Author's Note: Apologies again for not posting last week but I'm back now and should be able to stick to my regular posting schedule going forward.
Nothing Lost
Chapter 22
It was on Monday that everything changed. Again.
Castle arrived at the hospital that evening after having dinner at home with his family, making his now-familiar way to the ICU, exchanging a nod of greeting with the uniformed officer standing outside—it was Sanchez today—before approaching Beckett's room.
Beckett's eyes were closed and she appeared to be asleep. Careful not to disturb her, Castle only tapped his fingers lightly against the door before he pushed it open.
Jim looked up with a faint smile. "Hi, Rick," he greeted in a voice just above a whisper, nodding towards the bed. "Katie's sleeping," he added unnecessarily.
"Hi, Jim. Everything go okay today?"
Jim glanced again at Beckett and then gestured to the door. "Walk me out, will you, Rick?"
Castle tensed, even as he nodded. "Of course." Clearly Jim wanted to talk to him, in private, which didn't seem to bode well. Had Beckett experienced a setback? Had she said something to her dad? Or had Jim just changed his mind about his constant presence?
He waited until they were outside the ICU before he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no, everything's fine. Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Jim assured him. "Katie's tired out because they just finished running a battery of tests on her to see how she's progressing."
Oh god… "And how is she?"
Now Jim shot him a smile and Castle felt a little of his tension flake away. "It's good news. Dr. Ogawa said Katie's recovery is proceeding on schedule and Katie will be transferred out of the ICU on Wednesday."
Castle released a long breath in relief. "Oh thank god."
Jim nodded, almost beaming with his own happiness. "And I was thinking you should be there when Katie's transferred. You've been here with her every day so it's only right that you should witness this next step in her recovery. The doctor couldn't be sure what time she'd be transferred but she said probably in the afternoon sometime."
"I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it," he promised.
"Good. I appreciate all you're doing for Katie, Rick, and I'm sure Katie does too."
"It's no trouble. I—Kate is important to me," Castle managed to say, not quite smoothly. It was the understatement of the century but he couldn't admit out loud that he loved her, not to her dad, and certainly not before he'd told Beckett herself.
Judging from Jim's expression, he knew what an understatement it was but he didn't comment. "Still, thank you. And tell Martha and Alexis that I appreciate their generosity in allowing you to spend so much of your time with Katie. This last week can't have been easy on them either," Jim went on.
"It's fine. My mother has always lived her own life and Alexis is old enough that she's mostly independent too."
By now, they had reached the front entrance of the hospital and Jim paused, clapping a brief hand on his arm. "I'll let you get back to Katie, Rick. I just wanted to give you the good news. Have a good night and I'll see you tomorrow morning, as usual."
"Good night, Jim."
Castle lifted a hand in farewell as Jim glanced back through the glass doors before stepping into one of the waiting taxis, lingering as the cab drove off before he turned to return to the ICU.
But he only made it to the elevator before he heard a woman's voice saying, "Richard Castle."
He stopped and turned to see a striking auburn-haired woman, who he judged to be around his age, walking towards him. She appeared to have just left the front desk. She was wearing a business suit and there was an air of briskness to her, confidence and determination in her stride, which had him guessing that this wasn't going to be some random fan encounter. No, everything about this woman said that she had a serious purpose in accosting him. All of which was enough that he did not automatically put on his charming publicity smile but only assumed a politely inquiring expression. "Yes?"
The woman held out her hand and he shook it automatically, noting that her grip was firm and her handshake brisk. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Castle. I'm Special Agent Jordan Shaw."
He blinked. Wait, he knew that name. "Jordan Shaw? From the FBI? The same Jordan Shaw that broke the Hudson Valley strangler case back in 1991?"
The woman—Agent Shaw—gave him an assessing look. "I see my reputation precedes me, Mr. Castle."
His mind had moved on. "You worked with Beckett last year on the Nikki Heat serial killer case, didn't you? I assume you're here because of Beckett?"
"As are you, Mr. Castle. A hospital visit to your former muse, I take it."
He inwardly winced. "Beckett's a friend," he answered carefully. "I, um, didn't realize you and Beckett had become friends too."
Agent Shaw tilted her head to one side. "Friends, yes, I suppose you could say so but actually, I am here on official business." Her tone changed, softened. "How is Detective Beckett doing?"
