Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of a woman found drowned in a bathtub of motor oil at a transient hotel. But when they uncover a dark secret about the woman's past, they must unravel a 20-year-old mystery with the help of a true crime journalist who may have been stalking the victim. Meanwhile, Beckett puts her poker face to the test as she squares off against Castle, with her money and pride at stake.
Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.
Complete story — includes the ending
While unusual circumstances are practically usual, a soccer mom drowned in a hotel bathtub full of motor oil has the team scratching its collective head. The mystery deepens when investigation shows that the victim may have been involved with a crime more than 20 years old and was working with, or being stalked by, a true crime writer. The relationship between Castle and Beckett rears its truly competitive head during a poker game involving New York's legal system elite.