Homecoming: Chapter 10
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DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters are not mine at all, but they are memorable. Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. The others? Yeah, they're mine
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6:50 p.m. East Coast time, Monday Evening, April 23, 2012, Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean off the New York coast
"Now Miss Castle, you be a good girl and sit here quietly," Vulcan Simmons tells Alexis Castle. He has just placed her in the back seat in the chopper. With any luck, they will be back landside in less than twenty minutes. The bird is already ready for takeoff, and the blades are already whirling so he has to speak over the rush of the blades and the motor.
"If she moves, shoot her," he tells the pilot, loud enough for her to hear.
It has the necessary effect with the young redhead. He – of course – is kidding. There is no way on God's green earth he is going to allow anything to happen to this young woman, but she does not need to know this.
He moves away from the chopper to place a phone call. He has spent the last fifteen minutes walking in silence with Alexis Castle from her sequestered stateroom through the ship to the helipad. Fifteen minutes deep in thought. He pinches the bridge of his nose as he listens to the ring tones, waiting for an answer.
He gets three rings before she answers the call.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Simmons," Elizabeth Bracken asks.
"Well, for starters," he begins, "You can tell me why you contracted me to kidnap Alexis Castle. Then you can explain to me why you decided re-opening what was already a clumsy and dangerous door for your husband is a good idea. Because let me tell you, it was a lousy idea."
Elizabeth Bracken is no fool. There is no upside, no value in lying to this man and then spending the time and energy trying to hold that lie together.
"Mr. Simmons," she begins, then quickly adjusts. "Vulcan, sometimes the less a person knows, the better. There is less thinking required, and less an opportunity to let some critical piece of information slip through the cracks, so to speak."
"Mrs. Bracken, you and I have worked together for many years now, and –"
"And we have never run afoul of each other because the rules were always set by me . . . or by my husband," she interrupts. "Things are different this time, however. Just understand this much, Mr. Simmons. This is one time where the rules were not mine to share. This . . . activity that I asked you to handle was not for me. It is a favor for someone else. Someone who I am not at liberty to discuss."
Simmons considers this new information, pursing his lips as he thinks through what he has just heard. She offered him this contract as a favor to someone else. So, there is another unknown player in this game. That is good information to know, good information to have in his back pocket.
Vulcan Simmons has made many mistakes in his lifetime of criminal activities, but underestimating a potential foe is not one of them. It is the primary reason why he believes he is still alive all these years later, even when running afoul of some truly nefarious and dangerous people. That is top of mind to the drug-runner at the moment. He recognizes that the man hunting for him is out of his league. As in way, way out of his league.
It is the type of encounter that one like Vulcan Simmons does not survive.
"You have put me in a tough position – and by tough, I mean the dangerous kind," he tells her. "The kind that one may not live through."
"Oh, don't be quite that dramatic, Vulcan," Mrs. Bracken replies. "We both know that –"
"We both know nothing, if you don't mind," he interrupts. "We do not have a ruthless, invisible killer stalking us. I am the one being stalked. My men. Their families. My mother, for God's sake! You, Mrs. Bracken, have been untouched through all of this.
"What do you mean, your mother?" a now very interested Elizabeth Bracken asks. If Vulcan Simmons could see through the phone, he would recognize a very disturbed woman on the other end. When she came up with this plan as a favor to her estranged-by-death brother-in-law, it she knew she could be opening some dangerous doors, as Simmons has put it. But even still, to hurt one's mother?
"What has happened to your mother?" she asks.
"She's been taken," he answers. "By the nutjob hunting for Alexis Castle – and for me, by extension. He sent me a picture of her."
"Hostage," Mrs. Bracken remarks.
"I can only hope so," Simmons replies. "But he doesn't seem to have a pattern of leaving healthy human beings in his wake."
"Who is this 'he' we are talking about?" she asks.
"His name is Willie Crockett," he tells her. "He's the right-hand man for a Sam Carlos, who basically owns the Bay Area out west."
"I do not know of the man," Bracken's widow replies.
"Of course you don't," Simmons reacts angrily. "Why would you? He's on the other side of the country. I know your husband had deep connections and deeper pockets, but that was all here on the east coast."
