The Marlowe Prep Murder

Chapter 25

"Either Alexis is getting faster, or I'm getting slower," Rick laments, rubbing the small of his back.

"Hey, your laser tag tournament stands at a draw," Kate reminds him. "At least you got to play, and considering you're pitting yourself against a wily teenager, that's not bad, Babe."

"But, I like to win."

"So do I," Kate admits, checking her watch. "It's getting late. Do you want to...?"

They both startle at a soft rap on the door. Rick uses his phone to activate the feed from a newly installed hall camera and checks the image before opening the door. Jack smiles. "Hello, Richard."

Rick gestures Jack inside. "I find myself in need of your super-spy knowledge."

"I'm not usually involved in domestic matters, Richard, but in this case, the activities of Nico Cardano and the Old Man have an international component. I take it you're referring to the Old Man's errand girl."

Rick's mouth gapes. "How did you know we were after Vera or Violet or whoever she is? I was talking about another case and another killer, a Russian one who went after someone with a bat'leth."

"A bat'leth?" Jack repeats. "Is that some kind of sci-fi weapon?"

"Star Trek, Klingon," Castle explains. "Possibly made from an alloy a defector, known as Tom Namon, developed in Russia. Kate and I got that far on the case, but we have no idea who actually used the weapon to shred Namon."

Jack strokes the white stubble on his jaw. "An inefficient way to kill. The Russians aren't big on inefficiency. The only operative I can think of who could get away with that sloppy a mission and not be taken out himself, is — or was — Igor Putin."

"Putin?" Kate questions. "As in a relative of Vladimir Putin?"

"Second cousin, if I recall," Jack confirms, "from a brief liaison."

"What do you mean was?" Castle asks.

"He was sent to spearhead an operation in Crimea, which didn't make the Ukrainians very happy. They captured and imprisoned him. The chatter is that he died not long ago. Our analysts felt that the Kremlin might have viewed his death with relief. He was something of an embarrassment, but couldn't be eliminated under standard protocols."

Kate sighs. "He'll be an embarrassment to us too. I can't use information like that to close the case. It will be open forever."

"A mar on Kate's otherwise exceptional record," Rick points out.

Jack shakes his head. "Look, I can have some intelligence — highly redacted — transmitted to Kate. She can use it to close your sci-fi murder. But you two have much bigger problems than Kate's kudos from the N.Y.P.D. Old Man Cardano is about to officially pass the torch to Nico, and he will allow nothing and no one to get in the way of that. You two are an obstacle, and the wheels are already turning to remove you permanently. What the hell were you thinking meeting with Vonda Covici?"

"Vonda Covici?" Rick asks before rolling his eyes. "Right. Vera Cafaro or Violet Curtis, still the same initials."

"Vonda Covici is her real name," Jack reveals. "And she is excellent at her job. The Agency tried to recruit her at one point, but her loyalty is to the Old Man."

"Not that excellent," Rick claims. "Kate and I uncovered her as the perpetrator of a murder at Marlowe Prep. That's why we drew her out. We're trying to get something we can use to nail her and the Old Man."

"More likely she's planning how she's going to nail you," Jack retorts. "You should cut contact with her immediately. I can take care of this."

"But the Old Man is behind everything she's done," Kate protests. "Even if you 'take care of it,' whatever that means with Vonda, he still won't pay for the murder."

"Or any of his others," Rick appends. "And you said it yourself. Management of all the family's ill-gotten gains will pass to Nico. The mob will get stronger and even more capable of victimizing the public. And I'm sure that letting this go won't help with your 'international component,' either."

"You have a point," Jack acknowledges, 'but it's going to be difficult to protect you from Vonda. She doesn't have a favorite M.O. That's what makes her so dangerous. She could strike at you anywhere in any way."

"Then we'll just have to stay in control," Kate decides. "We'll know where she can set us up and when, and have eyes on her. That way, we can catch her in the act and use her to get to the Old Man."

"And without him, Nico's machinations, international and otherwise, could fall apart as well. It wouldn't take much to start a rumor that would entice some ambitious underling to snatch some of Nico's D.N.A. and prove that he's not a Cardano," Rick figures.

Air whooshes from between Jack's lips. "What?"

Rick grins triumphantly. "Wow! Something Uncle Sam's alphabet soup didn't know. That little tidbit came out of our humble investigation. Nico isn't the Old Man's biological grandson. Genetically, he's not even a Cardano, a fact, that with Vonda's help, the Old Man has been hiding for decades. If someone reveals it, the succession falls into disarray. Perhaps whatever deal you're tracking does too."

"That could put some serious pressure on the Kremlin," Jack realizes. "Richard, it appears that you've stumbled into working for your country again. I'll see about rounding up some support, but don't agree to any more meetings with Vonda until I let you know it's in place."

Kate's eyes flash. "This is still an N.Y.P.D. case, and I'm the primary, Jack. I'll have to be on top of any plan to take Vonda in, and by that I mean bring her in alive. She can't spill anything on the Old Man if she's dead."

"I copy that, Kate, but as you're aware, officially, I don't exist. Any operation against Vonda and the Old Man won't either. I'll need you to alert me to any contact with Vonda. I'll alert you to our resources and presence in turn," Jack agrees, "but that's all I can do."

Rick lays his arm around Kate's shoulders. "It's your call, Love. Whatever you decide, I'm with you all the way."

Kate draws a cleansing breath. "All right, Jack. You give me a way I can reach you — directly and immediately. I'll let you know where and when we'll be meeting with Vonda. We'll work out a strategy, and I'll give you as much time to get your people in place as I can. And I get Vonda, breathing and with as little damage as possible."

Jack taps his fingers against his thigh. "Agreed. You picked a formidable woman, Richard."

"Jack, you have no idea."

Vonda studies the layout of an estate on East 69th Street. It was built during the dot-com boom but the owners were hit hard by the recession. As of late, they've been in China negotiating the use of facilities to cut their production costs. They've been desperate to sell the mansion and grounds for some time, meaning that Vonda could negotiate a good deal. Not that the price matters. Rick and Kate will never live to complete the sale. The property is quirky, with features Vonda can use to her advantage. She can see the obituary in the Ledger now, eulogizing the famous author and his accomplished wife and lamenting their sudden demise. The Old Man can enjoy a pleasant read over his morning coffee. As usual, Vonda will reap the rewards of his satisfaction.