Castle

Oh, my God. I think that's her car.

All, right, guys! Keep it clear.

Don't you have anything better to do?

Mandy, Mandy!

Mandy, have you... have you spoken to Zach since the breakup?

Do you regret cheating on him?

Is there any truth to the rumor

that you're going back into rehab?

Castle?

Hmm?

Should I be worried

about your commitment to our engagement?

No. Why?

'Cause it says right here

that you're getting back together with your ex-wife.

- What? - Right here. Page six.

"Castle caught cuddling with ex-wife publisher."

No, no, this was a business lunch.

We were discussing Heat and Storm books.

Oh, so, um, you weren't...

"gazing lovingly into her eyes"?

She had spinach in her teeth. That's just... okay.

I don't... see, this wouldn't happen if you just

let me announce our engagement.

We already talked about this.

Everyone that's important to us already knows.

Yes, and just because I'm a public figure

- doesn't mean you need to be one, too. I know. - Exactly.

Well...

As long as you don't mind this sort of thing happening.

I don't. 'Cause it's not true.

And it only gives me more material...

to torture you with.

Mm, and the student becomes the master.

Who rings the doorbell at 6:45 in the morning?

Hey, Mr. C.! Hope I didn't wake ya.

No.

I was just on my way to work,

thought I would pick up my letter of recommendation.

Right! For your grant, uh, application.

Really appreciate you doing it.

I know I told Alexis I was finished,

but I... I hadn't really quite, um...

I'm still tweaking it. This... I'm getting it just right.

You're a perfectionist, like me.

Well, take your time... not too much time.

Deadline's tonight.

I'll have it done by lunch.

Thanks, Mr. C.!

- You're the best! - I know.

- Hi! - Hi, Pi!

Bye!

You haven't written a word, have you?

No. But in my defense, what am I supposed to write?

- It's Pi. - So then why'd you offer?

I didn't. Alexis asked. I can't say no.

But no more excuses. I'm gonna do it right now.

Unless that's a murder.

We're getting unconfirmed reports that

pop diva Mandy Sutton is dead at 22.

Mandy Sutton? Oh, no.

Alexis used to love her kids show, "Mandy Melody."

She was a regular teen by day

and a crime-fighting pop star by night.

But no one recognized her at school

because she wore glasses.

Well, it looks like she could've used that trick

in real life.

I mean, look at this. No wonder she was such a mess.

Detective!

Can you confirm for us that Mandy Sutton's dead? I, you know...

- Can you give us any details about how she died? - I gotta go. I have work to do. Sorry.

Oh, hey, Richard Castle. Is it true

that you're getting back together with your ex-wife?

This isn't about me today.

Uh, Castle?

How come you didn't deny it?

- What do you mean? Back there? Are you kidding? - Mm-hmm.

Yeah, if I deny that, then they think it's true.

- I thought that stuff didn't bother you. - It doesn't.

Hey.

- So Mandy lived in this building? - Yeah, penthouse.

Doorman found her just before 6:00 this morning.

- O.D.? - Given her lifestyle, you'd think.

But this is plain old-fashioned murder...

blunt-force trauma to the back of the head,

the facial lacerations probably happened with the fall.

Okay, when did this happen?

Lividity puts it between 9:00 and 11:00 last night.

Well, we can cut that time frame in half.

Doorman said that the limo dropped her off

to the lobby last night at 10:00 P.M.

She was killed within an hour of returning home?

What was she doing back here?

Doorman didn't know. But he said that

she uses that door sometimes

when she wants to avoid the crowd.

So maybe she was sneaking out or meeting someone?

If so, it was probably someone she knew.

Gates are locked on both sides.

You need an access code to get in.

Is there any security cam footage we can pull?

Not back here.

Ironic, seeing as how she spent her entire life

in front of cameras.

Paparazzi was out front last night.

Let's see if we can get copies of their photos.

Whoever was behind this might've been in that crowd.

And no talking to the press,

not until we know what's going on.

Where is she? Oh, my God, Mandy!

- Ma'am? - Mandy!

Ma'am, this is a crime scene. You can't be back here.

I... you don't understand. I'm her personal assistant.

You still can't be back here.

But we will need to take you to the station

to get a statement.

Do you have contact information for her next of kin?

That would be her... her manager.

I mean, her mother.

How did this happen?

What was she even doing in that alley?

Do you know of anyone

that would've wanted to harm your daughter?

Yeah.

A lot of people disliked her, who she became,

her provocative clothes, and dancing.

They just wanted her to be little "Mandy Melody" forever.

Had she received any threats recently?

Sure, she'd get some disturbing letters.

But any that were too aggressive,

we'd turn over to the security firm.

Okay, we're gonna need to see all of those letters.

Now do you know if she was planning on meeting

with anyone at her apartment last night?

We hadn't spoken to her in two days.

She was missing?

No, we knew where she was.

It wasn't hard to track her

on social media and gossip sites.

She was partying pretty hard.

For the past few months, Mandy'd been doing really great.

She stayed clean since her last stint in rehab.

She even met a new guy

while she was doing her community service.

Zach.

He builds houses for the poor.

And then a couple nights ago, she went to a club

for someone's birthday, and I guess...

She got drunk and she started

making out with an old boyfriend.

And someone took a picture. It hit all the gossip sites.

When Zach saw... It was too much for him.

They got into a big fight, and he left her.

How long had they been dating?

Four months.

Which means he would know how to access the alley

behind your daughter's building.

Do you know where we could find him?

It's funny. The first time I saw this picture,

I didn't think I could feel any worse

but... now that she's gone...

Yeah? Exactly how bad did you feel?

Look, I loved her. I would never hurt her.

Then you wouldn't mind us asking where you were

between 10:00 and 11:00 last night.

I... I didn't do this, okay?

I was at a lumberyard in Fairfield, New Jersey,

loading up a truck with the rest of these guys.

You can... you can ask them.

And the last time you saw her?

Two days ago when I broke it off.

Why are you asking me these questions?

I'm not the one

with the attempted manslaughter charges.

Manslaughter charge?

Yeah, her ex-boyfriend, Jesse Jones...

the one in that picture.

He's the one who got her into drugs in the first place.

And Mandy never told anyone this,

but the last time they broke up,

he threatened to kill her.

Weapons charges.

Aggravated assault.

That's a hell of a resume, Jesse.

How does someone like you

hook up with a superstar like Mandy?

Like all the other pretty little rich girls

that come to me for their ink.

She was looking for a lot more than a tattoo.

I was happy to provide.

So I read online that the two of you

were stormy and it didn't end well.

You trashed her apartment

and made some pretty serious threats.

Water under the bridge.

Until two nights ago, when you guys hooked up.

How'd that happen?

I was at a bar. She came in,

threw herself at me like old times,