Moment in Time
Chapter 9
PhDead
Part 1
Rick stares at the body impaled on the branch. "This reminds me of a scene in that Joss Whedon movie. But the pilot was skewered when he crashed the ship. Someone must have shoved hard to get this guy on there. Very unfriendly."
"He's wearing orange scrubs," Kate notes. "He must be an escaped prisoner. His fingerprints will give us a name and possibly who had a beef with him."
"I haven't seen any posts about a prison escape, and usually that kind of thing hits social media before it hits the newsfeed. Also," Rick adds, pointing to a red devil on the victim's arm, "that doesn't look like a prison tat. But I think I've seen it somewhere before."
"Maybe he got it before he was incarcerated. And the prison could be keeping an escape under wraps," Kate proposes. "Once we have an ID, I can apply a little pressure to get the story. Being a captain can come in handy for that kind of thing. Until we get some results, I'll go back to the precinct to attack my paperwork. You won't believe what piled up on my desk while we were dealing with Reed."
"Considering the bottle that Montgomery used to keep in his drawer for coping with messes like that, I would. Want me to help?" Rick offers.
"I don't think you can. It's all budgetary crap. And I'm stretching your approval as a consultant having you out here with me."
"Not really. I've kept count. I was supposed to have a thousand hours of community service working with you as punishment for beating on Jerry Tyson."
"For which you should have gotten a medal." Kate offers.
"I can't disagree about that, but it may have worked out for the best. I've still got hundreds of hours left – officially, anyway. So as long as you're going to be a field-loving captain, your faithful consultant can be at your side. And I might pick up some leads for PI cases."
"I thought Alexis was handling those. And didn't Hayley sign on to help out?"
"Yes to both of your questions, but the IRS can get very picky about material participation in an enterprise. So I should keep my hand in. Besides, playing the hard-boiled PI can be fun." Rick bats his eyelashes. "Before Alexis invaded, you and I acted out a couple of very pleasurable fantasies in my office."
"Yes, we did," Kate recalls, fighting to suppress her smile around the subordinate cops. "So, are you going to work there?"
"I don't know how much work I'll get done. But unless I figure out another angle on this case, I'll be there."
"Dad, did you say a tattoo of a red devil?" Alexis queries.
"Uh-huh. Does that ring a bell with you?"
"Maybe." Alexis puts in some quick keystrokes on the desk computer and points to the screen. "Was this it?"
"That is precisely it. So the red devil is the mascot for Hudson University. I thought it looked familiar! I saw it when Kate and I went after a murderous professor there. And I've got an idea."
"Dad, you're not planning on posing as a student, are you? Too many kids read your books. You'll be recognized."
"Better than a student. I can put my author cred to work for me."
"Captain," Ryan reports, "the lab says they don't have a match for the fingerprints on our vic."
"How can a prisoner's fingerprints not be in the system?" Kate questions.
"Maybe he wasn't a prisoner," Ryan suggests. "Halloween's in a couple of weeks. Could be he was trying out a costume."
"He was about college age," Kate considers. "And when I was at Stanford, cosplay ran the whole month of October. So it could be a Halloween costume. But I wonder which college he was from." Kate's phone dings a text. "Rick said the vic's tattoo is from Hudson U. You and Espo go see the registrar and find out who he is." Quickly, she texts Rick the new theory.
Rick grins from behind square-framed glasses. "Dean Fowler, you will not regret this. I will give your students an experience in the literary arts that they will not soon forget."
"The university won't forget your contribution either, Mr. Castle," the well-preserved blonde returns. "I'll arrange for faculty identification and perks and put everything in motion for your guest lectures."
"I appreciate that, Dean. And just as background, could you tell me which student organizations have early Halloween activities? It will figure into my first presentation."
"Quite a few of them do, Mr. Castle. But Omicron Beta Chi holds the most um, enthusiastic celebrations. They started this week."
"Good to know. And now I'll be off to make preparations for education and amazement."
As he leaves the dean's office, Rick almost collides with Ryan and Esposito exiting the registrar's domain. "Ah, members of Beckett's premier investigative team. Did you discover the identity of the victim?"
"We did, Castle. And we have his class schedule," Esposito announces proudly. "But it goes to Beckett before it goes to you. And what's with the glasses and the bowtie? You look like a bad Indiana Jones imitation."
"My accouterments are in support of the investigation," Rick retorts. "But tit for tat. My information goes to Beckett as well. See you at the 12th."
"Mr. Castle," Eduardo greets Rick when he returns to the loft to change clothes. "A package came for you. You and your wife have been away so much that I didn't want to wait for you to pick it up. So I put it on the table in your place."
Grinning, Rick hands the doorman a $20 bill. "Outstanding! I know what that is! It was on backorder."
Upstairs, Rick gleefully tears open a cardboard box and removes the padding from a pyramid. He touches a switch, and the top lights up. "Hmm, I think your designer must have been on a tear at Luxor before he created you."
"My name is Lucy," a surprisingly human voice responds. "I can correct your grammar if you wish. My designer is a she, not a he. Her name is Joan Hopper."
"I'm Rick, and I have editors to correct my grammar. However, it rarely needs it. But tell me, why did Joan Hopper name you Lucy?"
"For the woman who put Star Trek on the air."
"Yes, Lucille Ball," Rick acknowledges. "Gene Roddenberry wouldn't have gotten far without her."
"Congratulations for being up on that history, Rick. Joan would appreciate it. Now, what can I do for you?"
"How are you at research?"
"I have access to all the mainline search engines as well as the ones included in your premium subscription. I see that you're at Titanium level. That covers all of them."
Rick rubs his hands together in anticipation. "Excellent! What can you tell me about the Omicron Beta Chi fraternity at Hudson University?"
"It was chartered there in 1963. How far back do you want to go?"
"Let's start with the previous school year, and I'll tell you if I need more. Did the house have any problems?"
"Problems like drunken parties or problems requiring law enforcement intervention?"
"Either."
"That fraternity is known for hazing. The university invoked sanctions on it in September of this year. A member, Scott Powell, was known for terrorizing pledges. The police arrested Scott Powell for felony assault. A student named Peter Garber testified against him. However, Scott Powell was released when his father, Lehman Powell, intervened. Lehman Powell is characterized as a powerful attorney."
"Can you send a photograph of Peter Garber to my printer?" Rick inquires.
"Detecting the device and updating your driver. You really should have kept track of new patches, Rick. But I can take care of that now. Sending the photograph."
Rick rushes into his office to have a look. Peter Garber is the murder victim. "Booyah! Lucy," he calls, "can you check the roster of the class I'm guest teaching at Hudson University? Is Scott Powell one of my students?"
"Yes, Rick, he is."
"Lucy, it's time for me to break out my secret weapon."
"That's not in my database, Rick. You'll have to tell me what it is."
"Not now, Lucy. Someday you'll meet her in person."