She closed the door to interrogation and observed the tall man folded into the chair facing the two-way mirror.

Josh Davidson was one of those men who made women trip over their own feet. Tall, dark, with hair slightly longer than norm, deep dark eyes, and just a hint of stubble on his face. He was handsome, and he knew it. It was obvious in his posture, in that sparkle in his eye, in the way his mouth curved at the corners as he watched her.

Well, he was in for a big surprise, because it never worked on her. Sam didn’t fall for tall, dark, and handsome. She preferred a more interesting face in a man, charm and humor over leather-encased muscle, and a little less height so as not to develop a crick in her neck each time she had to look up at her man. She also fell for deep and layered, though Doctor Davidson sure qualified in that department, especially if he was killer.

“Mr. Davidson, I’m Detective Cole.” She put the file on the table and sat down in front of him, back to the mirror. “Do you know why you’re here?”

He shook his head slowly, his small smile never leaving his lips. “Your colleagues kept silent on the way. Will you tell me?”

“In a minute.” She opened the file and looked at the paper on top. A little show to keep him on his toes. “Where were you this morning between 3.30 and 5.30?”

“Home.”

She scribbled. “Alone?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend? Someone who could corroborate your whereabouts?”

A frown appeared between his eyes. “Yes, I do have a girlfriend, but she wasn’t with me. She said she needed some space.”

Gotcha. Sam smiled inwardly.

“And you didn’t like it, did you?” She looked at him. “You didn’t like it that she needed some space. You took it quite personally that she refused to spend her off-time from work with you.”

He straightened, serious. “What’s this about?”

“So you lured her out, to a secluded spot, to talk to her. Reason with her. What did she say, huh, Josh?”

“Wait, wait. What are you talking about. I didn’t see Kate in days.”

“Ah, days.” She nodded, leaned forward. “It must’ve grated. The way your girlfriend didn’t want to spend time with you the way she spent it with another man.”

“I don’t know what you—” His eyes widened. “Are you saying—”

“That you killed Kate Beckett this morning? Maybe.”

“Kate’s dead?”

“Yes, she is.” She didn’t pause when his eyes widened in shock. “So, did you kill her, Mr. Davidson?”

“No!”

“Are you sure? Did you put her own gun to her head and pulled the trigger?”

“No!”

She stood, moved around the table to stand beside him. “Why did you do it, huh? Was it because she told you it was over between you two?” She leaned down. “Tell me, Josh. Was she in love with someone else and you thought if you couldn’t have her no one could?” She leaned even closer, her lips almost touching his ear, her voice lowered into a whisper. “How did it feel? Pulling that trigger, watching the light disappear from her eyes? Did it give you a rush?”

He jumped to his feet, staring down at her as if she was nuts, his eyes glittering with moisture. “No, I didn’t kill her! I didn’t—I wouldn’t—How can you even think it?”

She cocked her head to the side, watching him pace the floor, listening to the nuances in his speech, each sentence, each word. When he was done, he stood there, panting, his eyes wild, no trace of the smooth doctor she’s encountered upon fist entering interrogation.

She nodded. “Good. We’re done here, Mr. Davidson, you’re free to go. I’m sorry for your loss.” And she left him there.

Rick was waiting when she opened the door. “Good thing I’m used to your tactics or I would’ve butted in.”

She shrugged. “I told you, rattle the suspect and they’ll reveal more.”

“If they’re innocent, maybe.”

She just smiled and walked away, straight into chaos.

“I demand to know what’s going on with his case!” Roy Montgomery, Captain at the 12th Precinct, stood in the middle of the main office, arms akimbo, glaring at her Captain.

Flanking him were his two detectives, Esposito and Ryan, along with Richard Castle, his daughter Alexis and mother Martha. So much for keeping it quiet until he’s cleared it with her.

Reid and Jones acknowledged her with nods from across the room, Connor looked rather spooked, and she felt Rick move closer behind her, having her back like the great partner that he was.

“Listen, Montgomery, I understand she was one of yours, but this is our case, and we’ll appraise you as we see fit.” Arroyo, despite not having much to work with, wasn’t one to back down.

Sam was planning on discreetly moving out, not wanting to risk being spotted, when her exit and “undetection” was thwarted by an angry voice coming from behind her.

“Where is she?!” Josh Davidson has apparently come out of his stupor. If she was lucky he wouldn’t spot her hidden as she was behind Rick Kovacz’s bulk.

All eyes zeroed in on her and she mentally rolled her eyes. Perfect. While Montgomery, Esposito and Ryan still had no clue who she was, Castle’s eyes darkened.

“You!” Josh Davidson moved into her line of vision. “Who the hell do you think you are?! What’s wrong with you?!”

Captain Arroyo moved closer with a murmured apology to Montgomery. “What’s going on?”

Davidson glared. “And who are you?”

“I’m the Captain, here.”

“Well, I have a complaint against one of your detectives.” Sam found herself at the other end of his pointed finger. “This one.”

Arroyo glanced at her, then back at Davidson. “What’s the problem?”

“The problem is, Captain, this woman has no concept of tact.”

Arroyo once again glanced at her, and arched an eyebrow as if saying ‘What else is new?’

“She accused me of killing my girlfriend. Without any kind of proof!”

At Arroyo’s pointed glance, Sam supplied the necessary information. “Josh Davidson, victim’s boyfriend. I merely asked a few questions.”

“She interrogated me!”

“Cole?”

Sam sighed. “I was just checking his alibi. It wasn’t an interrogation. He wasn’t under arrest. No one Mirandized him.” She looked at Josh, a picture of innocence. “You could’ve walked out of there at any time, Mr. Davidson.”

Chuckles from Reid and Jones sounded from across the room, and Rick’s clearing of his throat sounded suspiciously like he was covering a laugh.

Her phone chirped and she pulled it from her pocket, checked the screen. The M.E. was letting her know he was done. “I’d love to stay and chat some more, but I have a killer to catch.”