Couples
Chapter 114
"I think I made some real progress on the case today," Eli shares as he and Lana settle on the couch with after-work beers.
"With what you found out about the Lorenzos or with the Flatt trial?" Lana inquires.
"Both, with Hitchcock delivering the key to the Lorenzo family vault. But I was talking about the Flatt trial. Andrews called his first witness today. The man was supposed to testify that Flatt didn't know anyone associated with the murder. But I got him to admit that the only contacts he knew about were those Flatt made from the office. And even there, he had had no idea what Flatt did on his cell phone. I've already introduced the cell phone records through one of my witnesses. They showed calls to people this witness swore Flatt didn't know. Having your first witness impeached is not a great way to start a defense."
"So what do you think Andrews is going to do?" Lana wonders.
"Aside from throwing down a stiff drink, maybe several? If he doesn't have cards a lot better than the ones he's showing so far, he'll try to talk Flatt into making a plea deal."
"Do you think he'll succeed?" Lana asks, putting her bottle on the coffee table so she can snuggle against Eli's shoulder.
"It won't be easy. Flatt's led a Teflon life. Anything thrown at him has just slipped off. Of course, a lot of that was greased with money. Still, he's always had a smarmy way of convincing the public that he's a good guy who just skirts the rules a bit. That may work for questionable real estate deals, but I don't think it will go down well with a jury in a murder trial. However, until Andrews calls or approaches me, there's no point in thinking about it.
"Oh, and Rick Castle called me when I was on the way home. He wants to do our party at whatever time is most convenient for us. For now, my homework is pretty much done. I have to show up in court. I also have some things working their way through the system. But I don't take office until January. So as things stand at the moment, I'll be free for the weekend. What does your schedule look like?"
"I'm on Saturday, but I should be done by four or so. So the night is free. And I'm off Sunday."
"We could both sleep in Sunday morning, so Saturday night would work best," Eli figures. "I can text Rick to let him know – in the morning. Right now, we have better things to do."
"Yes, we do," Lana agrees.
Azra is more than a little restless. Her facial surgery went off without complications, and she's dealt with things a lot more painful – without pills from Dr. Feelgood. She strides over the nondescript carpeting in a nondescript apartment.
The file with the details of her new legend is already on her secure phone. It won't be complicated. She'll be working as a translator at the New York headquarters of a multinational corporation, with people from around the world coming and going all the time.
That the office is a cover for an unnamed agency is an extremely well-kept secret. In fact, until she received her legend, she had no idea. Its purpose is to track intelligence operations taking place under the cover of global commerce. Apparently, there are a lot of them.
For most of her career, Azra would have been chafing to get back in the field. However, after her stint with Military Intelligence, not to mention the long days on her feet posing as a servant, she can use the break. But that doesn't mean she enjoys doing nothing. Well, almost nothing. After being away from American T.V. for years, a few shows got their hooks into her. She would never have expected it, but she picked up an addiction to Temptation Lane. The unapologetic soapiness is a strange but effective antidote to the overdose of reality she's lived through for so long. She's resolved to record the drama while she's on the job. Being able to come home every day to that – or anything – will be a new experience.
Jack has no idea where Azra is, other than in the city somewhere. He's had his ear to the ground, and he's been around long enough so he can find out almost anything about almost anyone, but not in this case.
In a city of over eight million people, it's not like he can just walk the streets looking for her. But he's doing it anyway. At least whenever he sees a woman even vaguely the right size, shape, and age, he takes a second and third look. He saw one of them start to finger something in her pocket. It was probably mace. Well, good for her. A woman should be prepared.
Wherever Azra is at the moment, and whatever she's doing, he knows she'll be prepared for anything. She always has been. He was the one who wasn't ready. Guns, knives, and night goggles were no protection against the thunderbolt. He'd only felt something like it once before, with Martha. But he had to let it go, or at least he thought he had. It left him with a family that he'll always watch over as best he can.
But his feelings for Azra are different. They have a bond forged of common experiences and shared secrets, that's only grown stronger with time. And neither of them is getting any younger. If Jack can ever sustain a real relationship with anyone, Azra is the only possibility on his list. But he has to find her first.
The cake's entwined rings glimmer softly as the light from the kitchen reflects off the thin flakes of edible gold. Christine surveys the effect with satisfaction and not a little pride. The warm glow is precisely the effect she was hoping to achieve. And she didn't need any help from Auchincloss to do it.
Some of the other creations for Mr. Castle's party were another matter. Her flubs didn't end with almost using the wrong spray. Her first shot at a paté came out looking and smelling more like cat food than a gourmet treat for humans. Chef had to give her a few pointers on achieving the right texture. But the next time around, it not only looked great, it also had an enticing spicy aroma that could never have come from a can.
Chef also dug out the cookie-cutter he'd used the year before to make Christmas wreath cookies. Christine chose a standard sugar cookie recipe but decorated her creations to harmonize with the party's theme. She came up with the idea of using spiced apple rings to top a fruit salad, all on her own. But she was glad that her knife skills were honed well enough to get through cutting up the other components in record time. Rather than the sickly sweetness of the usual non-alcoholic party punch, hers holds more spiced fruit, frozen into a ring of ice she formed in a plastic jello mold. The drink's flavor will intensify throughout the evening.
Christine checks her watch. It's only three p.m. The party won't be starting for hours, but Saturday nights are a busy time at Imagination Patch. In fact, Saturdays are the busiest night of the week. According to Auchincloss, when he isn't having a party, Mr. Castle often comes by to greet the new patrons and encourage the writer-regulars. Sometimes his wife, and Lily if it isn't too late, are with him. Christine would enjoy seeing see a Castle family visit. But now, she needs to get the food to the Castle loft. Chef will be here soon. And for the rush, they can get the meals out together.