The Other Path
Chapter 28
Rick would have preferred the protection the barrier of a podium offers. Unfortunately, Bethany's book club occupies a circle of chairs, the nicest of which was set aside for their guest. Small tables hold drinks and snacks, but to read to the gathering, Rick has "Raging Heat" open on his lap. The passage is the essence of Heat, the feelings that always drive her. "Inside the barrier, Nikki paused. To anyone else, it looked as if she were stopping to adjust her holster, which she did. But that was cover. The interval was her own moment, a ritual of one deep breath to honor the loss of life and connect to her own experience with tragedy." Rick looks up at the gathering. "What makes Nikki different from the typical detective of the genre is her empathy for the victims and their families. She finds it impossible to separate herself from that pain. And in pursuing justice to soothe it, she attempts to soothe herself. Sometimes she succeeds, at least temporarily.
"Nikki uses her investigations to deal with the wounds of her history. Readers enjoy a good yarn, but touching them means forming a connection with their feelings, whether hopes, dreams, or pain. I portray Nikki to reach out to what my readers have within them."
Dabbing at her eyes, Bethany nods. "I believe we all respond to that. And I'm personally hoping that her model, Detective Beckett, can finally find justice for Esther Finkelman, who was murdered 18 years ago."
"She's trying very hard," Rick replies. "Like Nikki, she never forgets the hole a murder leaves in loved ones' lives. But the world does. So much happens every day that it moves on from the Esther Finkelmans to the next breaking story."
"I can keep Giles' readers from forgetting Esther and the other victims like her," Bethany declares. "I'll get a story out that will make sure of it."
"That's a wonderful idea," Rick responds, grinning inwardly. "I look forward to seeing it."
Rick climbs into bed, drawing Kate into the curve of his body. "The meeting went late," she murmurs.
He cuddles against the warmth of her back. "I think it was worth it. Bethany wanted me to stay late to give her some pointers on the article she decided to put out on Esther Finkelman and the others."
"She decided?" Kate questions.
"Hey, I may have planted the seed, but it was 100% her idea – in front of witnesses. I think you and Bethany have something in common. She's taken on justice for Esther as her personal mission."
Kate turns in Rick's arms. "There's something to be said for getting personal."
"Very true," Rick agrees. "And now that we have the place to ourselves again, we can give full vent to being as personal as we like – unless you're too sleepy."
Kate tugs at the drawstring of his pajama bottoms. "Suddenly, I'm not sleepy at all."
"Yeah, me neither."
Felix knocks tentatively on the entrance to Jonah's chamber. "Leader, there's something I think you should see."
Rising from a fitful attempt at slumber, Jonah jerks the door open. "You were supposed to make sure I wasn't disturbed this morning."
Felix lowers his head in obeisance. "Yes, Leader. I'm very sorry. But," he holds up a tablet, "one of the flock showed this to me. It was posted on the web a few hours ago."
Jonah squints at the screen before retrieving reading glasses from a small wooden table. "A new direction to solving the slasher murders. A revisiting of the evidence shows a connection to churches allied to The Temple of Truth. The victims all bravely tackled the unjust oppression of women." Jonah throws his glasses and the tablet to the floor. "Unjust oppression! We are the righteous. We teach the truth."
"And we should make our truth heard. Shall I call the faithful together to put out a declaration?" Felix inquires.
"Yes." A vision of the empty box flashes through Jonah's mind. "But not yet. I have a mission to carry out first."
Felix knows better than to question Jonah. "Yes, Leader. I'll be ready."
When Felix is gone, Jonah pulls back the curtain covering a small alcove in his chamber. He surveys the garments hanging inside. He rarely wears anything but the prescribed vestments for God's spokesman to the people. But the last thing he needs is to draw attention to himself. He'll wear street clothes and take the subway like any New Yorker traversing the city. He has no idea what he'll say when he reaches his destination but prays that God will guide his words.
Esposito points at a short figure exiting a side door of the Temple of Truth. "Is that Jonah?"
"It is," Ryan confirms. "It doesn't look like he's getting into a car. He might be headed for the subway. But we'll have to stay back. He could recognize either one of us."
"We can see what train he takes and have Beckett and Castle pick him up at a stop down the line," Esposito suggests. "He hasn't seen either one of them."
Kate's eyes sparkle as she shoves her phone back into her pocket. "That was a text from Espo. Jonah's on a 3 train going downtown. With any luck, we'll catch him."
"That funny hat of his should stick out in a crowd," Rick quips.
"He hasn't got it on. According to Espo, Jonah's wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and gray tie. And at his height, he won't be sticking out anywhere."
"But a white shirt? Even IBM employees don't wear those anymore. With that and that beard of his, we should be able to spot him."
"I hope so, but I'll alert the transit cops. And worst case, if we lose visual contact, he'll be on MTA video."
A few seats become available as riders depart, but Jonah's too restless to take one of them.
Kate looks across the gap with an adjoining car. "He's there."
"So, what's the plan?" Rick asks.
"I'll radio the cops at the next station to be on alert. But we should get as close as possible without spooking him."
"How about just disgusting him?" Rick wonders. "My guess is that Jonah's not a big fan of public displays of affection. He'll probably look the other way. Want to make out? There's a nice little spot where you can watch him in the reflection from the window."
"You know," Kate purrs, wrapping her arms around Rick's waist at the location he suggested, "you've gotten pretty good at the undercover work."
"I did pass the PI course," Rick reminds her. "But I thought you've always appreciated my undercover work."
"Just don't get too carried away. We don't want the transit cops rousting us."
Jonah glances at the couple shamelessly pawing each other before quickly looking away. That's the sort of disgraceful behavior that happens when people turn from the word. Well, he'll be where he's going soon enough and have a more serious matter to attend to. The train comes to a halt in the Fulton Street station, and Jonah strides quickly toward a door. When he reaches the platform, Kate and Rick are right behind him. Quickly pulling her badge from her pocket, Kate signals the transit police to keep their distance. With their arms around each other, Rick and Kate follow Jonah to the surface.
