"OK, then, all we need is for Roy to agree with this plan and Jade to provide introductions."
Roy comes out to Kate's desk and informs them Jade will be in around 11:00 this morning. She did not work last night and is not scheduled to tonight, so her time is free right now. Ryan and Esposito hear Jade mentioned and immediately perk up at the name. They saunter over and nonchalantly ask about any plans to move the case forward. Kate immediately recognizes the ploy for what it is; a chance to get up close and personal with the top escort in the business. Oh, is Lanie going to get an earful on this one. Kate just smiles at Espo and picks up her phone to call Lanie.
"Hey, Lanie, have you got a minute? I have some case information to talk over with you. Would you mind coming up to the fourth floor so we can clear the stuff up? OK, see you in 5."
Esposito couldn't get back to his desk fast enough. Lanie might be small but she could bring a special type of hurt to anyone who crossed her. Javi was smitten with her, but they hadn't really crossed that last bridge where they could be exclusive, but he still feared her to no end. She was a sassy little lady and he knew it.
When Lanie arrive on the fourth floor she immediately went to Kate's desk, but frequently snuck glances Epso's way. Javi was watching the interaction at Kate's desk with much interest, and trepidation, wondering what Kate was telling Lanie. He was fascinated with Jade, but not so much as to damage any chance he might have with Lanie. She was a dream to him, intelligent, sassy, fun-loving and full of life all the time. She was afraid of no one and would tell anyone who said so just exactly what she thought of that idea. How she came to work exclusively with dead people he would never surmise. She was an incredible woman and a true asset to Kate's team.
Kate was asking her, "Have you found out anything more about the drug you found in Janice? We need to know if this is going to be a real problem and were wondering if we should get Narcotics involved yet?"
"Well, according to the DEA friend I have, this drug is so new our Narc guys wouldn't know much at all about it. It is not even one drug, but a whole class of new drugs someone has apparently invented and is pumping out in quite a few varieties. Then they take them to the street to find out which is the best overall drug for illicit use. He says they saw the same sort of activity when designer cocaine type drugs were first introduced. No one knows much about them at all. Sorry."
"OK, but we need to keep looking over at Javi, just to make him nervous as we talk. He was just a little too interested in Jade the escort a while ago. You will probably be able to get him to do whatever you want by the time Jade has come and gone. She will be here around 11:00. Want to stay until she arrives. It will torture Javi so much."
"Oh girlfriend, you are so wicked. I like it. I'm staying. When she arrives, I'm going to be standing right next to Javi and be sure I stay there the entire time she is here. "
"Hey, we have to stick together. Not many of us in this testosterone fueled occupation."
Rick sidles over to Kate's desk just as she and Lanie wrap their conversation concerning the plans for Javi. He asks whether they have any new information on Janice's death or circumstances just before her death.
Lanie says she can now confirm Janice was killed during the actual sex act, almost like a snuff film.
Rick says he hasn't heard of them in a long time, didn't know they still existed. Lanie agrees, stating this was only a theory, and a weak one at that.
"Hey Javi, check with your guys in Vice and see if they have heard of any snuff films still being produced." Kate asks.
"On it, Kate, and Hello, Lanie," Esposito answers back. He picks up his phone and dials Vice.
"He sure is nervous, isn't he," Lanie whispers to Kate. Kate just smiles and looks at Javi one more time, making him even more rattled.
Just about that time, Jade walks out of the elevator and Lanie sidesteps over to Javi's desk. She is right next to Ryan's also. Kate almost laughs out loud when Javi sees Jade with Lanie standing right beside him. He wants to watch Jade as she heads out to the Captain's office, but Lanie is glaring at him like a hawk on a field mouse. He gulps and goes back to the call to Vice.
Jade speaks quietly with Roy and then leaves his office bound for Kate's desk and the murder board.
She is wearing a Kimono like jacket over a set of traditional oriental ladies trousers. Both are Jade colored with deep emerald highlights of oriental design. She is a vision of loveliness and is all sensual allure. She is sex personified. Any man would find it very difficult to resist her.
