Kate's been through a fight for her life. Now she is in the fight of her life. She's not going to break her word and go after the dragon. What she can do is fight for her partner against the darkness that is trying to pull him under. She gets her inspiration from Castle. He kept showing up. If she can't physically be there, she can symbolically reach out to him. The easiest way is making his burner phone chirp several times a day with text messages, stupid jokes, inspiring quotes, and even pictures of her kitten.
She pours everything into supporting the man she loves. The security team sets up an anonymous way for her to make purchases using prepaid debit cards. Castle brought her coffee. Beckett discovers he's drinking tea and searches for the best energy boosting tea in existence. It happens to be called Jumpy Monkey made with roasted peaberry coffee beans, almonds, white chocolate and chicory. It's delivery is followed the next day by a s'more recipe book, then a Batman Pez dispenser, and a cherry flavored whiskey distilled in northern Michigan. She searches for anything that reinforces their connection. He gets an Angry birds stress ball. She sends a wine called Four Play and gets herself a bottle called Quilt (she's finishing up the Storm at Sea lap throw from her time in the therapy center.) The dart board with a nautical compass design might get held back as a Christmas gift for him. She has to fight for her future with him.
Meanwhile she works with her father on the legal issues to make Black Pawn realize the monumental mistake they made when they went after Richard Castle. With the blessing of Castle's lawyer, James Beckett pays a visit to Black Pawn's CEO. Mr. Beckett presents a lawsuit asking for unspecified compensation because of the way Nikki Heat has impacted Katherine Beckett's life. The elder Beckett made it clear that resolving issues with Mr. Castle could make the new legal headache go away quickly. Rather than finding the man reasonable, Jim was brushed off as a hack lawyer wanting quick money. The man fails to understand the huge miscalculation. James Beckett is a partner in a top firm and has a whole army of young lawyers to do whatever he tells them. He takes devilish delight in planning an onslaught of unprecedented legal torts.
Time is the piper leading the unjust towards reckoning with the consequences of their own actions. Castle and Beckett both miss the freedom to live a normal life - to come and go and talk to people without worrying about being followed or even killed. There is no use in wishing for more; this has to be enough for now.
Ryan and Esposito are still pretending to look into Beckett's shooting and deliberately finding nothing. Ike Thornton is working full time with the task force. Detective Esposito acts as a courier to carry messages back and forth between the confidential team at 1PP and a confidential informant that happens to be a best selling author. Espo is supposed to be out of the loop, but he's picked up enough information to be in awe of the case - and Castle's invisible role. In a rare moment of humility, Javier respectfully apologizes for calling Castle 'writer-boy' and telling him to man up. It heals a little bit of the friendship between the men.
Richard Castle knows lots of dirty secrets about Bracken's organization. He probably knows more than Bracken does about who is really loyal, where they go, and how they fulfill their duties. They are the names on the 'Queen' list while the 'Bishops' are incorruptible.
The pawns are people forced to play a role. It's the main source for who flips on Bracken once his hold over them is dissolved. If someone on the list was ensnared by financial problems, the reward money promised by Richard Castle's tip line dissolves Bracken's hold. If a misstep from the past is being held over them, Castle's people get enough details to find other avenues to uncover the corruption leaving the pawns safely out of the game. (Rick is still on the list of pawns. Beckett is a bishop. Or maybe he's gotten grandiose ideas and made Kate a pawn and he's run off to the other side to get a promotion. He doesn't know how to balance their partnership.)
The twist is the man above Bracken pulling his strings. Ben Moss is the King. Actually he's a king-maker because he studies the power hungry masses fighting to get ahead and chooses who the organization needs or wants. He grooms them and ensures a successful career with the price being complete loyalty to him alone. It's interesting that Bracken thinks people like Noah Charles and Jordan Norris work for him but they're actually loyal to Moss. The upper echelons of the organization get murky. It's obvious Moss is planning on getting Senator Bracken elected President making Moss the ultimate puppet master. It's also too much to go up against. What did Beckett say: 'She went too high and reached too far so it's no wonder she fell.' Castle takes the lesson to heart. He doesn't know how to counter-act the King's power, but the Queen is still going down even if it's the last thing he does.
Resolution is coming ever closer. The task force is succeeding beyond all expectations. This small group of men are off anyone's radar and they are pouring everything into the investigation. Their collective expertise and synergy are fitting the big pieces together. The drug supply, money laundering, and corruption are becoming clear and evidence is piling up. Interpol Agent Luis AuClair tracks the drugs before they enter the US and watches the flow as the proceeds are laundered through various enterprises both in the states and abroad. FBI Agent Sorenson has mapped criminal organization and how the money is used. Dr. Kyle Winston uncovered the pipeline of military veterans that fail psychological tests or get discharges for bad conduct that feeds a security company which takes care of problems. That part of the organization is getting lots of calls from Bracken as they continue to scramble chasing phantom sightings of Beckett at various canary trap sites. Demming and Thornton take on the tedious grunt work to make sure the evidence is solid and will stand up in court.
