Emergence

Chapter 53

Kate examined the file that had arrived with the fingerprint results on Brett Paulsey, aka George Burnum, aka Steve Haley, aka a half dozen others. Her erstwhile boss had been suspected of fraud in seven other states, but had always managed to escape before a strong enough case could be built to hold him. Operations like his kept popping up. It had been suspected that he wasn't the only one involved, but if he had a partner, or more than one, they had yet to be unmasked. The man was good. Kate studied the photo Brett had taken as George Burnum. He'd looked older then, but a facelift had remedied that. There had been other procedures too. The nose was different, and the cheeks hadn't been as full. No doubt he had implants now. His hair was different too. The changes had been enough to confuse facial recognition and make him prettier, if no less slimy. With no actual want out on the man, she'd have to make a case of her own, before he could be arrested. That would mean that he'd have to complete at least one phony transaction. Castle was at the top of the list. The amount the largest, moving it up a degree in seriousness as a crime. Unfortunately, it was possible that Brett could claim entrapment since the ersatz sale would never have taken place without Kate. She needed to catch Brett scamming on his own. She'd heard that he occasionally took a shift when one of his employees was ill or quit. If he could be pinned down doing that, she'd have him. One of her co-workers had looked fluish the night before. Much as she hated to wish that misery on anyone, Kate crossed her fingers that he wouldn't show up.


Greg Howarth had called in sick. Normally Brett would have been upset. Greg's sales were near the top of the leaderboard, and his absence would mean a dip in revenues. But Greg manned a station only two desks away from Kitty's. If Brett filled in for the sadly ailing Greg, he could spend the time close to her, a situation that would not be unappealing. Maybe he could even take her out somewhere after the shift; somewhere nicer than Archie's Cove. The more he thought about it, the more excited he was for the next shift to begin. It could be a good night.


Castle was restless. He'd finished the chapter he'd been writing. He'd been planning to have a father and daughter night out at the movies with Alexis, but his daughter's Mathletics coach had called an extra practice session for an upcoming competition. Kate was undercover at Reach Out, nothing on a thousand channels called to him, and Terra Quest was down for maintenance. He'd considered trying to hunt up a poker game, but he wasn't in the mood. He'd been picturing a villain as a chess master, not so much on an actual board, but as a strategist. A few games of chess could be helpful, and something to do until Kate came back. There was a gaming parlor only two blocks away where there was always someone ready for a game. The coffee was good too.


Kate could feel Brett's eyes on her. There were noise barriers between the stations, but he could see her if he stretched or moved his chair back, which he seemed to be doing a lot. There was a good chance that she would have to come up with Castle's sick auntie or some other reason to go straight home after her shift. Before she did, she needed to get a look at the names Brett was calling, not only so she'd be able to get something on him but to keep his marks from losing their money. The way he was drinking coffee, he'd need a men's room sooner or later, and as the boss, he wouldn't have to stick to the approved break times.


Castle met up with an opponent he'd faced before. Rick couldn't put an age on Farley Moorhead. The wiry salt and pepper hair that covered his head and most of his face, disguised whatever crevices age had carved. He could have been fifty or eighty. His crystalline blue eyes missed nothing, and his mind hadn't lost a beat. Castle didn't expect to win, but that was fine. Playing against Farley was always enlightening.

The older man seemed a little distracted that night, almost flubbing a move. Castle asked if there was anything wrong, and Farley confessed that he was worried about his granddaughter. Growing up, she'd been fascinated by weddings. At college, she'd double majored in business and design. She could have taken a job working somewhere, using either one, but was determined to build her own business as a wedding planner. She was having trouble finding clients and Farley was afraid she'd be defaulting on her loans. He would have loved to help, but she was determined to make it on her own.

"I'm familiar with stubborn, independent women," Castle sympathized. "In at least one case, intimately so, but that leads me to a solution for your problem. My beautiful fiancée and I just happen to be planning a wedding. We could use the services of a savvy and determined planner. A reference from a best-selling author wouldn't hurt your granddaughter's credentials either."

"It sure wouldn't," Farley agreed, fishing a card out of the pocket of his lumberjack shirt and handing it to Castle. "Give her a call. Just tell her you saw her website or something. She doesn't need to know you talked to me."

Castle made a zipping motion across his mouth. "I always keep my sources confidential."

Farley returned to the game and checkmated Castle in five moves.


It seemed like forever to Kate until Brett left his station. As soon as he'd disappeared into the restroom, she groaned as if her leg was cramping and made a show of stomping around between the desks. Leaning on the barrier of Brett's station for support, she blocked the view of her phone while she snapped a picture of his call list. Bending over, she slipped her phone back into her pocket and massaged her calf for a moment before going back to her own station. Brett smiled at her when he returned to his fill-in spot, and Kate tried her best to nod pleasantly before resuming her work.

When the clock ticked to the end of the shift, Brett came to Kate's desk and put a hand on her shoulder. "We're both finished for the night. I know a great place that specializes in late suppers."

Kate longingly looked back at him. "Brett, I'd love to, but my aunt lives alone. When I talked to her earlier, it sounded like the flu that hit Greg was hitting her too. And you know with old people, flu can turn into pneumonia. There's a neighbor who can look in on her now and then, but I thought I'd stay with her for a few nights, just to make sure she's all right." Kate fluttered her lashes. "As much as you feel for people, I know you understand."

Brett fisted his fingers inside the pocket of his jacket. "Yes of course I do. Give your aunt my best, Kitty. I hope she recovers very soon."

Kate lightly touched his arm, feeling the tension through the fabric of his jacket. "I knew you would, Brett. Have a good night."

As she waited for the subway, Kate grinned. She couldn't help picturing Castle with a red nose, a thermometer in his mouth, and a flowered nightcap.