Official business. He didn't like the sound of that. And was Beckett really strong enough to handle whatever business this was? Not that he had any say in it. It would be up to Beckett and he didn't need to think for a second before knowing she would push herself to be strong enough for whatever this was. An official visit from the FBI, no, he really didn't like the sound of it. "She's stable, recovering, but she's still in intensive care."
"I'm glad she's recovering," Agent Shaw responded before going on with a slight change in tone, "And my condolences over the loss of Captain Montgomery. I know he was a friend of yours too."
The mention of Montgomery had Castle stiffening. "Yes, he was." Montgomery—was she being polite or did her visit have to do with Montgomery's death?
Oh god. If it was about Montgomery's death—how much did she know, how much did the FBI know, about Montgomery's past? Could this possibly be about Beckett's mom's case? Oh god.
Agent Shaw studied him for a moment. "You've guessed what this is about, haven't you?"
"I—excuse me?"
"You know the truth about Roy Montgomery and what got him killed, don't you." It wasn't a question.
He almost reared back, letting out a small hiss of shock. "You—how do you—what—"
Agent Shaw glanced around. "Is there somewhere we can talk privately?"
Oh god. He really, really did not like where this seemed to be going. She knew the truth about Montgomery's death, which meant the truth about Montgomery's past, everything. What he, Beckett, and the boys had tried so hard to cover up.
Castle felt a cold knot of apprehension take up residence in his chest but he accepted that there was no avoiding this. He set his jaw. Whatever came, he and Beckett would face it together. And as long as that was true, surely, surely they could get through this. "Yes, follow me."
A quick moment's thought had him leading Agent Shaw to the ICU waiting room, closing the door firmly behind them, the same room where he and Jim and everyone had spent so many agonizing hours after Montgomery's funeral. He cordially hated the room for the memories but it was the best option. It was after the ICU's visitor hours so the room was empty and they were unlikely to be disturbed. Plus, the expansive windows would provide plenty of warning before anyone could enter.
He dropped heavily into one of the chairs before fixing Agent Shaw with what even he had to admit was a defiant look. He had no reason to dislike Agent Shaw; from all he knew of her, he was in fact inclined to approve of her and he certainly respected her already but whatever she was here to say would be hard, excruciating even, for Beckett, especially in her current condition, and that alone ensured he could not warm to the woman right now. "What do you know? Why are you here?"
To her credit, Jordan Shaw didn't so much as blink at his hard tone, let alone bristle. She met his eyes directly. "I know you're concerned about Detective Beckett, Mr. Castle, and I don't blame you. I'm sorry to have to disturb her at such a time but you have to understand that I have a job to do and I'm here because Roy Montgomery wanted me to be."
He blinked, some of his defenses lowering. "Captain Montgomery wanted you to be here?" he repeated, confused now.
"Yes. As you already know, I worked with Detective Beckett on the serial killer case last year. It was also how I got to know Captain Montgomery." Her businesslike expression faltered for a moment and for just a second, he glimpsed the woman rather than the FBI agent and it occurred to him that Jordan Shaw had a softer side. Like Beckett, he thought, and the thought made him thaw yet further. "I do know about Montgomery's past, Mr. Castle, but I also got to know the man last year so I know he was a good man, a good cop, no matter what his past. My purpose here is not to taint his memory."
He nodded, allowing himself to sit back, his posture easing fractionally. "All right. What is your purpose, if I may ask?"
"Last year, when Detective Beckett and I worked together, what you may not know is that Detective Beckett saved my life," she responded in something of a non sequitur.
He managed a faint smile at that. "She's good at that."
A small smile flashed across Agent Shaw's lips, giving him just a glimpse of the charm that was usually subsumed under her businesslike demeanor. "Yes, she is." She paused, eyeing him for a moment before she added abruptly, "There's more truth to your portrayal of the relationship between Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook than Beckett admitted, isn't there?"
He jerked upright. "I don't know what you mean," he evaded.
"Mm," Agent Shaw made a noncommittal noise before she resumed her businesslike air. "Well, that's not the issue. You asked why I'm here and the short answer is that I'm here to help with this case."
"What case?" he asked cautiously. The only active case he knew of, the one the boys were spending most of their time with, was the hunt for the shooter and that had to be tied to Montgomery's death, his past. Something clenched inside him as he followed the thought to its end—this had to be related to Johanna Beckett's murder. Oh god.
