Poison Pen

Chapter 43

"About bloody time!" Martha proclaims. "I knew you two were a perfect match the first time I saw you together. No one has ever sent Richard into a tailspin like that before, at least not since that Lizzy in 10th grade."

"Mother," Rick pleads.

Alexis edges in front of her grandmother to kiss her father on the cheek. "I'm really happy for you, Dad." Her gaze shifts to Kate. "I'm happy for both of you."

Martha grabs Kate's hand and examines the ring. "Richard, I'm surprised you didn't shell out for a bigger rock."

"He wanted to," Kate explains, "but I needed something that wouldn't poke through my glove at a crime scene, and I don't want to have to take it off while I'm working."

"Very pragmatic," Martha judges.

"More like romantic," Rick insists. "Kate's letting the world in on how we feel about each other."

Alexis sighs, gazing up at nothing. "That is romantic."

"So, when's the big day?" Martha inquires.

"Mother, we've only been engaged for a few hours. Sol Greenblatt set the stones in Kate's ring while we waited. Give us a break!" Rick beseeches.

"Fine, but don't wait too long to set a date," Martha warns. "Everything has a waiting list in New York, even — woo hoo!— tickets for my new play."

"Congratulations, Mother," Castle responds, "so, I perceive that now would be a doubly perfect time to open the bottle of Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Champagne I bought at the auction benefiting the library. Alexis, there's some excellent sparkling cider in the fridge that you can use to join us in a toast to the promises of the future."

Martha hurries toward the kitchen. "I'll get the glasses."

"What were you expecting to find here, Kate?" Castle asks as Kate searches through the books on a shelf in Springer's Manhattan retreat. "Let me guess; those are all porn."

"Mostly porn," Kate corrects. "A few of the books are about offshore investing. And one of them is a reference on types of rubber."

"Ah, fetish-related research. Sounds like Elliott has interesting tastes, but I doubt that he'll have much chance in prison to indulge them. Didn't your tip about him shooting Bracken come from a Vice C.I.? A working girl, perhaps?"

"Could be, Castle, but a C.I. is a C.I. Mackenzie is protecting the identity of whoever it was. Bracken's dead body, as well as the forensic evidence, speak for themselves. Of course, Springer's lawyers may try to get the warrant disallowed, but New York relies on the Aguilar-Spinelli test, and Mackenzie has been at things long enough to make sure that his affidavit would meet the terms of that. The judge who granted the warrant is a hardass too. She's not a fan of shaky probable cause. But you know, it wouldn't hurt to talk to Mackenzie. He might be able to pass some questions that would give us more insight into Springer on to his C.I."

Castle wiggles his eyebrows. "Ooh, do we get to enter the kinky world of a vice cop?"

"More like the steamy world of a pasta pot. From what I've heard, Mackenzie is hooked on Italian. We should invite him to lunch."

Castle grins. "I know just the place."

Mackenzie gestures with a piece of Genoa salami from the shared antipasto platter. "Detective Beckett, I'm not about to give up my confidential source. Trust that mouths will only open to provide requested services, is essential in that line of work. Any perception that trust is broken, and we're both out of business."

Kate reaches for a pepperoncino. "I understand that Sergeant, but I was wondering if you could serve as a conduit for my questions. Your source was on the money about Bracken and Springer. Clearly, that involved very personal access to them. I believe that Springer was behind a wide range of illegal activities, including murders, spanning more than a decade. Springer's lawyers are fighting tooth and nail to suppress the evidence of all of his crimes and connections. I need to find as much ammunition for the D.A. as I can. What I want to know is if your source has any information about what Springer might have recorded regarding extralegal activities. We suspect he controls many enterprises off the books. He used Bracken as a frontman for some of them, but I believe Springer's reach extends throughout the city and possibly the country."

Castle picks up the narration. "Even from his cell, Springer has influence, possibly a hell of a lot of it. Kate needs every break she can get to combat his tactics."

And as a cop you know that it's often the littlest detail that breaks a case," Kate adds.

Kate drums her fingers on the snowy tablecloth as Mackenzie savors a stuffed mushroom. "I'll talk to my source," he agrees, "but I want Mr. Castle to tell me how he got a table so fast in this place."

"That," Castle replies, "is a long story. There is this guy, a capo of the Cardano family, that I used as a consultant on Storming the Gates. That was one of my books when Storm was a P.I. before he went to work for the CIA. He was dealing with some pretty sketchy cases. So in exchange for my naming a villain after his mother-in-law, my source brought me here to soak in some atmosphere and eat the best pasta carbonara I've ever had. I traded the chef an in with a custom herb grower I know, for the recipe. I've been welcome here ever since."

Mackenzie swallows. "Castle, are you telling me this place is "family-owned?"

"And a lovely family it is," Castle declares. "The restaurant was started by the chef's grandmother, Lila Del Vecchio, when she got off the boat from Italy with just the clothes on her back and a collection of recipes. Since then, her children and children's children have run the place. The Cardanos love to eat here. Who wouldn't? They also protect it from extortion by the other families. But before the Del Vecchios would hand over a piece of their legacy to the Cardanos or anyone else, they'd burn it to the ground. So enjoy your meal, Sergeant. It is untainted by crime, unlike your C.I. But relationships with the criminal element can occasionally come in handy, can't they?"

Mackenzie wipes his fingers on a linen napkin. "I get your point, Castle. I'm not making any promises, but I'll push for as much information as I can get."

"Excellent!" Castle exclaims, rubbing his hands together. "Now, what would everyone like as an entrée? And wait till you see the dessert tray. You'll believe that it descended from heaven."

Kate wasn't sure about spending a night with Castle in the loft with Alexis in the house, but the teen couldn't have been more welcoming, claiming that it will be great to have a woman a little closer to her age, around to talk to. Not being up on the latest teen idols, Kate isn't sure what she and Alexis will have to talk about, but she'll cross that bridge when she comes to it. Snuggling into Rick's arms as they drift off together feels right. Kate can't recall anything else feeling quite so natural. And she can't imagine anything better than waking up together, free to make love in the morning light. But the tiramisu from Del Vecchio's might run a close second. Well, a second, anyway. And she has a hunch that Mackenzie's informant will come through with just what she needs to start digging up Springer's dirty secrets.