Monster: Chapter 9
DISCLAIMER: None of these characters are mine, but they are memorable. Thank you Mr. Marlowe.
Day 8: At Richard Castle's Loft, Early Morning, May 20, 2014
Kate Beckett sits in the loft – her loft with one Richard Castle – staring at the large computer monitor. At one time, this monitor had been used – unbeknownst to her – by her fiancée as a tool in his efforts to discover who her mother's killer was. This morning, however, as she sits with his daughter in the den area, the same monitor now is being put to better use. She needs to discover what happened to her fiancée. She needs to find Richard Castle.
She has taken a few days off – a leave of absence, Captain Gates had suggested – to allow at least one of them on the team to focus their efforts entirely on finding Castle. As much as she might want to, Captain Gates cannot allow her team to be used exclusively to search for the novelist. At least not officially, that is. Hence Kate's sudden leave of absence. She will stay connected to Javi and Kevin, no doubt – but she knows that her captain has come under scrutiny in the past couple of days, as a couple of cases have begun to drag.
"Let us work the cases, Kate," Gates had told her, and the team yesterday. "We will continue to search for clues for Mr. Castle, believe me. But we need to also show some progress on this one case in particular," she had said, dropping a folder in front of Esposito and Ryan.
"You, however," Gates had continued, "can focus exclusively on finding our friend if I place you on leave of absence . . . which I did as of one minute ago."
So here she sits, with Alexis, staring at the monitor, at the names she has created with the young woman's assistance. She has considered scratching a couple of names off, but has decided to keep all possibilities open. One name in particular – the first name on her board – is painful.
Bob Weldon.
Yeah, he's on the list. The Mayor of New York City is a close personal friend of Richard Castle. But he's also a politician. A long-time politician who at one time, had visions far bigger than the city of New York. The governor's office was in his windshield until a scandal tore the wheels off that bus. She wonders – again – if the mayor holds Castle to blame for the very clear ceiling on his political career. She doesn't want to think this way, but she continually wonders – as do her friends – why the videos of Castle are being sent to him, and not her, or the young woman who sits next to her.
She trusts no one at this point.
Senator William Bracken is on the list, of course. He is always an option, but he is in jail right now, with much bigger issues on his mind. His preliminary hearing begins next week. He's been incarcerated for two or three months now, having waived his right for a speedy trial. That in itself told her – and everyone – that he has something in the works. She'll know soon enough, as she has already been subpoenaed – notified that her testimony is being requested by the prosecution. It's unclear right now whether the preliminary hearing is a precursor to a grand jury, or the ultimate trial. Regardless, William Bracken is otherwise occupied at the moment.
The third name on the list is one Kyra Murphy, nee Blaine. She stifles a quick chill as she considers this name again. Kyra is the one woman from Richard Castle's past who Kate has never quite come to grips with. The one woman whose reappearance the detective has always dreaded. Almost five years ago, fate had pulled Richard Castle back into Kyra's orbit the day before the woman's wedding, complete with a clandestine rooftop meeting and a we're-clearly-more-than-friends kiss. Would fate be so fickle, so premediated as to do it again, to put those two back in each other's gravitational pull? Only this time, on the day of Castle's marriage, reversing the previous roles.
The worst part is that Kyra is – and has been, for the past two weeks – conveniently out of country on business, according to husband Greg. For a woman who doesn't believe in coincidences, this is just too much of one for Kate's liking. Kyra Murphy scares Kate, because of all of the names on the board right now, Kyra's is the only one whose motive for taking Richard Castle would not be revenge. No, her motive would be far more personal. Desire. Love, even. If it is her, if Kyra is behind this or a part of this – well that would explain Castle's behavior on the videos.
"I don't believe it is her," Alexis tells her for the third time this morning. "Forget how she might feel about dad. This is my dad you are talking about. He wouldn't do this." Alexis has been firmly against this name, because of what it would say about her father. But in the interest of finding her father, she has allowed the name to remain. Because she understands they can leave no stone unturned.
The last name – two names together actually – on the board are the ones that both Kate and Alexis keep coming back to. The names that – for obvious reasons – frighten both women more than any of the others. They are the names that Kate and Alexis are discussing at this moment.
Jerry Tyson and Dr. Kelly Neiman.
Kate can't get the damn song out of her mind. It rolls along her hills and valleys, no matter how hard she tries to delete the tune. And the lyrics.
We'll meet again, Don't know where, Don't know when
But I know,
We'll meet again
Kate remembers the games that Tyson played with Castle. He's a dangerous psychopath, for sure, yeah. But he changes around Castle. He becomes more subtle, more psychological.
"You said he had dad dead to rights in the motel, but let him live," Alexis recounts.
"Not killing him allowed Rick to live with his failure to stop him, according to your father," Kate explains. "That's how Tyson thinks when it comes to your dad."
