Moment in Time Part 3

Chapter 105

Dead Again

Part 10

"Where's Alan now?" Rick asks. "He told me there was no way he was going back to that safe house."

"He's back at his apartment," Kate replies. "There's a cop there with him, one outside his door and two marked units outside. He should be OK."

"We should talk to him again. He might know who was responsible for ordering Zantium's LAH. And he might have picked up on something at the herbalist's shop, too. He tends to notice things that escape the normal eye – or even one as observant as mine. I suppose that's an inspector thing."

"We can pay him a visit," Kate agrees. "Or better still, you can go with Lanie. She said she wanted to check him over for lingering effects from his brushes with death."

Rick's eyebrows do the wave. "She did, huh? I think our medical examiner is a little sweet on the inspector. That could be fun to watch. Sure you don't want to come along?" Kate waves at the piles of paper on her desk. "Right. A captain's bureaucratic labors are never done. See you later."

"So, how are you feeling, Alan?" Lanie inquires, wrapping a blood-pressure cuff around his arm.

"Pretty good, actually. Nailing those drug dealers was even better than the rush I get when I force an owner to run a safe shop. It was really exciting."

"Yeah, I imagine Castle would agree with you. Hmm, your pressure's a little high," Lanie notes. "And you're sweating a little, too. I need to check the rest of your vitals."

Regarding the couple, Rick clears his throat. "Um, Lanie, while you're checking Alan out, can I ask him something?"

"If you don't get him more excited," Lanie agrees.

"As if it was me," Rick mutters to himself. "Um, Alan, do you know who ordered the LAH for Zantium?"

Alan pulls his eyes from Lanie. "What?"

"Do you know who ordered the LAH for Zantium?"

"Oh. Yeah. Right. It was Mike Lin, the lead chemist. I remember seeing his name on the purchase order."

"You have quite a memory, Alan," Lanie purrs.

Alan smiles at her. "It's a job requirement. You never know what little detail could lead to disaster." His smile fades. "But speaking of disasters, Rick, Lin must be the guy who tried to kill me. He has access to the TTX and uses copper wire in some of his equipment. He could be very dangerous. We need to get to Zantium and figure something out before he hurts someone else."

"Now, hold on a minute," Lanie protests. "Alan's done enough – more than enough. Stopping killers is the cops' business. We should call Kate."

"I'll call her," Rick agrees.

"But I want to go," Alan argues. "I do notice things no one else sees. I might find the proof that Lin did it."

"I've got Kate," Rick announces. "I'll put it on speaker."

"Alan, do you think the lead chemist, Mike Lin, should be our suspect?" Kate queries.

"Absolutely," Alan declares.

"Then we have to be smart about this. There's no way that a chemist like Lin would be working alone," Kate asserts. "So we have to get a court order to impound the entire laboratory and make sure that nobody destroys the evidence."

"How long will that take?" Alan demands.

"Maybe a day. It will depend on how fast we can convince a judge."

"That's too long!" Alan exclaims. "Lin could be off poisoning someone else by then. Look, if I find there are still violations, I have the power to shut Zantium down. That's why Lin wanted to kill me in the first place. I can buy you enough time to get your court order."

"You know, that's not a bad idea," Rick offers. "Alan can wear his Kevlar again, and the boys can follow us for protection. Also, two sets of highly observant eyes are better than one. I can go too."

"All right," Kate concedes, "but go in just long enough for Alan to issue a shutdown notice. Then we can put a cordon around the place while we get the court order."

"I don't like it," Lanie insists. "Alan could still get hurt."

"Hey, I'll be OK," Alan insists. "And Zantium could be making more TTX for drugs right now. The faster we put them out of business, the more lives we could save."

"I guess I can't say no to that," Lanie admits. "But you watch your butt. I don't want you making it to my table this time."

"I'll be careful," Alan promises.

Gwen meets Alan in the lobby as he marches into Zantium. "What are you doing here?"

"I said I'd close this place down if the violations weren't thoroughly addressed," Alan explains. "I'm here to make sure that they were."

"That shouldn't be a problem, should it?" Rick asks. "I mean, Frank Patchett was working pretty hard on the cleanup last time we were here. And I thought you liked spending time with Alan, at least until you snuck out on him."

"I didn't sneak out on him," Gwen claims, "The guy who came to the table scared me. He looked like a gangster or something."

Alan turns to Rick. "He kinda did."

"Because he is one," Rick reminds Alan, "and he wanted you to ease off on Zantium." Rick turns to Gwen. "Why do you think that was? And how did he know to find Alan at Boticelli's."

"I have no idea," Gwen retorts. "But if Alan is here to do an inspection, he should get on with it."

"Fine. Where's Mike Lin?" Alan queries.

"Probably back in the lab where he usually is," Gwen replies. "I'll take you. I have to check the production schedule – if you'll let us have one."

"And exactly what are you producing?" Rick questions.

"We're supposed to be shipping our memory supplement. But Mike Lin moved the date back. He said he has a priority project to get out. But we make a lot of money on that supplement. The graying of America, you know? Everyone wants to keep up with the young."

Alan turns to Rick. "A special project! Lin must be trying to replace you know what."

"You may know, but I don't," Gwen interrupts. "What are you two talking about?"

Alan pulls Gwen into a storage room. "Look, Mike Lin is making synthetic heroin in the lab. He's the one who's trying to kill me."

Gwen slaps a hand over her mouth. "Oh my God! Alan, are you sure?"

"Yeah, but don't worry, the cops are right behind me. Just stay with Rick and me, and you'll be fine." Gwen reaches under her blazer and pulls out a gun. "Yeah, that's not a bad idea either. Wait! Gwen, why do you have a gun?"

"I carry one for protection. A woman can't be too careful in this city."

"That's true," Rick agrees, "but what do you need one for here?"

Gwen's fingers tighten on her pistol. "I'm going to kill Mike Lin."

"No, no!" Alan reaches for the gun, but Gwen backs away. "I told you, the cops will arrest him."

"Which is why I have to kill him. He's the only one here who knows I'm running the drug operation."

"And now Alan and I do too," Rick realizes.

Gwen raises her weapon. "That's right. You do."

Rick lunges for Gwen, but she shoots Alan before he can wrest the gun from her. Ryan and Esposito charge into the room. Gwen stares at the hole in Alan's forehead as Esposito cuffs her. "At least this time, he'll stay dead."