For the People Chapter 79
Taking advantage of his secure satellite connection, Jackson Hunt observes his daily ritual of checking for new intelligence around the world, particularly any that might relate to New York City. Ever since he became aware he had a son, he's been keeping an eye on him, along with his mother and what are now Hunt's grandchildren. While realizing he has absolutely nothing to do with it, he's proud of his son's success as an author and his older granddaughter's academic achievement. He's also caught a few videos of Martha on stage. Even on a four-inch screen, she has the luminescence he fondly remembers.
Jackson suspects that his son chose his first wife in an attempt to capture some of that light. Other than producing their daughter, the attempt was a failure. Wife number two might have attempted to impose more discipline on the man. But that was also largely a failure. Still, Richard seems to have hit the jackpot with wife number three, including the birth of Hunt's second granddaughter. So Hunt regularly checks on the Beckett family. He was surprised by the impact that what should have been a neighborhood squabble had on a certain concentration of power in Europe. And the rumored dispatch of one of their fixers to New York makes the hackles on Hunt's neck rise.
Hunt's intuition has kept him among the living more times than he can count, and he's not about to ignore a warning with a possible impact on his family. For the moment, he's between assignments, and New York is as good a location as any. He can keep his eyes peeled for possible threats to the Castle-Beckett clan. Who knows? He might even get to witness one of Martha's performances in person.
"Ms. Beckett is correct concerning the crime and fraud exception to attorney-client privilege," Judge Bingham declares. "The witness may answer the People's question."
Elijah Epstein mops his face with his handkerchief. "Could you please repeat it, Ms. Beckett?"
With as neutral an expression as she can manage in the face of triumph, Kate nods. "Mr. Epstein, did Yesenia Martinez instruct you to direct Detective Sergeant Esposito and Detective Ryan to a warehouse to stall them while she set up her attempt to flee from prosecution?"
"She didn't mention those two detectives," Epstein replies.
"All right," Kate acknowledges. "Did Yesenia Martinez instruct you to direct investigators from the NYPD to that warehouse?"
"Yes, she did."
"As far as you know, Mr. Epstein, did Yesenia Martinez have any intention of meeting with any members of the NYPD at that warehouse or of being present there at all?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"Thank you, Mr. Epstein. That's all that I need."
Instantly opening his eyes as the landing gear on the private jet circuitously owned by Neighspec drops, Hendrik Roord stretches his compact frame. Hendrik could have comfortably traveled on a commercial flight. Unlike most men, unless he gets stuck in the middle of a row, Hendrik finds that airline seats accommodate him quite well. But his employer wanted him in New York as soon as possible, and a regularly scheduled flight would have put him a day behind.
The craft's touchdown on a runway at Teterboro is gentle, as such things go, and reasonably close to the terminal. But Hendrik makes no attempt to exit the plane. He knows from previous experience that a customs agent will meet him aboard and ask the requisite questions. He has all his paperwork ready. He always has his passport, and his employer is very efficient where other matters are concerned. As far as the U.S. government will know, Hendrik Roord is a businessman in town for a meeting or two and also to avail himself of the opportunity to take in a Broadway play. At 163 centimeters with blond hair and blue eyes, he doesn't fit anyone's profile of a terrorist, or his actual occupation for that matter. Any questions he has to answer will be perfunctory. Then he can take a limo for the short trip to his not-too-cheap, not-too-expensive hotel in Manhattan and get down to his real business of setting up his operation.
While two of Hendrik's targets hold some minor celebrity, it isn't enough to merit professional security or even exceptional precautions. Staging a tragedy shouldn't be difficult, not difficult at all."
"Damn!" Hunt exclaims as he scrolls through the latest daily chatter. Hendrik Roord flew into New Jersey, to the nearest non-commercial international airfield to New York. The Company's never officially tagged Roord as a threat, at least not to any governmental operations. But Roord tends to pop up on or near the site of unexpected demises. Some intelligence suggests he's an operative for Neighspec, the European power center's foreign acquisitions arm. However, Neighspec's never been of interest to the agency, so Roord's activities haven't triggered any countermeasures. But Neighspec rings alarm bells with Hunt. Allied with his wife's father, Richard has been very vocal in opposition to its New York City activities. Could Roord be after Richard?
Hunt had intended to grab a comfortable spot with the new "attachés" heading to New York to keep tabs on the various "attachés" on the other side, supposedly working as aides to U.N. delegations. A military transport will be less comfortable – a lot less comfortable. But it will also be a lot faster. Everything Hunt knows about Roord says the operative is careful and deliberate. That's probably why he's never been caught by local law enforcement. But Roord's cautious pace will allow Hunt to catch up. If Roord makes a move against Richard or his family, it will be the last move he ever makes.
"So you're tying up the People's case tomorrow?" Rick asks while dropping a load of pasta into boiling water.
"That's my plan," Kate confirms. "At least I'll be finished presenting witnesses. Then I'll have to see what Gil does before I decide how to aim my closing. I'm guessing he may try to divert suspicion to other members of the Martinez family."
"With Yesenia's DNA on the murder weapon?"
"He could claim she handled the cloth at some time before the murder and that the actual killer wore gloves. It's a stretch, but as defense counsel, Gil has to do whatever he can to distract the jury from Yesenia. If he didn't he wouldn't be doing his job. Still, I have to be prepared to counter whatever moves he makes. Nothing is set in stone until the jury comes back with a verdict. And even then, if Gil loses, he can try for an appeal. As far as I can tell, Bingham hasn't made any reversible error, but essentially, we still have half the trial left to go. Did you have any more interviews lined up to plug your and Dad's affordable housing thing?"
"'Too Early in New York' at five am tomorrow morning. But we don't have to worry about getting someone to watch Lily if you want to go into work early enough to clear your desk before court. The anchor had a baby six weeks ago and has a nursery of sorts set up backstage. One of the production assistants is a baby whisperer and can watch both little ones while I shoot my segment. The way Lily loves new sensory experiences, she'll probably have a great time with the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd – or whatever they have at the studio. And I'll set the DVR so you can catch it later if you're so inclined."
"If I can, I'll watch it before I leave."
"Ah, a supportive spouse. What did I do to deserve you?"
"You just got lucky."