"And then he framed him," Alexis recalls again. "Actually visited him when Dad was behind bars."
"Yes," Kate agrees. "So kidnapping him, taking him on the day of our wedding – no, taking him on the day of his wedding – yeah, this reeks of Tyson and Neiman."
"So, if they are our best bet, then where do we start?" Alexis asks, her frustrations mounting. It's been hard on the young woman, and Kate hates that she doesn't have answers for the younger woman. Her skin seems even paler against her red strands of hair than normal. God forbid, Alexis looks older today, and not the graceful aging kind of older. The stress is taking its toll, that is clear to see.
"I wish I knew, Alexis," Kate tells her. "But that is what you and I have to figure out, right now. If this is Tyson, where would he take Castle?"
Day 8: On the Island in the Tangier Islands, Early Morning, May 20, 2014
Richard Castle sits along the fence, across from the two lions. He didn't see them at all yesterday, and finds their companionship comforting this morning. It's the second day after their feeding, and they still seem calm. He doesn't know how long this disposition will last, and he is already fearing the next visit from the chopper.
Last night's efforts to find the video camera proved fruitless. He covered the exterior of the cabin, the walls, the door – nothing. He played particular attention the water well and the surrounding area. By the time he got to the tree, it was far too dark. Regardless, nothing has been obvious and he is beginning to fear that the infernal device is – in fact – on the other side of the fence. If that's the case, then he is screwed royally. He can't get over there, and if he can't get over there, then any wild hair notions he concocts are pointless.
Searching for the camera last night game him longer opportunities to consider exactly who put him here, and the name that continues to come up is one Jerry Tyson. This would be so like Tyson, to grab him on the day of his wedding. But here's the problem.
Tyson isn't here. He's not here gloating, explaining his master plan, relishing in Castle's plight. Of all the criminals that Castle has come up against during his time with Kate Beckett and the detectives of the 12th Precinct, Tyson is the one who comes closest to the megalomaniac villains that Castle fell in love with as a young reader and budding author.
Tyson is the one who stood, facing Castle and Kevin Ryan in the motel, pontificating about how he had beaten them, how Castle had to live with his failure.
Tyson is the one who stood outside the jail cell, reveling in Castle's incarceration, needing to be there to twist the knife, to make sure Castle knew who it was who had beaten him yet again.
Everything screams that Tyson is behind this . . . with the exception of the fact that Tyson hasn't shown himself, hasn't come gloating, hasn't come beating his chest.
This kidnapping is so very much Jerry Tyson. The absence of a mocking Tyson, however, is so very much unlike Jerry Tyson.
"What do you two think?" Castle smiles, as he asks his over-the-fence companions. "Maybe if he shows up, I can introduce you to him."
Day 8: Noon at Castle's Loft, May 20, 2014
Alexis Castle stifles a yawn, her mouth growing wide. Kate snickers, bringing an arm punch from her almost-stepdaughter.
"You okay there," Kate smiles, offering a moment of levity for the two women. They have been at it all morning, hashing and re-hashing their thoughts and suspicions. Everything seems to point to Jerry Tyson at this point, with the single exception that he has not shown himself. History strongly suggests that if he is behind it, he will make his entry at some point – and it is surprising that he has not already done so.
If he is behind this.
The doorbell startles both women, and Alexis stands to answer, but Kate's hand on her shoulder forces her back into a sitting position.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Kate whispers. They don't get many visitors at chez Castle, and so she is immediately on guard.
"No," Alexis answers, realizing Kate's thought track.
Kate walks to the door and looks through the small viewing hole, and smiles.
"It's okay," she smiles back at the young woman as she opens the door. Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan stand smiling back – and she can tell that they have found something.
Finally.
Both men enter without a word. Seeing Alexis, Ryan offers a greeting for the young woman.
"Hey Alexis," he calls out as she walks over and gives both men a long hug. "Got something for you both," he continues.
"What do you mean?" Kate asks, steering the men into the den where she and Alexis have been working.
"We did a search for the east coast to see if any zoos, or wildlife sanctuaries have reported missing lions," Esposito begins, and everyone laughs a bit at the sheer lunacy of the idea. "We also included individuals as well."
"Why would you do that?" Alexis asks, confused. Zoos and sanctuaries she can understand.
"Because," Kevin Ryan replies, "believe it or not, there are a few states in the country that allow people to have a license to keep a lion."
"You can't be serious," Alexis counters, trying to get her mind around such a concept. Kevin Ryan sees the conflict, and chuckles as he continues.
"You'd be surprised, Alexis, how many families in the United States have lions, tigers –"
"You'd better not say bears," Kate interrupts with a chuckle.
"Owning exotic wildlife is something that more than a few people in this country seem to get off on," Esposito states, matter-of-factly. "In a few states, if you have a license, well, you can have some pretty weird stuff . . ."
"Anyway," Ryan continues, "we did find something."