"You're right," she agrees. "This is a problem."
"Mrs. Bracken . . . of course it is a problem," he retorts in frustration. "And right now, it is my problem, not yours. I'm just wondering how long it will stay that way."
"And exactly what is that supposed to mean?" Mrs. Bracken asks, with clear warning in her tone and her voice.
"It means this guy is no fool," he answers quickly. Perhaps he overstepped with her by saying this. No matter. Things have gone too far already, and it has barely been just over a day.
"He quickly figured out who kidnapped Miss Castle," Simmons continues. "And by 'who', I mean to a man. Each man was masked up, yet he found each one of them in less than a day. And by the way, you and I may refer to her as Miss Castle, but this guy refers to her as Alexis."
"So, he knows her," she nods her head in concern, her voice a whisper now.
"And worse, she knows him," he continues. "She calls him Willie."
"This this has become personal," Mrs. Bracken realizes.
"Yeah, you could say that," Simmons fumes. "And if he found me in less than a day, how quickly is he going to find you?"
This brings silence to the call, as both parties are quiet now, lost in their thoughts.
For Elizabeth Bracken, this is – indeed – an unforeseen development that things have unraveled so quickly. She felt that kidnapping young Alexis Castle, and keeping her for a couple of days would keep Castle out here on the east coast for a bit, as a favor to Barry Adams. Adams said that Castle was out there for a wedding. Wedding or not, if his daughter was kidnapped and then released, Castle would likely stay a few extra days if for no other reason that to wrap things up with the police.
But this is happening faster than she surmised. Simmons would not have been so clumsy as to leave bread crumbs, a trail. She's dealt with him before and always with success. So, the fact that his men were caught so easily and he was identified so quickly means that this Willie Crockett is not someone to be trifled with.
Moreover, she has no idea who these Crockett or Carlos characters are. She knows of them only through Barry, and what she suspects Carlos has done to Barry's wife. She will have to find out more about these two. But that has to be done on her own dime. It was important – she noted to Barry – that he not call her until all of this was done. It follows that she should not call him until this is done either. Burner phones notwithstanding, she didn't want an audit trail leading to Barry – or herself. So calling him right now is out of the question, especially if his phones are being monitored.
"Let me think about this for a moment, Vulcan," he tells him, using his first name to hopefully buy a little time from him. She knows him. She knows he is calculating his odds right now and finding himself on the wrong side of the equation. She knows his next move is to likely give the girl back. But it is too soon right now.
"I will call you back inside half an hour," she promises before she breaks the connection.
She hangs the call up, placing the phone on the dining room table where she sits, and looks contemplatively out the large bay window there. The Potomac gently washes in front of her. It is a view she and William Bracken enjoyed endlessly. Now – with a little luck to go with her planning – it will be a view of hers for at least the next six years – the standard term for a U.S. Senator.
Suddenly, she breaks into a raucous laughter that permeates throughout the dining room, throughout the house. The sudden laughter brings Maria, her housekeeper running into the room. There has not been a lot of laughter in the Bracken home for months, so it is a sound that brings the housekeeper running.
"Is everything all right, Mrs. Bracken?" Maria asks.
"Oh, everything is fine, dear" the aspiring politician replies. "Just thinking about an old friend."
"Okay, Mrs. Bracken," Maria replies as she quickly backs out of the room to return to her housekeeping duties. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Bracken continues chuckling.
"An old friend who will soon be out of the way," Mrs. Bracken laughs to herself.
When she came up with the idea to kidnap Alexis Castle, the idea of Sam Carlos' right hand man traveling here to the east coast to retrieve the young woman was actually absolutely part of her plan. Her conversations with Barry have told her two things:
First, that Sam Carlos has a thing now for Barry for what he did to one Richard Castle. That had surprised her. The idea that the author would go to the west coast and endear himself to the area's number one mobster . . . well, yeah, that was a surprise. But surprise or not, it is what it is. Politics has long ago taught the widow to understand and embrace the whole 'strange bedfellows thing'.
