It's About My Future Chapter 7
Castle and Beckett walked into the precinct hand-in-hand for the first time since they started dating. As they reach the elevator, Beckett's phone rang. "It's McCord. I have to take it," she said to Castle. He points to the elevator indicating he would meet her upstairs.
"Beckett," she said into the phone.
"Hey," said McAdams.
"What did you find," Beckett asked.
"As we expected, the parents, Steve and Lucy Wells, were heartbroken by his death, but I could tell that they never really understood their son. His father is a retired graphic artist and his mother is a homemaker who likes to crochet, knit, macramé and needle point. I've never seen so many doilies in my life. Their place reminded me of my grandmother's apartment, a doily under every lamp and knickknack." Beckett smiled as she realized that this was the first time that McAdams had shared anything about her personal life. "The parents seem to be very different from their universal soldier son," McAdams continued.
Beckett knew that Wells' military record was full of commendations. After graduating from Emory University, Wells was recruited to serve at the prestigious 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Benning, Georgia. His General Technical Score was average for the 75th. However, he quickly ascended the ranks and became a Captain serving with the US Army Special Operations Command until his death two years earlier. "Wells' parents said that they had not heard from him in the year before his death. They explained that he was involved in classified missions and was unable to visit. I asked them about school, friends, girlfriends, hobbies, frequent haunts, sports, recreation, etc. His mother said that when he was in elementary school he became very good friends with a boy in his class named Robert Hines whose father was a Ranger…a Captain Jeffery Hines. Robert was Reese's best friend through high school. Reese's parents never met any other friends of any consequence," McAdams said. Beckett recognized that name, Jeffery Hines, as one of the names of the founders of Arantas Solutions. She finally had a connection between Bracken and her current case.
"Robert and Jeffery Hines played a large part in shaping Reese's future. He had become fascinated with shooting pistols and the military in general. They said he became so proficient with pistols that he had competed at the NRA Bianchi Cup before joining the military. After he graduated from college, Reese volunteered with the 75th Regimen and stopped visiting his parents on a regular basis. I asked them if they knew if he kept in touch with anybody. His father said that he had enlisted with the 75th because Jeffery Hines was serving there. He never introduced his parents to any of his college or military friends or girlfriends. The only thing that father and son had in common was a love for soccer. Reese had played in high school and college. In fact, the last time his father spent any quality time with him was at a MLS DC United game in 2010. His father said his favorite teams were DC United, Manchester U, Real Madrid and Juventus. His parents let me look through his room. It was covered with Guns and Amo centerfolds and Soccer posters. He had no personal photos other than at soccer games or gun matches. He had no other hobbies that I could see. I pulled his mother aside to see if she could give me any further insight into her son. She thought that his obsession with the military came from a belief that his father was weak. His father had been mugged and pistol whipped in front of his wife and son when Reese was only 7 years old. Steve Wells didn't fight back for fear that something bad might happen to his family but Reese never forgave him for not standing up to the punks who robbed and beat him. Reese confided in his mother that he would never be weak like his father."
McAdams said, "I checked into Captain Jeffery Hines. He had also served with the 75th Ranger Regiment and had retired from the military in 2009 to set up his own security company called Arantas Solutions. The company broke up after a scandal erupted over the escape of two Afghani prisoners in 2010. Rumor was that Arantas Solutions…"
"Had taken a large payoff from Saudi interests to release the two Afghanis," Beckett finished.
"So, you've heard of them before this?" McAdams asked.
"Yeah. They came up in a murder I worked in New York," Beckett told her partner.
"Well, I'll work up a profile of places we should canvas for Wells based on the information I got from his parents." McAdams had worked in the fugitive unit at the US Marshall's Office and was very adept at finding people. Their supervisor at the AG's Task Force, Rachel McCord, had told Beckett when she had been assigned to McAdams that McAdams had earned the nickname of "Hound Dog" at the US Marshall's Office due to her extraordinary hunting skills.
