Poison Pen
Chapter 27
Kate is barely out of an early-morning shower when the ring tone on her cell announces a call from Castle. "Kate, I just heard from Clark Murray. He's finished his analysis of your mother's autopsy report and wants to talk with you. He can meet us at the precinct a half-hour before your shift starts."
"Did he say anything about what he found?" Kate asks, drawing her towel more tightly around her.
"No. He said he wants to present his findings to you in person. See you there?'
"I'll be there, Castle, and thanks."
"Maybe you'd better wait to hear what Murray has to say before you get too grateful," Castle advises.
Murray carefully lays out documents, photographs, and two oddly shaped pieces of plastic on the table in the conference room. "Detective Beckett, I've examined your mother's case and compared it to reports of similar murders from that immediate time period." He pushes a sheet of paper across the table. "These are the names of the deceased. They're in the photos in front of you."
Kate reaches for Castle's hand as she scans the names. "I recognize these. They're all people who had an association with my mother. Diane Cavanaugh was her colleague and friend. I met her when she and my mother were working together at our home a couple of times."
"They were all stabbed, and the police concluded they were all victims of random violence," Murray continues.
"Who were the detectives in charge?" Kate queries.
Murray consults his notes. "There were two, a Detective Raglan and a Detective McCallister."
Kate nods. "That figures. McCallister was Raglan's partner."
Castle points at the two strange objects. "What are those?"
"They are partial reproductions of the two weapons used. I printed them, but even using a computer algorithm to reconstruct the shapes, I could only get so far from the autopsy pictures. Other than the fact that they were different blades, I can't identify them. If I could, they might lead us to the killer or killers." Murray leans across the table, his voice dropping. "Detective Beckett, would it be possible to exhume your mother's body and perhaps those of at least one other of these victims, possibly Diane Cavanaugh? They were killed with different blades. Working with the actual wounds is the only way I can do accurate reconstructions, as well as look for anything else the original M.E. might have missed."
Rick wraps his arm around Kate's shoulders as she draws a shaky breath. "I'll -I'll have to talk to my father. It's his decision. And I'll contact Diane Cavanaugh's family too."
Ryan knocks gently on the door to the conference room. "Beckett, the financials came in on Dominic Farrell and Bruce Sonnenfeld."
Swiping her sleeve across her eyes, Kate twists in her chair to face the more junior detective. "Thanks, Ryan. I'll be right there.
"Kate, are you going to be all right to work on Dominic's murder?" Castle asks after Ryan returns to the bullpen.
"Castle, I have to be. That's my job. It's who I am. But stick close, OK?"
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Castle studies the figures on his print-out. "Dominic wasn't one for planning ahead. It looks like he spent his money as fast as it came in, maybe a little faster. His credit card balances were rising."
"That goes along with your theory that he was looking for a bigger score, Castle." Kate taps the sheet in front of her with her fingernail. "Sonnenfeld is more careful. He has extra funds flowing in, but he's stowing them away. He's made transfers from his New York Bank to one in the Cayman Islands. It looks like he's also making steady purchases from a coin dealer."
"He could be doing that for the appreciation of the coins themselves or the value of the gold, like in the '70s when everyone bought Krugerrands. I'd have my characters go for platinum. As an industrial metal, it rises in value pretty much no matter what is going on in the world," Castle explains, "but it is traditional for villains to love their gold." He strokes an imaginary ring on his finger. "Don't we, Precious?"
The ghost of an upturn teases Kate's lips. "Sonnenfeld's no Gollum, but he may not be the brightest bulb either. We can take turns with Ryan and Esposito sitting on him in case he goes to whoever is running the theft operation. Your Own Corner may not be the only restaurant they're using to finger their victims."
"Are you going to call your dad?" Castle asks.
"No, I should talk to him in person. I'll have the boys take over with Sonnenfeld after four hours. I can go see him then."
"You want me to go with you?"
"Not this time, Castle. He's going to have a hard enough time hearing it from me."
"I understand, Kate, but I'll be waiting for you."
Jim Beckett drops heavily into his desk chair. "You want some M.E. to dig up your mother. That's ghoulish, Katie. After all this time, what could he hope to find?"
"That's just it, Dad. You know how far computers have come since Mom was taken from us. The M.E., Dr. Murray, is the best. Even Lanie thinks so. He can do things with technology that weren't possible a decade ago. And her death isn't the only one involved. There were others, including Diane Cavanaugh. If Murray produces new leads, I may find justice for all of them. I want this. Vincit omnia veritas. Mom would want it too. You know she would."
Jim rubs his fingers over his mouth, much like his daughter. "She would, Katie. All right. I'll sign the exhumation papers. I hope it's worth it."
"Mr. Kirby, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from my counsel?" Simon Badcock inquires, looking up from the table in the prison visitation room.
"I got your examinations moved up, Mr. Badcock. I argued that since the determination of your mental state is essential to your case, as well as your health, you should be evaluated as soon as possible."
"And who would Judge Mencas deem as qualified to evaluate me?" Badcock questions. "I assume you've enlisted a professional with sterling credentials."
"You'll be seeing Dr. Manley Wellborn. He did his residency at Bellevue and is board certified. He'll be more than acceptable to the court. More to the point, several of my colleagues have successfully used his services. He's your best chance of receiving treatment instead of punishment."
Badcock snorts. "I don't need treatment. What I need is for the world to realize what garbage Richard Castle and all the rest of the falsely celebrated authors inflict on the world. I intend to make my message clear."
"Dr. Wellborn will understand you, Mr. Badcock," Kirby assures his client. "You'll have every chance to make your case."
"I suppose I'll have to trust you on that, Mr. Kirby."
"You can do that, Mr. Badcock. I've arranged an appointment for you tomorrow. It may take Dr. Wellborn the better part of the day to gather the data he needs to be your best witness in court."
"Fine," Simon agrees. "I look forward to talking with someone of reasonable intelligence."