mtxref_fic | [Castle] "Hate that Smell..." (PG-13)

Author's Note: Castle, any, they didn't usually deal with arson, but this time there had been people in the building he burned.

The charred building still fell uncomfortably hot, though the firefighters told them that it had cooled enough to let Beckett enter, Castle dogging her footsteps.

"Ugh, man, what *is* that stink?" Castle asked, a hand over the industrial-grade dust masks they'd been given to wear, by the fire department.

"That's why we got the call, not just Arson," Beckett replied, stepping over some fallen, charred ceiling tiles littering the floor.

"It's like a barbecue in hell," Castle muttered. "What was this guy thinking? He's ruining everyone's chances to enjoy the Fourth of July ever again."

"That's probably his exact reason for torching this place," Beckett snarked. "He's a firebug, but a smart one: he keeps changing his MO. He was hitting the rooftops of places, but now he's breaking into the basement and setting the accelerant there."

"And that MO just started to include char-broiling people," Castle said. "How can anyone *do* that? I mean, if I was gonna burn a place, I'd wait till it was completely empty first."

"Castle, this is why you aren't the most welcome person on my crime scenes: you think just a little too much like a criminal," Beckett said.

"Yes, but isn't that why I'm so good at helping you?" Castle asked, innocently.

"Not when you're making less than savory remarks," Beckett snipped.