"The case Beckett was looking into that led to Captain Montgomery's death," she answered obliquely but it was enough.
"You know who's behind all this? Who had Beckett's—" he cut off his own question.
But Agent Shaw clearly knew what he meant and she met his eyes. "I think the rest of this conversation requires Detective Beckett's participation."
His stomach dropped. "Yes," he agreed heavily. And then remembered something. "But she's in the ICU and the only visitors she's allowed are family."
He knew Esposito and Ryan had stopped by briefly Saturday morning but, well, they were family, as far as Beckett was concerned, and in any event, they had used the excuse of official NYPD business to get permission.
Agent Shaw flashed a smile, nudging her blazer aside to tap her FBI badge. "I have an all-access pass. I think they'll let me in."
So like Beckett. The confident smile, the words, the gesture, reminded him so sharply of Beckett, the way she too used her badge to swan past reluctant gate-keepers. He felt a stab of liking, the tug of burgeoning friendship―he could like Agent Shaw—although he recognized that it wasn't about Agent Shaw herself but was almost entirely a reflection of her resemblance to Beckett.
He returned the smile automatically. "You are the FBI equivalent of Beckett," he commented as he stood up.
That made her laugh. "Coming from you, Mr. Castle, that's quite a compliment. Thank you."
Something in the way she said that, in the glance she shot him, told him that Agent Shaw had guessed exactly how he felt about Beckett. Which, he supposed, he shouldn't find surprising since she had to be able to read people well and in any event, he knew he wasn't exactly subtle. Oh well, he was in love with Beckett and he wasn't ashamed of it.
As she'd predicted, so it proved. Officer Sanchez and the ICU nurses easily acquiesced to Agent Shaw's request for access, citing official FBI business. But then once they were past that gauntlet, Castle found himself balking as Beckett's door came into view.
"Wait. Beckett's, um, she was asleep last I checked. She won't be expecting you," he said rapidly. "I don't want to—do you mind waiting so I can wake her up and just give her a head's up?"
He knew he really had little, if any, standing to ask such a thing but he was holding out hope that the softer side of Agent Shaw he'd just glimpsed would persuade her that maybe Beckett should not be subjected to such a bolt from the blue. He could not protect Beckett from the impact of whatever was coming—and it wasn't going to be easy for her—but he could, at the very least, try to smooth the way a little.
Agent Shaw's expression softened again and then she nodded. "Good thinking. I'll wait out here."
"Thank you," he said fervently before he ventured back into Beckett's room.
He paused, hesitating for just a second as he drank in the sight of Beckett, looking so peaceful, hating the knowledge that he had to wake her up to shatter her peace. He wished he could wake her with a kiss but this wasn't the time for that so he touched a gentle hand to her shoulder instead. "Beckett. Beckett, wake up."
Her eyelids fluttered and she focused on him, a faint frown appearing. "Castle?"
"Sorry to wake you but, um, something's happened."
She blinked, shifting a little. "My dad?"
"He's fine, he went home for the night," Castle hurriedly assured her. "It's just that someone's here to see you."
"Someone? Who—"
He let out a breath. "Special Agent Jordan Shaw."
Shock momentarily blanked her expression. "Jordan Shaw. Why?"
"She said it's something to do with Montgomery," he answered as mildly and obliquely as he could but of course, there was no way Beckett didn't immediately grasp what he wasn't saying.
She paled and then she was straightening, trying to sit up, before giving up with a grimace. "Castle, help me up."
It was almost close to her usual command and he reacted as he would have to one of her commands. She couldn't sit up fully but he pressed the button to slowly, carefully, shift the position of her bed so she was reclining, just enough so she was facing forward again. She let out a small breath, faint lines of strain appearing around her lips, that betrayed that the change in position was causing some pain but Beckett being Beckett, she didn't let that stop her. "Tell her to come in."
He went to the door and gestured to Agent Shaw, who immediately strode towards him, and he firmly closed the door once she was inside and then stationed himself just beside the door and half-blocking the window, where he could see if anyone was about to approach.
"Agent Shaw," Beckett greeted neutrally.
Agent Shaw's demeanor softened. "Detective Beckett, how are you feeling?"
"Tired, sore, but better every day."
