The team has arrived back at the 12th and starts looking at what information they have been able to keep, at least temporarily.
Captain Mahoney is briefing the team with additional information in the conference room
"The only difference is the magnetic contacts used to trip the bomb and a set used in alarms is these are special. The reed switch and the magnets were matched together"
"Matched? How is a magnet matched?" Esposito asks
"It's called a Balanced Contact. The magnet and contact are sold as a pair. One magnet will not trigger the switch it is not matched to. These are normally used in high security applications like government and high risk buildings like an Art Gallery or a bank".
"So just any magnet will not work only a specific one?" Ryan comments
"Exactly and you will not find these in any hardware store. They are very specialized" Mahoney explains
"So we need to check with specialty alarm supply houses and companies? The type that do government contracts?" Beckett states to the group
"Exactly" Mahoney responds
"Then Fallon may not be far off. This could be a terrorist who would have access to these type switches?" Ryan asks
"That is true, but a terrorist probably would not have access to the stage and the chess board" Rick responds
"So how did they trigger the system using this switch?" Esposito questions
"It looks like there were magnets located in the base of certain chess pieces. When the piece was placed on the board over specific squares, it closed the contact and triggered the blast."
"WOW" Castle responds. "How did it not go off before tonight? I mean there have been several games played before this one. It would have tripped during any one of the games"
Captain Mahoney responds to Rick "We are trying to determine the answer to that question ourselves right now. We do think the magnets and their matched switches were specifically placed under certain squares to that the chess piece had to be on a specific square therefore completing the circuit. We have looked for a master on off switch. Something that allows the system to either function or not. But all we have recovered are the remains of three switches and most of the chess pieces that were thrown all over the room when it blew"
"But as soon as Fallon gets here he will take all the evidence away so we better get all the information we can before he gets here and empties out files" Beckett comments
Castle looks around the bull pin "I have an idea. Let me take the video and the evidence to my loft. They probably don't know who has the evidence and I can start looking .If you all tell the feds it is lost, they will probably believe it"
"Good idea Castle" Beckett comments. "But you need to go quickly before they get here"
Castle takes a box, files it with what they have and heads to the elevator.
Mahoney is confused "Is the evidence safe with him? I mean what if he looses it?"
"He won't" Ryan responds "We can go to his place later and do our work"
"The team is back at their desk reviewing the electronic files when the ding of the elevator signals the arrival of the FBI. The detective team is a little taken back to see who is in the group.
Agent Will Sorenson
"Hello Kate" Sorenson begins the conversation
"OH! Hello Will. What are you doing here?"
"I am currently assigned to the counter terrorism task force. I have come here to get the evidence collected at the hotel on the chess tournament bombing"
"We are waiting for it to arrive. We figured that you already had it in your possession" Beckett is a little uncomfortable having to be around a former love interest right now
"No. The last time we saw it, your CSU team was loading it into the van to bring down here"
"We were told the van was held up and your people took the evidence before it left." Ryan comments as he walks away toward where Esposito has moved
"Just last month. Listen Kate, that little trick of yours is not going to work today. Where is the evidence?"
"Will. You are welcome to search the entire station from basement to roof if you wish, but I will assure you that there is no physical evidence here" Beckett responds with a firmness in her voice
The FBI agent has toned down his voice a little "Very well. I guess that I will have to look elsewhere then"
He seems to be thinking as he is glancing around the bull pin "How is everything here Kate? You are looking really good. In fact you seem happier than the last time I saw you. Is everything in life going your way now?"
"Yes, Will. I am doing extremely well as a mater of fact" Kate responds while she is actually thinking about how her relationship with Castle is progressing
The FBI agent is still surveying the room "I don't see the writer anywhere. Has he finally moved on to a new victim? I know you seemed very put out over his antics the last time we talked"
Not wanting to get into a discussion with the agent concerning Castle right now, Beckett responds "I need to focus on this case. So are you going to let us investigate or are you going to do your usual and get in the way?"
"The NYPD needs to let the FBI and Homeland Security do their jobs. What I need right now is the evidence you picked up. Where can I find it?"
"I don't know Agent Sorenson. I will find out and let you know. Now if you don't mind. I have other cases to deal with" Then Beckett returns her attention to the case on her desk
"Very Well, Kate. I'll call you later"
Agent Sorenson stands up and walks toward the elevator where he sees detectives Ryan and Esposito deep in conversation
"Detectives. I need my evidence. Do you two know where it is right now?"
The two men look toward one another then Esposito responds "No, at this very moment I could not tell you. But if I find out, I will let you know" Then he turns to leave
"Oh one more thing" Will begins "does Kate have a boyfriend right now? Is she seeing someone?"
