Couples
Chapter 131
Christine is finding that Kitchen Klash isn't quite what it looks like on T.V. For one thing, the work area is a lot smaller, and she and Ben have almost filled it. He was instructed that his team should bring any specialized ingredients or equipment. As far as equipment went, they brought their favorite knives, and Ben wanted his own laboratory-precise balance and pie pans. But he decided that everything else on-site would work. The ingredients were a different story. Ben guarded his pre-made flour mixtures as if they were bags of precious jewels. He wasn't about to reveal the components on camera. It was the same with his shortening mix. Christine realizes just how privileged she is to know Ben's secrets. She has a pre-mixed final version of her spice mix for the third dish as well. She doubts it's anything someone couldn't figure out, but Ben is taking no chances with that, either.
Christine has little room to move at her workstation, but she's gone through her motions so many times, she's not about to be distracted by close quarters. And unless forced to, she's not even going to look at the camera.
If Ben is nervous, he's hiding it well, working quickly and deliberately. Christine wonders if he slept the night before. She didn't – at least not much. But with the amount of adrenaline charging through her veins, she's not about to doze off. She can do that later. The floor reporter intrudes on her already limited space, asking what she's doing. She tries to keep her answers monosyllabic to waste as few seconds as possible. The host, Elton Greene, calls out a time signal. Forty-five minutes left. Christine and Ben will make it under the wire, but without a moment to spare.
"Punkin cookie?" Lily asks hopefully.
"Not today, Sweetheart. Chef Auchincloss and Chef Christine are going to be on T.V., so Chef Madison is working extra hard. We don't want to bother him," Rick explains. "But we can go to Imagination Patch tomorrow."
Felicia meows a protest as Lily's bouncing demand sends vibrations through the floor. "T.V.!"
"We can watch them later," Rick assures his daughter, not sure how to explain pre-recording. "But I have a new toy for Felicia. You can watch her play with it now." Rick gently tosses a catnip mouse into Felicia's new territory. To Lily's fascination, the cat immediately pounces. Rick silently thanks whoever discovered catnip. With luck, he might be able to get some writing done today.
But as Rick takes a relieved breath, Kate's ringtone sounds from the cell in his pocket. "Babe, I could use your help."
"I'm always pleased when you request my talents," Rick responds, convincing himself as much as his wife. "What do you need?"
"The boys and I are trying to figure out who has the most to lose if the Lenape tribe wins in court. I'm hoping that will point us toward Lenore Pettigrew's killer. We have to sort through a load of real estate records you wouldn't believe. Will you have time to go through some of them if I send them to your dropbox?"
Rick considers the three chapters requiring his attention. Black Pawn isn't leaning on him yet – much. So, if Kate thinks she needs his contribution to the crime-busting, he'll make time. "Sure. Go ahead."
"Time's up," Elton Green declares. "Put it down. Walk away."
Stepping back from her station, Christine glances sideways at Ben. With both hands up, he's backing off as well. "I guess that's it," she says.
"It's up to the judges now," he agrees. "But whatever they decide, you couldn't have done a better job for me, Christine. I need you to know that." They both watch as the Kitchen Klash crew carefully transports both sets of competitors' dishes up steps to the judges' table.
Two of three judges wax poetic over the food of a red-haired competitor who specializes in bold Southwestern flavors. The third declares that the chef's dishes are too spicy. Christine's stomach drops. Did she go overboard with the spice mix on her stir fry as well?
Next, Elton calls Ben to present. "Judges, today I offer you the nexus of comfort and elevated flavors. Presented in a crust which is the perfect balance between tender and flaky, my first dish puts a new and exciting spin on a familiar friend."
A grumpy whitehaired judge holding his fork like a hammer regards his pot pie with suspicion. "After I taste it, I'll tell you just how perfect and exciting it is."
Esposito checks the time on his screen. After Beckett sent off some of the records to Castle, the workload declined for him and Ryan. In the past, he's been doubtful or jealous of Rick's speedreading skills. Today, he's grateful for them. Bambi's been working hard helping her kids make things for the holidays, and tonight she's ready to curl up and veg out. And he can't wait to curl up with her. If he can get out of the 12th in time, he can even pick up some comfort food on his way. He'd prefer something with more kick, but if macaroni and cheese or a slow-cooked stew will make Bambi happy, he'll go for it. From his desk, he can hear Beckett's cell phone sounding the whistled Castle tone. Maybe Rick's found something! This afternoon might go even better than he thought.
"What have you got, Babe?" Kate asks.
"That area is a hotbed of foreign investment. It started with buyers from Qatar."
"That makes sense," Kate considers. "I read that they were working hard to develop new income streams as a hedge against falling oil demand."
"Right," Rick agrees. "And the Russians got into the act too, possibly for the same reason. But even for that location, they overpaid like crazy. There could be more to it than investment. But the most interesting high roller is Melissa Stone."
"The wife of the third richest man in the world?"
"That's her. But according to the gossip I've seen float by on social media, they won't be married much longer. She saw a divorce attorney a few years back when hubby started having some kinky associations. And she's been steadily segregating their funds. She borrowed money, too, from a bank that's pretty much a branch of the Russian government. And it looks like she put a lot of it into those buildings. So if the Lenape win, she could come out of her marriage pretty badly, in more ways than one."
Doubt furrows Kate's face. "You think Melissa Stone killed Lenore Pettigrew? From the photos I've seen of her, I can't picture her breaking in a door."
"You never know, Kate. I checked her bio. During the kickboxing craze, she took it up. She might have been able to do the deed. Or, more likely, she hired someone to do it. And there's another possibility. If the Lenape succeed, the Russians lose on two fronts: their investments and the money Melissa Stone won't be able to pay back. If I were writing the story, I'd have Russians either killing Lenore or having someone do it for them. That plot would offer a dazzling array of scenarios."
"I don't want to be dazzled," Kate protests. "I just want to nail a murderer."
"Then Kate, much as you hate calling in the feds, it might not hurt to see what the FBI has on Russians pouring money into the area. For once, they might be looking in the right direction."
Kate groans. "You're right. I'll give my contacts a call."
"Then maybe if the feebies are on the case, you can make it home in time for dinner. Lily asked for pisgetti."
"For pisgetti, I'll try my best," Kate promises.
"Outstanding! I'll have the water boiling and the pasta ready to drop."