This new story "Odd Man Out" deals with the aftermath of the shooting of Congressman O' Rourke from the hands of Jackson Hunt in The End Of The Trail.
In a dark alley, two lone men are talking behind a pizza parlor down town Washinton, D.C. discussing the shooting in New York City.
"I must admit Hunt, I really had no idea you were going to blow up the cocaine in the first place." While moving away from the light that was showing up in the alley way.
"I had no choice in the matter at that time, since Beckett and her people from the 12th precinct have been looking for the merchandise a long time." As he tells Senator William Calhoun from Wisconsin.
"What ever your reason, we will need to find another way to bring in the cocaine and other merchandise into the country." While musing with his cell phone to call his office a few blocks away.
"I will be around on whether or not you will be needing me for any other work, I will be flying back to New York to talk with my son Richard, and try to explain my motives as to what I did at the Seaport."
"Just make sure you are able to cover your tracks, since a number of the organizational members are not happy in regard to what happen with there merchandise." He replies to Jackson Hunt looking on with concern.
" I need to fix this matter to navigate through this entire mess that I created." He points out to the senator having to be deeply involved into this entire matter, along with another scandal to add into the scenario.
/
12th precinct...Late afternoon
Captain Kate Beckett having just arrived after getting in some much needed rest, she still could not believe on what had happen with all of the cocaine merchandise going up in smoke, because of Castle's father involvement with Loksat and Congressman James o' Rourke.
She basically had to start all over again in trying to find a trail with the drug signature.
Beckett had gone over to speak with Ryan and Esposito, to find out if they were able to find anything that was left of the cocaine that was on the barge.
The both men having looked tired, were discussing another case that the both of them were working on involving a murder down town betting parlor.
"Gentlemen!", Is everything okak with the both of you?", as it seems your mind are on other things at the moment."
She tells them with great curiosity after what happen at the South Street Sea port.
Ryan is the first to speak up. "I don't know about you, Captain Beckett, but it does seem to me that this entire deal was mostly a set up by Castle's father after all this time."
"Bro!", One thing for sure I just hope that Castle's father doesn't turn around to play more head games with all of us?" Moving up from his seat really pissed at the moment.
"I mostly agree!", she tells thems while walking away to head on over to her office.
She was secretly hoping that a miracle would happen to fix this entire mess, while thinking to herself while walking into her office.
/
Richard Castle having to be alone most of the afternoon, after his wife Kate, had left to go to work at the had given him the chance to catch up on some much needed rest.
Even though now heading for his office to write a new Nikki Heat story involving the cocaine having to been destroyed by an arch enemy of Nikki Heat and Jamesion Rook.
He needed to make sure the details were developed correctly, in order for the reader to understand what is actually going on with the characters.
Just before sitting down on his chair with his laptop ready to go. He heard a heavy knock on his front door, while leaving his office to open the door not knowing what to expect!
Walking slowly over to the door, he opens the door to see the one person that he really didn't need to see at this moment.
"You don't need to be here in the first place dad, after what you did at the Seaport a few days ago." Castle was very hot under the collar at this particular moment having to see his father at his door.
While Jackson Hunt barges into the living area while closing the front door.
"First of all Richard, I have a number of things to explain to you, as to why I did all that nonsense in the first place!"
While moving over to the kitchen counter to sit.
Another thing, I need to make sure Richard, that the walls don't have ears at this particular moment." While taking out a special device from his coat pocket to check for bugs or video devices.
Hunt was following the flashing light on the instrument taking him into the bathroom. While Richard Castle was watching his every moment.
Castle was going to say something, when Hunt put his hand to Castle's mouth to keep quiet for the moment. While Hunt climbs the bathroom sink to take off the lighting fixture to find a small camera inside.
He was able to turn it off with the special device. "We can talk now without being watched or heard.
"What the hell is going on Dad to have you find that video camera in the first place?"
"Whom do you think in the first place Richard" Walking away to check for other devices inside the loft, and he does a few minutes later in the bedroom, and most of all his office.
/
Some time later Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito were asking questions, on the inside of the betting parlor on just what happen with one of the bettors having to be shot in the back alleyway.
They were able to piece together after talking with a number of the bettors, Frankin Johnson in his early forties was shot because of his involvement with the mob, and drug connections the past few years. Along with an IOU for almost a million dollars deep inside the mob family.
Detective Kevin Ryan having gone through the clothing of the dead body, was mostly able to find a telephone in his pocket for a Washington, D.C. area code.
Sergeant Esposito told Ryan to wait on calling the number until they were able to head on back to the precinct.
After checking the area for the final time of the evening, along with a quick chat with the M.E. Lanie, she didn't have much to add at that particular moment after Esposito asked his last question.
"Where is Alexis?", I would think that she would working with you on this case."
"She's back at the lab working on another case at the moment, Alexis will be helping me once I bring the body back to the morgue, and I will be sure to let you know on anything else that we might find."
"Sure!" He tell Lanie while heading on out to meet up with his partner Kevin Ryan in the precinct's vehicle.
/
While back at the 12th Precinct.
Captain Kate Beckett having finished the last of her paperwork for this evening, she was able to noticed that Ryan and Esposito had just arrived back from the betting parlor crime scene.
"Did you find anything important that will help your case out" She replied to both officers looking at the phone number on the piece of paper.
Esposito goes to dial the number with the voice turned up to hear.
"You have reached Senator William Calhoun office, please leave a brief message."
It was this point, the group didn't know what to think at that one particular moment.
End of chapter one