For the People Chapter 78

Firmly grasping double scotches, Brown Rock CEO Horace Shuck, CFO Lenny Felsher, and Councilman Zeke Lofsen, confer in the back room of the Sankerson gentlemen's club. "Having to put the South Bronx project on hold until the aging relics are in the ground is bad enough," Horace complains. "But our projected development in Washington Heights could yield huge and steady revenues. Our targets don't house any whiny seniors either. We can legally push all the tenants out within a year, but that crazy lawyer James Beckett and that writer Castle are determined to stick their noses in where they don't belong again. And for some reason, they're working together."

"The reason is that Beckett is Castle's father-in-law," Lofsen replies. "The writer's married to Kate Beckett. He trailed after her to write his books when she was a homicide cop. Now she's one of Shapiro's ADAs, and from what I hear, climbing the ladder fast."

Horace throws back half his scotch. "Which means we could have the District Attorney's office on our asses too. We need to put a stop to the interference before it does any more damage."

"James Beckett is the key," Lofsen asserts. "We knock him out of the game and Castle and his wife are done."

"Don't be too sure, Zeke," Lenny cautions. "Castle shoving his face in front of the camera in the South Bronx grabbed the attention of the national media. The asshole even used his baby daughter as a prop. That whole family is involved. We have to get all of them out of the picture."

"Maybe if James Beckett has an unfortunate accident, Castle and Kate Beckett will stay clear of our business – especially if they want to protect their precious little girl," Lofsen suggests.

Horace downs the rest of his liquor. "We can't take the chance. We have to take them all out of the game. Neighspec has specialists who've been removing obstacles in Europe for them. Their people should be able to get someone over here to take care of it."

"How long will that take?" Lenny asks.

"If I ask them to put a rush on it, a couple of days, maybe less," Horace responds.

"Whatever the operative does can't look like a hit," Lofsen warns. "Shapiro likes Kate Beckett, and the last thing we need is to have him breathing down our necks."

Horace nods. "I'll make sure Neighspec is aware."


"Sergeant Esposito, how long have you been a member of the NYPD?" Kate inquires.

"About 15 years."

"And how many of those 15 years have you been a homicide detective?"

"Thirteen."

"And during those thirteen years, how many homicide cases have you handled?"

"I don't keep track of the exact number."

"Well over 100?"

"Yes."

"In all those cases, was Geraldo Martinez's murder unique?"

"If you're referring to the murder weapon being huitlacoche oil, it was," Esposito responds.

"Actually, I was referring to your presence, as well as that of Detective Ryan, and my own, at the Casa Maria restaurant when Martinez died. Was that not the situation?"

"We were all there. And you gave him CPR until the paramedics got there."

"Yes," Kate confirms. "Sadly, the paramedics nor I could save him. However, since you and Detective Ryan were present when Geraldo Martinez passed, you both had the opportunity to be thoroughly familiar with the circumstances surrounding that passing, did you not?"

"We did."

"And did you use your familiarity with those circumstances to determine the steps in beginning your investigation?"

"We did."

"How did you proceed?"

"We questioned the other members of Geraldo Martinez's mariachi band. We also interviewed the restaurant staff and checked out the restaurant patrons. And we received Dr. Perlmutter's report."

"And taking into account the initial results of your investigation and Dr. Perlmutter's findings, what did you discover?"

"That Geraldo Martinez was killed by someone with access to his trumpet and a cloth he used to clean it. Also that the killer needed to have access to huitlacoche. Casa Maria didn't use it. We found that one person with that access also had a motive."

"And what was that motive?"

"Skimming profits from the family business, a fact Geraldo Martinez noted in his files."

"Where did you find those files?"

"In Geraldo Martinez's apartment."

"Your Honor, may I approach the witness?" Kate requests.

"You may," Bingham grants.

Kate holds up a folder. "These documents have been entered as the People's exhibit 62. I believe that Mr. Gil received his copy two weeks ago."

"Is that correct, Mr. Gil?" Bingham inquires.

"Yes, your Honor. But I would point out that the documents are in Spanish and the defense has the right to review any translation the jury may receive."

"So noted, Mr. Gil," Judge Bingham agrees.

Kate hands Esposito the folder. "Detective, are you fluent in Spanish?"

"Yes, I am."

"And are you familiar with these documents?"

"Yes, I am. They were in Geraldo Martinez's apartment."

"And what do they contain?"

"The evidence that a family member in charge of certain segments of the Martinez family business was the one skimming profits."

"And did you subsequently determine who that family member was?"

Gil jumps to his feet. "Objection, Your Honor. No foundation. If there's evidence indicating who that family member is, the People should introduce it."

"I intend to, Your Honor," Kate responds. "However, I'm only asking this witness if the determination was made, not what it was."

"The witness may answer." Bingham allows.

"Yes, I found out who the family member was," Esposito replies.

Kate nods. "Thank you, Detective Esposito. No further questions."

"Cross, Mr. Gil?" Bingham inquires of the slightly perplexed-looking defense attorney.

"No questions, Your Honor."


"So, you never had Esposito say that Yesenia was the one who was skimming? Why?" Rick asks as Kate settles on the couch and lays her feet in his lap.

"Because that way I completely left out anything that was found at Yesenia's office, and totally avoided anything that might have been in the boxes from her apartment. I gave the boys reasonable suspicion to investigate Yesenia, but nothing Gil could hang his hat on to question. I'll have Ryan continue with the narrative. He's a more colorful storyteller than Espo is. I think that's from all his undercover work in Narcotics plus the notes he took from you. But we'll get there. I'll put Ryan's testimony together with calling a CSU tech to discuss the first cousin match and phenotyping on the cloth used as the murder weapon. And Epstein had the really incriminating information. I'll see how the case is looking, but I may call him in relation to the boys' misdirection."

"Isn't anything he knows covered by attorney-client privilege?"

"Not if he conspired to help Yesenia continue committing crime. That's an exception. But I may not need him. We have method and opportunity cold. Motive is just icing on the cake. Mmm, cake. I'm starving. Did I smell something baking when I came in?"

"You did. I called Olivia Jefferson to see how she's making out. She was in the middle of baking a cake for her granddaughter Janelle's birthday. She gave me the recipe, and it sounded irresistible. But I haven't tasted it yet. I figured we could dig in for dessert. I have everything cut up and ready to go for a stir fry. So it will only take a few minutes in the wok, and we'll be ready to chow down."

"Have I told you I love you?"

"Maybe. But you can always tell me again."