"Let's arrange a meeting with Jeffery Hines when I get back to DC. I'm very curious about his activities since the break-up of Arantas Solutions and his connection to Captain Reese Wells," Beckett said.
"Call me after your meeting with the NYPD Counter-Terrorism Unit tomorrow and we'll go over our notes," McAdams said. And with that she ended the call. Beckett could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins but she didn't want to get ahead of herself. Jeffery Hines was behind Arantas Solutions and was her connection between Cedric Marx and Reese Wells. Beckett was sure now that Arantas Solutions had gone underground and was working off the books. If Arantas Solutions was as sophisticated and ruthless as she thought they would be hard to expose. She would have to fill in the boys on the connection.
Beckett took a moment to calm her nerves before she rode the elevator up to the homicide floor. When the elevator doors open Beckett felt a flutter in her stomach. The squad room was both familiar and unfamiliar to her. It had been weeks since she had stepped into her old home. Castle was sitting in his chair at her desk watching Esposito write on the murder board. She strode over to take a seat at her old desk but something was wrong. Gone were her elephant figurines and her name plate. Instead the name plate read, Detective Tori Ellis, and the desk was covered with a matching leather desk set including desk pad, pencil cup, letter tray, card holder and letter opener. A feeling of loss washed over her as she came to a stop beside Castle. He looked up at her and realized instantly what she was feeling. He stood up and directed her over to Esposito's desks. Ryan was on the phone and Esposito was updating the murder board with a picture of an African-American man in his fifties. Above the picture, Esposito had written the name Donald Washington AKA Jet.
Esposito told her that Ellis had run his nickname and tattoo through the data base and had gotten a vagrancy hit on Washington. "He has multiple citations for vagrancy and loitering but nothing violent," Esposito said.
"Get this," said Ryan after hanging up the phone. "I spoke with Wanda Spelling, Mr. Washington's social worker and she told me that he has been in and out of homes for years. He's been diagnosed with autism. He's high functioning but keeps walking out of his group home three blocks away. I asked her if she believed he had any medical training and she said no. Then, I asked her if he would be capable of climbing a fire escape and she said that he has a sever fear of heights. So, we can eliminate Mr. Washington as a suspect."
"Still, he may be a witness or he might be able to tell us if he has seen someone suspicious in the neighborhood if he's high functioning," Castle said.
Ellis popped her head out from the tech room and called the team over. "So, I have gone through the tapes provided by Antonio Messina, the owner of the Tidewater Bodega. Messina lives in an apartment above the bodega and sometimes works behind the counter. It appears that Angela Steward made a purchase at the bodega at approximately 5:13 pm the night of her murder. Lanie put time of death between 6:30 and 8:30. Ms. Cole shows up on the tapes at 7:30 the morning of her murder and then again at approximately 8:00 pm. Tony Messina was working the register in the morning and had what seemed to be an uncomfortable conversation with the victim. I didn't see Mr. Washington at either time Ms. Cole was at the bodega. However, Mr. Washington does show up on the tape the evening Angela Steward made her purchases like the clerk said."
"Show us the video of Messina and Cole," Esposito said. The group moved into the tech room. Ellis played the video. Cole walked into the bodega and walked over to the coffee machine and made herself a small coffee. She took a packaged muffin from a stack next to the coffee and walked to the register. Messina rang up her purchases. The video showed Messina leering at Cole. He said something to Cole that startled her and made her blush. She handed him her money and waited for her change. He smiled broadly and held back her change until she answered him. She looked annoyed as she took her change and walked out of the store.
"He hit on her and she turned him down," said Castle.
"Oh, you recognize the look," Kate teased. Ellis, Esposito and Ryan all smiled.
Castle smirked back at his girlfriend. "Funny," Castle said.
"He hit on me at the bodega the day I picked up the videos," Ellis said.
"Did he?" Esposito asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He said I was so beautiful he would do me dead or alive," Ellis told them. They all laughed at the horrendous come on line. "After I showed him my badge and he seemed to lose interest," Ellis said.