"Glad to hear it. I'm sorry to have to disturb you at this time but things have been set in motion and you're one of the principal players who needs to be briefed." Agent Shaw paused, darting a quick glance at him.
"If this is about Captain Montgomery, Castle knows all about it," Beckett inserted.
Something inside Castle eased a little. At least Beckett still trusted him where Montgomery's past was concerned. Whatever Agent Shaw was about to tell them, Beckett wasn't trying to hide it from him.
The corner of Agent Shaw's lips twitched and she raised her brows slightly at Beckett but all she said was, "I see." She paused and when she went on, she was once more all business, federal Agent Jordan Shaw. "As I mentioned to Mr. Castle, I'm here because of Captain Montgomery. That last day before he died, he mailed a package containing a file of information he'd compiled and sent it to me at the FBI office here in New York." For a moment, regret flickered across Agent Shaw's expression. "Unfortunately, at the time, I was in D.C. at FBI Headquarters for mandatory training so I didn't receive it until a few days ago."
Castle stiffened and saw Beckett pale even more at what Agent Shaw was implying, that it was possible, if Agent Shaw had received the package sooner, what had happened at the funeral… might have been prevented somehow.
"This file," Beckett's voice came out as a rasp and she had to pause and swallow and he hurried forward to hand her the cup of water kept by her bedside and she took a few sips through the straw before handing the cup back. "What was in the file?" she went on, her voice a little hollow, but more like her usual self.
"A paper trail of sorts, information about… a certain person," Agent Shaw finished cautiously.
Beckett let out a hissing breath. "The Dragon? You know who it is?"
"Dragon?" he blurted out before he could help it.
Beckett's eyes momentarily flashed to him before she focused again on Agent Shaw. "It was what McAllister called the man behind all this, the man who hired Lockwood." The man who'd killed her mother.
"Before I go on, the information in this file is just the start, whatever Montgomery was able to gather. I've had to piece things together so to make sure I have the story straight…" Agent Shaw began. "This all started almost 20 years ago with Montgomery and two other cops, Raglan and McAllister—"
Beckett sucked in a sharp breath, making Agent Shaw break off.
"Look, Detective Beckett, before we go on, I want you to know the FBI isn't in the business of investigating or prosecuting the dead. I have no intention of tarnishing Montgomery's name. We'll be treating him as a confidential informant, as it were, because we're going off of the information he sent us."
Castle relaxed marginally and he saw Beckett nod slowly. "Okay."
"Montgomery, Raglan, and McAllister ran an illegal scheme in the course of which Bob Armen was killed and then Joe Pulgatti was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Bob Armen. And someone found out, blackmailed them, used the money he got from blackmail, and has been covering his tracks ever since." She had, Castle noticed, carefully skirted over the murder of Johanna Beckett and at the moment, he could only be grateful for her tact because Beckett was paper-white as it was.
"Who is it?" Beckett asked, her voice very low and strained.
Castle couldn't help it. He stepped forward again, rested a careful hand on the edge of the bed, barely brushing against Beckett's hand. He wasn't sure if he dared anything further, didn't know what Beckett would allow with Agent Shaw right there. And then felt a spurt of warmth and hope in his chest when Beckett shifted her hand slightly, just enough to curl two fingers around two of his in a subtle clasp of hands. She trusted him enough to hold his hand in this extremity. He tightened his fingers around hers.
Agent Shaw noticed but didn't react, only met his eyes and then Beckett's in turn. "His name is William Bracken."
"The Senator?" Castle interjected as Beckett's fingers tightened convulsively and he heard her gasp.
Agent Shaw kept her eyes on Beckett even as she nodded. "He was the District Attorney in Manhattan when all this started so he had plenty of connections with the NYPD. He used the money to finance his election as the Attorney General and then used that as a stepping-stone—"
"He won his Senate seat in 2004," Castle inserted slowly, his mind quickly running back over what little he knew of William Bracken. He'd been the state Attorney General in 1999 and must have already been planning out his next step so having the Bob Armen murder case re-opened with the attendant publicity would have been the last thing he wanted.
"Right," Agent Shaw agreed.
"William Bracken," Beckett echoed hollowly. "A Senator…" Her breathing was becoming shallow and he glanced at her in some concern that spiked into worry as he saw the look on her face, her wide eyes, her too-rapid breathing. Shit.
