Recollection Rick
Chapter 29
Ryan and Esposito greet Kate as she steps off the elevator at the 12th Precinct. Esposito grins. "Beckett, you've got to see this."
The pair lead the way to Interrogation, where a thoroughly trussed-up dark-skinned prisoner sits. A bright red ribbon is tied around his body, and a note is pinned to his shirt. "Loose ends of the museum murder tied up for Detective Katherine Beckett. The package goes by Husayn."
"That's the man in Ashura Otieno's sketch, the one Ferris sent to kill Myra Forshuck," Kate realizes.
Montgomery's voice comes from behind her. "Your little present was dropped off in the parking lot a little while ago. The cops downstairs found him and brought him up here. But there's more. I got a call from Mark Fallon, from Homeland Security. He said he received intelligence that Myra Forshuck's killer is involved in a plot to blow up the museum. I gave him a heads up when your delivery arrived. He's on his way over. Any idea who might have been in a gift-giving mood?"
"Not a clue, Sir," Kate lies. She's not about to spill her suspicions that Castle's father is involved. That bit of speculation could cause huge complications at work and home. "Maybe I have a Secret Santa."
Montgomery's eyes narrow. "Right. Uh-huh. In October."
"The Great Pumpkin?" Ryan interjects. "He rises from the pumpkin patch for good little girls and boys."
Kate rolls her eyes. "I think you've spent too much time talking to my husband. I don't care who brought this guy in. I need to question him."
Montgomery shakes his head. "I'm afraid that will have to wait until Fallon gets here. Homeland Security has already staked its claim on your suspect."
Kate exhales her exasperation. "Great!"
Fallon eyes the ribbon still attached to Husayn. "Do you have a friend in the C.I.A., Detective Beckett?"
"Not that I know of, Agent Fallon," Kate replies. Jack's never officially admitted to being in the C.I.A., at least not to her. And she's not sure she could class her father-in-law as a friend. Even thinking of him that way weirds her out. "But then spies don't necessarily admit to being spies, do they?" she adds.
"I suppose not, " Fallon allows, "but your husband has written some pretty detailed descriptions of covert operations. And I don't suppose he has contacts in the agency."
"And I don't suppose I could tell you if he did," Kate throws back. "So why don't we get to the heart of the matter, Agent Fallon. As far as my investigation revealed, Husayn killed Myra Forshuck at the behest of Rodney Ferris. Mr. Ferris apparently has connections with al-Shabaab, and possibly Boko Haram. He made my source, Ashura Otieno, believe he did. Husayn may have been one of those connections, but he's still a suspect in Myra Forshuck's murder. I need to question him about that and notify the District Attorney's office that we have him."
"Myra Forshuck's murder was tragic, Detective Beckett," Fallon concedes, "but it was a single death. As far as we know, Husayn had only limited details of the plot. It's my responsibility to confirm those and make sure he didn't hold anything back in, uh, a previous interrogation. If Husayn's co-conspirators succeed in blowing up the museum, it would not only take out the patrons. It could very well wipe out everyone in the subway below and the park outside. And I don't know enough to begin measuring the cultural and scientific loss.
"We could close down the museum, but we have no idea how long the closure would have to last. And the plan may include a secondary target of which Husayn was unaware. Tracing down the plot and making sure it doesn't succeed has to take priority. If you want in on that, Detective, you're welcome. I assume you've already collected considerable information concerning the museum."
Kate draws her fingertips over the dark leather of her folder. "I have, and I do want in, but after we make sure there won't be any bombing, Myra still deserves full justice. I want Husayn."
"Detective, if we can make sure there won't be any bombing, you can have him," Fallon promises.
It's unusual for Alexis to feel nervous when receiving the results of an exam, but she's relieved to see the "A" at the top of the one she most recently completed. She's had a niggling fear that spending too much time with Dana could screw with her goal to graduate as valedictorian. It isn't as much about the grades as having free choice of whatever college makes the most sense for her future. Hudson's admission standards aren't as high as they are for an ivy league school or one abroad. Still, entering from the top of her class will help with permissions for higher-level colloquia and seminars. Professor Gilly's recommendation will help with that too, but Alexis wants to make her entrance with as much juice as she can. And if she qualifies for advanced classes, she may be able to shave a semester or even a year off the time it takes to get her degree. That will get her into C.S.U. that much faster.
The bell rings, ending her last class of the day. She's meeting Dana up at Hudson and has some setting up to do on a project for Gilly, but it won't take long. After that, there's a lecture on unusual crime scene hazards that she and Dana are planning to attend together. She can do her homework with him over pizza and still get home in time to keep her dad from worrying, or at least worrying too much.
On the short walk from the subway station to the Hudson U. campus, Alexis is surprised by the large police presence. She's spotted a few members of the campus police now and then, but these are N.Y.P.D., at least six units, clustered around Fraternity Row.
Dana's a member of a fraternity but doesn't spend much time with his brothers. The house gives him a decent place to sleep, and he gets involved with the charitable functions but rarely attends a party. Like Alexis, he's under the drinking age. And he's confided to her that he didn't like it the one time he tried a beer. That excludes him from most frat merrymaking.
His lack of interest in alcohol doesn't bother Alexis. Though Kate's never said anything to her about it, Alexis has observed that Jim Beckett sticks to coffee and soft drinks. And while nursing Lily, Kate's also eased wine and whiskey from family celebrations, despite the well-stocked Castle liquor cabinet and rack of fine vintages. If Alexis invites Dana to holiday festivities at the loft, it's unlikely anyone will be hoisting glasses of anything except soda or sparkling cider.
She recognizes one officer she's seen dropping off samples at the C.S.U. lab. He's from narcotics. Dana's said he's heard about drug use at some fraternities on campus, but never anything that would merit this kind of response.
Her boyfriend waves at her from the path to the chemistry building, spreading his hands in confusion before she can ask. "I don't know what's going on, but it can't be good. I can check with some guys in my house later, but we should get going to the lecture now if we want to get good seats."
Alexis throws a last glance at the cops, spotting another narcotics officer she recognizes. She has a bad feeling.