Both Kate and Alexis are all ears now, anxious for any new developments. This morning has been somewhat fruitful for them in terms of figuring out the 'who' – at least some possibilities. But the 'why' and 'how' still escape them. As well as the 'where'.
"Last month, a pretty decent sized boat was reported stolen," Esposito begins. "The large craft was owned by one Peter Marks," he continues, gazing at his notes. "Marks was making a delivery down the Chesapeake Bay when he encountered – and I kid you not –"
"Wait for it . . . " Ryan laughs.
"Pirates," Esposito continues with a snicker.
"Javi, Kevin, please . . ." Kate sighs. It's not like her friends to make jokes when they know the place she finds herself.
"It's not joke, Kate," Esposito continues, still smiling. "A good, old-fashioned Errol Flynn sea-jacking, right off the shores of the good old U.S.," he states.
"Tossed a dinghy overboard, and the captain and his four-man crew along with it," Ryan adds.
"And why don't you take a wild guess as to what was on the manifest," Esposito continues.
"Tell me you aren't going to say a lion," Kate counters, shaking her head. It couldn't be this easy . . .
"No," Esposito replies. "Not a lion."
"Two lions," Ryan laughs, as both men share a fist bump. "We followed the trail when we discovered that a zoo down in Norfolk, Virginia reported two lions missing last month," Esposito begins. "It didn't get a lot of publicity because the lions weren't zoo property at the time. They were waiting on the new additions to their collection to be delivered from a wildlife preserve in Maryland, near the coast. When it didn't get to them, they reported it. We followed the trail, beginning with who they were expecting the delivery from. Marks is a local guy down at Virginia Beach – they were using him for transport."
"It made the news down in the Virginia area simply because the zoo reported it," Kevin Ryan continues. "It was big news down there. Not so much up here in New York. Especially since no one died. Not big enough news."
Kate nods, her eyes searching back and forth between her friends. This is great news, simply because it is something new. But she senses there is more.
"So, here is what we have to ask ourselves," Esposito chimes in. "If I am going to steal a lion –"
"Two lions," Ryan laughs.
"If I am going to steal two lions, how far am I going to take them?" Esposito asks the group. "How far am I willing to transport the little beasties before I start fearing for my life?"
"The fact that they confiscated them in the bay makes us wonder just how far they would take them," Ryan adds. "There are islands in the Chesapeake Bay. There are mainland coastlines. If I want to take lions to Florida, I'm going to take lions that are closer than Maryland. If I'm going to take lions to California, I'm looking on the west coast for my source. The fact that they took them – on the water – instead of while being transported on land – well, we have to consider the likelihood –"
"That their final destination would be along that coastline," Kate interjects, now fully into their line of thinking.
"Or . . . or one of the islands there," Alexis adds, now moving toward the computer. All eyes are on the monitor as the young woman googles the Chesapeake Bay, and pulls up a map image. Finding no islands there, she alters the search. She types in 'chesapeake bay islands' in the search field. Smiles begin to form around the desk as the results pour in.
Holland Island, Poplar Island, Tighman Island, Kent Island, Bloodsworth Island, Gibson Island, Barren Island, Tangier Island, Coaches Neck Island, Troy Island . . .
"Where do we start?" Kate asks, her momentary feeling of euphoria becoming tempered with each island they scroll through.
"We search for the most secluded possibilities – small population, limited tourists," Ryan replies. "We start narrowing the list by thinking like a kidnapper. If I don't want to be found, which of these are the best possibilities?"
"I'd want seclusion, I'd want privacy, and I'd want to make sure that it was easy for me to get in and out, but hard as hell for anyone else," Esposito adds.
"An island would give you all of those," Alexis adds, her excitement starting to grow. Finally, some progress on the front. She and Kate have an idea of who could be behind this, and now Kevin and Javier have come up with a decent idea of potentially where her father could be. It's a large area, yeah, but it is more than they had when she woke up this morning.
"Who else knows about this, guys?" Kate asks.
"Just the four of us right now," Ryan replies. "Gates wants us focused on the Miller case, so we haven't told her what we found just yet."
"Don't," Kate instructs her friends, surprising them.
"What?" Esposito asks with surprise in his voice. To his way of thinking, the more minds that are focused on this, the better.
"Why not?" he asks. "Captain Gates – and heck, event the mayor – both of them might have something to add here."
Kate stands, and walks to the window, staring outside. She considers her next words carefully before continuing. Yeah, Captain Gates put her on leave, theoretically so that she could work 'her' case. But that also means that Gates has put distance between Kate and her boys. In terms of finding Castle, that's not advantageous. Was that intentional? After all, one of the names on the board is Mayor Robert Weldon. And Weldon seems to have some history with their captain.
Her mind made up, she turns back to the group.
"Alexis," she tells the young woman. "Pull up the board you and I have put together, and show it to Javier and Kevin. You guys need to see what we are thinking."
