Poison Pen
Chapter 42
Kate stands numbly, looking down as Lanie examines Bracken's body. Rick is as close behind her as he can get without the public displays of cuddling that she resists on the job, hoping his proximity sends some comfort. Are you all right, Kate?"
"Yes. No. I don't know. None of this makes sense, Castle. In my mind, Bracken was the evil overlord, pulling strings and controlling everything, and now Springer just shoots him. Why? How?"
"I don't know, Kate. I'd pegged Bracken as behind everything too, but there are at least two people who can fit some of the puzzle pieces together."
"Right. Lockwood and Coonan," Kate agrees. "Bellevue discharged Lockwood. He's in the medical facility at the prison. Coonan is in the high-security wing. We can talk to both of them as soon as I tie things up here."
"There's not that much to tie up right now, Kate. Springer screamed for his lawyer before the boys took him in. Lanie has her work to do. Then CSU will go over the place. If any answers to your questions are here, we can come back and look for them when things have settled down. You may have a better idea of what we're looking for when we return."
"You could be right. All right, Castle. Let's get out of here."
Sprawling in his seat as much as he can while shackled, Lockwood smirks as the detective and her pet writer approach. "You're wasting your time. I'm not telling you anything."
"But I have something to tell you," Kate informs him. "William Bracken is dead."
"Who's William Bracken?" Lockwood asks, his chains rattling with an involuntary shudder.
"Shame on you! You don't even know the name of New York's junior senator." Castle taunts the prisoner. "Or when you were growing up, did you cut civics class to torture small animals?"
"I want to talk to my lawyer again. I'm ready to make a deal."
Castle snorts. "You don't have much left to deal with, Lockwood."
"And about Bracken," Kate adds, "I think you just told us everything we need to know."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Coonan demands. "The D.A. knows what he has to give me."
"The situation has changed, Coonan. We have Elliott Springer for killing William Bracken. We have more than enough to convict him and Lockwood," Kate explains. "We also have proof that you killed Justin Geiger."
"You have bupkis to trade, Coonan," Castle interjects.
"Almost bupkis," Kate corrects. "You have one tiny chance to help yourself. We are going to unravel the relationship between you, Lockwood, Bracken, and Elliott Springer. You can count on it. But it will take time and resources, and frankly, the city has better ways to spend its money. So, you give us what you know, every detail and maybe you won't end up in quite as dark a hole. Personally, I believe that all of you belong in the ninth ring of hell, but that's not on the books in New York State. So think about it, Coonan, but don't think too long. The more we uncover, the less use anyone will have for you."
Sweat darkens the orange fabric of Coonan's jumpsuit. "I need to talk to my lawyer."
"You better talk fast," Kate advises.
Castle shakes his head incredulously as he and Kate leave the courtroom. "I can't believe that Springer asked for bail. We have him cold for one murder, and with what Coonan spilled, he's implicated in God knows how many more, and he had a plane gassed up and ready to get him out of the country. How much greater a flight risk could a person be?"
"The kind of lawyers he has will throw everything against the wall in case any of it sticks," Kate assumes. "The judge didn't have much patience with their motion, but those guys are paid to try every trick in the book. It may be a long time until Springer gets to trial."
"At least Lockwood and Coonan ended up copping pleas," Castle considers. "So we'll just have two court cases to keep tabs on, Springer and Badcock. Badcock's trial should be coming up first. He doesn't have the money to fund delaying tactics. But in the meantime, I'll finish writing my first Nikki Heat book."
"First? How many are you planning to write?"
"I don't know. Good as you are, and with Bracken dead and Springer under lock and key, New York may run out of murders, forcing me to turn my attention to other pursuits. But I have enough material for at least the next eight years or so, maybe more."
"Sometimes I envy you being able to lose yourself in your writing that way," Kate confesses. "I could use more distraction."
"I can think of something that would be a huge distraction."
"Does it have anything to do with laser tag or Star Wars?"
Castle strokes his chin. "Hmm, thematically, either one of those would be cool, but I doubt that you'd choose to employ them. I'm talking about planning a wedding."
"Is your mother getting married again?"
"Anything's possible, but not that I know of. Kate, I was talking about planning a wedding for us. I'd drop to one knee and pull out a ring, but I figured that independent as you are, you'd want to pick out your own. Kate, will you marry me?"
"What?"
"You didn't understand the question?"
"Yeah. I mean, yes, I understood the question, I just wasn't expecting it."
"I admit that the steps of the courthouse are not the most romantic venue on which to ask. You want me to make a reservation at Your Own Corner and ask again? Hmm, probably a bad choice. We might stumble onto another murder. How about One if by Land, Two if by Sea? It's been a traditional proposal spot since the '70s."
"Castle, I don't need a fancy restaurant. So much has been happening; it just took me a minute to wrap my mind around the idea of getting married. After Coonan murdered my mother, I stopped having dreams of a flower-strewn aisle and a long white veil."
"I get it, Kate. You've been propelled by your thirst for justice. But you got Coonan. You got Lockwood. You got Springer. Bracken is in Lucifer's domain. Justice has triumphed – more or less. Isn't it time to make your life about more than catching the bad guys? You can be happy, Kate. You just have to give yourself permission. I promise I'll do my best to help you be happy if you'll let me. And if you need some time to think about it, I'll wait."
"I don't need time to think about it, Castle. You're right. It's time for me to climb out of the rabbit hole." She rises on her toes to cup his face. "Yes, I'll marry you." Kate's cheeks redden at the applause that echoes off the stone building when her lips meet Rick's. "Let's get out of here."
Rick offers his elbow. "Let's head to midtown. I know a jeweler on 43rd Street. He'll make you any kind of ring that you want, rush order."
Kate presses a hand to her abdomen. "Can we stop for a burger first? And fries and a shake. I'm starved."
"Whatever the lady desires. Anything else?" Castle inquires.
"An éclair. I'd really love some creamy filling."
Castle gulps. "Your wish is my command."