The Marlowe Prep Murder
Chapter 24
"Are you ready for this?" Kate asks as Rick pulls up at the diner. "I'm paid to put my ass on the line. You're not."
"I'm not about to give up on the case when we're getting this close," Rick declares. "Besides, Tim Scroggins' blood stains my daughter's academic institution. They let a hitwoman worm her way in and take out one of the students. I can't let that stand."
Johanna materializes as Kate and Rick exit his upscale sedan. "I'll be watching."
"That's a comfort," Rick responds. "If there was ever a time for a guardian angel, this could be it." He just wishes that Johanna could execute the sort of miracles that show up in Christmas movies. But another pair of eyes can't hurt, especially eyes completely undetectable to their quarry."
Violet waves from a booth. She wouldn't look deadly to anyone. Her short white hair is in curls, probably a perm. Wire-rimmed glasses soften dark eyes. A discriminating eye would attach the high price tag that would accompany the top-of-the-line fabric and tailoring, to her unadorned dress. The lady has expensive tastes but is too smart to shout it the hoi polloi. Castle is familiar with the look. Many well-heeled clients would accept her as a peer who would understand their needs. He hopes that she doesn't understand his.
Violet's done enough research to know that Kate Beckett's kept her maiden name. She stands as Rick and Kate approach, extending her hand. "Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett, so good to meet you. The couple adopts smiles as they shake the killer's hand. "Please, please, sit down. I confess that I've already sampled the coffee. You were right, Mr. Castle. It is excellent. I'm looking forward to tasting the food."
The waitress shows up on cue, nodding at Kate. "Nice to see you back again. Will your dad be joining you?"
Castle winks at her. "We ditched our adult supervision for the day, and Kate and I have a little business with Ms. Curtis, here."
"Violet, please," their prey enthuses.
"And we're Rick and Kate," he returns.
Near their table, Johanna's face tightens as she looks on at Violet. She's seen that engaging smile in prisons and courtrooms — on sociopaths who would kill without a moment's remorse.
"So," Violet begins, as soon as the server finishes taking their orders, "what sort of home will fulfill your dreams?"
Rick reaches for Kate's hand and presses a kiss into her palm. "Kate gave up her place and joined me in my loft. Of course, she brought many of her things, but we're two halves of the same whole now, and the loft still doesn't reflect that. We want a place that announces us as a couple joined for all time."
Violet nods rapidly. "Of course, of course. I assume that you'll be needing quite a bit of square footage, another loft, a large condo, or perhaps a townhome?"
"We're very flexible about that," Kate explains, "but we both would like a lot of space.
"The right place will call to us, and price is not a serious concern," Castle adds.
For a moment, Violet's smile is almost genuine. "Words an agent loves to hear. I do know of some exciting possibilities. I'll assemble a list and email it to you to look over. Then I can take you to see whatever properties may — call to you."
"Excellent!" Rick exclaims, rubbing his hands together.
Kate snuggles into his shoulder. "We'll look forward to it."
Jack scans through Richard's tweets. His son is asking for a meeting. That's the last thing Jack expected, but under the circumstances, it's a good thing. Morozov is supervising how Nico is spending Russian money, but the relationship seems to be solid. The Cardano version of a coronation for Nico appears to be approaching, and the Old Man will be wary of any possible interferences. Wrong steps by Richard or Kate could be the last steps they take.
Getting together with Richard could become complicated. Jack has to keep eyes on Morozov, and the Russian asset isn't big on sleeping. Fortunately, Jack isn't either. He can ping Richard's cellphone to figure out where he is and drop in on him when he has the chance.
"Do you really want to get a place that we pick out together?" Kate asks as Rick drives back to the loft.
He draws in a breath while he ponders her question. "Not this minute. Alexis won't graduate from high school for another two years. It would be a bad time to uproot her. And Mother's just beginning to get back on her financial feet. It may be a while before she can handle a place of her own again. But it might be nice when she can. I'd always want a place Alexis can come home to. We'd have to allow for that, but we'd still also have the house in the Hamptons. That will still be great for family gatherings, celebrations and such.
"And there's something else we haven't discussed much. While we're talking about sharing, are we going to include another living being in the equation? Kate, I know you were in no hurry to bring a child into a world with Bracken and his minions in it, but he can't hurt you or our family anymore."
"But the Cardanos could," Kate points out. "For all we know, Violet could be after us right now. And I'm a cop, Babe. I'm always going to be a target. I can't; I won't, carry any child of ours in the line of fire."
"And I wouldn't want you to," Rick agrees. "But cops take leave, Kate. They take desk assignments. There are several women we know at the precinct who made pregnancy work. Is your profession your real objection?"
Kate chews on the tip of her finger. "Maybe I just want you to myself for a while. You and I are an incredible team. We've attacked cases people thought were impossible and solved them. There's so much we can do, so much we can accomplish. I don't want to complicate things more than they already are — at least not yet. Maybe in a couple of years, around the time you would be willing to look for a new home, I'll be ready."
Rick drums his fingers on the steering wheel. "So we'll have a two-year crime buster's honeymoon and then see what develops? I guess that sounds fair — and fun."
"Sounds fun to me too, Babe."
"We just have to survive the Old Man's favorite hit lady."
Violet regretfully studies the listings she plans to show Castle and Beckett. If they decided to buy any of those properties, she'd make one hell of a commission. Unfortunately, she can't afford to take them to closing — not of a sale. The Old Man wants her to close them down permanently. She needs to select just the right location to stage a little accident. Stairs are suitable for one death, but not two. There would be too many questions. Things go wrong with elevators, but she might be caught on one with them. Poison is out of the question also. An M.E. would run every tox screen in the book on a dead cop and a famous mystery writer. Violet needs to get creative. It will take her a while to figure it out, but she'll find just the right way to take them out. She might even enjoy planning it.