The marshals picked up Gina quietly that morning in her apartment, before she left for Black Pawn. Her purse was on the kitchen counter, her coat draped over a chair, when they'd walked in; Kate breathed a sigh of relief as Ryan walked a grumpy-looking Gina out to the car. She'd been determined to bring Gina in outside the office, before anyone would see. Quiet. Unnoticed.
No chance to call Bracken.
Now, in the interrogation room, Gina sat across the table from Kate, her expression one of utter boredom. She hadn't called a lawyer. She hadn't asked for anything. Kate folded her arms, sitting back.
Gina Griffin wasn't a stupid woman. She edited crime novels; she knew the system. She probably assumed they didn't have anything concrete.
After a few minutes of silence, Kate decided to fire the opening shot.
"So nice to see you again, Miss Griffin."
"Could we cut to the chase, Deputy? I have a salon appointment at ten."
"I wouldn't worry. Your roots aren't showing too badly. I'd like to ask you about this man."
She slid a photo of Joshua Davidson across the table.
"You've showed me this before." Gina pushed the picture back with one finger. "I don't know that man."
"Can you explain why he called you?"
Gina froze. Kate watched the flicker cross the other woman's face, the first slight, nearly imperceptible crack in her composure. She knew Gina was recalculating. Apparently she didn't realize they'd traced the phone to her. This was the first time the Marshals had showed their hand.
Got her.
"No. Maybe it was a wrong number."
"Considering the call lasted more than a minute, we doubt that." Kate pulled another photo out of her folder. "Can you tell me who this is?"
"Alex Conrad. He was one of our young authors. He died in a car accident."
"Was he working on a novel at the time of his death, Miss Griffin?"
Kate knew the look on Gina's face. It was too calm. A mask. Gina was trying to figure out how much they knew.
"I - yes, I think so."
"Can you tell me what it was about?"
"It was some time ago. I don't remember it very well." Gina's voice was still even. Impressive. "What does this have to do with anything? That book never got published."
"Miss Griffin, are you acquainted with Senator William Bracken?"
Gina swallowed quickly, her throat bobbing. Kate saw the quick tension run through her arms, her fingers poised a little too neatly over her knee to truly be casual. "I've met him, yes."
"How well do you know him?"
The other woman shrugged. Kate bit back a grin. Gina had lost her ability to lie. She was overcompensating with gesture. "Not too well. I think we met at a party, a while ago."
Kate raised one eyebrow, opening up her folder again, pulling out three photos. She laid them out on the table neatly, watching Gina's eyes go wide.
"Perhaps you'd like to try answering that question again."
Gina looked up, then back at the clearly defined pictures of her in bed with a man who was very obviously William Bracken.
"Where did you get these?"
"I asked first."
"Yes, okay? We were having an affair. It's not illegal."
"Neither is writing a novel about a book editor sleeping with a married senator." Kate sat back in her chair. "I've read the novel. I have to say, I enjoyed it. That editor was particularly compelling. What was her name again? Katrina Riffkin?"
Gina was glaring at her, her jaw clenched. "What do you want?"
"Alex Conrad writes a novel about a book editor sleeping with a senator. He dies. Richard Castle takes on the project, not realizing the book is based on fact, and suddenly his wife is murdered." Kate smiled pleasantly. "You can understand I've started connecting dots."
"Alex's death was an accident."
"My forensics expert says otherwise."
"Are you accusing me of killing him? Or Castle's wife? Because unless you have some kind of evidence, Deputy, I have a job to get back to."
Gina picked up her handbag and was reaching for her coat when Kate pulled out a handheld voice recorder and pushed play.
What the hell happened?
He wasn't home. She was. What was Josh supposed to do? She saw him.
You really fucked up, Bill.
You think I'm going to let some pathetic, arrogant little wanna-be John Grisham ruin my chance at the presidency because he wants to write a book about us? It was his own fault.
Gina was frozen in the doorway. Kate pressed stop.