"Is that so?" Esposito questioned. His phone rang startling him. He immediately answered it. "Got it. Hold him until we get there but don't arrest him. He's no longer a suspect. Buy Mr. Washington a cup of coffee and some food. We'll be there in a few minutes," he said into the phone before hanging up. "Unis are holding Washington outside the bodega. I figure we can talk to both Washington and Messina at same time."
"Maybe you should ask Ms. Spelling to meet us there. She might be able to help us talk to him and she can take him back to the group home," Kate said to Ryan. Castle smiled at Kate. He had described her as kind once and this confirmed it.
"On it," Ryan replied stepping over to his desk to make the phone call.
"Ellis, why don't you keep reviewing the videos and see if Messina had any contact with the other victims. Also run Messina through the data base and call us if anything pops," Esposito said. She nodded and walked over to Beckett's old desk. Castle watched Kate's smile faded as Ellis sat at Kate's old desk and logged on to her computer.
Ryan finished his phone call and joined the others at the elevator. "She'll meet us there," he told Kate.
-Break-
Ryan and Esposito were the first to arrive at the bodega but Kate and Castle arrived right behind them. Esposito and Ryan head to the squad car. Mr. Washington was seated in the back seat with the door open holding a cup of coffee in one hand and drawing numbers in the air with his other hand. He mumbled equations to himself. A heavy set woman in a track suit approached the squad car. "Hi Jet," she said to Washington in a friendly tone. Then she turned to the officers and asked, "Detective Ryan?"
Ryan responded by putting his hand out, "Ms. Shelley, thank you for coming." They shook hands and he introduced her to the others. Ms. Shelley explained that Mr. Washington had a fixation with numbers and the Jets. They decided that Ryan and Ms. Shelley would ask him about the victims and if he saw anyone following them. Esposito, Castle and Beckett headed into the bodega to ask the clerk a few questions about the bodega owner before they headed up to his apartment to talk to him. Esposito's phone rang and he told the other to go ahead while took Ellis' call.
Kate walked ahead of Castle into the bodega. There was a man standing behind the counter. He hadn't taken his eyes off her as she approached the counter. "You are so hot you melt the plastic in my underwear," he said. The come on was so awful, Kate couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"And you must be Mr. Messina," said Castle from behind Beckett as he put his hand midway down her back and smirked at the man.
The man looked at Castle and instantly recognized him. "I get it," he said. "He's your sugar daddy. Well, when you're ready for a real man, I'll be waiting sweetheart," he winked at Beckett.
Beckett showed him her ID from the AG's Office, "In your dreams, sweetheart." Messina smiled back enjoying the repartee with Agent Beckett.
Esposito came up behind them and badged the bodega owner. "Mr. Messina, my name is Detective Javier Esposito, this is Agent Beckett and Mr. Castle. Detective Ellis was here earlier and you gave her the videos from your cash register for the past week. She said you were very helpful. We would like you to come down to the station to answer a few questions. As you see, we have detained Mr. Washington and we would really appreciate your assistance. Is there someone who can watch the store for you?" Esposito asked.
"My clerk will be back in just a few minutes from her dinner break," Messina told them. "I'm sorry about the come on, sweetheart," he said to Kate still smiling at her. "I didn't realize you were a cop." He looked her up and down, undressing her with his eyes.
They wanted him to come in voluntarily, so Kate played along and said, "Well, sweetheart, you can make it up to me by helping us with our investigation."
Lacey Swartz was surprised to see the detectives in the bodega when she got back from her break. She looked a little more rested and relaxed than the last time they had seen her. "Good you're here," Messina said. "The police have arrested Mr. Washington. I'm going to go down to the precinct to help out the police." He moved toward the door as Swartz took off her jacket and moved behind the counter.
As they stood outside, Esposito told an officer to escort take Mr. Messina to the precinct. After Messina and the officer left, Ryan joined the others.
