them as they battled each other for the phone.

"Jules, I'm serious; I don't think Ricky is able to talk to you right now," Shawn continued, ducking as Castle again reached for the device.

"Hello Juliet," Castle said, leaning into Shawn's personal bubble.

"Dude, personal space!" Shawn warned.

"Shawn, I can hear him. Can you please put Castle on the line?"

Shawn could hear the grin in Juliet's voice and took it as a sign to keep going.

"Shawn!" Gus shouted.

Shawn paused for a minute and realized that he and Castle were standing right in front of Everett's building. Before he could react, a man came barreling out of the main door and ran into the duo.

"That's Everett!" Castle shouted, the phone conversation with Juliet forgotten.

Shawn tossed his phone to Gus and ran after Castle as the writer chased their murder suspect down the sidewalk.

"Anthony Everett, stop! Police!" Beckett shouted as she, Ryan and Esposito came tumbling out of the doorway, almost taking out Gus.

Shawn was busy trying to take off his shoe and run at the same time. Finally managing to get the sneaker untied, he pulled it off to lob at the suspect.

"Shawn, don't you waste a perfectly good shoe!" Gus was shouting after him. "You know you still haven't gotten completely over the yips!"

As usual, Shawn didn't listen and threw the shoe at Everett. True to Gus' prediction, the shoe went wide, but it caused enough of a distraction that Everett went head over heels into a nearby hot dog stand.

Beckett was almost out of breath by the time she caught up to their suspect, who was lying on the sidewalk clutching his leg. She flashed her badge and pulled out her handcuffs. "NYPD. Anthony Everett, you're under arrest for the murders of Chance Jennings and Charles Jarret.

"Nice collar, Beckett." Esposito commented as Beckett hauled Everett off the sidewalk.

"I threw the shoe!" Shawn protested, hopping on one foot while he retied his laces.

"You should really meet Beckett, Juliet," Gus was talking on Shawn's phone. O'Hara had stayed on the line during the entire chase. "I think you'd really like her. She just handcuffed our guy."

"What happened to 'Scout's Honor', Castle?" Beckett looked up at the writer.

Castle gave a shrug. "Technically I was never a scout. So I don't think I'm bound by that rule."

OoO OoO OoO OoO

A short interrogation later and Everett cracked.

"He confessed to everything," Beckett said, putting her files in order for the reports she would have to write in the morning.

"It scared him that we already knew what had happened," Castle commented, giving Shawn and Gus each a fist bump.

"Now that the case is over, you'll be writing your next book right, Castle?" Ryan asked as he and Esposito joined the group. "Another chronicle in the McNeally stories?"

Castle nodded. "Yup, it'll be Officer McNeally's first big case that he works by himself."

Shawn's face visibly fell as he realized McNab was once again the inspiration for the writer.

"But of course the case will be so complex and difficult that McNeally is forced to call psychic investigator Alex Syte to help him," Castle continued, smirking as Shawn's face lit up again.

"Any ideas for the title?" Shawn asked eagerly.

"Perhaps it'll be 'Love at First Syte', I did tell you I'm turning Alexander into Alexandra, right?" Castle winked at Gus.

"That's defemination of character!"

"Defamation," the three detectives, Castle, and Gus all chorused.

"And that has nothing to do with turning someone into a girl," Ryan added, giving Gus a nod.

"Besides, I couldn't do that to you guys," Castle grinned. "I'm still working on a title. Now did anyone want a cup of coffee?"

As the writer headed for the break room, Esposito leaned over to whisper to Shawn. "You know he once blew that thing up. You might want to head for the elevators now."