His Fallen Grace

Chapter Twenty-One

The Next Day

"Hey," Sam said as he looked up from his laptop, taking the offered beer from Dean. "So, get this, in Es--"

Dean groaned, plopping down in a chair.

"Dude, I said enough with that crap."

"Dean, this could be a lead on--"

"You think everything is a lead on Cas, Sam."

Sam set his beer down, giving Dean a look.

"Don't give me that dew-eyed crap either."

"Just... Hear me out, will you?"

"Fine. Lay it on me."

Sam cleared his throat, turning back to the screen.

"So turns out in Esbon yesterday afternoon, a woman got stabbed to death in her apartment."

Dean brought the bottle's rim to his lips, taking a drink.

"So?"

"... 'So'?"

"Sam, that could've been any nut job serial killer."

"But there's more. A witness, the woman's neighbor, Louis Shaw, says a guy about 30 was staying there, and described him as being roughly 5'11, dark hair, and blue eyes, who wore a trench coat."

Dean had gone to take another swing, but slowly lowered the bottle, staring at Sam.

"You... You think Cas could've been there?"

"Worth a shot."

"Right, well..." Dean arose from his seat, setting his beer down on the table. "Get your suit on and let's hit the road."

***

"Agents Walsh and Parsons, FBI."

Sam and Dean flashed Louis their badges.

"Louis Shaw?"

"Uh, yeah... Look, if this is about Kimberly, I've already told the cops everything I know."

"Yeah, well..." Dean gave him a grin as he and Sam tucked their badges away, "We just wanted to get it ourselves."

Louis nodded after a moment, stepping aside to allow the two of them in. He showed them to the living room, where they all took a seat.

"Well uh, Kim... Her and I talked from time to time. She was a nice girl. Pretty. I mean... It was a shame for her to die like that... Pretty young, you know? Finding her like that was--"

"What about the man, Mr. Shaw?" Dean interrupted. "We heard there was a man?"

Louis sat in thought for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, there was. I don't know if it was her boyfriend, or... But some dude was staying there for about a week."

Dean felt a lump grow in his throat, and swallowed hard, trying not to let it show when he spoke.

"And the name?"

"Not sure... Kim might have mentioned it at one time or another... Jimmy, maybe? His last name might have started with an M or something, but I don't know."

"And where exactly was he at the time of her death?"

"I... I don't know, he was gone."

Dean stood up, Sam after him, Louis watching them with a confused look.

"Wait, that's all?"

"Thank you for your time, Mr. Shaw."

***

Dean pushed open the door to Kimberly's apartment, shoving his lock pick back in his pocket.

"You check out here, I'm gonna scope out her room."

Sam nodded, closing the door behind them and starting his search. They searched her entire apartment, but there wasn't a sign. Not a piece of evidence that Cas had ever been.

"Well, this is just... Awesome," Dean grumbled as he lent up against the counter.

"Wait."

"... What?"

"Shut up for a minute."

There was silence, and then a faint ringing.

"Is that a...?"

"A phone," Sam finished, looking to the purse which sat on the counter. He reached in an pulled it out, flipping it open. Three missed calls flashed on the screen.

"Hey," Sam lightly smacked Dean's shoulder with the back of his hand, showing him the calls. "Do those look like they're coming from a pay phone to you?"

Dean looked up at him from the phone.

"Where from?"

"... Burr Oak?"

***Two chapters for y'all today. :] I felt a bit motivated to write this one, sooo~ I might update some others today, but no promises***