Barry did something to hurt Castle and that has made him enemies with Sam Carlos. And as she has told her brother-in-law, she believes Carlos has already killed Barry's wife as a result of what Barry did. It makes sense that if Carlos is willing to kill the wife of an enemy, then he would not ignore the kidnapping of the daughter of a friend.
She laughs again, recognizing the scorched-earth operation in place. Killing a wife? Taking a mother hostage? Yeah, it plays well with the mindset of the man in question.
"Two birds with one stone," she muses to herself. Her plan is unfolding perfectly. Barry asked her to keep Castle out here on the east coast. She doesn't know what her brother-in-law is up to. Wisely, he decided not to tell her, just as she has kept what she was going to do away from him. But keeping Castle here by kidnapping his daughter was just step one in her master plan.
"I knew Carlos would send his man after young Miss Castle," she smiles out loud. "It just made sense. He is close to Castle. He has proven that. Taking young Miss Castle brings his right-hand hitman to the east coast, and he takes care of Simmons for me. No trace to me, and I eliminate a loose end. I just did not realize how good this man would be, to find Vulcan and eliminate his men so quickly, so easily."
Vulcan Simmons has been useful, certainly, but more useful to her now-deceased husband. William Bracken didn't mind getting his hands dirty with those on the criminal side who were very visible with their dealings. It wasn't until Elizabeth 'suggested' to William that Simmons at least make an attempt to appear legitimate that the drug runner began to soften his image . . . a bit. But Elizabeth, for her plans of politics, needs a different kind of criminal partner. One who is smarter. More invisible. More subtle.
More unlike Vulcan Simmons.
She has a war chest from her husband, and a life insurance policy already paid out. She has more than enough money to live a wealthy lifestyle, and enough in her political chest to run a campaign. Where Will desired money and power and fame, Elizabeth desires only one thing.
Power.
She has money, and more will come. Fame? Her plan is to run far under the radar, unlike her more bombastic, camera-loving ex-husband. The grieving, reluctant widow? She can play this part well, because it is true. She did grieve her husband, and she does not crave the spotlight.
But the power that the spotlight can give you?
That she wants. In spades.
The deeper, more strategic part of her plan is an assist to Barry Adams as well. She doesn't know what he is up to. She has warned him that further poking the bear that is hunting him is a bad idea. But she also knows that Barry is much like his dead brother; stubborn to the bone. Once Will got an idea in his head, he was laser-focused on executing that idea, no matter how much she might try to steer him otherwise. In the end, she is convinced, it cost him his life. It cost him his life from someone powerful that he never saw coming.
She is similarly convinced that – in the end – Barry will meet the same fate, for the same reason.
But for now, kidnapping Alexis Castle does two things. It keeps Richard Castle out here, out of Barry's hair for whatever Barry has planned, and it also gets Sam Carlos' hitman out of Barry's hair as well, if it came to that.
"Yes, I am trying to take care of you, Barry, just as I tried with your brother," she speaks aloud to the universe.
"And if – in taking care of you – I can take care of a local problem of my own, well then that's just being smart."
She laughs again as she picks up her phone once more, placing a call to Vulcan Simmons. It rings a whopping one time before he answers.
"Yes, the cat has put the mouse on the string, indeed," she chuckles to herself as he answers.
"Mrs. Bracken," he answers.
"Mr. Simmons," she begins. "I have given this some thought, and I have decided that the favor that I have asked you to do for a friend of mine is not worth your life. Let the girl go. You can decide how to do it in what manner you see fit. I will . . . cover things with my friend on this end."
"I appreciate this, Mrs. Bracken," Simmons offers with clear relief in his voice. "This means a lot. I won't forget it."
"I'm sure you won't." she tells him ominously. "Stay safe, my friend."
She disconnects the call just in time, as the laughter takes over her once again.
"Oh, I'm sure you will forget it, my friend," she says out loud to no one. "As the children's ride so aptly tells us, dead men tell no tales."
Her laughter is loud and long in the dining room of her D.C home, as she considers the various ways that the ruthless hitman from California will deal with Vulcan Simmons. She doesn't know the man personally, but she knows mobsters and their henchmen. They do not take an affront well. Even an apology does not sway their anger.
