Too Close

Chapter 91

Scooting his chair next to Kate's to share the view of her computer, Castle quickly scans the information on the screen. "Mr. Tillage has had quite a career — picked up for petty theft, destruction of public property, unauthorized use of a public vehicle, and assault."

"But without a single conviction," Kate notes. "It looks like the Rigsdales got him out of it every time, and assigned him to clean up Colin's messes. But murder is a big step up from anything we know he's done before."

"That's got to make him nervous," Castle guesses.

"But if he's still playing the part of the guy we met in a seedy hotel, unlikely to admit to having a lawyer on speed dial," Kate mulls. "That will be an advantage for us."

Rick rubs his hands together. "I'm looking forward to watching you masterfully exploit it."

Castle watches through the glass as Kate plops her leather folder on the table and takes her place in the box, coolly holding Tillage in her gaze. "So Martin, it looks like you've moved up in the world. The residents of the hotel where I saw you last would never be able to afford the apartment where my detectives found you."

"I got lucky with the ponies," Tillage claims.

"Really?" Kate questions. "What race was that? Your bet must have been on an incredible longshot."

Martin pulls at his collar. "I don't remember."

Kate leans across the table. "You don't remember a win that netted you enough cash to live in luxury? I find that hard to believe, Martin. I find that very hard to believe. And I'll tell you what I think. Your brother, Colin Rigsdale, crashed a car and killed his passenger. He thought he'd gotten away with it until his lawyer had an attack of conscience, and Pam Bonner's friend Erika started sniffing around. So Colin promised to set you up for good if you'd take care of his problem. You killed Ian Blaylock and Erika Albrook, and then you hung around the hotel just long enough to assure yourself that nothing pointed to you. But you made a mistake, a big one.

"Do you have any idea how many people have had to confess their sins to me because they were too greedy or stupid to get rid of something they liked, even if it was evidence against them? The detectives spotted Ian Blaylock's computer at your new digs, Martin. It was in plain sight. They didn't even have to search. That laptop tells the whole story — how you killed Blaylock and lured Erika to a meeting on the roof where you killed her. But Erika was smarter than you, Martin, a lot smarter. She hid evidence of her own, implicating Colin.

"This city is my home, Martin and I protect its people from you, from the Rigsdales, from anyone who thinks they're clever enough to kill and get away with it. The only question is, are you going to take the fall for Colin, or are you going to wise up and help yourself? Because the Rigsdale money can't save you this time."

Martin slumps over the table. "What do you want to know?"

Castle raises a goblet of red wine. "To Kate Beckett, mistress of interrogation and the scourge of murderers rich or poor."

Kate clinks her glass with Rick's. "And to her steadfast and plucky partner in crime-busting. But you know, if it hadn't been for Erika, Colin would have gotten away with covering up what he did to Pam Bonner. The rich and powerful have way too much influence over some of the N.Y.P.D. brass."

Rick sets his glass on the counter. "Hmm, I sense an idea knocking around in your remarkable head."

"Castle, you know I'm not a fan of politics or paperwork, but someone has to be able to run interference for good cops being stymied by pressure from above. The only way I can do that is by moving up in rank."

"I take it you have a plan."

"As soon as I can — after our wedding and honeymoon — I want to take the sergeant's exam, and the exams that come after it, until I'm in a position to make sure that investigations are the way they should be, regardless of who's involved."

"Kate, I'm sure you'll pass every stage with flying colors, but what about our partnership?"

"We'll always have that, Castle. Detective sergeants can still be in the field, and I know that I can always count on you to come up with ideas like calling on Hattie Livingston. And I'll always need you to chase the mice that run around in that brain of yours. I may be your muse, but you're just as much mine. In fact," she purrs," putting down her own glass and wrapping her arms around his waist, "you're giving me some ideas right now."

Castle's brows dance above his eyes. "I can't wait to hear them."

Hunt's been avoiding looking at his face. He doesn't have any pain that a couple of pills can't fix, and he doesn't doubt Lutz's skill. He's seen his work on other agents. Their own mothers, let alone facial recognition software, wouldn't have been able to pick them out in a crowd. But convinced as he is that moving into a new life is the best thing for him and his family, it's jarring. His new and final legend is carefully crafted, but it's still just a legend. He needs to become the character, Kenneth Bruderlin, that the company constructed. And he has to find a way for Ken to reconnect with Richard Castle.

The wedding won't be for another couple of weeks, and he'll be looking relatively normal by then. At least he'll be looking normal for Ken Bruderlin. The ceremony and reception are by invitation only, but he'll find a way to be there. Part of Bruderlin's invented background is as a security expert. Maybe he can get himself assigned to the event. He can sure as hell try.

Kate is trying her best to stand still while seamstress Trudy Mishner makes the final adjustments to her wedding gown, but thoughts keep racing through her head. The sergeant's exam is taking place just a month after she and Rick return from their sojourn on a private island. She barely signed up for it in time and won't have much of a chance to study.

Castle volunteered to quiz her during their honeymoon, but neither one of them is enthusiastic about the idea. It will be the first decent chunk of time they've had only for themselves, and she doesn't want to waste a moment of it. If she has to, she can cram when she returns. And if she doesn't know the N.Y.P.D. and its regs and procedures by now, she's a pretty lousy cop, anyway.

If anything, Kate's more nervous about meeting the Descoines than taking an exam. Rick chartered a plane to bring them to New York and hired a limo to take them from the airport to the Four Seasons. They'll be on the VIP floor where Erik Vaughn strong-armed the N.Y.P.D. into having Kate as his guard. That's just the kind of thing she wants to stop. Vaughn's suite and Castle's were both beautiful, and Kate has no doubt Rick's newly discovered family will be comfortable there. Rick decided that in fairness, Aunt Theresa's out-of-town clan will get the VIP treatment too. Kate just hopes there are no clashes at the elevator – or anywhere else.