Castle has one loose end that can expose him. The hacker knows who he is. He got a teasing message the hacker's name - Hail - was homage to his book In a Hail of Bullets. He asked the security company to watch a cash pick up he left for this potential threat. Z Lot did the surveillance and only revealed two innocuous facts: the hacker is a woman and she has a British accent. Beyond that they vouched for her integrity and told him not to worry. The amount of information he has received is so far beyond what he even knew to ask for. She uncovered real passports with fake names and warned him about Bracken's contingency plan. She also uncovered hidden overseas accounts that she wants to funnel to the victims or their families. He cautions her to be patient, yet he has no control over her. He has to trust her.
He sits back in his desk chair. He doesn't mind the time or money that's being spent. The money from the Ferrari is flowing like water out in a hundred different ways to alter thousands of tangents changing lives for the better. This crusade has morphed him into something different. It niggles in the recesses of his mind that it matters if he's protecting his castle or trying to be a knight and save a damsel. It feels like he diminished the abilities of KB to feel better about himself. His motivations are important and he can't figure out his obsession. He knows his love for her won't ever disappear. He's beginning to trust her feelings for him are just as strong. If he could only puzzle out why he keeps playing her like a yo-yo - he pushes her away but wants her close. He shakes it off. It's a mystery he's not sure it's within his power to solve.
The burner phone snaps him out of the haze. He takes a moment to clear his head and give his full attention to whatever is about to be revealed. 'Becky' is the name on the screen and his voice responds with an energy rarely seen these days. "You've reached Alexander. Press 1 to leave a boring message, press 2 for 'I heart you,' press 3 if you want witty conversation, press 4 for trivia and 5 if..."
"Wow. Word vomit. How's your caffeine intake?"
"Minimal. How's yours? Making any grown men run for cold showers with obscene moans while you sip a cup of java?"
"There's only one certain type of coffee that's hot and steamy that really does it for me, and having my Barista run for a cold shower isn't what I had in mind..."
He gulps. He gropes for the mug of Jumpy Monkey tea and finds it empty. He whimpers. "Um, now that I'm discombobulated, I need a minute to regain coherent thought. To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of hearing your voice?"
"The task force called. They contacted Judge Markaway like you suggested to sign off on the warrants when the time comes. Next is choosing the federal prosecutor. I'm trying to respect your role in all this so I wanted to check with you to see if she passes muster."
"She?"
"Candace Robinson - we met her on that mob case but it was one that involved Sorenson so I want to know if you're ok with it."
"It's fine that Sorenson knows her. I'm sorry I was an ass about past connections, but I do appreciate you letting me check my sources to see if she's clean." He presses a few keys on the laptop and looks at the list. Her name actually appears on the bishop list. "She's good."
She's not questioning his word, so the inquiry is tentative, "How do you know? I shouldn't ask, but I can't help my curiosity."
"You know I've got sources in the mob. I'm guessing here, but it's possible that someone tried to bribe her in the past but she didn't take it." He doesn't want to lie to her, so what he said is true even if the misdirection makes her attribute the information to the wrong source.
"The task force would never have gotten this far without your quiet guidance. I wish we could build theory together and help more directly." There's an unmistakable wistful longing in her voice.
"Is there something they asked about that you want to run by me?"
"They're really focusing on my mom's case because it was early in the corruption and there are no overseas accounts to filter through. They want to show a direct connection with the dragon's bank account and the money used to pay Dick Coonan without relying on the files Montgomery removed. They are trying to negate the possibility the defense can have it tossed out of court. The problem is the warehouse fire. With the supporting documents gone, even the arsonist testifying isn't really strong enough to make a solid connection that the dragon paid for her murder."
"I haven't heard what the arsonist admitted. Any helpful details there?"
"Just that he was shown how to tamper with the electrical box by a man who the guys discovered is still serving as a fire chief. The arsonist also was instructed to set a fire in a certain section of the bank without using accelerants to be certain those records burned."
"Did he say how he set that fire?" There's something lurking in the back of Castle's mind that might be important.
Beckett picks up on it. "He said that's what took most of his time. Something about if you've ever built a campfire then you know a stack of papers is really hard to burn unless you wad them up and let oxygen get in between the sheets. He had to knock over a few stacks of boxes so the papers scattered and the contents would burn quicker. Does that help us?"
"It tells me there were boxes of paper but not more flammable items available to use."
She's stumped, "What's else would there be?"
Eureka! "Copies! You know I spent a lot of time when I was younger in libraries. Sometimes I'd end up in the research section to read old newspapers. They were on microfilm and the archive librarian appreciated having someone to talk to and she shared the origins of that particular media. If I recall correctly, in the 1920s microfilm was first commercially used for storage of copies of bank records! It took less space to store a microfilm copy of a check instead of the actual check."