He reacted on instinct. He bent, using his own body as a barrier between Beckett and Agent Shaw, shielding Beckett from Agent Shaw's gaze. "Give us a minute!" he barked over his shoulder before belatedly adding with forced calm, "Please."
He was hardly aware of Agent Shaw standing and leaving the room before he focused on Beckett, her breathing terrifyingly jagged and her heart monitor registering uneven spikes. He lifted a hand to Beckett's cheek, gently persuading her to meet his eyes, although he wasn't sure she actually saw him. "Ssh, Beckett, it's okay. I've got you. You're okay," he crooned, not even aware of what he was saying. "Just breathe, okay? Breathe, Beckett, you don't have to fight. You're going to be okay…" He went on babbling soothing nothings for he didn't know how long until slowly, agonizingly slowly, her breathing slowed, became even, her heart monitor once more regular.
She was pale, looked white and drawn, utterly spent, as she lay on the bed. His heart twisted sharply. He'd known she'd lost weight but it had never been more starkly apparent as it was now, her cheekbones standing out too prominently in her almost gaunt face. Greatly daring—and because he couldn't help it—he dropped a fleeting kiss on her cheekbone. She was still beautiful and at that moment, he felt as if he'd never loved her more.
Her eyelids fluttered and he straightened up slowly. "Beckett, should I try to send Agent Shaw away, tell her to come back later?"
That made her straighten her head a little, her gaze focusing. "No, no," she got out. "I need to know. I can manage."
He should have expected that. He decided, not for the first time, that there might be nothing more amazing in the world than watching Kate Beckett steel herself to face whatever she had to face, to see the determination and strength of will ripple through her. She might be pale and utterly exhausted but she would do what she felt she needed to do. Invictus, he thought, that was what she was. Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods there be, for her unconquerable soul. An unconquerable soul, that was what Kate Beckett was, her head bloody, but unbowed. "Okay."
He stepped to the door and once again gestured to Agent Shaw before returning to the bedside and felt a little flare of warmth coil around his heart because Beckett once again curled her fingers around his, where it was mostly hidden by the blanket.
His respect for Agent Shaw increased by leaps and bounds because Agent Shaw did not express sympathy or concern for Beckett. Agent Shaw clearly was a good judge of character, knew Beckett well enough to know she wouldn't appreciate it. All Agent Shaw did was continue on, briskly, almost as if they had not been interrupted at all. "Montgomery was keeping tabs on Bracken, collected enough damaging information to force a sort of stalemate but with Montgomery gone, the stalemate is over. And that's where I come in."
Castle felt a chill inside. Montgomery must have basically been blackmailing his blackmailer—mutual assured destruction, as the phrase went. But before Montgomery had died, made his voluntary sacrifice and atonement in the hangar, he had sent the file to Agent Shaw to ensure that Beckett would be safe. He glanced at Beckett, his heart twisting. Montgomery's plan hadn't worked. But she was still alive. And Jordan Shaw was on the case.
"When will you arrest Bracken?" Beckett asked flatly.
"Not yet. What Montgomery sent us is a start but—"
"A start?!" Castle interrupted, not able to hold it in. "But you know what he did, what he's responsible for. What more do you need?"
"More," Agent Shaw answered coolly. "Look, the solid information we have on him is for blackmail and extortion, violation of campaign finance laws, and possible racketeering charges, and if we go after him now, sure, we'd get a conviction but his sentence wouldn't be long. We have bread crumbs, hinting at other crimes including murder, but it's not a solid case yet. We know there's more out there so we're going to take the time to get this right so we have an air-tight case. He's a senator; he still has powerful friends, and I don't think I need to tell you what's at stake."
That shut him up and Beckett nodded, her lips set. Agent Shaw was right. He might be impatient but when this ended, it had to be with nothing less than a rock-solid conviction for the murder of Johanna Beckett. Not only for Beckett herself and for Jim but because from what he'd learned about her, Johanna Beckett deserved nothing less than justice.
"But we know all you've done to make this possible, Beckett, so that's why I'm here to explain all this. It's what Captain Montgomery intended."
"Detectives Esposito and Ryan, my partners, did just as much. Have you talked to them?" Beckett asked. That was like her too, to give credit where it was due.
"I'm talking to you first."
