[s2e1]: Deep In Death

Beyond the case, Castle faces professional pressure. He is struggling to finish his latest novel, under a looming deadline while simultaneously trying to "build a door" through the wall Beckett has put up between them. "Castle" Deep in Death (TV Episode 2009) - IMDb

The second season of the hit procedural dramedy kicked off with its premiere episode, " Deep in Death ," which originally aired on September 21, 2009. Picking up in the aftermath of a tense Season 1 finale, the episode balances the show’s signature wit with the simmering friction between mystery novelist Richard Castle and NYPD Detective Kate Beckett. A Partnership on Thin Ice [S2E1] Deep in Death

The mystery begins with a startling discovery: a man found dead and tangled in the branches of a tree. The investigation takes a turn for the surreal when: Beyond the case, Castle faces professional pressure

The episode finds the central duo "on the outs" after Castle crossed a major line: investigating the cold case of Beckett's mother’s murder without her permission. While Beckett is still "plenty peeved" and initially wants Castle gone, she is forced to work with him again when a bizarre new case lands on her desk. The Case of the Man in the Tree Picking up in the aftermath of a tense

While being transported to the morgue, the coroner's van is intercepted at gunpoint and the victim's body is stolen.