Chipping Through the Ice
Chapter 10
In dread of receiving his next credit card bill, Esposito ushers Lanie through the entrance of La Maison Nouvelle. The maître D' smiles tightly as he leads them to the table Javi barely managed to reserve. That it was last in the queue is obvious. Its proximity to the kitchen puts it right along the path of busy servers. But it's also near the restrooms; someplace his dates inevitably need to go before an evening ends.
Lanie seems happy enough as the waiter arrives to offer menus and recite the specials. If it weren't for the similarities of French to Spanish, Javi wouldn't know what the man is talking about, and even so, there are a couple of dishes he can't fathom. He's relieved when Lanie decides to order from the bill of fare, which features English translations. Why she'd want to come to a French restaurant just to order what looks like a chicken breast, is beyond him, at least it's far from the most expensive thing on the menu. He's tempted by the onion soup but doesn't want to sabotage any action he might get later. The house wine, sold by the glass, seems safe enough - and it isn't half bad.
The form-fitting dress Lanie is wearing feel like an invitation for his eyes to wander lower than her face, but he doesn't dare. He remembers when she rebuked Castle for staring at the girls, even if everyone could see that he was only hot for Beckett. It's hard to believe how that turned out. Ryan said that Castle chased Beckett until she caught him. Is that what's going on between Javi and Lanie? Has she been playing hard to get? He doesn't think so. Up until now they just haven't been able to get their signals straight.
Lanie stares as he shifts nervously in his chair. "Are you missing a big game or something, Javi?"
He attempts to appear more relaxed."No, the Browns are playing, and everyone knows how that will come out. Talk about snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory."
"I've seen guys look calmer than you before taking their exams to get into med school. So what's wrong?"
Javi takes a swig of his wine. "I just want things to go good tonight."
She reaches across the table to touch his hand. "They're going fine, so settle down, and let's just enjoy our meal."
Esposito grins at her. "As you wish."
Jake pages through the copies of the records he obtained on what was formerly the Bursor building. It had never belonged to Jeremy's parents, but it belonged to Jeremy's grandfather and his father before him. It was part of a parcel they owned on the street between the Hall of Records and a small shopping district, dating back to the horse and buggy days. There had been no parking lot then, or a need for one. The Bursor General Store had occupied that patch of land. It had evolved into an old-fashioned five and dime and finally the Bursor Specialty Shop.
Jake's found no evidence that the elder Bursor had financial difficulties or a reason to sell his business - but he sold it after Jeremy died. He could have done it out of grief, or because he received a threat that something worse could happen - if there could be something worse than the death of a little boy. Russo would have had a hand in approving the demolition of a building and its replacement by a parking lot. Those actions would have clearly been a conflict of interest for him if he made an investment in the venture, but if he were corrupt, that wouldn't have stopped him. Digging into Russo's financial history will take some serious forensic accounting. That's not Jake's area of expertise, but OOTC has access to people who can handle it. Jake plans on requesting their services ASAP. It's after regular working hours on the East Coast, but he can call Montgomery or Kate Beckett in the morning.
Lisa Anderson turns around slowly on the scuffed hardwood floor, surveying the New York City apartment she and Eric rented. If they had stayed in Minnesota, they could have had at least twice the square footage for less than half the rent, but space is not what she needs. Neither she nor her husband will be there much. Most days, Eric will be at work from early morning well into the evening. Keeping his nose to the grindstone is how he earned the move to New York.
Her husband's schedule is OK with Lisa. As a detective, she worked a lot of hours and enjoyed doing it. Working kept her hands active, and her mind sharp. She's sure that her record will also earn her a spot at OOTC. She knows all about Kate Beckett - Kate Beckett-Castle now. Anyone who reads Richard Castle books is acquainted with his muse. She bears Kate no ill will. Like Lisa, Kate had to cope with the unjust loss of a parent. Lisa's just interested in Montgomery.
She was never able to get a copy of the N.Y.P.D. file on her father's case. She had to piece together what happened from newspaper accounts. Perry's fingerprints had been found on a wine bottle at the scene of the murder. The victim's blood was also on his clothes and shoes.
That was just crazy. The Perry Watson she knew had been a gentle man, and she'd never seen him drink. He and her mother fought, but then all couples fight, don't they? She and Eric have a dust-up occasionally when they have the time to see each other. It doesn't mean anything. To Lisa, there's only one possibility. Someone other than Perry Watson committed the murder that sent him to prison and Montgomery faked and planted the evidence to further his career. Somehow she's going to prove it - or get him to admit it. But her first step is getting hired.
One of the perks of Eric's transfer is that the company paid for the packing and unpacking of all their things. She strides into her bedroom and opens the characteristically small New York City closet. Her clothes are all fine for Minnesota - warm and sturdy. Even her party wear has a substantial look to it. For her job interview at OOTC, she wants something with more flair.
She remembers from her earlier years in New York that the upscale stores, especially downtown, were not open particularly late. Pulling out her phone, she checks the time, automatically adjusted to the Eastern zone. She has at least a couple of hours to shop. A career dress, not too formal and not too casual, is what she needs, and if she can find shoes and a purse to go with it, all the better. Tomorrow morning she will be the incarnation of perfection.
Alone, Lanie settles into her bed, feeling a twinge of loneliness. She could be sleeping with Javi. At the slightest signal that she was ready, he would have been all in. But she isn't ready. She's not sure when or if she will be. Sometimes she's jealous of Kate. It took her friend long enough to admit that she wanted Castle, but even when being stalked by killers, she'd never seen Kate so happy. And Castle is ecstatic, if possible even more so since Callie was born. Lanie would love to see that look in the eyes of a man she's with. She knows that she'll never see it with Terry, as much as they enjoy each other. And she's not sure she'll ever see it on Javi either. She'll have to wait and find out.