The Other Path

Chapter 67

"What are you looking at, Bro?" Esposito asks Ryan as he drives their unit back to the precinct.

"Twitter. I figure not everyone with problems like Maris and the others' can make it to meetings. So I'm looking for a hashtag they might use to talk to each other."

"How about the thing they said at the end of their prayer or whatever that was?" Esposito asks.

"You mean 'Pain won't defeat us?' I think they call that an affirmation," Ryan offers.

"Yeah, that."

"Trying now. You got it, Javi. There are a ton of posts. Some of them are about the caravan to Canada. But a bunch of them are bashing Killy and Company about the price of Neuthomax. A lot are blasting the government for not keeping drug prices down, too."

"Is anyone from the group, like that guy Dennis, on there?"

"Maybe. It looks like a couple of guys named Dennis posted, but only one has a photo. Wait, let me enlarge it. Looks like him. And he has a lot of replies to his post. This one says, 'Stay strong, Brother.' The profile has an avatar, a pissed-off-looking mule."

"A mule could mean army," Esposito suggests. "Anything else we can use?"

"No name, but the location is New York City. He joined Twitter two years ago, and there's a link to a website. Oh, here we go! It's Veterans for Human Rights. The headquarters is on 43rd between Madison and Vanderbilt."

"Which would put it two blocks from the crime scene," Esposito notes. "Let's pay my fellow vets a visit."


"You'll have to wait outside," Rick informs a sad-eyed Cronut. He points to the plate glass window. "But you'll be able to see me. And someone in there might know where you belong. Oh, don't look at me like that! You want me to buy you a treat?"

Cronut's tail responds energetically.

"Dad, dogs can't have chocolate," Alexis warns. "But the houseparents at my dorm have a dog who loves peanut butter cookies – anything peanut butter, really."

"I respect the pooch's taste," Rick declares. "All right, Cronut, you stay out here with Alexis, and I'll find out what this pantheon of pleasures has to offer you."

A woman in a hot pink apron smiles from behind a display case. "Mr. Castle! I haven't seen you in a while. What can I get for you?"

"Some information first, Mrs. Nachas. " Rick points through the window. "Do you recognize the dog outside with my daughter?"

"Cronut? Oh, sure. Mr. Robinson brings him by almost every morning to get cronuts. We make one with a peanut butter glaze the pup loves. But I haven't seen Mr. Robinson in a couple of days. I'm surprised Cronut is out by himself."

"Not precisely by himself. He made my acquaintance in the park, and I was hoping you could tell me where he lives."

"I don't have Mr. Robinson's address, but you could try the gray building at the end of the block. Mr. Robinson came from that direction, and as far as I know, it's the only place nearby that allows dogs."

"Great, that's helpful." Rick glances out at Cronut's hopeful expression. "I promised the pooch a treat. If you have any of the peanut butter cronuts he likes, I'll take one. And," he points into the display case, "that cake with the chocolate and the cherries. My wife will love it."

Mrs. Nachas winks. "Happy wife, happy life. I hope you find Mr. Robinson all right. It's not like him to leave Cronut on his own like this."

Rick gazes back toward the sidewalk. "He's not alone."


Kate triumphantly retrieves several sheets of paper from the bullpen's printer. Her brainstorm of using the transcript of one of her interrogations finally put her on track to creating the outline she needed. She found a few things she might have done differently and one thing she absolutely will have to change with the upcoming alteration in New York law. Still, it was all grist for the mill, and she finally has something she can use for her class at the academy.

A glance across the room informs Kate that Ryan and Esposito are out, probably working on the Berensen case. The wall clock tells her she's due downstairs. Homicide cops aren't the only ones that conduct interrogations. Robbery does its share in its own box. She's only observed a few of them, primarily when Demming was assigned to the 12th. He'd transferred out after their breakup. She couldn't blame him for that. He'd done nothing wrong except not being Castle. But he used to bring his buddies up to use the espresso machine. Thank God they weren't doing that anymore.

After quickly dropping her printout on her desk and picking up a legal pad, she takes the stairs down a floor. The stray scents in the elevator are getting annoying, particularly the odor she believes is Officer Simpkins' body spray. The thought of it makes her nauseous.

The observation and interrogation setup for Robbery is similar to Homicide, if a bit smaller. A desk pulled close to the one-way mirror gives Kate a place to perch where she can see and hear the action. Detectives Leto and Feingold are just getting started. Leto is working out the last of his 20 years before putting in for his pension. He uses dated methods, and Kate doubts he'll have either the desire or the time to change them. Feingold, on the other hand, is relatively young and made detective less than a year before. Kate can guide him in the right direction – if Leto doesn't become too big a pain in the ass. At least Leto won't be around long.

Rick notes the names near the buzzers in the building that Mrs. Nachas indicated. The sticker next to 3B reads Robinson. Rick presses the button but receives no answer. He's considering trying the super when a tenant comes through the locked inner door, smiling in recognition at Cronut. Alexis grabs the door before it can relock and holds it for her father and the dog.

Rick lets out a breath of relief when he realizes the building has a working elevator, something with which some older structures aren't blessed. A slightly creaky upward journey takes his little group to the end of a hallway, next to 3L. Cronut trots ahead, tracing his familiar route, and noses at Robinson's door. It drifts open.

Rick and Alexis exchange looks. "Dad, no one in the city leaves their door unlocked."

Inserting his muzzle into the opening, Cronut eases the door open wider and bounds inside. His howl of distress a moment later echoes off the walls. With Alexis beside him, Rick follows the dog inside to find him helplessly licking the face of a man who will never awaken. Forcing himself into a crouch to comfort the distressed canine, Rick pulls out his phone.


As she watches Leto and Feingold going at their suspect, Kate is tempted to ignore Rick's call. But when it goes to voicemail, he immediately calls again. "Babe, I can't talk now. I'm right in the middle of observing an interrogation."

"Kate, much as I adore the sound of your voice, I didn't call for idle chitchat. I found a body. I would have called 911, but I figured it would be better to go to the source."

"All right. Give me the address. I'll have dispatch send a unit. And I'll be there as soon as I can."