Poison Pen

Chapter 52

"What is so damn urgent, Winny?" Merriweather Seward demands, joining her brother at a back table in a downtown Java Hut.

"I'll tell you what's so damn urgent, Merri," Winston retorts, "cops banging on my door and asking about Medina. You claimed they'd never find out what we did; that nothing would come near me. They know something, maybe a lot."

"Calm down, Winny," Merri counsels. "Was it a Detective Beckett with that mystery writer I like?"

Winston nods.

"Look, if they actually had anything, they would have arrested you — and me too." Merri asserts. "Rachel doesn't know who you really are, and she doesn't know about me at all. Maybe someone you know saw you at the museum, and the cops are taking a wild swing in the dark. Beckett and her writer friend aren't that bright. I didn't have any trouble leading them around by the nose."

Winston slaps his palm against the table. "You could be right, but I don't like it. Maybe I should take off for a while."

Merri shakes her head. "That would be like hanging an 'I'm guilty,' sign around your neck. Just do what you would normally do. Make sure your shipments go out on time and that what comes out of the Cardano wrecking yard doesn't have any visible body parts in it. Sooner or later, the cops will get frustrated with the case and give up."

Winston stares disconsolately at his untouched coffee. "I hope you're right."

"I know I'm right," Merri declares. "Will Medina was the only one who could finger us for anything, and dead archaeologists tell no tales."

When Gonzales calls Chief Morris as a witness, it sparks an immediate upturn in Castle's lips. Morris managed the takedown of Badcock on the Morehouse farm and can testify to Badcock's efforts to avoid getting caught. Gonzales quickly takes the chief through his credentials and his search for the fugitive. The upstate cop carefully outlines the arrest of Badcock as he was attempting to conceal himself behind the hay.

"So, to summarize, Chief Morris, based on your experience in law enforcement in a farm community, Mr. Badcock was not engaged in performing agricultural chores."

"No, Ms. Gonzales, he wasn't. Mr. Babcock was attempting to conceal himself to evade capture," Morris confirms.

"He didn't appear confused about why he was being arrested?" Toni presses.

"He appeared angry, but not confused," Morris responds.

"So, in your judgment, Mr. Badcock was aware that he committed a crime."

Morris nods. "Yes, Ma'am, he certainly was."

"Booyah!" Castle mutters under his breath. "Score one for the good guys."

Studying the image of Winston Seward on his export company's website, Rachel confirms that Winston is Abdamalek. "What now?" she asks Kate.

"Now you sit down with someone from the D.A.'s office and tell everything you know, and if you're going to get the best break, you can't leave out the tiniest detail. I'll take care of Mr. Seward and getting the evidence to back up your story."

"Do you think I'll go to jail?" Rachel wonders. "I didn't hurt anyone."

"That will depend on the D.A. and the judge. You broke the law. There's going to be a penalty for that, one way or another, besides losing your job at the museum. But just tell the truth, Rachel. Don't try to embroider it or try to make yourself look better. That will give you your best chance. Judges like straight shooters."

"OK, Detective. Good luck with Abdamalek."

"Good luck to you too, Rachel."

Castle looks up from his sandwich of questionable contents in the courthouse cafeteria as Kate approaches his table. "Glad you could make it. The judge gave us an hour, so we have time to talk."

"I was coming anyway," Kate admits. "I need to get a search warrant for Winston Seward's apartment and his business. I got more than enough from Rachel Walters to put in my affidavits, and I don't want to give him a chance to destroy any evidence."

"What about Merriweather Seward?" Castle questions. "She's got to be in on Winston's operation."

"At the moment, that's still conjecture, Babe. Rachel didn't identify her as being involved, and we don't have any evidence against her. That may change with what I can get from Winston, but right now, I can't touch her, and talking to her again would tip her off."

"Chances are that if she's involved, Winston's already done that," Castle points out.

"Probably," Kate agrees, "but hopefully she'll believe that they both pulled the wool over our eyes and that she can do it again."

"She was convincing when she sent us to the Marriott," Castle admits. "But, come to think of it, that hotel is too nice to fit in with the usual narratives in my stories. My readers love to picture the seedy joints they see in film noir."

"I'm willing to bet they'd rather picture them than smell them," Kate quips. 'Ugh! And eww, what is in your sandwich?"

"I've been trying to figure that out. It's supposed to be turkey, ham, and bacon, but other than fatty slivers derived from some unfortunate animal, I have no idea what anything is. I was considering ditching it and going back to the hot dog vendor. What do you think?"

"That I could go for extra sauerkraut."

"I'm sure that could be arranged."

"So how did Badcock's trial go this morning?" Kate asks as she and Rick find a bench to consume their piled-high franks.

"Toni was great. You remember Chief Morris from Sid Morehouse's farm? She asked the right questions to have him make the case that Badcock knew he was committing crimes. I think we stand a chance of seeing cell doors clang on that assh*le. Could I send Gonzales flowers, or would it be considered a bribe?"

"I think it would look better if you wait until the trial is over, but you might want to rethink flowers anyway. The word in the bullpen is that if you want to stay on her good side, she likes jelly beans."

"Hmm, maybe she loves Easter, or her parents were Ronald Reagan fans. Either way, I will keep that in mind. I've given Alexis enough booty in the name of the bunny over the years to have an excellent source for the highest quality and most colorful assortments of springtime sweetness."

Kate flutters her eyelashes and circles her lips with her tongue as Castle takes a bite of his hot dog. "I wouldn't doubt that for a second."

Castle struggles to swallow before defensively veering back to police business. "So when are you planning to inflict your search team on Winston Seward?"

"Judge Markway is supposed to be in his chambers about the same time your trial reconvenes. If I can get him to sign on the bottom line, I'll get the operation going as soon as I can. With any luck, I could have something by the time Judge Mencas adjourns for the day. I'll text you."

"I will await your missives with bated breath. And tell Markway that I heard that some weird algae infested the water trap at The Point in the Bronx and the place stinks to high heaven. He should stick to playing the Pelham Course for a while."

Kate swipes a smidgen of pickle relish from Castle's lower lip. "Thanks, Babe. I'm sure he'll appreciate the tip."