For the People Chapter 38

Shapiro rapidly skims Rick's printout of Mertree's incriminating transcript. "This is excellent, Beckett. We can use it in both trials. Of course, Angela Racine will also have to authenticate it both times – unless we can get Mertree or Pulco to take the stand."

"I can't see Morton or Sharpel letting their clients testify," Kate offers.

"Neither can I," Shapiro agrees. "They'd have to take the Fifth to avoid convicting themselves. And no matter what the judge tells the jury about not drawing any inference from that, the defense knows that the members would. So we'll have to make sure we have Angela's testimony to back up every word of our case."

"How is Angela doing? Is she in a safe house?"

"Possibly one of the world's most comfortable safe houses. You remember when Narcotics busted that drug dealer at his mansion?"

Amusement streams breathily through Kate's lips. "I do. The DEA was all bent out of shape because no one let them in on the raid. And then the city got to confiscate everything including the estate."

Shapiro nods enthusiastically. "Exactly. The city auctioned off the cars, the art, and some of the more pricey rugs. But it kept the building and the grounds, complete with an advanced security system. It's a great place to stash vital witnesses long-term. Angela's there, with the comforts of home except for her phone and internet. She's not crazy about being incommunicado, but we can't risk any electronic breaches. We've even staggered the schedule of her security units, so no one's seen coming and going at predictable times."

"That would help keep the press away," Kate realizes. "They have stringers, pretty much anyone with a cell phone, that watch for activity like that. There were times when Rick's most controversial books were coming out that we never went to the same place at the same time twice. Even then, pictures and video would pop up on the web. It was the same during the Baird and Duffy trials. Rick said as long as we were shot with cameras, not guns, he wouldn't worry too much about it. But it will be different with the baby. He doesn't want anyone but friends and family in her face. Neither do I."

Shapiro picks up a file. "I can understand that. So let's get these trials over as soon as possible so the press can find targets more amenable to the exposure."

"Yes, Sir. Lautner and Liebowitz are already here and working."

Shapiro raises a graying eyebrow. "I'm surprised about Liebowitz, I've rarely seen him here before eight, and even then, he's straggling in."

"I know, Sir, but I got the impression he doesn't want to look bad next to Lautner."

"Maybe. But keep an eye on him, Beckett. In or out of a case, changes in behavior often have hidden motives. But then you probably noticed that when you were a cop."

"Yes, Sir, I did. But the male detectives I worked with pointed something out to me. When a man is involved, usually whatever he changes is to, um, endear himself to a woman."

"Whatever Leibowitz's motives, Beckett, keep him on your radar."

"Yes, Sir. I will."


Kate looks up at the knock on her open door to see the newly minted Detective Sergeant Javier Esposito. "Javi! What brings you down here? Are you prepping for a trial?"

"Not really. I just had some papers to drop off. But I thought I'd give you a heads-up. I have a CI that hangs out at Trattoria Russo. It's a favorite breakfast joint for some of the newer players. He spotted one of your people, Denny Liebowitz, there this morning. He was with Chiara Lozano. And he heard her saying something about Pulco."

"Chiara Lozano, isn't she the daughter of Seppe Lozano, Racine's old frenemy?"

"That's her. And according to my CI, she and Liebowitz looked pretty cozy."

Kate flips her pen against her desk. "That explains a lot. Thanks, Javi. I owe you."

"No, you don't. But tell Castle I'll call him next time I want floor seats for the Knicks."

"Sure. I'll let him know."

After a cursory knock, Kate closes Shapiro's door tightly behind her. Your instincts about Liebowitz were right on, Sir. We may have a mole. And whoever planted him might be after Pulco." Kate quickly passes on what Esposito told her.

Shapiro viciously shoves a bobby pin back in to re-anchor his yarmulke. "I was afraid something like that could happen. Pulco knows way too much about the Lozanos. And some of the soldiers who allied with him from Racine's old organization were working for the family. I've been negotiating with him through Morton for information on the Lozanos from the time the NYPD arrested him. But it looks like the situation is becoming a lot more urgent. Pulco's already in the segregated population at Rikers awaiting trial, but he'll need more protection than that."

"Sir, if you move him, won't that tell the Lozanos you know he's a target? And anyone at Rikers could be on the Lozano payroll. They could know it's going to happen as soon as you issue the request. He could be shivved before Corrections issues the order. I've seen it happen before – more than once."

Shapiro tosses his glasses on his desk and rubs his eyes. "You're right. So have I. But maybe we can use the Liebowitz situation to our advantage."

"You mean that we feed him false information about Pulco and let him pass it on to the Lozanos, then we go another way?"

Shapiro puts his glasses back in front of suddenly glinting eyes. "That is precisely what I mean. So let's figure out a story, Beckett. Then you and your people can have one of the at-work lunches I promised while you drop our little tale on Liebowitz. If the Lozanos fall for it, we'll be sure he's their informant. But either way, we'll keep Pulco safe until we get what we need from him. So, tell me, Beckett. As someone obsessed with revealing the truth, how good are you at weaving convincing fiction?"

"I'm not the best, Sir. But I know someone who is. And I'm sure he'd be glad to provide his services."


With his feet up on his desk and his laptop across his thighs, Rick sits with his fingers poised over the keyboard. "So, you want the Lozanos to think that Pulco's going to show the DA where the bodies are buried?"

In a chair nearby, Kate chews on her lip. "Yes, I guess something like that, receipts, evidence of some kind."

Rick chortles. "No, Kate, I meant literally where the bodies are buried. The Lozanos must have a dumping ground somewhere that Pulco would know about. Consider the ratings for 'Bones.' These days everyone's obsessed with gathering forensic evidence from the lost but not forgotten."

"Hmm. Assuming such a dumping ground does exist, do I let slip that Pulco is going to guide investigators in that direction?"

Rick's brows dance above his eyes. "That would do the trick! It would be a twofer, Kate. A team can follow the Lozanos and let them reveal their own secrets while they think they're setting a trap for Pulco. And at the same time, Shapiro can ship Pulco off to another location to initiate his data dump. Your boss gets what he needs and maybe a few extra Lozanos in the bargain."

Kate presses a hand to her abdomen. "I like it. I think the baby likes it too."

"Oh, we'll have to keep our eyes on her," Rick warns. "If she enjoys scheming and conniving this much already, imagine what she'll be like when she learns to talk."