Kate looks to Rick and he is grinning, watching Javier trying not to watch Jade. It is so comical, Rick and Kate laugh out loud at his discomfort. Lanie isn't helping, standing there next to him, glowering, with her arms crossed under her very ample breasts. She has the girls out there today. Oh for a movie camera right now.
"What might I do for you Detective?" Jade inquires.
"Well, we have a proposition for you. Not anything too difficult and hopefully something you will be able to help us with concerning Sable's death."
"OK. Let's see what you have and then I will tell you if I'm interested."
Kate defers to the Man of Words for the explanation. She will interject if Rick leaves anything out or misrepresents the plan as she sees it.
"Jade, as you know, Janice Goodnight, whom you knew as Sable, was killed over the weekend. We think she had been held and tortured sexually before her murder. She was given some form of designer drug that might have incapacitated her much like Rohypnol, the date rape drug. We think the drug we are looking at is a new drug that hasn't hit the street yet and can only be obtained by someone with substantial financial resources. In addition, according to Sable's roommate, it would appear that several ladies have gone missing from The Labyrinth lately, all of them dancers. From what we have gathered, the girls had just finished their performance and headed backstage, never to be seen again. We think this is what happened to Janice before she was killed about a week later.
What we want is to get some undercover operatives inside the club and determine if there is any truth to the supposition. I can have a pseudo identity set up within the day that will pass any scrutiny the membership committee or management of the club might bring to bear. I would like then to have you accompany me to the club as my companion for the night and collect as much information as I can as a patron sitting in the audience. Of course we will have to make it into the back section of the club so that is where your services come in. Since you are a known entity in the club, you may be able to smooth the way for entry in the 'Inner Sanctum". If we find anything that warrants further investigation, we would like you to introduce Kate as an accomplished dancer quite suited for the entertainment being offered in the back of the club. She will then be able to speak with any of the girls in the back to get information on missing women from the last few months. We will have undercover police, specifically Detectives Esposito and Ryan watching all the exits from the club.
Is that something you think you can do to help us in this investigation?"
"That sounds like a challenge and an opportunity. If I can help bring justice to these girls, then I'm all in."
Jade well understands the dangers certain women face trying to eke out a living in the realm of wealthy and very powerful men. She will do what she can to help bring any one related to the deaths and disappearances of these women to justice.
Kate speaks up after Jade agrees, "We will have to get Capt. Montgomery's buy-in on the course of action before we initiate any planning at all. I will go brief him right now. Do you have the time to wait while I talk to Roy?"
"Sure, if Mr. Castle will make me another cup of that wonderful coffee he made last time. What do you think, Richard?" Jade purrs.
Kate's not sure she likes the sound of purring and Rick in the same sentence, unless it's herself doing the purring, but heads off to Roy's office, giving Rick a stern frown as she passes him. Rick huffs a quick laugh at Kate, winking at her to tell her he has no intention of pursuing any comfort from Jade.
Rick leads Jade to the break room as Javi and Ryan jealously watch, having completely forgotten Lanie's presence right beside them.
"Kevin Ryan, I'm about to call Jenny and send her a SnapChat of you and Jade here and see how much trouble you will be in then. And you, Javier Esposito, I'm gonna smack you back in to last week if you don't behave."
Javi cowers briefly and then brightens, "Why Lanie, if I didn't know better, I would think you are jealous."
"Are you serious right now?" Lanie says and she smacks Javi on the back of the head. Javi simply beams with pride and affection for her, knowing Jade is pushing her buttons. Of course, she is hard to resist, so he has to play it a little cool right now with Lanie already starting to fume.
About that time, Kate leaves Montgomery's office and heads to the break room. Javi and Ryan follow with Lanie right behind them.
"OK, we're on for Thursday night. Rick, get your alter ego ready by Thursday at noon. We will go for admission in the afternoon so you and Jade can go in the evening. Jade, can you stay with us this afternoon and tomorrow to prepare for Thursday evening?"
"Yes, I have nothing scheduled and won't take any new jobs through the weekend. "
"OK, Rick and Jade in on Thursday night and then, if necessary, I'll go in Friday night and maybe back on Saturday to talk to the dancers and look around back stage. Everyone back here after lunch to get started."