Too Close
Chapter 87
Sean Tanner pulls at the skin of his lip as he waits in the stark room where Detective Beckett dumped him. He considers asking for a lawyer, but that would make him look guilty. And there's no way the cops can prove what happened. If there was anything his father was into, it was how to follow a trail. Sean used what he learned from the bastard to avoid leaving one. There's no way something will point to him, and he'll tell whatever lies it takes to maintain his innocence. He learned that from his father too. In the end, the cops will have to let him go.
Kate smacks a file folder on the surface of the metal table, next to a laptop, and takes a seat facing Sean. She can feel Stack's eyes watching her from observation. Castle drops into a chair beside her. "There are a few things we need to clear up about your father's death, Sean," she begins.
"I don't know much except that my mother's alone, and I should be home with her," Sean insists.
"I sent a victim's services worker to sit with her," Kate responds. "She's not alone. In any case, I'm sure that it will be of some comfort to her if we can solve your father's murder."
"What murder?" Sean protests. "It was a terrible accident, that's all. That's what the paper said. A thing crashed into his car. Tech stuff glitches all the time."
"Well, you would know that, wouldn't you, Sean?" Castle inserts. "You're a computer science major, aren't you?"
Sean shifts in his seat. "Sure, but I'm just a freshman. I haven't had any high-level classes yet."
"But you've had some extra instruction," Kate picks up. "You've gleaned a lot from your father, enough to know what's in the paper isn't always the whole story. And you told us you learned a few things from Omar Dixon too. He thinks you're pretty good with computers and that you can run almost any software put in front of you.
"The thing is, Sean, we know what was in front of you — a program you found on a drive in the drawer of your father's desk. You used it to hijack a drone and send it to kill your father."
"A technological update of the Oedipus myth," Castle suggests.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sean claims. "I was on the Hudson University campus when my father was killed."
"No, you weren't," Kate argues. She flips open the laptop, hits a few keys, and angles the screen toward Sean. "This is video of you leaving campus. And this," she adds, running her finger over the touchpad, "is you getting on the subway. We also have video of you getting off the subway at the stop near your house. And it's all timestamped, Sean. You were the only one with access to the program that took control of that drone, and you were in the right place to run it when he died."
"All right!" Sean exclaims, "but he deserved it. My mother works every day until she's ready to drop. He could have helped her. He could have gotten a decent job. Or he could have at least been faithful. But he was screwing another woman — in the bed he was supposed to share with my mother. I couldn't let him do that to her. I couldn't. Now he'll never screw anyone again."
Stack applauds as Kate leaves Interrogation. "Masterfully done, Detective. You know, your talents are wasted here. You could be so much more than a New York homicide cop. This country needs people with your skills."
"There are 8 million denizens of this country for Kate to serve in this city," Castle points out.
"Castle is right," Kate declares, "and he and I are planning to build a life together here."
"Then, Mr. Castle, you're a lucky man," Stack responds, pulling a card from his jacket and handing it to Kate. "The Attorney General is always looking for top-notch people. If you decide to widen your horizons, call that number."
Kate stuffs the card in her pocket. "I don't think that will be necessary, but I'll keep it in mind."
"Do you believe that guy?" Castle asks, watching Stack head for the elevator. "He tried to poach you from the N.Y.P.D. right in the middle of the precinct."
"He did," Kate agrees. "It was arrogant, but it was also kind of a compliment."
"Kate, you're not seriously thinking of calling about that job, are you?" Castle questions.
"Of course not, Babe. We're right in the middle of getting ready for our wedding. I love you, and I like New York, but since we nailed Bracken and the Mosses, I have been thinking about what will come next in my life — professionally. Stack did get me wondering what my next step should be, but," she continues, stretching up for a kiss, "I can think about that after we get hitched."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Are you serious about this, Hunt?" the director asks.
"Have you ever known me not to be serious?" Jackson queries. "Look, pretty soon, my son is going to know me as more than the spy father he met in Paris. Contact is going to be inevitable. That means putting him and the rest of the members of my family he's managed to discover, in danger. My granddaughter has already suffered because of her link to me. Volkov is gone, but as long as I'm an active agent, there is always the chance that someone else will take a shot at someone I care about. I need to assume a new legend and retire all the others that I've had."
"You're not only going to need a new background and your DNA and fingerprints expunged from any records, but your appearance will also have to change enough to defeat facial recognition," the director points out.
"I know," Hunt acknowledges. "My son will no longer be able to recognize me, but I can deal with that. I want to get the process underway as soon as possible."
"Very well," the director agrees. "I'll set the wheels turning, and make sure that your pension and hazard pay are transferred to accounts for your new identity."
Hunt nods. "I appreciate it."
"So how many Descoines are going to be showing up for our wedding?" Kate asks.
"According to Marie Descoine, five," Castle answers. "She's coming, and so is her scalp wiggling brother. Her parents have passed on, but three curious cousins want to make the trip."
"No mention of the uncle you thought could be your father?" Kate questions.
"Uh-uh, but I didn't expect there would be. He said he didn't want to put us in danger with any more direct contact, and I took him at his word. Still, it would be nice if he found a way to meet up with us again someday — without vicious Russian agents out for our skins. There is a lot I want to know, and I imagine that the adventures he's had over the past four decades could fill a shelf of novels — better ones than Casino Royale."
Kate cups Castle's cheek. "I have no doubt. And I've learned one thing about our lives. Something unexpected is always popping up."
Castle smiles as he covers Kate's hand with his own. "You've got that right. We'll never lack for excitement — professional or personal."