Flu

Chapter 10

"So the firebug's name is Leo DeNuncio, and he was apprehended after making a purchase with marked money at Specialty Products," Kate muses over a report Rick picked up at the 12th Precinct.

"Right," Rick agrees, "but I'm surprised you didn't put on the clothes I brought before reading that thing. I thought you were desperate to get out of here."

"I am, and the clothes are perfect, Babe."

"You can thank Alexis for that. Before she went off to the lab, she made sure I didn't screw up. She said the outfit I picked out myself would wash out your skin, and you'd want to look healthy."

"She's right. I can't go walking into the precinct looking like death warmed over. But I need to know everything about the case, the sooner, the better."

"You can't go walking into the precinct at all," Rick reminds his wife. "Dr. Arain said to rest for a week. Remember? The flu has a habit of coming back on people who get busy too fast. Everybody will make sure you stay caught up so that when the time comes, you can hit the ground running."

"Which is what I want to do now," Kate complains. "I guess you've clued Montgomery in that I'm still supposed to be down for a while."

"Innocent as charged," Rick protests. "The hospital contacted Health Services. They won't sign off on you coming back to work for at least a week. You can't be on the case officially until then, but the captain still wants you in the loop now. After I get you settled at home, I'm going to meet with Jerry Macy, the retired cop who brought in DeNuncio. I'll pass on everything we've put together about connecting possible murders to the latest fire. We can Skype you in."

Kate sighs. "I guess I'll have to live with that."

Rick reaches out to cup her cheek. "The emphasis, Love of My Life, is on the word 'live.' You scared the hell out of me, especially when you started coughing up blood."

"It scared me too," Kate confides.

Jerry Macy nods appreciatively as he goes over the rousing chronicle Castle brought, before turning his gaze to the laptop displaying Kate's face. "Detective Beckett, everything is beginning to come together. This report reads like a story Mr. Castle might write."

"Something like it will probably turn up in one of my books," Castle admits.

"Rick's narrative may be colorful, but there's nothing fictional in it," Kate assures the veteran cop. "I suspect there's a lot more to uncover since the marked money establishes DeNuncio's link with the Scarpellas. And Specialty Products confirmed that DeNuncio has been a steady customer for the cleaning agent found at the crime scene, as well as several other chemicals."

"None of those substances is officially restricted, the way drug-making components are," Rick adds. "It would take considerable knowledge to transform them into explosives."

"Knowledge a chemist would have," Jerry adds. "Captain Montgomery got a warrant to search DeNuncio's building. CSU found a lab setup that Chief Osnitz seemed to feel was impressive."

"So I heard," Rick agrees. "My teenage daughter is working with CSU as part of her summer forensics program. She gave me more details than I needed."

Jerry chuckles. "My son gave me his two cents on this one, too. Maybe sometime we can exchange stories about our kids. But right now, it looks like the next step is getting as much out of DeNuncio as we can. That isn't going to be easy. He's already got some pretty high-powered representation, Lee Forrester."

A low whistle sounds from between Rick's teeth. "He might as well have hired Perry Mason."

"Except that Forrester's real and doesn't depend on spontaneous courtroom confessions," Kate points out. "But Forrester standing up for DeNuncio could work to our advantage. When the counselor gets his discovery, he's smart enough to see that his client is guilty as hell, at least of multiple arsons, including the latest one. He might also realize we could nail DeNuncio for murder. He'll try to get the best deal he can for DeNuncio. That will be our lever on the Scarpellas."

Rick bounces in his chair. "We could even put a damper on any deal the Scarpellas have with the other families. What about Carlucci?"

"Ryan and Esposito had him picked up, but so far only for one count of extortion. The Scarpellas' consigliere got him out on bail. So, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Jerry cautions.

"Right, we harden our case against DeNuncio," Kate responds. "Castle and I will look for other murders that we can trace back to DeNuncio, and any connections they might have to organized crime."

"My team and I will go over DeNuncio with a fine-toothed comb," Jerry adds. "And I'll be coordinating with Ryan and Esposito. As I understand it, they're keeping an eye on Manny Feldstein to make sure there are no reprisals. They're also keeping their ears open for rumors of pressure on the other business owners in Scarpella territory. According to Montgomery, the captains in the other precincts have a plan to deal with the other families."

"Then it's time to get to work," Kate announces, rubbing her hands together.

Rick springs from his seat. "Excuse me. I have to get home to make sure my wife keeps her efforts within the bounds of her doctor's approval."

Jerry chuckles again. "Good luck with that."

"What the f***!" Dino Scarpella explodes.

Chris Carlucci avoids the urge to step back. "The cops have Leo, and they're all over our asses. There's increased surveillance on the other families too."

Pens rattle as Dino slams his fist on his desk. "Deal or no deal, the other families can take care of their business. Our problem is Leo. He knows too much, way too much. And he has that hotshot lawyer working for him instead of one of our people. If he talks…"

"He's loyal," Chris protests.

"We can't be sure of that," Dino argues. "He's always been pazzesco. Who knows what Forrester might get him to do? We have to terminate his services – permanently."

"I'll take care of it," Carlucci promises.

While Rick's on his way home from the 12th, Kate peers into the refrigerator. The little that's there since Rick's been spending most of his time with her at the hospital still looks better than the institutional diet she's been eating. She's pondering what to grab when Rick arrives enveloped in the tantalizing aroma of Remy's burgers.

He spies her rifling through the fridge. "Ah-hah! I was hoping that the famous Beckett appetite would surface. I picked up your favorite selection with the ketchup, dark mustard, and pickles. I got your strawberry shake too. I checked with Arain after she signed your discharge papers. She said the thing about dairy causing mucus isn't true. You should avoid caffeine to keep from getting dehydrated, but you can have the shake. I also picked up some decaffeinated coffee beans. I can grind them for you fresh."

Kate's nose crinkles. "Decaffeinated, ugh!"

"By the time I get finished fancying it up, you'll love it," Rick promises. "What did you think of the meeting?"

"I wanted to be there."

"Besides that."

"I think Jerry is great, but I'm worried about DeNuncio. The Scarpellas could decide on a preemptive strike before Forrester can talk Leo into flipping. He should be in a safe house or at least in the segregated population at Rikers. But we need some juice to make that happen, more than a retired cop can provide. I want to call Montgomery."

Rick joins Kate in the kitchen. "Then, I will keep your burger warm and your shake cold while you do."