Beckett grimaced. "And I'm stuck here. Will you let Esposito and Ryan help? They'll want to."
It was, Castle knew, a request made somewhat less for the boys' sake, although they would, of course, be glad to help, than for Beckett herself. The boys would be her proxy, as it were, in this investigation, the only way she could try to keep some measure of control over what went on. Beckett might respect Agent Shaw but Beckett trusted the boys more.
Agent Shaw nodded. "The help will be appreciated, especially because I'm going to limit the people involved on the FBI's end to those I know I can trust. This whole thing started with corrupt law enforcement and I won't have this fall apart because of corrupt law enforcement." Her expression softened. "Focus on your recovery, Beckett. You and your team have done plenty to get the investigation this far and we're going to get this guy, close this case for good."
Agent Shaw glanced at Castle with a faint, engaging smile. "Now, am I forgiven for barging into the hospital?"
He mustered up a smile. "Definitely."
Agent Shaw stood up. "Just so you know, the FBI will be keeping an eye on you, your family, Montgomery's family, make sure nothing else happens while we're investigating."
Castle relaxed a little. The FBI was arranging for security. He wouldn't call off his private security but it did make him feel better to know they'd have backup.
Beckett held out her hand for Agent Shaw to shake. "Thank you," she said simply.
"Take care of yourself, Beckett. I'll be in touch." Agent Shaw turned to face him and he shook her hand. "Mr. Castle, I'm glad to have met you."
"Likewise, Agent Shaw."
Agent Shaw released his hand and turned to the door. "I can see myself out. You can stay here with Detective Beckett, as I'm sure you'd prefer, Mr. Castle." She glanced back to meet Beckett's eyes. "Feel better, Kate," she added softly.
And then she was gone, slipping out the door and leaving him once more alone with Beckett.
Beckett immediately closed her eyes but the way her hand was fisted around the blanket was evidence enough that it wasn't to sleep but only an attempt to calm herself.
He sank down onto the visitor chair, suddenly feeling exhausted, as if he'd walked miles, his thoughts whirling. William Bracken. They knew the name of the man who'd killed Beckett's mom. After all these years, they had a name. An end was in sight.
Thanks to Captain Montgomery. Another way in which he was making reparations for the mistakes he'd made. Castle felt a renewed surge of grief for Roy, wishing desperately, not for the first time, that he'd had the opportunity to talk to Roy about some of this, tell Roy that he understood, that he would stay with Beckett. Instead, the last time he'd talked to Roy had been some meaningless jibes over the poker game. Only that and nothing more.
He looked up at Beckett to see that she'd opened her eyes, was uncharacteristically fidgeting by pleating a fold in her blanket, smoothing it out, and then folding it again, a repetitive, mindless motion.
He wanted to ask if she was okay, how she was feeling about all this, but he knew Beckett too well to think she'd appreciate the expression of worry. So instead, he commented inanely, "So that was Agent Jordan Shaw. She's impressive."
"What do you know about her?"
"I know she cracked the Hudson Valley strangler case when she was only 25. She'd only been with the FBI a couple years at the time, a rookie, but somehow she profiled what kind of car the killer drove and that was how they got him. She's like the federal you."
"Research?"
He shrugged. "Occupational hazard, poring over real-life crimes."
"The Captain trusted her too."
"Beckett…" he began, not even sure what he was going to say now that she'd opened the door to talking about all Agent Shaw had told them.
Beckett sighed and fumbled to press the button to lower her bed again. "I'm really tired. Can we talk about this later?" she asked, her words slurring a little.
"Yes, of course," he blurted out hurriedly, inwardly kicking himself. She was still pale and even before Agent Shaw had shown up, she'd been tired. This was no time to be pushing her to talk. "Sleep."
"Night," she mumbled.
Castle settled back in his chair, resuming his nightly vigil over Beckett's sleep.
~To be continued…~
A/N 2: I didn't originally intend to deviate from canon so much but the more I thought about it, the less I liked what Montgomery did with the file because it's so obviously a temporary measure as Bracken's hardly someone who's safe to blackmail. And in this story, Montgomery couldn't be sure Castle would be around to try to keep Beckett from looking further into the case so he would need to come up with another solution.
The lines Castle thinks about Beckett's unconquerable soul are from the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley.
Thank you as always to everyone who's still sticking with this story.