Chapter 8
It was Agent Valdes who came to get them this time, a simple jerk of the head letting Beckett know that there was something of import going on in the War Room. Followed by Castle and Ryan, she entered and went to stand next to Latimer as he stared up at the large flat screen on the wall.
She could feel Castle's bulk as he stood just behind her, a cigarette paper's width short of overstepping the PDA limits, and she had to hide a smile as she felt her own need to lean back into him. She managed to keep that under control and turned her attention instead to the information displayed on the screen.
From: 917-31866541: (unknown number / cash purchase / *Assigned to Dte. JE)
To: 212-4781431: (Artemi Retzki / Personal Cellphone / Tapped: CO:122013/051)
08:51:47 – Retzki: "Yes?"
08:52:02 – Caller (Male): "Mr Retzki, I do not like people bringing outsiders into my city … "
08:52:05 - Retzki: "Who the hell are you?"
08:52:07 - Caller: "I am the person who will solve your problem Mr Retzki, but not for the paltry hundred and fifty your amateur shooter was charging … I'm a professional, and my fee is quarter of a million
08:52:53 - Retzki: "What the hell are you talking about mister, I don't know what your line is … but you've chosen the wrong guy to play games with!"
08:53:04 - Caller: "Watch the nine o'clock news on WKBS …. And call me if you want to talk Mr Retzki, goodbye"
From: 212-4781431: (Artemi Retzki / Personal Cellphone / Tapped: CO:122013/051)
To: 347-1427784: (Thomas Cushing / Personal Cellphone / FBI: Impounded)
09:07:26 Retzki called - no answer
09:10:03 Retzki called - no answer
09:15:11 Retzki called - no answer
09:20:01 Retzki called - no answer
Caller repeatedly calls every five minutes – no response
Last call to date made at 09:55:14
From: 212-4781431: (Artemi Retzki / Personal Cellphone / Tapped: CO:122013/051)
To: 716-9653348: (unknown number / cash purchase / Tracing ..)
10:03:47 – Unknown female: "Si?"
10:03:50 – Retzki: "Problems, we need to talk, call me back asap"
From: 716-9653348: (unknown number / cash purchase / Tracing unsuccessful)
To: 212-4781431: (Artemi Retzki / Personal Cellphone / Tapped: CO:122013/051)
11:52: Caller (Female) - "Msg, one hour"
"Well looks like things are beginning to roll" she said.
Latimer nodded, "We're trying to work out what Msg is …", he turned to a second screen showing the Midtown area with two coloured circles centred about halfway down West 36th and radiating outwards, the smallest of them for about two miles. "The red one gives us the probable area assuming he goes by foot, with traffic as it is down there today even if he grabs a cab he won't get much further. The yellow one gives us a likely area should he use public transport. We'll keep adjusting them as the time ticks down … and hope they aren't talking in some code!"
Latimer turned to one of the agents at a computer "How are we doing with those letters?"
Agent O'Hara shook her head, "We're getting quite a few hits but most are in the same area, ground zero still looks to be the obvious one".
"Obvious one?" piped up Ryan, his eyebrow half way up his forehead and a look of confusion on his face.
"Madison Square Garden" chimed in Castle a grin on his face.
Latimer turned to look at him his brow furrowed, but after a pause he nodded in assent. "Ticks quite a few logical boxes; it's not far from Retzki's place, has multiple access points from outside the area via Penn Station, offers a number of places where a meet can go down and be relatively unobserved … " he shrugged, "… we'll keep checking other options, but it will probably become clearer once he moves."
Ten minutes later and Retzki still hadn't made an appearance. Latimer looked over to the agent on the laptop "Agent O'Hara, re-adjust the area will you?"
"Sir!" a moment later both circles on the map shrunk down in size and then the map zoomed in slightly as it was resized to the screen.
Everyone sat or stood around, waiting impatiently for Artemi Retzki to make his move. Every ten minutes Agent O'Hara would reduce the size of the circles showing the distances that Retzki could cover within the remaining time span. Castle and Beckett stood against the far wall, shoulders touching as they kept an eye on the screens and listened to the various reports coming in from the FBI teams in the area.
"What if one o'clock isn't the meeting time, what if it was just a code?" whispered Kate in a worried voice.