She has no concern that Willie Crockett will take care of Vulcan Simmons. Suddenly – a master of compartmentalizing things – her mind quickly shifts to another issue she needs taken care of – one that Barry has promised he would do for her in return, early this week. She smiles, knowing that a seat in the United States Senate is as good as hers if Barry comes through . . . and she has no doubt that he will.
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7:25 p.m. East Coast time, Monday Evening, April 23, 2012, At Martha Castle's Loft on Broome Street
Richard Castle is pacing back and forth across the living room in front of the expansive windows that lead out to the streets below. It is familiar territory for him. Somehow, his muscle memories have kicked in, and he unconsciously finds himself pacing the same path that he did for years whenever he would hit a mental block when writing.
Except this is different. This isn't about a book plot development he is struggling with. This is about Alexis.
Kate Beckett sits on the sofa, watching, allowing him these moments. He is grieving. She can tell. She recognizes the signs. He is grieving as though his daughter is dead. Even with the most fearsome man either of them has ever met terrorizing this city's underworld, he is grieving.
She slowly stands and begins walking toward him carefully so as not to spook him. Tears form in her eyes as she approaches him. This was supposed to be a celebration. This was supposed to be the wedding of their friends, the celebration of their engagement, the seeing of old friends and family. She notes that she has not even seen her own father yet.
She is mere steps away from him, reaching out with a gentle hand to comfort him when his phone rings. It startles both of them, as they comically jump in perfectly synchronized unison in response.
"Willie, talk to me," Castle answers when he sees who the caller is.
"Well, Mr. Castle, I need your help," Crockett begins.
"Anything," Castle replies, as Kate Beckett nods in agreement. This is what they have been waiting for. Staying on the sidelines while Crockett has been in search-and-destroy mode. So far, the precinct has been – as expected – in police M.O. mode, which means slow and steady. Normally, that would be a comfort to Kate Beckett. But not when things are so personal.
"I received a call from Mr. Vulcan Simmons," Willie begins, but is interrupted by Castle.
"You're kidding," Castle tells him.
"This soon?" Kate asks.
"Listen, this will go a lot faster if you just let me talk," Crockett tells them, smiling. "Simmons called to let me know that he is bringing Alexis to me."
"That's wonderful!" A jubilant Richard Castle screams with a whoop as he jumps in the air. He lands on his feet with a painful thud.
"Damn," he mumbles, wincing in pain.
"Your arm," Kate tells him knowingly. It hasn't been that long since the external apparatus came off his arm since the raid on the campus back at home.
Home. She smiles – realizing that the city here that was home for so many years is no longer home.
"This is great news, Willie!" she tells him. "We can't thank you enough for this."
"Well, don't thank me yet, that's why I am calling," he tells the couple. "While this certainly is – on the surface – a good development, after all this is exactly what we wanted – I also would be remiss if I didn't say I have to operate with some caution."
"Explain," Castle winces into the speakerphone.
"I have – in less than one day – inflicted more damage to them than these people are used to in a year, I'm sure. This isn't something that they are likely to let go of so easily."
"You think it is a trap," Kate announces.
"I would be a fool not to at least consider that to be a possibility," he replies. "That's where you come in."
"Tell us what you need," Castle tells him.
"He wanted to hand her off at the docks," Crockett continues. "He's got a ship down there and –"
"Ship? As in not a boat, but a real ship?" Kate exclaims.
"Focus, Miss Beckett," Crockett remarks. "Yes, a cruise ship that he apparently holds parties on."
"Simmons has done better than I ever imagined," she mumbles to herself.
"Be that as it may, there are far too many hiding spots on a dock for a trap to be set," Crockett continues. "So, I told him I wanted a more public spot. We are meeting at the public library on 5th Avenue."
"Smart," a happy Kate Beckett replies. "This is good news."
"We certainly hope so," Crockett agrees. "But in case it isn't, and they have something planned, I need you and Richard along. You will have to get there early, because I don't want them seeing you get into place."
"The library is already closed," Castle muses aloud.
"The exchange is outside the library, and it is set for 8:30 tonight," Crockett tells them. "So here is what I need you both to do, if you please."
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A/N: A good place to stop things. I hope everyone is enjoying this.