Since neither of the two detectives have been made aware of her relationship with Castle Ryan answers "No actually she just broke up with this doctor she was seeing. So I guess the answer is no. Not right now"
Sorenson smiles then tells the guys thanks and he steps into the elevator
Richard Castle has arrived back at his aloft and taken the evidence boxes into his study. He removes the chess pieces out of the box. Each chess piece is bagged and identified with an individual number with tracking location so that they can determine where it was found and the related photographs. He examines each piece carefully.
Remembering that there was a statement made about the queen being looked at by one of the players, he locates the two queens and finds something not right about one of them. He then goes to his jacket and takes the DVD out and places it into his player. There were four cameras being used so he has different viewing angles to use as reference/ He sees that each camera has a recording.
The starts the video playback then sits down at his desk to view it carefully. The time code on the image gives him a point of reference to examine the events from the beginning of the match until the moment of the explosion.
After an extend period of time, he decides to put all four recordings on his computer then links the four by the time code. He can now play all four in a split screen environment.
Beckett is sitting at her desk just waiting for five o'clock to come around so she can leave. She plans to head directly to the loft for a couple of reasons. One to check on how Rick is doing in his evidence investigation. And two, just to be with him.
As the clock approaches five, Kate gets up and walks into the captain's office and closes the door
"Sir, can we talk for a minute?" Beckett says to Roy Montgomery
"Of course detective"
"I need you to be aware of something that might affect my job here." Kate is worried that now her and Castle have FINALLY become a couple, this might cause the captain to have to separate them
"What is it Kate? Are you worried that the FBI will figure out that Castle has the evidence at his place and you are all planning on meeting him tonight and go over it?"
"SIR?" Beckett was not aware of the captain's ability to read the team like an open book
"No sir, actually that was my second concern"
"Second? What could possibility be more troublesome that the evidence?" Roy questions
"Sir, Rick and I have started…uh…we…I…" She is totally at a loss for words to use to describe what is happening
"Kate, if you are trying to tell me that you two have become a couple. I can only say. It's about time you two got your heads out of you back sides and did something about it"
"You knew?"
"Kate! Everyone knew you two were meant for each other. Anyway. Did you think that everyone considered his books were just fiction? We all saw the wishful thinking he had. Dedicating that book to you was just the beginning. All I have to say is congratulations"
"Thank you captain. But isn't this a violation of some rule about co workers dating?"
"If he were another cop, yes. But he is not on the books. Officially that is. So as long as you two keep it out of the station, we are good. OK?"
"Thank you sir. Now I am taking off to see how he's doing with the case"
"Let me know detective what you find. Knowing how you two work I am sure if this is a simple murder you will figure it out, but, Detective Beckett. If it is an act of terrorism. Get the evidence back here so we can give it to the Feds. Understood?"
"Yes sir" Beckett responds as she rushes out of the office.
She grabs her bag and almost runs to the elevator. She punches the button for the basement and she is almost trying to force the cab to move faster
She actually feels it in her skin. That tingle you get when you are cold, or nervous, or just excited about something. She steps to his loft door and knocks. After an extended period of time she knocks again. This time she hears someone approaching the other side of the door, but when it opens she is face to face not with Castle but with Martha
"Hello Katherine. So glad you are here. Please come in. Richard is in his study" Martha is delivering her lines with every bit of flare as if she were trying out for a Tony
"Thank you Martha" Beckett responds as she begins to move toward the home office
"Katherine!" Martha comments suddenly
Beckett stops in her tracks not feeling very confident about what the red head might have on her mind
"I am so glad the drama is over. Welcome to our family, darling. And don't forget you still have a key that you can use anytime you want. You of all people do not have to knock"
Kate is a little taken back by the acceptance of this man's mother. Kate truly had a fear that the rejections that took place over the last three years might become a stumbling block between her and being able to come into a real relationship with this man and his family.
"Thank you Martha. You don't know how much you saying that means to me"
Martha Rogers gives Kate an accepting smile as she turns to go back to her wine glass on the kitchen counter
Inside the study, Rick is watching the video. He has put headphones on to be able to hear any dialog that might be happening. This is why he did not hear the door when Kate knocked.
Beckett walks up behind Castle and places her arms down across his chest. She leans down and puts her face beside his and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Castle opens his eyes and turns to see his lady love has arrived. "Hey"
"Hey yourself. You find anything?" Kate asks
"Not yet, but I think there is something wrong"
"How's that?" Kate questions
"An odd thing I found it that just before the bomb went off two people who were seated on the front row near the stage got up and moved away. Almost together. One man and one woman. I could see the woman exit the room on another camera"
"If we find out who these two are, we can ask them why they left" Kate comments.
Just then her cell phone rings. She takes it out of her purse and answers
"Beckett" after a moment's pause "Oh hello Will…Not this is not a bad time…What can I do for you?"
Castle hearing the name Will causes him to stop what he is doing and devotes his attention to the conversation going on right next to him
She listens for a little longer
"Would I have diner with you?" Kate looks at Castle who has just put on a jealous face