"Should I keep playing?"
The other woman turned back, her face set.
"I had nothing to do with Alex's death."
"You think Bracken's going to fall on his sword for you? Of course not. I'm guessing that's why you made these recordings in the first place."
"Fuck him. It was all his idea."
Kate finally stood. "Gina Griffin, you are under arrest."
They waited patiently until Gina's lawyer, a brisk, well-dressed woman in a pristine suit, walked into the interrogation room. "Deputy Beckett, I'm Victoria Gates. I'd like a moment alone with my client."
Outside the room, Espo came to join her. "We got her?"
"Oh yeah. Give it half an hour." Kate rubbed the back of her neck. "If she already had incriminating recordings, then she clearly doesn't trust him. And she was shrewd enough to hold them as insurance. She's not going down for anything he did."
"Beckett! Beckett." Ryan came trotting over. "I just talked to Tory. Apparently, Josh Davidson got a raise in his pay, three weeks after Alex Conrad died. And then another one, right after Richard Castle was convicted of his wife's murder."
"Well, well." Espo grinned. "I bet he brought in the big account. Both times."
"Bracken's smart. He waited until after the commotion died down, so no one would suspect anything." Beckett shook her head. "Good thing he wasn't smarter than Gina."
"All right, Deputy Beckett. My client would like to make a deal," Gates said as Kate walked back in.
"I'm listening."
Gates glanced at Gina, who nodded, before going on. "She can give you William Bracken. For both murders. In return, you drop all charges against her."
"Does she want a puppy, too?"
Gates sighed. "She's handing you a sitting United States Senator. We're going to expect leniency."
"If what she gives me is true, and it holds up against Bracken, I can talk to the prosecuting attorney," Kate allowed, raising her hand. "If Miss Griffin wasn't responsible for the deaths of Alex Conrad and Meredith Castle, I will not seek murder charges."
"She stays out of prison?"
"You and I both know I can't promise that." Kate folded her arms. "But I can push for a reduced charge. As long as what Miss Griffin tells me is useful."
There was a long pause; Kate held her breath, watching Gina and her attorney quietly confer.
Finally, Gates nodded at Gina, who looked up at Kate.
"All right. What do you want to know?"
Kate pulled out her pen and notebook.
"Let's start from the beginning."
Outside the interrogation room, Kate shut the door behind her, taking a deep breath.
Ryan poked his head out from observation. "You got him."
She nodded. "Where is Bracken right now?"
"Headed for a TV interview. You want us to call him in?"
"No. Let's let him get there. Turn on the cameras." Kate smiled wryly. "Let's give the press a field day."
"You know it's going to be a madhouse, right?"
"We're arresting him for two murders. I wasn't expecting a cakewalk. Besides, Castle's probably watching the news." Kate reached for her coat. "If we're going to draw him out, he needs to know we got his message."
Esposito eyed her suspiciously. "Do you have a thing for this guy?"
Kate rolled her eyes.
"No, Javi. I'm just good at my damn job."
The television studio was crowded when Kate and the boys arrived; she had to flash her badge over and over, edging her way through the sea of cameramen. She could see Bracken on the studio floor, flashing his campaign smile at the interviewer, adjusting the knot in his already-perfectly-straight tie.
"Let's do this," Ryan murmured. "Time for some justice."
"Enough with the catchphrases." Espo elbowed him, pulling out his cuffs. "You're not Bond."
Kate ignored them, pushing resolutely through the front of the crowd.
She saw the moment Bracken realized she was there. His face went slack, his eyes flickering, and for the first time ever, she watched him lose his composure.
He knew she'd won.
"No. Not - you can't do this," he said quietly, desperately, leading the host to turn around, confused. The crowd of reporters started murmuring, cameras starting to flash, and as she stepped forward, the room started buzzing.
Kate locked eyes with him.
"William Bracken, you are under arrest for the murders of Alex Conrad and Meredith Castle."