Agent Grey is not accustomed to being in a situation of waiting to be seen. He is used to being in control and not sitting in a waiting room in an uncomfortable chair. The room is stark and obviously not designed to make a visitor feel welcome. The walls are plain. No inviting color palette was used in selecting the paint. No artist was hired to paint on a canvas a selection of bright and friendly pictures. There is no rack containing current up to date reading materials. He sits with his hands in hid lap and waits patiently for his turn to be invited into the inner room.
The intercom buzzes and the woman at the desk looks at the agent "You may go in Agent Grey"
A metallic click signals the release of the lock on the door. The agent opens the portal and steps into an ante room before moving inside any farther
The interior office is void of outside windows or exterior walls. The room is completely sound proof and separated from the rest of the world protecting the occupant from being overheard by an outsider.
"Agent Grey, please have a seat" The senior officer states while pointing to a chair opposite the desk. After the much younger man settles into the chair the senior agent continues "Tell me the latest from the NYPD and their investigation"
"They have determined that the robbery unit's captain, Chuck Welch, has been operating as a paid killer. A man for hire for the last dozen or more years"
"What is the evidence of that?"
"When they searched his home they found evidence of his past transgressions.
Evidently he was part of a trio of young patrol officers who began their careers by kidnapping mobsters and holding them for ransom. The other two dropped out after a federal agent was accidentally killed during one of their abductions. A corrupt politician caught wind of their activity and threatened to have them killed. Captain Welch joined the dark side and began working with the killing squad. The homicide team is planning on interviewing a former member of that squad to try and get more information"
The senior agent is listening quietly when Agent Grey continues "They found souvenirs he took from the killings. Small trinkets, piece of clothing, a lock of hair. Evidently this guy was a real piece of work."
"Sounds like he was a sick individual"
"Yes he was."
"Did they find anything linking him to Johanna Beckett's death?"
"Yes. Apparently she had taken some photographs of the alley before going down there. She had them on her and he kept those photographs she took"
"So that ties him to her murder. What else do we have linking him?"
"The cash transaction tracking indicates the payment originated in a bank just outside Baghdad at a US military base. We tracked the account. It belonged to an officer on the base. A Captain Marks"
"Killing her had to be important to someone. Does this captain connect to anyone in power?"
The agent reaches into his pocket and pulls out a copy of a bank transaction slip and passes it across the desk "Yes sir".
The senior agent looks at the note. Agent Grey believes he actually sees a slight upturn on the lips of the senior officer
"Agent Grey, thank you for this information.
The senior officer sits at the desk quietly for a moment contemplating the information just presented "Agent Grey, does Mr. or Mrs. Castle know about my involvement?"
"No. I led them to believe I was working on information gathered from outside the country. They have not been told anything else"
"Do you think they believe you?"
"Yes sir. Since the CIA is prevented from dealing with cases occurring inside the country they think I am working on a case based outside the US. I have also made my presence almost laughable by popping in and out of their lives repeatedly"
"Very good. So they do not know about me or anyone other than you?"
"Just me"
"Thank you agent Grey that will be all"
The man stands and walks out of the room
After being left alone again the senior agent opens the desk drawer and looks at the burner telephone sitting inside. Reaches in and picks it up and dials a number. The voice at the other end answers without identifying herself "May I help you?"
"Section 2"
"Please hold" is the curt response
A moment passes and the line clicks then a voice answers "Hello Mr. Jones, do you have something new for me today?"
"Yes. It was the robbery captain. Captain Welch"
"Interesting! Was Montgomery involved?"
"No. It appears he was in the dark about the bad cops and the cover up but Mr. Castle has been digging deep and he is coming very close to discovering the person. We need to intercede"
"What do you want to do now?"
"You can help me put a criminal away for good, sir and close the case"
"The one you have been chasing for the last ten years? You are now sure who it is?"
"Yes sir. I am"
"Very well. I will have our undercover agent come in and you may proceed with the capture. Are you going to arrest or remove with extreme prejudice?"
"Arrest. I think Detective Beckett deserves to have this closure"
"Very well"
Castle and Beckett have spent the last hour in the break room waiting for Kate's partners to return with the last surviving member of the group of corrupt cops that were probably responsible for Kate's mother's death
The team of Ryan and Esposito went to pick up McCallister but found his apartment empty and no indication of where he might have gone. The overall thinking begins with the possibility that he is involved in the recent assassination attempts.
When the duo arrive back at the 12th they join Castle and Beckett in the break room
"Where's McCallister?" Beckett asks
"Gone. Not home and no sign of him. We put a team on his apartment and they will let us know if he shows up" Esposito reports
Ryan walks into the room and tells the group "Hey! I got something on the surveillance cameras from McAllister's apartment"
The team walks into the small conference room that has progressed into a tech room. They have set this area up with large screen monitors, computers and various capture and playback units. This is where Kevin has been reviewing the video playback from the retired cop's apartment
"This was from yesterday about the time Captain Welch was belaying off the side of the hotel in an attempt to kill our couple here" Ryan says while looking at Castle and Beckett
The video shows a man walking out the front door of the apartment building "That's McCallister" Beckett says
"Yeah but watch who exits right behind him" Ryan continues
A woman is seen to immediately exit the same door and is following close behind
"That's Jane Stevens. The receptionist at Webster's office": Castle says
"Right…" Esposito comments "why is she there and why is she following him?"
"That is a good question" Ryan states just as the door opens and Captin Montgomery enters
"Hey. We just got a report of a body found in an alley in midtown. Looks like McCallister"
You are right Castle" Beckett starts "They are cleaning house and I am next"
