Couples

Chapter 29

"Is ESU going in now?" Detective Scott whispers. "I don't hear anything."

"You're not supposed to," Purvis responds. "They have a squad of ex-special ops guys who take care of the guards before they can alert anyone in the house. As soon as they have the security taken out, we'll get the all-clear. If they pull their part off right, we'll be catching some pretty big fish in flagrante delicto." Charlie wiggles his salt and pepper eyebrows. "There's nothing more embarrassing – or intimidating – than getting caught with your pants down. That A.D.A. Douglas is counting on the johns pushing each other aside to point fingers and cover their fat asses."

Purvis' radio beeps a cadence. "That's the signal. According to Douglas' intelligence, the heavy action takes place on the second floor. The shutters meant to keep curiosity seekers from peeking in will keep the clients from peeking out. Let's go see what kind of a catch we've pulled in."

Purvis and Scott burst through a gold leaf-covered door. They find a pained looking Victor Barron staring down at a girl struggling against the gold-plated shackles holding her to the bedposts. Purvis quickly photographs the scene before freeing the girl as Scott snaps cuffs on Victor Barron.

"This is all a terrible mistake," Barron insists. "I thought I was coming to a birthday party tonight."

"Which is why you wore your birthday suit?" Purvis taunts.

Scott drones the Miranda warning before marching Barron out of the room.

"Can you understand me?" Charlie asks the girl, quickly wrapping herself in a sheet on the bed.

"Damn straight, I can understand you!" she spits out. "I'm from Harlem. These f***ing honkies grabbed me out of my crib. But that one your partner just cuffed – I bit him. You'll find my marks on his thing. You won't have to look hard. He hasn't got much. Can I have some clothes and get out of here now?"

"We'll have a medic check you out and get you some clothes right away," Charlie promises. "But we'll need to get your statement before you go anywhere. What's your name?"

"Indigo Green. My grandmother was into tie-dying."

"Well, Ms. Green, we'll get you out of here and wherever you want to go as soon as possible. However, we can really use your testimony."

Purple eyes flash against her dark skin. "Call these bastards out? I can't wait."


An incoming text activates a fanfare on Kate's phone. "New alert?" Rick asks.

"Special for tonight," Kate explains, scanning the screen. "Charlie Purvis and an ESU team pulled off the raid. Child and adult services are taking care of some of the girls. The medics said they seemed to be all right physically. CSU is also at the scene now. Ooh, you'll never guess who got dragged in."

Castle rubs his hands together, his eyebrows rippling. "The televangelist who does all those sermons raging against the sins of the flesh? Um, what's his name? Spence?"

"No preachers tonight, but I imagine Vice will be checking the client list. Purvis' team arrested Victor Barron and – wait for it!"

"Come on, Kate," Rick pleads. "This could be worth a chapter in my next book."

"Maybe more than a chapter. They caught Governor Burrell, red-faced, bare-assed, and at full attention. But this part isn't funny. The girl he was with didn't speak any English, but an officer Cho translated. The victim said she was 14. Her parents sold her to a slaver, and she was shipped over with other girls in a cargo container. She said three of them died during the trip. Those deaths wouldn't be in my jurisdiction, but it looks like more information will be coming in about just how many crimes are associated with the traffickers. Apparently, the head of the organization is a guy named Gaetz." Kate spells out the name.

Rick runs his hand over the stubble fully visible along his jaw. "Gaetz," Rick repeats. "That sounds familiar. "Oh yes. There is a congressman by that name. He's a real fist-pounder for law and order but never bothers to mention he was pulled in himself on a DUI. I used him as a model for a minor character once. It was a scuzzball trying to block Storm from going after an opiates manufacturer who was deliberately getting our troops hooked. My version of Gaetz was on the take from the pharmaceutical industry. I heard rumors the real one has questionable relationships as well, but no one's nailed him for them. The Gaetzes, my imaginary one, and the Gaetz just rounded up are into two different forms of human abuse. I wonder if the real politician is related to the sex slaver?"

"If he is," Kate declares, "it won't take long to come out."


"Hey, Chief!" Criminalist II Dickens calls to Osnitz, holding up a bottle of lotion stamped with a stylized G. We found these in all the rooms. Should we pack them up for the lab?"

"Do that," Osnitz instructs. "I know exactly who'll want to run an analysis, and I'll be fascinated to learn what she finds."


As the sun is rising, Rick sits straight up in bed. "My Funko!"

Groaning, Kate turns over. "What are you talking about?"

"I chased after Bennie without ever buying my Funko Space Cowboy. I wonder if it's still there."

"You really care that much about a plastic figure from a junk shop?" Kate presses. "You can probably get one online – with less dust on it."

"Actually, I can't. I checked," Rick confesses. "I could wait for some Whedon fan to fall on hard times and put one up for auction. But who knows how long that would take? It might not happen at all. That find was just waiting for me to scoop it up. I could go to the shop this morning. Meryl wants to get some writing in, but I can take Lily with me. She'll enjoy the outing – unless you need my services on another case."

"Montgomery will probably want me to go after another file from Bob's stack," Kate considers, "but not with Lily in tow. You go pick up your treasure. Maybe I can make it back to the loft for lunch or something. And if I have a case, we can put our heads together."

"Sounds good." Rick checks the time on his watch on the bedside table. "Unless Lily decides to rise with Old Sol, we don't need to be up for another hour. There are things we can put together besides our heads."

"Yes, there are." Kate presses her lips to his. "And we can start right here and work down."

Rick nibbles the skin on Kate's neck. "I like the way you think. Plotting my path now."


Eli never did turn in the night before. Between monitoring what was going on at the Gaetz mansion and worrying about going up against the governor, he couldn't close his eyes.

He may be tired but can't imagine climbing into bed. If Lana were there, he could hold her for a while, but he thought she should go back to her place last night. She has early duty today, and there was no point in driving them both crazy.

Now he wishes he'd reconsidered. He could have camped in what passes for his living room while she slept in his bed. At least he would have known she was there. He checks the watch he never removed from his wrist. Lana will be waking up any minute if she's not already stirring.

Maybe they can meet for a vending machine breakfast. If he's going to spend the day putting together charges against the most powerful man in the state, he can use all the support he can get. Besides, he really wants to see her.