Too Close
Chapter 90
"I can't believe our system was hacked!" Jessica Banks exclaims, looking over the shoulder of her system administrator. "How could you not catch it?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Banks," Izzy Goldfarb apologizes, "We had to update our operating system. That brought down our anti-malware for a few moments. We took care of our maintenance at 2 a.m., but whoever got in must have been waiting for an opportunity to breach. The hacker planted a keylogger and snagged all our passwords. I'm excising it now."
"It won't make any difference, Castle remarks. "The hacker is dead."
"We believe she was killed over something she found on your system, involving Ian Blaylock," Kate adds.
The lines in Jessica Banks' face deepen. "Ian is no longer with us. He became increasingly erratic, particularly concerning the affairs of one of our most important clients."
"Is that client Colin Rigsdale?" Kate questions.
"Our client list is confidential, Detective Beckett. I'm sure you understand that," Jessica responds.
"That boat has sailed," Ms. Banks," Kate informs her. "Ian Blaylock was murdered, and we're in possession of records of his communications with Rigsdale, obtained by the hacker. We have reason to believe that both deaths were related to Rigsdale and possibly to that of an intern at your firm, Pam Bonner."
"Quite a stack of bodies you're piling up," Castle comments.
"Pam Bonner was killed in an automobile accident," Jessica protests. "It had nothing to do with her work here."
"I had my people pull the records on that accident while Castle and I were on our way here," Kate reveals. "The official report indicates that Pam was driving and that Colin Rigsdale was a passenger. He walked away unharmed, but the police at the scene reported he was intoxicated.
"According to the autopsy, Pam Bonner had no alcohol in her blood. In addition, the car belonged to Rigsdale. Ian Blaylock's billable hours log shows that he received a call from Rigsdale immediately after the crash. Innocent men don't usually make their lawyer their first call after an accident.
"The investigating detective suspected that Rigsdale might have been driving, but had no hard evidence and bowed to pressure from above to close the case. But the hacker, Erika Albrook, knew Pam and didn't believe the official story."
Castle continues Kate's narration. "She penetrated your system in an attempt to uncover the truth. Erika's search cost two lives, hers and Ian Blaylock's."
"That's an interesting piece of conjecture, Mr. Castle. But as I made clear, Colin Rigsdale is a client, and any communication our firm had with him is privileged." Jessica motions dismissively toward the door. "I would suggest that you come back with a court order, Detective Beckett, assuming you can find a judge that will grant one. I sincerely doubt that you will."
"Was Banks right?" Castle asks as Kate settles grimly behind the wheel of her unit. "Is Colin Rigsdale shielded by privilege?"
Kate sighs. "Probably, or in any case, his lawyers can delay an investigation until he can cover his tracks. We need to go at this from another angle, look for any contact Blaylock had with Rigsdale after he left the firm and was no longer serving as Rigsdale's counsel. If Blaylock was trying to get Rigsdale to come clean, he might have dropped a hint about Erika."
"In which case Rigsdale would have killed Blaylock, then used what was on his computer to find and ultimately murder Erika," Castle concludes. "It all fits."
Kate turns the key in the ignition. "We just have to prove it."
"Bad news, Beckett," Esposito announces. "At the time of Erika Albrook's death, Colin Rigsdale was in North Carolina at a golf tournament. There's video and hundreds of witnesses."
"How about when Blaylock was killed?" Kate presses.
"No dice," Beckett," Ryan answers, "He was at pre-event parties. He posted pictures all over social media."
"As if he was trying to document an alibi," Castle speculates. "The Rigsdales are rich and powerful; he could have hired someone to do his dirty work. Families like that have fixers. We've seen that before. We have to figure out who the Rigsdales would trust enough to do the deeds and tell no tales."
Kate taps two fingers against her lips. "That would need to be someone who would have as much to lose if Colin was exposed, as Colin would."
"Right," Castle agrees. "You know, there's a grand dame in this city who exults in ferreting out the dirty little secrets of what she views as the nouveau riche, meaning families with fortunes acquired more recently than the Civil War. I believe that by that measure, the Rigsdales qualify as upstarts."
"Are you talking about Hattie Livingston?" Kate wonders.
"The pearl of high society herself, especially if you ask her," Castle confirms. "I think I can arrange a visit."
"Don't tell me she's a fan of your books."
"If she is, she'd never admit it. Hattie is, however," Castle adds, "a patron of the arts, particularly theater. She was quite taken by Mother's performance in the revival of 'Morning's at Seven,' and our family has been welcome at her functions ever since. I'll write a little script about correcting a miscarriage of justice perpetrated by an uncouth social climber and ask Mother to make the call. She'll enjoy the drama."
Kate shrugs. "It's worth a shot."
From a wing chair upholstered in rich brocade, Hattie Livingston reigns over her drawing-room, a sweep of her arm directing Kate and Rick to an antique settee. "The Livingstons have always supported the pursuit of justice. I'm pleased that you sought my assistance. The situation Martha described sounded most alarming."
"It is, Miss Livingston," Castle confirms. "We believe that influence was put to the worst of use — to enable the scion of the Rigsdale family to escape just punishment. Three deaths may be involved."
Hattie draws herself up, her watery blue eyes alert. "Yes, young Colin, always requiring help to get himself out of one scrape or another. Luther Rigsdale should have sent him off to military school years ago. Perhaps the boy would have learned the discipline necessary to behave appropriately in polite society."
"Just who is it that gets him out of his scrapes, Ma'am?" Kate inquires.
Hattie sniffs. "Attorneys, of course, but not from one of the more respectable firms. Colin also has a half-brother, the result of a scandalous liaison. Needless to say, the family doesn't publicize his existence or his activities, but they do keep him funded and busy. He would be your suspect for any unsavory activity. He goes by his mother's maiden name: Tillage, Martin Tillage."
Castle bounds down the stairs leading from the Livingston mansion to the opulently paved drive where Kate's unit is parked. "Kate! We questioned Martin Tillage. He was one of the residents at the hotel where Erika was murdered. The killer was hiding in plain sight."
"He's not going to hide anymore, Castle. We'll gather more background on him, and I'll have the boys bring him in. I'm betting he won't be at the hotel anymore, but he shouldn't be hard to track down. If Hattie Livingston can keep abreast of what he's doing, the N.Y.P.D. can find him."
"Or you could deputize Hattie," Castle suggests.
"Whatever it takes, Babe. Whether the Rigsdales protect him or not, if Martin Tillage killed Blaylock and Erika for Colin, he's going down. And Colin Rigsdale is going down with him."