AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here we are, the penultimate chapter, and essentially the wrap up to the case. Chapter 26 is essentially the epilogue. I hope everyone has enjoyed this story. I very much appreciated all the reviews and PMs. Thanks, G
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – Beckett Gets Her Man & Woman
It was a fairly quiet day in Albany. The temperature was in the mid fifties, and the blue sky gave the day a hopeful and energetic feel. A pair of black, unmarked state vehicles pulled up in front of the capital building. Gibbs, Castle, Beckett and Booth stepped out, along with a pair of New York State Troopers. They marched up the steps and into the building.
A moment, ten years in the making was unfolding, and Beckett had to restrain herself from running forward, ahead of the others.
A bailiff tried to stop them from entering the closed court proceeding, but he was quickly overawed by the various credentials and the federal arrest warrant. They group pushed through the doors and headed in.
The panel of judges, five in all stopped their discussions and looked up. One of their clerks, boldly stepped forward, demanding that they depart immediately, only to be restrained by one of the Troopers.
The group stopped, maybe fifteen feet in front of the bench. One of the judges called for the bailiff to come and remove "these people" from the court, but he only stood in the doorway, watching.
Kate Beckett stepped up, in front of the others. She said, "Alfred Markham, we have warrants, one federal, and one from the state of New York, for your arrest."
"This is preposterous," Markham said while rising, his indignation clear on his face. At least two of the other judges began to join his outburst.
Gibbs said loudly, "You are charged under federal statutes with Grand Larceny from the Department of Defense, and International Banking violations, including wire fraud."
Beckett picked up where he left off. "The state of New York is charging you with Conspiracy to commit murder. Step down, please." There was nothing of asking in her voice. It was a demand, pure and simple.
Markham looked at her then, really looked at her for the first time. "You're Thomas and Johanna Becketts' daughter, aren't you? Surely you can't be serious."
The other judges, sensing something about this situation had all gone quiet. In fact, the room had suddenly become so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop in the hallway outside.
Beckett said, "Among the murders you are charged with conspiring in, are the murders of Johanna Beckett and Theodore Warren. Now, step down!" Her raised voice rang out loud and clear. A small group of state employees had gathered outside the courtroom, standing clear, but trying to peek in, to see what the commotion was about.
"Warren," one of the Judges said, "the Daily News reporter?"
"He was killed in a mugging," another put in.
"This is outrageous," Markham blustered, but his eyes had begun to wander the room, seeking a way out of this. "I am a State Supreme Court Judge, and I won't be treated this way!"
"Not after today, you're not," Gibbs said, as Beckett began to move up to the bench, taking her handcuffs from the case at the back of her belt. Gibbs voice was soft, cold, matter of fact.
"I'm demand to have my lawyer present," the Judge said, starting to move away from Beckett.
"Your wife's firm will be sending someone soon I'm sure," Booth said.
"What?" the Judge asked. "What does she have to do with this?"
"You can drop the act, Mr. Markham," Booth said.
"You will at least show Judge Markham the respect he is due," one of the other Judges said.
"No," Gibbs said. "We won't."
Beckett took great relish in telling Markham, "We arrested your wife as a co-conspirator less than half an hour ago." His flabbergasted expression was priceless. "We have sworn testimony from three of your accomplices. Now turn and place your hands against the wall."
"Your friend, Colonel Bell ratted you out," Booth said. "He told us all about how you arranged his release from a Mexican prison by voiding the conviction of the son of some high Mexican Official here in New York for rape and assault. I'm pretty sure that qualifies as Corruption."
Markham's face had gone white as a sheet, but he refused to accept what was plain. "I did no such thing," he said, his voice high and tight with strain. "And, I will not allow you to arrest me."
In a single, quick, fluid motion, she grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm behind his back, her other hand going to the back of his neck. Despite his sixty-some-odd pound weight advantage, she slammed his face down onto the top of the bench, forcing him to cry out in pain.
"You can't do that!" one of the Judges protested.
"I'd say that he was clearly resisting arrest," Booth said.
"Oh yeah," Gibbs answered. "She gave him a lawful order twice before taking him down."
Castle had been remarkably quiet throughout the entire ordeal, but he was now grinning ear to ear. "It's a good thing that you've always been such a strong supporter of the death penalty in this state, Judge," Castle said. "I'm betting you're going to get a close up look at how that whole system works over the next few months." They'd actually done it. He couldn't have been happier for Beckett.
Beckett clicked the cuffs onto his wrists, tightening them until they bit into his skin, and not caring a whit when he cried out. She roughly pulled him to his feet and pushed him forward, into the arms of Trooper Daniels. "Get this piece of garbage out of here," she said.
Castle moved to her, wrapping his arms around her. Her shoulders shook as tears of joy, and relief escaped her eyes. Gibbs smiled and patted her on the shoulder once. "You got him, Detective," he said.
"He's right, Kate," Castle said, hugging her even tighter. "You did it, for her. You got the bastard."
By the end of the afternoon, both Alfred Markham and Cheryl Lefebvre had been processed and charged with the whole litany of charges, and they'd both been remanded to Riker's. The IRS had frozen all their bank accounts, and he'd ordered both held without bail. Assistant District Attorney Cutter had already informed the Judge of the State's intention to seek the death penalty for both of the Accused.
All in all, it had been a great day, certainly the best day in the last decade for one detective Katherine Beckett. She'd wept openly for ten solid minutes after the arrest, never once letting go of Castle, who'd certainly made no effort to let go of her. She almost couldn't believe the relief, the weight that had been lifted the moment she'd locked those cuffs on that lying bastard's wrists. It was over, finally.