"Ms. Shelley is taking Mr. Washington back to his group home. He only recognized Angela Steward from the photos. He said he has been showing up at the bodega at about 5:00 pm every day to get his money from the clerk. She said he has been emptying the trash can outside the bodega every day this week to earn a little extra money to buy a ticket to a Jets' game. He's high functioning but it's unlikely he can describe anyone who has been hanging around the bodega," Ryan said.
"Ellis called to say that Messina has a couple of arrests for assault and an old girlfriend filed a restraining order against him. She's reviewing the tapes looking for any other encounters between Messina and the other victims," Esposito said.
"Castle and I will meet you at the precinct after we ask the clerk a few more questions about Messina."
The partners drove off to the precinct as Castle and Beckett headed back into the bodega.
The clerk was surprised to see them return. "Ms. Swartz, may we ask you a few more follow up questions about Mr. Washington and Mr. Messina?" The clerk nodded her head. Beckett knew that by alluding to Washington as a suspect, Swartz might be more willing to talk freely about Messina. "Does Mr. Washington do anything to earn the money that you give him?" Beckett asked.
"Sometimes he empties out the trash can out front and throws it into the dumpster in the back," Swartz said. "I get a little nervous going into the ally after I close the store at midnight."
"Has he had any arguments or altercations with any of the customers or venders in the neighborhood?" Castle asked.
"Not really. He just loiters around the shops talking to himself," she replied.
"Has your boss had any altercations with Mr. Washington?" Beckett asked.
"No. Like I said before, Mr. Messina had a soft spot for the guy and told me to give him money."
"When we arrived Mr. Messina was working the counter while you were on break. Does he do that every night? Give you a break, I mean?" Beckett asked.
The clerk smirked, "He's supposed to give me a dinner break every night between 6:00 and 7:00 but he doesn't stick to that time. Tonight, he did not show up until an hour ago. Other nights, when he gets lucky," she said with enough stink on it to get her message of disapproval across, "He calls me and tells me to close up a half hour early and counts that as my dinner break."
"Have you ever seen him speak inappropriately to female customers?" Castle asked.
Swartz declared, "He considers himself a player…likes them young and pretty." She looked up at Beckett and said, "Tell me he didn't hit on you? I'm like an old heifer, past my prime. So, my boss and I get along just fine."
"Have you ever seen him get…too pushy?" Beckett asked.
"Do I really have to answer these questions? I need this job since my divorce. You know, we're not usually in the bodega at the same time. And like I said, I'm not the type he would generally hang out with. I rather spend time with my animals than my boss," she said. Beckett could tell that this was the most she was going to get from this clerk tonight.
"Thank you, Ms. Swartz. We appreciate you talking to us," Beckett said.
As Beckett and Castle got into their car, Kate said, "She's holding back." Kate rubbed her eyes. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and called Ryan. "We didn't get much from the clerk. We're heading in." She paused listening to him speak. "Got it. We'll see you 6:00 a.m. tomorrow." She hung up and turned to Castle. "Rick, turn around let's go home. Messina lawyered up the minute he got into the precinct. We've both been going nonstop all day long." She reached out and put her hand on his as he drove. "We need to get some rest."
"I'll make you a bath with candles as soon as we get home."
"I'm so tired I'll just want to go to bed. I'll shower in the morning," Kate said, leaning her head against the headrest. "Rick, would it be too much of an imposition for me to ask you to find a realtor and sell my apartment while I'm in DC?" she asked.
Castle smiled. He would have to thank Pi for making Kate see herself a little more clearly. In the past few hours she had called him Rick more often than she had ever before. And now she was ready to sell her apartment. He had known she loved him and wanted to marry him but she had no idea how to be a couple. Sure she had dated before but she had always maintained her independence. Letting him take responsibility for her apartment was evidence that she was ready to surrender some of her famous control for the sake of the relationship. "Are you sure, Kate?" he asked.
"I trust you," was all she said before she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