Castle shrugged next to her, "If the Square is the meeting point, he's only about a ten, fifteen minute walk away, give him another ten minutes for delays, detours, queues or whatever … he doesn't need to move till …" he paused to look at his watch "…. Twelve thirty, twelve forty".
Kate looked at the clock on the wall showing local time, it was coming up to half past twelve …. She just hoped Castle was right … well shit, of course he was, it was pretty obvious …. Just that this sitting back and waiting for things to happen got on her nerves! .. suddenly she felt him looping his pinkie through hers and had to hold back a startled laugh … yep, he could read her so easily … her shoulders relaxed and she settled her weight back against the wall squeezing his finger in silent thanks.
One of the voice links crackled into life "Target is moving, headed northwest on West thirty-sixth towards Avenue of the Americas!"
A different voice "Let's see where he takes us. Keep your distance!"
The first voice came back "He's stopped at the corner on Americas, checking his surroundings … they must have explained about field craft, but the guy hasn't got a clue!"
The second voice, "I've got him, move onto the next leg, I'll take it from here … he's turned left onto Avenue of the Americas, not as keen on the surveillance checks by the look of things".
A new voice came on, female this time, "He's headed my way"
Second voice, "All yours"
Female voice, "Turned right onto West Thirty-Fourth Street"
In the war room the screen with the map of Midtown had lost its circles and was now showing a zig-zag path of progress which was undoubtedly heading in the direction of Madison Square Garden. It was too early for fist bumping, but the atmosphere in the room was a little less strained. Kate felt someone move up next to her and turning to look was not surprised to find Captain Gates had joined them. They nodded to each other but turned towards the speaker as the female voice came on.
"Damn, I think he's made me!"
First voice, "It's ok, got both of you in sight ….. he's definitely suspicious of you, best you move back out of the area … he's crossing over but still coming towards me" there were a few minutes of silence then "… ok, he's turned left onto 7th Avenue … staying to the left-hand sidewalk … shit! He's crossing!"
Second voice, "He's heading for Penn Station! They have over half a million rail commuters a day ... if he gets in amongst them we don't stand a chance … I want one of you stuck to him like a limpet!"
The easing tension of the War Room had suddenly ratcheted upwards again as everyone leant forwards, almost as if they were physically willing the tracking team to close in. Only then did Kate realise that she, Castle and Gates had all moved forwards into the centre of the room, trying to get closer to the tracking map and the speakers … as if that would help in some way. She and Castle still had their little fingers looped together and she quickly pulled apart, the slightly guilty look on Rick's face as he glanced in Gates' direction almost making her smile.
A slightly relieved second voice came back on "Everyone ease back, he's ignored the entrance … not heading for the Square either … still moving southwest on seventh … one, drop back, four close up".
The order went unanswered, but a new voice on the speaker let them all know that the change had been made. "Turning right onto West Thirty-First Street …"
A few moments later the same voice "He's crossing over towards … " then in a slightly puzzled tone "… the Capuchin Monastery?"
Next to her Castle couldn't resist blurting out in an awed, but thankfully hushed voice "That's it! The secret assassination arm of the Vatican is planning to shoot the ….. ooff!" he broke off as her elbow made more than light contact with his midriff, although she didn't miss a couple of amused glances from some of the Agents in the room.
"Still heading northwest on Thirty-First … no! Wait, he's entered the Park an' Lock!"
The second voice came back on "Quick! Get to the security cameras in the cashier's … see if you can find out where he's headed. Everyone else, close in!"
Latimer turned to Agent Valero, "Get a van down there, outside the entrance, I want the plates of every vehicle that goes in or out of that place photographed and traced. Also pull up any traffic cam or security footage from the previous three … no, make that four hours showing cars heading into that place. Send someone to the Square's security office; their cameras should cover the area!"
Valero nodded and turned back to his keyboard as Latimer picked up a radio. "Cooper?"
"Sir?" came back the voice that Kate had silently identified as voice number four.
"Have you been able to find him?"
"In the lift and heading for the fourth floor sir, the others are heading up in another li … a moment sir … he's left the lift and is heading towards the south corner …. damn, the camera doesn't cover … just a sec .. I've got him … heading towards a … Chevrolet TrailBlazer … blue … I can't make the plates out, these cameras are cra … sorry, rubbish, sir!"
"Crap's fine Cooper, make sure the team IDs the driver and occupants but doesn't scare them off!"