"Rick, this could be huge," her voice has gone up an octave and she's fairly quivering with the possibility. "There might be copies that aren't on paper, but what makes you think they weren't in the warehouse?"
"Because through the mid 1980s the film was an acetone which is flammable and usually stored in metal cabinets. The newer microfiche isn't as flammable, but it was usually stored with the older stuff. The arsonist would know all about acetone and use microfilm to spread the fire if the option was available. If there are pictures from the burned-out warehouse, and metal cabinets are not visible, then the microfilm copies might still exist, stored elsewhere and overlooked by the bad guys."
"Overlooked by everyone but you. Rick... you amaze me! I'd like to stroke your ego some more, but the task force is waiting for me to call them back. I can also pass along this new avenue of investigation."
"Wait, I want to get a voucher for this ego-stoking so I can use it at a later time!" He overplays the innuendo because that's what they used to do and they both need a little break from the darkness.
Her voice drops and sultry words start slipping into his ear, "Not up for it, Rick? I bet if I whisper my fantasies about your desk where I..."
"Apples!" This woman can do things to him with just her voice. For better or worse, she's an integral part of his future and the thought excites him. He takes a deep breath and hears her quiet chuckle.
He teases back, "This is exactly why I've banished you! My poor brain is struggling now to remember another possibility I want you to ask about. Um, there is a guy who is the main messenger between the dragon and Vulcan Simmons. His name is Jason Marks and I'd like your nerd friend to do a psych profile on him."
"Kyle can do that but he will need some information to work with."
He really can't tell her much because the illegal listening devices and Hail's info were what tipped him off. Castle makes a mental note to have Pulgotti ask the inmate network if anyone knows this guy so he can give the task force a better reason to focus on him. "I don't have much yet. There's a priest I'm friends with. He was a source back when I was researching wiccans and witchcraft. I was dropping off some old t shirts recently when I saw this guy and recognized Jason Marks from the photo arrays that Mother's students supplied. I casually asked my friend about him and get the feeling Jason might be having a tough time with his conscious. His behavior is changing for the better. He's making large cash donations and he's recently become a devoted church goer. I'll send my notes, but I'm wondering if this guy can be flipped and become an informer. If profiling isn't something Dr. Winston is comfortable doing, we can always ask Special Agent Jordan Shaw to get involved."
"Kyle can do it. An informer would be a potentially huge advance for the investigation. Thank god for you, Rick. I'm going to owe you so much."
"Um, about that, I need a favor. Your father sent me a check and a note about reimbursing me for security expenses. There's no way I'll ever cash it but I don't want to insult him or have him think I'm treating him like a charity case. Can you talk to him?"
"Why can't we repay you? I refuse to accept any justification that involves Nikki Heat and I have some idea of how much a Ferrari costs, so this is just the firsts of many checks that will be coming your way from both of us."
"Don't do that! I really mean it. I can't live with our relationship being reduced to a balance sheet. I was an ass to keep a tally on how many times one of us saved the other. If you feel like you 'owe me,' I'll torture myself whenever we have a fight wondering if you forgive me only because you're supposedly in my debt."
She's quiet for a long moment. "I took you for granted when we worked together at the precinct. Now you're telling me not to carry a debt of gratitude, and I don't like the way that sounds. Then I force myself to stop and hear the message behind the words. I love you so much but I'm trying not to push - too much. Let me say thanks for always being my partner and having my back."
"That sounds really good. Thanks for understanding."
Her voice is soft and tentative, "Rick, you sound better. How are you?"
"I'm less of a bear these days. The closer it comes to the dragon going down the better I feel about the future."
"The closer I get to you the better I feel about the future."
"Kaaate..." he whines, "You're like a drug - once I get a taste I'd want more so we'd start taking risks to be together. I really don't think we should see each other until this is over."
She's trying to follow his lead so she backs off a little. "The task force said it will be soon. They asked if I can look over the warrants for any potential problems and help do background checks for the people helping with all the arrests. Is that okay?"
His remorse carries over the phone, "You don't have to ask for my permission. I'm sorry and I'll keep saying it. It's your mom's case. If they want your help, it's up to you to decide. I had no right to guilt you into staying out of this."
"We're partners and we each have our ups and downs. What matters is that we get 'always.'" There's a pause then a solemn voice asks, "Rick, when the time comes, and they tell me who the dragon is, will you be there - with me? I know I'll be surrounded by good people - Ryan and Esposito will be there, but I want my partner. I need you but you said we shouldn't see each other until it's over..." her voice trails off.
He can picture her chewing on her lower lip. "Kate, of course I'll be there. It's a pivotal moment in your life, and nothing will keep me away. I do love you."
She gasps and then happiness melts all the previous tension away, "Rick, I love you so much. I'm glad it's mutual, and I'm going to keep fighting for you - for us."
"Until tomorrow, Kate." It's enough for now and an assurance for tomorrow.